Drifting through Cityscapes Drifting through Cityscapes MTL final copy | Page 60

Mapping the Local, 2018; First step in the program was
to individually select and present an image from 1968.
As a result of this task, our group, which consisted of
members from different countries like Nepal, Croatia,
Serbia, Germany and Spain, had a collection of images
from all around Europe that is related to 1968. We then
analysed and explained what the image that we chose
means to us and to our country. Nuria (Spain) went first
and showed us a picture from Madrid, Spain, which
showed the change on public transport in the 68’s in the
middle of the city. This picture represented a transform
in the way of driving a car in the city. After that, Max
(Germany) presented an image of a dead protester in
Berlin, Germany. The image showed the dead student
and protester Benno Ohnesorg in the year 1967, who
was shot during the student protest against Sheik Reza
Pahlavi (Iran)’s visit in Germany. This incident turned out
to be a starting point of a huge student protest wave in
Germany. Following Max, Paola (Croatia) went next and
she presented a picture which was recorded on August
of 1968 in the island of Korčula. The picture was taken
during summer school program, which was attended by
young students from all around former Yugoslavia. In the
photo we could see a group of young students sitting
in a characteristic pose of a peaceful protest. On the
wall behind them, there was a written sign, »COMMU-
NIST YOUTH«. The sign characterized the era of Socialist
republic. Sonja (Serbia) described an image she took
about a year ago in Belgrade, Serbia. It was taken in Sa-
vamala, the part of Belgrade which was heavily bom-
barded during world war I and II. The area was kind of a
neglected urban neighborhood. Sonja said, »Whenever
we took a walk around the center, it would always end
when we reach the Savamala. It’s kind of made me feel
awkward and unpleasant. It was interesting for me to
find out that back in the 1960s, it had its bad reputation
and if girls were misbehaving, their mothers would warn
them that if they don’t act nice, they will marry them
into Savamala.« On the lower part of the picture, there
were ruins of the old houses in Savamala. Now, instead,
there are hotels named Belgrade Waterfront building.
For her, the whole photograph represented a complete
contrast between the symbolism and two moods, the
events that were occurring in 1968. In the lower part of
the picture, the atmosphere of the raging war, houses
falling apart and dust all around, and the peaceful sky
on the upper part, nice weather for change and the
growth of the mankind with Apollo 8 rising to the Moon.
Elena (Spain) chose a picture of a Raimon’s concert, a
Spanish singer who was really controversial in the 60’s
and the 70’s. In the year 1968 Spain was in a dictator-
ship, that’s why the movement of the 68 was almost im-
possible, the repression of the system did not allow any
protest, even any private meeting, to avoid conflicts.
That’s why for three consecutive years the concert of
this Spanish artist, couldn’t be carried out. But finally, the
18th of May, Raimon made the concert, he is still very
known in the country because of his protest music in
these years, and because of that event.