Cultural and Educational Society of Muslims "Narodna Uzdanica" /"National Hope"/ 1923-1941

Ibrahim Kemura. The Muslim Cultural-Educational Society Narodna uzdanica from 1923/4 to 1941 One of the features of the cultural history of the Bosniacs between the two world wars (1918-1941) was a cultural and educational society named Narodna uzdanica, which was a significant institutional and cultural-intellectual centre of the Bosniac people in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Narodna uzdanica expressed the aspirations and needs of the Bosniac citizens who were its main support and axis and was aimed at fulfilling their interests. This was reflected in an ideological-cultural orientation towards the West and the adoption of positive western achievements while at the same time stressing its Slavic origins and individuality, the education of young people and the formation of a European-type civic intelligentsia, adaptation to life in capitalist society, the development of modern trade and crafts, the emancipation of women, and cultural education based on European values. Thus conceived, the programme enjoyed the support of a wider circle of members, the reading public and the cultural consumers of those particular elements such as education and economic prosperity which it sought to achieve. The political involvement of Narodna uzdanica and its use as a platform for the leading Bosniac political party Jugoslovenska muslimanska organizacija (JMO - Yugoslav Muslim Organisation) which had founded the society, played a significant role in the socio-political life and development of Bosniacs. The opposition to the ruling regime, often expressed through close cooperation with similar Croat organisations and through the pro-Croat attitude of some of the society's leading figures, offered both the regime and Narodna uzdanica's political adversaries grounds for describing it as separatist and Croat and served as a pretext for repressive measures to hinder its normal operations. This research proved these accusations to be groundless, showing that the pro-Croat orientation was primarily political and cultural and that throughout its existence Narodna uzdanica was active in the cultural and educational renaissance of Bosniacs, helping to strengthen their national identity.

Robin Huws Jones (United Kingdom), President 1976- 1980

Robin Huws Jones, President of the International Association of Schools of Social Work from 1976 to 1980, lived a life of challenge and change. Born in Wales in 1909, he often remarked that learning to speak Welsh at age two was such a challenge that he didn’t bother to learn English until he was six. The death of his mother when he was three led to the first of many changes in a life that was not easy in the formative years. Robin remained in the care of his father while his sister became the ward of two aunts. With his father, a draper’sassistant, he left Wales to live in a crowded boarding house in Liverpool.

Kunst am Bau. Die Scuole centrali antincendi in Rom-Capannelle (1941)

Erstmals wird der figürliche und gemalte Dekor der mitten im Zweiten Weltkrieg eingeweihten staatlichen zentralen Ausbildungsstätte für Feuerwehrleute in Rom bekannt gemacht. Dank des Entgegenkommens der Leitung dieser Schulen (heutiger Name: Scuola per la formazione di base dei vigili del fuoco) können in neuen Aufnahmen Mosaiken, Wandmalereien, Reliefs und Skulpturen dokumentiert und mit Fotografien aus dem dortigen Historischen Archiv ergänzt werden. Wie zu erwarten, stellt die sportliche Ertüchtigung der jungen Feuerwehrmänner ein Hauptthema der ›Kunst am Bau‹ dar. Es ist wichtig festzuhalten, dass keineswegs ein militärischer Aspekt im Vordergrund des Dekors steht. Der Artikel versteht sich als Beitrag zur Erweiterung unserer Kenntnisse von Dekorelementen an staatlichen Einrichtungen des Faschismus.

Musik für eine Diktatur: Manuel Paradas Musik für Francos Kriegsepos Raza (1941)

Der spanische Diktator Francisco Franco war sich der Bedeutung audiovisueller Produkte zu Propagandezwecken für die Sicherung seines Regimes sehr bewusst. Kurz nach der Machtergreifung verfasste er das Drehbuch für den Film "Raza". Die Musik von Manuel Parada ist ein glänzendes Beispiel für die Wirkungsmacht der musikalischen Ebene des Films zur Herstellung und Verstärkung der Grundaussage im Film.