"I am Jugoslovenka!": Feminist Performance Politics During and After Yugoslav Socialism

"I Am Jugoslovenka" argues that queer-feminist artistic and political resistance were enabled by socialist Yugoslavia's unique history of patriarchy and womens emancipation. The book covers celebrated and lesser-known artists from the 1970s to today, highlighting feminist resistance in a range of performative actions.

Format: Hardback
Length: 344 pages
Publication date: 22 February 2022
Publisher: Manchester University Press

Winner of the Barbara Jelavich Book Prize 2023, “I am Jugoslovenka” explores the paradoxical enabling of queer-feminist artistic and political resistance in socialist Yugoslavia. Spanning performance and conceptual art, video works, film, and pop music, lesbian activism, and press photos of female snipers in the Yugoslav wars, the book analyzes feminist resistance in a range of performative actions that manifest the radical embodiment of Yugoslavias anti-fascist, transnational, and feminist legacies. Covering celebrated and lesser-known artists from the 1970s to today, including Marina Abramovic, Sanja Ivekovic, Vlasta Delimar, Tanja Ostojic, Selma Selman, and Helena Janecic, the book also pays tribute to music legends Lepa Brena and Esma Redžepova.

“I am Jugoslovenka” tells a unique story of womens resistance through the intersection of feminism, socialism, and nationalism in East European visual culture. The book argues that queer-feminist artistic and political resistance were paradoxically enabled by socialist Yugoslavias unique history of patriarchy and womens emancipation. It explores how feminist artists and activists used performance, conceptual art, video works, film, and pop music to challenge dominant narratives and promote gender equality and social justice.

The book also delves into the historical context of socialist Yugoslavia, highlighting the countrys commitment to gender equality and social justice. It discusses how the socialist government implemented policies that promoted womens rights, such as equal pay and access to education and healthcare. It also explores how the countrys socialist ideology influenced the development of feminist art and activism, which often emphasized the importance of collective action and social change.

One of the key themes of the book is the role of women in the Yugoslav wars. It discusses how women were recruited into the Yugoslav army and how they played a significant role in the countrys resistance against fascism and imperialism. It also explores how women were marginalized and discriminated against in the post-war period, particularly in the conservative and patriarchal society that emerged in the 1990s.

Through its comprehensive analysis of feminist resistance in socialist Yugoslavia, “I am Jugoslovenka” offers a valuable insight into the complex relationship between gender, socialism, and nationalism in East European visual culture. The book challenges traditional narratives and provides a fresh perspective on the history of womens resistance and activism in the region.

In conclusion, “I am Jugoslovenka” is a groundbreaking work of scholarship that deserves to be widely read and celebrated. It is a testament to the power of art and activism to challenge dominant narratives and promote social change. The book offers a valuable contribution to the field of feminist studies and provides a rich source of inspiration for artists and activists working towards a more equitable and just world.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526156471