Object structure
Title:

The Vardar River as a border of semiosphere – Paradox of Skopje regeneration

Subtitle:

Geographia Polonica Vol. 92 No. 1 (2019)

Creator:

Kapusta, Armina : Autor ORCID

Publisher:

IGiPZ PAN

Place of publishing:

Warszawa

Date issued/created:

2019

Description:

24 cm

Type of object:

Journal/Article

Subject and Keywords:

Skopje 2014 project ; bridges over the Vardar River ; semiosphere ; urban semiotics ; ruining and demolishing ; multicultural city

Abstract:

As suggested by its etymology, regeneration usually carries positive connotations while its negative aspects tend to be belittled. However, any renewal results in major morphological, physiognomic, functional or social changes, which imply changes in the meanings encoded in space. These transformations are not always welcome and they may lead to public discussions and conflicts. Skopje 2014 is a project within which such controversial transformations have been taking place. The area surrounding the Vardar River and its banks plays a major role here. On the river banks monumental buildings were erected, bridges over the river were modernised and new ones, decorated with monuments, were built for pedestrians. Bridges can be considered a valuable component of any urban infrastructure as they link different parts of a settlement unit (in the case of Skopje – left (northern) bank and the right (southern) bank; Albanian and Macedonian), improve transport, facilitate trade and cultural exchange. In this context, referring to Lotman’s semiosphere theory, they may become borders of semiotic space, which acts as a filter that facilitates the penetration of codes and cultural texts. Yet, in multicultural Skopje meanings attached to bridges seem to lead to social inequalities as they glorify what is Macedonian and degrade the Albanian element. To validate this assumption we carried out semiotic analysis of bridges over the Vardar River which were renewed or built within the Skopje 2014 project to identify their role in shaping the semiosphere of the Macedonian capital.

References:

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Relation:

Geographia Polonica

Volume:

92

Issue:

1

Start page:

83

End page:

102

Resource type:

Text

Detailed Resource Type:

Article

Format:

File size 0,6 MB

Resource Identifier:

0016-7282 (print) ; 2300-7362 (online) ; 10.7163/GPol.0138

Source:

CBGiOS. IGiPZ PAN, call nos.: Cz.2085, Cz.2173, Cz.2406 ; click here to follow the link

Language:

eng

Language of abstract:

eng

Rights:

Creative Commons Attribution BY 4.0 license

Terms of use:

Copyright-protected material. [CC BY 4.0] May be used within the scope specified in Creative Commons Attribution BY 4.0 license, full text available at: ; -

Digitizing institution:

Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization of the Polish Academy of Sciences

Original in:

Central Library of Geography and Environmental Protection. Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization PAS

Projects co-financed by:

Operational Program Digital Poland, 2014-2020, Measure 2.3: Digital accessibility and usefulness of public sector information; funds from the European Regional Development Fund and national co-financing from the state budget.

Access:

Open

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