A philosopher's square questions what is happening to our past

The new edition of the Philosophers' Square, one of the most important programs of the International KotorArt Festival, will be held today and tomorrow in the courtyard of the Mazarović Palace in Perast, at 21 p.m., and is dedicated to contemporary social thought. This year's cycle, entitled "What is happening to our past?", will bring together prominent philosophers, historians, art historians and researchers from the region through two conversations to raise questions about the relationship to the past, the culture of memory and the preservation of cultural heritage, the organizers announce.

"At the new festival location, the Mazarović Palace in Perast, the audience will have the opportunity to participate in conversations that go beyond academic frameworks and touch on topics of crucial importance for contemporary society: how we understand history, how we shape collective memory, and what responsibility we have towards the heritage we inherit," the statement states.

Today's repertoire includes a panel discussion "Time of the Past - Conflicting Politics of Memory", with the participation of: Prof. Dr. Dragan Prole, professor at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Novi Sad, Hrvoje Klasic, professor at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Zagreb and one of the most prominent historians of contemporary Croatian history, and Milivoj Beshlin, historian and senior research associate at the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade. The discussion will be moderated by Paula Petričević, program editor, philosophy professor at Kotor High School.

Starting from the question of why the past is often as uncertain as the future today, Petričević points out that the past is constantly changing under the pressure of the needs of the present.

"Its reinterpretations become a means of political mobilization, while historical revisionism, selective memories, and the instrumentalization of heritage shape the way we understand ourselves and the world around us. That is why we will discuss the relationship between history and memory, the dangers of being oversaturated with the past, but also whether society can build a sustainable future without responsibly confronting its own history," she says.

The topic of tomorrow's conversation is "Space of the Past - Risks of the Musealization of Heritage", and the participants are: Dr. Tatjana Koprivica, art historian and senior research associate at the Institute of History, University of Montenegro, Predrag Krstic, philosopher and professor at the Faculty of Media and Communication, Singidunum University, and Stevan Kordic, photographer and assistant professor at the University of Montenegro, whose long-term work is dedicated to documenting the cultural heritage of Boka Kotorska. The moderator will once again be Paula Petričević.

The second panel opens up issues of preserving cultural heritage in times of intensive tourist and market exploitation of space. Special attention will be paid to the Bay of Kotor as an area under UNESCO protection, but also to the challenges of preserving the authenticity of cultural heritage in contemporary social circumstances.

"How do we preserve not only the form, but also the life of heritage? Can we live off heritage without destroying it? How do we preserve tradition without turning it into a museum exhibit? These are questions that are being raised particularly strongly in the Bay of Kotor, where cultural heritage is not only a witness to the past, but also a part of everyday life," says Petričević.

The Philosophers' Square represents one of the most recognizable segments of KotorArt, creating a space for open dialogue between art, philosophy, history and society. Through meetings with leading regional intellectuals, the Festival confirms its mission to, in addition to top-notch artistic content, foster critical reflection on contemporary social issues.

"This year, the audience will have the opportunity to be an active participant in the conversation, confirming that the Philosophers' Square remains a meeting place for different opinions, disciplines and generations, in the unique ambiance of Perast," KotorArt says.