Nova Istra No. 4.2002./2003.

Istarski ogranak DHK Pula Journal Nova Istra Nova Istra No. 4.2002./2003.

Journal Nova Istra

Hrvatski

Nova Istra No. 4.2002./2003.

In this issue of Nova IsAuthorstra, the section dealing with recent Croatian literature comprises new pieces of prose, poetry and dramatic works.

On the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of its first appearance, a special section deals with a short-term yet subversive Croatian modernist magazine “Circles” (Krugovi) from the middle of the 20th century.
The section “New Translations” carries, among others, several short journal entries and comments by prominent European author Umberto Eco from his book “Il secondo diario minimo” that had previously been published, in the course of the 1990s, in the weekly “L’Espresso”. The section also includes Croatian poetic translations of new poems by famous and often translated Slovenian poet Tomać ©alamun.
The section “Studies, reviews, and notes” comprises a piece on theatrology titled “Is there a ‘female dramatic issue’?”, with a particular focus on Joan of Arc and Hrosvitha. The section also includes a study on surrealism as a “pathway into the land of wonders” and an interesting piece of travel-writing on contemporary Greece with reminiscences of its ancient heritage.
A comprehensive essay on “the politics of cultural identity”, using as an example the intellectual engagement of contemporary French philosopher Alain Finkielkraut, is published in the section “Society”.
A more specific regional subject matter is present in the final part of the study on medieval cities, citadels and round towers in Istria and the Croatian Littoral, as well as their masters. The study is titled “Between the Lion and the Eagle”, alluding to the former domination of Venice and Austria in those regions.
Reviewers of new books published in Croatia, among other titles, present in this issue recent works by Milan Kundera, Sam J. Lundwall, and Peter Coles (on A. Einstein and St. Hawking).
Alongside the detailed essay on contemporary art and history of the first private art gallery — holding avant-garde exhibitions — in the so-called Eastern Europe in the middle of 1980s, as well as the review of the book “Gallery (Dante) Marino Cettina: Future Perspectives”, published in several languages in the same edition, the illustrations in this issue of Nova Istra have been taken from the holdings of the aforementioned gallery in the Croatian town of Umag, situated on the western coast of Istria in the Northern Adriatic. The contribution is at the same time an “homage” to the late founder of the gallery.