Different Identities and Functions of Urban Space: a Comparative Study of the Circumstances in Belgrade and Athens / Различити идентитети и функције урбаног простора: упоредно проучавање прилика у Београду и Атини

Abstract

The results of the research created as part of the project will be presented at the Second Serbian-Greek Conference „Different Identities and Functions of Urban Space: A Comparative Study of the Circumstances in Belgrade and Athens“ which the Institute of Ethnography SASA realizes in cooperation with the Laboratory for Folklore and Social Anthropology, Department of History and Ethnology, Demokritus University of Thrace (Republic of Greece), as the project holder. This four-year project began in June 2019. The project is managed by dr Manolis G. Varvounis, professor at the Demokritus University of Thrace and director of the Laboratory for Folklore and Social Anthropology on the Greek side, and dr Gordana Blagojević, Principal Research Fellow of the Institute of Ethnography SASA on the Serbian side. The aim of this scientific conference is to present and analyze different ways of using urban space from a diachronic perspective, in a comparative study of the two capitals: Athens and Belgrade. Through this conference, we will point out the multilayered identities and functions of urban space, as well as the contemporary challenges that its inhabitants are facing. Urban space will be viewed as a platform in which various types of activities take place: social, business, economic, cultural, religious, sports, recreational, etc. We will address topics related to urban activities that reflect class, cultural, gender, age, ethnic and other diversity. Analyzing the role of the individual and the local community, we will try to look at the wider social network of various factors that influence formation and functioning of public spaces in these cities.