• At the beginning, we should define culture. As Miloš Ilić said long ago, it is the work of the human mind and hands. And Herriot defined culture as "that which remains when everything else is forgotten." As for today's culture, I am not sure that anything can be classified or arranged as something understandable, clear and recognizable. Perhaps we are truly close to Hobsbawm's phrase "the end of culture." In fact, culture is something that is cult. And cult is celebration, celebrating. If we were to break down the word culture into parts in our language, we would get "cult – u – ra." Cult is celebration, and Ra is the god of light. So, what is culture then? It is the celebration of light and God – said Prof. Dr. of Literature Jelina Đurković.

Đurković, appearing on the programme Where (Non-)Culture is Trending on Standard Classic Radio, said that four or five decades ago culture was an organized system, unlike today.

• The socialist system had a clear idea of what should remain "when everything else is forgotten," and through cultural and educational communities at the local level there was a task to take care of culture. Cultural values were very much promoted at that time, especially film. Culture is something that represents a system of cults, rituals, from time immemorial until today. Look at our tradition, which is very resilient, which does not give in, for example the badnjak, the patron saint's day, all of that has remained from paganism, it is not fashionable, and it is precisely that which preserves us. It preserves our genetic tree – Đurković pointed out.

Recalling her poetic beginnings, as well as the period of her studies, Jelina emphasized that as a secondary school student she was fascinated by Rimbaud, but that she became acquainted with a completely new world of values after enrolling at the Faculty of Philosophy, Department of Yugoslav Literature and Serbo-Croatian Language.

• As secondary school students we were truly fascinated by the poetry of Arthur Rimbaud, so we discussed the idea that you cannot be a poet if you do not publish a book by the age of twenty. Then I came to university and realized what literature is, what a poem is, what poetry is, and I saw that the study of literature deals with world greats, with the highest achievements. Then you sink again and say: Oh my, forget poetry, forget writing... However, if we are talking about poets and poems, I do not remember only what is recited, but I remember how I experienced the poem. How I lived through it. Take, for example, just one line by Dučić: "My whole soul is filled with you," and you will experience a planetary emotion – said Prof. Dr. Jelina Đurković while appearing on the programme Where (Non-)Culture is Trending.

Speaking about culture in the modern age, she said that today's society emphasizes the individual, but that such an attitude can only lead to alienation.

• In our time, it is obvious, the individual is preferred, but that is terrible alienation. Aristotle said long ago: "You cannot be God, nor can you be a monster. You must only be a human being." Culture is a system in which you function as an important member, as an individual, but we must become aware of the fact that we are nevertheless a community of individuals who create – Đurković stated.

To hear whether it is enough to support culture through grants, about the Bologna system at universities, former literature professors, the books published by Professor Jelina Đurković, translations of her poetry into Polish, and other topics, listen to the new programme Where (Non-)Culture is Trending by Aljoša Ljubojević.

Listen to the programme by clicking on the following link:

https://standardclassic.ba/gdje-se-fura-nekultura

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