In the previous century, the contested political space of Central and Eastern Europe gave rise to numerous celebratory practices repeated periodically or taking place just once. Commemorating a single occasion, a series of events, a person or a group, official ceremonies often had ideological connotations and intended to communicate a specific message. Foremost, however, they often had a strong visual side to them, as they involved works of art, architecture, graphic art, moving images, and specific dress codes and were turned into spectacular events for the participants, organizers and viewers. Ceremonies were also not limited to a specific day and were commemorated in various visual media.

Although attention has been paid to the role of art in official, especially communist propaganda, this issue of Centropa seeks to examine a more general question of visual culture in its relation to performative spectacles in the region. Articles are invited on the topic of the commemoration of war, celebrations of political leaders or cultural icons, parades held on the occasion of national holidays, and also folk and religious rituals that survived into the 20th century. Attention should be paid to the visual representation of the ideas involved, the techniques, objectives and representation of the events in e.g. painting or photography. Authors are welcome to provide studies of ceremonies in a single country or comparatively within the region of Central and Eastern Europe after 1918.

Please send an abstract of up to 300 words to Dr Marta Filipova at m.filipova@newcastle.ac.uk by 31 January 2010.