Zgodovina za vse (History for Everyone)
The modern narrative
Undoubtedly the most distinctive characteristic of Zgodovina za vse is the revival of narrative. The articles are discernible by their detailed narratives or description (i.e. thick descriptions). This is so-called 'modern narrative' which contemporary historians, influenced by the findings and results of anthropology, contrast with more traditional narrative characterised as 'thin description'. Thorough and detailed case studies of various phenomena from the Slovene past form complex articles which, according to the methodology and technique they deploy, can be characterised as micro-history or micro-narrative - the history of every-day life, the history of mentality, as well as the history of civilisation, habits and customs.
Contents and approach
The journal consists of three content-based parts. The first comprises a section for real life stories and articles which are in line with the general orientation of the journal. The criteria for contributions are an academic approach supported by a rich critical apparatus in a narrative style which is neither dull nor plain. The second part is comprised of discussions concerning the theory of history as well as various polemics, while the third offers reviews of books dealing with issues and topics related to the journal's content.
The recent edition of the journal included articles and texts about: the nutrition and the eating habits of the Carniola aristocracy; the history of the vehement singing societies of the Ljubljana's Germans and the history of the pejorative term for the so-called 'Ljubljana shirts'; the history of the national conflicts in Primorska region and the history of sexual offences in the region of Celje in 1930s.
With respect to the above-mentioned paradigmatic orientation, the journal is on a par with similar historical periodicals in Europe. The articles are complemented by fairly long German summaries and shorter Slovene and English abstracts. The archive of the past editions of the journal is available on-line.
See also
External links
- History for Everyone Journal website (in Slovenian)
- History for Everyone Journal online on the Sistory.si web resource (in Slovenian)