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AN ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE IRON CURTAIN
The border as an advertising point
It was not only in 1991 that the border was used as a stage to broadcast
political messages. Along the border between these two towns people have
used the border to express their views also in the past. You could almost say
that the border became a kind of an advertisement board for ‘the other
side’. Many photos show how during the period directly after World War II
different affiliations were clearly demonstrated. Some people showed their
wish to belong to either Italy or Yugoslavia very publicly. This was done
through erecting signs and placards and through graffiti on buildings. Some
of this graffiti survives today although is now uncommon as houses have
been torn down or refurbished (Figure 46). Ethnologist Jonas Frykman has
recorded similar messages in today’s Croatia (Frykman 2007:91). Pictures
found in the Goriški Musej Archives also demonstrate that political
messages were also written on the roofs of buildings (Figure 47).
Figure 46: Writing displaying
affiliations with Yugoslavia still
visible on building in 2011.
Writing on the front of the
building stating: ‘This is
Yugoslavia’ and writing on the
side of the building saying:
‘Long live Marshall Tito’.
Photo: Anna McWilliams 2011.
Figure 47: Construction of
buildings in Nova Gorica and
building with writing on roof in
the background stating ‘Tito’s
Party’. Property of Goriški
Muzej, Nova Gorica, Slovenia.
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