Under the auspices of the Centre for Popular Culture at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Osijek and as part of Kliofest, students of History and English Language and Literature, joined by Branimir Kovačević, a student from the Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences, staged an academic colloquium entitled Bridge over Troubled Waters: Looking Back at the 1970s, in collaboration with professors Danijel Jelaš, Ljubica Matek and Valentina Markasović.
On 14 May 2026, in the Small Ceremonial Hall of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Osijek, the participants brought to life a period from which much can still be learned today through three sessions: Popular Culture, Music and Gender Politics.
The speakers in the first session, Popular Culture – Doris Radnić, Ivan Nemet and Branimir Kovačević, with Sanja Hes as moderator – explored the ways in which individuals expressed themselves at the time, the filmography and characteristics of horror films, and the reasons why New York was nicknamed Fear City.
The Music session was moderated by Lara Žarinac and featured presentations by Lana Trabak, Snežana Pavković, Daniel Huseinović, Ema Rosotrunović and Katarina Terzić. By examining the poetics of musical icons of the 1970s, the presentations confirmed the value of such colloquia in providing a more comprehensive understanding of the past through art and popular culture, as well as of the ways in which its various influences continue to shape the present.
The final session, Gender Politics, was moderated by student Doris Radnić and featured two presentations. Antonija Roguljić presented a paper entitled The Feminist Art Movement in the United States during the 1970s, while Lorena Jukić addressed the topic Roe v. Wade and the Social Transformation of American Women in the 1970s. Through detailed research and analysis, the speakers presented the social and political changes that shook society at the time but remain relevant today, encouraging the audience to think critically and, perhaps even more importantly, to engage in dialogue. In addition to the informative colloquium, the students gathered in the evening for a themed quiz and listening session, enjoying excellent music from the 1970s.
Through their creative approach, the participants demonstrated that history can be studied from a variety of perspectives, opening up opportunities for further research, including interdisciplinary approaches.
Text: Luka Prijić
Photographs: Danijel Jelaš