Summary
Miroslav Kirin: Babanija
Babanija is a world, a name that draws you from the known to the unknown - written with well-known, sometimes embarrassingly close people, places, conversations. In Babania, Bania is possible, but at the same time it is quite impossible. Unreal, invented, imagined, and then again so bitterly real, fragile with its misfortune, shaken by galgenhumor. Babania is something that escapes historical-political categorization, it disobeys the boundaries between autofiction and fiction. Babanija is a place of great freedom because it does not recognize currently valid laws. In order for Babania to exist, it is sometimes necessary to deprive oneself of correctness. Babania is a country that is inspired by real geographical categories and real people, but it doesn't trust anyone enough, so it creates everything anew, even the childhood of its inhabitants.
Bania is now a mythical micro-country. A sort of middle ground. A country that must be reimagined every now and then. Banski kraj, Banska krajina, Banska granica, Banal Grenze, Banija, Banovina, etc. And most importantly - the land of endless childhood. Everyone has the right to call this region what they feel is best. If we decide on the Latin name, which rises somewhat proudly from the confusion of our uncertain languages, Terra banalis is perhaps the best solution.
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