NASSS NEWSLETTER
No. 67
Winter/Spring 2012
By Nada Petkovic-Djordjevic & Slobodanka Vladiv-Glover
Letter from the President
Dear members of NASSS,
Although we were blessed with an unusually mild winter here in the Midwest, I am happy to greet
you from Chicago on an already spring-like day.
It has been my pleasure to assume the reins as President of NASSS for the second consecutive year.
My previous two-year term of service in the capacity of Vice President has served me well, and the transition
to more responsibilities and duties went smoothly. As I’ve learned more about the organization, its mission,
and its members, I’ve done my best to support its goals in many different ways. I do hope that some of the
results are obvious.
Our annual gathering in Washington D.C. in November 2011 was another great opportunity to
exchange ideas, share our news, plan for the future, and socialize. The Society held its Annual Executive Board
Meeting on Friday November 18, 2011, during the ASEEES 43 rd Annual Convention with the entire Board in
attendance. The meeting was productive—we touched upon and resolved many issues concerning the future
of the Society and our journal, Serbian Studies.
The NASSS Business meeting took place on the same day in the Blue Room at the Omni Shoreham
Hotel. Twenty-seven people attended, many of whom had good comments and suggestions. Please, take a look
at the minutes attached to this newsletter.
This past month, our major project was to update the list of NASSS members with all the information
necessary for regular communication between members, and uninterrupted distribution of the Serbian
Studies journal. Needless to say, my efforts to recruit new members continue. Currently, the society has 250
active members, many of whom joined us from universities across Europe. The Vice President and I are
working closely with a website developer on the creation of a new NASSS database that will help keep all
information current.
I am happy to announce that the project of digitizing past and current issues of Serbian Studies
(1989-2008) has been completed, and they may now be accessed on-line. Many thanks to the Editor of
Serbian Studies, Lilien Filipovich Robinson, and to the webmaster, Brendan W. Varley.
Slobodanka Vladiv-Glover assumed the position of Acting Chair of the Mihajlo Misha Djordjevic Book
Award, and is currently accepting your nominations by email (Millicent.Vladivglover@monash.edu).
At present, together with the members of the Executive Board, I endeavor to make certain that
provisions from the newly approved Bylaws are fully executed. This assumes additional on-line Board
meetings, coordination and/or correspondence amongst the members of the governance body, and other
necessary duties in preparation for our next gathering in New Orleans, at the 44th Annual ASSEEES
Convention, November 18-21, 2012.
I hope the work of the current governance body is in evidence and, as always, I welcome your
comments and constructive feedback. Rest assured, I’ll continue to work diligently to ensure that we thrive in
the future.
Sincerely,
Nada Petkovic-Djordjevic
Chicago, Spring 2012
REPORTS ON 43RD ANNUAL ASEEES CONVENTION, WASHINGTON DC
Panels at the 2011 ASEEES Convention
There were a number of panels organized by NASSS, all of which were exceptionally well attended and
generated lively discussion. Titles and participants were as follows:
Postmodernity or Traditionalism in Serbian Poetry (Radmila Gorup, Nina Zivancevic, Zdravka
Gugleta,Slobodanka Millicent Vladiv-Glover, Milan Orlic, Zorka Milich); Political Processes in the Western
Balkans after 2000 (Ron Linden, Andrew Konitzer, Jim Seroka, Paula M. Pickering, Mila Dragojevic);
Manifestations of Sovereign Power and Authority in the Arts, (Ljubica D. Popovich, Ljubomir Milanovic,
Lilien F. Robinson, Dragana Vasiljevic); Authority (Re)built: Spatial Representations of Political Power in
and after Yugoslavia (Elidor Mehilli, Tanja Damljanović, Emily Gunzburger Makas, Vladimir Kulić, Patrick H.
Patterson); Serbia, Its Neighbors, and Its Region: A Constructive Actor? —Roundtable (Francine
Friedman, David Kanin, Obrad Kesic, Konstantin Khudoley, George Schopflin); Between Faith and
Subversion: The Construction of Authority in Serbian Religion, Literature, and Music (Nada PetkovićDjordjević, Milica Bakic-Hayden, Tomislav Longinovic, Vladimir Pištalo, Vladimir Zoric); Authority and
Development in Southeastern Europe: Opportunities and Risks in the XXI Century (Slobodan Pesic,
Julian Schuster, Jasminka Ninkovic, Gordana Pesakovic, Snezana Grk); The End of Yugoslavia: Perspectives
on Real-time Analysis Twenty Years Later (Roundtable)—(Robert M. Hayden, U of Pittsburgh, Steven L.
Burg, Robert Donia, David Kanin, Susan L. Woodward); Poetry of Vasko Popa (1922-1991): Twenty Years
after the Poet’s Death—(Radmila Gorup, Svetlana Dimitrijevic-Seatovic, Krinka Vidakovic Petrov, Branko
Vranes, Aleksandar Petrov).
NASSS Executive Board Meeting
The Executive Board Meeting was held on Friday, November 18, 2011. In attendance: Nada PetkovicDjordjevic (Chair), Ljubica Popovic, Lilien Robinson, Rajka Gorup, Sonja Kotlica, Dusan Danilovic, Boban Pesic,
Slobodanka Vladiv-Glover.
The President opened the meeting with a reflection on Ruzica Popovic’s contribution to the Society.
The meeting approved the election to vacancies on the following sub-committees: Mihailo (Misha) Djordjevic
Book Committee: Slobodanka Vladiv-Glover as Member and Acting Chair; Slobodanka Vladiv-Glover as
Newsletter Editor. The election for an incoming Secretary was postponed. A decision was made that the
NASSS Executive Board shall appoint members to the Mihajlo Miha Djordjevic Book Award Committee. The
family of Mihailo Misha Djordhevic is ex officio on the Book Award Committee, with equal voting rights but no
right of veto. However, the NASSS Executive Board aims to respect the family’s sensitivities regarding any
entry. The meeting also clarified that the M.DJ. Book Award Committee reports to the President, who then
tables their suggestions to the Executive Board for final approval. Nominations can be made by anyone,
including members of the Mihajlo Misha Djordjevic Book Award Committee.
The President discussed the implementation of the new approved By-Laws; the issues she raised
were the number of officers on the Executive Board, the term of office, the bi-annual report from the
Treasurer, and the duties of the Secretary. The President undertook to circulate the approved By-Laws
(action – see Appendix 3).
The President reported the results of her membership drive: 300 letters were sent in April (250) and
September (50); there was a 10% response, resulting in 26 new members. There was a discussion of the
digitalization of SS, with the total cost of the project to be supervised by Boban Pesic. Online membership
renewal was also discussed and a ballpark sum of $500 was approved for the development of such a facility.
The new Visa payment service is to be linked to the existing Pay-Pal service (run by Boban Pesic and Sonja
Kotlica) on the NASSS website. The Executive members of the SS Committee (Ljubica and Lilian) tabled the
following timetable for current and future issues of SS:
Report by Lilien Robinson and Ljubica Popovic:
The last issue published was Vol 23 (2009) No 1. Editors: Jelena Bogdanovic, Lilian Filipovic Robinson and
Ljubica Popovic (available from the “Slavica” Publishers booth at the Conference). Vol 23 (2009) No 2 is in
production; publication expected in early January.
Three new issues are planned to bring the journal up to date. Suggested themes for new issues are:
 2010 Vols 24 No 1 & No 2 – Belgrade
 2011 Vols 25 No 1 & No 2 - Jewish Experience in Serbia
 Laza Lazarevic – monograph issue
 Feminism
 Vasko Popa – to be edited by Alexander Petrov
The Executive Board decided that “Call for Articles” notices will be placed on the NASSS website and in
the ASEEES Newsletter (write to Linda Parks). (Action: SS Publication Committee)
Report by the Treasurer
Sonja Kotlica, the Treasurer of NASSS, gave her report. It was decided that the NASSS Funds to Support
Academic Travel to ASEEES will include a $200 per diem allowance. Proposals with information about the
student or academic (CV, intended form of participation) should be sent to the Executive Board. The
Executive Board will give preference to people traveling from Serbia.
Annual Business Meeting took place on Friday, November 18, 2011 at 4:00 p.m. in the Blue Room of the
Omni Shoreham Washington DC (Minutes, Appendix #1)
Annual Fund-Raising Dinner
The fund-raising dinner took place at the home of Ljubica D. Popovich, on Friday, November 18, at 7:00
p.m. at 5805 Osceola Road, Bethesda, Maryland 20816, telephone number (301) 320-4833. The price per
person was $30. A sum of $2,400 was collected.
Upcoming Events
The 44th Annual Convention of the Association will be held in New Orleans, LA, from Thursday, November 15,
to Sunday, November 18, 2012 at the New Orleans Marriott. The theme of the 2012 convention is
"Boundary, Barrier and Border Crossing." The Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Friday,
November 16. Time and place TBA. Here is the list of panels organized by NASSS members that have been
accepted for the forthcoming conference.
1. Panel title: "Reflections of Border Crossings in Serbian Art and Culture": Panel Organizer: L.F.
Robinson, Panel Chair: Ljubomir Milanovic (Rutgers U), Discussant: Jelena Bogdanovic (East Carolina U).
Papers: "Crossing the Borders to Create the Raska School: A Merging of Romanesque and Byzantine", Ljubica
Popovich (Vanderbilt Emerita); "Defining European 'Orientalism' through the Balkan Lense of Paja
Jovanovic'— Lilien F. Robinson (Geo Wash. U); “Legacies Remembered: Dositej Obradovic and the Inroads of
Enlightenment’— Jelena Milojkovic-Djuric (Texas A & MU)
2. Panel title: "The Future of Post Yugoslav Cultural Space(s)". Panel Organizer: Nada Petkovic-Djordjevic,
petkovic@uchicago.edu (U of Chicago); Discussant: Dijana Mitrovic dmitrovic@wisc.edu (U of Wisconsin);
Chair: Nada Petkovic Djordjevic petkovic@uchicago.edu (U of Chicago); Cities in Translation: Writing in the
post-Yugoslav Diaspora” Tomislav Longinovic, tlongino@wisc.edu (U of Wisconsin); “Storytelling, Hip Hop
Historiography, and Alternative Historical Standards”: A Musical View from 'ex-YU' Owen Kohl,
owenkohl@uchicago.edu (U of Chicago); “Politically Divided, Culturally United: Co-productions in PostYugoslav Cinema” Mila Turajlic, mila.turajlic@gmail.com Freelancer.
3. Panel title: “Ivo Andrić: Organizer: Radmila Gorup rjg26@columbia.edu Columbia U; Chair: Milica
Bakic-Hayden milicabh@pitt.edu (U of Pittsburgh); Discussant: Slobodanka Vladiv-Glover
millicent.vladivglover@monash.edu Monash U (Australia); Boundaries and Cross-Overs in the Works of Ivo
Andric, Radmila Gorup, rjg26@columbia.edu (Columbia U), “The Boundaries of Fiction: Andric as Storyteller
and Chronicler”, Adriana Marcetic, marcetic@eunet.rs U of Belgrade (Serbia); “(Ab)Use of the Nobel Prize
Winner after Yugoslavia”, Vladimir Pistalo, Vladimir.Pistalo@becker.edu Becker College.
4. Panel title: "Constructing the Serbian Poetic Cannon of Poets after WWII: Before and Now" Organizer:
Biljana Obradovic bobradov@xula.edu (Xavier U of Louisiana); Discussant: Damjana Mraovic-O'Hare
dxm388@psu.edu (Pennsylvania State U); Chair: Radmila Gorup rjg26@columbia.edu (Columbia U);
“Contemporary Serbian Poetry Before and Now: a Bridge Over the Gap-2012”, Nina Zivancevic,
nina.zivancevic@orange.fr (U Paris 8 France); “Anthologies of East and Central European Post-WWII Poetry:
The Case of Vasko Popa”, Zdravka Gugleta, zgug1@student.monash.edu (Monash University); “Anthologizing
Serbian Contemporary Poetry” Biljana Obradovic, bobradov@xula.edu (Xavier U of Louisiana).
NASSS BOOK AWARD 2010-2011
Call for Nominations
Members are invited to send their nominations to Slobodanka Vladiv-Glover, Acting Chair of the Mihajlo
Misha Djordjevic Book Award (email: Millicent.Vladivglover@monash.edu) by May 15, 2012. The Committee
will make its final selections on or before June 30, when it will notify contestants by email. The Book Award
Committee will decide in which category to make the award or make two awards—one in each category. Two
books have been nominated so far:
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Tomislav Z. Longinovic, Vampire Nation: Violence as Cultural Imaginary, Duke University Press, 2011;
Tèa Obreht, The Tiger’s Wife, Random House, New York, 2011
MEMBERS’ NEWS
Publications:
 Milica Bakic-Hayden, “Empires are Us: Identifying with Differences,” in Sindbeak and Maximilian
Hartmuth (Eds), Images of Imperial Legacy: Modern Discourses on the Social and Cultural Impact of
Ottoman and Habsburg Rule in Southeast Europe. (Berlin: LIT Verlag, 2011).
 Jovan Delic, Ivo Andrić: Most i žrtva. (Muzej grada Beograda, 2011).
 Zdravka Gugleta, “Atemporalni pesnički prostor :fenomenološka interpretacija Čarlsa Simića” [The
Atemporal Space of the Poem: A Phenomenological Interpretation of Charles Simic’s Poetry.”] Sveske
29/97 (2010): 95-100.
 Toma Longinovic, Vampire Nation: Violence as Cultural Imaginary,.(Duke University Press, 2011).
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Milan Orlic, “Money and the Ontology of Exchange in Slavic Literatures.” Literary Calendar: Books of the
Day 6 (2010): 14-27.
Nada Petkovic-Djordjevic and Philip Bohlman, (Eds.), Balkan Epic, Song, History Modernity. ((Lanham,
Toronto, Plymouth, UK: The Scarecrow Press, Inc.: 2012).
Slobodanka Vladiv-Glover, Poetika realizma: Dostojevski, Flober, Tolstoj. [The Poetics of Realism:
Dostoevsky, Flaubert, Tolstoy. Trans. into Serbian (Belgrade: “Ariadna”, Pancevo: “Mali Nemo”, 2010),
monograph 182 pp.
Slobodanka Vladiv-Glover, “Post-Structuralism in Georgia: the Phenomenology of the ‘Objects-Centaurs’
of Merab Mamardashvili,” Angelaki: The Journal of the Theoretical Humanitie. Special Issue on
Philosophising in/on Eastern Europe. Vol 5, Number 3 (2010): 27-39. (ERA A+ rated journal in Australia)
Slobodanka Vladiv-Glover, “Potisnuta prošlost u romanu Mamac Davida Albaharija” [“The Repression of
History in David Albahari’s Novel Bait”]. Sveske (Notebooks, “Mali Nemo”, Pancevo, Serbia) 29/97 (2010):
67-75.
Slobodanka Vladiv-Glover, “Gledanja [le regard] kao osnova poetike Tolstojevog realizma” [Le regard as
the Basis of Tolstoy’s Poetics of Realism.”] Književna istorija [Literary History, Belgrade], 42/142 (2010):
499-522.
Slobodanka Vladiv-Glover “The Sketch of Manners and Alienation in the Poetics of Flaubert and
Dostoevsky,” Facta Universitatis, Series Literature (University of Niš),Vol. 8, No.1, (2910): 63 – 78. UDC
82.091
Marko Živkovic, Serbian Dreambook: National Imaginary in the Time of Milošević. (Indiana University
Press, 2011).
The Ružica Popovitch-Krekić Special Fund
A memorial fund, called the Ružica Popovitch-Krekić Special Fund has been established by NASSS with the
assistance of Ljubica D Popovich.The purpose of this Special Fund is to assist with the scholarly needs of
members, associates, and participants in the publications and conferences of the North American Society for
Serbian Studies. The Special Fund is administered by the Executive Board of the North American Society for
Serbian Studies (NASSS) to which proposals should be directed. To receive funding the application must be
approved by three members of the Board. Support may be allocated for a broad variety of purposes, including
but not limited to, textual translation, illustration costs, other special publication or conference presentation
needs. Tax exempt contributions to the memorial Ružica Popovitch-Krekić Special Fund are invited and may
be directed to the Treasurer of the North American Society for Serbian Studies: Sonja Kotlica, 1301 Delaware
Avenue SW, #N112, Washington, D.C., 20024.
Membership Dues
All NASSS members who live in the USA, Australia, or Canada may pay their membership dues on-line via
PayPal. Only members who live in Serbia do not have access to PayPal and must use credit cards. NASSS is
currently working on establishing a credit card service on its website. The President sends a plea to all
members to update their subscriptions for 2012. A list of categories is provided on the attached Membership
Form. (Appendix #2)
Members of the Executive Board:
Nada Petkovic (petkovic@uchicago.edu), President
Dusan Danilovic (dusandanilovic@gmail.com), Vice President
Sonja Kotlica (sonjakot@yahoo.com), Treasurer
Slobodan Pesic (boban@pesic.com)
Milica Bakic-Hayden (milicabh@pitt.edu),
Lilian Filipovich Robinson (LFR@GWU.edu),
Rajka Jovanovic Gorup (rjg26@columbia.edu)
Slobodanka Vladiv-Glover (Millicent.vladivglover@ monash.edu),
Ljubica D. Popovich,
Members of Mihajlo “Misha” Djordjevic Book Committee:
Slobodanka Vladiv-Glover (Millicent.vladivglover@ monash.edu)
Rajka Gorub (rjg26@columbia.edu)
Jelena Milojkovic-Djuric (djuricjelena@aol.com)
Ranka Gajic (rankag@aol.com),
Thomas Popovich (popovi4@ncc.edu),
Dragana McFadden, (dmcfaddllc@yahoo.com)
Ljubica D. Popovich
Appendix #1
Minutes
Friday, November 18, 2011, 4:00 p.m.
Blue Room Omni Shoreham Washington DC
Omni Shoreham Hotel Washington DC.
Present:
Milica Bakic-Hayden (milicabh@Princeton.edu), Margaret Beissinger (mhbeissi@Princeton.edu), Milan
Orlic (Milan@malinemo.rs), Zorka Milich (zmilich100@yahoo.com), Gordana Pesakovic
(pesakovic@msn.com), Milos Djorjevic (djordjevicmilos2003@yahoo.com), Vladimir Zoric (Vladimir.
zoric@nottingham.ac.uk), Vlada Pistalo (vpistalo@yahoo.com), Toma Longinovic (tlongino@wisc.edu),
Andy Konitzer (Konitzer@pitt.edu), Zdravka Gugleta (zdravka.gugleta@monash.edu), Jelena Fay-Lukic
(fay-lukic@si.edu), Svetlana Seatovic-Dimitrijevic (Svetlana.seatovic@gmail.com), Jelena Bogdanovic
(bogdanovic.jelena@gmail.com), Vladimir Kulic (vkulic@fau.edu), Obrad Kesic (okesic@ismglobe.com),
Aleksandar Boskovic , (aboskov@umich.edu), Branko Vranes (brankovranes@sbb.rs), Boban Pesic,
Slobodanka Vladiv-Glover (Minutes), Nada Petkovic-Djordjevic (Chair), Lillian Robinson, Ljubica Popovic,
Rajka Gorup, Sonja Kotlica (Treasurer), Dusan Danilovic (Vice President)
1) A moment of silence was observed for our late NASSS Board Member, Ruzica Popovic-Krekic.
2) The “Ruzica Popovic-Krekic Fund” –NASSS has established the fund to assist with the scholarly needs of
members and associates in publications and conferences sponsored by NASSS.
3) President’s Report –
The President’s agenda for 2010-2011, which is outlined below, has been achieved in full:
i. To promote research in Serbian studies;
ii. To increase public knowledge about Serbian studies (in Chicago);
iii. To establish communication between NASSS and Serbian scholars, and to bring a number of Serbian
scholars to conferences in the USA;
iv. To initiate a membership drive in 2011, in spring 2011 and fall 2011, with 300 letters mailed out to
names and addresses in the Serbian Yellow Pages. Result: 30 new members. Another batch of invitations will
be sent before the end of 2011.
v. The website www.serbianstudies.org has been established. [ADMIN NOTE: Boban Pesic circulated a
website description to members before the Washington Conference. See attachment to these Minutes.]
vi. Treasurer’s Report: The President invited the Treasurer to give a brief oral report at the meeting (the
written report will be circulated with these Minutes). The Treasurer reported that despite the global
recession, NASSS is doing well and expanding its funds. This is dependent on members keeping their
membership contributions up to date.
4. Serbian Studies Journal
i. The newest issue is available from the “Slavica” Publishers booth at the Conference; this is Vol 23
(2009) No 1. Editors: Jelena Bogdanovic, Lilian Filipovic Robinson and Ljubica Popovic.
ii. Three new issues are planned to bring the journal up to date.
Iii Suggested themes for new issues are:
 Laza Lazarevic – monograph issue
 Belgrade – double issue
 Feminism
 Jewish Experience in Serbia
 Vasko Popa.
Articlesfor any of these issues should be submitted to the editors, Lilian Filipovic Robinson and Ljubica
Popovic. The editors are also inviting ideas for future issues.
5. ASEEES New Orleans 2012
Proposed conference theme: “Borders, Barriers and Border Crossings”
Young scholars, especially from Serbia, should attend this conference with NASSS financial assistance.
6. NASSS Office Bearers
i. “Mihajlo Misha Djordjevic” Book Award – the prize will not be awarded in 2011. Nominations for
2012 should go to: Slobodanka Vladiv-Glover, Acting Chair, “Misha Djordjevic” Book Award Email:
Millicent.Valdivglover@monash.edu
7. NASSS NEWSLETTER
Slobodanka Vladiv-Glover was nominated and elected as Newsletter Editor for 2012. She is calling for news
items to be submitted to her via email during 2012.
8. PANELS
Panels at the 43rd Annual Convention of ASEEES with Serbian content were well attended. The panels were
listed in Newsletter No 64, circulated before the conference.
9.
AOB
i)
Andrew Konitzer – UGRD Program U of Pittsburgh Grant Program – need to mobilise State
Department – 50 u/grads from Serbia and Montenegro, host institutions on a cost-sharing scheme….
ii)
Two new young Serbian scholars from Australia were introduced to the meeting: Zdravka Gugleta
and Milan Orlic. Both were sponsored by the ASEEES Convention, by Slavic Studies, School of Languages,
Cultures and Linguistics, Monash University.
iii)
Two young scholars from Serbia, sponsored by NASSS, were introduced to the Meeting: Svetlana
Startovic-Dimitrijevic of the Institute for Literature and Arts (U of Belgrade) and Branko Vranes, Faculty of
Philology, U of Belgrade.
iv)
Sasha Petrov’s announcement (re: Maria Adamivic, Aleksandar Petrov, Forum Room, 15-17
Appendix #2
NORTH AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR SERBIAN STUDIES
website: www.serbianstudies.org
2012 MEMBERSHIP FORM
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Title:
Dr.
Prof.
Mr.
Mrs.
Ms.
First Name: __________________________________ Middle Name: ____________________________________
Last Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________
Institution Firm: _______________________________________________________________________________
E-mail Address: _______________________________________________________________________________
Preferred Mailing Address:
Office or
Home
Office Address: _______________________________________________________________________________
City: ________________________________ State: ________________________________ Zip: ______________
Country: _____________________________________________________________________________________
Home Address: _______________________________________________________________________________
City: ________________________________ State: ________________________________ Zip: ______________
Country: _____________________________________________________________________________________
Preferred contact phone: ________________________________________________________________________
MEMBRSHIP DUES
NASSS Membership follows the calendar year. All members receive Serbian Studies Journal biannually and the
Newsletter. Please select your dues amount.
Individual — $40 (For Serbia and the former Yugoslav lands — $10)
____________________________
Institution — $50
____________________________
Student/Retired — $15
____________________________
Subscription to Serbian Studies without membership — $30
____________________________
ENDOWMENT CONTRIBUTIONS
(NASSS is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Your contributions are tax-deductible)
Benefactor — $1000 or more
____________________________
Patron — $500
____________________________
Sponsor — $250
____________________________
Friend — $100
____________________________
TOTAL ENCLOSED:
____________________________
PAYMENT INFORMATION
Check or Money Order (Make payable to NASSS in US dollars) and send to:
Ms. Sonja Kotlica, NASSS Treasurer, 1301 Delaware Avenue SW, #N112, Washington, D.C., 20024
PayPal
Signature: _______________________________________________ Date: _______________________________