The city as the historical memory reflection: the reconstruction of Minsk mental image

Abstract

The features of reflecting the historical memory of the Belarusian people in the mental image of Minsk are presented. Historical memory is interpreted in two ways: as a historical heritage (the duality of the city’s history, combining Western European cultural traditions and Soviet heritage with an emphasis on the war and post-war periods) and as a sphere of cultural interaction of the population (the mental image of the city in the minds of citizens, characterised by a syncretic perception of the cultural past and a mixture of multidirectional symbols and ideologies). Two key trends have been identified that determine the perception of Minsk residents of their city – the influence of the Soviet period (a combination of Soviet monumentalism and elements of national Belarusian culture in architecture) and the influence of Western European traditions (restoration of the historical part of the city in the style of pre-revolutionary Minsk, following European traditions in holding city events, creating pedestrian streets, etc.). At the same time, the general trajectory of the development of the Belarusian capital takes place within the framework of decolonisation (most clearly manifested in urban toponymy) and reactive modernisation as a search for its own unique path.