ANTHROPOLOGY OF SPACE IN THE CONTEXT OF RESEARCHING THE PHENOMENON OF "EXTENDED YOUTH"

Abstract

In this paper, from an anthropological perspective, the influence of cultural representations on the phenomenon of "prolonged youth" is reexamined, while cultural representations of space are analyzed in particular. Pointing to the narratives about the city, the neighborhood and the rooms of young people living with their parents, the paper focuses on the meanings that the interviewees attach to the spaces and living arrangements in which they find themselves. Also, the work points to the living arrangements of "others" and perceived alternatives. The goal of the paper is to show how the respondents relate to urban topography, primarily to the spaces they consider "theirs" in the sense of residence, and how ideas about spaces affect the phenomenon of "extended youth". Examining the narratives about the choices of young people from Belgrade, the paper points to cultural representations that model their thinking about independence and moving from the family home. The paper used the results of field research conducted in Belgrade from August 2019 to November 2020 among young people and their parents.