The influence of photographs on respondents’ answers about city symbols

Authors

Keywords:

photo-elicitation, photography, urban symbol, urban identity, Belgrade

Abstract

In examining the urban identity of Belgrade, photo-elicitation was applied in the online survey „Identity of Belgrade“, which was conducted in November 2024 on a sample of 173 respondents who were students of social sciences and humanities at the University of Belgrade. It is a method that is not represented in local research. The peculiarity of photo-elicitation as a data collection method is the use of visual material that should encourage respondents’ answers in accordance with the subject of the research, primarily in interviews and focus groups. The paper analyzes how photos of symbols of Belgrade in an online survey influenced the responses of respondents. First, their influence is examined by accepting or not accepting the symbols of the city that are presented in fifteen photographs. Then, in the analysis, the independently formulated answers and the answers that were given when evaluating the symbols on the photos are compared. Finally, the selection of new symbols is analyzed after viewing displayed photos.

References

Backović, Vera. 2024. „The identity of Belgrade: recognizability and symbols“. In Regional development, indentities and democratic integration, edited by Jasmina S. Petrović, Gordana V. Stojić, Irina V. Trotsuk and Vladimir S. Cvetković, 279–291. Niš: University, Faculty of Philosophy Belgrade: Serbian Sociological Association.

Backović, Vera. 2025. „How does radical urban transformation change the urban symbols of Belgrade?“. In New Divisions, Struggles and Solidarities in South East Europe Book of Proceedings International Scientific Conference Belgrade, June 13–14, 2025, edited by Vera Backović and Aleksandra Marković, 231–243. Belgrade: Sociological Scientific Society of Serbia. https://doi.org/10.5937/snds25011B

Backović, Vera. 2026. „Metodski izazovi prilikom izbora fotografija za anketnu foto-elicitaciju“. (rukopis predat za objavljivanje).

Fajgelj, Stanislav. 2005. Metode istraživanja ponašanja. Beograd: Centar za primenjenu psihologiju.

Đurić, Slađana. 2020. „Vizuelna istraživanja – glavne metodološke dileme“. Kultura 166: 199–221. https://doi.org/10.5937/kultura2066197D

Milić, Vojin. 1996. Sociološki metod. Beograd: Zavod za udžbenike.

Nas, Peter J. M., Jaffe Rivke, and Annemarie Samuels. 2006. „Urban Symbolic Ecology and the Hypercity: State of the Art and Challenges for the Future“. In Hypercity: The Symbolic Side of Symbolism, edited by Peter J. M. Nas and Annemarie Samuels, 1–19. London: Kegan Paul.

Nas, Peter, Marlies de Groot, and Michelle Schut. 2011. „Introduction: Variety of symbols“. In Cities Full of Symbols: A Theory of Urban Space and Culture, edited by Peter J. M. Nas, 7−26. Leiden: Leiden University Press.

Naumović, Slobodan, Marija Brujić i Katarina Mitrović. 2021. „Uvod u antropologiju fotografije u Srbiji“. Glasnik Etnografskog instituta SANU 69 (1): 151-171. https://doi.org/10.2298/GEI2101151N

Skler, Lesli. 2023. Projekat ikona: arhitektura, gradovi i kapitalistička globalizacija. Novi Sad: Akademska knjiga.

Spasić, Ivana i Vera Backović. 2017. Gradovi u potrazi za identitetom. Beograd: Univerzitet u Beogradu – Filozofski fakultet, Institut za sociološka istraživanja.

Spasić, Ivana and Vera Backović. 2020. „Urban identity of Belgrade: Perfect chaos, imperfect balance“. Sociology 62 (4): 569−589. https://doi.org/10.2298/SOC2004569S

Zvijer, Nemanja. 2012. „Sociologija vizuelnog – mogući pravci budućeg razvoja sociologije u Srbiji“. Sociološki pregled 46 (3–4): 1065–1084.

Zvijer, Nemanja. 2023. „Vizuelni metodski pristupi između sociologije i antropologije: foto-еlicitacija i photovoice“. Etnoantropološki problemi 18 (2): 351–370. https://doi.org/10.21301/eap.v18i2.2

Onlajn izvori fotografija

Slika 1. Vizuelna reprezentacija simbola kafići https://www.sd.rs/vesti/drustvo/kafici-se-zatvaraju-sutra-ne-u-nedlelju-zabranjeno-okupljanje-vise-od-5-ljudi-odluka-je-konacna-2020–03–20i

Slika 2. Vizuelna reprezentacija simbola Beograd na vodi https://novaekonomija.rs/vesti-iz-zemlje/beograd-na-vodi-anektira-jos-330-hektara-siri-se-do-hipodroma-i-prelazi-savu

Slika 3. Vizuelna reprezentacija simbola Novi Beograd https://suemtravels.com/2021/05/23/exploring-new-belgrade-serbia/

Slika 4. Vizuelna reprezentacija simbola Pobednik https://www.tob.rs/sr/sta-videti/spomenici-1384295266/spomenik-pobedniku-park-kalemegdan

Slika 5. Vizuelna reprezentacija simbola Kalemegdan https://eyesonbelgrade.com/en/belgrade-fortress

Slika 6. Vizuelna reprezentacija simbola reke, Kalemegdan i Pobednik https://www.os-djurajaksic.edu.rs/images/web_bio_info_2014/83dunav/usrbiji.htm

Slika 7. Vizuelna reprezentacija simbola Hram Svetog Save

Pretragom pojma Hram Svetog Save Beograd, pronađena je fotografija na Plan plusu. https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=bcd32b3de9d160f4&udm=2&fbs=AIIjpHx_pWn3yifdDwPtDVOaJfQXQUATRgG-vpxTRh7TOSjeeHi3qZ9AwnhrnCn1S7iyoNsByB3Xnd_e1dbLpv1qUOgHPKbH63cyw1bggNeGaG-F4n-TJ5TzO3Yx-Grg55IL3sBiDVf2mx38b9qeDz8kHlz7Vl1kBIMmlRUc1eF1ZclFYyTp0_3JxH4lapCYONjNlBSLqdOmgEyxURtuU_ziJHaS6xpy2O3OiVOciYX6Oz_5My9OIZdA&q=hram+svetog+save&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwjIjI7d0t6RAxWjQfEDHS_aOBgQtKgLegQIDRAB&biw=1396&bih=623&dpr=1.38#sv=CAMSVhoyKhBlLUFWZGZITlh2QWoySW1NMg5BVmRm-SE5YdkFqMkltTToOYUUybnJNMXdYMVJjeE0gBCocCgZtb3NhaWMSEGUtQVZkZkhOWHZBajJJbU0YADABGAcg3bTZiAEwAkoKCAIQAhgCIAIoAg

Slika 8. Vizuelna reprezentacija simbola Trg republike https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_Square_%28Belgrade%29

Slika 9. Vizuelna reprezentacija simbola Gardoš https://www.citycode.rs/zemun_en.php

Slika 10. Vizuelna reprezentacija simbola Ada https://bizlife.rs/70774-ada-ciganlija-bezbedna-za-kupanje/

Slika 11. Vizuelna reprezentacija simbola Avalski toranj https://avalskitoranj.rs/

Slika 12. Vizuelna reprezentacija simbola Saborna crkva https://www.beograd.rs/lat/zivot-u-beogradu/beogradska-riznica/a86090/UPECATLJIVA-ARHITEKTURA-I-ISTORIJA-Vredna-umetnicka-dela-deo-su-riznice-Saborne-crkve.html

Slika 13. Vizuelna reprezentacija simbola noćni život https://serbianunderground.com/kratka-istorija-klabinga-kako-se-nocni-zivot-razvijao-decenijama/

Slika 14. Vizuelna reprezentacija simbola kafana https://tasteserbia.com/kafana-belgrade/

Slika 15. Vizuelna reprezentacija simbola Skadarlija https://serbia.com/skadarlija-a-guide-through-belgrades-bohemian-heartbeat/

Downloads

Published

2026-10-06

How to Cite

Backović, V. (2026). The influence of photographs on respondents’ answers about city symbols. Anthropology, 26(2), 119–139. Retrieved from https://antropologija.com/index.php/an/article/view/574

Issue

Section

Original scientific paper