THE UNFLATTERING PORTRAYAL OF SOUTH SLAVIC COUNTRIES IN MEDIA; A THREAD

BEFORE I START!!
1. Pls like/rt/comment on this so it can reach more ppl. Even if 1 person acknowledges this trend of Balkan ppl being seen as criminals then I’d feel as if this had a purpose.
2. I’m not saying these shows/movies/games are bad. I’m simply acknowledging a pattern+

+ of stereotypes and generalisations that Western media seems to make abt the Balkans.
3. I’m not fishing for oppression nor am I saying this is some grand conspiracy against us lmao. Once again, just showing a trend of unecessarily similar and negative representation.

cw: rape, violence, death, ethnic cleansing, genocide, (ableism???)

1. COMMUNITY - Lukka
In s2e18 of this comedy series, we see a minor character called Lukka who plays a war criminal that was responsible for the “genocide in the Balkans” Its played out as a gag as Lukka mentions how he misses “purifying” the land of bad ppl and seeing +

+ blood run down the river streams or something along those lines. This is all a joke between 3 main characters as to how the female one ruins the friends of the male ones by dating them... great start.

2. BLACKLIST (1/2) - Ranko Zamani
In the very first episode, Ranko Zamani plays the antagonist as a Serbian terrorist responsible for several crimes within the US, Algeria, & Thailand.

2. BLACKLIST (2/2) - Pavlovich Brothers
In the 1st ep and s1e19, we’re shown the Pavlovich Brothers, four criminals that were heavily involved in ethnic cleansing in the “Yugoslav Wars” but now execute snatch and grab operations & (obvi) murders.

3. IN DARKNESS - Sofia, Miloš Radić
This one is just... wow ok so Sofia, a blind woman, is revealed to actually be a Bosnian refugee and is entangled into the life of a Serb war criminal Miloš Radić who murdered her family, including her sister sitting next to her +

+ also its not stated but heavily suggested Sofia is his biological daughter because Miloš raped her mother several times over the years before she was born. ALSO PLOT TWIST Sofia was never blind she just pretended to be blind +

+ in place of her sister (who was actually blind) bcs it was easier to keep that act up... Natalie Dormer come on, you can do better sweetie, don’t ruin Margaery Tyrell for me.

4. RDR2 - Marko Dragić
In this game, we are able to do a side-quest for Marko, a Croatian Serb scientist who himself says the Balkan ppl are rude and mannerless but hard-working this one isn’t as serious, just wanted to include it in as a minor example.

5. BONES - Josip Radik
In s1e21, Booth talks about his military campaign in Kosovo where he killed Josip, a Serbian war criminal who wanted to “ethnically purify his country” ...... imagine how tired we are

6. Uncharted 2 - Zoran Lazarević
In the second video game of this franchise, Zoran is the central antagonist. He is a Serbian war criminal responsible for torture, mutilation, and mass executions. Despite his clearly cartoonish villain presence that lacks any depth+

+you can see how this label of terrorist or criminal is constantly attached to South Slavic fictional figures, almost always Serbian.

7. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (1/2) - Ratko
In the first episode (a-fucking-gain), Ratko is a “Serbian thug” that is arrested for the murder of Henry Morgenthau, formally known as some guy... yeah hopefully you’re still with me.

7. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2/2) - Angela Stojanovski
Despite her name coming up once the episode is searched, the character’s name or origin are never specified. In s4e11, a woman constantly says the word “kanalizacija” trying to give the c*ps a clue abt an investigation.+

+ Don’t take this one AS seriously, because I’m fully aware this is a comedy show and her interaction with the characters was simpy comedy relief. Just wanted to mention it as well since once of the characters says she has a “bum tongue”.

8. LA CASA DE PAPEL - Helsinki & Marseille
In this series, Helsinki and Marseille are criminals and members of the gang who happen to be Serbian. I havent seen the show, this was a suggestion by some of my twt moots, but there apparently isnt anything glaringly “wrong” with them+

+ aside from the obvious that this is a show about people robbing banks?? Its just that despite their characterisation, its almost as if Balkan characters NEED to have a criminal background in order to be believable, or even recognisable.

Y’all these were all I could gather since yesterday and I’m not the most extensive tv watcher but I’m 99% sure there’s more like this. I hope that you’re seeing that, in every single one of these but two (which were just minor examples) is a criminal and usually has+

+an incredibly violent background. Once again, this isn’t some systemic scheme to oppress us South Slavic people. Its a normalised stereotype and trope that feeds into the negative ideas about Balkan nationalism which still separates the South Slavic ppl today.

Feel free to add your own examples underneath, but please like/rt/comment on this so it reaches a bigger audience!! I’m including some info abt the current situation in Serbia as well below.. To my Balkan (Serb) moots, stay safe & I love you. To others, please share this too.