Fortresses as Stages of Transformation: Negotiating Historical Memory, Spectacle, and Ambivalence

Abstract

Coastal fortifications in Montenegro constitute complex cultural landscapes whose functions have undergone profound transformations. Originally conceived as military and defensive structures, they are increasingly reinterpreted as cultural venues, tourist attractions, and event settings. The research addresses the evolving roles of fortresses by critically exploring the interplay between historical memory and contemporary aestheticization. Drawing on theories of architectural aesthetics (Scruton, Zumthor, Boheme), spectacle and hyperreality (Debord, Lefebvre, Baudrillard), and heritage studies (Riegl, Ashworth & Tunbridge, Graham), the research employs a comparative case study approach. Six fortresses Budva Citadel, Kanli Kula, Spanjola, Mamula, Traste, and Straznik are analyzed as paradigmatic examples of how temporary events, festivals, and cultural programs redefine the symbolic and functional significance of heritage. Findings indicate that event-based transformations generate ambivalent outcomes. On the one hand, they revitalize heritage through economic sustainability, atmospheric experience, and enhanced public visibility. On the other hand, they risk its reduction to scenographic utility, privileging market logics over historical depth and collective memory. The comparative analysis highlights diverse trajectories: inclusive cultural activation contrasts with processes of commercialization and exclusivity. It is argued that the aesthetic activation of fortifications can contribute to sustainable revitalization only when coupled with critical interpretation, inclusive cultural policies, and strategies that preserve historical narratives. Without such frameworks, the spectacularization of heritage may erode its authenticity and weaken its role as a shared space of memory and identity.