The Happy Times of Peace - Building the Myth of George Bernády in Târgu Mureş
The Happy Times of Peace - Building the Myth of George Bernády in Târgu Mureş

Summary/Abstract: The study examines an account of the past and local identity creating mechanisms by giving an example of the mythical figure of the twentieth century mayor of Târgu Mureş, George Bernády. The paper specifically makes inquiries about what stereotypes construct the past centred around the individual, what stereotypical rituals and discourses the community uses, how it builds up its own spatial and temporal boundaries and why they resort to this figure from the past to construct their collective consciousness. In order to preserve the reconstructed past certain ceremonies are created, establishing the ritual space and time, and they define activities that are symbolic in nature and are rule-driven; they produce discourses, narratives that legitimise the guarding of the respective past. The subject of the investigation is the pictorial representation of George Bernády’s cult, too, the narratives formed around it and the elements of the personal cult. The cult of the legendary mayor calls forth various forms of manifestation in the local society. His figure is always defined by the current situation, it is not final but perpetual, and it exists in the series of re-creations by the use of c onstant and variable elements. His remembrance gains functionality within the limits of an ongoing communication and interaction of the social group.

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