The bachelor's thesis Motifs and Themes in Galeb Magazine: A Historical Overview (1954–2024) examines the literary and cultural significance of one of the longest-running Slovenian youth magazines. First published in Trieste in 1954, Galeb played an important role in preserving the Slovenian language, culture, and national identity among young Slovenian readers living in the borderland communities outside Slovenia. The aim of this thesis is to explore how the motifs and themes featured in the magazine evolved over the decades and how they reflected the social and historical changes from the post-war period to the present day.
The theoretical part presents the significance and development of Slovenian children's and youth literature, as well as the role of youth magazines in the cultural sphere. It is followed by chapters focusing on the magazine Galeb, including its origins and development, its role in the Slovenian minority education system, and its contribution to cultural life. The thesis also outlines the key stages in the development of Slovenian children's literature, from its beginnings in the eighteenth century to contemporary publications that provide young readers with literary and educational content. Galeb is discussed as an important part of Slovenia's literary and cultural heritage, having contributed to the development of young people's reading culture through its long-standing tradition.
The empirical part is based on the analysis of selected texts published in the magazine, which are presented in tabular form. The analysis includes authors, titles, years of publication, literary genres, and the main motifs and themes. Special attention is also given to selected poems, which are interpreted in relation to the characteristics of each historical period. The findings show that the magazine gradually evolved from a predominantly educational and patriotic publication to one featuring more contemporary texts that emphasize imagination, emotions, identity, independence, and the child's inner world.
The results of the research demonstrate that Galeb was not merely a children's magazine but also an important part of Slovenian literary history and the cultural life of Slovenian minority communities. Through its content, it encouraged generations of young readers to develop a love of reading, creativity, and an appreciation of the Slovenian language.
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