Japanese Popular Culture in Latvia: Lolita and Mori Fashion

Japanese Popular Culture in Latvia: Lolita and Mori Fashion

Author(s): Agnese Haijima / Language(s): English / Issue: 7/2013

Keywords: Cultural exchange in the global era; Lolita; Mori fashion; Japanese popular culture in Europe; kawaii culture; Kultūriniai mainai globalioje eroje; Lolita; Mori mada; japonų populiarioji kultūra Europoje; kawaii kultūra

Lolita fashion – one of the elements of Japanese popular culture as a fashion subculture was created in Japan, taking inspiration from Victorian-era costumes and Rococo period clothing. Amazingly, through the global dissemination of Japanese popular culture this fashion found its way back to Europe. In Riga cosplay events, staging various costumes from Japanese manga and anime world take place since 2004 with the start of the 1st. Anime Festival. Since then, every year various other events like Cosplay Con, Christmas, Halloween parties and individual gatherings attract several hundreds of participants who are given a possibility to show their various costumes inspired from Japanese anime and manga world. Among them there is a group of girls in Riga who like Lolita fashion and organize different meet-ups and events like and picnics, teaparties, museum visits, photosessions of Lolita costumes in Old Riga, Riga gardens and parks. The photos obtained in these events reveal a unique cultural phenomenon: a harmonious blend of two cultures and mentalities: Japanese and Latvian. The modern costumes inspired by Japanese popular culture fit well in Riga historical settings several hundreds of years old.The author was fascinated by their Japanese-like youthful crave for unusual, bizarre, unacustomed, extravagant, well balanced with elegant correctness typical to North Europe. Another factor is worth mentioning: most of the costumes were self made, revealing individual taste in the choice of colors and materials. Handling the topic of Japanese fashion they adjusted it to local environment and individual taste. Some of their peculiar, antique accessories were borrowed from collections that once belonged to their grandmothers and grandfathers showing yet another aspect how old and new, different cultural customs intertween in the global era. The interviews taken with „Riga Lolitas” give insight how these girls took interest in Japan, Lolita fashion, how they created their costumes, what they think of Japanese culture, etc. Lolita fashion in Latvia is also analyzed from the points of relationship with kawaii culture, connection with Goth culture, sign/language system used by members of certain subcultures, women sexuality, transnational political economy. It is discussed also in terms of creativity, rebellion against the conventions of contemporary society, feminine lifestyle, self development, psychological impact. Mori (Forest) Girl – another Japanese fashion subculture evident in Latvia, that is to some extent similar to Country Lolita or Mori Lolita, emerged in Japan in 2007 as a reaction against Japan’s super urbanization, and displays common appreciation of nature, natural materials, practicality, casualness, interest in the old, traditional in the two countries – Latvia and Japan. Mori fashion can be interpreted in some features as the representation of wabi-sabi principles in the modern fashion form.

Takarazuka’s performances in European countries after World War II

Takarazuka’s performances in European countries after World War II

Author(s): Takashi Kitamura / Language(s): English / Issue: 7/2013

Keywords: Takarazuka Revue; Takarazuka’s overseas performance; Takarazuka’s performance in Europe; Takarazukos reviu; Takarazukos užsienio pasirodymai; Takarazukos pasirodymai Europoje

Takarazuka’s first overseas performances were given from October 1938 to March 1939 in 25 cities in Europe, which were designed to promote friendly relationship among Germany, Italy and Japan. Obviously, this mission reflects the political context of those days. Since then, Takarazuka has performed in a considerable number of foreign countries more or less supported by the Japanese government. In this study, narrowing our focus on Takarazuka’s performances in Europe after World War II, we review its history and examine the social and political background behind each performance. Pirmieji Takarazukos pasirodymai užsienyje įvyko 25 Europos miestuose 1938 m. spalį – 1939 m. kovą ir buvo skirti draugiškų Vokietijos, Italijos ir Japonijos santykių gerinimui. Be abejo, šis turas atspindi to meto politinį kontekstą. Vėliau Takarazuka rengė pasirodymus, kurie daugiau ar mažiau buvo remiami Japonijos vyriausybės, ir kitose užsienio šalyse. Šiame darbe apžvelgiama Takarazukos istorija ir socialinis bei politinis šių pasirodymų fonas, atkreipiant dėmesį į laikotarpį Europoje po Antrojo pasaulinio karo.

The Transforming Aims of Japan’s Post-Cold War Cultural Diplomacy

The Transforming Aims of Japan’s Post-Cold War Cultural Diplomacy

Author(s): Aurelijus Zykas / Language(s): English / Issue: 7/2013

Keywords: Public diplomacy; popular culture; international relations; soft power; Viešoji diplomatija; populiarioji kultūra; tarptautiniai santykiai; švelnioji galia

This paper deals with the decade of the 2000s in Japan’s public diplomacy, and tries to distinguish the newest trends, related to the changes in the post-Cold War world system. The aspect chosen for this comparison is one that concentrates on the aims of public diplomacy. “Aims” in the framework of this paper are understood as the structural segment of the classical definition of public diplomacy, which raises the main question of why public diplomacy is conducted (i.e. what are the main factors in the international community inspiring it), thus giving the basis for its legitimation per se. Regarding this, the paper proposes three main statements that are directly related to the changing aims of Japan’s post-Cold War diplomacy in respect of earlier periods. It states that the government’s attention to public diplomacy has been increasing since the 2000s; Japan’s diplomacy tends to direct its resources towards ‘softer’ methods (co-optation); ‘Traditional’ content is complemented (or replaced?) by the ‘popular’ in Japan’s public diplomacy. These changes are closely related to important changes in the majority of the world’s countries, in which public diplomacy has developed from a quasi-secret policy related to the intelligence service and information warfare, into fashionable and openly declared activities aimed at increasing a country’s attractiveness. This is inspired by increasing international competition, the importance of soft power, and noopolitik, the changing target audiences and new challenges within particular public diplomacy objects. Šiame straipsnyje aptariamas pirmasis XXI a. Japonijos viešosios diplomatijos dešimtmetis ir bandoma išskirti naujausias tendencijas, susijusias su pasaulio sistemos pokyčiais po Šaltojo karo. Palyginimui pasirinktas aspektas – viešosios diplomatijos tikslai – šiame straipsnyje suprantamas kaip klasikinio viešosios diplomatijos apibrėžimo struktūrinis segmentas, iškeliantis pagrindinį klausimą, kodėl viešoji diplomatija yra vykdoma (t. y. kokie yra svarbiausi jai įtakos turinys tarptautinės sistemos faktoriai), ir taip sudarantis pagrindą jos legitimacijai. Straipsnyje iškeliamos trys pagrindinės idėjos, tiesiogiai susijusios su besikeičiančiais Japonijos diplomatijos tikslais po Šaltojo karo. Teigiama, kad vyriausybės dėmesys viešajai diplomatijai auga nuo XXI a. pradžios; Japonijos diplomatija yra linkusi nukreipti savo išteklius į „švelnesnius“ metodus (t. y. kooptavimą); viešosios diplomatijos „tradicinis“ turinys yra papildomas (arba pakeičiamas) „populiariuoju“. Šie pokyčiai yra artimai susiję su svarbiais daugumoje pasaulio šalių vykstančiais procesais, kuriuose viešoji diplomatija nuo užslaptintų politikos veiklų artimų žvalgybai ir informaciniam karui perauga į madingą ir atvirai deklaruojamą veiklą, siekiančią didinti šalies patrauklumą.

New images of Japan in France: A survey to Japan Expo

New images of Japan in France: A survey to Japan Expo

Author(s): Clothilde Sabre / Language(s): English / Issue: 7/2013

Keywords: Exoticism; Japanese popular culture; representations; convention; passion; Egzoticizmas; Japonijos populiarioji kultūra; reprezentavimas; suvažiavimas; aistra

France and Japan have a long history of mutual exchanges and interests. In both countries, many images circulated about the other and those pictures compose a specific exoticism. Exoticism is a specific attraction for a far and different site, and Japan occupies a special place in French minds since the Japonist craze at the beginning of the 20th century. Thus, in this tradition of representations, the recent worldwide success of Japanese popular culture (manga, cartoons, music, etc) has added a new perspective, specifically in France, where this pop culture has a long history. The Japanese cartoons began to be broadcast on national television during the 1970’s, and it filled the majority of children programs during the two following decades, a context that gave birth to a strong community of fans. One of the most eloquent testaments to this craze is Japan Expo, an event hold every year in Paris since 1999. In this convention, pop culture elements are mixed with more traditional aspects of Japanese culture and everyday life. Many famous Japanese artists are invited and the visitors can have fun with various activities. So, this unique place has been chosen to conduct a survey about the new images of Japan in France. Exoticism about Japan began with the opening of the country during the Meiji era, and, since then, Japan has always kept its image of being a unique and mysterious country, determined by the paradox of extreme modernity coexisting with strong traditions. The Japan Expo is then the occasion to question that idea and to confront it with the representations shared by the visitors of this event. Questionnaires have been distributed during the four days of the convention in July 2012 and the results give a portrait of a praised Japan, still comprehended on the central notion of paradox, but with new references taken into pop culture contents.

Petar II Petrović Njegoš during the 1848-1849 revolution in the memoires of Matija Ban

ПЕТАР II ПЕТРОВИЋ ЊЕГОШ У РЕВОЛУЦИЈИ 1848-1849. ГОДИНЕ У МЕМОАРСКИМ ЗАПИСИМА МАТИЈЕ БАНА

Author(s): Miomir Dašić / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 3-4/2013

Keywords: Njegoš; revolution 1848-1849; Serbs; Croats; Montenegrins, Matija Ban

Njegoš’ political views and attitude on 1848-1849 revolution are the main themes of this paper. His friendship with ban Jelačić is also shown. The emphasis is on the four meetings (held at Cetinje, from 1848 to 1851) of Petar II Petrović Njegoš and Matija Ban, a political emissary of the Serbian government. The historical context of these meetings is illustrated as well as their political significance and serious consequences for the Serbian nation. A special section is dedicated to conversations of two poets on literature, especially Njegoš’ Gorski vijenac and Lažni car Šćepan Mali and their artistic dimension. His idea of Yugoslav unification is briefly mentioned

A mystery of the person of the poet and ruler Petar Njegoš in the works of P. A. Rovinski

Загадка личности поэта и правителя Петра Негоша в трудах П.А.Ровинского

Author(s): Varvara Hlebnikova / Language(s): Russian / Issue: 3-4/2013

Keywords: P. A. Rovinski; Njegoš; Montenegro; humanity

P.A. Rovinsky assumed large amount of historical sources of XIX century as a basis of his monography about Njegoš. Scientist stated, that Njegoš was an outstanding person who had a huge influence on his circle. Not only friends and admirers of his literature talent, but also his political opponents fell under his influence. In all the political and literature ideas of Njegoš P.A. Rovinsky sees his special talent, farsight, constancy and succession. Scientist estimates Petar II so high, because he found an embodiment of his own ideals in Njegoš‘ deeds. Letting others to judge Njegoš Rovinski only kept admiring him.

The US’ perception of the Yugoslav policy of non-aligning

Америчка перцепција нове југословенске политике несврставања

Author(s): Zlatko Ivanović / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 3-4/2013

Keywords: United States; Non-allignment; Tito; Nehru; Nasser

Following its failure to integrate Yugoslavia into the Western military alliance, American leadership ultimately agreed with Belgrade’s new political strategy of non-alliance. Still, the United States tried to retain some influence on Yugoslavia’s foreign policy through a program of military and economic assistance, thus keeping Yugoslavia away from the Eastern bloc. Eisenhower and Dulles’ expectations to use Tito’s growing influence on the emerging non-committed countries show that they, as well as Truman, based their policy towards Yugoslavia on geopolitical instead of ideological interests. With its new political course consolidated, Yugoslavia found significat political allies, creating a new force in international relations.

Contribution to the the research of Latin lexics , epigraphics and social morphology of the medieval town of Bar : case study Cyriacus

Prilog prou čavanju srednjovjekovne latinske leksike , epigrafike i socijalne morfologije Bara : case study Cyriacus

Author(s): Savo D. Marković / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 3-4/2013

Keywords: Curiace; testament; epigraphic fragments; Bar; Dubrovnik, Middle Ages

On the basis of the sources of various typology, as well as of historiography, there are followed the activities of the members of Curiaçe – Kurjaković family of Bar, in the course of the 14th – 15th centuries. The analysed archival records, however, do not enable the tracing of this family, presumably the patrician ofshoot, after the middle of the 15th century, nor genealogical contextualization of its members within the extended structure of certain aristocratic ancestry.Micro-historic research took into account the modalities of their connection with the home enivronment, especially through the lexical analysis, epigraphy and related segments of social and ecclesiastical life in Bar. The medieval lexical remnants, preserved in the source materials, show the vivid symbiotic processes and the richness of civilization interfluents. In accordance with the social movements of that time, focused is the role of the presbyter Dominicus Curiace, over the decades present both in Bar and in Dubrovnik, who was the bond of religious - and traditions of affinity, witnessing the expressions of devoutness, noted in two Adriatic communes. In such a permeation, the offspings of Curiace left the trace of their activities, distinguishing themselves with material characteristics, spiritual commitments and refinement of particular ventures, which, repeated, were structurally influencing the everyday life in many of its spheres.

Montenegro in the Russian travelogue prose during the 30 and 40ies of XIX century

Черногория в русской деловой и путевой прозе 30 – 40-х гг . XIX века

Author(s): Mikhail Belov / Language(s): Russian / Issue: 3-4/2013

Keywords: Russia; Montenegro; travelogue; S.Y.Puckov; M.Tarasov, S.A; Sankovskiy; V.B. Bronevskiy; P.Svinin; Y.N. Ozerckovskiy; E.P. Kovalevskiy, P.I.Preys; F.V.Cizov

Russian visitors of Montenegro have, according to their travelogues, shifted from the earlier presentations of wild and uncivilized of Montenegrins to the more positive picture, acquired later throughout XIX century. While there were many reasons for this, one of them could be easily found in the cultural, political and ideological background of the authors. It is also worth noting that Russian citizens, who demonstrated an interest for Montenegro in the 4th and 5th decade of XIX century, had a better knowledge of Petar I Petrović’s Montenegro and, what was far more important, opportunity to meet or hear of his heir. The polyvalent nature of poet, philosopher and statesman, merged in the metropolitan Petar II Petrović Njegoš, strongly influenced the Russian and European authors, greatly influencing their view on his country and countrymen.

THE FIRST TRANSLATION OF MOUNATIN WREATH IN GERMAN AND ITS REFLECTIONS IN SCIENTIFIC AND PROFESSIONAL PUBLIC

Njemački prevod Gorskog vijenca od Johana Kirstea i njegovi odjeci u naučnoj i stručnoj javnosti na njemačkom govornom području

Author(s): Neda Donat-Krivokapić / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 3-4/2013

Keywords: Petar II Petrović Njegoš; Mountain wreath; German translation, Johan Kirste; Austria; Vienna; Germany

The first translation of the Mountain wreath in German was published in Vienna in 1886. The author of translation was the famous philologist Johann Otto Ferdinand Kirstee. His translation was of great importance for further history of translating of this text. It was the first integral translation which provided future translators an easier understanding and translation. After it, there were many translations in the other languages, but the Kirstee’s interpretations of the verses served were widely used for better understanding and translation of the Njegoš’s work. Kirstee’s translation also served as the excellent basis for the other two translations of Mountain wreath in German, where the each subsequent was better than previous. It brought the beginning of “equipping” of both the translations and regular editions of Mountain wreath in Serbian with comments. Kirstee’s translation was presented in daily press and professional journals and met the positive reaction of the contemporaries.

THE PLAN OF YUGOSLAV DEFENSE FROM EVENTUAL ATTACK BY THE INFORMATIONAL BUREAU COUNTRIES (The case of Montenegro)

ПЛАН ЈУГОСЛОВЕНСКЕ ОДБРАНЕ ОД МОГУЋЕГ НАПАДА ЗЕМАЉА ИНФОРМАЦИОНОГ БИРОА (Случај Црне Горе)

Author(s): Milan Terzić / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 3-4/2013

Keywords: mobilization; evacuation; Yugoslav Army; coordination committees; Blažo Jovanović

Everything indicates that the possibility of attack was taken very seriously. The fact was that the seriously taken threat from East provided the reason for starting the thorough preparations within Yugoslav society in whole. There is also visible the power of the state, whose decisions have been executing on time at the level of republics. In Montenegro, in this case, mentioned preparations presented a part of general defensive activities, having been seriously and thoroughly conducted. Everything was subordinated to the needs of Army, in order to provide the best conditions for adequate reaction in case of attack. It is also important to notice the fact that the four persons from the Montenegrin leadership, Blažo Jovanović, Savo Joksimović, Andro Mugoša and Jefto Šćepanović, have taken the biggest part in narrower committee and related commissions.

The Denizens of Grbalj as Soldiers in Venetian Transmarine Military Units (the Eighteenth Century )

GRBLJANI U MLETAČKIM PREKOMORSKIM KOPNENIM POSTROJBAMA (18. STOLJEĆE)

Author(s): Maja Katušić,Lovorka Čoralić / Language(s): Croatian / Issue: 3-4/2013

Keywords: Grbalj; Republic of Venice; Venetian transmarine military units; military history; the eighteenth-century history

The central theme of the article is directed on the research of the share of the denizens of Grbalj in Venetian transmarine military units (infantry and cavalry) in the eighteenth century. As primary sources are used documents created by the state magistracy Inquisitori sopra l’amministrazione dei pubblici ruoli, containing lists of the complement of particular military units, which are kept in the Archivio di Stato di Venezia. As secondary (additional) sources are used the Deeds of the Notaries of Zadar, kept in the State Archive of Zadar. Following these sources and previous results of historiography, the article delineates main characteristics of the participation of the denizens of Grbalj in the aforementioned Venetian transmarine units. From the analysis of these dana, it is evident that the denizens of Grbalj were in the first place active within Venetian infantry, and that they were particularly numerous during the so-called Little or the Second War of Morea (1714-1718), in the period of which Grbalj came under the Venetian rule. Places of their operation (garrisons of particular companies and regiments) were diverse and they were present in the area of Venetian hinterland (Veneto), Istria, Dalmatia, Boka and Grece. Their commanders were in the first place officers from Dalmatia and Boka, prominent actors of Venetian military history of the eighteenth century. The denizens of Grbalj were not only simple soldiers, but they succeeded in gaining important non-commissioned and commissioned officer ranks, as may be well seen from the case of the members of the Bogetić family. In the end of the article are added several appendices: lists of military complement in companies of Wolf and Mark Bogetić from 1780 and a list of all the denizens of Grbalj who were soldiers in Venetian infantry units as established until now.

JOVO NIKO’S BEĆIR, BRIGADE GENERAL OF MONTENEGRIN ARMY, ON CAPITULATION OF MONTENEGRO IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR

Јовo Ников Бећир , бригадир црногорске војске , o капитулацији Црне Горе у I свјетском рату

Author(s): Jovo Bećir / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 3-4/2013

Keywords: Jovo N. Bećir; J.Steinhardt; Bosnische Post; Montenegro, The First World War; capitulation

Jovo Bećir was the brigade general of Montenegrin army in the First World War and colonel of the joint Yugoslav state in the interwar period. Although retired, he was activated at the beginning of April war in 1941. After the defeat of Yugoslav forces, he was captured and then released due to intervention of Queen Jelena of Savoy, but after he rejected to take part in occupational government in Montenegro, he was again captured by Ustashi units and taken in Jasenovac concentration camp where he was murdered in 1942. In his interview to Austro-Hungarian journalist, immediately after the signing of Montenegrin capitulation in the First World War, he expressed his views on the matter.

Russians mythologems in poetry of Njegoš

русские историософские мифологемы в начал ьно й поэзии Негоша

Author(s): Natalya Bludilina / Language(s): Russian / Issue: 3-4/2013

Keywords: Njegoš; early poetry; the Russians mythologems, artistic images of emperors Peter I; Nicholas I; Alexander II; Russia; St. Petersburg; Moscow; the Neva River; the Don; Derzhavin; Zhukovsky

This article explores the early poetry of Peter Petrovich Njegoš: his first collection of poems «Cetinje Hermit» (1833), written under the influence of a journey to Russia, most of these poems is dedicated to the Russian theme in terms of its historiosofic mythologies. Analysis of the metaphorical images of poems on Nicholas I and the then heir to the throne, the future Emperor Alexander II, and others is given. The Prince gives the grandiose fantasies of the Russian Empire, poetically weaves together Russian patriotism, as well as Slavic, poems are imbued with respect for the glory and the might of the Russian State. To Montenegrin poet Russia was a messianic prototype culture perceived internally to create the highest divine order in disordered universe, it was seen by him as the new force that is capable of updating the humanity.

After Gaza: A Common Dialogue Platform for the Middle East

After Gaza: A Common Dialogue Platform for the Middle East

Author(s): Christian-Peter Hanelt / Language(s): English / Issue: 02/2009

If one wants to have peace in the Middle East, one will have to persuade all of the actors to sit around a table and to talk about all of the conflicts. Secret negotiations are just as ineffectual as the exclusion of certain ac-tors. Only a common platform for dialogue will enable the European Un-ion and above all the U.S. to fulfil their peacemaking mission.

After Gaza: A Common Dialogue Platform for the Middle East

Waffenstillstand in Gaza: Aber was kommt danach?

Author(s): Christian-Peter Hanelt / Language(s): German / Issue: 02/2009

Wer Frieden im Nahen Osten will, muss alle Akteure der Region an einen Tisch bringen und über alle Konflikte sprechen. Geheime Verhandlungen führen ebenso wenig zum Ziel wie die Ausgrenzung einzelner Akteure. Nur mit einer gemeinsamen Dialogplattform können die Europäische Union und vor allem die USA ihre Mission als Friedensvermittler erfüllen.

Land Inheritance in a Sekler Gentry Family in the Mid-Eighteenth Century

Földöröklés egy székely köznemesi családban a 18. század közepén

Author(s): Sándor Oláh / Language(s): Hungarian / Issue: 34/2008

This study examines the land inheritance practices of an eighteenth-century Sekler gentry family. The main source is an inheritance agreement signed in May 1755, which recorded the distribution of property among three siblings and their families after the death of the parents. The inter-generational transference of estates is characterised by male inheritance, females received movable property at the time of their marriage. The siblings took into account the size of the plots, soil quality, the financial situation of the families, and their earlier, unresolved property history. They divided and assumed individual ownership over the 138 separate plots of land inherited from their parents, however, their ownership was not entirely individual in the modern sense of the word. According to their original ownership status the plots of land were categorised into ancient and pledged estates, that is, acquisitions. Not every inherited estate was divided, undivided estates were inheritable and sometimes even remained in shared use. For the three heirs, ancient property was a joint institution, which helped to maintain social cohesion: it controlled actions and imposed duties on landowners for the benefit of social and individual security. Pledged property was considered individual acquisition, thus the user of these lands assumed full right of disposal over them, as long as the pledger or their relative did not redeem those as ‘closer kin’ on the basis of fee tail rights. Thus, besides the joint and individual ownership by siblings, the inter-generational transference of estates involved the exclusive franchise ‘by blood’ and the shared responsibilities of fee tail. Temporary property rights over pledged estates were similar to property rights over individualised, privately owned property: heirs did not have a strict duty to keep them together.

Inheritance, Marriage and Household among the English Poor in the Early 19th Century

Öröklés, házasság és háztartás az angol szegények körében a 19. század elején

Author(s): Steven King / Language(s): Hungarian / Issue: 34/2008

While the history of courtship and marriage in England between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries has become increasingly rich, the experiences and motivations of one particular group, the poor dependent upon communal charity, have been much neglected. Nowhere are the English records sufficiently detailed to pinpoint definitively the proportion of each marriage cohort that might be classed as dependent poor, or to detail their personal marriage motivations. Yet, in the English counties of Northamptonshire and Berkshire there is evidence that a significant minority of all marriages included at least one partner who might be classified as ‘dependent poor’ where one defines this as dependent upon either charity or communal poor relief under the English poor law (1601–1834). Piecing together sources as varied as letters and official correspondence, communal accounts, newspaper reporting, this article asks how such people, and their partners, conceived of marriage, made their marriage decisions and experienced early married life. Evidence that poor law officials intervened directly in the marriage market and marriage decision-making process is assembled and analysed. How important such intervention was at the level of the individual remains obscure, but it is clear that officials believed that paupers were better off married than single, that the fertility consequences of their interventions were muted and that rural overseers were in any case good at passing on the demographic consequences of their decisions to urban communities in particular. A supplementary and developmental analysis of pauper letters suggests that the households formed by the dependent poor may have been financially and residentially fragile, requiring support from parents, neighbours and ‘friends’ and above all from the poor law. Without extensive linkage between family reconstitutions and poor law data, it is impossible to document the extent of such dependence, but pauper letters suggest it to have been substantial. Importantly, the claims-making rhetoric of the newly married or those (such as parents) applying to the poor law indirectly so as to allow them to continue offerring support to poor newlyweds, appears to have touched a nerve in the rural communities analyzed here. While relief may have been intermittent, it was often substantial when worked out on a yearly basis, and officials clearly expected to be approached to help in supporting the households of the newlywed poor. Even where officials had real and enduring concerns over the moral standing and household management of paupers, they still paid rent, got clothes and furniture out of pawn, paid allowances and met doctoring bills. The particular, but not unrepresentative, experiences and strategies of two pauper families underpin the analysis and suggests that the underlying expectations that supporting new households was a valid part of the claims-making rhetoric, and the expectation of parish officials that t

Marriage and the Transmission of Land in Rural Switzerland (1860–1960)

Atyai hatalom, házasság és a földbirtok öröklése a rurális Svájcban (1860–1960)

Author(s): Anne -Lise Head-König / Language(s): Hungarian / Issue: 34/2008

The author deals with the transfer of the family farm to the next generation and its implications for the different members of the family. With the adoption of the “code rural paysan suisse” since 1912 one inheritor has been in a position to take possession of the parental farm, excluding his older and younger siblings, either after the parents’ death or by contract whilst they were still alive. But even before then, one can find systems in some hilly parts of Switzerland which enabled only one child to take over the farm, the value of the farm being underestimated in such a manner that the share of the non-succeeding children was cut down to a minimum. We shall consider a catholic region where farms were seldom divided and where the demographic transition in the farm population occurred very late, mostly after World War I. The high average of children reaching the adult age in farm families sometimes contributed to increased tensions between parents and children and amongst the siblings who could not marry or stay on the farm. Using micro-level analyses, the paper will attempt to analyse the changes which occurred during the century under observation and the impact the process of modernisation had on the farm family. Essentially, the author concentrates on the following topics: the timing of the transmission of land (to what extent did it occur more frequently at the death of the father for the 19th century generations, but earlier in life for subsequent generations?). Were there major changes in the choice of a successor? Was the timing of marriage for the sons who get the land marriage still closely connected to the transmission of land in the middle of the 20th century? And what happened to the siblings who marry without getting any property? Finally there is the question of the retirement contracts for the old parents which were often concluded at the time of the sale of the farm to the descendant: to what extent do the contracts concluded in the middle of the 20th century still reflect the power of the older generation, especially that of the fathers over their adult sons who inherit, and this irrespective of the changes which occurred in the development of social legislation and the creation of a state pension?

„Residents” and „Strangers”. Communal Domicile in Torna County on the Basis of the 1869 Census Registers

„Helybeliek” és „idegenek”. Községi illetőség Torna megyében az 1869. évi népszámlálás háztartási lajstromai alapján

Author(s): Péter Pozsgai / Language(s): Hungarian / Issue: 34/2008

The preserved nominal documentations of the mid-19th century censuses are the most important out of the archive sources of Torna county: the listings of the 1850 and 1857 “Austrian” censuses and the house-registers of the 1869 census which was executed by the Hungarian statistical office. The registers of the censuses of 1857 and 1869 indicate the names of the family-members and each co-residing members of the house who were present at the moment of the census. The register consisted of the house-number, the numbers of the households, the names and gender of the members of households, the year of birth, the religious denomination of the members of the household, the occupation and columns for presence and absence. The 1869 census included additional questions about the domicile (resident/stranger), birthplace and literacy. The censuses listed the number of domestic animals house by house, besides in 1869 all the economic buildings belonged to each house were conscribed. This article presents the additional findings of a regional historical-demographic research project. In addition to a critical analysis of the different sources and presentation of the methodology used for the research, it also presents a few conclusions based on the investigation of rural migration, migratory routes and migration networks. The source-critique should have been extended not only for the data-correction of sources and the shortages or mistakes of census-data produced by the census-takers, but for the critical analysis of the occupational terms and the household unit (‘co-resident party’) as well, since for the establishment of the consistency of the source-group and for the reliable comparative analysis a “common denominator” should have been found among the “interpretations” and different use of concepts of the census-takers which differed from each other (slightly or considerably) in the majority of the settlements. On the basis of the number of the residents and non-residents (“strangers”) determined from the census registers the proportion of migration cannot be reliably revealed, since the practice and classification of domicile from the part of the census-takers showed huge variations in the majority of settlements. Another possible way for studying the migration was to examine the population by the distribution of birthplaces. The advantage of the 1869 census that the birthplace of all the registered persons was indicated. In this analysis, however, the author deals primarily with the sources of inaccuracy in the 1869 censuses and the examination of the absent resident and the present non-resident (“strangers”) population.