Od bajki (ludowej) do science fiction. Badania nad literaturą niewerystyczną na Uniwersytecie Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu

Author(s): Dariusz Brzostek / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2021

This article encompasses a historical and problem-based review of research on fantasy and the fantastic undertaken since the 1960s at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. It presents initial studies of non-veristic literature, so publications of Artur Hutnikiewicz on Stefan Grabiński, Andrzej Stoff on Stanisław Lem and Jan Mirosław Kasjan on the folk tale with magical components. While discussing the development of research on fantasy undertaken by next generations of scientists, the article also points to a shift in cultural studies, which started to undertake concepts such as media studies, film studies, literary and cultural comparative studies. This shift enriched the analyses with considerations on the reception of cultural texts, fandoms, digital games and the new media. It delineates new research directions and methodological tendencies that cross the borders of conventional literary studies that initiated the Toruń thought regarding fantasy.

Korrida i karliści. Wspomnienia Piotra Falkenhagena-Zaleskiego… z podroży do Hiszpanii (1843)

Author(s): Adam Kucharski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 21/2021

Among the accounts of travels in Spain in the 1st half of the 19th century, there is a rather unknown memoir of Piotr Falkenhagen-Zaleski, written on the basis of his 1843 experiences. This exceptionally capable and flexible emigrant began his career in international trade, having successfully tried his hand at journalism and politics in the past. He became an employee at the Henry Hall department store in London, and then opened his own company of the same sort, establishing contacts in many European countries. The travel to Spain aimed at securing another contract. It appears that he did not achieve this goal. On the other hand, the stay behind the Pyrenees, mainly in Barcelona and Madrid, and the very travel from France to Spain allowed the Polish traveller to become familiar with two elements of the Spanish (political and cultural) reality through an incident with the Carlists and the corrida spectacle. He put those experiences in an interesting, although brief report from Spain.

Reportaż magiczny? Uwagi o Wszystkich zajęciach Yoirysa Manuela Adama Kwaśnego

Author(s): Tomasz Pindel / Language(s): Polish Issue: 21/2021

Wszystkie zajęcia Yoirysa Manuela [All occupations of Yoirys Manuel] by Adam Kwaśny (2017) is a collection of stories about the inhabitants of the city of Trinidad in Cuba, which can be read as an attempt to look for a new approach in the travel literature and reportage writing. By the use of the techniques typical for magical realism and non-fiction literature at the same time, the work shows the reality of the city from the perspective of its inhabitants, or more precisely: from the perspective of a narrator coming from the outside world, but sharing the beliefs and worldview of the described people.

Fifteenth-century Castilian travel accounts as an example of relations between representatives of the christianitas latina and the Asian East

Author(s): Łukasz Burkiewicz / Language(s): English Issue: 20/2022

Long before the conquest of the New World, Castilian envoys and travellers had been exploring the Middle East and Central Asia. The accounts of their journeys, known as libros de viajes, are a valuable source of information on the culture, ethnography, and geography of the areas they visited and a manifestation of the broad political horizons of the Castilian kings. The author of this article intends to outline the role played by these late medieval travel accounts in the history of Castile, and to discuss their impact on the interest in the Middle East and Asia among representatives of the Latin culture (christianitas latina). Ruy González de Clavijo’s travel account is particularly valuable here – his chronicle of a journey to Samarkand is one of the few testimonies of the presence of representatives of the Latin culture in the territories conquered by Timur and at his court. This article also analyses the differences between these libros de viajes and earlier texts written by, among others, Franciscan and Dominican missionaries and merchants who travelled to Central and East Asia.

Joachim Śliwa, Starożytny Egipt oczami Polaków. Słownik biograficzny egiptologów, archeologów i badaczy pokrewnych dziedzin, podróżników i kolekcjonerów oraz literatów i malarzy zafascynowanych przeszłością i teraźniejszością Egiptu

Author(s): Leszek Zinkow / Language(s): Polish Issue: 17/2019

Review of: oachim Śliwa, Starożytny Egipt oczami Polaków. Słownik biograficzny egiptologów, archeologów i badaczy pokrewnych dziedzin, podróżników i kolekcjonerów oraz literatów i malarzy zafascynowanych przeszłością i teraźniejszością Egiptu, Kraków 2019.

Wymysiöejer łod – czyli stan badań nad skrzyniami malowanymi z Wilamowic

Author(s): Justyna Majerska-Sznajder / Language(s): Polish Issue: 10/2022

Wilamowice is a cultural phenomenon on the ethnographic map of Po¬land. Settled in the 13th century by settlers from Western Europe, it has maintained their separate identity for years. From the beginning of the scientific world’s interest in Wilamowice, the main objects of researchers were costumes, customs and language. Although the first attempts to docu-ment the painted Vilamovicean chests were made at the beginning of the 20th century as part of the Sprachinsel Fälschung project, this topic was overshadowed by a more “ideologically meaningful” local costumes or language. Apart from Roman Rainfuss, no one has published issues related to the subject of the Vilamovicean chests phenomenon – wymysiöeryś łóda – until modern times. The ongoing cultural revitalization, focused on the emic perspective, allowed us to look at this phenomenon in a broad, in¬terdisciplinary scope. In addition to an attempt at formal characterization, determining the types and manufacturers, the state of research to date and the preserved specimens, it is possible to grasp a broader cultural con¬text. What was the ancient meaning of painted chests? What were their functions? What beliefs were associated with this piece of furniture? What caused such a small number of surviving copies? How are they stored to¬day? How do they currently function in the culture of Wilamowice? The content of the article attempts to answer these and other interdisciplinary questions, taking into account the narrative of this micro ethnic minority.

The Roma sorceress in 18th century Hungarian sources.

Author(s): Péter Tóth / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2023

18th century sources confirm the observations of cultural anthropology that Roma women played an important role in the sustenance of their families. In a gatherer lifestyle, their primary task was to get food. However, the social environment strongly restricted gathering therefore they had to apply different techniques. From among these, the most important one was the activity relying on beliefs which formed the image of the ’Roma witch’ for the surrounding society. It is important to note, however, that these beliefs were always those of the surrounding society and not those of the Romas themselves as otherwise, they would not have worked (similarly to the way Roma musicians played the music of the surrounding society and not that of their own community). In accordance with this, witchcraft (fortune-telling, binding or loosing love ties, the ability to see treasures, etc.) was also a service provided almost exclusively by women. And as the surrounding society (or at least, a part of it) had a demand for this service, it also became possible for its providers to get into areas closed for them, where they could continue the ’gathering’ following from their lifestyle.

Death Beyond Death: Jian Spirits in Chinese Popular Belief

Author(s): Elizaveta Volchkova / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2023

This article examines the origins and development of notions about jian spirits, beings into which, according to Chinese folk tradition, the souls of the dead transform after their demise. An analysis of the few available references to jian in Chinese literature and folklore suggests that the first mention of jian as ‘ghosts of ghosts’ appears relatively late, in the 13th century, as the result of a combination of two independent traditions: the written jian formula used in apotropaic practices from at least the Tang period (618–907), and a complex of ideas about the mortality of ghosts and their posthumous fate that took shape in the early Middle Ages, possibly under the influence of Buddhism. A detailed development of the ghosts of ghosts motif occurs as part of High Qing supernatural discourse in the works of writers Pu Songling and Yuan Mei. By the end of the 19th century notions that had been created by such literary representation were inherited by the popular belief system. The evolution of ideas about jian, which continues to the present, as far as one can judge from the supply on the market of magical paraphernalia and the material of modern supernatural web novels, provides a vivid example of how new concepts of Chinese folk religious tradition emerge and transform.

EXPRESSIONS OF FORGIVENESS IN THE SYSTEM OF ROMANIAN POPULAR CULTURE

Author(s): Petru Marcel Fotea / Language(s): English Issue: 34/2023

The man of the Romanian village always sought the peace of his fellow man by forgiving his mistake, brought him close to his heart and advised him that the only way to obtain peace of soul and good is contemplation: "the wise man keeps the straight path", says a saying from the elders and who follows this way goes far. The expression "far reaching" is the result of understanding. Let's realize that one's inability to forgive destroys the ability to think of the one who wants to be forgiven for wrongdoing. Forgiveness must not only be found with the person who wronged us, but with our reconciliation that we have passed a time in life through which we want good. It is a form of spreading and affecting all areas of our lives, but also those around us. The joy of forgiveness is shared with our close partners because it fills our mood, behavior and reactions with release. Unforgiveness affects the individual's personality, inner peace and even the joy of being.

THE REPRESENTATION OF THE NEGATIVE NATURE (TRAIT) ON THE CHARACTERS AND OBJECTS IN THE FOLK TALES GATHERED BY I. G. SBIERA

Author(s): Sergiu Crăciun / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 34/2023

The negative character represents an essential narrative compositional element in folk fairy tales, being in opposition to the positive one. The two narrative instances may or may not tend towards a certain goal, sometimes common, sometimes different. In most cases, the destiny of the future hero, who has gone through the initiation stage, is decided by the negative character, with whom he must confront in the end. What are the reference points that guide us to consider a character, at a certain moment, the antagonist of the action? Is the presence of the antagonist in folk fairy tales singular or doubled, sometimes tripled depending on the situations and obstacles encountered by the hero during his initiatory journey. These are some of the premises from which we start to reveal the mythical-symbolic values of negative characters in fairy tales collected by I. G. Sbiera.

The Development of Ukrainian Singing Culture During the Middle Ages

Author(s): Lyudmyla M. Sbitnieva,Olena F. Sbitnieva / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2022

The purpose of this article is to study the development of Ukrainian singing culture during the Middle Ages. Ukraine has always been famous for its songs and singers. Ukrainian singing culture dates back to ancient times. Ancient cultural monuments confirm that folk songs and folk art have played a significant role in the life of the Ukrainian people. Starting from the 10th century, church music began to develop, and thus great importance was attached to musical education. Song creativity is the most popular form of folk art, which influenced the development of many genres of Ukrainian music during the Middle Ages.

THE SPECIFIC PRELIMINARY RITUALS OF THE FUNERAL CEREMONIAL IN THE VILLAGES OF THE BEIUŞ DEPRESSION

Author(s): Ioana Avram (Pordea) / Language(s): French Issue: 34/2023

In the villages of the Beiușului Depression, the preliminary rites in case of death are well defined. The patient and those in his entourage openly recognize the proximity of death, that is why they rigorously submit to magical-religious practices that are meant to ease the passage from this world to the Hereafter. Among these practices we list: fasting, prayer and masl.

ANTHROPOLOGY OF CULTURE AND FOLKLORIC CREATION

Author(s): Rodica Bălan / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 34/2023

Culture starts from cultivation and is cultured, and means teaching, and cult man has a high and varied level of instruction. The first meaning of culture is the cultivation, care, cultivation of the earth, orchards, plants, animals and, of course, humans. but the most common and familiar sense of culture is education and training, which complements or corrects human nature. In this sense, the Greeks have created a unique education system in which not a specialist is formed in a certain profession, but man is cultivated as a personality with certain value orientations.

Българите в Румъния – културно наследство от фонда на Националния етнографски музей

Author(s): Elena Vodinchar / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2023

Heiner Fangerau, Anke Dreier-Horning, Volker Hess, Karsten Laudien, Maike Rotzoll (Hrsg). Leid und Unrecht. Kinder und Jugendliche in Behindertenhilfe und Psychiatrie der BRD und DDR 1949 bis 1990. Köln, 2021

Author(s): Georgi Todorov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2023

Съвременни теренни изследвания на културноисторическото наследство. Съст. Й. Еролова, П. Кръстев, Ю. Попчева, София, 2021

Author(s): Mila Maeva / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2023

Luleva, A., I. Petrova, P. Petrov, S. Kazalarska, Y. Yancheva, Zl. Bogdanova (Eds.). Everyday Socialism: Promises, Realities, and Strategies. Sofia, 2022

Author(s): Ekaterina Anastasova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2023

Спомен за Ганка Михайлова (1936 – 2022)

Author(s): Valentina Sharlanova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2023

ДУНАВСКАТА РИБЕНА ЧОРБА – НЕМАТЕРИАЛНИ ИЗМЕРЕНИЯ НА КУЛТУРНОТО НАСЛЕДСТВО

Author(s): Nikolai Nenov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 22/2023

The preparation of Danube fish soup (chorba) is an important part of the knowledge of the fisherman communities along the Danube, as well as those not connected to them, because this type of food is an element of everyday life, but not only of the fishing community. The variability of the product, the presence of numerous recipes available both in communities and in cookbooks, presents this gastronomic product alive, with its own individuality that does not need to be proven, as it is perceived by all as part of the local identity. Through the presence of fish soup at special events – festivals and city holidays, fish soup becomes an element of local cultural heritage that preserves its ability to radiate local pride and become an individual challenge. The variety of forms of fish soup in cookbooks is traced. The Danube fish soup, which exists in inseparable unity with the fishermen communities, with its diversity registered in our interviews and in meetings with fishermen along the river, constitutes and 420 represents the intangible cultural heritage of the fishermen communities, as it is a product of their knowledge, skills and cultural practices, inherited and transmitted between generations, for the benefit of the community and the local dimensions of culture.

БЪЛГАРСКИТЕ ОБЩНОСТИ В ОБЕДИНЕНИТЕ АРАБСКИ ЕМИРСТВА: ЛОКАЛНИ СПЕЦИФИКИ

Author(s): Lina Gergova,Yana Gergova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 22/2023

In the Middle East and the United Arab Emirates particularly, Bulgarian migrant communities are small but active and maintain a wide social structure. They consist of high qualified specialists, diplomats, businessmen and their families who are temporary residents in general. Despite or due to this, their community life is saturated and their cultural calendar is full. The article considers two Bulgarian communities in the UAE which have never been studied. They are located in Abu Dhabi – the capital city, and Dubai – the largest one. The authors aim to propose a comparative analysis of the local features that these two communities have elaborated, as well as to discuss characteristics of a European migrant community in the Arab world.