Общности и празници

Author(s): Petko Hristov,Assia Popova / Language(s): Bulgarian

The results from our research of the communal type of celebrations are the foundation of the prepared book. These results allow us to formulate several theses, adding to the already known by the scientific literature picture of the family-kinship and all-village annual ritual process, performed at different levels and with different intensity by all South Slavs on the Balkans. The attempts some of the versions of the family and the communal celebrations to be regarded as ethnical markers or confessional (Catholic/Orthodox) differences prove to be groundless. The regional and the local versions of these celebrations on the Balkans are not a result of the ethnical differences, in our opinion. The ritual process in the village, which contributes to the periodic reconfirming of the idea for cohesion of communities and groups, takes various forms, according to the specifics of the village social structure. The variations in the rituals are a result of the different matrices of ritual process, which each of the Churches – Catholic and Orthodox (of Constantinople, of Ohrid, of Peč, of Tărnovo) – has tried to impose in the historically changeable borders of its diocese in the “contacting” zones.

Aus dem inneren Leben der Zigeuner

Author(s): Heinrich Adalbert von Wlislocki / Language(s): German

Heinrich Adalbert von Wlislocki (1856-1907) has been a Transylvanian researcher in language and cultural anthropology. He specialized in „Tsiganology“, and conducted intensive literary collections as well as field-studies among Transylvanian Gypsies. He became member of a Gypsy-Clan and got married to a Gypsy woman. Volume I (1889) of the Journal of the Gypsy Lore Society wrote about him as „the scholar probably having best insight in life and language of the Gyspies” (Charles Godfrey Leland).In this book the author describes various key aspects of “Tsiganology” such as healthcare traditions, religious narratives, mythological traditions and tales, utilities for peregrinating groups…The book is completed by the highly exceptional biography of a Gypsy woman of origin in South Serbia and ending via Greece, Albania, Italy, finally in the Paris milieu of avant-gardist artists.

Through the Window. Kinship and Elopement in Bosnia-Herzegovina

Author(s): Keith Doubt / Language(s): English

This book is not about war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, evil, or the killing of a society. It is about a cultural heritage, something vital to a society as a society, something that was not killed in the previous war, something that is resilient.Through the Window: Kinship and Elopement in Bosnia-Herzegovina accounts for the trans-ethnic character of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s cultural heritage, focusing on marriage customs shared by different ethnic groups, namely, elopement and affinal visitations. The study provides for the inter-subjective logic that “makes sense” of these two complementary rites of passage that establish the collective identities of Catholics, Muslims, and Orthodox in Bosnia-Herzegovnia, and shows how the affinal relation called “prijatelji” is special to Bosnia and unique to its social character.

Urbane legende

Author(s): Ivan Kovačević / Language(s): Serbian

The aim of the book is to demonstrate two major points: 1) that the long-lasting fieldwork of Anglo-American style is by far not a sine qua non of contemporary anthropological research, and 2) to explain how anthropological analyses of non-ethnographised phenomena could improve understanding of the transformative processes through which American popular culture comes to be global. In the context of the ongoing debate over significance and specificity of anthropological methods after the radical impact of the digital revolution on science-specific information patterns, this book is dedicated to rehabilitation of the so-called "armchair anthropology". "Armchair anthropology", as a comparative analysis of human cultural production based on ethnographic data gathered by anyone, and then selected and bricolaged by an anthropologist trained in sophisticated semiological analyses, is fine and well. Delusional waste of time and squandering of human and institutional resources during the so-called "crisis of anthropolog", poorly focused on pseudo-methodological and theoretically frivolous debates on "postmodern ethnography" is over. It is the right moment for anthropology to engage in social analysis by doing what it is best at.

Demoni i rituali

Author(s): Danijel Sinani / Language(s): Serbian

U monografiji Demoni i rituali dr Danijela Sinanija, profesora na Odeljenju za etnologiju i antropologiju Filozofskog fakulteta u Beogradu,obrađeni su rituali vezani za najveće religijske praznike - one koji su to po dogmi, ali čija se proslava vrši na način koji se razlikuje od njihove katehitičke propisanosti, što je jedna od osnovnih karakteristika naše narodne religije. S druge strane, posebna pažnja je posvećena demonologiji, koja predstavlja važan činilac svakog religijskog sistema, s obzirom na to da ukazuje nastavove i vrednosti koje pripadnici neke zajednice pripisuju određenim pojavama, procesima i događajima - kako iz sveta prirode, tako i iz ljudskog sveta, sveta kulture. Autor se usredsredio na osnovne demonološke kategorije naše narodne religije, u kojima se reflektuje tradicijska kulturna misao o ljudskom ponašanju i organizovanju, njegovim vezama s prirodom od koje zavisi i koju koristi, te s drugim ljudskim grupama - aposebno značajnom se čini uvodna studija o „srpskoj“ demonologiji. Studija Demoni i rituali predstavlja celovit i ujednačen pristup najznačajnijim fenomenima iz jedne izuzetno značajne oblasti duhovne kulture našeg naroda. Potenciranje savremenih pristupa, promišljanje teorija i metoda, kao i insistiranje naantropološkoj perspektivi u posmatranju problema, otkriva skrivene”dogme” narodne religioznosti i prikazuje ih kao ujednačen sistem koji ima nemerljivu funkciju u organizaciji života - kako tradicionalnih, tako i savremenih seoskih i urbanih zajednica u Srbiji. Prof. dr Ivan Kovačević

SUGGESTIONS TOWARDS A THEORY OF FOLKLORE

Author(s): Vilmos Voigt / Language(s): English

The actuality of folklore is a key notion within the book. The papers follow the same style, with a general and systematizing approach, and a general bibliography closes the volume. Referring not only to Hungarian, but American, Russian, French, even Greek and Finnish monographs, Voigt’s work is a unique attempt to give suggestions toward a comparative and actual theory of folklore. These studies will be relevant readings to scholars of literature, communication theory, semiotics and culture theory too – just to mention some of the papers in the book.This collection of 25 papers (originally published over a period of about 25 years) is directed toward English-language readers. The papers describe the genres of folklore research, their systems, the variants and their interrelations – very important themes in the area. Several studies are devoted to history of research, and to historical stratification of folklore itself. Symbolism and ethnic characteristics of folklore items are the topics of other papers.The actuality of folklore is a key notion within the book. The papers follow the same style, with a general and systematizing approach, and a general bibliography closes the volume. Referring not only to Hungarian, but American, Russian, French, even Greek and Finnish monographs, Voigt’s work is a unique attempt to give suggestions toward a comparative and actual theory of folklore. These studies will be relevant readings to scholars of literature, communication theory, semiotics and culture theory too – just to mention some of the papers in the book.

Промишљања традиције

Author(s): / Language(s): Serbian

Балкански костими Николе Арсеновића

Author(s): Ljiljana Gavrilović / Language(s): Serbian

Ритуал ума

Author(s): Ivica R. Todorović / Language(s): Serbian

Procession rite (in the scope of village „slava”, patron saint celebration) represented one of the most complicated ritual complexes of Serbian folk religion. This rite had the function of efficient social uniting of the entire village community, as well as the function of providing for favorable weather conditions and the fertile tear. The studied phenomenon is complex and has several semantic layers, which are complementary and jointly form a unique mythic-ritual text. The most significant terms of reference of the procession rite mythic text to be singled out are: 1) magic circle, 2) sacred tree, 3) ruler of climatic phenomena. Cyclic model of procession is based on ancient agrarian cultures concept that the universe, namely – the totality of space significant for human community, is the unique organism, which is renewed periodically (in the case of procession) by resacralization of sacred object which are related to a supernatural being, patron of the entire area. Deeper mythological layer is in connection with the global annual cycle of customs, and contains the elements of various cults. Likewise, in the procession rite archetype mythological context is clearly expressed, based on specific structural patterns of universal manifestations. Throughout various interdisciplinary researches the existence of specific structural patterns has been noticed. Because of their elementariness and diffusion they could be called universal or primary structure of thinking. Directly related to that, this paper – based on structural analytic approach – pays attention mostly to structural models of ritual procession, that is – different ways in which the routes of the ritual procession are organized (which no investigator has dealt with so far). Therefore on the basis of the adequate research sample, basic (simple) and paradigmatic standard model of ritual procession, as well as the dynamics of the range of transitory forms were singled out – and among the most complex models of ritual procession structural patterns were noticed, which were identical to the forms determined in the context of various myths and rituals, language and logical models – defined by the (above mentioned) syntagm: primary structure of thinking, which represents the problem of extraordinary significance for the contemporary ethnological – anthropological research. Namely – both models are based on dual bipartite structural pattern, where the relation of two halves of the structural pattern is based on complementariness, and the relation of the halves of the other one on contras

Свадба - прича о идентитету. Врање и околина

Author(s): Sanja Zlatanović / Language(s): Serbian

Заклетва нa тлу СФР Југославије

Author(s): Lasta Đapović / Language(s): Serbian

Embracing Folk Material and Finding the New Objectivity: Karol Szymanowski's Twenty Mazurkas op. 50 and Two Mazurkas op. 62

Author(s): Anna Kijanowska / Language(s): English

This book examines the presence of folk material in and the influence of the New Objectivity on the „Mazurkas” op. 50 and op. 62 by Karol Szymanowski through various elements: rhythmic patterns, form, proportions, phrase structure, texture, accompaniment patterns, and articulation. Special emphasis is placed on the influence of the folk music practiced in the Highland region of the Tatra Mountains and its unquestionable presence in the „Mazurkas”. This dissertation dispenses with an analysis of the tonal system in the „Mazurkas”, a topic extensively covered in a thesis by Ann Kossakowski (Yale University, 1980). Chapter 1 discusses stylistic differences in Szymanowski’s works prior to the 1920s and beyond, as well as general trends in European music of that period. Chapter 2 focuses on the New Objectivity movement which is exemplified by the return to traditional forms and textures. Found in the works of Schoenberg, Stravinsky, and Hindemith, this new trend represents the search for a new direction reflective of Baroque and Classical models. The subsequent chapter is devoted exclusively to Polish folk music with distinctions drawn between Lowland and Highland folk styles and draws upon various examples of folk dances and songs. The main body of the book begins in Chapter 4, which is devoted to the analysis of the „Mazurkas”. A close look at the individual elements of the compositions highlights the remarkable way in which Szymanowski’s music manifests the New Objectivity in its texture, clear phrase structure, symmetrical proportions, and the rhythmic unity achieved through irregular accents typical of folk music. Chapter 5 explores the interpretive challenges a performer faces in the „Mazurkas” and examines each composition individually, analyzing the character and function of key elements: rhythmic patterns, articulation, and especially rubato. Szymanowski’s influence on modern Polish music and his contribution to later generations cannot be overstated and is the subject matter of the last chapter, followed by a summation in the conclusion.

Празници в съвременната българска семейна фирма

Author(s): Ivanka Petrova / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

Investigation of the cultural forms emerged from the usual common labour makes possible analysing the cultural values in the contemporary firms in Bulgaria. The paper concentrates on exploring the one of the firm culture important part, on the holidays celebrated by the firm employees. The role and the place of the holiday in the usual labouring and the meanings ascribed to it by the owners and the employees are analysed on the case of a family business in the smalltown of Belogradtchik. The holidays are considerd in the concrete context of the firm where they are planned, organized and practised.

Основне одлике обичаја животног циклуса Срба у Војводини

Author(s): Mila Bosić / Language(s): Serbian Publication Year: 0

Obiectivări culturale specifice societăţii româneşti de consum: legenda contemporană

Author(s): Cristina Gafu / Language(s): Romanian

The specific mentalities of the urban environment in the contemporary society expresses itself in samples of the narrative way of expression, from very well shaped texts, polished, strenghtened through repeated oral transmission in the process of producing the text in variants (contemporary legend, stories connected to the events in the urban areas, anecdotes etc), to forms less formalized, more unstable and diffuse (the rumour folklore, samples of conversational folklore, puns, narrative nucleus etc.).One of the most productive narrative categories present in the communitary environments specific to the city is the contemporary legend.Trying to circumscribe the contemporary legend within the cultural manifestations belonging to the urban we should take into account the following reference points:-the context of performing and receiving; the relation between the referee (the referential medium which has created the narrative) and the performing moment;-the active/passive functions on the level of the cultural models developed in the urban;-the spreading and persistency in the domain of the urban folklore, as a condition of the specie’s existence in a structured form which can separate it from the ususal, daily communication, from the conversational.The book was conceived as an essay, focussing on the themes and problems particular to the Romanian folkloric environments.

Łymkowsko duszyczka

Author(s): Petro Murjanka / Language(s): Polish

A bilingual book of poems by Petro Murianka (Piotr Trochanowski), originally written in Lemko and translated into Silesian. The poems introduce readers to minority literature and the linguistic and cultural diversity of Poland. Łymkowsko duszyczka is a contribution to the minority discourse and a proposition of literary dialogue between ethne living in Poland, but above all an opening of the Lemko world to Silesian recipients, most often completely unfamiliar with Lemkovyna – with the hope that they will want to get to know it better.

Ynzer łidła – nasze pieśni. Wilamowskojęzyczne pieśni, kołysanki i wyliczanki

Author(s): / Language(s): Polish

"Ynzer Łidła – Our Songs. Songs, Lullabies and Counting-out Rhymes from Wilamowice", is the result of titanic work done by Tymoteusz Król, who documented oral traditions of a small ethnic group living in Wilamowice, a town between Oświęcim and Bielsko-Biała. Wilamowianie came from Western Europe in the 13th century and brought their own language and traditions. Unfortunately, due to their distinctness, Wilamowianie were often persecuted, especially in the 20th century. As a result, their culture and language began to die out. Tymoteusz Król, who undertook the task of documenting songs and lullabies, collected directly from the oldest language users, not only saved them from oblivion, but also started the process of revitalizing wymysiöeryś language, which is now used by the growing number of speakers. For some of its speakers the songs contained in this collection were the first opportunity to get to know their indigenous culture.

Narodne umotvorine: iz Dervente i okolice

Author(s): Smajl O. Bradarić / Language(s): Bosnian

Over the past 130 years, the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina has become a rich treasury of the cultural and historical heritage of the peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This unique resource allows for a scholarly approach to studying different subjects including aspects of the preserved spiritual heritage. The collection entitled Narodne umotovorine (Folk Wisdom), along with its accompanying introductory paper, has the goal to bring a valuable manuscript of folk poems and songs kept at the Folklore Archives of the National Museum closer to the audience. This manuscript, created by Smajl O. Bradarić (1914-1993), a religion teacher from Maglaj, over the course of ten years of his collecting efforts and containing over one thousand oral lyric works, arrived to the National Museum in the middle of the 20th century. Exactly this period – from the1950s through 1980s – was the period of the greatest abundance of ethno-folkloristic contributions since the Museum was established until today.The manuscript collection created by Bradarić represents the folklore life as it was in the period between 1938 and 1948 in the area of Bosanski Novi, Derventa and Malglaj, as well as along the roads connecting these towns in northern Bosnia. This manuscript portrays the life of people de-scribed through different forms of lyric expression – and although most songs were told by elderly women and a few older community leaders who lived in the area and in the period of collection – it also contains several songs which came to the author through his students, who collected them from different people, often the younger ones. Bradarić’s collection also contains the entire songbook collected by Mihajlo Prosenik, Orthodox Christian church official, who collected it from his closest family members, with whom Bradarić collaborated. It also contains songs recorded in Maglaj, Žepče as well as parts of Central Bosnia, told by – as he puts it –Muslims and Bosnian Catholics, today ethnically labeled as Bosniaks and Croats. As such, this unique collection represents a valuable “treasure chest of the folk’s soul”. It is in fact an example of a folklore idyll collected from persons of different age, sex and religion who Bradarić met, and who were willing to share their songs with him.

Římský kult boha Mithry: Atlas lokalit a katalog nálezů I

Author(s): Aleš Chalupa / Language(s): Czech

The cult of the originally Persian god Mithras, which spread throughout the Roman Empire in the first centuries CE, represents one of the most fascinating religions of the ancient world. The Atlas of Sites and Catalogue of Evidence is a systematic heuristic contribution to the study of this cult. It provides an up-to-date list of places associated with the worship of Mithras and briefly describes the sanctuaries and artefacts discovered at these sites. In addition to confirmed Mithraic evidence, it also includes monuments of questionable nature or finds that have been excluded as non-Mithraic in later research, thus updating the now largely outdated Vermaseren corpus of Mithraic evidence from the 1960s.