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SUMMARY
W o j c i e c h J. B u r s z t a ,
E T H N O L O G Y T O D A Y OR T H E P O -
WER OF THE PERIPHERIES
OF
ARTICLES
m e e t i n g p o i n t of t w o trends of Christianity in specific social and
national c o n d i t i o n s w h i c h characterized the so-called eastern
The traditional reflection a b o u t w o r l d a n t h r o p o l o g i c a l t h o u g h t
contains a d i c h o t o m y i n t o t h e s o - c a l l e d international
territories of t h e f o r m e r C o m m o n w e a l t h . The borderland
of
anth-
religious, national a n d social t r a d i t i o n s enables t o examine closer
ropology and its local ( n a t i o n a l ) variants. This d i c h o t o m y is t h e
t h e selection of style, f o r m , means a n d c o n t e n t s of an art w h i c h
expression of another, basic o p p o s i t i o n w h i c h organizes s c i e n -
b e l o n g s t o various cultural spheres a n d s u b s e q u e n t l y
tific deliberations a b o u t t h e w o r l d of c u l t u r e a n d science. It is t h e
m e r g i n g i n t o a w h o l e w h i c h differs qualitatively f r o m that w h a t
relation between the „ c e n t r e " (the m e t r o p o l y ) a n d the „ p e r i -
c o m p r i s e d its source, a n d w h i c h is k n o w n as t h e Carpathian icon.
their
pheries" (the p r o v i n c e ) . A c c o r d i n g t o t h i s o p p o s i t i o n , t h e further
we find ourselves f r o m t h e range of t h e influence exerted by t h e
Magdalena
centre, the more w e are d o o m e d t o peripheral interests a n d local
R E A S O N S FOR P O P U L A T I O N D I F F E R E N T I A T I O N
topics.
D I N G TO T H E FOLK B I B L E
The intention of t h e article is t h e d e c o n s t r u c t i o n
Zowczak,
W H Y DOES T H E GYPSY STEAL?
ACCOR-
of t h i s
Legends created by t h e f o l k c o u n t e r p a r t of t h e Bible describe
traditional o p p o s i t i o n by i n d i c a t i n g its purely l i n g u i s t i c - c o n v e n -
typical situations usually c o n n e c t e d interchangeably w i t h v a -
tional nature. There is s i m p l y n o centre (source) of culture or
rious figures a n d events in t h e t w o Testaments. This feature is the
central places for the pursuit of a n t h r o p o l o g y . A n t h r o p o l o g i c a l
o u t c o m e of an u n c o n s c i o u s t y p o l o g y of persons f r o m the p o i n t of
investigations are s i m u l t a n e o u s l y central (because t h e y pertain t o
v i e w of their a n a l o g u s roles in events w i t h a similar structure. A n
Man as s u c h ) a n d peripheral (since t h e y discuss M a n u p o n t h e
original t y p o l o g y of this k i n d does n o t perimt a direct comparison
basis of an analysis of c o n c r e t e cultures) The special place held
of t h e f o l k Bible w i t h the H o l y Scriptures.
by this science a m o n g t h e other h u m a n i t i e s consists i.a. of t h e
A characteristic feature of f o l k sources ( b o t h in the past and
fact that for an a n t h r o p o l o g i s t t h e peripheries d o n o t s i g n i f y t h e
t o d a y ) is t h e interchangeability of A d a m a n d N o a h as t h e first
end of a n y t h i n g b u t a further p r o l o n g a t i o n of t h e centre.
m a n , a n d t h e c o n t a m i n a t i o n of t h e e n s u i n g motifs. The history of
Joanna Tokarska-Bakir,
t h e roles of Eve, N o a h ' s w i f e a n d the devil are in b o t h instance
N o a h ' s sin is a t r a n s f o r m a t i o n of t h e story a b o u t original sin a n d
HENRI C O R B I N —
THE TIME
a n a l o g o u s , similarly t o t h e roles of their children in t h e process of
OF E R A N O S
French
t h e d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n b e t w e e n men a n d w o m e n . Cain a n d C h a m also
Oriental scholar a n d examiner of t h e spirituality of Mediterranean
appear as t h e protoplasts of a variously concretised w o r s e part of
cultures, remains almost c o m p l e t e l y u n k n o w n t o t h e
m a n k i n d , affiliated w i t h t h e evil spirit.
The hermeneutics of Henri C o r b i n , an o u t s t a n d i n g
Polish
reader. This text places it w i t h i n t h e perspective of a c o n t r o v e r s y
The stereotype of t h e alien is s t r o n g l y c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e folk
between historicism a n d p o s t - H e i d e g g e r i a n hermeneutics w h i c h
Bible. The c o n c e p t of sin does not pertain directly t o t h e stranger
constitutes o n e of t h e most i m p o r t a n t p h i l o s o p h i c a l c o n t e n t i o n s
w h o exists in an ,,upside d o w n " w o r l d , outside t h e recognised
of our times. C o r b i n ' s hermeneutics of Persons accents t h e
order of values. T h e m y t h perceives his o r i g i n in a situation of the
supra-empirical d i m e n s i o n of history, w h i c h , despite its reality, is
original differentiation
a myth f r o m
thoughts
o u t c o m e of a d i s t u r b a n c e of h a r m o n y by o n e of the successors of
b e g i n n i n g t o e n d , a n d pursued t h e
of m a n k i n d w h i c h t o o k place as the
proposed by F. Lessing w h o c o m p r e h e n d s history as t h e e n -
t h e protoplast. This d i s t u r b a n c e f o r m s the c o n c e p t of sin leading
d o w m e n t of m e a n i n g t o t h a t w h i c h in itself is m e a n i n g l e s s " .
t o a m e t a m o r p h o s i s , t h e emergence of a w o r s e or handicapped
M e a n i n g appears in
the
species of beings. Sources w h i c h m e n t i o n differentiating sin
mood,
always c o n t a i n t h e scheme of c o n c e a l m e n t , w h i c h is interpreted
Corbin's hermeneutics engages in an interesting d i a l o g u e w i t h
as an a t t e m p t at d e c e i v i n g G o d , or its reversal: of disclosure, the
the theses of c o n t e m p o r a r y p o s t m o d e r n i s t s . Its premise, h o w e -
revelation of a mystery w h i c h is sealed w i t h divine p r o h i b i t i o n .
understanding
history o w i n g
m a n . Retaining
t o t h e presence of
its originally
religious
ver, presents itself most l u c i d l y in t h e c o n t e x t of t h e u n d e r t a k i n g s
C o n c e a l m e n t appears i.a. in t h e most p o p u l a r motifs w h i c h
c o n d u c t e d by a g r o u p w h i c h for several decades has created t h e
characterize t h e c u s t o m s of J e w s a n d Gypsies.
atmosphere of t h e Eranos meetings. Their participants ( i n c l u d i n g
such
celebrated
scholars
as
C. C.
Jung,
van
der
Leeuw,
G. S c h o l e m a n d M . Eliade) shared a special m o d e of t h i n k i n g
about religion a n d a sui generis p e r c e p t i o n of t h e s y m b o l , closely
c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e n o n r e d u c t i o n i s t c o m p r e h e n s i o n of t i m e a n d
history. A sample of t h i s style of t h i n k i n g is t h e presented text by
Henri C o r b i n d e v o t e d t o an analysis of t h e m o t i f of t h e l u m i n o u s
man, and t h e idea of perfect Nature, w h i c h c o m e s f r o m his
„ L ' H o m m e de L u m i è r e " .
A c u r i o u s interpretation of the legend a b o u t the Gypsy is
presented by m o d e r n material f r o m Lithuania a n d the Lemko
region, w h i c h claims that t h e theft ( c o n c e a l m e n t ) of a nail made it
impossible t o crucify Christ in a h u m i l i a t i n g p o s i t i o n , similarly as
in t h e case of t h e S. A n d r e w cross, t h e crux decussata; t h u s , the
Gypsy can steal a n d cheat w i t h o u t fearing divine punishment.
This interpretation testifies t o a more ambivalent treatment of
Gypsies t h a n J e w s in traditional rural culture.
The c o n s e q u e n c e of t h e situation c o n n e c t e d w i t h different i a t i n g sin is t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n of originally similar creatures into
E w a K l e k o t , T H E D E P I C T I O N OF T H E FACE OF C H R I S T IN
an animal, a bird or a person w h o b e l o n g s t o a w o r s e category,
CARPATHIAN ICONS
h a l f - a n i m a l or d e m o n i c , in other w o r d s —
into an alien.
The image of t h e face of t h e Saviour h o l d s a special place in t h e
O r t h o d o x t h e o l o g y of t h e i c o n . A p a i n t i n g is regarded as an i c o n
K r y s t y n a G i e r y s z e w s k a , T H E I N T E R P R E T A T I O N OF J U -
b o t h d u e t o t h e t o p i c of t h e d e p i c t i o n
DAS
a n d the
wondrous
circumstances of its o r i g i n . C a t h o l i c art also w i l l i n g l y portrayed
The traditional culture regards J u d a s as the initiator of genera-
the face of Jesus b u t t h e t w o rites placed emphasis o n varying
t i o n s of persons w h o c o m m i t suicide. Places a n d objects c o n n e c -
kinds of t h e o l o g i c a l a n d e m o t i o n a l c o n t e n t s of t h e d e p i c t i o n
t e d w i t h people w h o hang themselves are t o possess a p o w e r
w h i c h resulted b o t h in i c o n o g r a p h i e differences a n d in a diver-
w h i c h is particularly perilous but also indispensable d u r i n g the
g e n t manner of expression. U n i a t e art f r o m the Eastern Carpat-
winter-spring
hians, t h e s u b - C a r p a t h i a n r e g i o n a n d Podolia emerged at t h e
s o u t h - e a s t e r n Poland H o l y Thursday is an occasion for hanging
solstice,
and
thus
during
Holy
Week.
In
63
an effigy of J udas. The f u n c t i o n of this rite is t o w a r d off death and
S t a n i s ł a w W ę g l a r z . T H E CONCEPTION OFTHE ETHNOG
evil, and t o stimulate g r o w t h (the sexual s y m b o l i c s of t h e e f f i g y ) .
R A P H I C D I F F E R E N T I A T I O N OF P R E S E N T - D A Y FOLK C U L
Religious motifs, ritual practices a n d t h e appearance of t h e figure
TURE
also indicate persons w h o m t h e c o m m u n i t y regards as traitors.
Interest in the e t h n o g r a p h i c regionalization of t h e c o u n t r y
They include all those w h o d o not observe t h e values and norms
dates back t o the n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y (O. K o l b e r g , W . P o l ) , and
that are b i n d i n g a m o n g „ o u r o w n " , t h a t is, t h o s e w h o
c o n t i n u e s t o this day. A t its basis lies t h e c o n v i c t i o n that it is
are
described as a „ J e w " (the alien), the y o u n g girl w h o refuses t o
possible t o d i s t i n g u i s h certain units in t h e f o r m of
marry, the mentally d e r a n g e d , and t h e suicide victims. R e s p o n
( e t n o g r a p h i c g r o u p s ) w h i c h are characterized by a constant,
regions
dents c o m p a r e d J u d a s w i t h
b o t h are traitors,
typical c o m p l e x of features. It w a s also presumed that these
a m b i g u o u s a n d medial figures, a l t h o u g h St. Peter guards the
quests w i l l enable t o discover a " c o m p l e x of Polish c u l t u r e " , in
heavenly gates a n d J u d a s atones for his sins in Hell. Satan
other w o r d s , a n d ensemble of traits characteristic o n l y for that
St.
Peter —
captures the soul of J u d a s instead of t h e spirit of Jesus for w h i c h
national variety. This a s s u m p t i o n w a s s u p p o r t e d by the belief
he lay in w a i t o n the cross. The fatalism of t h e lot of t h e Iscariot
a b o u t its native qualities. One can list three approaches to
w a s expressed by his rank as t h e t h i r t e e n t h apostle.
regionalization: „ o b j e c t i v i s t i c "
(the e x p l o i t a t i o n
of
objective
d e t e r m i n a n t s s u c h as c o s t u m e ) , „ i n t e r s u b j e c t i v i s t i c "
(which
accents t h e „ f e e l i n g of distinctness in g r o u p c o n s c i o u s n e s s " as
Krzysztof
Kocjan,
APOCRYPHAL
FOLK E V A L U A T I O N OF S E X U A L I T Y .
MOTIFS
IN T H E
FOLK V E R S I O N
OF
THE
STORY OF A D A M A N D EVE
t h e f o u n d a t i o n for d i s t i n c t i o n ) a n d t h e " i n t e g r a l i s t i c " aproach
w h i c h c o m b i n e s t h e t w o previous ones. T h e a u t h o r indicates that
t h e c o n s i s t a n t e x p l o i t a t i o n of e n d o e t h n o n y m s ( g r o u p s ' names),
The story of A d a m a n d Eve is o n e of t h e most p o p u l a r m o t i f s of
e x o e t h n o n y m s (names g i v e n t o g r o u p s b y scholars). The author
„ f o l k C h r i s t i a n i t y " presented in t w o forms: oral a n d in various
notes that at t h e basis of reflections a b o u t peasant culture,
depictions. Despite t h e basic c o n c u r r e n c e of t h e f o l k a n d Biblical
ethnographic
versions attention is attracted by the rather n u m e r o u s a p o c r y p h a l
s u p p o s i t i o n a c c o r d i n g t o w h i c h peasant g r o u p s lived in isolation,
motifs. The creation
w i t h o u t a c o n s t a n t e x c h a n g e a n d p e r m e a t i o n of n e i g h b o u r i n g
of
Eve w h i c h
is t h e o u t c o m e
of
the
g r o u p s a n d regions there lay an
unconscious
intervention of t h e devil, or t h e p r o d u c t of an accident, is
cultures. This image demonstrates t h a t b o t h t h e peasants and
c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e o r i g i n of sexual d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n . In t u r n ,
their c u l t u r e w e r e treated as alien a n d as s u c h w e r e m y t h o l o g i z e d .
sources dealing w i t h t h e original sin disclose its s e x u a l nature:
sexual intercourse b e t w e e n A d a m (eventually t h e devil or L u c i p her) a n d Eve. The apocrypiral motifis create a rather cohesive
system, reveal t h e permanence of t h e sexual element in f o l k
consciousness, a n d explain t h e p r e s e n t - d a y h u m a n c o n d i t i o n as
the consequences of an accident or alien ( d e m o n i c ) i n t e r v e n t i o n ,
c o m p l e t e l y i n d e p e n d e n t of m a n w h o t h u s remains blameless.
Iwona
Kabzińska-Stawarz,
THE
DANCE
AROUND
TREES IN T H E „ S E C R E T H I S T O R Y OF T H E M O N G O L S "
The article presents an analysis of a f r a g m e n t of a chronicle
k n o w n as The Secret
History
of the Mongols.
It describes the
election of Kutula t o t h e t h r o n e of t h e Khan, a n d the dance around
a tree w h i c h w a s p e r f o r m e d in c o n n e c t i o n w i t h this event. The
a u t h o r demonstrates that t h e d a n c e w a s n o t solely t h e o u t c o m e
of the j o y f u l m o o d of t h e a t t e n d i n g M o n g o l s , as t h e Chronicle
Agata Wieczorek,
T H E C O M I C A S P E C T S OF ST. PETER
claims. In t h e given c o n t e x t of t h e e l e c t i o n , it c o n s t i t u t e s a symbol
The comical aspects of St. Peter consist of t h e c o m b i n a t i o n a n d
of life a n d c h a n g e s , as w e l l as t h e establishment of a new
contrast of the sacrum a n d the m u n d a n e in a single person. In
historical, social a n d s y m b o l i c
a series of stories a b o u t t h e w a n d e r i ng of the Lord Jesus o n Earth,
elections w e r e an e x a m p l e of i n i t i a t i o n , a c c o m p a n i e d by ascribed
order, if w e accept that the
St. Peter discloses his faults a n d a total lack of u n d e r s t a n d i n g of
symbolics. T h e d a n c e also f u l f i l l e d magical f u n c t i o n s . It was
the Lord's verdicts. Other sources d e p i c t t h e saint as a b u m b l e r
s u p p o s e d t o ensure Kutula t h e asistance a n d p r o t e c t i o n of the
(for instance, w h e n he w i s h e s t o w i n people's favour or w h e n he
forefathers ( m y t h i c a l a n d h u m a n ) . Finally, t h e d a n c e w a s also
substitutes for G o d in ruling t h e w o r l d ) . In t h e f o l k t a l e s , St. Peter
a means of c o m m u n i c a t i o n b e t w e e n people, a n d b e t w e e n man
is not o n l y a slightly f o o l i s h a n d ineffectual egoist b u t also
a n d the forces of Nature w h i c h rule over h i m . A key role is played
a dishonest c o w a r d . The fact that in certain sources he appears
by trees s t a n d i n g in t h e centre of t h e d a n c e area w h i c h are
interchangeably w i t h t h e devil is particularly w o r t h y of a t t e n t i o n .
c o u n t e r p a r t s of t h e c o s m i c tree (the tree of life).
64
WARUNKI
PRENUMERATY
1. W p ł a t y na prenumeraturę p r o w a d z o n ą przez „ R u c h " p r z y j m o w a n e są na okresy kwartalne
2. Cena prenumeraty k r a j o w e j na p o d w ó j n y numer (III i IV k w a r t a ł ) w y n o s i 16 0 0 0 zł. Prenumerata ze
zleceniem d o s t a w y za granicę jest o 1 0 0 % droższa.
3. W p ł a t y na prenumeratę przyjmują:
—
na teren kraju —
j e d n o s t k i k o l p o r t a ż o w e „ R u c h " i urzędy p o c z t o w e w ł a ś c i w e dla miejsca
—
na zagranicę —
Zakład Kolportażu Prasy i W y d a w n i c t w 0 0 - 9 5 8 W a r s z a w a , k o n t o PBK, XIII
zamieszkania lub siedziby prenumeratora
Oddział W - w a 3 7 0 0 4 4 - 1 1 9 5 - 1 3 9 - 1 1
4. Dostawa z a m ó w i o n e j prasy następuje:
—
przez j e d n o s t k i k o l p o r t a ż o w e „ R u c h " —
—
przez urzędy p o c z t o w e —
w sposób uzgodniony z zamawiającym,
pocztą z w y k ł ą na w s k a z a n y adres, w ramach o p ł a c o n e j prenumeraty
z w y j ą t k i e m zlecenia d o s t a w y na zagranicę pocztą lotniczą d o o d b i o r c y zagranicznego, której koszt
w pełni p o k r y w a prenumerator.
5. Terminy p r z y j m o w a n i a prenumeraty na kraj i zagranicę — d o 2 0 XI na I kwartał roku następnego, d o
20 II — na II kwartał, d o 2 0 V na III kwartał, d o 2 0 VIII na IV kwartał.
Prenumeratę„Polskiej Sztuki L u d o w e j " p r o w a d z i także firma A M O S , W a r s z a w a , ul. Szenwalda 1 .
W p ł a t y na okresy półroczne (2 n u m e r y ) , roczne p r z y j m o w a n e są n o n - s t o p , a d o k o n a n e na miesiąc
przed ukazaniem się k o l e j n e g o n u m e r u g w a r a n t u j ą j e g o otrzymanie z d o s t a w ą d o d o m u , miejsca pracy.
Obecna cena półrocznej prenumeraty k r a j o w e j w y n o s i 16 0 0 0 zł. Prenumerata zagraniczna jest
o 1 0 0 % droższa.
W p ł a t należy d o k o n y w a ć na k o n t o : A M O S , PKO VIII Oddział W a r s z a w a , nr 1 5 8 6 - 7 7 5 7 8 - 1 3 6 .
Numer p o d w ó j n y 3 - 4 / 1 9 9 2 p o ś w i ę c o n y a n t r o p o l o g i i f i l m u ukaże się w l i s t o p a d z i e - g r u d n i u br. Cena
w prenumeracie 16 0 0 0 zł ( w sprzedaży — 3 0 0 0 0 zł). Prenumerata zagraniczna jest o 1 0 0 % droższa.
Redakcja d y s p o n u j e n u m e r a m i a r c h i w a l n y m i po zniżonej cenie.