Projects / Programmes
Folklore and Ethnological Research on Slovenian Folk Culture
January 1, 2009
- December 31, 2013
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 6.04.00 |
Humanities |
Ethnology |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| H400 |
Humanities |
Folklore |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 6.05 |
Humanities |
Other humanities |
Folk culture, folklore, folk, tradition, folk music, folk dance, folk song, folk instrument, folk singer, life stories, customs and feasts, cultural heritage, history of ethnology, genres of everyday communication, audio records, digitalization, preservation.
Researchers (11)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
Folkloristic and ethnological research on Slovenian folk spiritual culture are addressing main issues of both creative (involving also individuals with their life stories) and functional (involvement in customs and feasts) communication of folk song, music and dance, and at the same time also refering to social elements of spiritual culture and its diversity in structure, functionality, poetics, life and historical context also in relationship with high art. Folk spiritual culture is fundamental for research of originality of Slovenes and their cultural diversity in context of neighbouring ethnicities or nations, it determines and identifies us more than universal or high culture, with its research considering general cultural aspects and concrete ways of living, showing specific methodology of research of syncretic phenomenon. All aspects of research: functional, artistic, creative and social can emerge as interacting oposition or as mutual study of life of different layers of population. The research, in its core, systematicaly investigates the widest area of folk spiritual culture by field research, gathering and critical processing of sources and material, systematization, cataloging and digitization of field and archive material for preservation and increase of value of folk spiritual culture, creative transformations of folklore, customs and fiests, life stories. The main goal of research programme, which involves interdisciplinary approach, is to present gathered material as specific creativity with its own internal logic and specific life, integrated in social scope and emphasized with aspects of those who continue to carry these elements in future. Individual goals are: publishing of fundamental collection of Slovenian Folk Songs (Corpus SLP - 12 books); publishing of all individual thematicaly edited collections, publishing of research on dance tradition and influence of new aspects of folklorism on dance tradition, publishing of ethnomusicological material, vocal and instrumental tradition, preservation and digitization of all audio and manuscript collections, so called ethnical legitimation of Slovenians, which serve as a base for work and library as a source for research.
Individual thematic complex of research of the programme are: Digitization of OSNP archive and other collections, Transformation of Slovene folk songs in popular music after 1990, Folk music of Istria, Dance tradition in Slovenia and influence of folklorism on Slovenian dance tradition, Issues of social problematics in song tradition of Tuhinja valley, Folklore and literature - relationships, corelations, oppositions in novels and short stories, Animal images in Slovenian folk songs, Relationships between slavistics and folkloristics, Electroacustic research of ethnomusicological material and special aspects of their preservation and digitization, History and theory of folkloristics - selected articles, etc.
Significance for science
The findings of various studies will be applied to other research areas in the framework of ethnomusicology, sociology, ethnology, folklore studies, or anthropology. The audio and visual material gathered will enable treatment of this phenomenon in other research disciplines and aspects. The treatment of various folk and cultural phenomena with consideration for international research and similar tradition practices will significantly contribute to contextualizing segments of Slovenian folk heritage in the European and broader cultural environment. They will add new dimensions to research on dance and dancing as part of Slovenian identity, develop new redefinitions of folk culture, provide fresh research discourses (e.g. ethical and ecological), and help in understanding the global phenomenon of the importance of technical and acoustic factors in field recording. Research introduces an innovative scholarly methodology, founded on the close interdependence of folklore and ethnomusicology research and research in modern information and communication technologies. This is why the studies are specific and innovative: specific in the manner of studying the internal structure and the principles of Slovenian folk song and Slovenian nonmaterial culture in general (which has its own special features, different from other European cultures), and innovative in its approach to the research fields and their connection. Folklore studies will provide the profession with new findings and approaches to studying Slovenian nonmaterial folk culture. Research will indirectly promote greater and better use of modern technologies that are already the basis of folklore and ethnomusicology research by (primarily) junior researchers at GNI. Such material and analysis will lay the groundwork for indispensable comparative studies for other Slovenian and foreign studies in the humanities and social sciences, together with the theoretical and methodological level of the program research, which will be embedded in current European and global frameworks by publishing the findings of studies in foreign journals and other venues.
Significance for the country
The program combines a complex of studies of key importance for promoting Slovenia in European and global integrations in a mosaic fashion because it presents the part of the Slovenian cultural heritage that is the most original because it originates in nonmaterial folk culture, which used to and continues to highlight the most proper features of Slovenian national and cultural identity and, at the same time, it is relevant for defining the specificity of Slovenian culture within European and world culture. These studies of nonmaterial folk culture offer an opportunity to become familiar not only with various cultures, but also with their inner logic (thinking, philosophy, structure), the knowledge of which is necessary for a successful beginning and existence of an intercultural dialogue and coexistence. Research on the connection between the social environment and song tradition, together with its bearers, can also be fundamental for the recognition of socio-economic and cultural changes. The following are of indirect importance for society; for example, in promoting the country: CD releases; presenting papers at international symposiums and universities abroad; presentation of traditional Slovenian musicians, songs, and dance forms (bell chiming, folk singing, and ballads) as part of intercultural and interethnic collaboration; access to foreign knowledge: organizing international symposiums; publishing articles and translations of foreign scholarly literature; access to the institute’s library and archive material; and theoretical and applied work in folk vocal and instrumental music (workshops, seminars, lectures). Presenting folk music heritage has direct importance for cultural development; for example, through music evenings (Zajuckaj in zapoj – Shout and Sing), radio broadcasts, professional journals and popular magazines, CD releases with archive recordings and accompanying scholarly commentary; publications of popular collections with archive song material; transmission of archive music material for educational purposes; and transmission of archive music material for artistic arrangements as a way of disseminating and preserving Slovenian heritage. The proposed research continues the efforts by GNI ZRC SAZU to archive, document, and digitize – and consequently to digitally preserve – a number of collections from the GNI archive, not only protecting Slovenian cultural heritage, but also resulting in greater access to and thus increasing knowledge about this heritage, which will be enabled through the online multimedia digital archive EtnoMuza. Not least of all, the establishment of digital multimedia archives is an important aspect in the application of information technology in a society and it is of great importance for broadening knowledge and awareness of the environment as well as its cultural history. The research is also extremely important for the educational process and the development of new personnel because they create a network that cannot be found elsewhere and this is also why we include them in individual subjects that are being taught in different undergraduate and graduate programs by members of the program team. Together with individual partial aspects of research, the program enriches the theory and history of folklore and humanities in general in Slovenia.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
2012,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
2012,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
