Man in European folk reality of the 20th century: from folklore studies to anthropology

  • Iryna V. Powkh Brest State A. S. Pushkin University, 21 Kasmanaŭtaŭ Boulevard, Brest 224016, Belarus

Abstract

The article discusses the main formation and development stages of anthropological approach to folklore studies and ethnology in European countries from late 19th century to the present: from E. B. Tylor’s cultural anthropology to anthropology as a comprehensive research field, which includes ethnology and folklore studies, in late 20th – early 21st century. The author describes the main theories and concepts that at different times served as the basis for anthropology, folklore studies and ethnology: theory of evolution, theory of polygenesis, theory of «rituals», ethnography of communication, the «cultural creativity» concept etc. The article analyses the main functions performed by Man in folklore/cultural space as a cultural agent within a community, an evolutional model for culture development, a folklore «supplier» and «borrower», a local tradition and folklife agent, an ethnic/national group member, a dynamic research sphere agent, a supporter of national identity, a communicator and a creator of culture.

Author Biography

Iryna V. Powkh, Brest State A. S. Pushkin University, 21 Kasmanaŭtaŭ Boulevard, Brest 224016, Belarus

associate professor at the department of foreign languages, faculty of the foreign languages.

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Published
2020-10-27
Keywords: folklore studies, cultural anthropology, social anthropology, ethnology, polygenesis, cultural creativity
Supporting Agencies The author wants to express her appreciation and gratitude to the Belarusian Republican Foundation for Fundamental Research for the financial support that made it possible to carry out the research and prepare the article within the «Belarusian folklore studies in the modern world: scope of methods, themes and issues, theoretical innovations» (assignment; contract No. G20U-004, state registration number 20201112 of 26 June 2020).
How to Cite
Powkh, I. V. (2020). Man in European folk reality of the 20th century: from folklore studies to anthropology. Human in the Socio-Cultural Dimension, 2, 21-27. Retrieved from https://journals.bsu.by/index.php/pitscd/article/view/3244
Issue
No 2 (2020): Human in the Socio-Сultural Dimension
Section
Socio-Cultural Communications