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Seminar on magical folktales in Polish and East Slavic cultures
Dear colleagues,
You are welcome to the onsite seminar of the Department of Folkloristics on March 18 in Estonian Literary Museum (Vanemuise 42, Tartu).
The event starts at 11 a.m.
Anna Zalewska will give a talk "The Activity of a Witch and a Hag in the Domestic and Family Sphere in Polish and the East Slavic Magic Folktale".
The paper will aim to present how witches and hags interfere in the domestic and family sphere through activities typical for them, like casting spells, weaving/spinning, and acting as midwives in Polish, Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian magic folktales.
A special place will be given to female characters called “witches” or “hags” not because of their supernatural abilities, but due to their cruelty and contentiousness. Since fairy tales are fictional, the title mythological creatures are subject to certain genre conventions. Therefore, a particular emphasis will be put on the functions they perform (mainly the antagonists and the usurpers (false heroines), and less often the helpers).
The records of beliefs and mythological narratives devoted to women with demonic connotations will serve as an interpretive context.
Everybody is welcome to join!
Contact: mare.kalda@folklore.ee
