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FOLKLORE FELLOWS’ SUMMER SCHOOL 2007

The seventh Folklore Fellows’ Summer School will run on 11–20.6.2007 in Viena Karelia, a mythical place for oral poetry: Elias Lönnrot collected most of the oral poems for his epos the Kalevala there.

Viena Karelian villages are situated in the western part of the Archangel area in Russia. After Lönnrot published the Kalevala (1835, 1849), the unique culture and beautiful northern landscape of Viena fascinated artists and writers. Many folklore collectors recorded Karelian oral epic and other genres in the nineteenth century. The villages became a symbol of originality for intellectuals creating cultural identity.

During the Second World War, the geographical position near the border of Finland and Russia affected the people and villages severely. The new life brought by socialism also changed the culture. Now villages are in the process of reviving their economy and culture. Special attention has been paid to preserving the old type of village structures and houses. The village of Paanajärvi with traditional Karelian buildings was in 1996–2001 among the hundred most endangered sites on the list of World Monuments Watch because of a planned water power station and reservoir. Now Paanajärvi is safe; it was awarded the Europa Nostra prize in 2006.

The landscape inspired the title of the course: Oral Poetry and Field Work. The lectures and thematic seminars will deal with studies of oral poetry and intertextuality of genres, the Kalevala and the political uses of folklore, field work in Lönnrot’s time, but also in the globalised world of today, the reviving of traditional villages and the authenticity and interpretation of changing culture. The participants have the possibility to discuss their own research problems in thematic groups. The lecturers are inspiring folklorists from several countries. The Finnish specialists will add the knowledge on the Kalevalaic oral poetry.

The participants will live in some of larger village houses, while the seminars will be held in the school of Vuokkiniemi, which educates children up to university entrance. Living among the villagers, and trips to sites known for their history and connection to the Kalevala story and to today’s cultural centres make the summer school in itself a short field trip. Clothing and equipment should be suitable for these purposes.

The organising committee of the seventh Folklore Fellows’ Summer School includes members from five Finnish folklore departments, the Graduate School of Cultural Interpretations, the Folklore Archives of the Finnish Literary Society and the Kalevala Institute. The Kalevala Society, which has a good knowledge of the cultural life in Karelia, is an important co-ordinator. The practical side of the seminar is handled by Juminkeko Foundation, specialising in the history, culture and revitalisation of Karelian villages. The website of Juminkeko (http://www.juminkeko.fi) has an English website-presentation on Karelian folklore villages.

Participants are to find their own means for funding the travel costs. The participation fee is 350 euros. The organising committee will, however, take care of costs in Finland, if any of the participants cannot do this by her/himself.

The language of lectures and seminars is English. For this reason a good knowledge of English is a precondition for participation.

Up to now, the FFSS have accepted only such participants as have not previously taken part in the course. Because the seventh course differs from previous ones, the participants may already have experience of FFSS. When choosing the participants, the FFSS will pay special attention to the thematic field of research interest and the motivation shown. The invitation for visas should be made by the beginning of 2007. For that reason, the organisers will select the participants at the end of 2006. Welcome to FFSS 2007 in Viena Karelia!