Disciplinary Challenges in Folklore Studies in Romania after 1945. Two Case Studies from the Cluj Folklore Archive (Arhiva de Folclor din Cluj).

Alina Branda

doi:10.23740/tid220213

Abstract

"The main goal of this paper is to adequately understand the shifts produced after 1945 in Folklore Studies (Ethnology) in terms of research topics, methodologies, approaches, and scientific policies, in connection with the new political and ideological context. In particular it aims at discussing how, why and to what extent the Cluj Folklore Archive could be defined as a cultural institution playing an important role at the regional level whilst contributing to a correct socio- cultural understanding of Transylvania in relation to the other Romanian provinces. Content analysis will be the main methodology used, whereas the intricate connections and relationships among archives, memory, and territorial and cultural identities shown in the sources will support the process of understanding, deepening, and widening the researched topic."

Highlights

AND METHODOLOGICAL CLARIFICATIONS On Cluj (Romania) Folklore Archive in turbulent times Most of the already published studies on Folklore Archives in Romania, and broader in Eastern Europe, are approaching the role and contributions of traditional culture in the processes of national identity construction, definition, and representation (Mishkova, 2009; Baycroft & Hopkin, 2012; Bula & Lime, 2017)
The necessity to institutionalise Folklore Studies, as well as to create Folklore Archives, is addressed in the studies relating to the interwar period context in Romania, underlining the role of the discipline in the process of consolidating the Disciplinary Challenges in Folklore Studies in Romania after 1945
The Folklore Archives existence, functional mechanisms, the researchers’ methods, and paths to survive in times of ideological pressures and extreme control under a totalitarian regime have been less discussed – at least in the Romanian academic milieu – leaving space for further analysis

Summary

INTRODUCTION

AND METHODOLOGICAL CLARIFICATIONS On Cluj (Romania) Folklore Archive in turbulent times Most of the already published studies on Folklore Archives in Romania, and broader in Eastern Europe, are approaching the role and contributions of traditional culture in the processes of national identity construction, definition, and representation (Mishkova, 2009; Baycroft & Hopkin, 2012; Bula & Lime, 2017). The main goal of this paper is to understand adequately the shifts produced after 1945 in Folklore Study (Ethnology) in terms of research topics, methodologies, approaches, and scientific policies and to place these attempts in the new political and ideological contexts This text aims to discuss how, why and in which limitations the Cluj Folklore Archive could be defined as a cultural institution, playing an important role at a regional level, and contributing through its research staff to an adequate socio-cultural understanding of Transylvania in relation to other Romanian provinces. The two case studies I propose are illustrative in this respect

CASE STUDIES AND DISCUSSIONS

CONCLUSIONS