Theoretical Issues of Folkloristics and Ethnology in the Scientific Heritage of Maksym Rylskyi

Abstract

There is a number of articles on theoretical and practical issues of Folkloristics and Ethnology in the scientific heritage of the topics of M. Rylskyi. The author has paid particular attention to terminology especially in them. He has believed that the use of the folk poetry concept concerning the object of research does not include some narrative folklore genres, resuscitates the term literature, however, it also emphasizes the syncretism of folklore. The researcher has considered an issue of the nature of the main features of folklore, questioning some constant fixed views on collective creation, anonymity, orality, etc. M. Rylskyi has advocated the necessity to attract an experience of Literary Science, Linguistics, Art Studies, and other humanities in the study of people’s lifestyle and culture (article Issues of Ethnography and others). The opinions voiced by him concerning the interdisciplinary approach in the study of the phenomena of folk culture have been embodied and developed by scientists of the subsequent generations. Rylskyi is rather skeptical to the views existing in his time regarding the revival of the epos and the prosperity of folklore, but has emphasized the perspective of collecting and researching urban and, especially, workers’ folklore. His scientific interests have been focused on song genres. He has paid peculiar attention to the heroic epos – Ukrainian and Serbian one. He has insisted on the availability of the comparative study of epic works. The scholar has drawn parallels in the works of epos studying not only from the folklore of the Slavs but also from the eposes of the other peoples of the world, from ancient sources. Rylskyi has contributed actively to the revival of Slavic Studies in Ukraine and the training of relevant scientific personnel. The scientist has created a group of Slavic Folkloristics (1955) at the Institute of Art Studies, Folklore and Ethnography managed by him (now it is M. Rylskyi Institute of Art Studies, Folkloristics and Ethnology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine). He has been engaged in the organization of collecting work. The scholar has done a lot to establish contacts and cooperation of IASFE with the other organizations and institutions, in particular, foreign ones. He has taken part in the international scientific forums himself. His solid project – the publication of the multi-volume series Ukrainian Folk Art – has been carried out by Oleksii Dei and the employees of the IASFE.