MYTH, HISTORY, SOCIETY:
ETHNIC/NATIONALTRADITIONS IN THE AGE OF GLOBALIZATION
RESEARCH PROJECT 1999-2004
Myytti, historia, yhteiskunta
Etniset/kansalliset traditiot globalistuvassa maailmassa
Project leader::
Siikala, Anna-Leena
anna-leena.siikala@helsinki.fi
Research group:
Anttonen, Pertti
panttone@mappi.helsinki.fi
Hattuniemi, Marja-Leea
marja-leea.hattuniemi@helsinki.fi
Hämäläinen, Pirkko
pirkko.hamalainen@helsinki.fi
Latvala, Pauliina
pauliinalatvala@hotmail.com
Survo, Arno
arno.survo@helsinki.fi
Virtanen, Leila
leila.virtanen@helsinki.fi
Organisation:
University of Helsinki
Department of Folklore PL 19 (Mariankatu 11)
00014 Helsingin yliopisto
Tel. (09)191 22631, fax (09)191 22970
Funding: Academy of Finland
Director of research project: Professor
Anna-Leena Siikala; Academy Professor 1999-2004; Institute of Cultural
Research, Dept. of Folklore Studies.
Kuvat: Anna-Leena Siikala©
Te Research project examines
1) the nature of mythical traditions,
2) the horizons they open on the histories of different cultures and
3) the symbolic value of mythically constructed pasts in national and
ethnic politics.
The research focuses on Finnish mythology and its national interpretation,
as well as the constructions and uses of mythical traditions in Northern
Eurasia and Oceania.
The project offers a comparative perspective which is essential for an
understanding of cultural diversity in the post-modern world.
An understanding of the nature of ethno-nationalism is vital not only
as a comparative view to the analysis of the emergence of nation-states,
but also for anticipating and evaluating the susceptibility of multicultural
societies to ethnic conflicts.
The key question concerns the construction and use of traditions in identity-building
in a number of historical conditions and communities.
The above-mentioned processes are examined on national, ethnic, social,
gendered, family or even individual levels.
Consortium: Folklore, Heritage Politics and Ethnic Diversity.
A Nordic Network for Research and Research Training (financed by Nos-H
and NorFa).