Geographical approach to the study of traditional cultural complexes in Belarus
Abstract
Territorial complexes of traditional culture, i. e. areas of particular value within the collective folklore memory, are specific elements of the cultural landscape. These objects are characterized by two components, i. e. a natural or anthropogenic basis – a material element of the cultural landscape, and a legend associated with it – a folklore link that explains its importance for the local community, and sometimes the ritual system of visiting the object by the local community members. The physical presence of a material object allows preserving the legend and the legend prevents the destruction of the object by the local community.
The phenomenon of traditional cultural complexes is just poorly covered by modern social and geographical studies.
As for Eastern Europe, there is a particularly high concentration of the complexes of traditional culture in Eastern Belarus and adjacent regions of Russia, as a result of the frontier position of the territory. Specific features of the functioning of local complexes of traditional culture in Eastern Europe depend on which group of the objects of traditional culture they belong to.
A large volume of materials has been collected about the traditional cultural complexes in Belarus.
Based on the genesis, the following groups of traditional culture complexes were identified for the territory of Belarus and neighboring regions: natural (hydrological, botanical, lithological), anthropogenic and natural-anthropogenic (landscape). Each group is further subdivided into several types and classes.
About the Author
S. A. Herasimovich
Lomonosov Moscow State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Faculty of Geography, Department of Economic and Social Geography of Russia, PhD student
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For citations:
Herasimovich S.A. Geographical approach to the study of traditional cultural complexes in Belarus. Lomonosov Geography Journal. 2021;(2):13-24. (In Russ.)
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