Folkloristics and cultural geography

Folklore encompasses knowledge, values, attitudes, and experiences originating from different periods and sources, and it is constantly reinterpreted. The research group of folkloristics and cultural geography focuses on the regional and diachronic variation of folklore phenomena and on the processes of folklore transmission across different genres, drawing primarily on the extensive collections of the Estonian Folklore Archives. The analysis of large datasets enables researchers to identify historical communication routes and structures, as well as cultural contacts reflected in the material. One of the main focuses of the research group is the Finnic runo-song tradition, which is believed to have emerged before the final divergence of the Finnic peoples and to have developed alongside their languages and populations. Its complex poetic system has contributed to the conservatism of archaic linguistic forms, poetic imagery, and thematic elements.

Another part of the group concentrates on the study of narrative and belief folklore, which is more flexible and crosses language barriers more easily. Collections of place lore and the methods used to gather them combine narrative folklore research with geographical and archaeological approaches. Accounts of disease spread and healing rituals in belief systems and folk medicine make it possible to study the formation of such knowledge and its role in overall mental resilience. The research group has extensive knowledge of Estonian folklore collections and their history of formation. This ensures that the unevenness in the data—resulting from the choices and preferences that shaped the long process of folklore collection—is adequately taken into account in research. Collaboration with other working groups in the centre of excellence helps, on the one hand, to clarify and date the development of various folklore phenomena, and on the other hand, folklore provides cultural interpretations for the physical findings analysed in other groups.

Members of the research group

Mari Väina, Lead researcher, head of the research group for folkloristics and cultural geography

Risto Järv, Head of archives and lead research fellow, principal investigator

Janika Oras, Lead researcher, principal investigator

Ave Goršič, Senior research fellow, principal investigator

Reet Hiiemäe, Senior research fellow, principal investigator

Andreas Kalkun, Senior research fellow, principal investigator

Inna Lisniak, Senior research fellow, principal investigator

Liina Saarlo, Senior research fellow, principal investigator

Taive Särg, Senior research fellow, principal investigator

Olha Petrovych, associate senior research fellow, principal investigator

Taavi Pae, University of Tartu, associate professor of Estonian geography

Žanna Pärtlas, Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, senior research fellow, principal investigator

Helen Kõmmus, research fellow, principal investigator

Lona Päll, research fellow, principal investigator

Mari-Ann Remmel, research fellow, principal investigator

Astrid Tuisk, research fellow, principal investigator

Helina Harend, junior research fellow, investigator

Kärri Toomeos-Orglaan, junior research fellow, investigator

Kristo Villem, junior research fellow, investigator

Kaarel Veskis, junior research fellow, investigator