Political Motifs in Russian Folk Tales
St Petersburg University Representative Office in Spain invites you to a new lecture «Political Motifs in Russian Folk Tales» delivered by Diana Budko, PhD in Political Science, Associate Professor at the Department of Political Institutions and Applied Political Science at SPbU.
«From the very opening words of the tale — ’In a certain tsardom, in a certain land’ — the listener is immediately enveloped in a particular atmosphere, the atmosphere of epic calmness. However, this impression misleads. Before long, the listener will witness events of the utmost intensity and tension. This calmness is only a shell that contrasts with the tale’s inner dynamism — at once gripping and tragic, yet at times comically realistic», wrote Vladimir Propp.
The plots of Russian folk tales are distinguished by their diversity and multi-layered nature. These narratives encompass a broad spectrum of themes — ranging from heroic deeds and struggles against injustice to subtle observations on everyday minutiae. They reflect the aspirations of the people, their hopes, fears, and visions of social order and justice.
Russian folk tales portray everyday life with poetic sensibility and sometimes irony, rendering these stories both easy to understand and profoundly meaningful. Owing to their universal nature and symbolic richness, Russian folk tales still retain their relevance: centuries later, they continue to inspire artists, writers, filmmakers and scholars alike, while remaining a subject of numerous discussions.
Significant narrative components of Russian folk tales include political motifs, encompassing image of power, relationship between people and tsar, and love for homeland. But how exactly are these themes developed within the tales? What relevance do they hold today? And why do tsareviches and tsarevnas so frequently appear as protagonists? We shall explore these questions together during our lecture.
Lecturer
Diana Budko is an Associate Professor at St Petersburg University (Department of Political Institutions and Applied Political Science), PhD in Political Science. Her research interests cover a wide range of subjects related to the e-government, political culture, and anthropology. Her research papers and academic presentations explore issues of political mythology, folklore, mass culture, cultural policy, and digitalisation.
Diana Budko teaches courses on political humour, internet folklore, imageology, political discourse, media convergence, and media ethics. She also supervises research projects of undergraduate and graduate students.
The lecture will be streamed online in Russian with simultaneous translation into Spanish.