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                <text>Zbigniew Benedyktowicz • MARY AND MARTHA (REMARKS ON B A B E T T E ’S F E A S T )

work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but
me ye have not always (Matthew 26,6 sqq.).
The news about spending 10 000 franks, the in­
comprehensible deed committed by Babette, came as
a total shock to the practical Martina and Philippa
and for a moment produced their great compassion
and pity: Now you’ll be poor for the rest of your life, to
which they heard the response: An artist is never poor.
Perhaps one should say: Mary and Martha share this
victory. The film contains the following scene: at the
end of the feast the guests go to a second room for cof­
fee, Philippa sits down to the piano, Martina chooses
a place next to the general, and the previously contra­
vened members of the congregation whose faces lit up
during the evening and whose tongues were loosened,
now exchange blessings. The camera leads us over the
abandoned “supper” to the kitchen-workshop where
Babette, exhausted and holding a wine glass, sits down
at the table and takes a sip, deep in thought and as if
even more absent. The first chords are heard from afar.
She raises her eyes and glances full of comprehension
and recognition in the direction from which the piano
is heard, transferring us to the room in which Phillipa
starts singing. This song (and scene) appears to be the
summit of the evening (despite the fact that they pre­
cede the finale of the whole film). The song is about
a day coming to an end, the passage of life, encroach­
ing conclusion. It also beseeches: Be for us our infinite
Light in the valley of night and: Admit us to Thy mer­
cy divine (whilst Babette remains behind firmly shut
kitchen doors). The cited words allude to Psalm 23:
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death, I will fear no evil and in the next verse: Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over, to
the aforementioned sacrifice, startling the disciples.
This is an old Protestant hymn with lyrics and music
by the German poet Georg Newark: Wer nur den lieben
Gott läßt walten. I believe that it also comments on the
fate of all the characters (concerned with their choice
or uncertain about it) and, predominantly, on the fate
of Babette, her story, experiences and offering. After
all, it foretells her triumph, soon to take place, and
seems to be “a response given to Martha” a mere mo­
ment before the recognition of the servant not only as
a great artist but also as Mary:
If thou but suffer God to guide thee,
And hope in Him through all thy ways,
He’ll give thee strength whate’er betide thee,
And bear thee through the evil days.
Who trusts in God’s unchanging love
Builds on the rock that nought can move.
What can these anxious cares avail thee,
These never-ceasing moans and sighs?
What can it help, if thou bewail thee
O ’er each dark moment as it flies?
293

Our cross and trials do but press
The heavier for our bitterness.
Only be still and wait His leisure
In cheerful hope, with heart content
To take whate’er thy Father’s pleasure
And all-deserving love hath sent
Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
To Him who chose us for His own.
He knows the time for joy, and truly
Will send it when He sees it meet,
When He has tried and purged thee throughly
And finds thee free from all deceit,
He comes to thee all unaware
And makes thee own His loving care.
Nor think amid the heat of trial
That God hath cast thee off unheard,
That he whose hopes meet no denial
Must surely be of God preferred;
Time passes and much change doth bring,
And sets a bound to everything.
All are alike before the Highest.
‘Tis easy to our God, we know,
To raise thee up though low thou liest,
To make the rich man poor and low;
True wonders still by Him are wrought
Who setteth up and brings to nought.
Sing, pray, and keep His ways unswerving,
So do thine own part faithfully,
And trust His Word, though undeserving,
Thou yet shalt find it true for thee!
God never yet forsook at need
The soul that trusted Him indeed.
Endnotes
1 Statement from an interview given by Daniele Parra in:
“La Revue du Cinema”, no. 437/88, cited after: material
ed. Manana Chyb in “Filmowy Serwis Prasowy”.
2 In Denmark the film was received less enthusiastically.
The reception was rather chilly and critics concentrated
on the faithfulness of the screen adaptation, perceived
as a blow against the status and sacredness of the oeuvre
of Karen Bixen; emphasis was also placed on the dangers
of cinematic trivialisation. Cf. Anne Jerslev, Hvad laver
Babette i Vestjyland? Babettes Gaestebud —en filmatisering
mellem and og kod, billeder og banaliseringer, “Satiden” no.
4/1991, pp. 63-71.
3 Xavier Leon-Dufour SJ, Słownik Nowego Testamentu,
transl, and prep. Rev. Kazimierz Romaniuk, Poznań
1981, p. 254.
4 Ibid., p. 532.
5 Henri Daniel Rops, Dzieje Chrystusa, transl. Zofia
Starowieyska-Morstinowa, Warszawa 1972, p. 241.
6 Origen, Homilie o Ewangelii św. Łukasza, phrase 72, in:
Pisma Starochrześcijańskich pisarzy, vol. XXXVI, transl.
and prep. Stanisław Kalinkowski, introduction Rev.
Marek Starowieyski, Warszawa 1986, p. 168.
7 Y. Lotman, Symbol w systemie kultury, “Polska Sztuka
Ludowa” 1988, no. 3, pp. 151-154.
8 Origen, op. cit., p. 168.

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                <text>Sławomir Sikora • T H E E Y E WITNESS - KIRIWINA A C C O R D I N G T O MALINOWSKI

S Ł A W O M I R

SIKORA

The Eye Witness
- Malinowski's
Kiriwina

N

aturally, it is not true that so far we have been
unfamiliar with photographs by Bronisław
Malinowski. Each of his more significant
ethnographic monographs contains at least several score
of them (Argonauts of the Western Pacific - 66, The
Sexual Life of Savages - 92, Coral Gardens and Their
Magic - 116), but only after the publication of the
album by Michael Young (Malinowski's Kiriwina.
Fieldwork Photography 1915-1918) do we perceive them
differently. The primary issue at stake is probably their
size. Until now, we have dealt (almost exclusively, with
the obvious exception of illustrations published since
the beginning of 1999 in Konteksty) with small-format
photographs of inferior quality (a trait particularly
marked, although not solely, in Polish editions). They
did not encourage the reader towards studying them
more closely, and sometimes even outright hampered
such examination. Upon occasions, the enclosed
descriptions made it possible to ascertain only the fact
that what we should be seeing is almost invisible.
Furthermore, photographs in books are unavoidably
doomed (almost without exception) to act as sheer
illustrations, and to play a subordinate (or separate)
part in relation to the text. It is difficult to overcome
this order of reading or seeing, even in those books
whose task consists of transcending this rule (vide the
recently published in Polish LEmpire des signes by
Roland Barthes). This habit was not surmounted also in
publications by Malinowski, although in the majority of
cases references made in the text to illustrations
arranged in blocks, and vice versa - references made in
illustrations to the text, incline towards parallel reading
and looking. The Michael Young album not so much
reverses the relation of the text towards the
photographs (it would be difficult to maintain such an
opinion in view of the copiousness of the written word:
a very interesting and competent introduction,

* A review of Malinowski's
1915-1918

Kiriwina.

Fieldwork

Photography

by Michael W. Young, T h e University of Chicago

Press, Chicago and London

1998

comments to particular categories of photographs and
every illustration, appendices) as balances it.
It was Young's intention to 'take on the conception
devised by Malinowski', who was to have contemplated
the creation of an album version of his photographs. We
are presented, therefore, with an image of Kiriwina
Island (the Trobriands), one of the most 'sacral' and
'legendary places' in ethnography, seen 'through the
eyes' of Malinowski. In this way, we have been offered
a certain version of 1-witnessing, to refer to the
metaphorical and ambiguous formulation proposed by
Clifford Geertz ("I-Witnessing. Malinowski's Children"
in: Works and Lives. The Anthropologist as an Author).
The presented album contains 190 photographs selected
from an overall number of about 1100 deposited in the
archive of the London School of Economics, and omits
photographs published earlier by Malinowski in his
works (some 270 illustrations, not counting repetitions).
Half of the photographs not used by Malinowski suffer
from insufficient clearness or other technical faults;
consequently, we have received presumably almost half
of the 'good' and heretofore mostly unknown
photographs taken by the Ethnographer.
In a concise, albeit exhaustive manner Young
discusses the persons who influenced Malinowski-the
photographer, and characterises his photography.
Alongside Seligman and Witkacy (the latter's impact has
already been described for example by Terence Wright in
"The Anthropologist as an Artist:
Malinowski's Trobriand Photographs"), the author of the
album lists Nina Stirling (the youngest daughter of Sir
Edward Stirling, director of the South Australia
Museum), a talented and enthusiastic amateur
photographer, who for a certain time was emotionally
close to Malinowski (1915): "She probably fanned
Malinowski's fickle interest in photography, if only
because he needed to prove himself to her" [p. 10].
Mention is made also of Bill Hancock, a local pearl
trader and friend, whose influence could have been the
most significant (Malinowski used several of
Hancock's photographs in his own publications). Young
is more skeptical (than Wright, for instance) about the
supposed impact exerted by Witkacy (who was to have
acted as photographer and draughtsman during the
expedition) upon the photographs and perception skills
of his friend: "The importance of Witkiewicz's influence
on Malinowski's photography is, I suggest, not for what
he might have taught him (which in any case cannot be
determined), but what, in contrast to Witkiewicz's,
Malinowski's photography is not" [p. 13]. Similarly to
their lifestyles, the photographs taken by the two men
are diametrically different: "Malinowski appears to have
resisted the experimental, art nouveau trends indulged
by Witkiewicz. If Witkiewicz's photography leaned

158

�Sławomir Sikora • NAOCZNY ŚWIADEK - KIRIWINA MALINOWSKIEGO

O

czywiście nie jest prawdą, że nie znaliśmy do­
tychczas fotografii Bronisława Malinowskiego.
Każda z jego poważniejszych monografii etno­
graficznych mieściła przynajmniej kilkadziesiąt zdjęć (Ar­
gonauci Zachodniego Pacyfiku - 66, Zycie seksualne dzikich
- 9 1 , Ogrody koralowe i ich magia - 116), a jednak wraz
z pojawieniem się albumu Michaela Younga, Malinow­
ski's Kiriwina. Fieldwork Photography 1915-1918, zaczyna­
my na nie patrzeć odmiennie. Pierwszą sprawą, o którą
może chodzić, jest pewnie wielkość. Dotychczas fotogra­
fie Malinowskiego oglądaliśmy (prawie wyłącznie - pomi­
jam tu oczywiście zdjęcia Malinowskiego, które od po­
czątku 1999 publikujemy w „Kontekstach") w małych
fotmatach i (co dotyczy szczególnie, choć nie tylko, wy­
dań polskich) były one kiepskiej jakości. Nie zachęcały
do uważnego studiowania, a nawet go nie umożliwiały.
Czasem dołączone opisy pozwalały jedynie stwierdzić
fakt, że to, co winniśmy widzieć, jest właśnie niewidocz­
ne. Ponadto fotografie w książkach w sposób nieuniknio­
ny skazane są (prawie bez wyjątku) na ilustracyjność. Peł­
nią podrzędną (lub odrębną) wobec tekstu rolę. Taki po­
rządek czytania bądź oglądania trudno przełamać nawet
w książkach, których zadaniem jest właśnie ową regułę
przekraczać (vide dopiero teraz wydane Imperium znaków
Rolanada Barthesa). Tego obyczaju książki Malinowskie­
go również nie przełamywały, choć w większości przypad­
ków odsyłacze z tekstu do zblokowanych ilustracji i od­
wrotnie - od ilustracji do tekstu - skłaniają do patalelnego czytania i oglądania. I oto pojawia się album Michae­
la Younga, który nie tyle sprawę relacji tekstu do zdjęć
odwraca (twierdzenie takie trudno byłoby utrzymywać
wobec obfitości słowa pisanego: ciekawego i kompetent­
nego wstępu, wprowadzenia do poszczególnych kategorii
fotografii, bogatych komentarzy przy każdym zdjęciu,
apendyksów), ile relację tę równoważy.
Young swym zamierzeniem „podejmuje pomysł Mali­
nowskiego", który sam miał przemyśliwać nad stworze­
niem albumowej wersji własnych fotografii. Otrzymujemy
zatem obraz Kiriwina (Wyspy Trobrianda) - jednego
z najbardziej „sakralnych" i obrośniętych legendą „miejsc
w etnografii" - postrzegany „oczyma" Malinowskiego.
Otrzymujemy tym samym pewną wersję I-witnessing, by
skorzystać z metaforycznego i dwuznacznego sformułowa­
nia Clifforda Geertza (Zaświadczające Ja. Dzieci Malinow­
skiego, w: Dzieh i życie. Antropolog jako autor, Wydawnic­
two KR, pierwodruk „Konteksty" 1/1998).
Album Younga mieści 190 fotografii wybranych
z ogólnej liczby około 1100 znajdujących się w depozycie
w archiwum London School of Economics z pominięciem
zdjęć opublikowanych wcześniej przez Malinowskiego we
własnych pracach (około 270 fotografii nie licząc po­
wtórzeń). Połowa niewykorzystanych przez Malinowskie­
go zdjęć cierpi na niedostatki ostrości bądź też z powodu
innych technicznych usterek, można więc sądzić, że otrzy-

S Ł A W O M I R

S I K O R A

Naoczny świadek
- Kiriwina
Malinowskiego*
maliśmy prawie połowę z „dobrych" a nieznanych zdjęć
Etnografa.
Young w zwięzły lecz wyczerpujący sposób omawia po­
staci, które wpłynęły na Malinowskiego jako fotografa,
jak również charakteryzuje jego fotografię. Poza Seligmanem i Witkacym (wpływ tego ostatniego doczekał się już
omówienia np. przez Terence'a Wrighta, m.in. w Antropo­
log jako artysta: fotografie Malinowskiego z Trobriandów,
„Konteksty" 1-2/1997 oraz w niniejszym numerze) twór­
ca albumu wymienia także Ninę Stirling (najmłodszą cór­
kę Sir Edwarda Stirlinga, dyrektora South Australia M u ­
seum), zdolną i zapaloną amatorkę fotografii, z którą
przez pewien czas Malinowskiego łączyły uczucia (rok
1915): „Prawdopodobnie podsyciła ona u Malinowskiego
chybotliwe zainteresowanie fotografią, choćby dlatego, że
musiał się on przed nią sprawdzić." [s. 10] Wymienia rów­
nież Billa Hancocka, miejscowego handlarza pereł i przy­
jaciela Etnografa, którego wpływ był być może najbardziej
znaczący (Malinowski wykorzystał zresztą kilka jego foto­
grafii w swych publikacjach). Young jest bardziej scep­
tyczny (od Wrighta na przykład) w sprawie domniemane­
go wpływu Witkacego - który miał być fotografem i ry­
sownikiem w czasie ich wyprawy - tak na fotografię jak
i zdolności percepcyjne przyjaciela. „Sugerowałbym, że
waga wpływu Witkiewicza na fotogtafię Malinowskiego,
polega nie tyle na tym, czego mógł on nauczyć tego ostat­
niego (a co w każdym razie trudno określić), ile na tym,
czym fotografia Malinowskiego w przeciwieństwie do
Witkacego nie jest." [s. 13] Fotografie obu ówczesnych
przyjaciół, podobnie zresztą jak style ich życia, są diame­
tralnie różne. „Malinowski zdaje się opierać eksperymen­
talnym, związanym z nową sztuką trendom, którym ulega
Witkiewicz. O ile fotografia Witkiewicza skłania się ku
surrealizmowi, o tyle u Malinowskiego byłaby ona gwa­
rancją jego przykładnego realizmu. Podczas gdy Witkie-

* Recenzja z M i c h a e l W. Young, Malinowski's
dwork Photography

1915-1918,

Chicago and L o n d o n 1998

159

Kiriwina.

Fiel­

T h e University of Chicago Press,

�Siauiomir Sikora • T H E EYE WITNESS - KIRIWINA A C C O R D I N G T O MALINOWSKI

toward surrealism, then Malinowski would ensure that
his own exemplified realism. Whereas Witkiewicz
treated photography as an expressive art form to be
explored, Malinowski treated it purely as a visual aid to
his science" [p. 13]. Young claims that if
Witkacy's journey had not been interrupted, his
presence could have resulted in revolutionising
anthropology, not only due to a different view of the
Other, but also because his works could have served as
evidence of the difficult situation of the European in the
tropics. Photographs taken by Witkacy "would have
focused on the bizarre, cultivated the alien, visually
enhancing the savagery; one might even imagine him
creating a photographic version of Heart of Darkness" [p.
13]. (The difficulties experienced by the white man, the
'European', stemming from his uncomfortable position of
eternally 'not belonging', and assorted attempts at
'solving' this question are discussed with great insight by
James Clifford in Predicament of Culture). Fascinated by
fragmentation, disintegration, and the adorned masks,
Witkacy was also interested in the game played within
inconsistent identity, a problem which appeared, at least
in ethnology, much later. Naturally, we could deliberate
on the outcome of strongly individualised portraits from
the Other World, and ask whether they would not have
caused an earlier undermining of the perception of the
alien in general categories, predominantly as
a representative of another culture.
The expansive use to which Malinowski put
photography is a historical precedence, although at the
same time his attitude towards it appeared to be
decidedly ambiguous. O n the one hand, he regarded
photography as important - expenses associated with it
remained relatively high (about 10% of the general
costs, according to Young); on the other hand,
Malinowski blamed himself for insufficiently exploiting
this invention (and even mentioned "deadly sin" in this
particular context): "Perhaps if you compare my books
with other field-work accounts you will not realise how
badly mine are documented in their pictorial outfit. (...)
I treated photography as a secondary occupation and
a somewhat unimportant way of collecting evidence.
This was a serious mistake. In writing up my material on
gardens I find that the control of my fieldnotes by means
of photographs has let me to reformulate my statement
on innumerable points (...) In particular, I went by the
principle of, roughly speaking, picturesqueness and
accessibility (...) I put photography on the same level as
the collecting of curios - almost as an accessory
relaxation of field-work. (...) A general source of
inadequacies in all my material, whether photographic
or linguistic or descriptive, consist in the fact that, like
every ethnographer, I was lured by the dramatic,
exceptional and sensational. (...) In photography my

failure to snap a group of men sitting in front of a hut
because they just looked like an everyday group of men
sitting before a hut is an example of this. It was also
a deadly sin against the functional method, the main
point of which is that form matters less than function.
Twelve people sitting round a mat in front of a house,
because they came there by accident and stayed
gossiping, have the same 'form' as the same twelve
people collected on important garden business." (Coral
Gardens and Their Magic, p. 461-62)
The last mentioned issue entitles us to declare that
Malinowski was perfectly aware of a certain difficulty
associated with photography and its employment,
namely, of the fact that photographs "depicting form"
(form versus function) experience considerable problems
with rendering meaning indelible and with transmitting
sense; i . e. with that which Kirsten Hastrup labelled as
the incapability of conveying a "thick description" (an
opinion with which I cannot fully agree, as I have tried
to show in the past) .The fact that Malinowski was aware
of the ambivalent significance of photography could be
testified also by the use of the same photographs in
assorted contexts and for the purpose of illustrating
various issues. Although, on the one hand, Malinowski
criticised himself, for example, for not taking
photographs of all the phases of a given ritual, and, on
the other hand, blamed himself for treating photography
"almost as relaxation during fieldwork", we may presume
that sometimes he actually conceived photography more
as an obligation than a pleasure (a stance which could
be related to the manner in which he approached
scientific activity). He chided himself, not only in his
Diary, for forgetting to take the camera or to load it, as
well as for unsuccessful photographs, which produced his
anger and impatience.
Originally, Young planned a chronological
arrangement of the photographs. In view of the scant
descriptions of the illustrations or their absence he
resigned from this project. Instead, we have been
presented with an album containing fourteen blocks of
illustrations, which Young described as "photo-essays"
(Samarai, "Gate to the Field"; Picturing the
Ethnographer; Touluwa, Chief of Omarakana; Coral
Gardens and Their Harvests; Dancing at Milarnala;
"Physical Types" and "Personalities"; Magic; Fishing and
Canoes of the Lagoon; "Village Scenes"; Women's
Domain; "The Children's Republic"; Mortuary Rites and
Exchanges; Masawa Canoes and Kula Quest; "Black and
White"), categories borrowed partially from the
classification proposed by Malinowski himself, who
grouped his photographs in 31 classes. The blocks of
illustrations are preceded by an introduction, and each
of the photographs is accompanied by an in-depth
commentary. The caption for photograph 9, showing

160

��������Statek "Borda". 28 lutego 1920
"Barda" ship. February 28,

1920

Marni Masson (siostra Elsie Masson) żegna odpływającą "Bordę"; Austarlia. 28 lutego 1920
Marni Masson (Elsie Massons

sister) having farewell to the "Borda". Australia,
Ze zbiorów Heleny Wayne
The collection of Helena Wayne

February 28,

1920

�Sławomir Sikora • NAOCZNY ŚWIADEK - KIRIWINA MALINOWSKIEGO

wicz traktował fotografię jako formę sztuki ekspresyjnej,
którą należy badać, to Malinowski traktował ją jedynie
jako wizualną pomoc dla swojej nauki." [s. 13] Young
utrzymuje, że gdyby podróż Witkacego nie została prze­
rwana, mogłoby to prowadzić do zrewolucjonizowania
antropologii. I idzie nie tylko o inne spojtzenie na Inne­
go, lecz także o to, że prace takie mogłyby dać świadec­
two trudnego położenia Eutopejczyka w tropikach,
w świecie ciemnoskórych ludzi (Bzik tropikalny). Fotogtafie Witkacego „Ogniskowałyby się na tym, co dziwaczne,
na kultywowaniu obcości, wizualnym podkreśleniu dzi­
kości; można by sobie nawet wyobrażać, że stworzyłby on
fotograficzną wersję jądra ciemności." [s. 13]. (O trudno­
ściach jakie dla białego człowieka, „Europejczyka" wyni­
kają z tego kłopotliwego położenia, bycia zawsze „nie na
miejscu" oraz różnych próbach „rozwiązania" tej kwestii
wnikliwie pisze James Clifford w Kłopotach z kulturą.) Za­
interesowany fragmentacją, dezintegracją, przywdziewa­
nymi maskami Witkacy, tym samym zainteresowany był
również grą w obrębie niespójnej tożsamości, proble­
mem, który przynajmniej w etnologii pojawił się zdecy­
dowanie później. Można się rzeczywiście zastanawiać co
dałyby silnie zindywidualizowane portrety postaci z Inne­
go Świata, czy nie spowodowałoby one wcześniejszego
podważenia postrzegania obcego w kategoriach ogól­
nych, przede wszystkim jako przedstawiciela innej kultu­
ry czy tasy.
Rozległość wykorzystania fotografii przez Malinow­
skiego jest historycznym precedensem, choć jednocze­
śnie jego stosunek do niej wydaje się zdecydowanie nie­
jednoznaczny. Z jednej strony można uznać, że fotografia
jest dla niego ważna - wydatki na związane z nią sprawy
są względnie duże (około 10 procent ogólnych kosztów
według Younga), ale także Malinowski obwinia się (poja­
wia się w tym kontekście nawet sformułowanie „grzech
śmiertelny") o niedostateczne wykorzystanie tego wyna­
lazku: „Gdy czytelnik porównuje moje prace z innymi re­
lacjami z badań terenowych, być może nie uświadomi so­
bie, jak uboga jest dokumentacja fotograficzna moich
prac. (...) Fotografię ttaktowałem jako drugorzędne zaję­
cie i jako niezbyt ważny sposób zbierania informacji. Był
to poważny błąd. Sprawdzanie notatek terenowych z za­
stosowaniem fotografii w czasie opracowania materiałów
dotyczących ogrodów skłoniło mnie do przeformułowania moich twierdzeń w licznych punktach. (...) Szczegól­
ny błąd polegał na tym, że stosowałem tu, z grubsza bio­
rąc, zasadę malowniczości i dostępności. (...) Fotografo­
wałem to, co było miłe dla oka i doskonale nadawało się
do sfotografowania. (...) fotografowanie potraktowałem
na równi ze zbieraniem ciekawostek - niemalże jako re­
laks w pracy terenowej. (...) Głównym źródłem braków
we wszystkich moich materiałach, czy to fotograficz­
nych, czy lingwistycznych, czy też opisowych jest fakt, że,
jak każdego etnografa, nęciły mnie wydarzenia drama­

tyczne, wyjątkowe i sensacyjne. (...) W fotografowaniu
przykładem tego jest sytuacja, w której nie utrwaliłem na
zdjęciu grupy ludzi siedzących przed chatą, ponieważ
w ich wyglądzie nie było nic nadzwyczajnego. Był to rów­
nież grzech śmiertelny przeciw metodzie funkcjonalnej,
której istota polega gównie na tym, że forma ma mniej­
sze znaczenie niż funkcja. Grupa złożona z dwunastu
osób siedzących wokół maty przed domem, które przyszły
tam przypadkowo i pozostały, aby poplotkować, posiada
taką samą 'formę', jak grupa złożona z tych samych dwu­
nastu osób, które uczestniczą w doniosłej ceremonii
ogrodniczej." (Ogrody koralowe i ich magia, s. 661-663)
Ostatnia z poruszonych kwestii pozwala twierdzić, że
Malinowski doskonale zdawał sobie sprawę z pewnej
trudności jaką niesie fotografia i jej wykorzystanie,
a mianowicie z faktu, iż zdjęcia „ukazując formy" (forma
versus funkcja) mają duży kłopot z utrwalaniem znacze­
nia, z przekazaniem sensu, z tym, co Kirsten Hastrup
określiła jako niezdolność fotografii do przekazania „opi­
su gęstego" (z czym zresztą nie w pełni mogę się zgodzić,
czemu starałem się dać już wyraz). O rym, że Malinowski
miał świadomość ambiwalentnego znaczenia fotografii
może świadczyć także fakt wykorzystania tych samych
zdjęć w różnych kontekstach dla zilustrowania różnych
zagadnień. Chociaż Malinowski z jednej strony gani sie­
bie, na przykład, za nie wykonanie zdjęć wszystkich faz
danego obrzędu, z drugiej zaś obwinia, iż fotografowanie
traktuje „niemalże jako relaks w pracy terenowej", to
jednak czasem można by mniemać, że faktycznie postrze­
ga fotografowanie zdecydowanie bardziej jako powin­
ność, obowiązek niż jako przyjemność (co może pokrew­
ne jest sposobowi w jaki podchodzi do działalności nau­
kowej). Nie tylko w Dziennikach karci się za nie zabranie
aparatu, zapomnienie załadowania go, niepowodzenia
w wykonaniu zdjęć, a niepowodzenia owe budzą jego
zniecierpliwienie i złość.
Pierwotnie Young planował chronologiczny układ fo­
tografii w albumie. Jednak wobec skąpych opisów zdjęć,
bądź też ich braku, odstąpił od tego zamierzenia. Osta­
tecznie otrzymaliśmy album składający się z czternastu
bloków iłusttacji, „foto-esejów" - jak nazywa je Young
(Samarai, „Gate to the Field"; Picturing the Ethnogra­
pher; Touluwa, Chief of Omarakana; Coral Gardens and
Their Harvests; Dancing at Milamala; ..Physical Types"
and ..Personalities"; Magic; Fishing and Canoes of the
Lagoon; ..Village Scenes"; Women's Domain; „The Chil­
dren's Republic"; Mortuary Rites and Exchanges; Masawa Canoes and Kula Quest; „Black and White"), kate­
gorii zaczerpniętych częściowo z klasyfikacji samego Ma­
linowskiego, który zgrupował własne fotografie w 31 kla­
sach. Bloki ilustracji poprzedzone są wstępem, a każde ze
zdjęć opatrzone wnikliwym komentarzem. Pod ilustra­
cją 9., ukazują tubylców zgromadzonych przed namiotem
Etnografa, czytamy:

161

�Sławomir Sikora • T H E EYE WITNESS - KIRIWINA A C C O R D I N G T O MALINOWSKI

natives gathered in front of the Ethnographer's tent,
says: "This photograph of Malinowski's tent in
Omarakana is distinguished by the absence of the
ethnographer, whose seated, silhouetted profile appears
in its companion image, reproduced by George Stocking
as an 'ironic icon' of Malinowski's 'ethnographic method
and anthropological (cum colonial) authority'." [The
photograph, reproduced by Stocking, was issued in
Konteksty no.1-2/1997, p. 152]. „The group outside the
tent, Stocking suggests, are 'observing their momentarily
non-participant observed self-absorbed in the work of
representing them'. (Malinowski was equally likely, of
course to have been writing to his fiancee.)
The observer standing stiffly in front of the tent is
Malinowski's 'favourite informant' and 'best friend',
Tokulubakiki, the son of Molubabeba, a member of the
chiefly Tabulu subclan. The roof of Bagidou's house can
be seen behind him, a house that was built in 1917 and
therefore dates the photograph to Malinowski's second
sojourn in Omarakana. His camp bed is clearly visible, as
is his table of patent medicines to the right.
O n 7 June 1918, the day he arrived in Omarakana,
Malinowski wrote to Elsie Masson, 'Then I supervised
the erecting of my tent, which was put up quickly and
well... Then up my favourite Tokulabakiki turned,
a decent, honest, straightforward man, as far as they
make them here. There were of course all the guya'us
[chiefs]: Toulu[wa], cadging [tobacco] right out. There
was Bagido'u, his kadala (sister's son) and heir
apparent... I am writing this about 9 P M . ... The bulk of
my friends have dispersed after energetic requests. A few
select ones are still here, perched on my boxes, all round
my table, looking at my writing and from time to time
passing some remark sotto voice about some of my
things'."
Apparently, Young found his way about easily both
among Malinowski's legacy and the literature about him,
and often added explanations to photographs borrowed
from publications, letters, and the Diary. Moreover, he
did something even more interesting - he inserted
commentaries by Linus Digim'Rina, a young
anthropologist - the only one academically qualified
native from the Trobriands, as well as remarks (amassed
by the latter) about photographs of contemporary
inhabitants of several villages on Kiriwina, including
Omarakana, the village where Malinowski had lived.
(The natives commemorated the site of the
Ethnographer's pitched tent with a knee-high "phallic
monument", composed of a stalactite broken off a cave
ceiling).
These commentaries make it possible to date some of
the photographs (to describe the time of year and
sometimes the given sojourn with which they are
connected, etc.); upon certain occasions, they allow the

recreation of the chronological order of the illustrations
as well as describe and explain the depicted activities in
detail. Many of the figures can be identified, and some of
them are recognised as the "anthropologically alien"
residents of other islands:" 'These men are not from
Kiriwina. Perhaps they are from Sanaroa, Tewara, or the
Amphletts. [...]. I've never seen anything like those
pigtails with shells at the end.' [...] Chief Pulayasi
identified the woven hairpiece of the man on the left as
sesai [...]. 'Only Muyuwa (Woodlark) and Kitava men
wore sesai. The other man could be from Dobu'." [p.
113] In a word, the photographs are "enriched" with
information indecipherable, or almost so, for a white
anthropologist. Young placed strong emphasis on the
fact that numerous aspects of the photographs became
obvious only after the addition of observations and
comments by Linus and othet residents of Kiriwina.
We find out, among others, that none of the
photographs taken by Malinowski produce negative
connotations among the natives, even those illustrations
that could be associated with the rather infrequent
objectifying approach, which today is universally
criticised.
In his comments Young reconstructed
Malinowski's opinions. A comparison of published and
unpublished photographs enabled him to propose
suppositions concerning the views and preferences of the
Ethnographer: the relatively rare presence of white
people and the exclusion of artifacts indicating
borrowings from white man's culture. Malinowski also
avoided photographs which would demonstrate the
impact of that culture upon the natives - there are, for
example, no depictions of cricket, which already at that
time the Trobriand islanders had adapted, altering its
principles.
Malinowski almost never took portraits and avoided
close-ups; he decidedly pteferred middle distance, which
always situates figures (objects) within a wider context.
Almost all the photographs were taken horizontally
(a format facilitated, but not determined by the camera).
This preference sometimes inclined Young to question
the authorship of certain 'vertical' photographs (as in
the case of some close-ups and portraits: "The posed
figures against a backcloth strongly suggest that this
photograph was not taken by Malinowski" [p. 113]).
The Ethnographer rarely posed the photographs which
he used in publications, even in those cases when such
a procedure would have enhanced their aesthetic merits;
his approach seems to suggest a determined rejection of
so-called aesthetics, and the fact that, despite
declarations, Malinowski did not share the "principle of
picturesqueness".
Young expressed such suppositions outright:
" I suggest, then, that Malinowski saw his own

162

�Skiwomir Sikora

• NAOCZNY ŚWIADEK - KIRIWINA MALINOWSKIEGO

„Ta fotografia namiotu Malinowskiego w Omarakana
wyróżnia się nieobecnością Etnografa, którego siedząca
uchwycona z profilu postać pojawia się na towarzyszącej
jej, a reprodukowanej przez George'a Stockinga, ilustra­
cji, jako 'ironiczny obraz' 'etnograficznej metody i antro­
pologicznego (i kolonialnego) autorytetu' Malinowskie­
go [Reprodukowane u Stockinga zdjęcie zamieściliśmy
w „Kontekstach" nr 1-2/1997, s. 152]. Grupa postaci na
zewnątrz namiotu, jak sugeruje Stocking, 'obserwuje
swego chwilowo nie-uczestniczącego obserwatora zajęte­
go pracą nad ich przedstawieniem.' (Malinowski, co wy­
daje się równie prawdopodobne, mógł oczywiście pisać
wówczas do swojej narzeczonej.)
Obserwator, który stoi sztywno przed namiotem, to
'ulubiony informator' i 'najlepszy przyjaciel' Malinow­
skiego, Tokulubakiki, syn Molubabeba, członek główne­
go subklanu Tabalu. Za jego plecami widać dach zbudo­
wanego w 1917 roku domu Bagidou, co datuje fotografię
Malinowskiego na okres jego drugiego pobytu w Omara­
kana. Wyraźnie widać łóżko polowe i stojący po prawej
stronie stolik z medykamentami.
7 czerwca 1918 roku, w dniu w którym przybył do
Omarakana, Malinowski napisał do Elsie Masson; 'Po­
tem nadzorowałem rozstawienie mojego namiotu, który
został rozbity szybko i sprawnie (...) Później pojawił się
mój ulubiony Tokulubakiki, skromny, uczciwy i prostoli­
nijny człowiek, na tyle na ile kategorie te można tu
w ogóle stosować. Byli tam oczywiście wszyscy owi guya'us [wodzowie]: Toulufwa] żebrzący otwarcie [o ty­
toń] . Był tam także jego kadala (syn siostry) i prawowity
następca (...). Piszę to około 9 wieczorem. (...) Więk­
szość mych przyjaciół rozeszła się na skutek mojej usilnej
prośby. Kilku wybrańców pozostało jednak, ulokowawszy
się na skrzyniach, wokół stołu, przyglądając się mojemu
pisaniu, od czasu do czasu rzucając uwagę sotto voce na
temat niektórych moich rzeczy."
Jak widać Young z łatwością porusza się tak po spuściźnie samego Malinowskiego, jak i po literaturze na jego
temat. Fotografie często zaopatruje w objaśnienia pocho­
dzące z dzieł, listów i Dzienników. Ale Young robi rzecz
jeszcze ciekawszą: zamieszcza mianowicie komentarze do
zdjęć młodego, jedynego pochodzącego z Trobriandów
antropologa, swego byłego współpracownika, Linusa
Digim'Rina, jak również (zebrane przez tegoż ostatniego)
uwagi na temat fotografii współczesnych mieszkańców
kilku wiosek na Kiriwina, w tym również Omarakana,
wioski, w której zamieszkiwał Malinowski. (W miejscu,
gdzie rozbity był namiot Etnografa mieszkańcy na pa­
miątkę ustawili wysoki do kolan „falliczny pomnik",
odlamany od stropu jaskini koralowej stalaktyt.)
Komentarze te pozwalają datować część fotografii
(określić pory roku, czasem, z którym pobytem Malinow­
skiego się one wiążą itd.), niekiedy pozwalają na odtwo­
rzenie chronologicznego porządku zdjęć, dokładnie

określają i wyjaśniają zobrazowane czynności. Wiele po­
staci zostaje rozpoznanych, a niektóre spośród nich zi­
dentyfikowane jako „antropologicznie obce", jako mie­
szkańcy innych wysp. Linus: „Ci mężczyźni nie pochodzą
z Kiriwina. Być może są z Sanaroa, Tewara czy Ampheletts. (...) Nigdy nie widziałem nic, co przypominałoby
taki mysi ogonek [pigtail] z muszelkami na końcach
(...)", wódz Palayasi zidentyfikował zaś splecione warko­
czyki jako sesai: „Tylko Muyuwa [Woodlark] i mężczyźni
z Kitava noszą sesai. Drugi mężczyzna może być z Dobu."
[s. 113] Jednym słowem fotografie zostają „wzbogacone"
0 informacje niemożliwe, bądź prawie niemożliwe do od­
czytania przez białego antropologa. Young silnie podkre­
śla fakt, że wiele aspektów zdjęć uwidoczniło się dla nie­
go dopiero po spostrzeżeniach i komentarzach Linusa
1 innych Kiriwinian.
Dowiadujemy się też m.in., że żadne z wykonanych
przez Malinowskiego zdjęć nie wzbudza negatywnych ko­
notacji u tubylców, nawet te, które kojarzyć się mogą
z powszechnie dziś krytykowanymi uprzedmiotowiającymi ujęciami (których jest zresztą niewiele).
Komentując zdjęcia Young rekonstruuje przy okazji
poglądy Malinowskiego. Porównanie opublikowanych
zdjęć z nieopublikowanymi pozwala mu snuć domniema­
nia na temat zapatrywań i preferencji Etnografa: stosun­
kowo rzadko na fotografiach pojawiają się biali, Mali­
nowski wyklucza artefakty, które wskazują na zapożycze­
nia z kultury białych; unikał też prezentacji zdjęć, które
ukazywałyby wpływ kultury białych na tubylców - brak
jest np. jakiejkolwiek ilustracji gry w krykieta, którą to
grę z upodobaniem przyswoili już sobie w owym czasie
Trobriandczycy, zmieniając zresztą zdecydowanie jej za­
sady.
Malinowski prawie nie robił portretów, unikał zbli­
żeń, zdecydowanie preferował średni dystans, który za­
wsze lokuje postaci (obiekty) w szerszym kontekście.
Prawie wszystkie fotografie wykonane są w poziomie (ta­
ki format ułatwiał, choć nie determinował używany przez
niego aparat fotograficzny). Ta preferencja Malinowskie­
go wiedzie czasem Younga do zakwestionowania autor­
stwa pewnych „pionowych" fotografii (podobnie rzecz się
przedstawia w przypadku pewnych zbliżeń i portretów:
„Pozujące na tle ekranu postaci silnie sugerują, że foto­
grafia ta nie została wykonana przez Malinowskiego." [s.
113]). Etnograf rzadko kadrował zdjęcia, które wykorzy­
stał w publikacjach, nawet wtedy, kiedy podniosłoby to
ich walor estetyczny: sugeruje to raczej zdecydowane od­
cinanie się od spraw tzw. estetyki oraz że „zasada malowniczości", wbrew oświadczeniom, nie była mu aż tak bli­
ska.
Takie domniemania Young wyraża zresztą expressis
verbis: „Sugeruję zatem, że Malinowski postrzegał własne
fotografie jako chwytanie (czy też w stopniu w jakim by­
ły pozowane, jako przedstawianie) ulotnych chwil życia

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�Sławomir Sikora • T H E E Y E WITNESS - KIRIWINA A C C O R D I N G T O MALINOWSKI

И. 150 w albumie Michaela Younga. Podpis Malinowskiego na odwrocie: „Jedzenie świni w czasie sagali w O b u r a k u .
Plate 150 in Michael

Young's album. Malinowski's

caption on the reverse: "Pig-eating during sagali in

photographs as capturing (or to the degree that they
were posed, as representing) ephemeral moments of
social life, visual analogues or equally ephemeral verbal
utterances. Both could be {should be, according to his
later functionalist theory) analyzed in forms of 'concrete
documentation'. Photographs which excluded or
deliberately erased context were worthless as
ethnographic documents; they could neither illuminate
nor explain". This assumption must have also been
a derivative, as I have mentioned, of a comprehension of
wavering significance in photogtaphy.
Aloofness instead of a "face to face" encounter with
the native, "to grasp the native point of view, his
relation to life, to realise his vision of his world"
(Argonauts..., p. 57) suggests rather the maintenance of
distance and the "observing eye", and shows an
objectivised world portrayed in the manner in which
Malinowski saw it. Chatacteristically, the "fieldwork"
photographs (at least those known to me) do not
contain an en face likeness of Malinowski; he always
posed showing his profile, either while 'discussing' some
problem with the natives, examining an artifact, or
preparing himself for taking a photograph (which could
be regarded as a 'mask' of en face contact). In this
respect, his photographs clearly contrast with, for
example, the later depictions of Matgaret Mead, who
preferred to be seen decidedly closet to the natives, and
sometimes even in a friendly embrace.
Young mentions the narrative nature of the

Oburaku

photographs in Malinowski's books. The same feature is
sttessed by Wright, who wrote about an almost
"journalistic" approach, discernible, for instance, in
a sequence of photographs "capturing" the process of
building a house. It appears to me, however, that such
narrative qualities are not all that frequent i n
Young's album, a fact which partially stems from the
'actual state of things', i . e. the nature of the existing
photographs, and partly from the premise accepted by
Young, namely, of not reproducing photographs
published earlier in monographic studies by the
Ethnographer, a view which carries also a more
'scientific' approach to the whole enterprise: you shall
see unknown photographs... The enrichment of the
album by means of certain familiat photographs would
have, i n my opinion, made it possible to render the
whole 'spectacle' more dramatic. Science, classification,
and cognition decidedly win in this ever-present
opposition between science and art, which continues to
be so difficult to overcome...
Although the following comparison does not appear
to be fully legitimate I would like to recall Suadades do
Brasil, an album published several years ago and
prepared by Claude Levi-Strauss upon the basis of his
photographs from a journey to Brazil (Plon 1992; some
of the illustrations have appeared already in Tristes
Tropiques). The suggested comparison seems to be
unjustified primarily because the twenty years separating
the photographs taken by Malinowski and Levi-Strauss

164

�Sławomir Sikora • NAOCZNY ŚWIADEK - KIRIWINA MALINOWSKIEGO

społecznego, jako wizualne analogie równie ulotnych
wyrażeń słownych. Zarówno jedne, jak i drugie mogłyby
być (powinny być, zgodnie z jego późniejszą teorią funk­
cjonalną) analizowane w kategoriach 'kontekstu sytua­
cyjnego'; podobnie oba typy miały być wykorzystywane
jako formy faktycznej dokumentacji'. Fotografie, które
wykluczały czy rozmyślnie zacierały kontekst były pozba­
wione wartości jako dokumenty etnograficzne; nie mogły
rzucać światła na dane zagadnienie ani go wyjaśniać." [s.
19] Takie mniemanie musiało też być pochodną - o czym
już wspominałem - zrozumienia kwestii chybotliwości
znaczenia w fotografii.

Levi-Straussa znaczyło wiele w rozwoju fotografii, jak
i samego sprzętu, jego poręczności i technicznych możli­
wości (Lćvi-Strauss powiada, że dysponował już między
innymi małoobrazkową Leicą, ale także aparatem
z obiektywem Hugo Meyera, trudnym w użyciu ze wzglę­
du na wagę, który jednak umożliwiał robienie doskona­
łych portretów). Przywołanie Levi-Straussa wydaje się
jednak ciekawe, również dlatego, że oto „mistrz klasyfi­
kacji" konstruuje swobodnie biegnącą, niespieszną opo­
wieść o własnej „podróży do tropików", a opowieść owa
(w przeciwieństwie do albumu ze zdjęciami Malinow­
skiego) dzieli się jedynie na kolejne etapy podróży: Pre­
miers regards sur Brćsil, Des Caduveo аих Воюю, Le Mon­
de des Nambikwara, En Amazonie... Otrzymujemy bogaty
zestaw portretów, pojedynczych, grupowych i rodzin­
nych, ciekawych ujęć i kadrów śmiało „tnących ciała"
(które u Malinowskiego są wielką rzadkością - por. np.
ilustrację 150) w celu zbliżenia się, skoncentrowania na
danym zjawisku, z krótkimi informacyjnymi komentarza­
mi. Pod ciekawym kadrem śpiącej na ziemi i matach gru­
py postaci w podpisie czytamy: „Nambikwarowie, co sta­
nowi wyjątek wśród Indian Południowo-amerykańskich
(którzy wynaleźli hamak), śpią na ziemi" [s. 119]. Czuje­
my, że rzeczywiście jesteśmy tam. Poznajemy ciekawych
Indian, pewne aspekty ich kultury oraz innego LeviStraussa. (I gdzie ta demonstrowana na pierwszych stro­
nach Smutku tropików niechęć do podróży, podróżników,
albumów, pokazów ze slajdami?) Ale to późne zamierze­
nie można odczytać jako kontrapunkt wobec słów wień­
czących poświęcony francuskiemu antropologowi esej
Geertza:

Ale takie chłodne oddalenie miast spotkania z tubyl­
cem „twarzą w twarz", „uchwyceni[a] tubylczego punktu
widzenia, stosunku krajowca do życia, zrozumienia jego
poglądu na jego świat" (Argonauci..., s. 57) sugeruje ra­
czej postawę dystansu i „obserwującego oka", ukazuje zo­
biektywizowany świat przedstawiony w taki sposób w ja­
ki postrzegał go Malinowski. Charakterystyczne, że nie
ma (wśród znanych mi) żadnego „terenowego" zdjęcia
Malinowskiego en face: zawsze pozuje on z profilu, „dys­
kutując" właśnie jakiś problem z tubylcami, oglądając ja­
kiś artefakt czy przygotowując się do zrobienia zdjęcia
(co można uznać właśnie za „maskę" kontaktu en face).
Pod tym względem jego fotografie jawnie kontrastują na
przykład z (późniejszym) obrazem Margaret Mead, która
wolała ukazywać się w zdecydowanie większej zażyłości
z tubylcami, czasem na przykład obejmując ich po przy­
jacielsku.
Young pisze o narracyjności umieszczonych w książ­
kach Malinowskiego fotografii. To samo podkreśla Wri­
ght, pisząc o niemalże „reporterskim" podejściu np. w se­
kwencji zdjęć „chwytających" budowę domu. Ale - jak
mi się wydaje - taka narracyjność nie za często pojawia
się w albumie Younga, co po części wynika ze „stanu fak­
tycznego" - takich a nie innych istniejących fotografii,
ale po części także z przyjętego przez Younga założenia,
np. nie reprodukowania zdjęć opublikowanych wcześniej
w monografiach Etnografa, co niesie w sobie (również)
przesłanie bardziej „naukowego" podejścia do przedsię­
wzięcia: zobaczycie fotografie, których jeszcze nie zna­
cie... Wzbogacenie albumu o pewne znane już zdjęcia
pozwoliłoby, jak sądzę, udramatyzować całe „widowisko".
Nauka, klasyfikacja, poznanie zdecydowanie zwyciężają
w tej trudnej do przezwyciężenia - stale obecnej - opo­
zycji nauki i sztuki...
Choć zestawienie takie nie wydaje się (w pełni) uza­
sadnione, to chciałbym dla porównania przywołać przy­
kład wydanego kilka lat temu ułożonego przez Claude'a Levi-Straussa albumu z jego fotografii z podróży do
Brazylii Saudades do Brasil (Plon 1994; część z tych zdjęć
znamy już ze Smutku tropików). Zestawienie takie wydaje
się nieuzasadnione przede wszystkim dlatego, że dwa­
dzieścia lat, które dzielą fotografie Malinowskiego od

„I to doprowadza nas, w końcu i nareszcie, do wyróż­
niającej właściwości całego dzieła Levi-Straussa, na
którą prędzej czy później każdy, kto zajmuje się nim
zwróci uwagę: uzmysławia nam niezwykłą atmosferę ab­
strakcyjnej rezerwy i samowystarczalności. 'Z oddali', 'za­
mknięty', 'zimny', 'duszny', 'mózgowy' - wszystkie okre­
ślenia, które gromadzą się wokół każdego rodzaju absolu­
tyzmu literackiego, gromadzą się również wokół jego
dzieła. A n i obrazowanie życia ani przywoływanie go, ani
interpretowanie ani wyjaśnianie, lecz raczej aranżowanie
i rearanżowanie materiałów, które życie pozostawia w pe­
wien sposób za sobą, w formalne systemy korespondencji
- jego książki zdają się istnieć za szkłem, zapieczętowane
przez siebie same dyskursy, w których jaguary, nasienie
i gnijące mięso przyjmowane są jako opozycje, inwersje,
izomorfizmy.
Ostatnie przesłanie Smutku tropików, i oeuvre, które
się z niego wywodzi, polega na tym, że teksty antropolo­
giczne, podobnie jak mity i pamiętniki, istnieją w mniej­
szym stopniu dla świata, aniżeli świat istnieje dla nich."
(C. Geertz, Świat w tekście. Jak czytać „Smutek tropików"
(w:) Dzklo i życie, s. 71)
Pozwala ono także domniemywać, że gdy Geertz ko-

165

�Shwomh

Sikora • T H E EYE WITNESS - KIRIWINA A C C O R D I N G T O MALINOWSKI

meant a lot in the development of photography and
equipment - its functionality and technical potential
(Levi-Strauss tecounted that he had at his disposal
a Leica as well as a camera with a Hugo Meyer lens,
difficult to use owing to its weight, but most suitable for
taking excellent portraits). The reference to Levi-Strauss
appears to be interesting also because this 'master of
classification' construed a flowing, unhurried tale about
his own 'journey to the tropics', which, in contrast to
the Malinowski album, is divided only into consecutive
stages of the journey: Premiers regards sur Brasil, Des
Caduveo aux Bororo, he Monde des Nambikwara , En
Amazonie... We are dealing with a rich collection of
individual, group and family portraits, as well as
intriguing takes and shots boldly 'slicing bodies' (a great
rarity in Malinowski's photographs - cf., e. g. plate 150)
for the purposes of attaining greater proximity and
concentrating on a given phenomenon, accompanied by
brief comments. Benedth an interesting shot of a group
of persons sleeping on the ground and on mats we read:
"The Nambikwaras sleep on the ground, an exception
among South American Indians, the inventors of the
hammock" [p. 119]. The reader has the impression of
actually 'being there'. He is introduced to fascinating
Indians, certain aspects of their culture, and an entirely
different Levi-Strauss. (Where has all that hostility
towatds journeys, travellers, albums and slide shows,
demonstrated in the opening pages of Tristes Tropiques,
gone?). O n the other hand, this late endeavour could be
deciphered as a counterpoint to the essay by Geertz,
who wrote about the French anthropologist:
"And this brings us, at last and at length, to the
marking characteristic of all of Levi-Strauss's work, one
upon which almost everyone who deals with it sooner or
later remarks: its extraordinary air of abstracted selfcontainment. A l o o f , 'closed', 'cold', 'airless', 'cerebral' all the epithets that collect around any sort of literary
absolutism collect around it. Neither picturing lives nor
evoking them, neither interpreting them nor explaining
them, but rather arranging and rearranging the materials
the lives have somehow left behind into formal systems
of correspondences - his books seem to exist behind
glass, self-sealing discourses into which jaguars, semen,
and rotting meat are admitted to become oppositions,
inversions, isomorphisms.
The final message of Tristes Tropiques, and of the
oewre that unfolds from it, is that anthropological texts,
like myths and memoirs, exist less for the world than the
world exists for them" (C. Geertz, "The World in a Text.
How to Read Tristes Tropiques", in: Works and Lives).
This approach permits us to assume that Geertz took

Levi-Strauss much too literally while commenting on
the opinion voiced in Tristes Tropiques about the
impossibility of 'reaching' the natives after finding
oneself amongst them... Apparently, Geertz did not want
to understand that the doubts harboured by the French
ethnologist concern a deeper ontological-existential
level of comprehending another person...
The purpose of my closing remarks as well as the
cited counter-example of the Levi-Strauss album is not
by any means a deprecation of Young's intentions. I was
concerned primarily with presenting a certain difficult
aspect of classification: Levi-Strauss, the master of
'distancing himself (according to Geertz) came close to
'his natives', while Malinowski, the propagator of
proximity, retains (in photographs) his "aloof
(English?), although certainly not ironic, distance. (It
should be stressed that his photographs include many
excellent takes). The endeavours pursued by Young can
only be admired, and the discussed albums can serve as
an example of the contradiction of poetics. O n the other
hand, it is worth noting that Young's undertaking is as if
inscribed into some of the conclusions drawn by Clifford,
and connected with Malinowski's writings: "Malinowski
is a complex transitional case. His ethnographies reflect
the incomplete coalescence of the modern monograph.
If he was centrally responsible for the welding of theory
and description into the authority of the professional
fieldworker, Malinowski nonetheless included material
that did not directly support his own all-too-ck ir
interpretive slant. In the many dictated myths and spells
that fill his books, he published much data that he
admittedly did not understand. The result was an open
text subject to multiple reinterpretations. It is worth
comparing such older competidiums with t/ie recent model
ethnography, which cites evidence to support a focused
interpretation but little else. In the modern, authoritative
monograph there are, in effect, no strong voices present
except that of the writer; but in Argonauts (1922) and
Coral Gardens (1935) we read page after page of magical
spells, none in any essential sense in the
ethnographer's words. These dictated texts in all but
their physical inscription are written by specific
unnamed Trobrianders. Indeed, any continuous
ethnographic routinely folds into itself a diversity of
descriptions, transcriptions, and interpretations by
a variety of indigenous 'authors'. How should these
authorial presences be made manifest?" (J. Clifford, "On
ethnographic authority", in Predicament of Culture (my
emphasis - S.S.).
Translated by Aleksandra Rodzińska-Chojnowska

166

�Sławomir Sikora • NAOCZNY ŚWIADEK - KIRIWINA MALINOWSKIEGO

mentuje słowa Levi-Straussa ze Smutku tropików, o nie­
możności „dosięgnięcia" tubylców, kiedy w końcu znalazł
się pośród nich, to czyta Levi-Straussa nazbyt literalnie...
Nie chce - jak się wydaje - zrozumieć, że wątpienie fran­
cuskiego etnologa dotyczy głębszego ontologiczno-egzystencjalnego poziomu rozumienia drugiego człowieka...
Moje końcowe uwagi, jak i przywołany kontr-przykład, album Levi-Straussa, nie mają w żadnym razie na
celu deprecjacji zamierzenia Younga. Chodziło mi przede
wszystkim o ukazanie pewnej trudności w klasyfikacji:
oto Levi-Strauss mistrz „oddalenia" (wg Geertza) zbliża
się do „swoich tubylców", a propagator zbliżenia, Mali­
nowski, zachowuje (w fotografii) „chłodny" (angielski. ,
choć na pewno nie ironiczny) dystans. (Trzeba też moc­
no podkreślić, że wśród zdjęć tego ostatniego spotykamy
wiele świetnych kadrów.) Przedsięwzięcie Younga może
wzbudzać jedynie podziw. Zaś omawiane albumy mogą
być przykładem kontradykcji poetyk. Ale warto również
zauważyć, że zamierzenie Younga wpisuje się niejako
w pewne konkluzje Clifforda związane z pisanymi dzieła­
mi Malinowskiego: „Malinowski jest złożonym przypad­
kiem przejściowym. Jego pisane etnografie odzwiercie­
dlają niepełną fuzję współczesnej monografii. Choć Ma­
linowski w przeważającej mierze przyczynił się do ukucia
autorytetu profesjonalnego badacza terenowego, opiera­
7

jącego się na teorii i opisie, to jednak włączał także ma­
teriał, który nie popierał bezpośrednio jego cokolwiek
nazbyt jasno interpretacyjnego nastawienia. Wśród licz­
nych podyktowanych mitów i zaklęć, które wypełniają
jego książki, opublikował wiele niezrozumiałych dla sie­
bie danych - co otwarcie przyznawał. W rezultacie po­
wstał tekst otwarty, podlegający ponownym interpretacjom.
Warto porównać takie starsze zbiory ze współczesnym mode­
lem pisanej etnografii, w którym podaje się dowody na popar­
cie ukierunkowanej interpretacji i już niewiele więcej. W no­
woczesnej, autorytatywnej monografii nie ma praktycznie
Żadnych istotnych głosów poza głosem autora; ale w Argo­
nautach (1922) i Ogrodach koralowych (1935) kartka za
kartką czytamy magiczne zaklęcia, z których żadne nie
ma - według słów etnografa - istotnego znaczenia. Te
podyktowane teksty są w całości, poza fizycznym zapi­
sem, napisane przez konkretnych, choć nienazwanych
Trobriandczyków. W rzeczy samej, każde etnograficzne
przedstawienie obejmuje rozmaite opisy, transkrypcje
i interpretacje podane przez różnych miejscowych 'auto­
rów'. W jaki sposób te autorskie obecności winny być
uwidocznione?" (J. Clifford, O autorytecie etnograficznym,
„Konteksty" 3-4/1995, s. 27, także: Kbpoty z kulturą,
kursywa dodana.)

167

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                <text>I

n the word: "home” (Polish: dom), belonging to
the joint ancient Indo-European cultural substrate
(hence the Greek: domos and doma, the Latin: domus, the Sanskrit: dam, etc.), linguists discover source
meanings associated with predominantly two activities
- the technical “building” and the social or existential
"dwelling” . As Beata Spieralska wrote in "Konteksty”:
The “home” appears as distinguished space constructed
by man, in which he is “at home”, and which guarantees
a feeling of security for him and his family.1 Naturally,
however, one can be ”at home” (Latin adverb: domi
or domum) only when this existential situation is con­
trasted with the dangerous alienness of that, which is
"outside” (Latin: locativus - foris, behind the door), or
in the “Cracovian” variant: na polu (in the field, peregre - outside the house or town, composed of: per
and ager - field). I would be inclined to say, there­
fore, that “home” (dom), comprehended as a cultural
category, is a linguistic tool that produces this dicho­
tomous conceptual structure. Is the thus established
relation between ”home” and that, which the latter
is not (domi/foris), to possess the form of a simple op­
position comprising a lucid, symmetric, and polarised
configuration? Or is the application of a more subtle
delimitation required here?
Since at the conference we speak about the home
as a “path of existence” and thus stress its dynamic
aspect I propose to reflect, even if only briefly, on a
text absolutely paradigmatic for this theme, namely,
Homer’s The Odyssey. I shall try to demonstrate (con­
cisely, and thus intentionally resigning from, for ex­
ample, evoking copious literature on the subject as
well as the whole subsequent Ulysses tradition, which
developed in European literature and art from Euripi­
des to Wyspiański or Joyce) that in this narration it is
possible to come across traces of paradoxical topogra­
phy or, to use a term coined by Derrida, la cartographie
impossible that renders the relation between ”home”
and ”the distant” an interesting problem. I am not
concerned merely with the fact that Odysseus reached
magical lands and floating islands by navigating along
courses that cannot be easily delineated on an or­
dinary map and that can be always contrasted with
the familiar and spatially stable Ithaca. What I find
the most interesting in this story is a component that
renders problematic this durable and solid beginning
and end of the journey, its arche and telos.
First, however, briefly about that, which appears
to be obvious in Homer’s The Odyssey - it is without
doubt a treatise about the home. This is not, however,
a home in which one resides but one for which one
longs and to which one returns. In it we are dealing
with a structure whose dynamic recalls an archer’s
bow: distance resembles the taut bowstring, while re­
siding prior to the journey and after its end denotes
stability and solace. This is why it can be said about

WOJCIECH MICHERA

The Homelessness of
Odysseus

Odysseus: His most genuine past is his origin, His fun­
damental emotion is nostalgia, adventure is magnifi­
cent, and risk is desired as the salt of life but only when
there exists a return. 2 He is undoubtedly an archetype
voyager but, at the same time, a person succumbing
to the nostalgic force of home gravity; as homo viator
or peregrinator Odysseus remains within the range of a
stabilising force that comprises the source of his sub­
jective identity.
According to this interpretation, therefore, the
home "enroots” man although, let us note, this ex­
pression denotes as if a technical assumption of the
plant metaphor. This seems to be said quite literally
by the key moment in The Odyssey, namely, the "great
sign” that confirms Odysseus’ identity in the eyes of
Penelope. Recall the scene: Odysseus returns home,
but since twenty years had passed his faithfully wait­
ing wife wishes to be sure that it is really he - subject­
ing him to a trial she asks to remove the marital bed
from their bedroom. In response, Odysseus tells a story
known only to the couple: A great secret [mega sema,
great sign] went into its making, and it was my work and
mine alone. A long-leafed olive tree, strong and vigorous,
and thick as a pillar, grew in the courtyard. I built my room
of solid stone around it, finished it off with a fine roof,
and added tight-fitting timber doors. I trimmed the trunk
from the roots up, after cutting off all the long-leaved olive
branches, smoothed it off skillfully and well, and trued it to
the line: that was my bedpost. I drilled holes with the auger,
and with this for its beginning fitted all the smooth timbers
of my bed until it was complete. I inlaid it with ivory, silver
and gold, and stretched shining purple straps of ox-hide
across. That was its secret [sema]... (XXIII, 188-202).
The scene could be interpreted in numerous
ways. Its contents resemble a fairy-tale puzzle, whose
solution is decisive for the further fate or life of the
protagonist (as is known, Odysseus is adept at solv­
ing all sorts of puzzles), or the literary trace of a ritual
that by “rendering topical” this foundation event ul­
timately completes and sanctions Odysseus’ "return”
(nostos) - not only to Ithaca, comprehended spatially

187

�Wojciech Michera • THE HOMELESSNESS OF ODYSSEUS

as the designation of the journey, but also to the logi­
cal “beginning” of his (home) existence, his arche.
The olive tree proof - wrote Stanislaw Rosiek, refer­
ring to Jean Starobinski - enabled Odysseus to com­
bine the beginning and end of journey and existence. By
repeating in the story a deed that once made it possible to
create the marital bedroom he confirmed his t r u e i d e
n t i t y. 3
In this interpretation, apparently, Odysseus be­
comes increasingly himself the closer he finds himself
to Ithaca; his identity becomes the most stable, i.e. as
if enrooted in the marital bed, that core of his home;
it is here, in the embrace of Penelope, that he soothes
the pain of excessive estrangement. If we recall that
it is in this bed resembling a tree of life that Telemachus was conceived then the story told to Penelope
will render Odysseus similar to that exemplary man
who manages to plant a tree, build a home, and sire
a son.
And yet ... Homer’s story contains something
more or “different” than would follow from the model
of “home gravity”, some sort of a disturbing, decen­
tralising force that cannot be disposed of with the
words: “secret” or “symbol” . Its symptom is probably
the fact that this archetypical man, a model for each
of us, does not actually plant a tree but cuts it down.
The primary, “castration” gesture as if s u s p e n ds
and questions the totalising force of its (quasi-ritual)
repetition in a story that is supposed to complete the
circle of the journey and bind its two ends; a repetition
that with the assistance of the sign (‘’great sign”) - re­
sembling a signature or a seal - is to confirm or restore
Odysseus’ subjective identity formed by long-term ab­
sence. If one were to place one’s trust in Plato then the
spirit of Odysseus attained peace not after returning to
Ithaca but after death, in the next embodiment: from
memory of its former toils having flung away ambition,
went about for a long time in quest of the life of an ordi­
nary citizen who minded his own business. 4
Two (at least) circumstances in particular incline
us to doubt this open interpretation of The Odyssey or,
more exactly, to enhance the text by including those
doubts. True, they will not produce some sort of a dif­
ferent conclusion, but they weaken and “deconstruct”
the first, envisaged as the only possible one.

Cyclicness
An intriguing commentary to Homer’s epic is to
be found in Jules Verne’s Voyage au centre de la Terre.5
Although it contains only a single mention of The Od­
yssey, the latter without doubt remains its key context.
As we probably all well remember, the protagonists of
this unusual ”Ulysses-type” book set off on their jour­
ney from the home of Professor Lidenbrock in Ham­
burg, to which they return at the end - this “old home”
is possibly a subtle allusion to the home of Odysseus:
it stood firm, thanks to an old elm which buttressed it in
front. A further route leads the narrator and remaining
protagonists to Iceland, a land not rich enough to pos­
sess clocks, 6 where following the steps of the sixteenthcentury alchemist Arne Saknussemm they enter the
Sneffels crater to submerge in a subterranean abyss.
This is a journey to the “sources of time”: in the huge
Cyclopean cave they encounter antediluvian monsters
and at its very bottom - their ancestor: a hairy giant
watching over a herd of mastodons. Then suddenly
they make their way to the surface thanks to the erup­
tion of another volcano.
”Dove noi siamo?” [...]. "Come si chiama questa iso­
la?" - one of the travellers asks a child they encoun­
tered.
“Stromboli”, replied the rickety little shepherd [...].
Stromboli! What effect on the imagination did these few
words produce! We were in the centre of the Mediterra­
nean, amidst the eastern archipelago of mythological mem­
ory, in the ancient Strongylos, where Aeolus kept the wind
and the tempest chained up. 7
The Jules Verne interpretation distinguishing a
certain fragment of The Odyssey and perceiving in it
a separate whole confirms an intuition that accompa­
nied me from the first time I read The Odyssey and be­
fore I even associated it with the novel by the French
author. Here is a model of the whole itinerary of Odys­
seus (Apologos, The Odyssey, Songs IX-XII):
The diagram features special symmetry: among the
15 locations reached by the traveller (including Ilion
and Ithaca), the central, eighth one is the furthest
stage of the journey, the dark land of the Kimmerians,
where Odysseus performed the nekyia rite enabling
him to meet souls leaving Erebos. This geometric con­
struction (its symmetrical character is enhanced by

1 5 .Ithaca
1. Troy (Ilion)
2. Cicones (Ismarus)
14. Phaeacians (Scherie)
3. Lotus-eaters
13. Calypso (Ogygia)
12. Thrinacia
4. Cyclops
5. Aeolus
11. Scylla and Charybdis
6. Lajstrygoni (Telepyla)
10. Sirens
9. Circe (Aia)
7. Circe (Aia)
8. Kim erians (Hades)
188

�Wojciech Michera • THE HOMELESSNESS OF ODYSSEUS

two stays with Circe) delineates the intersection of life
and death with the precision of a measuring rod.
Here is a sub-cycle that constitutes a summary of
the whole, together with its central katabasis, i.e. de­
scent into the cave of Polyphemus. This is a unique
via brevis, a narratively cohesive miniature (which
philological commentaries appear not to notice) of
the adventures of Odysseus - preserving and even ac­
centuating their initiation logic, so well recreated in
the Verne novel.
(proximity of Ithaca ^ storms, dangerous winds

proximity o f Ithaca ^ storms, dangerous winds

1. L o tu s- e a te r s

3 . A e o lu s
2. C y c lo p s

This fragment of The Odyssey ends with two sud­
den tempests. The first precedes arrival in the land of
the Lotus-eaters: But Zeus, the Cloud-Gatherer, stirred
the north wind against our ships, in a blinding tempest, hid­
ing the land and sea alike in cloud, while darkness swept
from the sky. Headlong the ships were driven [...] Now
I w o u l d h a v e r e a c h e d h o m e s a f e l y, but as I
was rounding Cape Malea, the north wind and waves and
the ocean currents beat me away, off course, past Cythera.
(IX, 67-81).
The mentioned Cape Malea, the most south-easter­
ly of the Balkan Peninsula, resembling a finger pointing
at nearby Crete and separated from Kytera by a mere
strait, has been always regarded by the Greeks as excep­
tionally dangerous for sailors. In The Odyssey this is the
spot where other commanders returning from Troy Menelaus (III, 287) and Agamemnon (V, 514-17) - be­
gan their errant wanderings across unfamiliar regions;
earlier (in the chronology of the world of the myths),
this was also the fate of the Argonauts returning from
Colchis. Researchers agree that, as Alfred Hauberk
claims, after the storm off Cape Malea (IX, 80-81) Odys­
seus has crossed a fundamental boundary, normally closed
to mortals, which separates the real and the unreal worlds;
[...] It is in these circumstances a quite pointless undertak­
ing, and one based on completely false premises, to try to
plot on a map the route taken by Odysseus.8 The same
opinion was shared by, e.g. Kazimierz Kumaniecki (In­
asmuch as heretofore journeys by Odysseus took place in
the real world ¡...I from the moment of the storm we find
ourselves in a world of fantasy)9 or J. V. Luce (On a map
one can follow only the beginning of Odysseus’ journey.
(...) Leaving behind Cape Malea and Kytera he sailed
on the wide open sea towards the south-west of Crete.
From this point it is impossible to mark on a map the
further course of his wandering. Kytera is the last lo­
cation in his travels, which can identified to the final
return to Ithaca).10
The place and circumstances in which Odysseus
left the world of mortals do not give rise to doubts,
but those of his return remain unclear. When did he
189

manage to extricate himself from the netherworld?
Naturally, with the assistance of the Phaeacians
he “ultimately” landed on the shores of Ithaca. It is
worth recalling, however, that earlier Odysseus almost
reached his target. First, before he was caught in a
tempest, and then when he left the Aeolian Island and
sailed successfully thanks to conducive winds (the god
of winds trapped the menacing ones in a sack): We
glimpsed our native land. We came in so close we could
see the men who tend the beacon fires (X, 29). Then, al­
though this was an improbable circumstance, Odyseus
fell asleep and his companions, as we know, untied the
bag. All the winds rushed out— storms seized them, swept
them out to sea, in tears, away from their own native land.
This is the reason why (as Homer summed up Odys­
seus’ subsequent recollections; XXIII, 315) it was n o
t y e t his destiny to reach his dear native land. Instead,
storm winds once more caught him. It is worth recalling,
however, that at the very onset of The Odyssey the
goddess Athena describes Odysseus’ sad but sweet ser­
vitute under Calypso: But Odysseus yearns to see even
the s m o k e r i si n g f r o m h i s n a t i v e l a n d and
longs for death.
The scene with the sack is one of the most dis­
turbing images in The Odyssey. I cannot think about
it without recalling a scene from my childhood when
as a young boy I watched a popular Italian TV series:
L ’Odissea (director: Franco Rossi), which in a highly
intriguing fashion showed the moment when Odys­
seus’ companions untied the sack full of wind offered
by Aeolus. The authors suggested that Odysseus was
only pretending to be asleep but actually was aware of
what his crew was doing; nonetheless, he tried not to
create an obstacle, pretending that this was his inten­
tion. (Just as interestingly, it was this particular scene
in the several parts-long series that made the greatest
impression on me - so intense that even today I can
recollect it vividly). True, Erich Auerbach claimed:
This “real” world into which we are lured, exists for itself,
contains nothing but itself; the Homeric poems conceal
nothing 11, but there appears the moment when in a
uniform and brightly lit narration, ostensibly limited
exclusively to the foreground (as Auerbach envis­
aged it), there emerges a dark surprising fissure - an
u n derstatem ents unexpected in the case of Homer.
The astonishing fiasco of the attempt at returning
to Ithaca forced the protagonist to make a new effort
- once again he must allow himself to be captured by
the storm. This is not the end, however, and even the
successful return to Ithaca will not be u l t i m a t e , in
accordance with the prediction made by Tiresias (XI,
120 sqq.) Odysseus once again departs. In this manner,
his story as a whole takes on a c y c l i c a l character,
making it possible to propose a different interpretation
of the status of the place that is the beginning and end
of the journey, i.a. Ithaca, the birthplace. The activity

�Wojciech Michera • THE HOMELESSNESS OF ODYSSEUS

pursued by Odysseus and conceived as an archetype
of a person returning home gains automatism typical
for the cyclical quality, but also futility in the mean­
ing mentioned by Aristotle, who, recall, claimed that
automatikos is etymologically affiliated with maten, ’’to
no avail”.12

Identity
Now, return to the “olive tree proof’. What does
this “great sign’ denote if it is to be really treated as
such, i.e. in semiotic categories. In other words, who
should be regarded as its signifié? Obviously, the an­
swer must be sought in traditional symbolic, in mytho­
logical imagery known from the works of Eliade and
Jung or even the “poetics of reverie” by Bachelard
(tree, root, fount, home, centre, cosmogony, etc.). A t
the same time, the “great sign’ fulfils certain narration
functions and is supposed to render credible the dec­
laration made by Odysseus - it is a gesture with whose
help he casts off his numerous costumes (including the
fictitious identity of a Cretan, who in an earlier conver­
sation with Penelope he pretended to be). Apparently,
this is the place of transition from the order of seduc­
tive and deceitful fiction, and persuasive rhetoric (an
order of soft and mellifluous words)13 to an order of
finally regained truth (this is, as we learn, “an infallible
sign”). The story about the marital bed, however, also
inclines the married couple to immediately lie down
on it so as to satisfy their urge for love: the "subjective
centre” is thus inevitably connected with desire.
First and foremost, however, I would like to draw
attention to the fact that this centre of the home
sphere (Greek: kentron - sting, blade, from: kentein, to
prick; Latin: punctum) is connected directly with that,
which is most distant. In the same way as during the
nekyia rite in the distant land of the Kimmerians (via
longa) where Odysseus met the person closest to him,
i.e. his deceased mother, so the cut down olive tree that root of his identity - brings to mind the wooden
stake, which he used to blind Polyphemus (via brevis):
There lay beside a sheep-pen a great club of the Cyclops,
a staff of green olive-wood, which he had cut to carry with
him when dry; and as we looked at it we thought it as large
as is the mast of a black ship of twenty oars [...] I bade
my comrades cast lots among them, which of them should
have the hardihood with me to lift the stake and grind it
into his eye when sweet sleep should come upon him (IX,
319-333).
The similarity of the toppled olive tree designat­
ing the centre of Odysseus’ homestead and the cut
down olive tree twisted in the manner of a screw and
burning out the round, central eye of Cyclops (kyklops
= kyklos, wheel + ops, sight), is the reason why the
scene in the Cyclopean cave introduces a b s e n c
e (or rather the p r e s e n c e of absence) in the
very centre, in the foundation of domestic space. It

also becomes a model for Odysseus’ problematic sub­
jectivity or, more exactly, it defines it as such. The
anonymity that he announces to Polyphemus is more
than a transitory state characteristic for certain ini­
tiation rite situations. Is it really anonymity? Perhaps
Alkinoos, the king of the Phaecians, was right when
he said to Odysseus: For there is no one of all mankind
who is nameless (VIII, 552). Odysseus encountering
Polyphemos is not simply anonymous, because ano­
nymity is his name:
Cyclops, thou askest me of my glorious name, and
I will tell it thee; and do thou give me a stranger’s gift,
even as thou didst promise. Noman [Outis] is my name,
Noman do they call me-my mother and my father, and all
my comrades as well.
He is, therefore, not anonymous but cryptonymous,
or pseudonymos. This is, however, a false name, more
of a pseudonym that only ostensibly conceals (actu­
ally betrays) his true identity based, after all, on “false­
hood”, the principle of pseudonymy. This is also what
the contents of the assumed name tell us. True, Jerzy
Andrzejewski wrote about Odysseus: No man, and thus
just like all others, 14 but this does not have to be the
case of being average and ordinary, and even more so
“without character”, “without qualities” (ohne Eigen­
schaften). The Greek Outis is composed of a negative
particle (out) and the pronoun: “someone” (tis). The
same pronoun - both in such expressions as: “this is
someone”, “to be someone” - means both in Polish
and Greek admiration and recognition, and is a social
distinction, emphasis on subjective distinctiveness. Its
negation, as a consequence, defines the “villain”, a
man without value, without m e a n i n g, who, we tend
to say, does not r e p r e s e n t anything and is a “zero“
both in the ethical sense (as in the insult: “you’re a
zero”) and semiotically, enabling a paraphrase of the
lofty formula: “ And his name shall be. ..”; in this case
- ”it shall be zero”. Man-nobody, the Odyssean outis,
fulfils a logical function similar to the “zero” in arith­
metic, which as such does not express value and is a
condition for changing the value of all other numbers
(cf. the English: cypher - number, code, zero; not by
accident one of the protagonists in the film Matrix is
called Cypher). 15 Outis thus means the absence of de­
fined, stabilised subjectivity (cf. the Latin: nemo, ”no
one”, a word created by merging non and homo; we
all remember that this is the “true pseudonym” one of
Verne’s protagonists), which suffers from the lack of
a source and calls for incessant supplementation, an
ever provisory suture (to use the commendable Lacanian term) of barely possible and at all times transitory
meaning, ever dependent upon a certain “system of
difference”. But there is something more: it comprises
that possibility, the potential of meanings, i.e. a condi­
tion for all “representation”, representation as such, in
other words, still not stabilised by some sort of “refer-

190

�Wojciech Michera • THE HOMELESSNESS OF ODYSSEUS

ence” (Barthes called this conceit: signifiance, English:
significance). 16
It is not a coincidence that already in the first hex­
ameter of The Odyssey Homer described Odysseus as
polutropos, which could be translated as: worldly, cun­
ning, highly enterprising, but also as: endowed with an
unusual ability for changing costumes, for impersonat­
ing assorted, usually fictitious figures. Hence the anag­
norisis, so frequent in The Odyssey, i. e. narration situ­
ations in which the protagonist becomes unexpectedly
recognised (Aristarchus described anagnarismos as the
telos of The Odyssey [scholia to XXIII, 296]), because,
after all, he may be “recognised” only when he first
seems to be someone else. In this situation it is difficult
to avoid asking: becomes recognised as whom? Is it
not precisely as polutropos? Is talent for "disguise” and
devising fictional stories not his true fate?
Stanisław Rosiek wrote: Odysseus lived in a world
that he had split into two parts: “illusory life" and “real
life", as Pascal would have put it. He was a master of
split existence. 17 A t the same time, things are differ­
ent - this “delusion” is not so much a second, sepa­
rate extreme of the opposition (foris versus domi) as
the split, the fissure between extremities. It is that
fissure, which is ”erotic” and not one of the two
"shores” (as Barthes would put it). 18 If this is the
case, then Odysseus is himself the more the longer
he stays away from Ithaca, even if he yearns for it so
much, or rather the more he longs for it. The “dis­
tant” (this yearning for the distant, as Thomas Mann
described the feeling experienced by Gustav A schen­
bach) does not leave him even while at home (domi)
and makes it impossible to get rid of the status of
a “stranger”, a ”guest” and a “beseecher” (hiketes).
As I have mentioned, the ”distant” or the ”split” of
Odysseus’ world no longer separates Ithaca from the
unreal rest of the world but actually is that unreality,
”fictionality” that permeates the whole of existence,
including the “genuine” home life of Odysseus on
Ithaca.
Instead of a stable ”’centre” we discover a “void”
(outis), which, as Derrida wrote in his reflections
about the philosophical concept of the structure, is
the “movement of supplementarity” initiating an end­
less “play of substitutions” (the same, let me recall, as
the one mentioned in the epithet: polutropos). This
substitute does not substitute itself for anything which has
somehow existed before it . We thus arrive at the con­
clusion (I quote Derrida while keeping in mind the
text by Homer): That there was no center, that the center
could not be thought in the form of a present-being, that the
center had no natural site, that it was not a fixed locus but
a function, a sort of nonlocus in which an infinite number
of sign-substitutions came into play. This was the moment
when language invaded the universal problematic, the mo­
ment when, in the absence of a center or origin, everything
191

became discourse-provided - we can agree on this word
- that is to say, a system in which the central signified,
the original or transcendental signified, is never absolutely
present outside a system of differences. The absence of the
transcendental signified extends the domain and the play of
signification infinitely”19
Replacing the stable “centre” by a sui generis “non­
place”, a process of undermining the presence of the
source of signifié, making possible an endless substitu­
tion of signs, rendered Odysseus a ”poet,” and his jour­
ney - a nostalgic ”art” of returning home (in Greek:
nostos means “return”, algos - ’’suffering” , although it
is worth keeping in mind that “nostalgia” is a mod­
ern lexical idea). David Lachterman wrote: Odysseus
achieves his nostos [...] by means of poetry, by telling and
crafting tales [...]. What Odysseus tells, is his odyssey
proper, his nostos and noos in words. 20 Hence, Odysseus
does not travel in reality and sometimes, especially
upon returning, he goes back to his peregrinations in
his tales, the latter being a journey conducted in the
sphere of “language”, “fiction”, and thus the irremov­
able “distant”, in a fascinating space opened by the
Song of the Sirens (according to Blanchot). 21 Noth­
ing, therefore, can end it, no port, no final conclusion,
and even no “great sign”, since it is “nothing” - a mere
s t o r y about what is lost for ever and the object of
infinite longing.
It is often maintained that the feature that best
characterises Odysseus is his “curiosity”, which was
supposed to incite him to leave Ithaca (this was the
view of, e.g. Dante [Inferno 26]). In this way, how­
ever, Ithaca too remains untouched - and as a home
it still constitutes a stable centre of existence. The
reading of The Odyssey, which I proposed, naturally
questions the obviousness of this interpretation: I
tried to demonstrate that this text contains another
concealed mechanism. A t the end, in order to pro­
vide at least a temporary tag line, let me cite Gabriel
Marcel, whose words I noted down years ago; quot­
ing them I am not overly concerned whether I am
faithful to the context, i.e. the entire reflection of
this philosopher:
To be curious - to leave a certain immobile cen­
tre, to attempt to capture an object about which one
had only an unclear or schematic concept. With this
meaning all curiosity is directed towards the peripher­
ies. On the other hand, to be restless is to be uncer­
tain of one’s centre, to seek one’s equilibrium. [...]
Curiosity will turn into unrest the more its object will
constitute a part of me, the more thoroughly it will be
included into my inner structure. On the other hand,
anxiety will become metaphysical the more it pertains
to that, which cannot be separated from my ”Ego”
without, at the same time, causing the annihilation of
that ”Ego”. 22

�Wojciech Michera • THE HOMELESSNESS OF ODYSSEUS

Endnotes
1

2

3

4
5
6

7

8

9
10
11

12
13
14
15

16

17
18
19

20

21

Beata Spieralska, Dach nad głową. Pojęcie „domu" w języ­
kach indoeuropejskich, "Konteksty” 2004, fasc. 1-2, p.
34.
Vincenzo Vitiello, Pustynia, Ethos, Opuszczenie.
Przyczynek do topologii religijności, transl. Ewa Łukaszyk,
in: Religia. Seminarium na Capri prowadzone przez Jacquesa
Derridę i Gianniego Vattimo, KR: Warszawa 1999, p.
177.
Maski, vol. II, Maria Janion and Stanisław Rosiek (ed.),
Wydawnictwo Morskie, Gdańsk 1986, p. 184 (my
emphasis - W M.).
Plato, Republic, 620c (Myth of Er).
Jules Verne, Voyage au centre de la Terre, ed. J. Hetzel,
Paris 1864.
[...] and the clock of which would then have struck twelve,
if any Icelandic church had been rich enough to possess so
valuable and useful an article. These sacred edifices are,
however, very much like these people, who do without
watches—and never miss them. (ibid.).
Ibid., Polish edition, p. 304. On this book and the
images and mytholgoical structures therein see: Simone
Vierne, Jules Verne et le roman initiatique. Contribution z
l’étude de l’imaginaire, Lille 1972; see also: Maria Janion,
Gorączka romantyczna, Warszawa 1975, pp. 275-277.
The Aeolian Islands were associated with the Lipari
Islands and Stromboli already in antiquity (see, e.g.
Tucicides III, 88; Virgil, The Aeneid VIII, 417).
Alfred Heubeck, Introduction, in: A Commentary on
Homer’s Odyssey, vol. II, ed. A. Heubeck, Arie Hoekstra,
Oxford 1989, p. 4.
Kazimierz Kumaniecki, in: Homer, ed. K. Kumaniecki
and J. Mańkowski, Warszawa 1974, p. 165.
J. V. Luce, Homer i epoka heroiczna, transl. E. Skrzypczak,
Warszawa 1987, p. 267.
Erich Auerbach, Blizna Odyseusza, in: idem, Mimesis,
Rzeczywistość przedstawiona w literaturze Zachodu, vol. I,
transl. Zbigniew Zabicki, Warszawa 1968, p. 62.
Aristotle, Physics 197b.
See: W. Michera, ‘Lathesthai’. O pokusie zapomnienia,
"Konteksty” 2-3/2003, pp. 217-222.
Jerzy Andrzejewski, Nikt, Warszawa 1987, p. 11.
See: W. Michera, Ekranizacja pamięci. O filmie Memento
Christophera Nolana, in: Iluzje pamięci, ed. S. Wróbel,
Wydawnictwo WPA UAM, Kalisz 2007, pp. 81-97.
16 See: Roland Barthes, The Third Meaning, [in:]
Image, Music, Text, transl. Stephen Heath, Fontana
Press , p. 54: Signifiance, a word which has the advantage
of referring to the field of signifier (and not signification). See
also: R. Barthes, Le plaisir du texte, Seuil, Paris 1973, p.
82. The term: signifiance comes from: Julia Kristeva,
Semiotiké: Recherches pour une sémanalyse, Seuil, Paris
1969.
Stanisław Rosiek, op. cit.
Cf. R. Barthes, Le plaisir..., pp. 13-14.
J. Derrida, Jacques Derrida, Writing and Difference,
transl. Alan Bass, The University of Chicago 1978, pp.
353-354, 365.
David R. Lachterman, ‘Noos’ and ‘nostos’: The Odyssey
and the Origins of Greek Philosophy, [in:] J.-F. Mattéi (ed.)
La naissance de la raison en Grèce, Actes du Congrès de
Nice 1987, Paris 1990, p. 37 (Polish edition: ‘Noos’ i
‘nostos’: ‘Odyseja’ i źródła filozofii greckiej, transl. W.
Michera, "Konteksty” 2-3/2003).
Maurice Blanchot, Le chant de Sirènes, in: Le livre à venir,
192

Gallimard: Paris 2005 (1959), p. 9 sqq. It must be
stressed, however, that Blanchot judged Odysseus pri­
marily within the context of the battle with the Sirens,
i.a. by stressing the technical effort of maintaining a
boundary between the real and the imagined (see: p.
16). One could say, therefore, that the purpose of this
essay is to show the simultaneous presence in the
Odyssey of a competing model, i.e. the ideological prox­
imity of Odysseus and the Sirens.
22 Gabriel Marcel, Homo viator, transl. P Lubicz, IW Pax:
Warszawa 1984, p. 142.

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                <text>Longina Jakubowska
University College Utrecht

The Invasion of Jinn Spirits:
Modernity and the Bedouin

It was clear to her brothers that Mariam was possessed by a jinni (sing. jinni, pl. jinn).
H e r behavior was erratic; one day she was listlessly sitting cross-legged w i t h o u t u t tering a word, and the next getting into agressive fits throwing harangues at anyone
w h o passed by in language that was either unintelligible or abusive. She fought w i t h
her husband, refused to have sex w i t h him, and was nasty toward her co-wife. Even
worse, she was suspected to have spread malignant gossip about her cousin that led
to the annulment of a marriage proposal. Fortunately this happened during the
summer school vacation - Mariam worked as a special education teacher in town and her odd state was noticed only by her immediate family and neighbors w h o kept
it as much a secret as one can in a community where most people k n o w one another. The story of Mariam's misfortune was t o l d to me one warm spring day in hushed
voices laced w i t h dread. As the night fell, other stories followed, stories of magic,
bewitchment, mystery and fear. Hers was a jinnii of a non-descript nature. The jinn
w h o claimed the body of her neighbor d o w n the street had a name, a gender, and
a place of origin; the beautiful European jinniya w h o fell in love w i t h h i m was called
Janet.
Spirit possession was an unexpected turn in my anthropological inquiry A t no
previous point in time during the twenty five years of my involvement w i t h a Bedouin community in the Negev desert in Israel had I noted a significant presence of
jinn in people's lives. For the next three weeks I was busily collecting stories of their
interference. The local M u s l i m cleric and a jinn expert instructed me about their
nature, their properties, and the remedies against them and allowed me to witness
the means and ways of their exorcism. I remained skeptical throughout my inquiries
because the victims were usually educated professionals in the nascent middle class
w i t h the ambition to develop a modern and progressive community.
The rich anthropological literature interprets the belief in jinn variously as an ar¬
rangement of cultural memory political strategy mental illness, 'folk' logic, or i n d i vidual subjectivity (see Boddy 1989; Bowen 1993; Crapanzano 1980; Siegel 2003;
121

�Longina Jakubowska

Gregg 2005; Khan 2006). In this article, I explore the recent encounters of a bedouin
community w i t h jinn to show how the stories about their sudden appearance are
laced w i t h fear of the perceived disorder in communal and individual relationships.
As jinn are believed to thrive on conflict, chaos and uncontrolled emotions, their
emergence might be taken is an indicator of the state of the community at the m o ment. Modernization of the bedouin society brought a shift in norms and ambiguity
about rules and as such the town became a ripe environment for the jinn to prey on.
I suggest that the sudden invasion of the jinn can be attributed to the partial absorp¬
tion of the various discourses of modernity by the community at large as well as by
individuals w i t h i n it. M o d e r n i t y came in uneven bundles of components and al¬
though the bedouin culture uses many of these components creatively, some are
still misaligned w i t h the social structure to which they are applied. Furthermore, as
argued by Appadurai (1996), the repertoire of ideas, images, concepts, and narra¬
tives that move across groups and cultures in the global terrain do so in an unpre¬
dictable fashion. They are mediated by indigenous concepts and practices - in this
case the local concepts of health and well being - in the process of which the lines
between the rational and the imaginary are blurred.
The Bedouin of the Negev, a desert region in the northern Sinai, a pastoral
nomadic society dependent on herding sheep, goats, camels and organized along
the principles of a segmentary lineage system, became transformed into wage earn¬
ing urban dwellers in the course of the last half a century. The process of their
sedentarization was gradual and had already started in the times of the O t t o m a n
Empire but it dramatically accelerated in the period following the establishment of
the state of Israel in 1948. A t first, tent encampments gave way to corrugated iron
and wooden plank shantytowns and later to urban conglomerations of ugly cement
buildings. A l t h o u g h currently the majority of bedouin live in towns, shantytowns
d i d not completely disappear from the desert landscape. Conscious of the benefits
urban centers provide (electricity, schools and health clinics), many others settled
in vicinity encircling towns w i t h a ring of slums. The towns are located in desolate
corners of the desert far from Israeli population hubs to which they are connected
only by a single road. To those w h o do not expect them, they appear rather suddenly like a mirage amidst plastic bags - the scourge of the M i d d l e East - blown hither
and thither by the w i n d . As they are built in approximately the same period of time
1

1

I n t h e 1940s, some 75,000 Bedouin inhabited the N e g e v ( M a r x 1967). F o l l o w i n g the establish-

ment of Israel, most of t h e m became refugees i n t h e n e i g h b o r i n g Arab countries. T h e Israeli army
m o v e d most of the remaining 11,000 b e d o u i n t o a reservation the size of a f r a c t i o n of t h e i r former ter¬
ritory. T h e reservation was r u l e d b y a m i l i t a r y a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , w h i c h s t r i c t l y c o n t r o l l e d the move¬
ments of b e d o u i n b y a system of permits. E x p r o p r i a t i o n of land b y t h e State, t e r r i t o r i a l displacement,
and r e s t r i c t i o n on m o v e m e n t eradicated the nomadic and semi-nomadic economy as a result of w h i c h
most m e n u n d e r t o o k wage labor i n the e x p a n d i n g Israeli economy:

122

�The Invasion of Jinn Spirits: Modernity and the Bedouin

(in the 1980s and 90s), there is little that distinguishes one from another. Houses
tend to be large enough to accommodate an extended family but their size is de¬
ceptive and does not necessarily indicate prosperity The size of families also tends
to be large so it is not uncommon to have a couple of dozen people living under the
same roof. W i t h the population of approximately 50,000 - about one-third of the
entire bedouin population in the Negev - Rahat is the largest of all the settlements.
It is a social mosaic of people of different origins and k i n groups, and predictably
a fertile site for communal unrest and conflict. A l o n g a practically complete eradi¬
cation of pastoral nomadism, the settled bedouin experienced a degree of social
disruption; urbanity and concomitant new economic configuration had repercus¬
sions for social structure. First, the emergent economic differentiation altered the
traditional system of stratification based upon kinship. Some fared better than others
and while a few descent groups, individual families, even individuals became pros¬
perous and rose in social status, most became trapped in the cycle of poverty, lack
of education and structural underemployment. A m o n g other factors, this new eco¬
nomic differentiation and stratification is responsible for the emergence of new poli¬
tical ideologies. The urban Bedouin, particularly those w h o made it into the middle
classes, are in search of a new definition of their identity. This search took them from
initial malaise, to a brief experimentation w i t h Palestinian nationalism and most recently to Islamic fundamentalism. Where social change undermined local customs,
the resulting vacuum opened the way for a more fundamentalist approach as a counterforce to modernization, westernization, emergent liberalism, but also cultural disintegration. N o t only is the Bedouin absorption of modernity fragmentary but so
too is the assimilation of Islamic ideology N o r is it a simple issue. The Bedouin do
not have an elaborate spiritual tradition. For a long time they were known among
their sedentary agricultural neighbors for their rather rudimental knowledge of
Islam and teased for lack of piety Being a M u s l i m increasingly implies a battlefield
for contesting and opposing discourses on authenticity tradition, and modernity In
the process of contestation surrounding 'authenticity' and 'tradition', certain Isla¬
mic symbols are actively chosen (or imposed) as crucial markers of cultural similar¬
ity w i t h the Islamic world and cultural difference w i t h others. Debates that emerged
around the issue of modernization and the meaning of modernity occur in a highly
charged political context of conflicting Palestinian and Israeli nationalisms. Many
reject westernization and the homogenizing processes inherent in globalization yet
they are not positioned outside the structures they so vehemently criticize: they
hold government jobs, study at universities, or benefit from state assistance. M o d e r n ity is thought possible on the one hand through skills and scientific knowledge, and
devout religious practice on the other, b o t h of which imply a break w i t h past tradi¬
tions. Islam also represents a way of overcoming what the Bedouin label as backward
2

2

In 2009 Rahat became t h e second largest A r a b t o w n i n Israel.

123

�Longina Jakubowska

and traditional features of their society while the Islamization of daily life entails the
de-beduinization of culture. Bedouin practices, which do not fall squarely in the generic Islamic tradition or contradict it, are discouraged, and the local cultural tradition has gradually been brought into accord w i t h scriptural teaching and Islamisized.
This process is visible in the performance of ritual, daily dress (the substitution of the
colorfully embroidered thob dress for a plain jilbab), disapproval of the vener-ation of
holy men and pilgrimages to the shrines of saints, the denunciation of the use of talismans, etc. N o t only Bedouin material culture but also previous efforts to imitate
Israeli architecture have been obscured by a more 'Arabic' style borrowed from the
Gulf countries - ornamental Quranic inscriptions, pictures of Hassan al-Banna ,
decorative sculptures of coffee jugs placed over entrances, and spiraling towerlets.
These new artifacts are evident manifestations of the influence of the media broadcasted from the Arab states, pilgrimages to Mecca, and visits to Gaza, the West
Bank or Jordan. The new middle class is educated, bilingual, technologically sophisticated and integrated into the Israeli labor market. A l t h o u g h education is not its
only formative factor, it has guaranteed a leap in economic and social advancement.
This is w h y the retreat into what is called a "traditional" belief system as an explan¬
ation for social ailments is puzzling.
3

In what follows, I provide a short account of jinn from the perspective of Islamic
tradition and its local Bedouin interpretation. The jinn have a rank and status in the
Islamic universe. The most important textual verification of jinn is found in the
Quran in Sura 72, titled Al-Jinn, as well as in prophetic tradition (hadith). The jinn
are believed to be creatures made by G o d out of smokeless fire at the beginning of
time much in the same way humans were made of clay and angels of light. Like
humans, they form communities in the confines of which they conduct their lives:
they eat, sleep, marry produce children w h o then go to schools, follow careers, and
die. In contrast to humans, jinn are capable of form changing, fast movement, great
acts of strength, and long lives. Some are said to be as old as 1000 years. They k n o w
no limitations to time or space and can easily move between historical epochs and
places. Like humans, they possess free will and are capable of making moral choices;
they are drawn to b o t h good and evil and are endowed w i t h emotions and rational
faculties. As w i t h the human world, the w o r d of Islam was sent to jinn through the
Prophet Muhammad; in other words, jinn preexist Islam. Logically then, they follow
different religions; some accepted Islam while others remained faithful to Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity or any other of the multitude of religious be4

' Hassan al-Banna (1906-1949) was an E g y p t i a n social and p o l i t i c a l reformer and t h e founder of
M u s l i m B r o t h e r h o o d , one of t h e largest and most influential 2 0 t h c e n t u r y M u s l i m revivalist organizations.
4

T h e jinn d o n o t exhaust the w o r l d of spirits in Islamic belief. There are also 'afrit, maridin, and the

most f r i g h t e n i n g of all, the ghul.

124

�The Invasion of Jinn Spirits: Modernity and the Bedouin

liefs. They also have names, gender and distinct personalities. Muslims believe that
the jinn and humans share the earthly world but lead largely separate lives. W h i l e the
jinn are invisible to the human eye (their name derives from the w o r d ijtinan, which
means "to be concealed from sight"), they can observe the existence of humans. O n
occasion, however, the t w o cross paths whereby the jinn enter the spaces inhabited
by humans and often assume surreal forms, commonly appearing as a black dog in
the least frightening version and as a two-legged donkey w i t h horns in its extreme
version. One should never throw a stone at a black dog lest it might be a jinni in disguise w h o would inevitably seek revenge. In other local traditions, the jinn inhabit
dark and deserted places, caves, and graveyards (Padwick 1924; Gregg 2005; Boddy
1989). The Bedouin believe that the creatures have a liking for all things d i r t y and
smelly but water in particular; stale stinky water serves as a conduit between the
world of humans and that of the jinn. They cherish darkness, which makes dusk and
night dangerous times for humans. One has to be mindful about pouring out a bucket of water, or for that matter sweeping the yard at night, lest by mistake it splashes
at a jinn lurking in the vicinity. The greatest danger from such disturbance of the jinn
is that they may in revenge possess the disturber. To avoid misfortune, one is
advised to utter the phrase 'bismillah ' ( i n the name of G o d ) while engaging in any
activity that involves d i r t y water, particularly when in contact w i t h a human body,
such as taking a bath (hamam), entering a latrine or a toilet. In Bedouin oral trad¬
ition, jinn are never benevolent, always devious and humans are in perpetual danger
as jinn can take possession of their body at a w h i m . Jinn do not inspire but seduce to
destruction; they 'possess' to destroy and not to make things possible.
5

6

7

Jinn possession can cause a person to have seizures and to speak in incom¬
prehensible tongues. The possessed are unable to think or speak of their own will.
Numbness of limbs, a rash on the arms and legs, pulsating veins, stomach or back
pain, persistent headache, and nausea can all be signs of possession but so can
nightmares, lethargy, or aggressiveness. Jinn are also blamed for women's infertility
or reproductive difficulties. N o t all types of disease and illness are attributed to jinn
possession. In fact, the Bedouin are not necessarily given to magical thinking and
prefer scientific explanations w i t h regard to any abnormal condition. Generally they
seek modern treatment by consulting a medical doctor and follow the course of
treatment prescribed by h i m . However, if the symptoms do not ease as expected

5

T h e most infamous is a jinniya (female jinn), k n o w n i n N o r t h A f r i c a as Aisha Qandisha w h o t y p -

ically appears t o men as an irresistible and ravishing w o m a n . Failing t o notice her camel's (or goat's)
feet, t h e y fall under her charm and soon discover themselves t o be i m p o t e n t w i t h any o t h e r w o m a n ,
i n c l u d i n g t h e i r wife, w i t h o u t Aysha's consent (Crapanzano 1980).
6

N o t unlike i n C h r i s t i a n t r a d i t i o n (see C h r i s t i a n 1996), children i n particular are e n d o w e d w i t h

a g i f t of being able t o see the jinn; if one turns around and sees an unusual f o r m and t h e n one turns
around again seeing it gone, it probably was a jinn.
7

Precautions are w o v e n i n t o d a i l y customs and etiquettes.

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�Longina Jakubowska

but recur or magnify and an abnormal state of body and mind continues, there is
then reason to suspect interference of the spirits. Importantly, although the jinn
seem to act in a whimsical and arbitrary fashion, not all people are equally susceptible
to possession. The human body serves only as a receptacle for the spirits and indi¬
viduals have a degree of control/agency over the access they grant. True, a person
might be at the wrong place at the wrong time and unwillingly provides an opport¬
unity for the jinni to enter his body; nonetheless it is his inner state that makes him
a potential v i c t i m . Bodies are vulnerable when they are in a state of discord and
disharmony. Thus, in a fashion, an unbalanced person facilitates the descent of the
spirits and consequently makes h i m - through actions or emotions - an agent of his
own possession. So what was it that caused Mariam's possession?

T h e case of Mariam, the merry working woman
According to community standards, Mariam married rather late. A t the age of 26,
she willingly became the second wife of her maternal cousin A h m a d . Like a number of educated girls - she is a graduate of a Teachers College - she married a man
whose education came to an end after only four years at school. She married happily
and at the ceremony I attended radiated satisfaction and delight. The couple set¬
tled in a downstairs apartment of Ahmad's house while his first wife occupied the
upper floor w i t h the children she had borne h i m . Ahmad's wives kept separate
households but cooperated when necessary and in the eyes of the community
formed a peaceful union. A t the end of her first year of marriage, Mariam gave b i r t h
to Mahmud about the same time that Muhammad was b o r n to the first wife. The
passing years cast some doubt at this apparent marital bliss as the first wife became
thinner and left the house less often. Three births later Mariam was still cheerful
and happily kept me informed about the ins and outs of life in a polygamous family.
If someone was to be possessed by a jinni I would have expected it to be the first
wife since they are often known to suffer upon their husband's second marriage and
therefore I was surprised to hear of Mariam's malady.
8

The jinni might have gone undetected had she not gone on the pilgrimage to
Mecca. Indeed, she had delayed the hajj for a long time - allegedly under the influ¬
ence of the jinni - giving such excuses as having to take care of her small children,
lack of money or some other problem. Unfortunately the pilgrimage only worsened
her state. The jinni is said to have left her at the entrance to Kaaba, the most holy
site in Islam, as he had to since jinn cannot bear sacred spaces. Inevitably, he caught
up w i t h her later but the experience of the pilgrimage left him unsettled, confused,
and aggravated. Consequently, Mariam's behavior deteriorated. She began using
'ugly' words that sow unrest - words that were accusatory of others conducting
unseemly deeds, repeatedly expressed desire to die, was often listless as if w i t h o u t
8

For the rising rates of polygamous marriages, see Jakubowska (2005).

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a will of her own and when she came to herself, behaved w i t h o u t the composure
required of women, and finally, spoke in a bizarre tongue that could not be under¬
stood. As her fitful state continued and w o r d of Mariam's o d d behavior began to
spread, her husband sought family counsel. The family advised h i m to call upon the
help of sheikh Aodeh, the exorcist.
Mariam, as I knew her, was always a person w h o explored the furthermost limits
of social behavior. She had a lively but loud personality and was often outspoken
about people and relations in the community. She also had a wide network of female
relatives as well as friends w h o m she had met at school and at the college. H e r job
made her commute to the other end of town and Mariam usually took her time
coming home by making visiting rounds and drinking endless cups of tea on the
way She d i d not need to hurry back home as her children were cared for by her cowife and her husband, who was employed in construction, returned home late. Mariam
did not keep an ideal house. People thought that her children were not properly
looked after and many wondered on what she was spending the money she earned.
Her wide social circle provided information on the latest social events in the com¬
munity. She always knew about the most recent developments in marriage proposals,
amounts of bride-price paid in marriage, the latest fashion, deaths and illnesses.
This information is indeed valuable but needs to be cherished, treated w i t h discret¬
ion, and used wisely. Mariam had difficulties w i t h this; she was a gossip. She talked
too much in a society where reputation is sometimes the only possession and breach
of trust can have dire consequences.
The experience of jinn possession made Mariam a changed person. It also changed
the relations in her polygamous family She became mindful of her children, started
to spend more time at home and developed a better working relationship w i t h her
co-wife w h o cheered up considerably But she remained fearful. Even after the treatment was successfully completed she was afraid of being alone at home and took to
reading the Quran frequently W i t h her newly found conscientiousness she instant¬
ly recognized the symptoms of possession in her sister-in-law.

T h e case of Sabiha and her mood swings
Perhaps for Muhammad, Mariam's brother, the jinn are more real than for others be¬
cause they have brought misery into his house and his family, the family he had de¬
sired more than anything else and had fought long and hard for. It was not easy to
marry Sabiha, the girl of his dreams. They were b o r n to related lineages and grew up
in houses w i t h i n sight of one another. Usually such a close relationship is an asset
when considerating marriage because kinship and physical proximity are believed
to promote solidarity, but not in this case. His brothers advised against the mar¬
riage. They had n o t h i n g against the girl but were generally not fond of women in
that family One must take a look at the behavior of the mother to k n o w how the
daughter will turn out, they said. H e fought w i t h his brothers about marrying
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Sabiha and fended off doubts on the part of her family that was equally skeptical
about the wisdom of his marriage proposal. Muhammad was at that time a meager
construction worker and they had hoped for a better marriage prospect for their
daughter w h o was a university student. Sabiha was flattered b y the dedication w i t h
which Muhammad pursued her but rather non-committal as is proper for a well-rais¬
ed girl. Finally, he won and married the girl he loved but this was not t o be a match
made in heaven. Soon afterwards he became alarmed b y the noticeable difference
in her behavior; from a nice girl w h o gladly helped out in the parental household
she was changed into an unpleasant woman w h o neglected her duties. She was rigid
in bed if she shared it w i t h h i m at all, and was suspected of mistreating their young
daughter. There was also the puzzling difference between the way she spoke w i t h
him on the phone w i t h sweetness and concern and the way she acted while at home
where n o t h i n g pleased her. W h e n at home she looked for an excuse t o fight and was
inconsistent w i t h her demands, for example, she insisted on them taking a vacation
together, but once they had done so, she refused t o leave the hotel even for a meal.
Sabiha cannot explain her own behavior either but something makes her act this
way the minute she gets close t o home. For a while i t was thought that her mood
swings resulted from the pressure of combining her studies at the university w i t h
domestic life but the summer vacation brought no relief. Even then she used any ex¬
cuse to be away from home, leaving the child under the care of her mother-in-law.
W h e n she d i d stay at home she wore a rather sour face.
Muhammad was desperate. H e considered himself to be a caring husband and
a devoted father. There was little he could d o but divorce Sabiha or beat her as her
brothers advised him t o do. H e could also send her back t o her father, which he
would rather have avoided since he deeply respected his father-in-law but he would
have t o unless the sheikh could chase the jinni away. This would not be the first case
of jinn possession in his wife's family T h e b o d y of Sabiha's sister was also invaded by
a jinni whose presence manifested itself by a persistent rash on her hands that would
not go away after medical treatment. Muhammad recalls how her body instantly
reacted t o the very presence of the sheikh. First she began t o shake and then went
rigid but his intervention helped. Encouraged by this experience, Muhammad
fetched the sheikh. Sabiha was asleep at the time and d i d not wake up throughout
his administrations, wondering later where the bruises on her body had come from.
Her state of mind improved and she felt happier after the treatment; unfortunately
for her and Muhammad the effects only lasted about a week-and-a-half, after which
she lapsed into her former state.
Is this simply a case of unrequited love? The case of a smart girl w i t h ambitions
who married a good hearted but not well educated man w i t h w h o m she could not
find fulfillment? T h e discourse of love as the driving force behind marriage came t o
the Bedouin society as part and parcel of modernization. Marriage used to be regulated b y family politics. A successful match determined access t o pastures, formed
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�The Invasion of Jinn Spirits: Modernity and the Bedouin

political alliances, and extended or cemented relations w i t h i n lineage and outside of
it. Romantic love, although celebrated in poetry and songs, had little to do w i t h it.
As the society individualized and greater pressure was put on fission than on fusion,
the notion of romantic love as a prerequisite for marriage gained strength along w i t h
the notion of marital compatibility. To the distress of b o t h Muhammad and Sabiha,
b o t h discourses are only partially and unequally absorbed.
The cases of Mariam and Sabiha should not make the impression that only women,
or in particular obstinate young women w h o attempt to shed social conventions,
are in danger of jinn possession. Women indeed constitute the majority of victims
for a good reason; they occupy a vulnerable position in a patrilineal society and in
turn make men vulnerable. T h r o u g h marriage, they provide links between k i n
groups that are essential to the formation of networks of mutual assistance. This is
the source of their personal empowerment, but also structural weakness. Patriarchal
ideology demands from a woman unequivocal dedication to the family of her hus¬
band while emotive attachments oftentimes pull her towards her family of origin.
The social bonds they forge are fragile and broken women are caught in the web of
conflicting interests and divided loyalties while their intermediary position makes
them distrusted by either side. Women's structural liminality is exacerbated among
the middle class w i t h its newly acquired model of the individuated nuclear family
and the desire for privacy. Unfortunately, this model is awkwardly positioned in a
system that makes women ultimately dependent on their male relatives, foremost
their fathers and brothers, in the case of divorce, abandonment, or widowhood. Fur¬
thermore, as noted in anthropological literature ( L e w a n d o - H u n d t 1984), Bedouin
women are prone to express distress and unhappiness through illness, as illness is
a socially legitimate reason to seek and receive attention from others, most notably
male family members.
It is also clear that the development of women's education and employment is
shifting expectations w i t h regard to gender roles and the propriety of women's
behavior. In her study of magic practices in Morocco, Kapchan (1996 : 236) states
that:
i n d i s c u s s i n g magical practices, w o m e n are e x p l o r i n g t h e f u r t h e r m o s t l i m i t s of social
behavior, v i c a r i o u s l y e n t e r i n g i n t o p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f f e r e d b y acts of transgression. T a l k
of m a g i c stretches t h e l i m i t s of m o r a l license b y e x e r c i s i n g m a x i m a l l i b e r t y i n v e r b a l
performance.

I suggest that spirit possession among the urban Bedouin performs the same
function. It allows women to act according to a different code while dispensing
responsibility for d o i n g so. This is, however, not to say that women are the only vic¬
tims as the family saga of spirit possession continues.

129

�Longina Jakubowska

T h e case of Najwa's misbehaving husband
Najwa married well, a handsome lawyer from a prestigious but traditional Bedouin
family. They led a somewhat itinerant life. Yusef worked in a law firm in the city of
Beer Sheva and Najwa taught elementary school in Rahat. Life in the city d i d not
suit either of them and she felt uncomfortable staying w i t h her in-laws, a polyga¬
mous " o l d fashioned" family so eventually they compromised by renting a house in
Najwa's old neighborhood. It took a while before Najwa became pregnant w i t h
their first child and then a difficult pregnancy was followed by the premature b i r t h
of a baby girl w h o spent the first months of her life in an incubator. A l t h o u g h
Najwa's next pregnancy was welcomed, it was followed by a sudden change of be¬
havior in her husband. Yusef avoided her presence, hardly ever spoke to her, refused
to share a bed w i t h her, and worst of all began drinking alcohol. Najwa was very
concerned. She knew from similar cases that her domestic situation was likely to
deteriorate and might end in divorce and that the life of a divorced woman was
grim. She approached her brothers w h o appealed to Yusef's conscience, sense of
responsibility and Islamic morality Yusef stubbornly refused to listen to anyone and
made no attempt at changing his behavior. A t her wits end, Najwa sought the counsel
of sheikh Aodeh. As expected, the sheikh detected the presence of a jinni, or rather
a female jinniya w h o had fallen in love w i t h Yusef and had possessed his body It was
not easy to expel her for she liked Yusef and refused to leave h i m . The sheikh
argued that Yusef was a married man and that his wife was concerned. "She should
not be", answered the jinniya, there is enough r o o m for four women in Yusef, allud¬
ing to the Bedouin practice of polygamy It was only when the jinniya started using
vulgar and sexually suggestive words, some of them in English, 'fuck you' for instan¬
ce, that sheikh Aodeh lost his patience. First, he clutched Yusef's throat and made
the jinniya speak in Arabic. She stopped resisting and left Yusef's body peacefully
after which Yusef returned to his former good-natured self.
Anxiety about impending fatherhood, especially after the distressing experience
of the b i r t h of the previous child is interwoven here w i t h sexual temptations and
Islamic justifications for male promiscuity. The reference to foreign women is not
arbitrary because the town has a growing number of legally sanctioned marriages
and even a greater number of clandestine relations w i t h non-Arab women. The rapid
influx of Russian Jews in the wave of immigration to Israel that took place in the
1990s found its way also into Rahat. Some Russian women - one can speculate that
those w h o found themselves on the margins of the Israeli society - entered into
polygynous marriages but by no means are they the only foreigners w h o marry
Bedouin. O t h e r European women, including N G O employees and volunteers for
example, as well as wives brought from the countries where young men had studied
or worked have become part of the community. These women are assigned a greater
sexual drive and freedom which are believed to threaten the established sexual
mores in the community. Their presence also introduces an element of potential
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�The Invasion of Jinn Spirits: Modernity and the Bedouin

competition w i t h indigenous women, to which the jinniya inhabiting Yusef's body
alluded.

Exorcising jinn
Sheikh Aodeh is not afraid of jinn. His power comes from personal charisma and the
knowledge of the Quran, which he knows by heart and of which jinn are aware. H e
is interested in whether the jinn are killed as the result of his administrations. H e fol¬
lowed special training in exorcism and has recently opened a practice in a nearby
mosque, a practice that is solely dedicated to exorcism. His is not the only practice
in the area but it is a very successful one. Sheikh A o d e h receives as many patients as
he can accommodate in his schedule - 4 or 5 a day Those he cannot treat immedi¬
ately are either put on a waiting list or referred to other sheikhs. Sheikhs vary in
their reputation and specialization and command different degrees of authority
over the spirits. M i n o r cases of affliction can be treated by sheikhs w i t h less expe¬
rience while more serious ones demand the attention of a powerful healer. Sheikh
Aodeh enjoys great respect among humans and jinn alike and some patients choose
to wait their turn. In fact, the practice is run like a modern psychotherapy clinic.
Appointments are made ahead of time, patients arrive in a small waiting hall to be
admitted to the treatment room at the scheduled time, and after completing the
therapy exit through a different door, all of which assures confidentiality and privacy
The sheikh is proud of the modern way in which he manages the clinic. His clientele
consists of members of the emergent middle class and his patients are teachers, ac¬
countants, and businessmen. H e understands their concern for discretion as jinn
possession is an indication of mental dysfunction and thus should be hidden from
the public eye. If disclosed, it might affect their personal reputation and honor.
Once the domain of kin groups, honor in the middle class has been transformed
into a personal rather then collective property. The privatization of reputation,
along that of material possessions and space, compels to secrecy and withdrawal
behind high fences and closed gates.
O n the occasion of exorcising Mariam's jinni, Sheikh A o d e h started the exami¬
nation by placing his right hand on the patient's head and reciting the Quran. This
procedure can assert the jinni's kind, strength and resolve. As mentioned before, jinn
are endowed w i t h different personalities and are differently embedded in a patient's
body Each requires different treatment. The sheikh usually puts headphones on the
victim's ears and plays Quranic recitations for anywhere between 15 to 60 minutes
after which the afflictions usually go away If this fails, he increases the volume and
the duration of treatment (up to 3 hours at full volume). This weakens the jinni w h o
starts to shake, opens and closes his eyes, and eventually begins to talk for jinn are
compelled to speak as the result of having listened to the Quran. The sheikh asks
him w h o he is, what his name is, and who sent him. However, it is thought useless
to engage in a long conversation w i t h the jinni and the sheikh makes haste. It helps
131

�Longina Jakubowska

to convert the jinni to Islam because it is then easier to expel him/her from the victim's body If the jinni still refuses to leave, a more drastic approach is necessary The
sheikh strikesthe legs, arms and hands of the v i c t i m w i t h his own hand, a plastic
tube, a sandal - the latter hurts the dignity of the jinni and he usually gets resentful
of such treatment. In the most difficult cases he might apply electric shocks. Sheikh
Aodeh emphasized that the v i c t i m is not conscious of what is happening and does
not experience pain. The jinn are known to be physically strong and sometimes it
takes a couple of people to pin the victim's body to the ground.
In Mariam's case the sheikh d i d not go beyond Quranic recitations. Sensing the
strength of the jinni that possessed her, he referred her to a more powerful healer in
the West Bank. The jinni caught w i n d of it and - since jinn k n o w the skills of their
adversaries well - became afraid. H e started speaking as soon as the four of us
(Mariam, her husband Ahmad, her brother Muhammad and me) started driving her
to the appointment. Mariam's body went limp and while words came out of her mouth
she was not conscious of what she said. The jinni moaned in an o d d voice that was
thickened w i t h fear, dreading the encounter w i t h an exorcist and his own inevitable
disappearance in t w o hours, which is the time it took to get from Rahat to our desti¬
nation. H e knew every person in the car, private details of interpersonal relations
(such as the nickname Muhammad uses to address his sister), and the road we took.
Questioned about his identity, he admitted to be a 200 year-old Jew by the name of
Tzvi. As jinn are known to lie, Muhammad asked questions. W h o owned the land we
were passing through at the moment? A f t e r a minute of concentration, during
which Tzvi tried to remember, he answered that it belonged to A b u Zbal (a ficti¬
tious name, such as Jones). Muhammad retorted, ' i t belongs to the Jewish state
now'. 'The state is (here a disparaging adjective)', he answered, which brought
doubts about his identity, as no Jew would say such a t h i n g about Israel. As Tzvi, if
that was really his name, was getting increasingly worried about his imminent de¬
mise he became more aggravated but nonetheless stayed sharp in the ability to ob¬
serve his surroundings. H e detected Muhammad's efforts to record the conversation
on a mobile phone, a phone that was hidden from his sight, which made h i m curse
and threaten to suffocate Mariam. The atmosphere in the car was tense and we all
yearned for the journey to end.
Indeed, not all practices are like that of Sheikh Aodeh. U p o n arrival in front of
a rather ordinary house in a crowded Palestinian village we were immediately led to
the sheikh. We not only had an appointment but we also came from far away and
because of it were given special consideration. The yard was teeming w i t h people patients and their relatives and guardians - who, chatting and commiserating, sat in
groups prepared for a long wait. Tzvi went quiet and we almost carried Mariam into
the house. Ushered into a plain room, we placed her on the only chair that stood in
the middle. Just like Aodeh, the sheikh began the session by engaging in a conver¬
sation w i t h the jinni, the details of which I no longer recall being confused by what
132

�The Invasion of Jinn Spirits: Modernity and the Bedouin

followed. H e r body began shaking, fell of the chair in convulsions, and the men had
to pin it to the floor. Once she was immobilized, the sheikh pressed two sticks on
Mariam's throat - one in front and one in the back, long enough for the jinni to aban¬
don her body but short of strangling her. A f t e r the pressure on her throat was re¬
leased she v o m i t e d profusely and was t o l d to rest, forget about her experience if she
could, remain silent about it if she couldn't and read the Quran as often as possible.
W h e n the session ended Mariam looked tired but in control of her b o d y and mind.
We discretely left a monetary donation and received further instructions. If the
treatment d i d not accomplish the desired effect, the v i c t i m must read the Quran for
40 days and apply olive o i l to the ailing parts of the body, all of which should make
the jinni shrink. Alternatively, the v i c t i m must wash her hands, sometimes even her
entire body in water mixed w i t h olive oil over which Quranic phrases had been
read, or drink the miraculous water from the well of Zamzam. If the jinni still refuses
to leave, the treatment must be repeated from the beginning.
9

I am not sure whether the jinni that possessed Mariam is gone forever or whether
she can be harmed again. She believes that he might be around, invisible but present.
The sheikh who diagnosed the spirit's presence in her body was able to determine
that he came from beneath the floor of her bathroom and advised her to destroy it
completely and throw the rubbish away. This she d i d .
If there is a debate among Islamic clerics regarding the humanitarianism of the
methods of treatment applied, it is not noticed in the town. Both victims of posses¬
sion and the witnesses to it insist that the treatment is painless. Methods recom¬
mended by Islamic scholars (Aziz 2001) to exorcise spirits are more gentle: recalling
G o d and the frequent recitation of the Quran (dhikr), blowing into the victim's
mouth, cursing the jinn and commanding h i m to leave.

T h e trouble with jinn
W h y all the trouble w i t h jinn? The actions of jinn spirits are invoked to explain a va¬
riety of unusual feelings and behaviors, unexplained ailments, emotional conflicts or
disturbed interpersonal relationships. A n y discourse of disharmony is accompanied by
the appearance of stories of jinn possession. W i t h a great deal of sociological
insight, the Bedouin ascribe the rise of jinn to the problematic relations developing
in their community. Perhaps this is the consequence of thoughtless mimicry of the
West, unselective modernity, and disjunctures between the environment, economy,
culture, and politics in the context of Arab-Jewish relationships. There are anecdotal
cases of what I term political jinni, or jinnjehudi, the Jewish jinn who are known for
their viciousness and unrelenting hostility towards host bodies. Jinnjehudi are also
difficult to exorcise since they refuse to convert to Islam, some say because they find
9

T h e w e l l of Z a m z a m is located i n t h e al-Haram mosque in M e c c a . A c c o r d i n g t o Islamic belief, it

contains a miraculously generated and miracle-making water.

133

�Longina Jakubowska

it a too difficult and cumbersome religion to practice. The character ascribed to
them reflects the perception held by the Bedouin about the larger framework in
which they exist, the framework that disembedded them, to use Giddens' term
(1990), from an autonomous political self-regulatory system, economic resources,
and cultural selfhood. Yet they are not passive recipients of i m p o r t e d ideas and discourses. Like other local communities (Tsing 2000), the Bedouin also draw from the
plurality of cultural centers. Interacting w i t h various metropolis (Arab, Israeli, Euro¬
pean), they adopt certain forms and cultural perspectives into personal repertoires
internalizing the values allegedly contained in them and indigenizing them one way
or another.

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�The Invasion of Jinn Spirits: Modernity and the Bedouin

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Times, "Cultural Anthropology", vol. 21(2)

L e w a n d o - H u n d t G.
1984
The Exercise of Power by Bedouin Women, i n : The Changing Bedouin, eds. E. Marx,
A. Shmuelli, N e w Brunswick, pp. 83- 124
Marx E.
1967

Bedouin of the Negev, N e w York

Padwick C.
1924

Notes on the Jinn and the Ghoul in the Peasant Mind of Lower Egypt, "Bulletin of
the School of Oriental Studies", vol. 3(3)

Siegel J.
2003

The Rope of God, Michigan

Tsing A .
2000
The Global Situation, "Cultural Anthropology", vol. 15 (3)

135

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                <text>Janusz Barański

JANUSZ

• T H E MYSTERY O F MAN: BETWEEN A R T O F LIFE A N D A B S O L U T E T R U T H

exhibition contains a discernible invitation to
a discussion on a theme which contemporary philosophy,
the humanities and the social sciences find so highly
absorbing: what is the nature of the matter filling this
conceptual space, whete, if at all, lies the boundary
dividing the two spheres of creativity, and are there any
absolute criteria making it possible to tesolve the
question of the specificity of science and art? Are the two
creators truly exceptional from a perspective of questions
characteristic for the passing century?

B A R A Ń S K I

T h e Mystery of M a n :
between A r t of Life
and Absolute Truth

Indubitably, their works belong to those studies which
need to be te-read and interpreted anew. The question is:
for how long? It would seem that the cteator of
functionalism has already shared the fate of all the
classics, just as the successive etiquettes of a catastrophist
or existentialist were to lead to the discovery of cozy and
unquestioned pigeon holes for the authot of the
conception of Pure Form. Meanwhile, at the turn of the
century, Malinowski's unassuming Diary became one of
the witnesses of the prosecution in a trial concerning
anthropological validity as well as all varieties of
cognitive tepresentation, while some of Witkacy's novels
ate ptesented as evidence of his role as a social visionary.'
The above are only some of the cognitive, metaphysical,
social and aesthetic problems disclosed by an exegesis of
the writings. What is the reason for the renaissance of
the thoughts of the classics - in some instances,
a tenaissance that is permanent and unchanging for
centuties, as is the case in philosophy, while the thoughts
of othets are revived only within a certain epoch, which,
howevet, they form and compel to teflection? Let us
recall the most recent significant intetpretations of the
works by both masters, carried out by researchers distant
both geographically and from the viewpoint of the
generations they represent.

B

etween science and art - this subtitle of an
exhibition presenting creators who indubitably
have become part of a pantheon of leading
twentieth-century thinkers, fully teflects the dilemmas
faced both by them as well as many of their
contempotaries and generations of successors, who
inherited problems emergent in the space between finesse
and geometrique. Needless to add that a complete
discussion on these dilemmas cannot be accomplished in
a brief sketch which, in its capacity as a mete illustration
to the exhibition, is to focus predominantly on issues
concealed within it. Furthermore, in the case of Witkacy
in particular we ate dealing not solely with a variety of
views, frequently quite diffetent in reference to assorted
domains of his philosophy, but also with their evolution
in time. In other words, a comparison of philosophical
premises can be conducted mainly in the not all that
numerous "common fields" of delibetations. Here, the
expanse of the intetests pursed by Witkacy exceeds fat
beyond the range of Malinowski's interests, although he
too did not shy from topics both difficult and
suprathematical. Nevertheless, he cannot be by any
measure labelled a philosopher, which the authot of
Nowe formy (New Forms) unquestionably was.

1

2

It could appeal at first glance that the mentioned
domains of creativity are ascribed, on the one hand, to
Malinowski (science) and, on the other hand, to Witkacy
(art). Even the design of the catalogue, whose covet
depicts two closely adjoining faces, with the coldly
glimmering eyeglass of the anthropologist next to the
emotional gaze of the artist, seems to suggest a dual
perception of their mission. This image probably
supplements the univetsal belief about the gravity and
scientific reliability of one, and the eccentricity of the
other Nonetheless, the opinion that the intention of the
exhibition is to present two great men of science and art
contains such a dose of logical diplomacy that it may be
deciphered both in terms of conjunction and disjunction.
Despite the well-worn view about the inclination towards
ascribing what is scientific to the author of Argonauts of
the Western Pacific and the artistic to the author of
Nienasycenie (Insatiability), the very conception of the

398

When Clifford Geertz formulated his fully mature
opinions about cultural systems Maciej Soin was barely
learning how to utter first articulated sounds.
Nevertheless, almost at the same moment in history,
they both ptesented views temarkably concurrent in their
interptetations of the oeuvre of the two masters.
4

Geertz noted that during the 1920s ethnography
assumed an introspective character due to modernistic ideas
and certainly as part of a current of the entire antipositivistic bteakthrough, including a critique of
evolutionism conducted, after all, by Malinowski himself.
Here is a slightly longer fragment of a commentary to this
opinion, with Malinowski as the leading hero of the
research petspective:
'Malinowski's main way of going about this formidable
task was to project in his ethnographical writings two radically
anthithetical images of what he variously refers to (though,
like the morning star, the evening star, and Venus, they all
denote the same resplendent object) as the 'competent and
experienced ethnographer,' 'the modern anthropological

�Janusz Barański

• MALINOWSKI I WITKACY: MIĘDZY SZTUKĄ ŻYCIA A PRAWDĄ ABSOLUTNĄ

M

iędzy nauką a sztuką, podtytuł wystawy poświę­
conej twórcom, którzy bez wątpienia weszli do
panteonu czołowych myślicieli dwudziestego
wieku, oddaje w pełni miarę dylematów, z którymi przy­
szło mierzyć się im samym, ale i wielu ich współczesnym,
jak również pokoleniom następców, którzy dziedziczą pro­
blemy wyłaniające się w przestrzeni pomiędzy skrajno­
ściami finesse i geometriąue. Zbędne dodawać, że pełne
ukazanie tych dylematów nie jest możliwe w krótkim
szkicu, który - będąc tylko ilustracją do wystawy - ma
skupić się przede wszystkim na problemach w niej skry­
tych. Ponadto, zwłaszcza w przypadku Witkacego mamy
do czynienia nie tylko z bogactwem poglądów często
odmiennych w odniesieniu do różnych działów jego filo­
zofii, ale także ewoluujących w czasie. A więc porówna­
nie filozoficznych przesłanek ich dzieł może odbyć się
głównie na „wspólnych polach" ich dociekań, których nie
było przecież aż tak wiele. Tutaj rozległość zainteresowań
Witkacego przewyższa dalece zakres dziedziny, którą zaj­
mował się Malinowski, choć i on nie stronił od tematów
tyleż trudnych, co ponadczasowych. Nie można jednak
żadną miarą określić go mianem filozofa, którym - bez
wątpienia - był autor Nowych, form.
Zrazu wydawać by się mogło, że wymienione dziedzi­
ny twótczości przypisane zostają oto z jednej strony Mali­
nowskiemu, a więc nauka, z drugiej zaś Witkacemu sztuka. Nawet plastyczny zamysł katalogu, na którego
okładce widać dwa oblicza ściśle do siebie przylegające,
gdzie błyszczące zimnym refleksem szkiełko antropologa
sąsiaduje z pełnym czucia wzrokiem artysty, zdaje się su­
gerować dualne widzenie ich misji. Taki oto obraz dopeł­
nia zapewne potoczne mniemanie o powadze i naukowej
rzetelności jednego, zaś ekscentryczności drugiego. Wsze­
lako stwierdzenie, że ideą wystawy jest prezentacja dwu
wielkich postaci nauki i sztuki, zawiera taką dozę logicznej
dyplomacji, że da się czytać zarówno w terminach koniunkcji, jak i dysjunkcji. Wydaje się jednak, że mimo
utartego poglądu o wyłączności jednego z dwojga, a więc
skłonności do oddania tego, co naukowe - autorowi Ar­
gonautów, a tego, co artystyczne - twórcy Nienasycenia,
dopatrzyć się można w zamyśle wystawy zaproszenia do
dyskusji, tak przecież absorbującej współczesną filozofię,
humanistykę i nauki społeczne: jak wygląda materia wy­
pełniająca ową konceptualną przestrzeń między, gdzie jeśli w ogóle - przebiega granica dzieląca dwie sfery twót­
czości, czy istnieją absolutne kryteria, które pozwalają
rozstrzygać o swoistości nauki i sztuki? Czy w perspekty­
wie pytań, tak charakterystycznych dla mijającego wieku,
ci dwaj twórcy są aż tak wyjątkowi?
Dzieła obu należą niewątpliwie do tych, które doma­
gają się ponownych odczytań i interpretacji. Jak długo?
Wydawało się, że twórca funkcjonalizmu podzielił już los
wszelkich klasyków, podobnie podsumowujące etykietki,
kolejno - katastrofisty czy egzystencjalisty, miały dopro-

J A N U S Z

B A R A Ń S K I

Malinowski
i Witkacy:
między sztuką życia
a prawdą absolutną
wadzić do znalezienia przytulnych i niekwestionowanych
szufladek dla twórcy koncepcji Crystej Formy. Tymczasem
niepozorny Dziennik' Malinowskiego stał się u schyłku
wieku jednym ze świadków oskatżenia w procesie o pra­
womocność antropologicznej, jak i wszelkiej poznawczej
reprezentacji, zaś niektóre powieści Witkacego przedsta­
wiane bywają jako dowód jego społecznego wizjoner­
stwa.' A to tylko niektóre z problemów natury poznaw­
czej, metafizycznej, społecznej, estetycznej, które ujaw­
niają się z egzegezy ich dzieł. Co sprawia, że myśl klasy­
ków odradza się - niektórych w sposób permanentny, nie­
zmiennie od setek lat, czego bodaj najbardziej doświadcza
filozofia, innych choćby tylko na przestrzeni pewnej epo­
ki, ale formując ją i zmuszając do refleksji? Przywołajmy
tutaj bodaj ostatnie znaczące interpretacje dzieł obu mi­
strzów, odczytania autorstwa badaczy równo odległych
geograficznie, co pokoleniowo.
2

Kiedy Clifford Geertz wypowiadał już swe w pełni doj­
rzałe poglądy na temat systemów kulturowych, Maciej
Soin uczył się dopiero wypowiadania pierwszych artyku­
łowanych dźwięków. Obaj jednak niemal w tym samym
momencie historii myśli przedstawiają poglądy zastanawiająco zbieżne w swej interpretacji dzieła dwóch mi­
strzów. Dodajmy jednak, że każdy z nich wypowiada się
tylko na temat jednego z nich.
Nie bez związku z modernistycznymi ideami, a na
pewno na fali całego antypozytywistycznego przełomu,
włącznie z krytyką ewolucjonizmu, podjętą przecież
i przez samego Malinowskiego, w latach dwudziestych jak zauważa Geertz - etnografia przybrała charakter introspekcyjny. Przytoczmy dłuższy nieco fragment komentarza
do tego sformułowania, z Malinowskim jako czołowym
bohaterem tej badawczej perspektywy:
4

Główny sposób, w jaki Malinowski poradził sobie z tym
wielkim i niezwykłym zadaniem, łączy się z projekcją we wła­
sne pisarstwo etnograficzne dwu radykalnie a n t у t e t у с z n y c h (podkr. JB) obrazóui tego, do czego odwoływał się
w rozmaity sposób (chociaż podobnie jak gwiazda zaranna,
gwiazda wieczorna i Wenus denotują one tę samą rzecz) jako
„kompetentnego i doświadczonego etnografa", „nowoczesnego

399

�• T H E MYSTERY O F MAN: BETWEEN A R T O F LIFE A N D A B S O L U T E T R U T H

Janusz Barański

explorer,' the fully professional 'specialized fieldworker,'
the 'chronicler and spokesman of...
»savages«,

a few

awateness of one's own alien nature, a fact of the
consciousness irreducible to biology. This is the reason
why the young philosopher Maciej Soin proposed the
following synthesis of Witkacy's oeuvre:

and

thousand

practically naked.' On the one side the absolute

Cosmopolite, a figure of such enlarged capacities for
adaptabiUty and fellow feeling, for insinuating himself into

The basic outcome of an analysis of the theoretical

practically any situation, as to be able to see as savages see,

structure ofWitkiewkz's

think as savages think, speak as savages speak and on

a mechanism of objectivisation and relativisation, defining the

philosophy is the disclosure of

occasion even feel as they feel and believe as they believe. On

inner complications of his historiosophic, ontological and

the other, there is the Complete Investigator, a figure so

aesthetic reflections. In each of the domains with

ńgorously

Witkiewkz

objective, dispassionate, thorough, exact, and

whkh

dealt there recurs a similar antinomy (my

disciplined, so dedicated to wintry truth as to make Laplace

emphasis - J. B.) of the "objective" theory, Umiting cognitive

look self-indulgent. High Romance and High Science, seizing

and axiological claims, and the "subjective" theory, as if

immediacy with the zeal of a poet and abstracting from it with

corresponding more to the wishes or preferences of

the zeal of an anatomist, uneasily yoked.

5

(my emphasis - J.

Witkiewkz

and obstinately surmounting barriers placed by "objectivism"

B.)

We shall take a closer look at the antinomies
mentioned by both commentators - Geertz and Soin. A t
this stage, howevet, let us consider a slightly more general
presentation of creative personalities, a factor which
consequently affected also writings.

These two extreme attitudes wete viewed by the
coworkers and students of the author of Coral Gardens
and Their Magic according to the principle of mutual
exclusion; for instance, Frazer perceived Malinowski as
an aloof scientist, while Firth ascribed the ability of selfidentification with the natives.
Actually, we are dealing with an inner rift between
the requirements of scientific reliability conceived in the
positivistic manner, and the sheet "resistance of matter"
on the part of examined culture and its users, which
methodologically and theoretically did not succumb to
a uniform and exhaustive interpretation. True, such feats
could have been achieved by Frazer in the comfort of his
study, by suitably adapting data to an earlier accepted
thesis, but fieldwork dispersed doubts concerning the
possibility of determining an adequate level of
representation. This dilemma appeared with full fotce in
the aforementioned Diary, which Malinowski kept
parallel to studies conducted in the Trobriands: the
antinomy of the demand of an indubitable validity of
knowledge, and, on the othet hand, the process of its
attainment, brimming with fundamental doubts. This was
the reason why James Clifford described him as
a mercurial, trying out different voices, personoe' .
1

Furthermore, in the case of Malinowski, such an
introspective nature of ethnogtaphy was profoundly
connected with his personal style, in which writing
ethnography and the fashioned wholes of a self and of
a culture seem to be mutually reinforcing allegories of

We cannot underestimate those personality features
which became part of adult life, indicated, for example, by
Daniel Gerould, and in particular the fact that, in his
opinion, Privileged children, coddled "mother's boys," secretly
convinced of their own worth yet unsure of themselves in an

alien world. The apparently trivial statement about being
"mother's boys" is especially significant, and confirmed at
the very least in the confessions made by Malinowski, who
may be ascribed such a feature as if "with eyes shut", in
view of the fact that his father died when he was still
a child. The Diary contains confessions indicating a vivid
9

longing for the mother: "I/1 could keep in communication
with Mother 1 would not mind anything and my low spirits
would have no deep foundation,"

10

a sentiment which should

not come as a surprise once we recall that Malinowski's
mother accompanied him constantly during his European
journeys as well as during the first period of his studies and
wotk in London. Apparently, it is in this circumstance,
namely, the upbringing by his mother, that we should seek,
alongside othet inclinations, the reason for
Malinowski's difficulties with achieving a mature and
relatively balanced attitude towards women. He himself
offers numerous proof in assorted fragments of the Diary,
revealing the tortures inflicted by the beautiful and
whimsical Otolia Retinger , with whom he had an affair
in London prior to the depattute for the Trobriands, or
11

identity . In a word - we are dealing with creative activity
serving the process of personality integration, as classical
psychoanalysis would have put it.
7

admitting outright: I fondle tarts as God has ordained us to

do - a description of his experiences already on the
Trobriands. In the meantime, Malinowski went through
the turmoil of a relationship with Elsie Rosaline Mason, his
future wife; at the time when the two were seriously
considering the possibility of marriage, he was, according
to his daughter Helen Wayne, still engaged to Nina
Stirling in Adelaide and additionally flirted in
Melbourne." Much better known are Witkacy's
tumultuous relationships, including his engagement to
12

Thete are no doubts that this introspective feature
was also extremely characteristic for the moulding of
Witkacy's views. Suffice to mention the incessant games
he played with himself, not only with his embodimentsdoubles ot the faces made in his liter ary and plastic works,
but also the philosophical system created by him,
including a specific anthropology that came into being
within a constant discoutse with oneself and with the

400

�Janus? Barański • MALINOWSKI 1 WITKACY: MIĘDZY SZTUKĄ ŻYCIA A PRAWDĄ ABSOLUTNĄ

badacza antropologa", całkowicie profesjonalnego „wyspecja­ dotyczy jego literackiej i plastycznej działalności, ale tez
lizowanego badacza terenowego" oraz kronikarza i rzecznika sam stworzony przez niego system filozoficzny, w tym swo­
(...) kilku tysięcy praktycznie nagich 'dzikich'. „Z jednej stro­ ista antropologia, rodziły się w nieustannym dyskursie
ny mamy więc do czynienia z Absolutnym Kosmopolitą, po­
z samym sobą, z poczuciem obcości własnej - nieredukostacią o wyjątkowo rozwiniętych możliwościach adaptacyj­
walnym do biologii faktem świadomości. To sprawiło, że
nych oraz wspólnocie odczuć, która daje do zrozumienia, że
młody filozof Maciej Soin tak oto syntetyzująco ujmuje
praktycznie w każdej sytuacji może postrzegać tak samo, jak
dzieło Witkacego:
postrzegają tubylcy, myśleć tak samo, jak oni myślą, mówić
Zasadniczym wynikiem analizy struktury teoretycznej fi­
tak samo, jak oni mówią, a czasami nawet odczuwać tak sa­
lozofii Witkiewicza jest ujawnienie mechanizmu
obiekty­
mo, jak oni czują, oraz wierzyć tak jak oni wierzą. Z drugiej
wizacji
i relatywizacji,
określającego wewnętrzne
zaś Doskonałym Badaczem, postacią rygorystycznie obiek­
komplikacje jego rozważań historiozoficznych, ontologicznych
tywną, trzeźwą i beznamiętną, sumienna i bezkompromiso­
i estetycznych. W każdej z dziedzin, którymi zajmował się
wą, dokładną i zdyscypUnowaną, tak oddaną chłodnej praw­
Witkiewicz, powtarza się w gruncie rzeczy podobna anty­
dzie, że może się wydawać, iż w porównaniu z nim Laplace
nomia
(podkr. JB) teorii „obiektywnej", ograniczającej ro­
jest dla siebie pobłażliwy. Wysokiej Próby Romantyzm i Wy­
szczenia poznawcze i aksjologiczne, oraz teorii „subiektyw­
sokiej Próby Nauka, porywająca bezpośredniość łącząca się
nej", niejako bardziej odpowiadającej życzeniom czy też pre­
Z gorłiwością poety, a także abstrahująca od owej bezpośre­ ferencjom Witkiewicza i uporczywie przekraczającej bariery
dniości gorłiwość badacza anatomii - obie
niezręcz­
stawiane przez „obiektywizm".*
nie spięte
jarzmem
(podkr. JB).
Wspomnianym przez obu komentatorów - Geertza
Dodajmy więc, że te dwie skrajności postaw postrzega­
i Soina - antynomiom przyjdzie się jeszcze dokładniej
ne były przez współpracowników i uczniów autora Ogro­
przyjrzeć. Warto wszelako zatrzymać się na chwilę przy
dów koralowych na zasadzie wzajemnego wykluczania się:
nieco ogólniejszej wykładni osobowości twórczych oma­
na przykład Frazer widział w nim zdystansowanego nau­
wianych tu postaci, co miało w konsekwencji wpływ rów­
kowca, Firth natomiast przypisywał mu umiejętność utoż­
nież na ich dzieła.
samiania się z tubylcami.
Faktem nie do przecenienia są tu cechy charakteru,
5

W istocie było to wewnętrzne rozdarcie pomiędzy wy­
mogami naukowej rzetelności pojętej na pozytywistyczną
modłę, a „oporem materii", samej badanej kultury i jej
użytkowników, która, metodologicznie i teoretycznie, nie
poddawała się jednolitemu i wyczerpującemu ujęciu.
Owszem, takich wyczynów mógł jeszcze dokonywać Fra­
zer w zaciszu swego gabinetu, przykrawając odpowiednio
dane do z góry powziętej tezy, teren rozwiewał jednak
wątpliwości co do możliwości ustalenia adekwatnej pła­
szczyzny reprezentacji. Dylemat ten ujawnia się z całą
mocą we wspomnianym Dzienniku, który pisał Malinow­
ski równolegle z prowadzonymi na Trobriandach bada­
niami: antynomiczność wymogu niepowątpiewalnej pra­
womocności wiedzy, z drugiej zaś strony pełen zasadni­
czych wątpliwości proces dochodzenia do niej. To sprawi­
ło, że James Clifford określił go jako postać merkuryczną,
Żywą jak rtęć, próbującą przemawiać różnymi gbsami. Po­
nadto owa introspekcyjność etnografii była w przypadku
Malinowskiego głęboko połączona z jego osobistym stylem,
gdzie pisanie etnografii, ukształtowane całości „ja" i kultu­
ry, wydawały się wzajemnie wzmacniać alegorie tożsamości.'
Słowem, aktywność twórcza na usługach procesu integra­
cji osobowości, jak by to zapewne ujęła klasyczna psycho­
analiza.
6

Nie ma wątpliwości co do tego, że ów introspekcyjny
rys byl również bardzo charakterystyczny dla kształtowa­
nia się poglądów Witkacego. Dość wspomnieć tylko na
Początek nieustanną grę z samym sobą, którą prowadził
nie tylko ze swymi wcieleniami-sobowtórami czy minami, co

które wnoszą w dorosłość, a które wskazuje na przykład
Daniel Gerould, w szczególności to, że - jak powiada obaj są maminsynkami, obaj dobrze wiedzą, jakie są ich inte­
lektualne możliwości, choć o tym głośno nie mówią, obaj nie
czują się jeszcze całkowicie pewnie na obcym gruncie. Zwła­
szcza trywialna - wydawałoby się - konstatacja o „maminsynkowatości" obu nie jest bez znaczenia, a i znajdu­
je potwierdzenie przynajmniej w wyznaniach Malinow­
skiego, któtemu niejako „w ciemno" przypisać by można
taką cechę, zważywszy wczesne osierocenie przez ojca.
Oto, w Dzienniku znajdujemy wyznania wskazujące na sil­
ną tęsknotę za matką: gdybym mógł pozostać w komunikacyi z matką, nie dbałbym o nic i chandra moja nie miałaby
głębszego podkładu,' co nie powinno dziwić, jeśli przypo­
mnimy, że matka towarzyszyła nieustannie Broniowi w je­
go europejskich podróżach, tudzież pierwszym okresie
studiów i pracy w Londynie.
4

0

Wydaje się, że w okoliczności tej, mianowicie wycho­
wywania przez matkę, upatrywać należy, obok innych im­
plikacji, przyczynę kłopotów Malinowskiego w osiągnię­
ciu względnie zrównoważonego i dojrzałego stosunku wo­
bec kobiet. Sam daje tego zresztą liczne dowody w róż­
nych miejscach Dziennika, ujawniając autentyczne katu­
sze, jakich dostarczała mu piękna i chimeryczna Otolia
Retingerowa, z któtą romansował w Londynie przed wy­
jazdem na Trobriandy, czy stwierdzając bez ogródek: ma­
cam dziwki jak Pan Bóg przykazał' - co dotyczy już do­
świadczeń trobriandzkich. W międzyczasie zresztą przeży­
wał perypetie związku ze swą przyszłą żoną Elsie Rosaline

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• T H E MYSTERY OE MAN: BETWEEN A R T O F LIFE A N D A B S O L U T E T R U T H

Jadwiga Janczewska, whose suicide was the reason why the
shattered Staś was suggested to embark upon an
expedition together with Malinowski, an undertaking
which held great promise and ultimately proved fatal for
their friendship. After all, it was during the expedition that
the bonds which, deducing from the history of their
acquaintanceship and mutual feelings appeared to be so
intact, were finally severed. Once the stormy period of
youthful passionate affairs became part of the past, the
marriages of the two men appear to be slightly "contrived",
both the almost Victorian marriage of Malinowski and
Elsie and the slightly peculiar marriage of Witkacy and
Jadwiga Unrug, who for years continued to live apart.

role was played probably by Nietzsche , who in
Witkacy's life was in the air , according to Małgorzata
Szpakowska, and who was part of the instruction which
young Witkacy received from his father.
19

10

The most important factor which directly revealed
itself first in a passionate desite for realisation via an
emotional relationship and, finally, assumed the shape of
specific calculation, was, predominantly, a striving
towards individual fulfilment. For all practical reasons,
both these and other motifs in the biographies of our two
heroes indicate projects of self-fulfilment, realised
incessantly and more or less consistently. A t the same
time, such an inclination possessed all the features of an
obsession of sorts, and, upon occasions, was outright
comical. The Witkacy project included a discernible
awareness of conscious and programme-like self-irony,
although, as Roman Ingarden put it, Witkacy was rather
nonchalant, impertinently polite and with a considerable dose
of marked superiority and self-assurance.'* A t any rate, we
may speak about a certain consciously cultivated
theatrical behaviour of the two, which in the case of
Witkacy at times veered towards the cabaret.
Malinowski, on the other hand, approached his project
with dead seriousness, and, according to Adam Kuper,
built his own myth outright; a messianic self-portraits

Personal improvement and desired harmony were,
however, realised differently. In this respect, Malinowski
led a "double life". O n the one hand, a scientific study
recalls, as if casually, a self construed for public
presentation ': a cold, uncompromising and calculating
researcher, who cherished only the truth. O n the other
hand, the Diary portrays a man of extraordinary spiritual
strength and determination, indispensable for the
construction of the former image, but also a scholar
forced to choose between relative truths. Such an image
of the harmony of a researcher and his works is
composed only of the first stratum. This is not to say,
however, that Malinowski committed some sort of
falsehood. He was of the opinion that a scholar should
present the essence of an object and the law governing it,
while omitting the whole bulk of "afflictions". I mean the
interpretation which sees in the endless diversity of facts
general laws; which severs the essential from the irrelevant;
which classifies and orders phenomena, and puts them into
mutual relationship. Without such interpretation all scientific
work in the field must degenerate into pure 'collectioneering'
of data; at its best it may give odds and ends without inner
connection. Already this fragment discloses the message
of ontological and theory-cognitive realism, so
characteristic for positivism. References to these and
other philosophical premises are made by adherents of
the view according to which Malinowski was
a continuator of the proposals of so-called second
positivism (Mach, Avenarius), which he modified only
slightly. '

In the debate pertaining to the ptedominance of
supposed positivism or rather modernism (neoRomanticism) in the life and reflections of both our
heroes such a style of being is indicated as proof of the
supremacy of the modernistic world outlook. This, for
instance, is the opinion held by Jan Jerschina, who cites
arguments speaking in favour of the modernistic
intellectual formation of Malinowski, who in both friendly
and unfriendly recollections is always ascribed the features of
a person obstinately adhering to his right to full, free and
unfettered self-expression, which certainly must have annoyed
many people and produced tension. Was this not the style of
the modernists from Cracow and Zakopane, a style which
Malinowski realised in a way much more moderate than his
friends, enamoured of "shocking" their surrounding? It
seems superfluous to add that Witkacy was celebrated
precisely for shocking. In the case of Malinowski, such
a pose was additionally and inseparably associated with
a more general modernistic project of self-perfection. The
Diary tells us that its author waged a constant battle with
his weaknesses, both spiritual and physical. A certain

By way of contrast, the public image of Witkacy
consistently proclaimed the principle of openness,
starting with his correspondence with Bronio immediately
after the death of his fiancee, in which Stas' authentically
poured out his misery, an attitude that, admittedly,
Malinowski treated with sincere sympathy and
compassion. More, there is his determined penetration
of philosophical issues, either developed within the motif
of certain novels, such as Nowe formy w malarstwie (New
Forms in Paintings) or Niemyte dusze (Unwashed Souls),
or presented in the form of regular treatises, such as the
most important Pojęcia i twierdzenia implikowane przez
pojęcie istnienia (Concepts and Statements Implied by the
Concept of Existence), carried out right before the eyes
of frequently inimical critics (in his discussions with
Kotarbiński or Leszczyński Witkacy waged an eternal
philosophical war). Finally, we come across assorted
metamorphoses, including those embodiments-doubles and
faces made publicly and secretly or on the pages of an
inaccessible diary hiding the absence of hope for the
possibility of working.

15

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�Janusz Barański

• MALINOWSKI I WITKACY: MIĘDZY SZTUKĄ ŻYCIA A PRAWDĄ ABSOLUTNĄ

Mason, z którą gdy już zaczęli rozważać możliwość małżeń­
stwa, Bronio byl ciągle zaręczony - jak donosi jego córka
Helen Wayne - z Niną Stirling w Adelajdzie, a co więcej miał także kilka innych flirtów w Melbourne.' Dużo bar­
dziej znane są burzliwe związki Witkacego, w tym narzeczeństwo z Jadwigą Janczewską, któtej samobójcza śmierć
sprawiła, że załamany Staś dał się namówić na wspólną
z Malinowskim wyprawę, tyleż obiecującą dla przyjaźni
obu, co dla niej zgubną. To przecież w czasie jej trwania
doszło do zerwania więzów, które, wnosząc z historii ich
znajomości i darzonych wzajem uczuć, wydawały się nie­
naruszalne. Kiedy natomiast minęła już burza ich mło­
dzieńczych, namiętnych romansów, w obu przypadkach
ostateczne ich związki małżeńskie jawią się jako cokol­
wiek „wydumane", zarówno niemal wiktoriańskie w swej
poprawności małżeństwo Malinowskiego z Elsie, jak i nie­
co dziwaczne, bo utrzymywane przecież przez lata w zało­
żonej rozłące, małżeństwo Witkacego z Jadwigą Unrug.
}

Rzecz najważniejsza wszelako, która pośrednio ujaw­
nia się w zrazu namiętnym pragnieniu realizacji poprzez
związek uczuciowy, by przyjąć w końcu kształt swoistego
w tym względzie wyrachowania, to nade wszystko dążenie
do spełnienia indywidualnego. W gruncie rzeczy bowiem
te i inne wątki biografii obu naszych bohaterów wskazują
przede wszystkim na realizowane nieustannie, bardziej
lub mniej konsekwentnie, projekty samospełnienia. Mia­
ło to przy tym charakter niejakiej obsesji, a i bywało cza­
sem komiczne. Przy czym w projekcie Witkacego da się
dostrzec obecność świadomej i programowej autoironii,
choć był też - jak to ujął Roman Ingarden - dość nonsza­
lancki, impertynencko uprzejmy, ze znaczną dozą zaznacza­
nej swej wyższości i robionej pewności siebie. W każdym ra­
zie, w obu przypadkach można mówić o pewnej świado­
mie uprawianej teatralności, przy czym u Witkacego przy­
bierało to czasem formę zgoła kabaretową. Malinowski
zaś podchodził do swojego projektu ze śmiertelną powa­
gą, wręcz budował - jak twierdzi Adam Kuper - mit sie­
bie samego, mesjanistyczny obraz własny.
14

15

16

W sporze, który dotyczy przewagi domniemanego po­
zytywizmu czy raczej modernizmu (neoromantyzmu)
w życiu i myśli obojga naszych bohaterów, taki właśnie
styl bycia wskazuje się jako jeden z dowodów na przewa­
gę raczej modernistycznego światopoglądu. Tak na przy­
kład uważa Jan Jerschina, gdy przytacza argumenty prze­
mawiające za modernistyczną formacją intelektualną
Malinowskiego, który we wspomnieniach łudzi przyjaznych
i nieprzyjaznych ma zawsze cechy człowieka, który uparcie
obstaje przy swym prawie do wyrażania siebie w pełni, do eks­
presji swobodnej i nieskrępowanej, co na pewno wielu raziło
jako styl bycia i powodowało napięcia. Czyż nie jest to styl
modernistów Krakowa i Zakopanego, styl, który Malinowski
realizował w sposób daleko bardziej umiarkowany niż jego
przyjaciele, tak rozmiłowani w epatowaniu otoczenia sobą?
To, że Witkacy z takiego epatowania słynął - zbędne do­
11

dawać. W przypadku Malinowskiego ta poza była ponad­
to nierozerwalnie związana z ogólniejszym modernistycz­
nym projektem samodoskonalenia się. Z Dziennika wiemy
na przykład, że wiódł on nieustanną walkę ze swymi „sła­
bościami", tymi duchowymi i fizycznymi. Jakieś znacze­
nie miała tu zapewne lektura Nietschego, co dotyczyło
zresztą i Witkacego, w którego życiu filozof ten wisiał
w powietrzu, jak to ujęła Małgorzata Szpakowska - obe­
cny już w młodzieńczych naukach pobieranych od ojca.
Osobowe doskonalenie się i upragniona harmonia re­
alizowane były wszelako przez obu w różny sposób. Mali­
nowski wiódł w tym zakresie niejako „podwójne życie".
Z jednej strony naukowe dzieło ujawnia, jakby mimocho­
dem, jego jaźń skonstruowaną - w celu publicznej prezen­
tacji:
chłodnego, bezkompromisowego, kalkulującego
badacza, któremu droga jest tylko prawda, która jest jed­
na. Z drugiej strony wszelako, mamy Dziennik, w którym
18

19

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- owszem - widzimy człowieka o niezwykłej duchowej si­
le i determinacji, do skonstruowania owego pierwszego
obrazu niezbędnie koniecznych, ale i badacza, który musi
wybierać pomiędzy prawdami względnymi. Na ów obraz
harmonii uczonego i jego dzieła składa się tylko ta pierw­
sza warstwa. Nie znaczy to bynajmniej, że Malinowski do­
puszczał się tu jakiegoś fałszu. Sądził tylko, że badacz wi­
nien ukazać istotę ptzedmiotu i rządzące nim prawa, po­
mijając całą masę „przypadłości": Chodzi o interpretację,
która pozwala dostrzegać w nieskończonej różnorodności fak­
tów pewne prawa ogólne, która oddziela istotne od nieistotne­
go, która porządkuje i klasyfikuje zjawiska, ujmując je w po­
staci wzajemnych związków. Bez takiej interpretacji wszelkie
naukowe badania w terenie muszą przybrać zdegenerowaną
formę zwykłego „zbieractwa" danych, przedstawiając w naj­
lepszym razie zbiór przypadkowych i nie związanych ze sobą
szczegółów. Już w tym tylko fragmencie da się dostrzec
przesłanie ontologicznego i teoriopoznawczego realizmu,
tak charakterystyczne dla pozytywizmu. Na te i inne filo­
zoficzne przesłanki powołują się tzecznicy poglądu, we­
dług którego Malinowski był kontynuatorem propozycji
tzw. drugiego pozytywizmu (Mach, Avenatius), modyfi­
kując je tylko nieco. '
Inaczej w tym względzie rzecz przedstawia się z Witka­
cym, który, gdy chodzi o publiczny wizetunek, odwrotnie
- konsekwentnie wyznawał zasadę jawności, poczynając
od korespondencji z Broniem tuż po śmierci narzeczonej,
gdzie rzeczywiście Staś autentycznie wypłakuje swe nie­
szczęście, co - trzeba przyznać - spotyka się ze szczerym
zrozumieniem i współczuciem u Malinowskiego. Dalej,
jego usilne zgłębianie zagadnień filozoficznych, czy to roz­
wijanych wraz z wątkiem niektórych powieści, jak Nowe
formy w malarstwie czy Niemyte dusze, lub też prezentowa­
ne w postaci regularnych ttaktatów, jak na przykład najgłówniejszy z nich Pojęcia i twierdzenia implikowane przez
pojęcie Istnienia, co z kolei odbywało się na oczach często
nieprzychylnej krytyki (tutaj zresztą prowadził nieustanną

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�Janusz Barański

• T H E MYSTERY O F MAN: BETWEEN A R T O F LIFE A N D A B S O L U T E T R U T H

Already during the lifetime of the authot of
Nienasycenie this openness, spontaneity and
unpredictability contrasted with the self-control and
secretiveness of Malinowski , producing considerable
difficulties for conducting a dialogue with him and
understanding his thoughts. Today too, the view that
there numerous Witkacys remains justified, and there is no
consent as regards the number and character of his
embodiments. Bypassing the slightly secondary questions
connected with the assorted qualifications ascribed to
Witkacy in reference to particular domains of the
thought cultivated by him - a half-baked ontologist, the
precursor of existentialism, a visionary historiosopher,
and, finally, our own Slavonic Heidegger, it appears that
in the most essential point of his thought he remained
extremely close to the philosophical premises of
Malinowski's functionalism. Possibly due to the impact of
empirio-criticism, to which the two men succumbed,
they shated a theory-cognitive and ontological realism
which, within the system devised by Witkacy, seems to
stem additionally from a "reform" of the Leibniz
monadology. Marek Rosiak, a critic of
Witkacy's monadism, claims that Witkacy rejected the
diffetentiation between phenomena and being, derived,
after all, from Plato and present in the ontology of
Leibniz, including the logically associated conception of
pre-statutory harmony. Such a supposition is confirmed
directlyby, for example, the charge which Witkacy
formulated against Kant, who, he maintained, by means
of his a priorism doubled reality, whose essence is
ontologically uniform. In this way, the author of "Ontohgia
Ogólna" (General Ontology) achieved a certain levelling of
reality, combining or even idenafying its consecutive and
subjective strata , argues Rosiak, explaining to a certain
extent the earlier cited observation made by Soin about
the coexistence in the Witkacy system of an objective
and subjective thesis. A t any rate, the "transparency" of
the world, achieved in this fashion, was to render possible
its valid cognition. More, Genera/ Ontology, the General
Science about Existence, with whose name I intend tore place
the term 'philosophy', applied in an unworthymanner ,
appears as empirical ontology, which begins with the facts
themselves, and whose structure and range are limited
only by the object of cognition. Witkacy defended this
opinion fervently, accusing philosophy, including
contemporary neopositivism and the Lvov-Warsaw
school, of minimalistic inclinations. The vision of perfect
philosophy was supplemented by a conviction about the
necessity of coordinating the ascertainments of the
particular sciences within its range, which, in
consequence, was to lead to the emetgence of anultimate
system of Absolute Truth. Both views, the one held by
Malinowski and the one expounded by Witkacy, are thus
"positive", since they presupposed the existence of an
absolute truth which demands being discovered,
27

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29

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31

32

31

34

35

36

717

although in the case of the author of functionalism we
may speak only about a certain section of that truth, the
truth of anthropology.
Apparently, the creator of General Ontology shared
with Malinowski empiricism and nominalism, next to
realism. In a polemic with Tadeusz Kotarbiński, he
presented with disarming sincerity hopes associated with
philosophy: I am concerned with a slight thing: the
concurrence of description and reality. Evidence of
attachment to empiria, the ability to notice the detail,
but also the composite nature of things and the entire
sensuality of examined reality is provided by the
photogtaphic technique employed by both men. Fot
Witkacy, it served the capturing of, at fitst glance, banal
situations, objects, himself and his friends in a monadic
Unity in Multiplicity , the tracking of the richness of their
appearances and embodiments, one is tempted to say their function. Malinowski did not register situations
banal in theit aesthetic primordiality - a seascape or the
celebrations of a religious festival. It would appeal that in
the case of the fitst authot the purpose of photogtaphy
was "to make art", while a certain cognitive act - the
ptesentation of the world and especially people, in their
multi-figural and multi-functional natute - was set into
motion as if only casually. The intention of the second
authot was to "make science", to depict some sott of an
indubitable truth, a faithful image; hete too, however, the
photographer did not liberate himself from an aesthetic
stand. It could be said that Malinowski's photographs let
out the cat which he tried to conceal in the bag of his
Diary . It is hete that we come across picturesque
descriptions of Nature or the admiration of feminine
beauty, which he could not allow himself to express in
a scientific dissertation. It seems that despite anient
attempts Malinowski was incapable of freeing himself
from modernistic aestheticism, with which he became
"imbued" earlier; in Witkacy' case, such a problem was
non existent, since the very cultivation of art, conceived
as Pure Form , led towards becoming familiar with the
Mystery of Existence and thus the very essence of being, its
necessary structural features.
is

39

It seems worth drawing attention to the fact that in
both instances the technique of photography as if
automatically resulted in participating observation.
Such a "participating" character of the process of
photographing was stressed by Stefan Okolowicz: His
photographs show some people who look as if hypnotised by
him, who yield to the mood and the situation he has created,
and who, when provoked, reveal perhaps their true self and let
"their soul come out". A significant part was played by
the inspiration provided by Witkacy's father, who became
acquainted with the benefits of photographic technique,
which, apart from capturing the registered object better
than painting, made possible, in his opinion, various
arrangements of mutual relations between objects. Having
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�Janusz Barański

• MALINOWSKI I WITKACY: MIĘDZY SZTUKĄ ŻYCIA A PRAWDĄ ABSOLUTNĄ

wojnę o filozofię w dyskusji z Kotarbińskim czy Leszczyń­
skim). Wreszcie rozmaite przepoczwarzania się, włącznie
z owymi wcieleniami-sobowtórami i minami, podejmowany­
mi na forum publicznym, nie w ukryciu, nie na kartach
niedostępnego dla niepożądanego oka sztambucha, gdzie
ukrywa się brak nadziei w możność pracy.
Cała ta jawność, żywiołowość i nieprzewidywalność,
inaczej niż samokontrola i skrytość Malinowskiego, już
za życia autora Nienasycenia wzbudzała istotne trudności
w dialogu z nim i rozumieniu jego myśli. Także i dziś uza­
sadniony jest sąd, że nie tylko Witkacych ciągle jest wielu,
ale nie ma również zgody co do ilości i charakteru jego wcie­
leń. Pomijając poboczne nieco kwestie związane z przy­
pisywaniem Witkacemu różnych kwalifikacji w odniesie­
niu do poszczególnych działów uprawianej przez niego
myśli - a to niedouczonego ontologa, prekursora egzystencjalizmu,' wizjonera historiozofa," wreszcie naszego
własnego słowiańskiego Heideggera, wydaje się, że
w najistotniejszym punkcie swej myśli był niezwykle bliski
filozoficznym przesłankom funkcjonalizmu Malinowskie­
goByć może wskutek wpływu empiriokrytycyzmu, jakie­
mu obaj ulegli, łączy ich teoriopoznawczy i ontologiczny
realizm, który w systemie Witkacego wydaje się ponadto
wynikać z „reformy" monadologii Leibniza." Krytyk monadyzmu Witkacego Marek Rosiak twierdzi, że Witkacy
odrzucił - wywodzące się przecież od Platona - rozróżnie­
nie na zjawiskowość i byt, które obecne jest i w ontologii
Leibniza, w tym logicznie z nim związaną koncepcję har­
monii przedustawnej. Pośrednio takie domniemanie po­
twierdza na przykład zarzut, jaki Witkacy wysunął wobec
Kanta, który swym aprioryzmem miał - według niego zdublować rzeczywistość, która jest wszak w istocie
ontycznie jednolita. W ten sposób twórca Ontologii Ogólnej
dokonał pewnego spłaszczenia rzeczywistości, łącząc czy na­
wet utożsamiając ze sobą jej warstwy obiektywną i subiekty wruj' - stwierdza Rosiak, co wyjaśnia zapewne w jakimś
stopniu przytoczone wcześniej spostrzeżenie Soina
25

26

27

16

29

0

52

4

0 współistnieniu w systemie Witkacego teorii obiektywnej
1 teorii subiektywnej. W każdym razie uzyskana w ten spo­
sób „przejrzystość" świata umożliwić miała jego prawo­
mocne poznanie. Co więcej, Ogólna Ontologia, Ogólna
Nauka o Istnieniu, którym to mianem chciałbym zastąpić zu­
żyty w sposób niegodny termin „filozofia"^ - jak się wyraża
o swej nauce o bycie - jawi się jako ontologia empirycz­
na, która zaczyna od faktów samych, a jej struktura i za­
sięg ograniczone są tylko przez przedmiot poznania.'
Witkacy żarliwie bronił tego poglądu oskarżając filozofię
o minimalistyczne skłonności, nie wyłączając współcze­
snego mu neopozytywizmu i szkoły lwowsko-warszaw­
skiej. Wizję owej filozofii doskonałej dopełniało ponadto
przeświadczenie o konieczności uzgodnienia ustaleń nauk
szczegółowych w jej łonie, co miało w konsekwencji do­
prowadzić do powstania ostatecznego systemu Prawdy

Absolutnej. Oba poglądy, i Malinowskiego, i Witkacego,
są więc i w tym sensie „pozytywne", że zakładały istnienie
owej prawdy absolutnej, która domaga się odkrycia, choć
w przypadku twórcy funkcjonalizmu mówić można tylko
o pewnym tej prawdy wycinku, prawdy antropologii.
Jak widać więc, obok realizmu, łączy twórcę Ogólnej
Ontologii z Malinowskim również empiryzm i nominalizm.
Z rozbrajającą szczerością przedstawiał w polemice z Ta­
deuszem Kotarbińskim swoje w tym względzie nadzieje
wiązane z filozofią: chodzi tylko o małą rzecz: o zgodność
opisu z rzeczywistością. ' Dowodem przywiązania do empirii, z umiejętnością dostrzegania detalu, ale i złożoności
rzeczy i całej zmysłowo poznawalnej rzeczywistości, niech
będzie technika fotograficzna, która łączyła obu. Przy
czym, o ile Witkacemu służyła ona do chwytania banal­
nych z pozoru sytuacji, przedmiotów, siebie samego i przy­
jaciół w owej monadycznej Jedności w Wielości, tropienia
bogactwa ich wyglądów i wcieleń, chciałoby się wręcz po­
wiedzieć - f u n k c j i , Malinowski rejestrował sytuacje
niebanalne w swej estetycznej pierwotności - czy to był
morski krajobraz, czy obchody religijnego święta. Wyda­
wać by się mogło, że celem fotografii w przypadku pierw­
szego było „robienie sztuki", a mimochodem tylko nieja­
ko uruchamiał się także pewien akt poznawczy - ukaza­
nie świata, w tym zwłaszcza ludzi, w jego wielopostaciowości, w i e l o f u n k c y j n o ś c i . W przypadku drugiego
celem było „robienie nauki", która miała ukazać jakąś
niepowątpiewalną prawdę, wierny obraz, i tu - z kolei fotograf nie uwolnił się od postawy estetycznej. Można by
powiedzieć, że w fotografii Malinowskiego wychodzi to
„szydło", które usiłował skrzętnie ukryć w „worku" swego
Dziennika. To tu przecież znajdujemy malownicze opisy
przyrody czy zachwyty nad kobiecą urodą, na których
przedstawienie nie mógł przecież żadną miarą pozwolić
sobie w rozprawie naukowej. W istocie jest chyba jednak
tak, że Malinowskiemu nie udało się, mimo usilnych sta­
rań, uwolnić od modernistycznego estetyzmu, którym
„nasiąkł" wcześniej, w przypadku Witkacego zaś problem
taki nie istniał, ponieważ samo uprawianie sztuki, w rozu­
mieniu Czystej Formy, wiodło wszak do poznania Tajemni­
cy Istnienia, a więc samej istoty bytu, jego koniecznych ry­
sów strukturalnych.

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39

Warto zwrócić jeszcze uwagę na fakt, że w obu przy­
padkach technika fotograficzna pociągała niejako auto­
matycznie o b s e r w a c j ę u c z e s t n i c z ą c ą . Na ta­
ki „uczestniczący" charakter procesu fotografowania
w przypadku Witkacego zwraca szczególną uwagą Stefan
Okołowicz: Na jego fotografiach niektóre osoby wyglądają
tak, jakby były przez niego zahipnotyzowane, uległe nastrojo­
wi i sytuacji, którą on wytworzył, a sprowokowane być może
odsłaniają prawdziwe oblicze i pozwalają „wyjść duszy na ze­
wnątrz".'* Nie bez znaczenia jest tu inspiracja ze strony
ojca, który zdążył był jeszcze poznać dobrodziejstwa tech­
niki fotograficzne], która, obok możliwości lepszego niż
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�Janusz Barański • T H E MYSTERY O F MAN: BETWEEN A R T O F LIFE A N D A B S O L U T E T R U T H

seen the photographic experiments conducted by the son
one could add the multi-functional nature of these
objects. It is precisely in such multiplicity that one might
gtasp the unity of Particular Existence and thus of
particular individuals.

the conceptions proposed by Malinowski. One of its
prime features was the fact that it is precisely an
integrated system which, together with the ascertainment
of holism and contextualism, logically supplementing this
trait, became a turning point in the anthropological
theory of culture, a fact which inclined certain critics
towards ascertaining the outright revolutionary meaning
of Malinowski's work. It is difficult to resolve whether
mutual inspirations occurred, although in this case there
did take place an anti-positivistic view, opposing the
conviction that every whole can be fragmented. Quite
possibly, this is testified only by the fact that a certain
"intellectual spirit" revealed itself in both cases, which,
aftet all, grew and inspired themselves as regards various
issues and, in the innermost tecesses of the spirit,
competed.

We may speak about participating observation not
only in reference to Malinowski, the authot of this
method of fieldwork, who formulated its principles
explicitly, but also in reference to Witkacy, who, apart
from the mentioned "photographic research project"
pursued unique fieldwork studies, albeitnot there , as
a cteator of functionalism, but here - in Cracow or
Zakopane. Witkacy was known notonly for his active
social life, but also for assorted "research undertakings",
interviews or experiments carried out in its course, whose
charactet certainly brings to mind some sort of
sociological ot ethnological exploration. ' Did he learn
this from Malinowski, and did his visionary approach
perceive the usefulness of ethnographic qualitative
studies in his own socio-cultural milieu? Quite possibly
oneand the other. Only today, almost a hundred years
after the declarations made by the father of
functionalism, has research on contemporary culture, not
only on its primeval counterpart, reached for these
endeavouts. We could say, however, that Witkacy had
alteady "practised" .
4

Theoretical reference to this multi-functionality,
multiplicity of embodiments, etc. as well as Particular
Existence comprises the course of Witkacy's ontology and,
in particular, the above mentioned biological monadism.
The very concept of Existence borrowed from the life
outlook, and accepted by Witkacy as a point of departure
for his ontology (the existence of something rather than
of nothing), implies the conceit of a multiplicity of
Particular Existence. The notion of Existence, however
cannot be reduced to a collection of Particular Existences,
while Existence as a whole is their infinite otganisation.
In this fashion, despite the fact that each Particular
Existence, conceived as if from the inside, exists for itself
similarly to Leibniz's monads, viewed from the outside it
appears to be solely a component of Existence as
a whole. Furthermore, and conttary to the Leibniz
system, in which the monad is window-less,
Witkacy's monads affect each other In other words, this
moment of his system marked the antinomy mentioned
at the very outset, of whose existence he was aware and
which he put down to the Mystery of Existence.
44

45

Without delving into deliberations and analyses of
this concrete dilemma, tathet superfluous at this level of
generality, it seems worth focusing attention on the fact
that from the perspective of Entire Existence the world in
Witkacy's ontology appears to be an integrated whole within the Transcendent Unity of Existence, whose
characteristic feature is a union of Everything with
Everything.* Let us recall the ontical status of culture in

Just as important is the spirit of the epoch. After all,
the previously mentioned Mach and Avenarius as well as,
in the case of Malinowski - Wundt, and in the case of
Witkacy - Cornelius, not to mention the fathers of first
positivism exerted a considetable impact upon the
shaping of that spirit. This was, after all, a programme of
naturalism, nominalism and empiricism. Not by accident
did Witkacy describe his monadism as biological. Social
development - and society is composed of Particular
Existences - is ruled by laws enrooted in biology and
originating from elementary drives: hunger, fear and
eroticism; they too give rise to primary metaphysical
experience. Furthermore, not by chance did Malinowski
perceive the function of culture primarily in the
fulfilment of biological needs: metabolism, reproduction,
safety and health. Theit positivistic inspirations are
indicated by both men, even if these were their own
"improved" versions.
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48

There is, however, another component of the
anthropology presented by the two authors which takes
into consideration the existence of cultural determinism,
alongside its biological counterpart. Malinowski indicated
the derivative needs of man, stemming from his social
character - production, codification of behaviour, the
organisation of joint activity as well as integrative
requirements due to the fact that man is outfitted with
culture; here we find knowledge, religion, morality and
art. Witkacy too believed that apart from its primary,
collective and biological core, associated via evolution
with the beginnings of social development, culture has
a symbolic dimension linked with religion, art and
philosophy. Cteative art in patticulat, whose crowning is
Pure Form, leads, by means of metaphysical experience,
towards contact with the Mystery of Existence, making it
possible to understand the above mentioned dualism of
Unity in Multiplicity (Multiplicity in Unity), the I and the
not-I, and to overcome it.
After all, this biological feature of Witkacy's ontology
and social philosophy cannot be reduced to vulgar

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�Janus? Barański

• MALINOWSKI I WITKACY: MIĘDZY SZTUKĄ ŻYCIA A PRAWDĄ ABSOLUTNĄ

w przypadku malarstwa uchwycenia rejestrowanego
przedmiotu, umożliwiała - według niego - ujęcie
mnóstwa kombinacji wzajemnego stosunku rzeczy* Znając
późniejsze fotograficzne eksperymenty syna można by do­
powiedzieć, że tych rzeczy wielofunkcyjność. To w takiej
wielości da się właśnie uchwycić jedność Istnień Poszcze­
gólnych, poszczególnych więc jednostek.
A więc o obserwacji uczestniczącej można mówić nie
tylko w odniesieniu do twórcy tej metody badań tereno­
wych, Malinowskiego, który zasady jej sformułował wszak
explicite, ale także w odniesieniu do samego Witkacego,
który, prócz wspomnianego „fotograficznego projektu ba­
dawczego", uprawiał również swoiste badania terenowe.
Nie tam, jak twórca funkcjonalizmu, ale tutaj - w Krako­
wie czy Zakopanem. Nie tylko znany był bowiem z aktyw­
nego życia towarzyskiego, ale także z rozmaitych „przed­
sięwzięć badawczych", swoistych wywiadów czy ekspery­
mentów, podejmowanych w trakcie jego uprawiania,
których charakter mógł z całą pewnością przywodzić na
myśl jakąś socjologiczną czy etnologiczną eksplorację. '
Czy nauczył się tego od Malinowskiego, a - w swym wi­
zjonerstwie - dostrzegł przydatność etnograficznych ba­
dań jakościowych w jego własnym społeczno-kulturowym
milieu! Możliwe, że i jedno, i drugie. To dopiero dziś, nie­
mal sto lat od wystąpienia ojca funkcjonalizmu, sięga się
do nich właśnie w badaniach kultury współczesnej, a nie
tylko tej pierwotnej. Można by stwierdzić, że Witkacy
podejmował już pewne w tym względzie „wprawki".
1

4

Teoretycznym odniesieniem dla owej wielofunkcyjności, wielości wcieleń itd., także Istnień Poszczególnych, byl
sam rdzeń ontologii Witkacego, w szczególności zaga­
dnienie wspomnianego biologicznego monadyzmu. Otóż,
pojęcie Istnienia, wzięte z poglądu życiowego, przyjęte
przez Witkacego jako punkt wyjścia jego ontologii (raczej
istnieje coś niż nic), implikuje pojęcie wielości Istnień Po­
szczególnych. Pojęcia Istnienia nie da się jednak sprowadzić
do zbiorowiska Istnień Poszczególnych, całość Istnienia jest
natomiast nieskończoną ich organizacją. Tak więc, mi­
mo, że każde Istnienie Poszczególne, ujmowane niejako od
wewnątrz, istnieje samo dla siebie, niczym owe monady
Leibniza, oglądane z kolei od zewnątrz jawi się tylko jako
element składowy całości Istnienia. Przy czym, inaczej
niż to było w systemie Leibniza, w którym monada nie ma
okien, u Witkacego przeciwnie - monady oddziałują na
siebie nawzajem. Słowem, i w tym momencie jego syste­
mu zaznacza się owa wskazana na samym początku anty­
nomia, któtej istnienia miał zresztą świadomość, a którą
kładł na karb Tajemnicy Istnienia.
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45

Nie wdając się w zbędne na tym poziomie ogólności
roztrząsania i rozbiory tego konkretnego dylematu,
zwrócić warto natomiast uwagę na fakt, że z perspektywy
Całości Istnienia świat w ontologii Witkacego przedstawia
się jako właśnie z i n t e g r o w a n a c a ł o ś ć - w Trans­
cendentnej Jedności Istnienia, której cechą jest związek

Wszystkiego ze Wszystkim,.* Przypomnijmy więc ontyczny
status kultury w koncepcji Malinowskiego. Jedną z głów­
nych jej cech jest to, iż jest ona właśnie zintegrowanym
systemem, co wraz ze stwierdzeniem - logicznie dopełnia­
jących tę cechę - holizmu i kontekstualizmu, stało się
punktem zwrotnym w antropologicznej teorii kultury, co
niektórych krytyków skłoniło przecież do skonstatowania
zgoła rewolucyjnego znaczenia dzieła Malinowskiego. Czy
miały tutaj miejsce wzajemne inspiracje - rzecz to trudna
do rozstrzygnięcia, choć był to w tym ptzypadku pogląd
antypozytywistyczny, sprzeciwiający się przekonaniu, że
każda całość da się bez reszty rozłożyć na części. Być mo­
że świadczy to tylko o tym, że pewien „intelektualny
duch" objawił się u obu, razem wszak wzrastających i i n ­
spirujących się w różnych zagadnieniach, w głębi duszy
także ze sobą rywalizujących.
Nie bez znaczenia jest tu wszakże i duch określonej
epoki. W końcu przywoływani przez obu Mach i Avenarius, w przypadku Malinowskiego dodatkowo Wundt,
a Witkacego - Cornelius, na ukształtowanie się tego du­
cha wpłynęli w znacznym zaktesie; nie wspominając już
o ojcach pierwszego pozytywizmu. A był to przecież pro­
gram natutalizmu, nominalizmu, empiryzmu. Nie przy­
padkiem Witkacy o swym monadyzmie mawiał biologicz­
ny. To przecież rozwojem społecznym, a na społeczeństwo
składają się wszak Istnienia Poszczególne, rządzą prawa za­
korzenione w biologii i wywodzące się z elementarnych
popędów: głodu, strachu, erotyzmu; z nich też wyrasta
pierwotne przeżycie metafizyczne. Nie przypadkiem
również Malinowski funkcję kultury postrzegał przede
wszystkim w zaspokajaniu potrzeb biologicznych: meta­
bolizmu, reprodukcji, bezpieczeństwa, zdrowia. Zresztą,
na pozytywistyczne inspiracje wskazują w tym zakresie
obaj, choćby były to ich własne, „ulepszone" wersje.
6

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48

Jest wszakże i drugi człon antropologii obu twórców,
uwzględniający istnienie także determinizmu kulturowe­
go, obok tego biologicznego. Malinowski wskazywał więc
na istnienie potrzeb pochodnych człowieka, wynikają­
cych z jego społecznego charakteru - produkcji, kodyfika­
cji zachowań, organizacji wspólnego działania, oraz po­
trzeb integratywnych wynikających z tego, że jest on wy­
posażony w kulturę; tu mamy wiedzę, religię, moralność,
sztukę. Podobnie Witkacy sądził, że kultura, prócz swego
pierwotnego, zbiorowego, biologicznego jądra, wiązanego
zresztą ewolucyjnie z początkami rozwoju społecznego,
ma także swój wymiar symboliczny, związany z religią,
sztuką, filozofią. W szczególności twótczy akt, którego
zwieńczeniem jest Czysta Forma, wiedzie poprzez przeży­
cie metafizyczne do kontaktu z Tajemnicą Istnienia, co po­
zwala wówczas pojąć ów wspomniany dualizm Jedności
w Wielości (Wielości w Jedności), j a i n i e-j a, oraz prze­
zwyciężyć go.

407

Ów biologiczny rys ontologii i filozofii społecznej Wit­
kacego nie da się przecież sprowadzić do wulgarnego ma-

�Janusz Barański

• T H E MYSTERY O F MAN: BETWEEN A R T OF LIFE A N D A B S O L U T E T R U T H

materialism. It is merely a logical consequence of the
comptehension of Particular Existence, an individual
which at the very foundations of existential essence is
defined by means of biologism, although he temains
a dual, psychophysical being. In the system devised by
Witkiewkz, wrote Jan Leszczyński, the whole diversity of the
world of the self ultimately comes down to simple sensual
elements described by him, rather unhappily, as qualities.
They include predominantly colours, touches and sounds.*
Let us add that these qualities are composed primarily of
all inner feelings, and thus muscular, joint, etc., borderland
feelings -associated with the sense of touch, and outer
ones- representing the bodies of othet Partkular
Existences as well as their varieties in the fotm of
inanimate matter. In all these qualities the individual is
autonomous, and it is here that there comes to the fore
an essential diffetence between Witkacy's and
Malinowski's anthropology. The first stressed the
subjectivity of man, the primacy of the individual, and
the other - man's embroilment in the socio-cultural
context, the primacy of the group. Naturally, this
difference was brimming with consequences for the
understanding of att, which, in the first case, expressed
the autonomous natute of the individual, and in the
second instance - the means for the realisation of group
needs.
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50

This ontological biologism of the system devised by
Witkacy rendered the anthropologies of both creators
concurrent as if only half way. The author of Coral
Gardens had no room for metaphyskal experiences , whose
existence in the system conceived by Witkacy is linked
not only with an extta-pragmatic comprehension of
culture in the narrower sense of the term (religion, art,
philosophy), but also with individual creativity or the
development of the petsonality, making possible extrarational contact with the Mystery of Existences the
attainment of the absolute - an encompassing of the
infinity of being between the elementary particle of
mattet and the universe. Hence the critique of
Malinowski's conception of religion - probably the best
recognised theme of their "dialogue".
According to Malinowski, religion and all associated
practices originated from a psychophysical need for
satisfying unfulfilled expectations as regards the forces of
nature or personality crises. Man refers to supernatural
forces whenever possessed knowledge proves to be
insufficient for the solution of a certain problem. Since
such problems tend to create assorted classes, religious
beliefs and practices become petrified within
a permanent form, providing uniform descriptions of the
wotld and procedures of solving difficulties by tesorting
to magic ot religious rituals. Andtzej Paluch noted that:
For Malinowski, religion stems from individual sources and
can be understood only by an analysis of the "individual
intellect". The acceptance of such a stand led Malinowski to
52

problems whkh he was not longer capable of resolving.
True, theit solution would call for the acceptance of
certain philosophical ptemises exceeding narrow
empiricism and naturalism, and creating numerous
problems with the retention of the entire uniform theory
of culture. O n the othet hand, this was not a source of
anxiety for Witkacy, for whom the dualism of biologism
and metaphyskal emotions did not constitute a problem, in
conttast to some of his commentators, such as the
aforementioned Maciej Soin. We have the impression
that to a certain degree Witkacy tackled
Malinowski's dilemma and solved it.
The assumption about the existence of such
inspitation seems to be justified considering that in this
particulat case there occurs a certain peculiat type of
a polemic between the authot of hliemyte dusze and the
professor from London. In a fragment of Metafizyka
dwugłowego cielęcia (The Metaphysics of a Two-headed
Calf) Witkacy declared, speaking as the chief of the
Aparura clan: My friend is dying. Accept him, oh great
golden frog Кара-Кара. The fact that we have been examined
by Malinowski, that cursed, Anglicised and untamed dreamer,
is meaningless. Totems are the truth regardless what scholars
write about them?
Already this brief fragment reveals two essential
features calling for furthet interpretation. In the first
place, we are astonished by the description of Malinowski
as a dreamer, especially if we confront it with the
commonly held image of the personalities of the two
adversaries. It is Witkacy who is perceived as a dreamer
and an eccentric. Malinowski was always seen as
a personification of the predictability and methodicalness
of a true scientist. We should not be led astray, however,
by the external emploi of both men and the popular
knowledge about their views. After all, we already realise
that they both created a more or less cohesive system of
knowledge: in one case, this was anthropological theory,
and in the other - philosophy. Nonetheless, from the
viewpoint of Witkacy, the striving of the authot of
functionalism to create an all-embracing theory,
especially the sort which in a programme-like manner
rejects all explanations contradictory to naturalism,
empiricism or pragmatism, is tantamount to dreaming. It
follows from Witkacy's earlier mentioned ontological
analytic that it is impossible to eject difficulties appearing
in such an interpretation without referring to solutions
that call for an outright different perspective, one in
which the unity of the whole of Existence must be
conciliated with the autonomy of Partkular Existence,
a petspective in which individual experience makes it
possible to overcome a feeling of strangeness, stemming
from this aporia, and leads to experiencing the Mystery of
Existence. This feat obviously remains beyond the grasp of
the scholar. In this sense, totems are the truth .albeit
a truth of a slightly different order than the one deduced

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�J a n u s ; Barański' • MALINOWSKI I WITKACY: MIĘDZY SZTUKĄ ŻYCIA A PRAWDĄ ABSOLUTNĄ

terializmu. Jest on tylko logiczną konsekwencją pojmo­
wania Istnienia Poszczególnego, jednostki, która u samych
podstaw swej bytowej istotności jest przez ów biologizm
określona, choć jest przecież bytem dualnym, psychofi­
zycznym. W systemie Witkiewicza - napisał Jan Leszczyń­
ski - cala różnorodność świata jaźni sprowadza się ostatecz­
nie do prostych elementów zmysbwych, zwanych przez niego
(trochę niefortunnie) - jakościami. Są to przede wszystkim
barwy, dotyki, dźwięki.* Dodajmy więc, że na owe jakości
składają się wszelkie czucia ustrojowe wewnętrzne, a więc
mięśniowe, stawowe itd., graniczne - związane ze zmysłem
dotyku, zewnętrzne - reprezentujące ciała innych Istnień
Poszczególnych oraz ich drobnych odmian w postaci mate­
rii nieożywionej. W tym wszystkim jednostka jest
wszakże autonomiczna i tutaj ujawnia się istotna różnica
między antropologią Witkacego i Malinowskiego. Pierw­
szy podkreślał podmiotowość człowieka, prymat jednost­
ki, drugi - raczej uwikłanie go w społeczno-kulturowy
kontekst, prymat zbiorowości. Miało to oczywiście rów­
nież brzemienne konsekwencje dla rozumienia sztuki,
która w pierwszym przypadku byla wyrazem autonomiczności jednostki, w drugim zaś - środkiem realizacji zbio­
rowych potrzeb.
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Ten ontologiczny biologizm sytemu Witkacego nieja­
ko tylko w połowie uczynił antropologie obu twórców
zbieżnymi. Nie ma u autora Ogrodów koralowych miejsca
na przeżycia metafizyczne, których istnienie w systemie
Witkacego wiąże się nie tylko z pozapragmatycznym rozu­
mieniem kultury w węższym sensie (religia, sztuka, filozo­
fia), ale także z indywidualną twórczością czy rozwojem
osobowości, co umożliwia pozaracjonalny kontakt z Taje­
mnicą Istnienia, osiągnięcie absolutu - ogarnięcie nie­
skończoności bytu rozciągniętego pomiędzy cząstkami
elementarnymi materii a wszechświatem. Stąd też kryty­
ka koncepcji religii Malinowskiego - temat ich „dialogu"
rozpoznany bodaj najlepiej.
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Religia i wszystkie związane z nią praktyki wywodzą się
- według Malinowskiego - z psychofizycznej potrzeby
uczynienia zadość niezaspokojonym oczekiwaniom wobec
sił natury czy kryzysów osobowości. Człowiek odwołuje
się do nadprzyrodzonych mocy, gdy posiadana wiedza
okazuje się niewystarczająca dla rozwiązania jakiegoś pro­
blemu. A ponieważ problemy te mają tendencję do two­
rzenia pewnych klas, stąd też wierzenia i praktyki religij­
ne krzepną w trwałej formie, dostarczając ujednoliconych
opisów świata i procedur rozwiązywania takich trudności
poprzez magię czy religijny rytuał. Wptawdzie Andrzej
Paluch zauważa: Religia, według Malinowskiego, wyrasta
Z indywidualnych źródeł i zrozumiała być może tylko przez
analizę „indywidualnego umysłu". Przyjęcie takiego stanowi­
ska doprowadziło Malinowskiego do problemów, których nie
potrafił już rozwiązać.^ Istotnie, dla ich rozwiązania nie­
zbędne byłoby przyjęcie pewnych przesłanek filozoficz­
nych, któte wykraczałyby poza wąski empiryzm i natura­
52

lizm, co nastręczałoby zapewne problemów z utrzyma­
niem całej jego jednolitej teorii kultury. Nie bał się tego
natomiast Witkacy, dla którego dualizm biologizmu i uczuć
metafizycznych nie był problemem, choć stanowi pewien
problem dla jego komentatorów, takich jak przytaczany
wcześniej Maciej Soin. Odnosi się wręcz wrażenie, że
w jakimś stopniu Witkacy podjął dylemat Malinowskiego
i go rozwiązał.
Przypuszczenie o istnieniu takiej inspiracji wydaje się
0 tyle uzasadnione, że w tym przypadku istnieje osobliwy
rodzaj polemiki autora Niemytych dusz z londyńskim pro­
fesorem. We fragmencie Metafizyki dwugłowego cielęcia
stwierdza on ustami naczelnika klanu Aparura: Mój przy­
jaciel umiera. Weź go na swoje łono wielka, złocista żabo Ка­
ра-Кара. To nic, że zbadał nas Malinowski, ten przeklęty, anglizowany, nieposkromiony marzyciel. Totemy są prawdą.
Wszystko jedno, co piszą o nich uczeni.
Już choćby w tym krótkim fragmencie ujawniają się
dwa istotne rysy domagające się interpretacji. Po pierw­
sze, zrazu zaskakuje określenie Malinowskiego jako ma­
rzyciela, zwłaszcza gdy skonfrontujemy to z potocznym
wyobrażeniem o osobowości obu adwersarzy. Wszak to
Witkacy postrzegany jest jako taki marzyciel właśnie
1 odmieniec, Malinowski zaś był zawsze uosobieniem
przewidywalności i metodyczności człowieka nauki. Nie
powinno nas jednak zwieść zewnętrzne emploi obu mężów
i popularna wiedza na temat ich poglądów. Wiemy już
przecież, że obaj stworzyli bardziej lub mniej spójne syste­
my wiedzy: w jednym przypadku była to teoria antropolo­
giczna, w drugim - filozofia. Jednak z punktu widzenia
Witkacego, właśnie marzycielstwem jest dążenie twórcy
funkcjonalizmu do stworzenia wszystko wyjaśniającej te­
orii, zwłaszcza takiej, która programowo odrzuca wszelkie
wyjaśnienia sprzeczne z naturalizmem, empiryzmem czy
pragmatyzmem. Ze wspomnianej wcześniej ontologicznej
analityki Witkacego wynika bowiem, że pojawiających się
w takim ujęciu trudności nie sposób usunąć bez odwoła­
nia się do rozwiązań, które wymagają zgoła innej perspek­
tywy, tej, w której jedność całości Istnienia musi zostać
pogodzona z autonomią Istnienia Poszczególnego, perspek­
tywy, w której dopiero indywidualne przeżycie pozwala na
przezwyciężenie, wyłaniającego się z tej aporii, poczucia
obcości i prowadzi do doświadczenia Tajemnicy Istnienia.
To zaś w sposób oczywisty pozostaje nieuchwytne dla
„szkiełka i oka" badacza. W tym sensie totemy są prawdą,
ale prawdą innego nieco porządku niż ta wywodząca się
z reguły wyłączonego środka, prawdą dostarczającą po­
czucia nieredukowalnego sensu świata.^ Ta z głębi antro­
pologiczna konstatacja to antycypacja poglądu wypowie­
dzianego kilka dziesiątków lat później przez innego antro­
pologa, przywoływanego już tu krytyka Malinowskiego
Clifforda Geertza, który wskazał na konieczność uwzglę­
dnienia zupełnie innej perspektywy, jeśli chce się zrozu­
mieć i opisać fenomen religii. Należy ją mianowicie rozu-

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from the rule of the excluded centte, a ttuth which
provides a feeling of their reducible meaning of the
world. This profoundly anthropological ascertainment is
an anticipation of the view expressed several decades
later by another anthropologist, i . e. Clifford Geertz, the
earlier cited critic of Malinowski, who indicated the
necessity of taking into considetation an entirely different
petspective if one wishes to understand and describe the
phenomenon of teligion. Religion should be undetstood
in the categories not of that which is sensually real and
subjected to the survey of two-value logic, but of that
which is strangely real ' or, still differently, which,
according to certain representatives of the sociology of
knowledge, is subjectively real and thus true, although in
a sense different than the one proposed by Aristotelian or
positivistic canons.
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5

Witkacy did not hatbout any illusions as regards the
sensibility of a naturalistic explanation of religion, but
seemed to demonstrate a certain naivete in teference to
the historical interpretation of the phenomena of religion
and culture. He was convinced that metaphysical feelings
were as if "natutally" expressed in the pre-critical, prephilosophical period in the history of culture. It was
togethet with the birth of philosophy, and thus the dying
off of the unity of faith and thought, the decline of
religion, that the Mystery of Existence ceased being
a "universally accessible good". It just so happened that
his friend, an anthropologist, was dealing with such
"mutual ancestors", as an evolutionist would put it, in
whose case the model of the primeval recognition of
metaphysical feelings was supposed to have been
preserved. Did contacts with cultural strangeness assist
Witkacy in understanding metaphysical difference and
strangeness, so essential for his ontology, or was he sorry
that he was not given an oppottunity to experience them
due to his resignation from continuing the expedition
with Malinowski - these questions will probably
remained unanswered.
58

A t any rate, the earlier indicated striving of both men
towards their personal fulfilment and harmony was, in
this case, expressed by means of a projection into the
supposed lost state of man's original harmony as
a species. We remember that Witkacy too aimed at
discovering such harmony in his philosophical system. It
became obvious, howevet, that it is not so easy to
reconstruct this supposed pre-discoursive harmony
within a philosophical discourse. This is not to say that
Malinowski was capable of attaining such harmony,
whose projection would have been the tational reality of
need and function.
In this light, there becomes distinct yet anothet
difference in relation to the pursuit of science: eithet
detailed science such an anthropology (Malinowski) or
philosophy (Witkacy). Witkiewicz believed, wrote Bohdan
Michalski, that cognitive honesty requires constitutive

contradictions of being, from which he himself, unfortunately,
was not free, to be always interpreted as a problem. In the
opinion of Witkiewkz, the sole honest method of the
philosopher was first to tum all contradictions of being into
problems, and then to become aware of their eventual
unresolvability and to express this convktion, without
concealing the antinomy of being or eliminating it by means of
an act of purely verbal negation, as in heretofore philosophy.
If Michalski's interpretation is apt, then describing
Witkacy as the fitst Polish modernist would be
concurrent with the consecutive labels customarily given
to him. In reference to exceptional intellects, such labels,
howevet, grow worn and impose anothet perception. It
remains indubitable that Malinowski ejected the
autonomous nature of the "anthropological being", and
outright "ousted" it, for example, in his Dairy , while
Witkacy demonstrated it " i n bright daylight".
59

When Małgorzata Szpakowska expressed het surprise,
asking how it was possible fot Witkacy-the writer to have
been an existentialist while Witkacy-the philosopher was
already a positivist , then, omitting the actual adequacy
of these labels, they could be ascribed also to Malinowski,
who in his Diary let loose his existential temperament.
We remember how Geertz stressed the co-existence in
Malinowski's thought of both High Romance and High
Science. Let us go even further. When Krzysztof Pomian
wrote that who knows whether he [Witkacy] was not the
only philosopher of our times to have experienced the
contradiction of the two tendencies (existentialism and
positivism - J. B.) of twentkth-century thought as a personal
tragedy, he is echoed by Clifford Geertz who argued:
"To place the reach of your sensibility - rather than, say,
that of your analytical powers of your social code - at the
centet of yout ethnogtaphy, is to pose for yourself
a distinctive sort of text - building problem: rendering
your account credible through tendering your person
so." '
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This spiritual and intellectual rent could be to
a certain extent blamed on the intellectual atmosphere in
which both men lived and, in particular grew up. Jan
Jerschina claims that at the beginning of the century,
during Malinowski's, and this means also
Witkacy's formative years, the ethos of the Polish
intelligentsia was an amalgamate of positivistk and
modernistk thought. * There is no exaggeration, therefore,
in the declaration that the modernistic ideas of cultutal
plutalism and relativism made it possible to overcome the
evolutionistic conception of the development of culture,
including European culture, which crowned this process.
This was, aftet all, one of the milestones of both
Malinowski's conceptions and the whole of subsequent
anthropology. Similat postulates, albeit referring only to
the individual, influenced the formulation of the
individual outer world dichotomy, crucial for Witkacy,
with all of its consequences for his philosophy, including
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mieć w kategoriach nie tego, co zmysłowo rzeczywiste
i poddające się oglądowi dwuwartościowej logiki, ale te­
go, co osobliwie rzeczywiste, lub inaczej jeszcze, co - jak
ujęli to niektórzy przedstawiciele socjologii wiedzy - su­
biektywnie rzeczywiste, a więc prawdziwe, tyle że w i n ­
nym sensie, niż podpowiadają to arystotelesowskie czy
pozytywistyczne kanony.
Witkacy wprawdzie nie mial złudzeń, jeśli chodzi
o sensowność naturalistycznego wyjaśnienia religii, zda­
wał się jednak wykazywać pewną naiwność w odniesieniu
do fenomenu religii i kultury w ujęciu historycznym. Oto
przeświadczony był o tym, że uczucia metafizyczne znaj­
dowały niejako „naturalny" wyraz w przedkrytycznym
okresie historii kultury, okresie przedfilozoficznym. To
wraz z narodzinami filozofii, a więc wraz z obumarciem
jedności wiary i myślenia, wraz z upadkiem religii, Taje­
mnica Istnienia przestała być „ogólnie dostępnym do­
brem". Tak się składało, że jego przyjaciel antropolog
zajmował się takimi — jak by to ujął ewolucjonista -„na­
szymi współczesnymi przodkami", gdzie ów wzorzec pier­
wotnego poznawania uczuć metafizycznych miał się za­
chować. Czy obcowanie z kulturową innością pomogłoby
Witkacemu w zrozumieniu metafizycznej inności i obco­
ści, tak istotnych dla jego ontologii, czy żałował, że nie
dane mu było tego doznać wskutek zaniechania kontynu­
acji wyprawy z Malinowskim - to pytania, na które nie
ma zapewne odpowiedzi.
W każdym razie, wskazane wcześniej dążenie obu do
ich osobistego spełnienia i harmonii wyraziło się w tym
ptzypadku projekcją w domniemany utracony stan pier­
wotnej harmonii człowieka jako gatunku. Jak wiemy, do
wykrycia takiej harmonii dążył także Witkacy w swym sy­
stemie filozoficznym. Okazało się jednak, że ową domnie­
maną przeddyskursywną harmonię nie tak łatwo zrekonsttuować w ramach filozoficznego dyskursu. Nie znaczy to
przecież, że taką harmonię, której projekcją byłaby racjo­
nalna rzeczywistość potrzeby i funkcji, udało się osiągnąć
Malinowskiemu.
W tym świetle ujawnia się jeszcze jedna różnica w sto­
sunku do uprawiania nauki: czy to będzie dyscyplina
szczegółowa, antropologia, jak w przypadku Malinowskie­
go, czy filozofia - u Witkacego. Witkiewicz uważał - napi­
sał Bohdan Michalski, iż uczciwość poznawcza wymaga te­
go, aby konstytutywne sprzeczności bytu, od których nie jest
on, niestety, wolny, ujmować zawsze jako problem. Oto zdaniem Witkiewicza —jedyna uczciwa metoda postępowania
filozofa - najpierw wszelkie sprzeczności bytu sproblematyzować, następnie przekonać się ewentualnie o ich nierozwiązalności, obowiązkowo dać temu wyraz, a nie, jak to miało miej­
sce w fiłozofii, ukryć antynomiczność bytu czy też usunąć ją
aktem czysto werbalnej negacji. Jeśli interpretacja M i ­
chalskiego jest trafna, nazwanie Witkacego pierwszym
polskim postmodernistą byłoby w zgodzie ze zwyczajem
przypinania mu kolejnych etykietek. Te jednak w odnie­
51

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59

sieniu do umysłów wyjątkowych, wycierają się z czasem
i zmuszają do innego spojrzenia. Niewątpliwe jest wszak­
że to, że Malinowski ową antynomiczność „bytu antropo­
logicznego" usuwał, można by powiedzieć „wypierał" - na
przykład w Dzienniku, Witkacy obnosił się ze swoją
„w blasku dnia".
Kiedy Małgorzata Szpakowska wyraża zdziwienie: jak
to możliwe, że Witkacy-pisarz to egzystencjalista, zaś Witkacy-filozof jest już pozytywistą, to, pomijając - jak się
rzekło - rzeczywistą adekwatność takich etykietek, moż­
na by przypisać je także i Malinowskiemu, który w Dzien­
niku puszczał wodze egzystencjalnego temperamentu.
Przypomnijmy, że Geertz podkreślał współistnienie w my­
śli Malinowskiego zarazem - jak to określił - Wysokiej
Próby Romantyzmu, jak i Wysokiej Próby Nauki. Pójdźmy
dalej. Gdy Krzysztof Pomian pisze o Witkacym, że kto wie,
czy nie jako jedyny filozof naszego czasu przeżył on sprzecz­
ność dwóch tendencji (egzystencjalizmu i pozytywizmu przyp. JB) dwudziestowiecznego myślenia jako dramat osobi­
sty, to wtóruje mu Clifford Geertz, piszący o Malinow­
skim: Umieścić w centrum etnografii raczej bogactwo własnej
wrażliwości - a nie, powiedzmy, moc analizy czy kod społecz­
ny - to postawić przed sobą szczegółny rodzaj problemu zwią­
zanego z budową tekstu: uwiarygodnić własną opowieść po­
przez uczynienie wiarygodnym samego siebie.
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61

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63

To duchowe i intelektualne rozdarcie da się zapewne
w znacznym stopniu położyć na karb intelektualnej atmo­
sfery, w której przyszło obu żyć, a w szczególności wzra­
stać. Jan Jerschina utrzymuje, że dla okresu formowania
się Malinowskiego, co oznacza - także dla Witkacego,
etos inteligencji polskiej początku wieku był amalgamatem
idei pozytywistycznych i modernistycznych. Nie ma więc
przesady w stwierdzeniu, że modernistyczne idee plurali­
zmu i relatywizmu kulturowego umożliwiły przezwycięże­
nie ewolucjonistycznej koncepcji rozwoju kultur, z kultu­
rą europejską ten proces zwieńczającą. To przecież jeden
ze slupów milowych koncepcji Malinowskiego i całej
późniejszej antropologii. Podobne postulaty, tylko od­
niesione do jednostki, wpłynęły na sformułowanie klu­
czowej dla Witkacego dychotomii jednostka-świat ze­
wnętrzny, z wszystkimi tego skutkami dla jego filozofii,
w tym estetyki. Z drugiej strony, pozytywistyczne idee,
w takim stopniu, w jakim je podjęli, wykorzystali w spo­
sób, który mógłby być zgoła postrzegany jako tych idei
wzbogacenie; być może za sprawą „modernistycznego du­
cha" właśnie. Pierwszy stworzył jednolitą, choć nie sztyw­
ną teorię dyscypliny szczegółowej, drugi - system filozo­
ficzny, który te idee dowartościował humanistyczną per­
spektywą. Obaj w jakimś sensie byli pozytywistami „z lite­
ry", „z ducha" zaś - modernistami czy może lepiej - neoromantykami, choć trzeba przyznać, że tej „litery" więcej
było u Malinowskiego, „ducha" zaś u Witkacego. To jeśli
chodzi o stworzone przez nich systemy wiedzy.

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�Janusz Barański

• T H E MYSTERY O F MAN: BETWEEN A R T O F LIFE AND A B S O L U T E T R U T H

aesthetics. O n the other hand, positivistic ideas, to the
extent that they were undertaken, were utilised in
a manner which could be perceived as their outright
enhancement, possibly due to the "modernistic spirit".
The first created a uniform although by no means a rigid
theory of detailed discipline, and the other a philosophical system which added value to these ideas
by means of a humanistic perspective. Both, in a certain
sense, were positivists ex definitione while remaining
modernists or, better, neo-Romanticists exspirito, although
it must be admitted that there was more of the "letter" in
the case of Malinowski and more of the "spirit" in
Witkacy. So much for the systems of knowledge created
by both men.
As regards their world outlooks, comprehended in
a narrower sense, one might hazard the view that the two
men remained positivists. We are inclined towards such
a conclusion by their opinions concerning the future of
the world and mankind. In Niemyte dusze Witkacy
ultimately expressed hope for an end to the social
torments of man, and in Freedom and Civilisation '
Malinowski drew an image of a future international
order. Such a feat could not be achieved, however,
without the realisation of some form of social or cultural
elitism, which appears to be a positivistic conceit. In the
perspective of the social philosophy of the first of the two
thinkers, this pertains to the relation between
outstanding individuals and the rest of society, and in the
perspective of the anthropology of the second thinker to the relation between enlightened European culture
and the societies outside it. Quite possibly, the
connection between Witkacy's ttagic death and his
pessimistic historiosophy should be regarded as
a stereotype stemming from the etiquette of
a "catastrophist", which, to some degree, was adequate
for his earlier works. Just as likely, he was simply less
fortunate, having found himself within the direct tange
of the steamroller of history, and wished to avoid a fate
which he already feared when asking Bronio for
potassium cyanide in case he were to be roasted alive by
the savages. This "solution", taken into consideration
prior to leaving for a joint expedition, was applied
a quarter of a century later, in the face of other "savages"
encroaching from the east, not quite so distant as the
Trobriands.
66

6

from the last years of their lives, and thus from a period
of intellectual maturity, show that an exchange of their
works was somewhat of an act of courtesy, if not the
expression of constant rivalry - intentionally oriented
information about their own accomplishments. What else
do the wotds of one of the last letters by Malinowski
express if not sarcasm and irony: Although now my
attention has abandoned the lofty problems of philosophy,
I have read your dissertation and from that moment on I have
shrunk to the size of a monad. In other words, I have
accepted your system of cosmic monadology We already
had an opportunity to detect similar causticity in
reference to the Anglicised, untamed dreamer . It is quite
likely that this mutual sarcasm was, to a certain degree,
the outcome of an awareness of an "intellectual heresy"
which, secretly, they noticed in each other. Quite
possibly, the two men perceived each other as dissenters
from some sort of a primeval faith in which they both
grew up. To the very end, they probably remained aware
of the nature of this faith; hence the antinomous nature
of their thoughts. Apparently, the intellect was overcome
by ever-present youthful emotion, which itself usually
remains ambivalent, and whose consequence made
balanced discussion impossible. It is just as difficult to
conduct a discussion about both thinkers unless one
resigns from the stereotypes of the eccentric artist and
the stolid scholar. This appears to be the perspective
indicated by an analysis of the "creed" observed both by
Malinowski and Witkacy.
6 9

Translated by Aleksandra

Notes
1

412

В. Malinowski, A

Diary in the Strict Sense of the Term ,

New

York 1967
See, e. g. C . Geertz, "I-Witnessing. Malinowski's Children",
in

Works and Lives. The Anthropologist as an Author, Stanford

Univ. Press; J. Clifford, " O n Ethnographical Self-Fashioning:
C o n r a d and Malinowski", in:

The Predicament of Culture,

Harvard University Press 1988; in particular references to

66

Do the above remarks introduce something new to
out knowledge about the two creative personalities?
Perhaps they do nothing of the sott as regards each of the
two men separately, although they could contribute
something to the courses of their thoughts, especially at
common meeting points. This task is rendered
additionally difficult by the fact that although both
conducted discussions with contemporary representatives
of fields of interest to them, they never engaged in such
an exchange of opinions with each other. Scarce letters

Rodzińska-Chojnowska

works by the author of functionalism contained in
statements found in: Writing Culture. The Poetics and Politics

of Ethnography , ed.
London
'

by James Clifford and George Marcuse,

1986

J. A . Majcherek,

Hisumozofia S. I. Witkiewicza na tle "nędzy

historycyzmu" (The historiosophy of S. I . Witkiewicz against
the backdrop of "the misery of historicism"), in: W. Maciąg
(ed.), Beznadziejność i nadzieja. W kręgu myśli Stanisława
Ignacego Witkiewicza (Hopelessness and Hope. Within the
Range of the Thought of Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz),

4

Kraków

1988

M . Soin,

Fibzofia Stanisława Ignacego Witkiewicza

Philosophy of Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz), Wroclaw
5

Geertz, op. cit., p. 79

6

Clifford, op.cit., p. 97

7

Ibid., p. 104

(The
1995

�Janusz Barański

• MALINOWSKI I WITKACY: MIĘDZY SZTUKĄ ŻYCIA A PRAWDĄ ABSOLUTNĄ

zumianych w sensie węższym, można by wręcz zaryzyko­
wać stwierdzenie, że obaj pozostali pozytywistami. Do ta­
kiego wniosku skłaniają ich poglądy na temat przyszłości
świata i człowieka. I Witkacy w Niemytych duszach wy­
raża w końcu nadzieję na koniec społecznych udręk czło­
wieka, Malinowski zaś w Freedom and Civilisation rozta­
cza obraz przyszłego międzynarodowego ładu. Nie może
się to wszak stać bez realizacji jakiejś formy społecznego
czy kulturowego elitaryzmu, co także jest pozytywistycz­
nym pomysłem. W perspektywie filozofii społecznej
pierwszego dotyczy to relacji wybitne jednostki-teszta
społeczeństwa, w perspektywie antropologii drugiego relacji oświecona kultura europejska-społeczeństwa spo­
za niej. Być może więc i wiązanie tragicznej śmierci Wit­
kacego z jego pesymistyczną historiozofią należy uznać za
stereotyp, wyrosły z etykietki „katastrofisty", która była
w jakimś stopniu adekwatna w odniesieniu do jego wcze­
śniejszych dzieł. Być może miał on jednak po prostu mniej
szczęścia: znalazł się w bezpośrednim zasięgu walca histo­
rii i chciał uniknąć losu, którego obawiał się niegdyś, pro­
sząc Bronia o cyjanek potasu na wypadek pieczenia żyw­
cem przez dzikich. * „Rozwiązanie" brane pod uwagę przed
wyjazdem na wspólną wyprawę zostało zastosowane
ćwietć wieku później w obliczu innych „dzikich", tych,
którzy - nie czekając - sami nadciągali ze wschodu, nie
tak odległego wprawdzie jak Trobriandy.
66

67

wzrastali. Jakiej - tego bodaj sami do końca nie byli świa­
domi, stąd też i owa wskazywana antynomiczność ich my­
śli. Wydaje się, że intelekt przemogło tu obecne do końca
młodzieńcze uczucie, które samo w sobie jest zwykle am­
biwalentne, stąd też i niemożność wyważonej dyskusji.
Równie trudno o taką dyskusję o nich samych, jeśli nie
odsłoni się stereotypów krążących wokół obrazu artysty
ekscentryka z jednej strony, z drugiej zaś - statecznego
naukowca. W każdym razie taką perspektywę zdaje się su­
gerować analiza owej „wiary" Malinowskiego i Witkace­
goPrzypisy
'

B. Malinowski, A Diary in

New

Zob. пр. C . Geertz, Zaświadczające Ja. Dzieci Malinowskiego,
Dzieło i życie. Antropolog jako au­
tor, Warszawa 2000; J. Clifford, O etnograficznej autokreacji:
Conrad i Malinowski, przeł. Maciej Krupa, „Konteksty" 3-4:

2

przel. Sławomir Sikora, w:

1992, s. 10-18; w szczególności odniesienia do dzieła twórcy
funkcjonalizmu w wypowiedziach zamieszczonych w pracy
pod redakcją Jamesa Clifforda i George'a Marcusa, Writing

6

Czy powyższe uwagi wnoszą coś nowego do wiedzy
o tych dwóch osobowościach twórczych? Być może nic,
jeśli chodzi o każdego z osobna, być może jednak co nie­
co, jeśli chodzi o koleje ich myśli, przynajmniej w miej­
scach, w których się spotykali. Rzecz jest o tyle uttudniona, że o ile obaj wiedli merytoryczne dyskusje ze współ­
czesnymi sobie przedstawicielami intetesujących ich dzie­
dzin, między sobą takiej wymiany poglądów nie prowadzi­
li. Z lektury nielicznych listów z ostatnich lat ich życia,
a więc z okresu pełnej intelektualnej dojrzałości, wynika,
że przekazywanie sobie nawzajem własnych prac miało
charakter cokolwiek kurtuazyjny, o ile nie było wręcz wy­
razem ciągłej między nimi rywalizacji - intencjonalnie zo­
rientowanym informowaniem o własnych dokonaniach.
Co innego bowiem przebija, by sięgnąć do pierwszego
z brzegu przykładu, ze słów jednego z ostatnich listów
Malinowskiego, jak nie sarkazm i ironia: Chociaż teraz
moja uwaga odbkgla od wzniosłych problemów filozofii, prze­
czytałem Twoją rozprawkę i od tej chwili skurczyłem się do
rozmiarów monady. Innymi słowy, przyjąłem Twój system
monadologii kosmkznej. Przykład podobnej uszczypliwo­
ści - z kolei - wobec owego anglizowanego, nkposkromionego marzyckła mieliśmy już okazję poznać wcześniej. I to
mniej więcej tyle, tylko tyle. Być może ten wzajemny sar­
kazm w jakimś stopniu wziął się z poczucia swoistej „inte­
lektualnej hetezji", której - w skrytości - dopatrywali się
u siebie nawzajem. Być może patrzyli na siebie trochę jak
na odszczepieńców jakiejś pierwotnej wiary, z którą razem

the Strict Sense of the Term,

York 1967

Culture. The Poetics and Politics of Ethnography, L o n d o n 1986
J . A . Majcherek, Historiozofią S.I. Witkiewicza na tle „nędzy historycyzmu", w: W. Maciąg (red.), Beznadziejność i nadzieja.
W kręgu myśli Stanisława Ignacego Witkiewicza, Kraków 1988
M . Soin, Filozofia Stanisława łgitacego Witkiewicza, Wrocław

5

4

1995
Geertz, op. cit., s. 112-113

I

Clifford, op. cit., s. 11

6

Tamże, s. 13
M . Soin,

8

Filozofia Stanisława Ignacego Witkiewicza,

Wrocław

1995, s. 176-77
D . Gerould, Podróż

9

69

413

skie,
1 0

Witkacego do tropików: itinerarium cejloń­

„Konteksty" 3-4: 1998, s. 190

B. Malinowski, Dzienniki 1914-1918, „Konteksty" 1-2: 1999,
s. 206; te i inne fragmenty Dziennika w opracowaniu Graży­
ny Kubicy-Heller.

I I

Zob. np. Dziennik 1914, „Konteksty" 3-4: 1998, s. 202 i ns.

12

Dziennik w ścislem znaczeniu tego wyrazu, „Konteksty" 3:
1999, s. 104

1

Wpływ kobiet na życie i dzieło Broni­
sława Malinowskiego, „Konteksty" 1-2: 1997, s. 156
R. Ingarden, Wspomnienie o Stanisławie Ignacym Witkiewiczu,
w: Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz. Człowiek i twórca, księga pa­

' H . Wayne (Malinowska),

1 4

miątkowa pod red. T. Kotarbińskiego i J . E . Płomieńskiego,
Warszawa 1957, s. 169
15

Tak oto pisano o wykładzie Witkacego n a zjeździe Towarzy­
stwa Filozoficznego w Krakowie w 1936 roku: Jego odczyt
o krzyczącym tytule „O ontologicznej beznadziejności hgiki pseu­
donaukowego monizmu" /przytaczam tu skrót tytułu zajmujące­
go trzy wiersze/ zebrał najpoważniejszych profesorów uniwersy­
teckich żadnych emocji niezwykbści. Mieli tego pod dostatkiem.
P. Witkiewicz ukazał się oczom publiczności w jasnopiaskowym
garniturze, żółtozielonej koszuli i czerwonym krawacie, z ogrom­
nymi czarnymi okularami w rogowej oprawie. Mówił o „odprobkmieniu świata" przez barwną logikę matematyczne- O „odtajemniczeniu przyrody" przez pozytywistów, o „systemach bezpl-

�Janusz Barański

M . Soin,

8

• T H E MYSTERY OF MAN: BETWEEN A R T OF LIFE AND A B S O L U T E T R U T H

Filozofia Stanisława lgnacegoWitkiewicza,

symbolism; or whether it naturally lapsed out of the

op. cit., pp.

anteroom. If none of these events, or shall we rather call

176-77
9

1 0

D.Gerould, "Witkacy's Journey to the Tropics and Itinerary

them hypotheses, holds good or took place, could you be so

in Ceylon", see this volume.

good as to bring it in a brown paper parcel or by some other

B.Malinowski, Diary in

the Strict Sense of the Term,

11

See, e. g. "Dziennik 1914"

concealed mode of ttansport to London and advise me in

trans. N .

Guterman, Stanford University Press, Stanford 1967,

a post card where I could reclaim it? I am very sorry that my

p. 41.

(Diary 1914), Konteksty 3-4:

absentmindedness, which is a characteristic of high

1998,

202 sqq
I couldn't keep my paws off the girls in A Diary of..., p. 132

intelligence, has exposed you to all the inconvenience

H.Wayne (Malinowska), "Bronisław Malinowski: T h e

"I am going to the School of Economics to give a lecture

Influence O f Various Women O n His Life A n d Works (The

and unless my memory is as bad and my intelligence as good

impact of women on the life and works of Bronisław

as yours, I will leave your hat with the porter at the School

Malinowski)", Journal of the Anthropological Society of Oxford,

of Economics, telling him to give it to you on demand", ibid.,

p.

12

"

vol.15, no.3
1 4

incidental to the event"; ibid., p. 36-37; Russell teplied:

p. 37

(1984)

R. Ingarden, "Wspomnienie o Stanisławie Ignacym

17

Malinowskiego" (Modernism and the personality of

Witkiewiczu" ( A reminiscence about Stanisław Ignacy

Stanisław IgnacyWitkiewicz- Człowiek i twórca,
księga pamiątkowa pod red. T. Kotarbińskiego i J. E.

15

Jerschina, "Modernizm a osobowość Bronisława

Witkiewicz), in:

Bronisław Malinowski), in: G . Kubica, J. M u c h a (ed.),

Płomieńskiego (Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz. M a n

Author, a Commemorative Book edited by T Kotarbiński

Miedzy dwoma światami. Bronisław Malinowski.Materiały
Z międzynarodowej sesji naukowej upamiętniającej stulecie
urodzin Bronisława Malinowskiego (Between Two Worlds

and J. E . Płomieński), Warszawa 1957,

Bronisław Malinowski. Material from an International

p.

and

169

Here is a description of Witkacy's lecture given in 1936

-

Scientific Conference Commemorating the Hundredth

at

Birthday of Bronisław Malinowski), Kraków 1985,

a convention held by the Philosophical Society in Cracow:

p.

158

His paper, glaringly entitled "On the ontological hopelessness of See, e. g. Generally a need for "la vita nuova". Resolution = to
enter a regime leading there. Main emphasis on inner work:
the logic of pseudo-scientific monism" (it is only a shortened
Control over associations (inner purity). Philosophical serenity
version of the title which fills three lines!), gathered the most
and calmness. Ruthlessness (...) being liked and making an
outstanding university professors who craved for the emotion of
extraordinariness. They got their fill of it. M r Witkiewicz showed impression (...) Morning: 2 hours of studying 3 hours of
gymnastics, etc.,etc., Dzienniki 1908-1913 (Diaryl980-1913),
himself to the public wearing a sandy-coloured suit, a yellow"Konteksty" 1: 1998, p. 99
green shin, a red tie and huge black hom-rimmed glasses. He
spoke about "deproblemizing the world" by colourful
It is a different matter whether and to what degree
mathematical logic, about "demysterizing nature" by positivists, Malinowski was inspired by Nietzsche and his relativistic
about "sexless systems" construed by logicians and rationalists. conception of culture.
And when the listeners were already dazed by the speaker's floridM . Szpakowska, Światopogląd Stanisława Ignacego Witkiewicza
style and by his incredibly colourful appearance he, in the middle (The World Outlook of Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz),
of some ornate phrase, to increase effect, produced a brightly red Wrocław 1976, p. 153
handkerchief, and in the solemn silence of the attentive and full
Geertz, op.cit., p. 89
audience - blew his nose. It goes without saying that after this B. Malinowski, Magie, Science and Religion, New York 1955,
lecture the speaker became the hero of the day and the darling of p. 237.
the congress. 1 noticed that on the next day - as he obviously
' Cf. e. g. the opinion exptessed by Andrzej Flis, "Filozofia
resented commonness - this eminent man of letters appeared in krakowska początku X X wieku i kształtowanie sie poglądów
a cream-coloured shirt and a green tie, and thus saved his honour naukowych Malinowskiego" (Cracow philosophy at the
beginning of the twentieth century and the formation of the
of the unique artist and philosopher, N . Lubnicki, Fdozofowie
1 8

19

2 0

2 1

22

2

jeszcze nie znaleźli syntezy (The philosopher shave still not

scientific views of Malinowski), in: G . Kubica, J. Mucha,
(ed.), Między

discovered synthesis), "Głos Poranny", Lódz, 4 October

1936; cited after: S. Okołowicz, Przeciw nicości (Against

2 4

nothingness), in: E . Franczak, S. Okołowicz, Przeciw nicości.

(Letters to Bronisław Malinowski) , introduction by Edward

Fotografie Stanisława Ignacego Witkiewicza

C . Martinek, Warszawa 1981

(Against

Nothingness. Photographs by Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz),
Kraków 1986,

2 5

Witkacy's "social stagings" was outright innocent.
A . Kuper,

Anthropołogists and Anthropobgy. The British Schooi

1922-72, Penguin Books, New York 1973,

p. 23; Kuper

quoted by the way a lettet by Malinowski addressed to
Bertrand Russell, concerning a misplaced hat: " O n

the

occasion of my visit to your school I left my only ptesentable
brown hat in your anteroom. I wonder whether since then it
has had the privilege of enclosing the only brains in England

Okołowicz, op. cit.,

which I ungrudgingly regard as better than mine; or whether
it has been utilized in some of the juvenile experimentations

26

in physics, technology, dramatic art, or prehistoric

2

414

T h e art of photography especially favoured this type of selfexpressive experiments: The presence of a camera at excursions
or parties stimulated funny scenes at suitable moments, with the
use of casual props, such as a bunch of hemp to put on as
a moustache, a shin pulled over one's head to affect a ghost,
a stone, spectacles, a walking-stick etc. We know some titles of the
scenes enacted by Witkacy, such as: Professor Pulverston, The
best smile of Lord Fitzpurat the yacht-race at Southampton,
Uncle from California, Tovarisch Peresmerdlov looking at the
execution of mensheviks, or The great impersonator of the Great
Moghul, Stanley Ignatio Witkacy, in a scene: Trial of botchers , S.

pp. 29-30; let us settle for a report from

a "philosophical spectacle", which in comparison with

16

dwoma światami....
Bronisława Malinowskiego

See S. I. Witkiewicz, Listy do

'

p.33

Dzienniki 1914-1918 ."Konteksty" 1-2: 1999, p. 205
T h e independence and even cynicism of Bronio in contrast

�Janusz Barański •

MALINOWSKI I WITKACY:

MIĘDZY SZTUKĄ ŻYCIA A P R A W D Ą

ABSOLUTNĄ

ciourych" konstruowanych przez logików i racjonalistów. A gdy go, w: G . Kubica, J. M u c h a , (red.), Między dwoma światami...
słuchacze byli już dostatecznie odurzeni barwnym stylem i bajecz­Zob. S.I. Witkiewicz, Listy do Bronisława Malinowskiego,
nie kolorowym wyglądem prelegenta, ten dla dopingowania efek­ wstępem opatrzył Edward C . Martinek, Warszawa 1981
tu wyjął w środku jakiegoś kwiecistego zdania jaskrawoognistą
W szczególności sztuka fotograficzna sprzyjała, jak to po­
chustkę i w uroczystej ciszy pobożnie zasłuchanego, wypełnione­ wszechnie wiadomo, tego rodzaju autoekspresyjnym ekspery­
go po brzegi audytorium - wytarł sobie nos. Zbyteczne chyba do­ mentom: Obecność aparatu na wycieczkach czy spotkaniach to­
dawać, że po tym odczycie prelegent stał się bohaterem dnia i be- warzyskich prowokowała do stwarzania w odpowiednich mo­
niaminkiem zjazdu. Zdążyłem zauważyć, że następnego dnia mentach zabawnych scen, a wystarczały do tego przypadkowe re­
nie chcąc widocznie stać się codziennością, nawet w tej niezwy­ kwizyty: konopne pakuły, żeby przyprawić kilku osobom wąsy,
kłej formie - znakomity ten literat przyszedł w kremowej koszuli naciągnięta koszula na głowę, aby udawać ducha, kamień, oku­
Z zielonym krawatem, ratując w ten sposób honor niepowtarzal­ lary, laska itp. Znane są niektóre tytuły inscenizowanych przez
nego artysty i filozofa; N . Łubnicki, Filozofowie jeszcze nie zna­ Witkacego scen: Profesor Pulverston, Najlepszy uśmiech Lorda
leźli syntezy, „Głos Poranny", Łódź, 4 X 1936; cyt. za: S. O k o ­
Fitzpur na regatach w Southampton, Wujcio z Kalifornii, Towałowicz, Przeciw nicości, w: E . Franczak, S. Okołowicz, Przeciw
riszcz Pieriesmierdlow patrzący na egzekucję mienszewików czy
nicości. Fotografie Stanisława Ignacego Witkiewicza, Kraków Wielki odtwórca Wielkiego Mogola Stanley Ignatio Witkacy
1986, s. 29-30; poprzestańmy tutaj tylko na doniesieniu
w scenie: Sąd nad partaczami, Okolowicz, op.cit., s. 33
z „przedstawienia filozoficznego", które w porównaniu z „to­
Dzienniki 1914-1918, „Konteksty" 1-2: 1999, s. 205
2 4

2 5

26

warzyskimi inscenizacjami" Witkacego jest czymś zgoła nie­

2

'

winnym.

Niezależność, a nawet cynizm Bronia w odróżnieniu od uczu­
ciowości Stasia zauważył już za ich młodzieńczych lat Stani­

A . Kuper, Miedzy

charyzmą i rutyną. Antropologia brytyjska

1922-1982, przeł. Katarzyna Kaniowska, Łódź 1987,

sław Witkiewicz, postrzegając to nawet jako pewne zagroże­

natury uczuciowej i dającej się wyprowadzić z pa­
nowania nad sobą, i podkglej wpływom, S. Witkiewicz, Listy do
syna, opr. Bożena Danek-Wojnowska i A n n a Micińska, War­
nie syna i jego

s. 20;

Kuper cytuje na przykład list Malinowskiego do Bertranda
Russela w sprawie pozostawionego kapelusza: Przy okazji wi­

zyty w twojej szkole zostawiłem w przedpokoju swój jedyny przy­ szawa 1969, s. 281
zwoity brązowy kapelusz. Ciekaw jestem zatem, czy nie dostąpił Soin, op. cit., s. 11
odtąd przywileju przykrywania jedynego rozumu w Anglii, który T. Kotarbiński, Filozofia S.I. Witkiewicza, w: Stanisław Ignacy
bez cienia zawiści uważam za lepszy niż mój wiosny lub czy nie Witkiewicz- Człowiek i twórca...
został wykorzystany do jakichś doświadczeń fizycznych, techno­ R . Ingarden, Wspomnienie...
logicznych, sztuki dramatycznej czy prehistorycznego symboli­ J. Majcherek, Historiozofią...
zmu, lub czy nie uległ gdzieś zaprzepaszczeniu poza przedpoko­' M . Szpakowska, Witkiewiczowska teoria kultury, „Dialog" 10/
jem. Jeśli żadne z tych zdarzeń - nazwijmy je raczej hipotezami - 1968, s. 128
nie miało miejsca, czy byłbyś tak dobry, by włożyć go do brązo­ " Zob. пр. M . Rosiak, „Biologiczny monadyzm" S.I. Witkiewicza
wej papierowej torby lub zapakować w jakiś inny sekretny spsób, jako próba poprawienia monadologii Leibniza, w: W Maciąg
stosowany w Londynie, i poradzić mi w kartce pocztowej, gdzie (red.), Beznadziejność...
mógłbym go odebrać? Bardzo mi przykro, że moje roztargnienie, tamże, s. 63
charakterystyczne dla wysokiej inteligencji, naraża cię na wszyst­ S.I. Witkiewicz, Pisma filozoficzne i estetyczne, t. 3, Warszawa
kie te uboczne niedogodności owego zdarzenia; Russel odpowia­
1977, s. 415
da m.in.: Wybieram się do School of Economics na wykład ...
Zob. np. Z. Zalewski, Witkiewicza przygoda z metafizyką, w:
i jeśli tylko moja pamięć nie będzie tak zJa, a inteligencja tak wy­ Maciąg (red.), op. cit., s. 53
soka, jak twoja - zostawię kapelusz u portiera; tamże, s. 35.
Zob. np. S.I. Witkiewicz, Pisma
t. 4, s. 381
J. Jerschina, Modernizm a osobowość Bronisława Malinowskie­
S.I. Witkiewicz, Pisma.. ,t. 3, s. 296
go, w: G . Kubica, J. M u c h a (red.), Między dwoma światami J. Leszczyński, Filozof metafizycznego niepokoju, w: Stanisław
Bronisław Malinowski. Materiały z międzynarodowej sesji nau­ Ignacy Witkiewicz- Człowiek i twórca, op. cit., s. 113
kowej upamiętniającej stulecie urodzin Bronisława Malinowskie­ Zob. uwagi na ten temat Terence'a Wrighta, Antropolog jako
go, Kraków 1985, s. 158
artysta: fotografie Malinowskiego z Trobrtandów, przeł. Sławo­
8

2 9

, 0

5 1

2

1 4

1 5

, 6

1 7

18

, 9

4 0

mir Sikora, „Konteksty" 1-2: 1997, s. 184

Zob. пр.: Og[ó!nieJ Potrzeba „la vita пиош". Postanowienie =

wejść w regime prowadzący tam. Gfdwny nacisk na pracy wewnjętrznejj; Panowanie nad kojarzeniami) (czystość wewnętrz­
na). Filozoficzna] pogoda i spokój. Bezwzględność (...) podoba­
nie się i imponowanie (...) Rano 2 godziny nauki, 3 godziny
gimnjastyki) Ltd., itd.; Dzienniki 1908-1913, „Konteksty" 1:

4 1

Okołowicz, op. cit., s. 17

4 2

S. Witkiewicz, Dziwny człowiek, Lwów 1903, s. 59-61; cyt. za:

4 1

1998, s. 99
Osobna kwestia to czy i w jakim stopniu Malinowski zainspi­
rowany został przez Nietschego jego relatywistyczną koncep­
cją kultury.
M . Szpakowska,

Światopogląd Stanisława Ignacego Witkiewi­

cza, Wrocław 1976, s. 153
Geertz, op. cit., s. 126
B. Malinowski, Dzielą, t. 7; przeł. Barbara Leś i Dorota Praszałowicz, Warszawa 1990, s. 253-54

Zob. np. pogląd Andrzeja Flisa, Filozofia krakowska początku

X X wieku i kształtowanie się poglądów naukowych Malinowskie­

4 4

415

Okolowicz, op. cit., s. 13
R o m a n Jasiński tak na przykład wspomina pewną towarzyską

około dziesią­
tej wieczór; do jedenastej zebrało się około dwudziestu osób, najfantastyczniej dobranych. Nikt o nikim nic nie wiedział, a gospo­
darze - najmniej; wszystko to łaziło po mieszkaniu, częściowo za­
lane, a częściowo, jak na przykład ja, nie rozumiejąc dobrze swej
roli w tym wszystkim. Witkacy niezmordowanie się uwijał pośród
zebranych, bral na bok to gospodarzy, to bardziej spłoszonych go­
ści, coś tłumaczył, perswadował i montował ten dziwaczny wie­
czór, jak gdyby żywcem wyjęty z któregoś opowiadania Bruno
Schulza; R. Jasiński, Witkacy, w: Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz
Człowiek i twórca, op. cit., s. 311
imprezę z „Witkacym-terenowcem": Przyszliśmy

S.I. Witkiewicz, Pisma..., t. 3, s. 563

�Janusz Barański

• T H E MYSTERY O F MAN: BETWEEN A R T O F LIFE A N D ABSOLUTE T R U T H

Neoplatonian term reflects the essence of the union of

to the emotional nature of Staś was noticed already while

"everything with everything".

they were young by Stanisław Witkiewicz, who even
perceived this as a certain threat for his son and the

4 7

See M . Szpakowska, "Witkiewiczowska teoria kultury," p. 122

latter's sentimental nature, inclined to lose self-control and

4 8

See, e.g. B. Malinowski, "Culture", in:

Encyclopedia of the

Social Sciences, v. 4, New York 1931

easily swayed, S.Witkiewicz, Listy do syna (Letters to the
Son), ed. by Bożena Danek-Wojnowska and A n n a Micińska,

4 9

J. Leszczyński, op. cit., p. 96; in the case of Witkacy the fact

the self is corporeal

Warszawa 1969, p. 281

that

2 8

Soin, op. cit., p. 11

apart from photographic portraits also in his paintings where

2 9

T. Kotarbiński, "Filozofia St. I. Witkiewicza" (The Philosophy
of S. I. Witkiewicz), in:

these

Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz- Człowiek

M . Szpakowska, "Witkiewiczowska teoria kultury" ( T h e
theory of culture according to Witkiewicz), Dialog 10:

"

See S. I. Witkiewicz,

5 1

M . Szpakowska, "Witkiewiczowska teoria kultury," p. 122

52

See. e.g. B. Malinowski, Magic, Science and Religion, op. cit.,
especially the title chapter

1968,
5 3

A . Paluch, op.cit., p. 100

See, e. g. M . Rosiak, '"Biologiczny monadyzm' S. I.

5 4

A closer examination of Malinowski's views indicated that

Witkiewicza jako próba poprawienia monadologii Leibniza"

he tackled similar problems incessantly, and that he was

(The "biological monadism" of S. I. Witkiewicz as an

never free from the temptation of reaching for some form of
"metaphysical" explanations, of transcending the "positivistic

Beznadziejność...

3 4

Ibid., p. 63

3 5

S. I. Witkiewicz,

fetters"; this holds true, for example, for his extremely
valuable remarks on the nature of the language, which

Pisma filozoficzne i estetyczne

anticipated the later theory of the acts of speech proposed by

(Philosophical

Austin; see

See, e. g. Z. Zalewski, "Witkiewicza przygoda z metafizyką"

problem of meaning in primeval languages), in: A . Paluch,

(Witkiewicz's adventure with metaphysics), in: Maciąg (ed.),

op. cit.; in anthropology, these linguistic inspirations were
subsequently developed by such scholars as Stanley Tambiah

See, e. g. S. I. Witkiewicz,

Pisma

or Anette Weiner; "metaphysical dissatisfaction" is

vol. 4, p. 381

3 8

S. I. Witkiewicz, Pisma ...,vol. 3, p. 296

3 9

J. Leszczyński, "Filozof metafizycznego niepokoju"

confirmed from a slightly different," private" side also by the

Diary.

( A philosopher of metaphysical anguish), in: Stanisław Ignacy

5 5

Witkiewicz- Człowiek i twórca , op. cit., p. 113

S. I. Witkiewicz, Metajizyka dwugłowego cielęcia. Tropikalnoaustralijska sztuka w trzech aktach (The Metaphysics of

See comments by Terence Wright, " T h e Anthropologist as

a Two-headed Calf. A Tropical-Australian Play in T h r e e

Artist. Malinowski's Trobriand Photographs", European

A c t s ) , in: Dramaty (Dramas), vol. 1; ed. and introduction by

Imagery and Colonial History in die Pacific. T. Van Meijl and R

Konstanty Puzyna, Watszawa 1972,p. 553

Van Grijp (eds.) Nijmegen Studies in Developement and

See, e. g. idem, Pisma, vol. 3, p. 83

Cultural Change,

1994

5 7

C . Geertz, Religion as a Cultural System, in: Interpretation
of Cultures, Basic Books 1973

4 1

S. Okolowicz, op. cit., p. 17

4 2

St. Witkiewicz, Dziwny człowiek ( A Strange M a n ) , Lwów

5 8

1903, pp. 59-61; cited after: S. Okolowicz, op. cit., p. 13
4 3

Problem znaczenia w językach pierwotnych (The

and Aesthetic Works),vol. 3, Warszawa 1977, p. 415

op. cit., p. 53

4 0

vol. 3, p. 566

p. 128

Maciąg (ed.),

3 7

Pisma

5 0

attempt at correcting the Leibniz monadology), in: W

3 6

are disclosed by means of

and literary oeuvre appears to be thoroughly "sensual".

R.Ingarden, "Wspomnienie ..."

" J. Majcherek, Historiozofia ...
, 2

recesses of the soul

a technique of using colour or chiaroscuro; his whole plastic

i twórca ...
3 0

(ibid., op.cit., p. 102) is discernible,

S. I. Witkiewicz,

Pożegnanie jesieni

(Farewell to A u t u m n ) ,

Warszawa 1927, pp.296-97

B. Michalski, Filozofia ontologicznego pluralizmu S. I.
We arrived at about ten at night; up
Witkiewicza (The philosophy of the ontological pluralism of
to eleven o'clock some twenty persons had gathered, a most
S. I. Witkiewicz), in: S. I. Witkiewicz, Pisma , vol. 4, pp. 437fantastic selection. We were all strangers and the hosts did not
38
know anyone; the guests, some drunk, or, as in my own case,
M . Szpakowska, "Witkiewiczowska teoria kultury," p. 128
ignorant of their role, circulated around the flat. Witkacy tirelessly
Maciej Soin put the autonomous nature of the Witkacy
bustled about, taking aside either the hosts or some of the more system down to the employment of two models in the
perplexed guests, explaining something arguing and assembling solution of the raised issues; unfortunately, there is not
this curious soiree as if straight out of one of the novels fry Bruno
enough place for a detailed discussion of its interpretations.
Schulz, R. Jasiński, "Witkacy," in: Stanisław Ignacy WitkiewiczK . Pomian, op.cit., p. 206
Człowiek i twórca , op.cit., p. 311
C . Geertz, "I-witnessing...", op. cit., p. 78-79
R o m a n Jasiński recalled a certain social gathering with
"Witkacy-the fieldworker":

6 0

6 1

6 2

6 5

4 4

S. I. Witkiewicz, Pisma..., vol. 3, p. 563

6 4

Jerschina, op.cit., p. 148

4 5

See, e. g. the interpretation proposed by Krzysztof Pomian,

6 5

Ibid., p. 153

Człowiek

pośród rzeczy. Szkice hiswrycznofilozoficzne

(Man

6 6

among Things. Historical-philosophical Sketches), Warszawa
1973, p. 202
4 6

S. I. Witkiewicz, Pisma..., vol. 3, p. 439; it is worth drawing

Warszawa 1979
6 7

attention to the fact that in the tradition of Durkheiminspired sociology, especially the version proposed by Mauss,

S.I. Witkiewicz, Niemyte dusze (Unwashed souls), in:
Narkotyki. Niemyte dusze (Narcotics. Unwashed Souls),
В. Malinowski,

Freedom and Civilisation , New

York 1944

S. I. Witkiewicz, Listy do Bronisława Malinowskiego , p. 62
6 9

magic is treated as a type of a sympathy for all things; this

416

Ibid., p. 122

�Janusz Barański

4 5

4 6

• MALINOWSKI I WITKACY: MIĘDZY SZTUKĄ ŻYCIA A PRAWDĄ ABSOLUTNĄ

Zob. np. interpretację Krzysztofa Pomiana, Człowiek pośród

pologii te językowe inspiracje rozwinęli później tacy badacze,

rzeczy- Szkice history cznofilozoficzne,

jak Stanley Tambiah czy Anette Weiner; to „metafizyczne

Warszawa 1973, s. 202

niezaspokojenie" z innej nieco, „prywatnej" strony, potwier­

S.I. Witkiewicz, Pisma..., t. 3, s. 439; warto zwrócić tu uwagę

dza istnienie takich pokus także i sam Dziennik.

na fakt, że w tradycji durkheimowskiej socjologii, zwłaszcza
ten neoplatoński termin m a oddać istotę owego związku

S.I. Witkiewicz, Metafizyka dwugłowego cielęcia. Tropikalnoaustralijska sztuka w trzech aktach, w: Dramaty, t. 1; opr.

„wszystkiego ze wszystkim".

i wstępem poprzedził Konstanty Puzyna, Warszawa 1972, s.

Maussa, magię traktuje się jako rodzaj sympatii wszech rzeczy;

47

Zob. M . Szpakowska, Witkiewiczowska teoria kultury, s. 122

4 8

Zob. np. B. Malinowski, Kultura, przeł. Andrzej Waligórski,
w: A . Paluch, Malinowski, Warszawa 1983

4 9

Leszczyński, op. cit., s. 96; Ze jaźń

5 5

553
5 0

5 7

jest cielesna

(tamże, op.

cit., s. 102) u Witkacego, widać, prócz portretów fotograficz­

5 8

nych, także w jego portretach malarskich, gdzie owe tajniki

5 9

duszy

styczna, i literacka wydaje się n a wskroś „zmysłowa".

C . Geertz, Religia jako system kulturowy, w: E . Mokrzycki, Ra­
cjonalność i styl myśknia, Warszawa 1990, s. 502
S.I. Witkiewicz, Pożegnanie jesieni, Warszawa 1927, s. 296-97
B. Michalski, Filozofia ontologicznego pluralizmu S.I. Witkiewi­

cza, w: S . I . Witkiewicz, Pisma, t. 4, s. 437-38

ujawniają się poprzez techniki posługiwania się kolo­

rem czy światłocieniem; cała zresztą jego twórczość i pla­

Zob. np. tenże, Pisma, t. 3, s. 83

6 0

M . Szpakowska, Witkiewiczowska teoria kultury, s. 128

6 1

Maciej Soin tę antynomiczność systemu Witkacego kładzie

5 0

Zob. S.I. Witkiewicz, Pisma..., t. 3, s. 566

na karb posługiwania się dwoma modelami w rozwiązywaniu

51

M . Szpakowska, Witkiewiczowska teoria kultury, s. 122

podnoszonych zagadnień; nie ma tu już niestety miejsca na

5 2

Zob. np. B. Malinowski, Dzieła, t. 7, Warszawa 1990; w szcze­
gólności rozdział Magia,

5 5

, 4

nauka i religia.

A . Paluch, op. cit, s. 100.

szczegółowe omawianie jego interpretacji.
6 2

K . Pomian, op. cit., s. 206.

6 i

C . Geertz, Dzieło i życie, s. 111-12

6 4

Jerschina, op. cit., s. 148

z podobnymi problemami borykał się o n nieustannie, że nie

6 5

Tamże, s. 153

opuszczała go pokusa sięgnięcia po jakąś formę wyjaśnień

6 6

Lektura

poglądów

Malinowskiego

wskazuje n a to, że

S.I. Witkiewicz,

Niemyte dusze,

w:

Narkotyki. Niemyte dusze,

Warszawa 1979

„metafizycznych", wyjścia poza „pozytywistyczne okowy"; do­
tyczy to n a przykład niezwykle cennych uwag na temat natu­

6 7

B. Malinowski, Freedom and Civilisation, N e w York 1944

ry języka, jego sytuacyjności, co było antycypacją późniejszej

6 8

S.I. Witkiewicz, Listy do

6 9

Tamże, s. 122

teorii aktów mowy Austina; zob. Problem

kach

znaczenia w języ­

pierwotnych, w: A . Paluch, op. cit.; na gruncie antro­

417

Bronisława Malinowskiego,

s. 62

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                <text>BEATA KOSINSKAKRIPPNER

The Parodic Nature of
the Appropriation of
Factual Codes and
Conventions in
Mockumentaries
Both parody and satire depend on
the sophistication of the viewer,
and on some familiarity with the parodic target.
Carl Plantinga

I

n 2001Jane Roscoe and Craig Hight, classifying
film scripts according to their relation with the
factual discourse generated by a given text, cre­
ated their own list of mock-documentaries.1 If we look
at some interesting examples of the genre produced
outside the English-speaking world such as Dark Side
of the Moon, Year of the Devil, Czech Dream and First
on the Moon through the prism of the classification
proposed by the Australian-New Zealand researchers
then they can be placed probably more between De­
gree II (critique) and Degree III (deconstuction) of
mockumentaries rather than belonging to Degree I
(parody) although in a certain sense they all possess
the features of a parody.

D ark Side of the Moon
William Karel’s 2002 French film Opération Lune2
(aka Dark Side of the Moon/Kubrick, Nixon und der
Mann im Mond3) is one of the most intriguing and
important mock-documentaries capable of deceiving
even an experienced viewer; ostensibly it records dis­
covering previously unknown, sensational facts about
the historical US landing on the moon in July 1969.
The off-camera commentary defines space flights
as a highly spectacular and prestigious and thus impor­
tant aspect of the Cold War waged by the U SA and
the USSR. When in 1961 Yuri Gagarin became the
first man in history to fly into outer space President
John F. Kennedy proclaimed that sending a man to
the moon should become one of the main goals of the
American nation. This task was assigned to the Ger­
man scientist Wernher von Braun, a former NSD A P
member recruited by the Americans at the end of
World War II. Having gained experience working on
the production of V1 and V2 rockets von Braun be­
came involved with N A SA . In January 1967 the crew
414

of Apollo 1 died in a fire during a launch pad test.
Three months later, cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov,
commander of the first multi-man spaceflight, per­
ished while returning to Earth. Yuri Gagarin died in a
training plane crash, and in July that year a Soviet
rocket exploded when its fuel tanks were being filled.
The Americans gained a momentary advantage con­
cealing the fact that space conquest rivalry was actu­
ally a cover-up for a more significant if less spectacular
issue - the national defence system. The construction
of spaceships was a part of a highly expensive missile
programme. Supportive public opinion, however, was
necessary to convince Congress about the need for
high expenditure relating to the defence system. A
flight to the moon, a peaceful enterprise, won univer­
sal support. Still, it was necessary to show what the
immense sums of money had been spent on. Von
Braun was the first to realize that an expedition to the
moon must be a captivating show, which only Holly­
wood was able to produce. “Dream factory” profes­
sionals were asked to help. Briefly before the Apollo
11 launch entire Hollywood stopped working on other
films and 700 technicians travelled to Cape Canaver­
al. Producer Jack Torrance of Paramount Pictures su­
pervised the whole undertaking. Attention was paid
to every single detail but something unpredictable that
people should not be allowed to witness could always
occur. Technical difficulties could have prevented the
transmission of images presenting man’s first steps on
the moon. The White House was prepared also for
this eventuality, and it was decided that an “emergen­
cy” studio-set version of the landing would be pro­
duced. According to the off-screen commentary Presi­
dent Nixon found it more important to have the astro­
nauts seen walking on the moon than to have them
actually doing it. This is why he chose to produce the
world’s most expensive film of all times: the staged
landing of Apollo 11. If the astronauts had landed
safely but could not transmit live coverage back to
Earth due to unforeseen technical issues the whole ex­
tremely expensive undertaking would have been a
sheer waste of time from the PR viewpoint. In the case
of a failure of the Apollo programme photos were
needed to show to the wavering audience. The Presi­
dent ordered Donald Rumsfeld to make Stanley Ku­
brick a proposal to direct the undertaking. Karel’s film
suggests that Neil Armstrong’s famous moon walk ei­
ther did not happen at all or, if it did take place, the
TV audience of 2 billion watched a staging directed by
Stanley Kubrick in the same Borehamwood sound­
stage (Great Britain) where he shot 2001: A Space Od­
yssey. The filmmaker agreed to become involved be­
cause he owed a debt of gratitude to the authorities for
being permitted to shoot some of the scenes of Doctor
Strangelove (1964) in actual Pentagon locations. The
film presents evidence backing the staged landing the-

�Beata Kosińska-Krippner • THE PARODIC NATURE ... IN MOCKUMENTARIES

sis, e.g. photos of a staked fluttering flag even though
there is no wind on the moon, astronauts casting shad­
ows in diverse directions and thus suggesting the ap­
plication of several sources of lighting, no blast crater
visible under the rocket’s nozzle, a clearly seen and as
if illuminated inscription on the spacecraft saying:
“United States” even though the rest of the spaceship
is hidden in deep shade, information about extreme
temperature changes on the moon, which would cause
considerable chemical transformations of the film’s
emulsion and mechanical damage of the camera itself,
information that X-radiation would have blurred the
film tape and that ultraviolet rays would have distort­
ed colours perfect in the transmission, that with lunar
gravity being different from its Earth counterpart the
astronauts’ weight would have been insufficient to
leave the deep footprints on moon dust that we see in
the photographs, that there should have been dust
around the landers, that the temperature and radia­
tion changes on the moon are deadly for men while
the spacesuits worn by the astronauts could not have
protected them, that in all the photographs made on
the moon there was no flash, which according to ex­
perts should have been visible since the astronauts
taking the photographs would have been reflected in
the helmets of other crew members, etc. In addition to
evidence of this kind presented by former KGB agent
Dimitri Muffley (Soviet Intelligence suspected mystifi­
cation and discovered its shortcomings) the thesis’
credibility is boosted by testimony of people familiar
with the truth about the staging, such as Kubrick’s
widow, who seems to confirm the revelations un­
earthed by the film, her brother (Kubrick’s executive
producer), Nixon’s secretary Eva Kendall, Hollywood
producer Jack Torrance, Marla Vargas (sister of the
cosmonaut Buzz Aldrin), Rabbi W.A. Koenigsberg,
David Bowman of the Houston Space Centre, and
Ambrose Chapel, an ex-CIA agent and currently a
pastor, who refused to participate in the undertaking
but was forced to keep it secret. With each successive
piece of evidence and eye-witness comment the film
becomes increasingly credible, especially considering
that Christiane Kubrick is joined by American politi­
cal experts and public figures: astronauts Jeffrey Hoff­
man and David Scott, and N A SA supervisor Farouk
El-Baz. After some time, however, the more attentive
viewer starts to pick up signals questioning or subvert­
ing the factual status of Dark Side of the Moon. The
very moment when this happens - as is usually the
case with mockumentaries - depends on the individu­
al viewer. Suspicions certainly appear about 30 min­
utes into the film - if not earlier - when we hear that
Nixon became afraid that the witnesses would talk
and wanted to halt the whole operation but it was al­
ready too late and the machinery had been set in mo­
tion. According to the commentary, an assassination
415

Opération lune

Barkside of the Moon
m ih il

list appeared on the President’s desk. It is also hard to
believe in a hunt for members of the film crew produc­
ing the moon hoax and their killings, or to treat seri­
ously the suggestion that a heart attack was not neces­
sarily the cause of Kubrick’s death. This is highly far­
fetched and this is exactly how it is supposed to be
because Dark Side of the Moon is a mystification, a
mock-documentary to be precise, which - as I have
already mentioned - if included on the Roscoe and
Hight list would be probably classified as belonging to
Degree III. William Karel, the director, is a Tunisianborn French filmmaker known as a serious version of
Michael Moore, author of political and historical doc­
umentaries dealing with sensitive subjects. Karel sup­
posedly likes to recall François Truffaut’s words that a
documentary is a thousand times more of a lie than
fiction, where things are clear from the very begin­
ning. Advertised by official CBS material as a subtle
mixture of fact, fiction and hypotheses, Dark Side of
the Moon applies documentary testimonies, archival
film material and extensive interviews, mixing them
together perfectly at the editing stage. Consequently,
for quite some time the final result convinces us that
we are witnessing the unveiling of truth - concealed
for many years - about the first moon landing directed
by Kubrick in a soundstage. We become less certain
about the film’s status (or at least we should do so)
when we learn the truth about the numerous murders
contracted by the US authorities to eliminate witness­

�Beata Kosmska-Knptmer • THE PARODIC NATURE ... IN MOCKUMENTARIES

es of the mystification; this truth is spewed by such
figures as Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld,
former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Director of
Central Intelligence Richard Helms, astronaut Buzz
Aldrin, assistant to Kissinger Lawrence Eagleburger,
General Alexander Haig, former Deputy Director of
the CIA Vernon Walters, Christine Kubrick and Jan
Harlan. But do these persons really convey the revela­
tions? A more thorough analysis of the film indicates
that they do not. Concrete - frequently shocking - in­
formation is delivered by a voice-over or fictitious
characters played by actors. Take this example: off­
screen commentary about Kubrick’s close relations
with N A SA is immediately followed by added - as if to
confirm - remarks by Christine Kubrick and Jan Har­
lan, even though they only discuss a special Zeiss lens
originally designed for a N A SA satellite programme,
which - we learn from another source - was lent to
Kubrick (presumably in recognition of his Space Odys­
sey) for shooting Barry Lyndon (1975). Eve Kendall,
Nixon’s secretary, recounts that someone from N ix­
on’s circle asked: What if we film the first steps on the
Moon in a studio? but Kendall is a fictitious character
portrayed by Barbara Rogers. Kendall’s statement is
followed by a cut and Rumsfeld saying: I talked to the
President and Kissinger supported me... We never find
out what exactly Rumsfeld told the President, but we
get the impression that he initiated the whole mystifi­
cation. Another sentence spoken by him is just as en­
igmatic: I thought this was the right thing to do because we
have to do something to show that we are still the United
States of America... General Vernon Walters says that
he warned the President: It is very dangerous to lie in the
United States, but we cannot tell what lie he had in
mind. From astronaut Buzz Aldrin we learn only that:
There were some unusual things that happened, such as:
President Nixon had prepared some remarks for a speech
to give if we could not leave the moon and come back. The
off-camera commentary mentions Aldrin’s depression
after he returned from the mission. His wife, Lois, says
that he became an alcoholic, at loss what to do with
himself, and his sister, Marla Vargas (a fictitious char­
acter portrayed by Jacquelyn Toman), embellishes the
story by recalling how Aldrin used to get drunk every
day. Meanwhile, the viewer’s imagination provoked by
the meticulously edited footage links these comments
with the mystification into a cause-and-effect chain.
This also happens when astronaut David Scott pro­
claims: This was a great film, presumably talking about
Space Odyssey while the viewer gets the impression
that he meant the moon mystification. When the voi­
ceover informs us that Nixon was overcome by panic
leading to his condemnable decision, we see Rumsfeld
claiming: It is not something I wanna do (...) and (...) so
I left, but naturally he does not tell us what precisely
he was not involved in. Haig, meanwhile, claims he

told Nixon: This is going to turn into the biggest scandal
that this country has ever seen. Those of us who worked
with Nixon know not to take seriously everything he said
when he was under stress. This time not only do we not
learn what words it was impossible to treat seriously,
but also who uttered them. The situation repeats itself
when Kissinger proclaims in front of the camera: He
said some awful things, but they were never done. A pas­
tor, a former CIA agent, who did not want to partici­
pate and was forced to vanish, assume a new identity
- that of Ambrose Chapel - and promise he would
keep the hoax secret, introduces us to an atmosphere
of crime, plots and a conspiracy of silence but turns
out to be a fictitious character performed by John Rog­
ers. Paramount Pictures producer Jack Torrance (an­
other fictitious character portrayed by David Winger)
describes the production details of the world’s most ex­
pensive film. We find out from David Bowman of the
Houston Space Centre (enacted by Tad Brown) that
Armstrong’s famous sentence about the giant leap for
mankind was actually written by someone else and
that astronauts used to joke about it; the deadly threat
posed by special forces to film crew members is men­
tioned by Rabbi W.A. Koenigsberg (a fictitious char­
acter played by Binem Oreg). As in every mock-docu­
mentary the closing credits offer a last chance to rec­
ognise the fictitious status of the film, with the disori­
ented viewers learning that the characters they as­
sumed were authentic are actually portrayed by actors
and that it was they, and only they, who made the
most sensational, “expository” statements.
Distinct features of mockumentaries include the
signals that the director sends from time to time to
the audience (before explaining everything in the
end credits), suggesting the fabricated character of
the film. Dark Side of the Moon has its share of them,
such as the names of fictitious personae dramatis. Eve
Kendall is a character in North by Northwest (1959),
Marla Vargas - in The Barefoot Countess (1954), Jack
Torrance - in The Shining (1980), David Bowman in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Ambrose Chapel is
the name of the spy headquarters in The Man Who
Knew Too Much (1956), Dimitri Muffley combines
the names of two presidents from Dr. Strangelove
(1964), and W.A. Koenigsberg is a play on the name
of Woody Allen (W.A), Koenigsberg being Allen’s
true surname. If these names failed to make audiences
suspicious the grotesque story about the hunt for the
film crew and their assassinations should certainly do
the trick. Mention is due to the rabbi’s excellent story
recalling how for ten years he hid one of the produc­
tion designers and taught him Yiddish: One night he
was set on by some hooligans in the Bronx. When they
found out he was a Jew, they forced him to do a few al­
terations to their suits. Then they beat him up and left
him for dead. He spent six months in a coma in Mount

416

�Beata Kosińska-Krippner • THE PARODIC NATURE ... IN MOCKUMENTARIES

Sinai hospital. And one morning he died. Equally note­
worthy is the off-camera information about the film
crew escaping to Vietnam and the US government
airdropping thousands (!) of armed soldiers and secret
agents to catch and eliminate them, along with the
hilarious recollections of alleged Vietnamese peasants
(subtitled into English) about the agents arriving in
their village: For secret agents they weren’t very discreet.
They had no respect for anything. We found empty beer
cans and McDonald’s wrappers everywhere (...) Ama­
teurs, real amateurs. One of them killed himself cleaning
his revolver. We kept the body for the kids to play with
(...). They were only interested in one thing: girls. It was
a real obsession with them (...). They spent their whole
time smoking grass. And it wasn’t just mineral water they
were drinking. They completely destroyed the village’s at­
mosphere. A real disaster. Twenty years later, you can
still see their traces (we see an old man drinking vodka
straight from a bottle) And all for nothing! They never
found anyone. A woman says: (...) They tried to pass
themselves off as Vietnamese peasants. Their disguises and
accents were perfect. But we identified them in 30 seconds
(...) their commanding officer was black! The end cred­
its reveal that the Vietnamese peasants were probably
residents of China and Laos, because the film features
fragments of documentaries about the population of
those two countries. The hints become stronger as the
film draws to a close. The voice-over states that Nixon
sent numerous armed forces to hunt down the film­
makers and ... dress up their murders to look like ac­
cidents. When Chapel says that several crewmembers
died in accidents we see a man lying in a street, with
a dozen or so Santas leaning over him, and when we
hear that one of the assistant directors drowned in his
pool we see two men throwing a dog into a lake. We
also learn that a dismembered body of one of the film­
makers was found in Patagonia, with the police claim­
ing it was suicide.
Another evident and thus remarkably funny signal
is the fact that the already discussed proof of the moon
landing hoax theory (the fluttering flag, the shadows,
the absence of dust, the unexpectedly well preserved
footprints, etc.), quoted in all publications and docu­
mentaries on the topic, features also evidence added
by Karel - an image showing a photo of Kubrick shoot­
ing 2001: A Space Odyssey accidentally left on the fake
moon surface. Finally - as I have already mentioned we also find out that Dimitri Muffley, the former KGB
agent discussing the evidence, is a fictitious charac­
ter portrayed by Bernard Kirschoff. Interestingly, al­
though the film seems to support the thesis that the
Apollo 11 landing on the moon was a trick (and many
viewers interpreted it in this way), universally known
and widely discussed proof is automatically ridiculed
and deprecated by the fact that it was presented by a
fictitious character. This is why the film can be catego­
417

rized as a first - and second-degree mock documentary
according to the Roscoe and Hight classification. In
a concealed manner it supports the myth of man on
the moon, introducing only slight anxiety about its
connections with reality and simultaneously deriding
the codes and conventions of the documentary, chal­
lenging its authority, and inspiring concern about such
other factual forms as daily news programmes.
Dark Side of the Moon is a masterfully assembled
manipulation combining interviews and statements by
authentic people taken out of context with stagings
featuring actors portraying fictitious characters. The
closing credits are followed by final interpretation di­
rectives. The so-called bloopers, i.e. mistakes made by
cast members and jokes caused by the absurd nature of
the dialogue include the twice repeated statement by
an alleged KGB agent: We soon realised the whole thing
was a hoax... along with a declaration by Walters, who
is dubbed throughout the entire film: Listen to me now
and believe me because I’m going to tell you the truth. . . ;
earlier, the sentence ended with the words (naturally,
spoken by the actor dubbing Walters): This could mean
people’s lives, while the post-credits version has: I want
you to believe me because this is the truth (...) I never had
any relationship with that woman. A t the end we also
see a relaxed Rumsfeld saying: You told me this was a
high-class programme and a laughing Helms also stating
that he thought this was a serious programme. Does
this mean that they agreed to have their statements
used in the film and reacted with laughter? Intuition
and experience gained in the course of the film tell
us that these sentences too were taken out of context
and do not concern Dark Side of the Moon. This may
be confirmed by words unambiguously signalling at the
end of the film that this is a parody of documentaries:
Any resemblance to actual living persons is purely coin­
cidental. No goy was mistreated during the filming. The
director verified this in an interview for the Arte TV
channel4 (although perhaps also in this case we should
adopt a cautious attitude). When asked how he came
up with the idea of shooting a documentary that does
not reflect reality Karel answered: I have just completed
a film about Hollywood that does not correspond to (Hol­
lywood’s) reality. Together with an Arte France editor in
charge of documentaries we were thinking about making
a documenteur, to use Agnes Varda’s term (a play on
words —documentaire —documentary, and the similarly
sounding menteur —lying, as in: fictitious). In this way
we intended to contribute something amusing to the oth­
erwise serious Arte programme line-up. This had to be an
entertaining, funny film. First and foremost, we assumed
that one should not believe everything the media are trying
to sell, because it is always possible to persuade witnesses
to give false testimony, forge archival materials, and com­
pletely distort the message of a documentary by using fake
subtitles or dubbing. We wanted to present historical sub­

�Beata Kosińska-Krippner • THE PARODIC NATURE ... IN MOCKUMENTARIES

ject matter but one that would be universally topical. Since
the theme could not be awkward, murder and war were
strictly out of the question. This is when we thought about
photos of man’s first steps on the Moon. This particular is­
sue matched our requirements: the photos’ authenticity has
been discussed for the last thirty years. Jean-Luc Godard’s
statement declaring on a TF1 news programme: These
live broadcasts are fake, provided an impulse. Sceptics
can cite all types of proof: Aldrin became an alcoholic,
Nixon was not there when the rocket was launched, and
the astronauts travelled thousands of kilometres to spend
only three hours on the moon. All very strange, so...
In the same interview Karel also put an end to all
speculations about well-known people being aware of
their involvement in his prank. Asked how he man­
aged to convince the film’s protagonists to participate,
he answered: Not a single one was in on the joke. The
idea was to say that the interviews had a completely differ­
ent purpose. This is why we did not let any of the witnesses
into the secret. Only seven actors were involved and actu­
ally given lines to learn. They played some of the witnesses.
(For example, the character of Nixon’s adviser was taken
from the film All the President’s Men). Due to twist­
ing the testimony of authentic figures we needed only one
“false" witness, Nixon’s secretary, to make the whole story
logical and credible. We told the “real" witnesses that we
were making a film about Kubrick, his film, the moon or
NASA, and asked them totally vague questions. Christine
Kubrick appeared in the film convinced that it was to
tell the story of her husband and in good faith related
Kubrick’s contacts with N A SA , which allowed him to
borrow a military lens to shoot Barry Lyndon. Farouk
El-Baz was convinced that he was going to take part
in a film about behind-the-scenes of the U.S.-Soviet
space race. Nixon’s advisors were filmed in different
places and for the purpose of other films, and their
statements were taken out of the original context.
Karel - as many authors of mockumentaries before
him - was charged with attacking the media and ques­
tioning our attitude towards photographs. Without
moon landing photos it would be impossible to fully render
the event. In addition, the cinema exerts an influence upon
news programmes. Many authentic historical events were
captured on camera already after they actually took place:
raising the American flag atop Mount Suribachi during
the Battle of Iwo Jima, capturing the Reichstag, Ameri­
cans landing in Somalia (shot two or three times). And
during the Gulf and Afghanistan wars we did not see... a
single authentic photo. I considered showing the role played
by a photo, or its lack, in constructing an event to be an
intriguing undertaking. But my film should not give the
impression of being malicious... Nowhere did we actually
say that Armstrong had not walked on the moon. The film
only set forth a hypothesis claiming that the USA prepared
itself for an eventuality that man’s first steps on the Moon
could not be photographed. When does the viewer begin to

doubt? When do we let him know that he is dealing with a
joke? This is not really clear. Hence we included a parodical collection of stylistic giveaways at the film’s end in case
anyone still believed it.
The director also formulated a summary: Manoeu­
vring carefully between lies and truth, the film combines
facts with total fabrication. We used all possible ingredi­
ents: “captured” archival film material, fake documents,
and authentic interviews taken out of their original context
or transformed by narration or dubbing, and staged in­
terviews featuring actors, whose answers adhered to the
screenplay...
In keeping with the spirit of the mock-documen­
tary theory a certain group of viewers took the film
seriously even though it indicates its fictitious char­
acter on numerous occasions in an evident and amus­
ing way and, as follows from the interview, despite the
director’s concern not to leave any doubts about its
status. This reaction is demonstrated by comments on
several Internet forums, both Polish and foreign, with
some disoriented viewers asking for help in finding fur­
ther information about the film, and others confessing
how they were fooled by the joke when they saw the
film for the first time and describing how pleasant it
was to watch it more carefully for the second time.
The Polish website of the Planete TV channel5 be­
came the arena of a rather amusing discussion that
simultaneously says quite a lot about the reception of
mockumentaries. One viewer expressed his outrage
caused by an article by Tadeusz Sobolewski, which
he found shocking; in the last sentence the journalist
aptly defined the mock-documentary message of the
film (without, however, using the genre’s name): In
the earlier Operation Luna, supposedly made for fun, he
achieved a paradoxical effect. He had not only aroused
distrust towards American propaganda but also towards
films revealing behind-the-scenes goings-on of major poli­
tics, which put the chaos of reality into order by using one
obsessive key.6 And here is how the viewer reacted: If
the discussed documentary really is an intentional hoax
then William Karel deliberately offended viewers all over
the world, jeopardized the TV channels that decided to
show the film, and intentionally endangered the independ­
ent foreign policy of the French state. I expect the Board of
TV Planete in France to condemn this unprecedented me­
dia hoax and to apologise to Polish TV viewers for moral
losses. I appeal to members of this forum —see this scandal­
ous film for yourself... The forum’s administrator, who
correctly interpreted the film’s intentions but failed
to completely decipher all its elements, especially the
signals sent by the director, replied as follows: The di­
rector did not intend to conduct an investigation about the
moon landing but to prove that TV is a remarkably power­
ful medium. Contemporary technology makes it possible to
manipulate other people’s words and images in almost any
way you want. Karel deliberately does not reveal which

418

�Beata Kosińska-Krippner • THE PARODIC NATURE ... IN MOCKUMENTARIES

fragments of the film were falsified by means of editing and
which were not. In this way the viewer can experience for
himself how difficult it is to distinguish the effects of a good
editor's work from an original recording. There would not
be so much confusion surrounding Operacja Księżyc7 if its
author had decided to include a few words of explanation
at its end. On the other hand, perhaps the director did not
plan to reveal the truth so that those who have already seen
this “mock-documentary” would not give away to first­
timers which fragments of the film are real. Please note
that TVP1 scheduled Karel’s film for 1 April, April Fool's
Day. The Planete premiere of the film was also held on 1
April. The viewer replied: Thank you (...) for the expla­
nation, which I find satisfactory although I have to note
that the Nazi regime already long ago proved the power
of media’s impingement, and an attempt at confirming this
fact by using such a concocted film is pathetic. I would also
like to add another aspect of the issue, which I find im­
portant, that is, the concern about the Polish viewer. The
Polish viewer is more demanding and critical and reacts
to the media in a more serious and engagée manner...
As far as I know, films and dialogues fabricated in this
way are used in Poland by radio and TV stations to pro­
duce amusing entertainment and not documentary films
(■ ■ ■ ). I propose to call William Karel and other producers
of his ilk media terrorists. The administrator’s response
is just as amusing: We agree with your opinion. View­
ers in various countries should not be treated in the same
way. This is precisely why Planete networks were divided
in 2004. Ever since then the channel broadcast in Poland
is prepared by a Polish staff. We showed Dark Side of
the Moon when the schedule was still set up for several
European countries (including Poland) in France. After
the forum’s participants discussed at length assorted
political matters, the same outraged viewer returned
to the film: It was my intention to protest against showing
cinematic jokes as documentaries. The fact that during the
narrator’s account of US soldiers assassinating four secret
agents, who worked with Kubrick on the moon landing
production, information that: “assistant director Jim Gow
was drowned in his swimming pool” is followed by a scene
of a dog being thrown into a large lake shows the way in
which the director makes fun of the viewer. The problem
is that watching this brief scene you get the impression that
a man is being tossed into water. Not one of my friends
who also watched the film saw a dog. Myself included.
Only when examining this scene frame after frame ((!)/
my emphasis -B.K.-K/8) you can clearly perceive the out­
line of a dog.
Why am I writing all this? I am concerned with the
fact that films of this kind not only offend the viewer and
are detrimental to the whole category of documentaries,
but also ridicule the foreign policy of France as obsessively
anti-American. In this situation, even the best documen­
tary criticising Big Brother overseas can arouse distrust.
Another viewer reacted as follows: After more or less

ten minutes it became obvious that we are dealing with a
joke, irony and satire. The objective? First, the pretentious­
ness of politicians, the foolishness of the media, the pursuit
of sensational conspiracy theories, and the lack of ordinary
common sense and a critical assessment of what the mass
media are selling us. The film was great fun... The out­
raged viewer did not give up and quoted his teenage
nephew: “The film cannot be classified into any category.
If you insist, it can be treated as political satire or farce
featuring qualities of therapeutic treatment aimed at people
afflicted with a severe case of the Big Brother syndrome.
Good mood after viewing the film testifies to its consider­
able therapeutic assets". And what about the dog? Here’s
the rub. He [the nephew] could not understand why a
dog was given the part of a man. According to him, a dog
playing the role of a man is already grotesque and spoils
the film’s harmony. One more comment on the same
forum: When watching a science fiction film, on 1 April
to boot, you should keep your distance. Moreover, as far
as I remember the film did not claim that the moon landing
never happened; it mentioned that the recording equipment
did a bad job and that it was necessary to shoot the film in
a studio during the “London session", which I do not find
so improbable. This is the way in which the Polish Tele­
vision website advertised the film: Previously unknown,
sensational facts about the historical U.S. landing on the
moon in July 1969. Eminent American political experts:
Henry Kissinger, Donald Rumsfeld, Lawrence Eagleburg­
er, General Alexander Haig and Richard Helms reveal the
truth concealed for many years ... and quoted (without
explanations and a critical commentary) the earlier
cited fragment of the film’s screenplay about the Cold
War circumstances of developing the moon hoax.9
A description of the film prepared by an organiser of
one of the festivals showing it promoted it as: Shocking
French documentary revealing the most concealed secrets
of the American space programme. It turns out that the
scenes of Apollo 11 landing on the moon, which we all
know from, i.a. film newsreels, were staged in a studio and
directed by none other that Stanley Kubrick himself (!).
Statements by Henry Kissinger, Donald Rumsfeld and as­
tronaut Buzz Aldrin add credibility to Karel’s revelation.10
These quotes are rather evocative because within the
context of an earlier analysis of the film they tell us
about problems with the reception and interpretation
of a mockumentary and are among the first records
of a Polish audience (ordinary viewers and people
somehow connected with the film industry) confront­
ing this cinematic form. Foreign forums, even though
audiences in, e.g. the US and the UK are considerably
more familiar with the discussed genre, also featured
comments full of approval for the more humane face
of Henry Kissinger, the relaxed stance of Buzz Aldrin,
Alexander Haig and Kubrick’s widow, and admiration
that a man as busy as Rumsfeld found time to participate
in such a film, along with the question: what inspired

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�Beata Kosmska-Knptmer • THE PARODIC NATURE ... IN MOCKUMENTARIES

Rumsfeld to appear, and even assumptions that White
House personalities became involved in the joke to
distract attention from a hoax of a much higher cali­
bre. The latter suggestion was actually mentioned on
the website of the Grimme Preise award, which the
film received in 2003.
Dark Side of the Moon was clearly inspired by Capri­
corn One, Peter Hyams’ 1978 Mars landing hoax film.
With the flight date approaching N A SA specialists re­
alise that the spaceship’s life-support system does not
guarantee success and prefer staging the landing to
cancelling the mission. Just before the ship’s launch its
crew becomes removed from Capricorn One and tak­
en to a desert military base, where they are informed
that they will have to stage the Mars footage. The as­
tronauts initially refuse, but the authorities threaten
their families if they do not cooperate. While the
empty ship continues its flight to Mars the astronauts
spend several months filming the “Mars landing”. The
conspiracy involves only a few N A SA members, until
technicians notice that the television transmission sig­
nal was sent from a near-by destination and spread the
news to journalists. The technicians mysteriously dis­
appear and the journalists find themselves in trouble.
When the crew’s return is expected, the real (empty)
spacecraft is destroyed by fire during re-entry, officially
plunging the whole world into deep mourning for the
three heroes. The astronauts are killed since they are
no longer needed and know too much. Conspiracy
Theory: Did We Land on the Moon? - John Moffet’s
2001 American documentary may have been the sec­
ond source of inspiration for Karel. Dark Side of the
Moon essentially appears to be a spin-off of the Moffet production. Both films are constructed in a highly
similar way - they use interviews and archival foot­
age and propose the same arguments and evidence of
the staged Moon landing of Apollo 11; in Karel’s film
they are presented by a fictitious former KGB agent,
but Moffet’s picture features authentic characters photography and sound experts, scientists and Bill
Kaysing, the “king of conspiracy theories” specialis­
ing in tracking down evidence supporting the moon
hoax theory. Both films expand the motif of staging
man’s first steps on the moon, but Karel focuses on
Kubrick, the alleged director of this enterprise, and on
the landing’s studio-set staging, while Moffett is only
interested in evidence of the hoax itself, which the
film claims took place in a secret military base in the
Nevada desert. Although Moffett allowed himself to
make a joke by bringing in Mitch Pileggi, the X-Files
star, as his narrator, he decisively defined his film’s
status by opening it with the following caption: The
following program deals with a controversial subject. The
theories expressed are not the only possible interpretation.
Viewers are invited to make a judgment based on all avail­
able information.
420

Year of the Devil and Czech Dream
While in certain countries (e.g. the U SA , the
United Kingdom, New Zealand) the mockumentary
is already a well-known and appreciated sub-genre,
in many other ones it is taking its first steps albeit
with films that can be classified as superior examples
of this cinematic form. Among them is the excel­
lent Czech Rok dabla (Year of the Devil, 2002) di­
rected by Petr Zelenka. In the tradition of a majority
of mockumentaries its classification proved a tough
task for the reviewers. Some attempted to describe
it as docufiction where, as the plot advances and ab­
surd events start to accumulate, the viewer loses grasp
of what is real and what is fiction... it makes genre clas­
sification difficult, freely referring to various cinematic
styles, from the documentary and the music movie to
the comedy. Its strength certainly lies in the creation of
the presented world;11 this depiction reveals the film’s
mock-documentary character. Year of the Devil ini­
tially produces the impression of a music documen­
tary or, more precisely, a documentary biography of
the Czech singer, composer and poet Jaromir Nohavica, featuring elements typical for motion pic­
tures of this kind, such as footage from rehearsals
and fragments of concerts. It applies absurd state­
ments and weird occurrences to point out that its
status is not entirely factual and we should not treat
seriously everything we learn about Nohavica; the
fact that he took part in the film and mocked his
own ups and downs tells us more about him than the
film’s plot and the information it contains. Besides
Nohavica, the film’s list of authentic characters in­
cludes his friend, guitar player and composer Karel
Plihal, the folk band Czechomor and Jaz Coleman,
the English rock musician. The Dutch documentary
maker Jan Holman (played by Czech filmmaker and
distributor Jan Prent), however, is a fictitious char­
acter. The film tells the story of Holman, a recov­
ering alcoholic, arriving in the Czech Republic to
shoot a documentary about a detox hospital. This
is where he meets Nohavica and his guardian angel
Plihal and abandons his original plan by setting out
on tour with the musicians. Zelenka, mixing a ficti­
tious character with authentic ones, resorted to a so­
lution similar to Karel’s Dark Side of the Moon, the
difference being that while Karel assembled various
filmed quotes featuring well-known people and took
them out of context, in Zelenka’s film authentic
characters actually agreed to join the proceedings.
The film maintained the Nohavica myth, endowing
it with an ambiguous character and simultaneously
slightly mocking biographical documentaries of this
sort. Some critics correctly classified the film by
putting it upon the same level as the quintessential
mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap, but at the same
time calling it a fake documentary12.

�Beata Kosmska-Knppner • THE PARODIC NATURE ... IN MOCKUMENTARIES

Cesky sen

(C z e c h D r e a m )

Cesky sen (Czech Dream) from 2004 is an extraor­
dinary film within the mock-documentary context.
Before developing their first Czech reality-show film or
first Czech documentary hypercomedy, Vit Klusak and
Filip Remunda created a mock-situation of sorts, a
far-flung hoax intended to ridicule the post-commu­
nist country’s consumerism, expose the mechanisms
of advertising and susceptibility to the latest kind of
propaganda and manipulation, showcase the power of
the media and, simultaneously, reveal possible (and
applied) documentary practices. Klusak and Remunda, at the time students at the Prague film school,
hired ad specialists (many unaware what they became
involved in) to arrange a two-week promotional cam­
paign of Cesky Sen, a fictional hypermarket. They
created a logo, TV and radio advertisements, 200 000
leaflets promoting products of the Cesky Sen brand,
posters, ads in newspapers and magazines, 400 illumi­
nated billboards, an jingle and a website. On the day
of the “grand opening”, however, the estimated 4 000
potential clients, who came to a meadow in the Letnany district saw only a colourful hypermarket façade
painted on canvas. The idea was inspired by a happen­
ing devised by Peter Lorenc who in 1996 handed out
several thousand posters advertising a non-existing
GIGADIGA hypermarket. The opening was held on
an empty meadow, where Lorenc placed a banner with
the inscription: It’s better to go on a woodland walk. A t
first glance, Czech Dream is an account of the succes­
sive stages of preparing a major provocation, all the
way to the grand “non-opening” of the hypermarket,
421

while simultaneously bringing the audience closer to
the event’s social background and the views and mood
(also political) of the Czechs, proposing a sociological
observation, and presenting “behind-the-scenes” of a
major advertising campaign. But there is more... An
experienced mockumentary audience derives pleasure
from participating in a game consisting of searching
for and interpreting signals made by the directors to
confirm the film’s fictitious status. In Czech Dream
the game is - so to speak - dual. The majority of de­
scriptions, reviews and comments consider it to be a
documentary account of a major hoax and only the
expression: hard-to-classify documentary reveals that
their authors, overwhelmed by the scope of the “mock­
situation” itself, have doubts and are uncertain about
the film’s status. Viewers acquainted with the direc­
tors’ intention will enjoy spotting signals addressed
during the advertising campaign to potential clients,
which at the very least should have stirred up certain
misgivings (the hypermarket’s name, its logo with a
comic strip balloon, anti-advertising slogans: Don’t go
there, Don’t hurry, Don’t spend money, Don’t queue up,
Don’t shove and the remarkably low prices, i.a. a digital
camera for less than 1 $). Members of the audience
perceive them as signals not only because the film’s di­
rectors reveal the technical details of the entire under­
taking, of which potential clients were unaware (the
directors’ new image, the simultaneous casting for a
documentary of families regularly spending their free
time in hypermarkets), but predominantly because the
audience is from the very outset informed that eve­

�Beata Kosmska-Knptmer • THE PARODIC NATURE ... IN MOCKUMENTARIES

rything was undertaken with the film in mind, and
views the whole enterprise through this prism, which
subconsciously influences the reception of the hoax
and the attitude towards its victims (how could they
have fallen for it!?). The film entertains its viewers, who
feel compassion for, but also superiority to the future
victims of the joke, and harbour the impression that
they play in the same team as the directors. I believe
that the film also includes certain mock-documentary
qualities encouraging reflection on the capabilities
of the documentarians and the viewers’ susceptibil­
ity to possible documentary manipulations, caused if
not by belief in the factual accuracy of a documentary
then by instinctive trust in it. Signals informing about
the film’s actual state are not overly exposed and the
hoaxes and prevarications are not explicit. We are
dealing rather with the directors’ manipulations or
perhaps merely interventions consisting of selective
footage in the manner of Michael Moore’s documen­
tary method, which in this particular case boils down
to manipulation. In any case, such moments may
seem suspicious to the more careful viewers, e.g. the
fact that a film ridiculing consumerism and exposing
advertising mechanisms also becomes involved in ad
barter relations. Two minutes of the end credits are
dedicated to showcasing logos of companies backing
the production. The whole sequence about a shopping
trip of the Kudrnov family, winners of the casting for
the alleged documentary: Hypermarket with a Human
Face, is unquestionably an advertisement of the Tesco
chain. During the directors’ transformation into man­
agers, set in a Hugo Boss salon where they hire suits,
a salesman turns to the camera and says that the time
has come to fulfil the mutually beneficial agreement
and show the Hugo Boss logo for ten seconds; he then
rearranges a lapel, the camera zooms on the logo and
the filmmakers count the remaining time. In a scene
of shooting the advertisement involving a man chang­
ing his clothes, an employee of the ad agency organis­
ing the campaign points to the Mark/BBDO logo on
his cap and the camera zooms in. When posing for ad
photos in an atelier, Remunda and Klusak are clearly
mocking the whole situation by making exaggerated
moves, faking a relaxed and cool mood, and smiling in
a studied, artificial way. This sequence is for a moment
interrupted by a series of photos of well-known people
with equally premeditated expressions and smiles, i.a.
Vaclav Havel with wife Dagmar, Karel Gott, Helena
Vondrackova, and Vaclav Klaus. In this way, the
film directors are compared to people who play act
in front of the camera, strike a pose and pretend to
be someone else, and not to expository documentary
makers or journalists, usually on the other side of the
camera. The excessively long scene of the conflict
between the directors and the ad agency people also
looks suspiciously artificial, as if it were to present a

single sentence uttered by an ad agent, thus creating
the impression of the directors winking knowingly at
the audience (sending a signal). One of the filmmak­
ers wants the posters to include a sentence claiming
that on opening day no one shall leave empty-handed.
An agent objects, adding that he refuses to lie. After
a heated discussion the agent finally declares: Perhaps
for you filmmakers cheating people is business as usual, but
in the ad industry we don’t lie. You may find this surprising
but we don’t. One of the directors then asks him to re­
peat this statement. The agent looks straight into the
camera and says: I repeat. Even if you documentary mak­
ers lie in your films, we don’t do it in advertisements. The
filmmakers once again question the status of their film
and the work of documentarians in general in a scene
with a furious fisherman who found out that there is
no hypermarket. When asked what the whole story
has taught him, he replies: Never trust filmmakers. Sim­
ilar moments indicating the authors’ intervention are
numerous. The entire motion picture is interrupted as is the practice of many TV stations - by advertise­
ments, but the ones shown here promote the opening
of Cesky Sen. From the casting footage of families,
supervised by consumer behaviour specialist Dr Jitka
Vysekalova, we are shown only interviews whose par­
ticipants expressed their enthusiastic attitude towards
supermarkets and spending free time in them (I love
supermarkets. I find them a source of great joy. You can
really relax in a hypermarket). In one of the scenes a
woman says: This is not a dream, this is reality, this is
Harmony. When the director asks: What did you say?
and wants her to repeat the sentence, she once again
recites her (?) reflection.
In a scene shot after the Kudrnov family left the
supermarket, the director asks one of the women to
sing something in front of the camera. She immedi­
ately agrees and performs together with her daughter
an old folk song, in broken English but in tune:
Hey, ho, nobody’s home
meat or drink nor money have I none
Everybody will be happy
Hey, ho, nobody’s home.13
We then hear a replay, this time with a profession­
ally arranged orchestral backup and accompanied by
a magnificent sunset. During an earlier conversation
with the filmmakers the same woman declared: Our
lives are short, let’s live them the best way we can. Cu­
riously, the hypermarket’s anthem14 features both a
reference to the lyrics of her song (a kdyz nemas ani
halir/if you have no money) and to her statement (zivot
trva jen chvili/life is but a moment). In one of the casting
scenes, a mother of a teenager admits that she took her
daughter on a six-kilometre excursion last weekend,
but the girl did not enjoy herself at all; to cheer her up,
in the evening they went shopping at Tesco (!) and
this made her very happy. One of the directors then

422

�Beata Kosmska-Knptmer • THE PARODIC NATURE ... IN MOCKUMENTARIES

asks the daughter to describe how she felt at the store
after that exhausting walk. The girl replies: It was...
I don’t know... as if it had been raining all day long and
then I suddenly saw that the Sun came out. It was cool,
fun and pleasant. Strangely, the teenager’s sentence
turns out to have far-reaching consequences for the
whole film. The fictitious hypermarket’s anthem men­
tions, i.a. shopping that can brighten up a cloudy day
(Jak mohou ruze kvesti, kdyz je posmourny d e n .) . After
the Kudrnov family leaves Tesco and all push their
full carts towards the parking lot, one of the women
suddenly cries: Look, the Sun is setting. Klusak and Remunda decided to arrange their grand “opening” on
31 May 2003, the day of a solar eclipse. In one of the
scenes the directors are driving a car at dawn (we see
the Sun rising) and the radio’s presenter is heard say­
ing: Today we shall witness a solar eclipse. The rising Sun
will be unable to shine. On the contrary, it will be more of
a shrinking crescent (an amusing association with the
scene of casting the families, when a woman asked
what name she would choose for the new hypermar­
ket answers: “Horn of plenty”). The announcer then
goes on to say: You should not look at this fascinating
phenomenon for too long. Get up in the morning and put
on your special eyeglasses. And we see both directors in
their Hugo Boss suits looking at the sky through dark­
ened pieces of glass, while in the background resounds
the hypermarket’s anthem about rose-tinted specta­
cles (Tak prijd se radovat jak dite/ spousta veci omami
te/cely svet muzes mit. Chce to jenom trochu chtit/chce
to jenom nelenosit/zaparkovat, vzit si kosik, nepromeskat
velky den/prisel k nam vas cesky sen). Later, a woman
who came three hours before the opening explains
that she never participates in this kind of events but
her husband woke her up to see the eclipse, so she
came incidentally. Weather on the grand "opening”
day was beautiful and sunny (as emphasised by those
who gathered on the Letnany meadow), but rain
poured when the hoax came to light and it turned out
that there is no hypermarket. Not one is in sight when
across the wet windshields of a car driving away the
camera shows the increasingly distant façade of the
Cesky Sen hypermarket. We get the impression that
the day is coming to a close, although in reality the
scene could have been (and probably was) shot on a
completely different day. Moreover, at the end of the
film newspaper headlines express outrage at the hoax,
men replace street posters advertising the hypermar­
ket with advertisements of cigarettes and credit cards,
and the last scene is... a sunset; this time it seems to
refer not to the feelings of the would-be clients, but
to the second game that the directors were playing
with the audience. All the elements fit together as in
a jigsaw puzzle. Mention is due, however, to one more
signal sent by the directors, albeit not in this particular
film. They had prepared two trailers (“bloodless” and
423

“bloody”), of which the latter certainly appears to be
staged not only because the scenes it contains are not
featured in the finished film. It shows how after wouldbe clients found out about the hoax the crowd set off
in pursuit after the escaping directors, who managed
to jump into a car. Two brawny men, however, step
in front of a crowd composed of predominantly senior
citizens, one of them taking a baseball bat out of his
car’s trunk and bashing it against the front windscreen
of the filmmakers’ vehicle. Then the “bald one” drags
them out of the car, start shoving, beating and kick­
ing them, and tears the Hugo Boss suits into shreds
while a miniskirt-wearing woman enthusiastically
batters them with her handbag, presumably spew­
ing obscenities, while the oldsters shout and shake
their fists. The filmmakers finally manage to break
free and, covered in blood, run in slow motion in the
camera’s direction. The overall intention is to cre­
ate the impression of an authentic end to the whole
story, although the directors assure that no blows
were dealt. Interestingly, the DVD release of Czech
Dream featured 32 minutes of bonus footage miss­
ing from the final cut, while the film’s official web­
site includes photos of bloodied directors in ripped
clothes next to photos actually inserted in the film.
Finally, press material prepared by the distributor
for journalists included photos exclusively from the
“bloody” trailer.

First on the Moon
The Russian mockumentary is still in its infancy.
Aleksei Fedorchenko’s 2005 Perviye na Lune (First on
the Moon), awarded in Sochi15 and Venice16 and writ­
ten by Alexandr Goronovsky and Ramil Yamalayev,
is probably one of the first Russian examples of the
genre. The fact that local reviewers came up with
various neologisms to describe the film, which did not
match any categories familiar to them, demonstrates
that it was a total novelty in Russian cinematography.
Local promotion material described it as documentary
drama (a post-modern hoax), and critics wrote about a
pseudo-documentary,17 a documentary farce,18 and a
documentary look-alike.19 Polish material also called
it a science-fiction quasi-documentary, while W est­
ern reviewers applied the term: mock-documentary,
already adopted in many countries. In a documentary
style the film tells the story of an alleged Soviet space
project from the 1930s, culminating with a flight to the
moon in 1938 and contemplating the absurdities and
tragedies, which had to follow a clash between Stalin­
ist mentality and scientific progress. Its protagonists
had a chance to enjoy worldwide fame but instead be­
came victims of Stalin’s dictatorship. The plot begins
in Chile, where the Soviet spaceship landed after re­
turning from the moon, and follows Soviet astronaut
Ivan Kharlamov (Boris Vlasov) travelling from Chile

�Beata Kosmska-Knptmer • THE PARODIC NATURE ... IN MOCKUMENTARIES

across the Pacific Ocean and China to Mongolia, un­
til he is captured by the NKVD and sent to a psychi­
atric hospital, from which he eventually manages to
escape and, changing his identity in Zelig fashion, to
stay on the run from the secret police. Fedorchenko
mixes various footage ranging from authentic period
film newsreels (sports parade in the Red Square) and
fragments of Vasili Zhuravlyov’s 1936 sci-f film Kosmicheskiy reys: Fantistechaskaya novella (The Space
Voyage), to scenes meticulously shot to resemble pe­
riod newsreels, imitating NKVD operational materials
with suitably distorted picture and sound and subti­
tles made to look old. The interspersed contemporary
scenes shot in colour apply the form of a documentary
investigation as they follow the ups and downs of peo­
ple involved in the programme (i.a. Ivan Kharlamov,
female athlete Nadezhda Svetlaya and circus dwarf
Mikhail Roshchin). Fedorchenko declared: Viewers
should discover the game’s rule on they own and decide
whether they want to participate in it or not.20 As all
mockumentaries, also this one finally reveals its actual
status in the closing credits, according to which actors
portrayed all the characters. Sometimes, the film is
amusing (information about shooting archival footage
with the aid of hidden, several-centimetre cameras, a
dwarf joining the spaceship crew because the size of
the spaceship was undetermined, words spoken by a
guardian of the NKVD archives: Since everything in­
cluded here was filmed it really took place, or nostalgic.
Fedorchenko said: The element of irony is very small,
perhaps about 5 percent. The rest is something of a homage
to the generation of our fathers and grandfathers, including
their honesty and genuine belief in ideas.21 The funny and
self-reflective film has the qualities of a mock-docu­
mentary, but the director protests against this term
and several others used to describe his work: We didn’t
aim for mystification, but for a fantasy drama. Terms like
“post-modernism” and “mock-documentary” are not what
we intended. Perhaps the genre is documentary fantasy.22
The director distances himself from the film’s associa­
tions with Viktor Pelevin’s space novel Omon Ra, be­
cause it was not his purpose to bring down myths but
to recreate the grotesque and tragic character of the
past and to symbolically commemorate people who
fell victim to a policy intent on proving the greatness
of the U SSR at any cost. Fedorchenko regarded the
heroism of volunteers taking part in the secret pro­
gramme and put through gruelling training just to
become superfluous and destroyed by the system as
very important and quite a challenge. The director re­
portedly spent half a year watching old film newsreels
to create an exact replica of the visual documentary
styles of the 1930s. Thanks to the mastery of cinema­
tographer Anatoly Lesnikov and production designer
Nikolay Pavlov the film makes a great job of “imitat­
ing” old newsreels, even though 90% of it is actually
424

footage shot today. Kovalov noted: Fedorchenko does
not imitate the arbitrary "flow of life"; instead, he imitates
the normative aesthetics of officious film-journals —edu­
cational, instructional, and other types of applied films in­
tended for use in “official work”. He reproduces precisely
this method of staging... it is distinctively “an imitation of
an imitation". (...) He creates a genuinely monumental
image of a unified aesthetics. It is important to remember
that in a commissioned film, shots of an official parade
are different from shots of a sports parade; that the politi­
cal leadership was to be filmed in one way and ordinary
citizens in another; and that in different periods of Soviet
power these norms changedP
The film starts with the following caption: Status
of the film material does not meet the accepted standards
of quality, but it has been included in the film due to its
uniqueness. This announcement suggests that we shall
be dealing with archival footage of considerable sig­
nificance, although genuine period material consti­
tutes 10% of the whole film and is composed of widely
known photographs that do not bring anything new to
the film but boost its credibility. Although Fedorchenko protests against his film being described as a
mockumentary it certainly has a mock-documentary
dimension to it and thus can be analysed and inter­
preted as such. The director constructed the film us­
ing elements typical for a documentary: iconography,
black-and-white archival newsreels and period film
material (secret NKVD footage) as well as present-day
“talking heads” commentary (shot in colour). Some
90% are look-alikes, which the director - as in every
mockumentary - indirectly suggests to us from time
to time, and the “talking heads” are actually actors,
although obviously we do not find out until the final
credits. In this case, laughable statements made by
some of the characters should be recognised as hints
about the real status of First on the Moon. Allegedly
discussing the filmed events, their comments actually
concern something completely different, are taken
out of their original context, and when introduced
into that of the film sound outright absurd. First on the
Moon begins with a large close-up, which viewers mis­
led by the title may identify as the surface of the moon.
As the camera pulls back, however, it turns out that
this is the Earth, with someone digging with a hoe.
Black-and-white footage, as if from an old newsreel,
shows Chilean peasants who, naturally in their native
language, describe - the commentary suggests - a huge
meteorite. We immediately called the police - says one of
them - but what can our police do? When my wife was
robbed, they arrived two months later. Since the closing
credits feature information that material from the site
where the “Chilean orb” fell is property of a Chilean
natural science museum, the footage may actually be
genuine; more, the peasants may be really discussing
a meteorite, but the audience usually does not know

�Beata Kosmska-Knppner • THE PARODIC NATURE ... IN MOCKUMENTARIES

what the film’s various non-Russian speaking witness­
es are saying, because their comments are drowned
out by a Russian translator. Comic image-commentary
juxtapositions also act as a signal, e.g. the black-andwhite “newsreel” Soyuzkinozhurnal nr. 54 noyabr 1936
titled: Continuing Tsiolkovsky’s Work. The off-screen
narrator speaks about Young Pioneers repeating Tsiolkovsky’s experiment with a special centrifuge, and
we see them putting a goose into a pot placed on a
bicycle wheel, covering the pot with a lid and turning
the wheel; finally, once the task is accomplished, they
raise their arms in a Pioneers’ greeting. Another scene
shows thoughtful older men in white overalls, prob­
ably scientists, surrounded by metal skulls, ribs and
spines. One of them in earnest explains the goal of
their research: the creation of a Soviet man with metal
bones, which will protect him in a collision with a car.
Another example - an alleged Secret Service instruc­
tion film: The Technique of Applying the SK-29 Camera
for Secret Observation, with the caption: For profes­
sional use only. The voice-over informs us: Cameras are
used for obtaining materials compromising the subject and
the black-and-white footage shows a girl standing by a
bed and a m an... shaving her legs. In the same absurd
instruction film a soldier takes a small camera out of
a briefcase, with the commentary explaining: You can
hide the SK-29 camera anywhere you want, in a briefcase,
in a woman’s purse, on the street and in a room. A caption
appears: Unfold the shoulder strap. A n off-screen direc­
tive instructs: The camera may be used without a stand in
assorted situations. Caption: Keep your distance. We see
a woman and right behind her - a spy with a briefcase
filming her. In another allegedly secret NKVD mate­
rial in Fedorchenko’s film the off-camera commentary
informs us: Subject under observation —Ivan Kharlamov,
and we see Kharlamov (or rather the actor portray­
ing him) walking up to a street stall, buying matches,
entering a room, lying down on a bed, walking up to
a window and looking out of it while smoking a ciga­
rette. The comical nature of the whole situation is the
effect of a juxtaposition of serious off-screen commen­
tary with the completely insignificant nature of situ­
ations from the life of the observed subject filmed by
the secret, hidden camera and the very fact that such
trivial material was preserved in the archive.
An even more interesting signal comes from a frag­
ment supposedly shot at the Film Archive in Moscow,
where an old curator of the NKVD archive, walking
among shelves full of film cans, says: Since everything
included here was filmed, it had actually taken place.
Next, black-and-white footage pretends to be archival
material from the 1930s and shows Ivan Sergeyevich
Kharlamov; the off-screen narrator informs us that
Kharlamov was wounded when suppressing a rebel­
lion in Turkistan, but we see him in an idyllic scene,
delightedly posing for the camera while sitting on a
425

camel. A t this stage, there comes to mind a question:
why do these presumed remnants of old newsreels fo­
cus on Kharlamov (clearly the only person the cam­
era follows) already before he became a renowned,
accomplished engineer? And if this is confidential
material shot by the Secret Services, planning to re­
cruit him, then why did Kharlamov (and only he)
react to the camera’s presence (look in its direction,
wave)? In addition, the opinion voiced by the archi­
vist is complemented by a statement made by a man
bedridden in hospital, probably a former agent, who
says: You are asking strange questions, comrade director.
There was nothing of this sort. My memory is good but I
don’t remember anything. Both declarations sound es­
pecially interesting in the context of one of the film’s
last scenes, with soldiers burning numerous film reels
taken out of cans, probably property of the archive
shown earlier. Another hint are the fake smiles of the
persons posing for the camera. One of the metal bone
scientists is artificially and nervously laughing directly
at the camera, although his colleagues seem not to
notice this, absorbed by their urgent activities. Since
what they are saying is ridiculous and their occupation
is absurd, this man’s conduct questions their gravity,
producing the impression that he is unable to help
laughing and slip into the appointed role as earnestly
as his colleagues. Amusing doubts can also be inspired
by the film’s iconography. The colour footage displays
an old book with Chinese writing and prints suppos­
edly presenting the construction of a spaceship. The
off-camera commentary discusses spaceship construc­
tors from, i.a. the eleventh century, a treatise on this
subject dating back to 1320, and nineteenth-century
Russia, where battle missiles and submarines were de­
signed. The documents, prints and old encyclopaedias
on display may all be authentic but they do not neces­
sarily show what the commentary is suggesting. The
same holds true for some of the possibly genuine news­
reel fragments accompanied by not automatically true
commentaries, e.g. a fragment of a newsreel with cou­
ples dancing at some sort of a ball (perhaps on New
Year’s Eve) features commentary claiming that the
ball celebrated Kharlamov’s accomplishments. Typi­
cally for a mock-documentary the film also contains
fabricated newspaper cuttings with headlines match­
ing the film’s topic, e.g.: The last of the astronauts passed
away in his workshop before the production of our film
wrapped up. We see young people putting a spaceship
into a chest. The project was terminated, people disap­
peared. Now it turns out that there was nothing. But there
was a rocket. We see some kind of a black-and-white
chronicle, with street traffic and a paperboy. Narra­
tion: In March 1938 news about the fall of a fireball in
Chile was in all the papers. We are shown people read­
ing newspapers on a tram and old press headlines:
“Herald Express”: Passengers of “Fortuna” airliner saw

�Beata Kosińska-Krippner • THE PARODIC NATURE ... IN MOCKUMENTARIES

a fire ball; “El Mecurio”: El Sol cayo Sobre Chile. Ovnis
o pruebas militares? (The Sun fell over Chile), “L ’Echo
de Paris”: Meteorite? Comete? Martiens?, "Il Buonsenso”:
La Sfera Cilena —I Dei sono ritoranti in Cile? (Chilean
globe. The gods returned to Chile?), “Daily Express”: The
Chilean Ball —a League of Nations Special commission
investigation. A headline: The secret of the Chilean globe
revealed. Narration: A shepherd found debris of foreign
aircraft in the mountains. Caption: Chile. 200 kilometres
north of the town of Olyagua. The area where the “Chil­
ean globe” fell. Off-screen commentary: The Chilean
globe fell on 24 March 1938. Suprun’s rocket took off a
week before on 16 March. Our production crew went to
Chile. We watch the trip: And we found it. A tiny part
of the dashboard of the very first Soviet spaceship. Local
peasants sold the rest for 125 dollars. The film also con­
tains look-alike elements introducing mystery, con­
spiracy and secrecy, e.g. frames from supposed NKVD
footage with German officers (actors in costumes, we
learn later) observing candidates for the secret mission
diving into water. When the director asks Fattakhov:
How did the Germans come about?, he replies that he
does not know, because this was a secret project. No
further comments, because the planted suggestion is
supposed to stir the viewers’ imagination. Successive
takes illustrating the secret project show water being
poured on the candidates (as in old psychiatric hospi­
tals) and then soldiers leading a... piglet with imple­
mented electrodes. Next, Material no. 9: a piglet in a
spacesuit is placed into a rocket and launched. The
animal then lands with a parachute and two soldiers
pose with it for a photograph.
Apart from the mock-documentary-style film
newsreels in Sergey Livnev’s Serp i molot (Sickle and
Hammer; 1994), the list of Fedorchenko’s significant
predecessors includes Vitali Mansky’s project Chastniye kroniki. Monolog (Private Chronicles. Monologue;
1999) - a compilation of amateur video films the di­
rector received from people from every former Soviet
republic, telling the story of a fictitious protagonist
born on the day before Yuri Gagarin’s space flight (11
April 1961); his death coincides with the end of the
Soviet era.

Polish mock-documentary parodies
The Polish cinema as yet has not featured such
spectacular mock-documentaries as the examples dis­
cussed above. Nonetheless, one of the first films in
which certain (Degree I) mockumentary elements can
be found is Krzysztof Gradowski’s 11-minute TV film:
Déjà vu czyli skąd my to znamy (Déjà Vu or Where
Have We Seen This, 1978), realised at Studio Minia­
tur Filmowych, a parody of popular educational films
and programmes shown at the time as part of so-called
school series. Just like a full-blown mock-documentary
it ridicules the documentary style, statements of so-

called ordinary people caught on camera, TV com­
ments by experts, professionals and specialists, scien­
tific jargon and empty rhetoric, scientific discourse,
etc. The film begins with thank-you’s listing the peo­
ple who helped with its production, but this time grat­
itude is expressed in an absurd way, mocking the cus­
tom adopted by many directors. The voice-over says:
From the Author. I consider it to be a pleasant duty to
thank Prof. Jerzy Borowa, Ph.D., for his sympathetic atti­
tude to the film’s project presented to him at the Magnolia
restaurant. The screenplay was based on the theses of his
fundamental work: Rewarding Positive Adjustments (a
black-and-white photograph with an autograph below
it. The man in the photo moves, takes his glasses off,
smokes a cigarette and then freezes in a new pose). I
also want to publicly express my gratitude to Assistant
Professor Jan Pracz for his acceptance of the three-dimen­
sional method assumed during the film’s production.
Thanks to his kind consent we have obtained a complete
perspective illusion, which will require the viewer to main­
tain absolute discipline of looking at the left side of the
frame with the left eye and, respectively, at its right side
with the right eye (the man in the photograph is smok­
ing a pipe and reading a book). I would like to thank the
management of the Division of Assignments at the Depart­
ment of Resources of the Ministry of Imitated Illusions for
letting me study the practical benefits of optimistic percep­
tion (the man in the photo is drinking alcohol). Finally,
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Director
Kuliszka who by withholding special care and an atmos­
phere of particular sympathy for my modest undertakings
decisively contributed to the film’s creation in its present
shape and dimensions. Intertitle with caption: Case 1
and the sound of some sort of an off-camera psychiat­
ric examination: Man aged 48, railway worker, does not
admit to any hereditary dispositions. As a child often used
to skip school to go to the movies. Masturbates since 14.
While hypnotised confessed to an on-and-off sexual rela­
tionship with a seamstress living nearby. Previously sought
the aid of an herbalist. We hear the patient’s account
(dubbed by Krzysztof Kowalewski): This is what hap­
pened. I’ll describe it in chronological order. I was crossing
the street in no particular hurry because I was already late.
I’m walking, it’s cold, and I’m thinking to myself: “Good
thing I’m wearing a warm padded jacket". Now, a doc­
tor’s office, with a model of the human brain standing
on the desk. A staged visit of the patient follows, shot
in black-and-white. The railway worker on one side,
the stone-faced professor (portrayed by Jan Himilsbach)
on the other, taking notes and tapping his pencil
against the table-top. When the patient starts talking
we watch the discussed events in colour: I came closer
and saw Africa on the Kaiser-panorama poster. “I’m going
to take a look at it", I’m thinking to myself, because I am a
fan of all things exotic. To my surprise the pictures show
me walking through the snow, but with whom and where?

426

�Beata Kosińska-Krippner • THE PARODIC NATURE ... IN MOCKUMENTARIES

Something wasn’t right. “Oh well, I can still afford to pay
6 zlotys for the ticket", I thought to myself and went inside.
Poor decision, but I wanted to see what was going to hap­
pen next. I sit down, arrange the device, and guess what I
see? My entire life right in front of my eyes. First, the town
house in 16 Koźla Street, where I was born. More, I grew
up there. Then my wedding photo. I got married in Łódź
and, honestly, it was great fun, but only the wedding. I’m
still looking at the photos: now I’m in a steam engine,
laughing, at work, not really looking like myself. Later I’m
shown being rewarded for putting a freight train from Elk
on a side track because otherwise it would have massacred
the 386 passenger train from Toruń. Never mind. But
then I see myself looking into the camera in front of the
Kaiser-kamera place, and this got me really annoyed be­
cause a moment later I was once again walking through
the snow, and so on, the same thing over and over again. It
is not about the six zlotys; I wonder what’s wrong with me.
Back in the professor’s room: There is absolutely no need
to worry. From a scientific point of view the case is banal.
Here is a chart. The professor reaches for a chart with
a brain diagram. The whole screen becomes filled with
an animated colourful diagram featuring circled areas
captioned with mysterious abbreviations. To simplify
matters, let us assume there are three consciousness zones.
It is your sub-consciousness that transmits certain images.
The shapes and colours reflected by the Kaiser-kamera are
then presented by the consciousness as reality. Stratton dis­
cussed this phenomenon already a long time ago. Diagrams
and drawings with animated arrows describe Strat­
ton’s experiment. After each bath he used to recall the
image preceding it for the purpose of marking the cleanli­
ness scale. See, you should always look ahead to a bright
future. Titlecard with caption: Case 2. Voiceover:
Former model, aged 35, currently a teen fashion designer.
Complains that people closest to her fail to understand her.
Speaks of herself as a man. Since her stay in Paris, which
she visited as a correspondent of the “Mloda moda" week­
ly, has been involved in flagellation and horseback riding,
uses Old Spice cosmetics and a Kharkov electric razor.
Has a neglected personality inventory. A t the same time,
the professor and the woman (Lucyna Winnicka) are
arguing. Professor: Please calm down. Try to imagine
that it was I who came to you and not the other way round.
I’m listening. Woman: I’ve always liked fruit drops. I used
to enjoy 20 to 35 decagrams a day. Three months ago a
doctor forbade me to eat sweets due to hyperacidity. Ever
since then I’ve been dreaming the same thing over and over
again. The woman’s fantasy world is now presented in
colour. I dream that I am completely alone. An envoy of
the president of New Heartburn usually appears more or
less an hour before dawn. He asks me to come in (castle,
women in men’s clothes). They hypnotise me and offer
the position of Minister of Confectionery. I agree and ac­
cept gifts (piles of gifts). Then the doctor appears in the
form of a hideous insect. The professor has dozed off.
427

Professor! the woman cries, he wakes up and says: Oh
well, take a teddy bear from a child and he will dream
about a bear (reaches for a chart). Compensatory delu­
sions, a somewhat infantile reaction, but entirely proper.
We are shown diagrams and charts with animated ar­
rows. The professor’s voiceover explains the determi­
nation of the subject matter of dreams: At the stage of
non-rapid eye movement sleep your appetite for fruit drops
selectively activates the cerebral cortex and cortical centres
of the brain, in this way creating dreams. Their subject
matter, regarded as reprehensible and repressed in a given
culture, easily matches the accepted norms of another cul­
ture. This is why I think you should leave for some time
and, so to speak, just look around. The slightly disap­
pointed woman smiles with a sceptical look. Titlecard
with caption: Case 3. Voiceover: Patient aged 27, deliv­
ery driver. Claims that as a child he took part in games
played with a turkey. Has been drinking exclusively recti­
fied spirit ever since a young boy. As a school student was
tempted by —as he described it —chemical experiments.
Together with a storeman of the enterprise employing him
sentenced to two years in prison for setting fire to a ware­
house. Pills received from the prison doctor did not help.
Animated chart presents a Hans Kuliszka experiment,
drawings and arrows. Examined with the Roschasch test
and put through the Kuliszka experiment, expressed readi­
ness to change his surname, profession and remuneration.
The professor requests: Please take off your glasses.
Chewing on a match, the patient (dubbed by Stefan
Friedman) takes off his shades and says: My wife and
mother-in-law forced me to make this appointment. The
point is that I was on a business trip with my colleague to
Częstochowa and as usual we stayed at the Dworcowy
hotel. We entered the room, the window curtains were
drawn, and just to fool about I told my friend: “Want to
bet that there’s a firefighter on the roof of the home across
the street?". He replied: “Yeah, right”, opened the curtains
and there really was a fireman, asleep, by the way. A col­
our film shows a firefighter sleeping on the roof of the
house across the street. I also would like to mention that
I haven’t seen the fireman before nor knew him, so I
couldn’t be in league with him, because as soon as Kazek
realized that he lost the bet he accused me of plotting the
whole thing with the fireman. And my wife sent me here
because this is not the first time that something like this
happened. Professor: Great. You know what, the thing is
that you experience déjà vu in its pure form with no un­
necessary components. The professor clambers on his
knees onto the desk while the patient is glad that his
affliction is unique. The professor, up to now uptight,
bored and drowsy, finally stirs: I am going to build a
theory based on your case. An animated chart presents
Wrangel’s curve, omitting Prof. Bialkowski’s points. Pro­
fessor’s voiceover: We shall give Prof. Białkowski some­
thing to talk about. We shall deform Wrangel’s curve and
raise the threshold of possibility. The railway worker

�Beata Kosińska-Krippner • THE PARODIC NATURE ... IN MOCKUMENTARIES

walks through the snow. The same voice, which previ­
ously read the author’s thank-you letter, now says: In
other words, we can allow ourselves to enjoy a moment of
happiness. Yet another blank spot has disappeared from the
map of the extensive field of knowledge about the world
and life of man. A clear and concrete explanation of the
phenomenon of déjà vu is another step taken on the path
to an increasingly complete comprehension of man’s con­
scious and socially shaped existence. Our accomplishments
once again confirm that obstinacy and, most of all, compe­
tence are decisive for success in each domain of creative
investigation.
From beginning to end, the film’s amusingly absurd
plot is the reason why its construction resembles that
of a typical educational production with experts, dia­
grams, discussions of concrete examples illustrating sci­
entific theories, etc. The ensuing parody challenges the
viewers’ trusts in films of this kind and habitual belief in
their "veracity”. It also questions their status of “serious
cinematic form” which as it turns out, can incorporate
an absurd topic while keeping all ingredients intact.
One of the first films recalled in this context24 is
Marek Piwowski’s Egzekucja długów, ludzi... (Execu­
tion of Debts, M en..., 2001), a parody of investiga­
tive TV shows with a journalist interviewing the wit­
nesses and participants of a given event and from
time to time offering his own commentary. The film
is dedicated to an old-age pensioner-victim of a bank
swindle orchestrated by an alleged businessman. The
pensioner recounts the events on camera, with the
film crew following him to the bank and shooting his
conversation with the imposter. Although everything
about the film appears to be rather realistic, Degree
III mockumentariness is “spoilt” at the very beginning
for the sake of Degree I mockumentariness when the
director sends a single, but important signal to the au­
dience by casting himself as the journalist. Naturally,
those unfamiliar with Marek Piwowski might treat the
film as a journalistic account for much longer. Fans of
sophisticated Degree III mock-documentaries, how­
ever, regret that the part did not go to someone en­
tirely unknown or, on the contrary, to a celebrated
journalist specialising in such broadcasts, especially
since the film progresses in an interesting direction by
describing the illegal operations of mysterious banks
and ways of collecting debts. The “journalist” talks to
a gangster - a debt enforcer, who wants to protect his
privacy but nonetheless matches our media-shaped
belief of how a criminal should look. The film be­
comes increasingly absurd due to its increasingly ficti­
tious appearance (allusions to the staging applied in
factual programmes), and ends with acts of violence
caught on camera. Or perhaps this is only our imagi­
nation (we witness the practice of evoking the pursuit
of sensational news and references to the “accidental”
filming of “live” events).
428

Endnotes
1

2

3
4
5
6
7
8

9
10
11
12

13

14
15
16
17
18
19

20
21
22
23

24

See: B. Kosińska-Krippner, Mock-documentary a doku­
mentalne fałszerstwa, “Kwartalnik Filmowy” 2006 no.
54-55.
Planete channel broadcast the film in 2005 as: Operacja
księżyc. During the Fantastic KINO.LATO Festival at
the Kino.Lab cinema in Warsaw (1 July - 2 September
2006) the film was shown as: Operacja Luna.
Producer: Point du Jour Production and Arte France.
The interview was published on Arte's website: http://
arte-tv.com/de.
http://www.planete.p/cgi-bin/pla/forum/topic/1-52-51/1.
T Sobolewski, Kosmiczna manipulacja, “Gazeta Wyborcza”
1 April 2005, p. 17.
Planete used this title.
Other viewers, including the author of this text, noticed
the dog already on the first occasion with no need to
watch the film frame by frame.
http://www.tvp.pl/View?Cat=1874&amp;id=199905.
Fantastic KINO.LATO Festival 1 July 2006 - 2
September 2006, KINo.LAB in Warsaw.
Quotation from press material supplied by Vivarto, the
film's distributor.
T Jopkiewicz, N a druga stronę, http://film.onet.
pl/9713,24721,1. The Stopklatka portal also called Year
of the Devil a false documentary.
The song, one of whose versions dates back to 1609, is
known as: Hey, ho, Nobody Home, Rose, Rose, or Peace
Round. The most popular variants of this particular verse
are the following:
Hey, ho, nobody’s Home
meat nor drink nor money have I none
Still I will be very, very merry
or
Hey, ho, nobody’s home
meat nor drink nor money have I none
Yet I will be merry
Music Hynek Schneider, words Tomas Hanak.
Best debut and critics' award at the Kinotavr festival
2005.
Horizons Documentary Prize at the 62nd Venice
International Film Festval in 2005.
Term used by Oleg Kovalov
Russian term used by Viktor Matizen: asmeshka nad
dokumentom (English: mockery of the document).
Russian term used by Andrey Plakov: poddel’naia dokumentalistika (English: counterfeit documentary film), in:
A Plakov, Perviye na lune, “Kommersant" 10 July 2005.
V. Matizen, My ne poliruem vremia, “Novye izvestiya”, 6
June 2005.
Quotation after: T. Birchenough, Inspired Lunacy, “The
Moscow Times”, 30 September 2005.
Ibidem.
O. Kovalov, Aleksei Fedorchenko: First on the Moon
(Perviye na lune) 2005, “KinoKultura. New Russian
Cinema”, 14 January 2006 http://www.kinokultura.
com/2006/11r-firstmoon1.shtml.
W. Godzic, Telewizja i jej gatunki po “Wielkim Bracie”,
Kraków 2004, pp. 193-194.

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                <text>Lud,

MARIA
Institute
Polish

vol. 79,

1995

WIERUSZEWSKA
of Village
Academy

and

Agriculture

Development

of Sciences

Warsaw

THE POLISH VILLAGE
IN LIGHT OF ETHNOLOGICAL
AND SOCIOLOGICAL

RESEARCH

Introduction
It is rather surprising that for a long time sociology and ethnology have not
taken any account of the notion of "village". Hopefully, the situation will
change when an encyclopedia of sociology, currently in preparation, is
published.
It is true that the village has not been well accounted for in general theories.
Pushed to the margin of sociological systems, the viIlage, as an object of
research, has never been given due credit. This is admitted by eminent scholars,
for example Professor Jan Szczepański. Although there are many different
research centres, groups of talented researchers, extensive bibliographies and
a range of ethnological and sociological journals, such as "Etnografia Polski",
"Lud", "Literatura Ludowa", "Wieś i Rolnictwo", "Roczniki Socjologii Wsi",
"Regiony", "Sycyna" and "Pamiętnikarstwo· Polskie", there are no works that
would synthesize the transformations of the Polish village of the 19th and 20th
centuries (Szczepański, 1994).
Furthermore, new phenomena occurring in the Polish village cannot be
described by existing theories. The change of the ideological system, in
Szczepański's opinion, undermined the explanatory power of modernization
theory, the validity of the stratification theory of rural communities and social
organization theory, based on the functioning of primary groups.
The lack of an adequate language of modern sociology to describe
problems and phenomena occurring in Poland is the reason for the collapse of
the social function of science which has always been to guide to social1ife in the
Polish tradition. What are the reasons for this?
Let us go back to the beginnings of sociological theories voiced in the
Enlightenment. The thinkers of the 18th century, united in the struggle to
overcome ignorance and superstitions, influenced the formation of a new
attitude towards the world. The village, seen from this perspective which has
been partly cherished tiU the present times, could only be seen as an oasis of

�56
old-fashioned times, which had to be enlightened with the "torch of learning".
It is claimed by Jerzy Szacki that the philosophy of the Enlightenment was
superior in many respects to many later sociological systems of the 19th
century which developed under different historical conditions. From its
beginnings, sociology was interested in the investigation of problems of the
society after the industrial revolution. Therefore, the main research and
theoretical trends of sociology were focused on the historical changeability of
societies and on discovering differences between the old feudal (state) society,
and the new capitalist (class) society (Szacki, 1983, p. 149).
The theory of evolution and progress was only marginally interested in the
agrarian segment of the old social order and, consequently, minimized the
importance of the village and its inhabitants in the new order of the industrial
society.
Village -

the Object of Scholarly Reflection

The genesis of village as the common form of settlement can be found in
archaeology. "Villages" - large settlements, were common in the "wooden
plough" culture at the end of the Neolithic Period. Habitation on a given area
and joint farming helped form first organizational forms called communities of
neighbours or rural communities. The first written sources from the middle of
the 10th century provide information on the history of the village (inventories
of bishops' and monastic property).
One also finds information about villages in the written sources from late
Middle Ages - information about the layout of villages and organization of
internal life. These sources, particularly foundation charters based on the
German law from the middle of the 13th to the middle of the 15th centuries,
provide information on the stratification of rural population, its differentiation,
economic structure and the socio-legal situation of peasants in villages owned by
landed aristocracy. Reflections on the village against the background of a wider
interest in disappearing cultures, including the peasant culture, can be found in
Renaissance historiography, journalism, agrarian literature and belles-lettres.
The village, as a subject of systematic studies, is connected with the period
in which modern national awareness was formed, particularly at the turn of the
18th century. The phase of a conscious search for sources to learn about the
history of peasants and the village is connected with the collapse of the feudal
system, the beginnings of capitalism and the commencement of deeper studies
on society.
Reflections on the village as a local community is related in sociology to the
crisis of primary groups based on personal relations and cooperation,
threatened by processes of industrialization and urbanization as capitalism was
developing.

�57
Reference
to such features
as a union of common
life, blood
ties,
self-sufficiency and a limited size of primary groups, which C. H. Cooley called
the "guardians
of human nature", justify the move to earlier classical sources.
The sociological thought originated by Plato and Aristotle with a reflection on
the features of Greek polis, applied it to the description
of local communities.
In this description
three constituent
elements appeared:
a) territory, b) social
interaction,
and c) a permanent
bond.
"Isolation of consciousness",
characteristic
of traditional
villages in Poland,
was first overcome when the socio-economic
situation
of peasants changed.
Paradoxically,
however, for a long time this had an inhibiting effect on the
perception of patterns of urban culture and the effectiveness of its influence. "A
peasant woman", Barbara Olszewska-Dyoniziak
wrote, "who before the war
used to go everyday to town with milk and had a direct contact with urban life,
respected her rusticity and did not imitate her customers, either as regards their
clothes or interior design or behaviour. Today the same woman tries her best
to be like the ladies of the town" (Olszewska-Dyoniziak,
1994, p. 153) and
obscures her identity.
Investigations
of villages in the first half of the 19th century focused on the
search for separateness
and cultural archaisms which were treated as a source
for the "reconstruction
of the most remote history" and at the beginnings of
national culture.
The first ethnological
programs
which aimed to investigate
the Polish
village were authored
by Hugo Kołłątaj and implemented
by the Warsaw
Learned Society established
in 1800. The results of these investigations
were
presented to posterity as the "true testimony of the conditions in which Poland
found itself after annexations
and provided arguments
against slanders voiced
by strangers". The project was carried on by Łukasz Gołębiowski's
synthesis
entitled Lud polski, jego zwyczaje i zabobony [The Polish people, its customs
and superstitions].
Apart from ethnographic
monographs
the first descriptions
of the conditions of farming and economic relations in the villages caused by
the growing interest in social questions
were published.
The turn of the 19th century brought a shift of interest in villages from
ethnographic
studies of "ancient Slavonic elements" to studies of contemporary
transformations.
Scholars attempted
analyses of situations in specific villages
and regions with reference to natural conditions,
social structure,
forms of
economic organization,
including cooperatives,
and the influence of emigration
on the life of rural communities.
Investigations
of rural communities
had to
take account of many problems created by the relations between villages and
towns, industrial
societies and rural, farming structures.
Rural sociology of countries
in Central and Eastern Europe, unlike in
industrialized
countries of Western Europe, mainly pertained
to problems of
the peasant question in the context of national and class identity. National

�58
elements were seen in the functioning of rural commUnities against the
background of factors that conditioned the life of their inhabitants.
Postulates of scientific analysis based on the "true objective description"
broadened the research of villages in which, even in the 19th century, socially
important problems of peasant life were neglected and research focused on
searching for cultural "relicts of the past". Proposals to investigate cultural
institutions, conflicts and transformations
of rural communities were put
forward.
The famous polemics from the beginning of the 20th century evoked by
Ludwik Krzywicki's book Kwestia rolna [The agrarian question] moved the
interest in the village and peasants to the agrarian programme. The village was
perceived as a remnant of the feudal system against the background of
industrial "modern tendencies". The relation between villages and towns, which
shaped the research approach in sociology for the entire 20th century,
appeared in discussions of the above mentioned book published in 1906.
"The old village is disintegrating, slowly but inevitably. But before it has
disintegrated its ideals will decay, belief in its ideals and the lore of forefathers
will be lost and it will be filled with the spirit of urban culture". This prognosis
of village evolution contained in Kwestia rolna [The agrarian question], and
most of the other views of the book's author, was challenged by Władysław
Grabski who opposed Ludwik Krzywicki's arguments on transformations of
the village and agriculture towards collectivism by showing that peasant farms
proved to be economically stronger than granges (Grabski, 1903).
Władysław Grabski strongly opposed the prognosis of the "end of
peasants" and in competition saw their "power of economic individualism". He
wrote that "peasants do not feellike stepping out of the world stage". Grabski
opposed the views born out of prejudices against and contempt for the village.
He noticed this in formulations which described the peasants as a lower
category of people with such expressions as "creatures dominated by the soil",
"hard skulls", "submissive to tradition", "uneducated and superstitious".
The objections raised to the one-sidedness of the formulations of Kwestia
rolna [The agrarian question] returned in the I990s. Authors contested the
dominant patterns of research on villages, primarily because of doctrinal
restrictions and the paradigm of modernization derived from the option to
industrialize and urbanize the country.
Identification of village as the subject of research created a new type of
sociological and ethnological reflection. First ethnographic and sociographic
investigations aimed to describe the village, farms, living conditions, local
culture - the remnants and relics of the feudal system. The postulates to
thoroughly investigate the most numerous stratum of the nation were
strengthened by the institutionalization
of the sociology of village and
ethnology, which became possible in Poland in the interwar period.

�59
During the Second Polish Republic investigations of rural societies became
the canon of sociology of the village and were treated as a separate discipline.
The investigations focused on the spatial organization of social ties and the
specific pattern of life and work of the rural population - mainly in agriculture
within the framework of postfeudal social structures.
In Ludwik Krzywicki's, Władysław Grabski's and Franciszek Bujak's
studies one could find results of the observation of social processes in the
village of the interwar period. In the new theoretical and methodological
orientations advocated by their creators - Stefan Czarnowski, Florian
Znaniecki, Józef Chałasiński, and Stanisław Bystroń, the village became the
object of systematic empirical expansion and theoretical reflection. Its classic
representative, Jan S. Bystroń, a professor of ethnography, ethnology and
sociology, used field data collected in villages, and ordered it according to
specific social groups and categories. He popularized the notion of folk culture
as direct oral transmission. His achievements are known for the extent and
comprehensiveness of interests, influenced by the French sociological and
ethnological school - from analyses of ideology, customs, magic, folk
literature to analyses of authority in a given rural culture and ethnic groups.
In the interwar period a number of monographic studies of villages were
written primarily by ethnographers. Bujak's directive, on the necessity to present
a complete picture of the economic and social life of the village (treated as the
smallest settlement and administrative unit), was followed in many monographs.
Their authors had their roots in the sight-seeing and ethnographic movement of
scholarly centres. Monographs modelling Franciszek Bujak's paradigm pertain
to a wide range of problems typical of villages, often treated superficially, with
only a scarce review of social issues. Sociological monographs, for example
a monograph by Zbigniew Tadeusz Wierzbicki Żmiąca w pól wieku później
[Żmiąca half a century later], published in 1963, using typically sociological
tools - observation, interview, questionnaire
- focused on the relations
between rural life and changes in the macrostructures of global society.
Scholarly reflection on the village revealed two main ways of interpretation:
formal and substantial. The former approach tended to look for features of the
village as a fragment of a greater whole or a segment of reality. In such cases
the village was most frequently treated as an area of investigations, an example
of a microcosm which offered the option to trace more general regularities and
many phenomena of social reality caused by universal processes. The latter
approach assumed the existence of the village as a concrete reality in itself and,
at the same time, a separate and unique object of research. The latter approach,
closer to anthropological paradigms, treated the village as a "living whole". In
the case of monographic investigations, in which the village was treated as
isolated complex of phenomena, there often was no interpretations drawing
from broader comparative materials.

�60
When sociologists and ethnologists were describing villages, they saw this
as a possibility to observe different manifestations of social reality - economic,
demographic, social, and cultural. The village was more rarely the object of
research in itself, as a community. Such questions as what was a rural
community, what ties made it up and what changes it underwent were asked
very infrequently.
The model of the traditional village formed a constant point of reference in
investigations of socio-cultural transformation, induced by processes of urbanization and industrialization.
Integral investigations of villages, involving
historians, ethnographers, sociologists, geographers, agricultural economists,
statisticians, lawyers and others, were postulated as a model to investigate the
complete process of transformations.
This found expression in the investigations of processes of village urbanization - changes in the occupational
structure, migrations, adoption or urban ways of life, the so-called "modernization" of the economy according to the assumptions of socialist doctrine
and the popularization of new needs and aspirations.
The assumptions about the need to restructure the socio-ideological system
of agriculture and remove basic differences between towns and villages formed
research models that were used to investigate villages in Poland till the turn of
1980s. As most of the studies were empirical, and the theoretical and
methodological achievements in People's Poland were weaker, research problems of rural areas accumulated and led to a crisis of disciplines that dealt
with the village.
Manifestations of the crisis of sociology of village were seen both in the
United States and in Europe. Attempts to overcome the crisis addressed basic
questions - the definition of village, determination of its place in society, state
and global structures. As possibilities of investigating rural communities in
accordance with concepts of modernization, industrialization and urbanization
were limited, new models and research paradigms were being looked for.
A new research paradigm of the village treated it as a complex social
phenomenon, a socio-cultural whole, at the same time a phenomenon with
a long history, older than that of the town, and with an unspecified future.
Investigations employing this paradigm are a task that social sciences
investigating European cultures has to face. Epistemologically, this requires
determining the relation to assumptions of the agrarian ideology and universal
values of peasant ideology. Methodologically, this requires balancing standardized procedures and statistical methods of analysis through methods of
participatory observation, "understanding" sociology with more emphasis on
social wholes (Wieruszewska, 1991).
The concept of investigations of villages which promoted the so-called
integrated development resulted from the reaction to the crisis of rural areas
caused by various threats. The break of ties in the mid-reach structures as

�61

important links between macro- and microstructure, symptoms of anomaly,
demographic destruction (depopulation of villages), disappearance of farms,
unemployment, loss of cultural identity and social subjectivity of villages
created new problems which required new concepts. This could not be done
through scientific disciplines which lost their sensitivity to social wholes. The
village can be an abundant source of arguments to deconstruct myths and
stereotypes which have troubled the minds of scholars and politicians.
The lack of understanding of rural problems had its roots in the dominant
forms of scientific study, political doctrine, and general developments that
created tensions between the technocratic and humanistic visions of society, and
between civilization and culture. An analytical-logical model which dominated
European science neglected those spheres of reality which, being metaphysical,
did not fit the canon of the positivist ideal of knowledge. The questions about
the essence, values, about what are natural social wholes, including the village,
were to the side of the main canon of science. Scholars, accustomed to theories
derived from the circle of their own culture, faced an awkward situation when
they tried to learn about a new cultural context. The village was most often an
example of perception from an external perspective, through the glasses of
another aesthetic, and this introduced the related problem of cultural relativism.
Reference through archetypes and symbols to primary mental structures in
modern humanistic studies were more favourable to a deepening knowledge of
the village as a socia-cultural whole (Wieruszewska, 1991).
These trends of modern culture harmonized with the experiences of peasant
culture. The longing for the search for the lost sense, moral certainty, social
bonds based on community which became typical of western societies, "tired"
with industrialism, has prompted a rethinking of the issue of the villages as
local communities. Such attempts were undertaken in many countries. Village
revival movements in Western Europe, "rusticity" as a category organizing
thinking about the future of Europe, and the results of the latest investigations
of villages in the process of changes in the socia-economic order of countries in
Central and Eastern Europe were new attempts to look at the whole of cultural
processes of the village at the end of the 20th century.
In each country investigations of villages are the result of specific problems
of another social reality. At the same time, as was' pointed out by Bogusław
Gałęski, the sociology of the village is universal insomuch as its interest in the
system of rural life - farming and farming family and rural community
- have their empirical foundations all over the world (Gałęski, 1970, p. 37).
Village in the Transformation

Process -

New Questions

In an article entitled The horizons oj investigations oj village culture
("Roczniki Socjologii Wsi" vol. 20, 1983) I advanced a thesis that the

�62
dramatically disappearing trend to research cultural transformations in villages
between 1975 - 1980 was the result of weakened theoretical significance of
dominant research concepts. Because of the one-sided viewpoint on village
development, there were more investigations of standarizing mechanisms,
mechanisms which made villages alike all over Poland and fewer investigations
of factors that differentiated villages on the local and regional scale.
I wrote then that because of the realia of modern times the problem of the
cultural identity of villages should be considered most important for their
further development. On the one hand, we were facing the dilemma of cultural
diversity and, on the other, the universality of science and technology. On the
one hand, we wanted to unify and on the other we wanted to create diversity.
I have the impression that new tendencies in science, in which the development
of technology and modernization, understood as the derivative of urbanization
and industrialization
that does not take into account the rights of local
communities with respect to biology and ecology, can create conditions for
a dialogue between modernization
of agriculture and peasants, between
technological progress and human needs. There is an urgent need to develop
a strategy for the development of Polish villages on the basis of a better
understanding of the potential of rural communities and their needs. This,
however, requires that the research be geared to specific problems, that
theoretical problems (for example, is there a conflict between the feeling of
identity and strong local and/or regional belonging and cultural assimilation
on a wider scale) be solved.
I think that we should remember the advice given by Professor Jan
Szczepański which should help to create this model of village development,
namely "It is important for reformers and revolutionaries that through
understanding of what is permanent and invariable in the social substance
which they want to remodel, they provide grounds for the rationality of their
action, proper respect for possible effects and that they inspire hopes that are
up to their measures" (Szczepański, 1972, p. 35).
The recent diagnoses indicating the weakening of the developmental
potential of villages forced a change of the viewpoint on village matters in
Polish society and among the rural population which must have an understanding for problems of its own development. This is also a problem of cultural
identity understood as the feeling of identification with the values and symbols
of culture.
The basic structure of the village, in its constituent elements, retains
permanence and continuity. A family, an individual farm, neighbours, relatives,
informal and local groups, organizations and institutions form a network of
relations that have sustained the essence of the community till the present time.
The discussions accompanying
the formulation of programs for the
development of villages and agriculture considered mainly two criteria:

�63
production and the economy and the socio-political dimension. The stress put
on economic effects (instrumental), reduced the treatment of village to the
function of a food producer and the stress put on problems of ownership in
agriculture practically obscured the sense of villages and agriculture understood
as a whole of mutually related aims and functions in the aspects of economy
and national culture. Hence, in the situation in which the conditions of the
country's existence required basic and necessary reforms, it became very
important and urgent to define the strategy of a favourable development of
villages and agriculture. I think that peasants, if they manage to survive, should
become assets to the future development of villages.
Meanwhile, peasants, the oldest and native inhabitants of villages, are
becoming the bone of contention, the main object and social problem of
transformation. In many press polemics a view that peasants are the deadwood
of transformation, a product of the socialist system, a barrier to democracy in
villages, an antithesis of civic society, is becoming dominant. A humanist, an
ethnologist must take a stand in this polemics. We must give credit to the
results of investigations conducted from the perspective of ethnological
horizons. For example, Barbara Fedyszak-Radziejowska defended the peasant
ethos, which, in her opinion, is not an obstacle to the modernization of Poland.
It results from the investigations conducted by the Institute of Village and
Agriculture Development of the Polish Academy of Sciences that the "attitude
of entrepreneurship is being shaped in villages and on farms. Its presence is
connected with the family tradition to work on one's own farm". The author
pointed out that "neither the traditional peasant culture nor the ethos of work
specific to farmers and the feeling of one's own worth were the obstacle to
capitalism and market economy in deeply rural Scandinavian countries"
(Fedyszak-Radziejowska,
1995, p. 15).
This opinion is supported by my article entitled Współcześni
chłopi
w perspektywie
etnologicznej
[Contemporary peasants from the ethnological
perspective] (Wieruszewska, 1994, p. 158ft) in which I answered the questions
asked during a panel discussion organized by the Polish Sociological Society.
These questions addressed such issues as:
consequences of 45 years of communist rule after the Second World
War for the position of peasants in the social structure;
consequences of a complete transition to market economy for contemporary Polish peasants;
position of peasants in the future structure of Polish society which, in
my opinion, being significant, will not determine their number but their
importance to culture.
Turning points reveal the truth that description, explanation and understanding of the phenomena of new reality reguire an increased intellectual effort.
Furthermore, pre-set strategies of investigations must be surpassed. Scholars,

�64
who attempt this task, must be bold and must take the risk comparable to that
of pioneers. Professor Jan Szczepański, the author of an essay entitled
O indywidualno.~ci chłopów polskich [About the individuality of Polish peasants], showed that the social sciences do not know much about the rural
reality. He stated that the language of modern sociology is not adequate to the
problems and phenomena occurring in Poland. A question arises: how can the
reality of village, today very changeable, obscure, burdened with stereotypes,
and subjected to the pressure of new trends - the market economy and
democratic society - find its place in this "hybridization process". Looking for
contact planes between Western Europe, liberal and secularized, and Poland,
Catholic, with a peasant cultural heritage, becomes a problem. For the practice
of social and economic life it is important to work out favourable relations
between the defence of the interests of villages and agriculture and rules of
market economy to become a part of wider, European economic structures
(Wieruszewska, 1992).
Treating culture as a sphere endowed with a specific autonomy, as
a foundation of the philosophy of life, we can suppose that the logic of the
oncoming changes is getting more and more convergent with the foundation of
peasant culture. If we perceive the" sense of oncoming changes as the need for
a more balanced approach to development according to the criterion of
economic effectiveness, ecological health and value of survival, it will be easier
to see village and agriculture as an example of a system that reproduces itself
according to judicious economic rules.
Ethnology, being sensitive to the overall vision of human life, is capable of
noticing what sometimes is neglected by other scientific disciplines.
An ethnologist, an investigator of culture, sees the village and agriculture as
a form of economic activity that man pursues in the environment he lives in.
He notices skills, talent and organizational abilities. Thinking about the future,
one must say that none of the styles of life, including those formed in Polish
villages, should be lost because today it is difficult to say what knowledge and
skills our successors, future generations, will be using.
Today opinion centres, authors of programmes addressed to villages,
particularly peasant organizations, the church and priests are trying to create
a vision of the future compatible to the spirit of the time and requirements of
European integration. To reach this objective, one draws from history, the
history of agrarian ideology, peasant tradition and rules of transformation,
making references to the ethos of entrepreneurship. This must be accompanied
by opinions voiced by the humanist, the ethnologist and the sociologist. This
must be accompanied by a view which, under the pressure of current problems,
will permit us to notice a reflection of a different dimension.
Our thinking is burdened with some assumptions which lead us to an
incomplete understanding
of the integration process. We find ourselves

�65
in a situation of somebody who purchases a licence or somebody who is
entangled in the "syndrome of a late newcomer" and we forget that integration
always pertains to different elements.
The approach to problems of European integration is full of such concepts
as reaching up to standards, adjustment, shortening the distance. In all these
metaphors there is something that does not permit articulation of our strengths
and our interests. As a process of integrating different elements and a process of
creating a new whole, this has some legal, economic and social consequences
and is done at a certain level of generality. We should realize what actors
become players on this stage of integration and what roles they play. Village
and Polish farmers do not have to be perceived as bogey and threat.
What is extremely important are institutions, mainly because they set the
rules, procedures, and norms. They do not use isolated indices. What matters is
the whole, an integral complex of different indices. And this is important
because agriculture, connected with soil, people, cultural community, is an
element of the people - peasants bind the people on their territory and one
must see the entire surroundings to fully perceive our interests.
Ethnological knowledge tells us that the village as a type of community,
born out of a primitive group, is not an enemy to civic society but its asset.
Hence, rural communities with their own identity can coexist with civic ties.
The sacrum element occurs not only in peasant culture, it exists and is
necessary to democratic societies if they want the authority of transcendential
norms and the source of legal validity. Tradition does not deny democracy but
strengthens it.
The goal would be to create a civic culture in villages, to strengthen
citizenship through new institutions. Ethnoiogical knowledge again tells us
that "institutions are not built, institutions grow like a family, neighbours,
church, people" (Dahrendorf, 1994, p. 232).
If we think about our "return" to Europe, it would be worthwhile, I think,
not to lose sight of the transformations which today make Europe different and
whose elites question the directions of development which degraded villages. If
we treated the will to find contact planes and establish dialogue with Western
Europe seriously, then these new facts would have to be reconsidered.
Furthermore, new concepts have to be built around such issues as: the
difficulties of compromise between the rural culture as community culture with
the culture of bureaucracy (or, social culture, based to a large extent on norms,
with the legal culture of civic society). This entails the question of adjustment to
the rules of social life, the ability of those speaking a developed code to
communicate with those who have a different communicational comptetence,
one that makes reference to aspects, norms and values filled with substance and
not to abstract rules. The problem is to look for contact planes between the
world of Western Europe, liberal and secularized and Polish village with
s --

Lud

t.

LXXIX

�66
peasant cultural heritage, strongly connected with the Catholic religion. One
could ask in passing whether Polish village can be for Europe a reservoir of
indestructible values, attractively finding its place in the new ecological
dimension of awareness, as a realistic iunctim of tradition and modernness. The
more contact planes with the revival movement in Western Europe we have
and the more seriously the village is treated as an alternative way of life, the
stronger the hypothesis.
For the rich, wealthy Europe, "neo-village" ideology and the return of
people tired of urban life to villages, in search for recreation and contact with
close, familiar environment, has a clear motivation. This ideology is a negative
response to overgrown urbanization and rural areas become a kind of a buffer
zone that performs instrumental functions to the surroundings, i.e. tourist,
recreational functions, and functions of ecological protection. As protection of
these areas cannot be done without the participation of people that inhabit
them and without their conviction that there is a sense in recuperative work,
a movement of elites for the restoration of rustic communities was born. It is
sponsored by Ekovast (movement for the development of villages and small
towns). No special effort is required to prove that in Poland the situation is
different, although Western inspirations can be educational. In Poland such an
awareness has not been formed yet, moreover, it stirs up controversies and
emotions. The range of problems related to the concept of green economy,
"revitalization" of rural areas, landscape protection, ecological agriculture,
"turn to villages", if it goes beyond accepted norms, awakens distrust if not
criticism.
Remaining in Europe but going back a few centuries, we must remember
that the permanence of a grange economy was characteristic of Central and
Eastern Europe, including Poland. Concentration of a considerable part of the
economic potential in the hands of freeholders had its impact on the different
course of the industrial revolution in this part of Europe as compared with
Western Europe. Preparation for the industrialization process with respect to
accumulation of capital, qualifications, and new technologies was weaker in
Eastern Europe than in the West.
Throughout the centuries of the feudal system, the economic equilibrium
was maintained by agriculture, crafts and trade. The village was a multi-functional structure, entailed in the new system. The equilibrium was upset
by capitalism, an expansive system by its nature, a system which continually
made agriculture adapt and adjust.
The turn of this century is an ample time to make observations. It offers the
distance needed to account for past events which, seen from a different
perspective, do not obscure the picture with too many details. It also helps us
to look at new tendencies which herald a new era.
We live at the time of landmarks. Their significance goes beyond the surface

�67
of life streams and social and political phenomena which change even faster.
The turn that I am talking about, metaphorically defined as the turning point
of the epoch, the crossroads of civilization, pertains to more profound, more
thorough and far-reaching changes. We start to build a new post-modernist
vision of the world by negating the foundations of 17th and 18th centuries. In
doing so we undermine the foundations of our own civilization (Burszta, 1992).
We are starting to build the new vision of the world not on the basis of the
mechanistic paradigm, as a general model of seeing and learning about reality.
This is opposed by profound ecological awareness which looks for relations
between man and the spiritual dimension of culture, nature, cosmos. This finds
expression in the tension between the technocratic and humanistic orientations.
The dramatic break between the sphere of civilization and culture is becoming
the sign of our times. It is true that social elites have this awareness and that
they articulate the dilemma of modern times. For example - will the
development of science outlive the development of mankind and can the
ideology of freedom be compromised with social ties and do democracy and
the market favour balanced development? Such questions are not asked by an
average inhabitant of a village and for him/her the choice between the
technocratic and humanistic vision of the future is not important. An average
inhabitant understands and feels what tradition is - that unremovable
component of human condition. He/she knows what village is for him/her,
what his/her own farm means for him/her, has some aspirations and would like
his/her work to be recognized by the society.
In conclusion - the new social and economic order, based on the pillars of
market and democracy, offers a chance for the restoration of villages as
autonomous communities, using social life to mitigate consequences of
unemployment and to promote entrepreneurship, using local resources and
local potential. The question whether village as a cultural structure can regain
its identity, whether it can be the symbol of a separate, different and abstract
lifestyle, remains unanswered. The answer will be provided if we manage to
establish a dialogue with values which will determine the future civilizational
and cultural status of Europe and the world. One thing is certain: restoration
of the identity of the modern village is an important issue and it cannot be
done if the roots of the culture are ignored.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Burszta Wojciech
1992
Wymiary antropologicznego poznania kultury [Dimensions of the anthropological
cognition of culture], Wydawnictwo Naukowe UAM, Poznań.
Dahrendorf Ralf
1994
Zugroione społeczeństwo obywatelskie [An endangered civic society], in: Europa
i społeczeństwo obywatelskie. Rozmowy w Castel Gandolfo [Europe and civic society.
Conversations in Castel Gandolfo], Znak, Kraków.

�68
Fedyszak-Radziejowska
1995

Barbara

Spadek
II,

po PRL

folio

uwiera

issued

on

Gałęski
Boguslaw
1970
Wprowadzenie.
nych

legacy

Socjologia

wsi

in: A. L. Bertrand,

Poland],
Grabski

[The

[Sociology

of thc Polish

People's

Republic

Kwestia
wieku

Polsce

II'

[Introduction.

Z. T. Wicrzbick

of village

in the

United

SO\.:iology

States],

Krzywicki
1967

rolna.

Prze/om

w produkcji

środków

p. L. Krzywickiego

w oświetleniu

Ludwik
Kwestia

rolna

[The

agrarian

Olszewska-Dyoniziak
Barhara
1994
Spo/ecze/istwo
i kultura.
from
Szczepański
1972

Ossolincum,

spożywczych

[The

cultural

question],

Szkice

in

question.

O t/'\va/o.\:ci porządku
Dobrowolskiemu
nictwo

1994
Wieruszewska

tum

X JX
in the

its rolc in enlightening
30 May.

Warszawa.

kulturowej

Universitas,

połowie

Thc

[Soeicty

and culturc.

Essays

Kraków.

Jan

Kazimierz

życia społeczeństwa

[Studies

Literackic,

socjologii.
in

Dobrowolski],

[On

the permanence
i historii

etnoyrafli

sociology,

ethnography

cd. by A. Kutrzeba-Pojnarowa,

of order

o/Iarowalle

and

in the life of
Kazimierzowi

history

dedicated

M. Żychowski,

to

Wydaw-

Kraków.

Propozycje do koncepcji
village and its culture

encyklopedii
wsi polskiej i jej kultury [Encyklopedia
- some suggestions],
(xerox copy).

of Polish

Maria
Horyzonty

badań

"Roczniki
Wid.

wsi [The

Wsi"

W poszukiwaniu

hope].

po/skich

wsi: między

[About

Wspó/cze.lni
ethnological

PWN,

Including
chłopi

the
IV

an

horizons

of village

culture],

społeczno-kulturowe;

[Village.

In search

for

the

Warszawa.

mitem

a nadzieją

essay

by Jan

[Restoration
Szczepański,

individuality

of Polish

perspektywie

etn%yicznej

perspective],

of investigations

vol. 20.

ca/o.fci

whole],

(Ed.) Odnowa
and

kultury

Socjologii

social-cultural

1994

village
Z;edlloc:o-

Wrocław.

w drugiej

agrarian

PWN,

z antropologii

anthropology],

society], in: Studia z zakresu

1992

of

wsi w Stallaclr

i, Socjologia

production
of foods in the second half of the 19th eenturyand
by L. Krzywicki],
"Gazeta
Rolnicza"
1903, issue 22 from

1991

"Cash"

Władysław

1903

1983

hurts],

17 March.

"Kultura

peasants],

of village:

Translaled

myth

ch{oPÓ\\'

PA N, Warszawa.

[Contemporary

i Spolcczeństwo"

Betwecn

O indywidua/llli.\'ci
peasants

vol. 38, No

hy Zbiqniew

from the

I.

Nads/oga

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                <text>O

f the three circlets lying in front of me two
are old coins, blackened, blurred, and with
uneven edges. I brought them a long time
ago from M ongolia, and although they converged for
the first time on my desk they are connected in a very
special way.

E T H N O L O G I S T EN R O U T E
JERZY

The first circlet of initiation
This copper coin comes from a bazaar held on Sun ­
days in U lan Bator. Every week this enormous dusty
square in the western periphery on of the town, near
the new cemetery (after it was shifted from a pictur­
esque oasis among the last Chinese houses at the foot
of the Gandan monastery hill), there appears a crowd
of traders, clients, and persons simply examining the
great variety of old oddments. A considerable part of
the items on sale produces the impression of having
been lying around in the streets for six days, and on
the seventh day, for reasons totally incomprehensible,
suddenly prom oted to the role of commodities for sale.
A s a rule, I rapidly crossed this part of the marketplace
and made my way towards a small area where better
quality objects are offered. Here, old men dressed not
in tacky jackets like the others but in festive M ongo­
lian costumes, sauntered next to a high fence made of
boards and showed the jostling commoners - or not,
depending on the assessment of the client - a con­
cealed remnant of old silver jewellery with corals and
turquoise, an agate or porcelain snuff box, a lamaic
icon painted on cloth or, the rarest of all, a brass bur­
khan.
Today, it is impossible to evoke the atmosphere of
those illegal quests. In M ongolia during the early 1970s,
a state whose capital not by accident still displayed a
statue of Stalin, the possession and flaunting of sac­
ral objects from the domain of the recently quashed
lamaic religion were not totally safe either for the sell­
ers or the buyers (chiefly foreigners planning to take

163

S. W A S I L E W S K I

The Secret History
of Objects

the purchases out of the country - in those instances,
the authorities immediately treated the religious piece
as a valuable example o flo cal culture). Such items as
snuff boxes could be displayed with greater panache,
producing an attachm ent, concealed on a daily basis,
to eliminated and vanishing forms of national culture
in which offering snuff as a form of greeting was uni­
versally celebrated. The more valuable samples were
studied by a huddled group of admirers. W hen in the
afternoons the square grew emptier the old connois­
seurs sat in a row next to the fence and, smoking long
pipes, showed each other the most precious snuffboxes
belonging to them and not necessarily for sale. Point­
ing their fingers at the details they conducted m eticu­
lous debates about the impact exerted on the price by
a pattern created by the grains of the stone, the setting
of the coral or an insect trapped in the walls of an am ­
ber bottle. Jewellery trade of the poor - 1 thought.
But on that particular day I was drawn to the worse
part of the bazaar, to all those petty items and old ware
arranged in piles on newspapers lying on the ground.
I cannot say why from among scores of such offers I
chose this particular chest and in it, underneath a lay-

�Jerzy S. Wasilewski • THE SECRET HISTORY OF OBJECTS

er of identical rusty screws and used motorcycle spark
plugs, I extracted this circlet. I do remember that sev­
eral years later I was still capable of recalling the mag­
netic attraction that led me there. Today, I am not
certain whether this was not a researcher’s ordinary
bazaar fever, an urge to examine everything. On the
other hand, perhaps something emanating from that
spot compelled me to discover the illegible and dirt
encrusted coin.
On one side: a tsarist two-headed eagle with an
orb and a sceptre in its claws. On the other, contrary
to expectations, by no means the bearded profile of
Nicholas II; underneath the dirt, scraped off with a
fingernail, there emerged the date: 1863-1864 and
around it a Cyrylic inscription: “Za usmirenye pol’skago
miatezha” (For stifling the Polish rebellion).
This is not a coin then but a medal for putting
down the January Uprising! I recall that Zeromski
mentioned it in Syzyfowe prace. Discovered in a Cen­
tral Asian bazaar it must, naturally, produce an ex­
tremely emotional reaction, astonishment at the good
fortune, coincidence, and bond despite such great dis­
tances. Only a few would not become excited by such
a twist of fate and an object carrying such a plethora of
meanings. Right away there ensue speculations about
the way in which it could have found itself in Mongo­
lia. The object itself suggests the following possibility:
since it is missing an eyelet for hanging it - we can
see that it was broken off and the gap hurriedly con­
cealed - it must have been passed off somewhere as a
coin. In a tavern along the Kiakhtin route an officer of
the Baikal Cossacks escorting traders on their way to
Urga carelessly hurled a handful of copper coins onto
a damp bar counter...
What about the earlier, Polish stages of this route?
Who and for what heroic deed was awarded this med­
al? Was it for valour, ingenuity or immorality? Perhaps
it was granted z&amp; khrabrost to junker Zubov, a half­

164

blood Circassian but a dzhigit of extraordinary courage
and fierceness, who after a victorious skirmish some­
where along the roads of northern Mazovia confront­
ed a group of insurgents and chased its three young
commanders to a manor house. Here, they hid in a
maiden’s room on the upper storey. Zubov rushed in
with a Cossack, a salvo was fired, all the bullets struck
the doorframe, and the inferior gunmen were slashed
by shashka sabres ...
Or was it presented for wartime skill to Dukmanov,
officer and veteran of the Crimean War, experienced
in battles waged in the Caucasus, who in the A u­
gustów gubernia cleverly defended wagons carrying
ammunition, and having caught a local inhabitant
used a knout to extract information about the route
of the rebels. Dukmanov first did not understand why
the captive was babbling about sheepskin coats, but
finally realised that he was being told the names of
the villages where the insurgents were to receive sup­
plies in the form o f ... sheepskin coats. The trap ended
with a bloody massacre. Much later, both Zubov and
Dukmanov were transferred to Transbaikal as part of
constant translocations within the Empire.
Wartime valour was, however, rewarded rath­
er with the Cross of St. Andrew, presented also for
other merits: loyalty to the ruler, cooperation with
legitimate authorities, eager introduction of the new
order. Perhaps it was received by Vogt Krasko from
the region of Kowno, who was kindly permitted to
choose: either the village was to be burned down and
all its inhabitants exiled somewhere near the border
with Turkestan, or he could organize a Muraviov rural
guard, denounce the agitators, and assist in catching
the last survivals of the Uprising wandering in the for­
ests. It was he, with a medal granted for being able
to force even Polish landowners to sign loyalty dec­
larations and probably for catching someone of great
importance and later hanged in Wilno, who left as a

�Jerzy S. Wasilewski • THE SECRET HISTORY OF OBJECTS

voluntary émigré for the steppes on the Baikal, where
land was for the taking. Strange, he did not choose
Vershina but preferred to settle down even further, all
the way next to the Chinese cordon.
W hy am I thinking of all those scenario episodes?
W ould an academic study on an artefact contain such
imaginary visions, which quite a few items are capa­
ble of easily evoking? A ll those stories about a single
bullet, a yellow shoe, the sofa of a Gestapo officer
and countless other objects - would it not be better
to leave them as material for a literary construction?
In science I am dissatisfied with idiography alone and
grow bored with stringing facts on the single thread
of chronology without reconstructing wider and more
abstract patterns - configurations and relations, m od'
ehlike solutions and systemic dependencies.
Ethnography must be also realistic - otherwise it
would not be itself at all. A lthough in my earlier re­
search I treated an object almost exclusively as a repre­
sentation of a certain intellectual system (envisaging it
as a text, a carrier of symbols, a correlate of beliefs and
imaginings, a consolidated record of an intellectual or
social system), in a more extensive presentation I do
not intend to be satisfied with a systemic, synchronic
dimension. Let it contain a threat of diachrony so that
the concrete individual history of things would not be
lost; the same holds true for the history of the people
in whose hands those items found themselves and into
whose genealogies they became intertwined.
A place where I specially miss such information
is the ethnographic museum. In these storehouses of
things all the extra-material contexts or backdrops
of an artefact are restricted. More, the unique is in­
tentionally and in a programme-like manner omitted.
Looking at an item we shall not find out anything
about its individual history, past, and meaning for all
those who handled it - from the producer to the col­
lector who had extracted it from its contexts and in­
serted it into his text, thus granting it new meanings
and endowing it with different emotions. Show me the
fate of a concrete work of human ingenuity before it
became part of an exhibition, frozen beneath glass as
yet another exhibit, b
Only a small regional museum or a memorial room
are not ashamed to offer such information. A n d even
if the guidebook does not disclose it we are forced to
resort to our imagination.
One has to set into motion a certain “hermeneutic
of things” and open up towards the language of the
object. T o do so one does not have to be a collector,
albeit owning a collection does facilitate the process
of opening up, especially if it takes place in special cir­
cumstances. The object possesses power. It is merely
necessary to cross its path and it will compel us to lis­
ten to its story. Then we shall view also other items
differently. Time to take a look at the second coin.
165

The second circlet of initiation
This is already a genuine coin. Brass, with Chinese
and Uighur symbols around a square opening in the
middle - the opening was used to string coins for the
sake of thesaurisation, to braid them into hair, and to
sew them on as a decoration of clothes. Just like all
coins out of circulation it could serve assorted practi­
cal purposes, e.g. as the ending of a rope used for tying
a lamaic book. The addition (to one or several linked
coins) of a piece of sheep wool created a pom pon of
sorts with a weight. It was used for playing a game of
tebek, consisting of kicking it in the air time and again,
similarly as the game of zośka played in W arsaw court­
yards and playgrounds.
I recall that when I played zośka I was intrigued
by its name. After all, it has nothing in common with
the principles of the game or its technique, and we do
not know the identity of the mysterious woman after
whom it was named. I read somewhere that it was used
already in ancient Rome - the game was m entioned by
one of the Plinys. Perhaps this is the source? But then
there was no Latin counterpart of the Greek name:
Sophia (which could have been the eventual source of
our native Zośka). The origin of the name - and the
game - thus remained a mystery until I came across its
M ongolian counterpart.
In M ongolian this copper coin is known as dzos,
which literally means “copper”. In Buryat pronuncia­
tion it becomes zos, but even if I had earlier thought
about it I would have never associated zos with the
Polish zośka owing to the thousands of kilometres sep­
arating these forms both linguistically and geographi­
cally. Now I come across information that renders this
connection credible.
Grigoriy Nikolayevich Potanin recounted (referring
to approximately the mid-nineteenth century) that
cadets of the military academy in the W est Siberian
town of Om sk used to play a game called zoska. 2 Eu­
reka! Since zośka was recorded in Siberia in a version
that has no meaning in Russian (it is not mentioned
in any dictionary and the name as such does not occur
in Russian) then it must have been borrowed from the

�Jerzy S. Wasilewski • THE SECRET HISTORY OF OBJECTS

Buryats (a suggestion made by the author, thus dispel­
ling our doubts about the long distance from Buryatia
to Omsk). Since the Buryat word did not sound natu­
ral in Russian an ending was added to make declina­
tion easier, thus creating zoska.
The familiar zośka was, therefore, originally a Mon­
golian and Buryat copper coin with the intermediary of
a Russian semantic form. I already know who brought
it to Poland: speaking metaphorically, it was the same
graduates of the Omsk and Irkutsk military academies
who were sent to conduct usmirenye pol’skogo miatezha,
and who later returned with medals. We are already
familiar with this route - someone who had discov­
ered in that part of the world the first copper coin,
material proof of contact between the distant steppe
and Mazovia, immediately becomes convinced that
the second circlet also traversed an identical path at
the same time and travelling with the same people. A
material object - as tangible as possible - suffices as
evidence of the genuine nature of such a hypothetical
reconstruction.
There is no greater joy for a researcher than when
an event he personally experienced leads towards
some sort of a scientific discovery or finding. There
is also no greater temptation than to succumb to this
allure. Our model, however, must be the crafty Odys­
seus, whose intellect and strong will power prevented
him from listening to the seductive and confusing
voices of the Sirens. To what mast of scepticism must
we tie ourselves in order to sail safely and cautiously
towards true discoveries? While building scientific hy­
potheses are we capable of getting rid of the tempta­
tion to connect facts that became linked in our daily
life in which research is, after all, immersed? Can we
protect ourselves against the outright "compulsion to
built associations" that renders us blind to the fact
that certain relations do not exist “really", but in the
manner of Ruskin’s beauty are only “in the eye of the
beholder"?
So many classification, periodisations, reconstruc­
tions, and models show facts in some sort of an asso­
ciation and grouping not because this is the way they
are connected organically but because thanks to that
procedure all corresponds in the author’s scientific
bookkeeping. No finding, thing or piece of informa­
tion can remain useless, superfluous or un-interpreted.
Everything has its place, all matches in a learned con­
struction simply because this is the way it is associated
by the researcher, offering him a pleasant feeling of
order and harmony.
A single pebble suffices to topple this psychological
construction, this synthesis of truth and falsehood - a
harsh warning to never complete a given theory (con­
struct, model).
A single book suffices as long as it is the right one.
Take the example of Zły by Leopold Tyrmand: so
166

many details about Warsaw of the 1950s, an outright
ethnography of the town. There is even information
about games, which before the war included pliszki,
cymbergaj and others, but not zośka, which appeared
immediately after the war.
Who brought it? It was not the Baikal Cossacks of
the Uprising era, after all? Am I, therefore, forced to
abandon the image of Russian soldiers playing v zosku
and watched by Polish children? This is already more
than I can bear - the power of both metal circlets is
much too great. I shall thus continue holding on to
the conviction that it was the soldiers who came from
the East, naturally not tsarist soldiers but Red Army
men. If, and this is quite possible, I come across signals
that zośka was played already before the war (although
not necessarily in Warsaw) I shall willingly return to
the earlier hypothesis. One way or another, regardless
of the proposed dates, nothing will topple my opinion
that the game arrived together with the army. The
proof provided by both objects is simply much too
strong.

The third circlet - the third lesson
This object too has an aperture, although it is no
longer a copper coin but a slightly larger jade circle
with greenish veins, flattened, thin, and with an inner
orifice with rounded edges. And nothing more.
We may only surmise that this is a Chinese prod­
uct; at any rate, the Mongols never pursued this craft.
Otherwise, there is no information (unless its steep
price would comprise some sort of substitute data).
Ideal simplicity, the absence of any sort of stylistic fea­
tures, patterns, incisions or even a knob. Nor is there
any point of departure for suppositions about origin,
age, purpose or even current usage. A small enigma, a
mysterious monolith, a mute child of anonymous par­
ents, a Kaspar Hauser puzzle.
The silence of this object provokes. In the cultural
reality of Central Asia one may assume, for all practical
purposes, only a single function - that of an ornament.
Could this have been an accessory for a snuff pouch,
a weight making it easier to hang the latter on a belt?
Mongolian accessories, similarly as their better-known
Japanese counterparts, netsuke, were, as a rule, figural.
Perhaps then this is some sort of an embellishment of
a woman’s festive costume? In that case it should fea­
ture an ornament, a flower, a decorative detail.
Can a sensible conclusion be drawn from sheer si­
lence? Is the meaning of an object determined by the
fact that it has no visible sign telling us something
about its identity? Or perhaps one should turn this
deficiency into a virtue and recall that the extremely
ascetic nature of an object could serve the embodi­
ment of abstract values: the ideal, the absolute, the
transcendent. Not by accident were such stone and
bronze circlets featuring intriguing simplicity known

�Jerzy S. Wasilewski • THE SECRET HISTORY OF OBJECTS

in China already during antiquity. Quite possibly the
same property that was decisive for their power at that
time grants them value when they are smuggled from
former imperial collections to make their way onto the
antiques market. If the original old case with imperial
seals also survived then it will act as legible guarantee
that it was precisely this object whose power fascinated
rulers of ancient dynasties. It will be presented by one
of the great auction houses in London or Hong Kong
at an auction held especially for this single artefact,
described as a “very important ritual disc (bi)”.
The simplest shapes and objects best materialize
eternity - regardless whether they are small circles
made of shells, about whose past so much was known
by the Trobrianders, or monstrous circles from other
islands of the South Seas, veritable mill stones exert­
ing magnetic attraction even in an antique shop in the
capital of one of the former colonial powers.
Power belongs not only to lavish, luxurious, and
beautiful objects. True, they too provide an aware­
ness of contact with transcendence. When touring
a cathedral treasury or a museum adjoining an East­
ern rite church and looking at an exceptional golden
pectoral or a church cross with a knob I envision how
a dying cardinal or an archimandrite grasped it on
his deathbed so that he might feel it with his fingers
while thinking that the Saviour was not abandon­
ing him. On the other hand, when I handle a pair of
imposing, massive, and sophisticated ritual knives I
know just how a person performing a lamaic sacrifice
must have felt during a ceremony of ousting evil by
offering a man-shaped kukla, the dzolig. Parapher­
nalia are a powerful guarantee of the might of each
religious act.
Naturally, this force belongs only to a genuine ob­
ject and not some sort of purchase, the outcome of a
short-lived adventure in a supermarket born out of a
fleeting relationship between the client and the great
whore of the market. We know that an object-gadget
will make its way across our home in a crowd of others,
along the path between the shopping cart and the gar­
bage bin. A genuine object is immortal. A copper plate
hurled into a fire during a potlatch will be remembered
for long. Iconoclasts, hunveibins, Savonarolas, Atillas
and fashionistas who tell us not to wear the design of
the past season will be always about. But it is the thing
that ultimately is our only eternity. A well-known
aphorism maintaining that man is an episode in the
history of an object produces a collector’s spontaneous
protest that is lesser than that of others.
Things compel us to think about eternity in both
directions - focused on the future and longevity, on
the past and eternity. Just like the silver baptismal
bowl commemorating seven generations of the Castorp family and evoking in the young Hans a strange,
dreamy, troubling sense: of change in the midst of dura­
167

tion, of time as both flowing and persisting, of recurrence
in continuity. 3
In order to enroot us in the past the object too
must be well embedded in it. This is why the sign of
the producer is so important - the author’s signature,
the stamp of a workshop, the thin engraved initials
of clockmakers repairing an old mechanism, or the
numbers written with a carpenter’s thick pencil at the
bottom of commode drawers so that they would fit
better. Enrootment in a cultural context is decisive for
identity. An old Turkmenian carpet possesses stylistic
features enabling its identification not only with the
Ersari tribal group but also with the region of the small
town of Dali on the Amu Darya, where it was execut­
ed; a contemporary Afghani carpet does not provide
the observer with an opportunity for tracing its line­
age - it is a collection of patterns, of which each once
belonged to some other clan and defined a concrete
and different provenance.
Thanks to things we also focus on the future. It is
things that force the collector to think about his heirs,
successors, and future observers. By enrooting us in
the past and growing into the future they expand our
personality and cultural identity. Someone who does
not wish to limit himself to an identity emploi deter­
mined by family tradition and its mementoes can build
a different identity out of objects he had personally
collected. 4 It is possible to free oneself from the re­
straints of own culture and horizon of behaviour. By
collecting exotica I touch the reality of the most distant
past and contact with Chinese artefacts enables me to
withdraw into the past as far as possible. While drink­
ing tea at a low table, which once was an “opium bed”
in a Chinese opium den, I do not become a Chinese
from the past but find it easier to imagine that I am
entering that world.
Contrary to the acclaimed alternative: ”To be or
to have” I insist that “to have” (a collection of things)
carries the same spiritual value as “’to be” (a collector
of things).
Endnotes
1 As recalled by Scandinavian ethnology - see: e.g.
L. Otto, L. Pedersen, Collecting oneself. Life stories and
objects of memory, “Ethnologia Scandinavica”, vol. 28,
1998, pp. 77-92.
2 G. N. Potanin, Ocherki severo-zapadnoy Mongolii, Sankt
Peterburg 1881, p. 120.
3 T Mann, Czarodziejska góra, Warszawa 1956, p. 48.
4 A review of such contemporary attitudes towards souve­
nirs in: B. Rogan, Things with a history - and other posses­
sions, “Ethnologia Scandinavica”, vol. 28, 1998, pp.
93-107. Ibid. basic literature for “material culture” thus
comprehended by contemporary Anglo-Saxon anthro­
pology.

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                <text>1.
The initiation story says: On a beach in Sidon a bull
was aping a lover’s coo. It was Zeus. He shuddered, the
way he did when a gadfly got him. But this time it was a
sweet shuddering. Eros was lifting a girl onto his back: Europa. Then the white beast dived into the sea, his majestic
body rising just far enough above the water to keep the girl
from getting wet. There were plenty of witnesses. 1 Just
as every mythical tale so this one too has a number of
variants; this is the reason why Roberto Callasso tells
it in several ways, but the most essential appears in the
above-cited fragment. This expressive image leaves an
imprint upon memory.
From the catalogue of symbolic figures comprising
a graphic abbreviation of Europe, the greatest career,
as is known, was made in Western imagination by the
vision of a comely girl seduced and raped by a virile
bull. The narrative base for this image was provided by
Greek mythology. Western iconography is full of as­
sorted versions of the “rape of Europe” and likenesses
of a young woman forcefully abducted by a zoomorphic deity. True, this image is revived in contemporary
fine arts or political publicistics, but its power seems
to have deteriorated somewhat. Texts relating to Eu­
ropean identity, its boundaries and inner divisions
sometimes mention: “raped Europe”, but this figure
is clearly treated metaphorically, a discernible signal
of mental distance towards a once living image. 2 In
turn, in the visual arts the topic of raped Europe ap­
pears relatively more often, albeit one may readily no­
tice that in this particular case we are dealing with
individual statements, many of which are proposed in
ironic travesties that disclose a certain distance, while
the range of their impact is narrow. Apparently, in col­
lective imagination this symbolic image “giving food
for thought” has lost the ability to describe and ex­
press contents that involve us.
Nature, as is widely known, does not tolerate a
vacuum. The same holds true for culture. If the like­
ness of Europe as an alluring woman and a victim
of perfidious rape is slowly fading and receding into
an old curiosities shop, then in accordance with the
above-mentioned rule some other image should take
its place. Does there exist today a vital and impres­
sive symbolic likeness in which contemporary Euro­
pean sensitivity could recognise itself? Are we capable
of discovering a metaphorical expression that would
cumulate European experience in such an ingenious
way? Do such metaphors still appear in the contempo­
rary discourse? After carrying out a source survey (ad­
mittedly fragmentary) I would like to propose two can­
didates that in my opinion would have a great chance
to assume the position vacant for some time. They are
the words-images: “home” and “spirit”. Both possess
enormous cultural rank and a rich metaphorical-sym­
bolical potential. 3 It still has to be tested whether the
211

DARIUSZ CZAJA

The Shadows
of Europe.
History and Metaphor

slogans: “House of Europe home” and “Europe-soul”
are promising from the cognitive point of view.
Consequently, take a closer look how the mirrors
of those two capacious metaphors reflect a portrait
of contemporary Europe, and if so, then what sort of
knowledge about its inhabitants they disclose. Yes - I
use the word: knowledge. In the domain of science no
one any longer questions the cognitive value of the
metaphor. Actually, the metaphor is almost univer­
sally recognised as a useful albeit non-discursive in­
strument of cognition. 4 Ortega y Gasset, one of the
first spokesmen of the epistemological values of the
metaphor wrote that it simply serves the process of
bringing closer that, which shines mysteriously on the
horizon of our intellectual capacities. 5 This sugges­
tion was confirmed several decades later by Ricoeur:
A metaphor is not an ornament of discourse. It has more
than emotive value because it offers new information. A
metaphor, in short, tells us something new about reality. 6
In other words, it sometimes makes it possible to bet­
ter grasp that, which in the space of thought is barely
sensed or only assumed. It embraces as if in a single
flash that, which the conceptual discourse is not al­
ways capable of noticing, aptly naming, and describ­
ing.
If this is the case then it is worthwhile to immedi­
ately accentuate a fact of special importance for our
analysis. Examples cited further in the text, in which
the afore-mentioned metaphors fulfil a revealing func­
tion, are, apart from their serious intellectual contents,
fascinating also because they do not passively continue
existing semantics with which language associates by
force of habit, but achieve their creative and enhanc­
ing reinterpretation. It so happens that the metaphori­
cal mirror in which we would like to observe the es­
sential features of Europe possesses a special property,
namely, its registers chiefly dark colours, as we shall
soon see. It is worth keeping in mind that this cer­
tainly peculiar mirror (it has to be proved whether it is
actually “crooked” !) certainly does not lie and at most
shows with great intensity the most vivid elements of

�D an u sz C zaja • THE SHADOWS OF EUROPE. HISTORY AND METAPHOR

the reflected image. In other words, it undoubtedly
refers to that, which r e a l l y exists and is the living
matter of actual history.

2.
It is probably not an overly innovative thesis to
maintain that in the political publicistics of recent
years or, more widely: in discursive space encompass­
ing texts referring in particular to the present-day
shape of Europe and its problems, the most frequent
has been the figure of the Home. In the wake of the
fall of the Berlin Wall, upon the tide of the unification
of Europe but also in the course of the still continuing
expansion of the European Union by including new
member states, political publicistics repeats ad nause­
am phrases about the “common house of Europe”, the
construction of a "new house of Europe”, a return to
the “house of Europe”, and so on, and so forth...
The metaphor of the European home is con­
spicuously present in the excellent book by Thérèse
Delpech: Savage Century: Back to Barbarism, which
should not come as a surprise but, and this is much
more symptomatic, it appears in invariably dark hues.
Delpech is a French politologist, director of strate­
gic problems at Commissariat à l’énergie atomique,
researcher at Centre d’études et de recherches inter­
nationales, and member of the Institute for Strategic
Studies and RA N D Europe Advisory Board. The list
of her posts indicates clearly that her analyses and
expert opinions are conspicuously pragmatic and di­
rectly connected with current political praxis. Even
more interesting within this context is the fact that
Delpech has also proved herself to be a sophisticated
scholar interested in culture and specially sensitive
to the value and power of the symbol. I accentuate
those two sides of the rhetorical strategy applied by
Delpech because her book is a rare and actually bril­
liant example of the productive unity of contradic­
tions. Excellent familiarity with facts from the realm
of political history is supplemented time and again
by symbolic tropes. The author readily resorted to
them, and this sort of hermeneutic praxis is always
justified cognitively: Delpech is concerned with a
reconstruction of the anatomy of European identity,
with particular apprehension for the catastrophes
suffered by the twentieth century. On the one hand,
there are perceptive political realism, historical eru­
dition, and harsh facts, and on the other hand - a
sphere of the imagination and literary fiction. Here
politics and art overlap, creating a curious mixture
of events from most recent European history. The
“real” is viewed from the perspective of the “unreal”
and the two cast a light on each other. This blend of
two orders produces the outlines of a convincing in­
tellectual construction. The outstanding study also
credibly connects two qualities rarely encountered
212

under a single book cover: analytical aloofness and
emotional rage.
Another feature worthy of accentuation is the
cognitive attitude demonstrated by Delpech, free of
facile simplifications and ideological superstitions.
Sober perception, so strong in this case, is not tanta­
mount to a catastrophic vision of history. The French
author did not for a single moment assume the pose
of a demented contemporary Cassandra. She merely
attempted - and did so with rare honesty - to take an­
other look at the European Continent and its blood­
stained twentieth-century plight. More, she did so not
only due to historical motives, but chiefly in order to
carefully follow the symptoms of impending future. In
other words, we are not dealing with fortune-telling
but with a thorough and careful analysis of the symp­
toms of that, which c o u l d take place in the future
and more or less lucidly emerges on the horizon of the
contemporary historical moment. Her comments are
supposed to incline the readers to once again embark
upon a thorough reflection about twentieth-century
history, with particular concern for signs delineating
the outlines of the possible future.
The metaphor of the Home appears in the reflec­
tions pursued by Delpech already in one of the initial
chapters. We immediately become cast into a discourse
that is far from emotionally lukewarm. It has to be said
distinctly - the expression: “the house of Europe” does
not resound with pride or excessive warmth:
The history of the last century showed the ease with
which historical transformations of unprecedented violence
could follow without warning on the heels of the best of
times. As in Greek tragedy, crime engendered crime in
the house of Europe, which twice set the rest of the world
ablaze. From the experience, lessons were drawn for the
reconciliation of the European nations. But what is now
at stake is Europe’s capacity to assume international re­
sponsibilities in a deeply troubled word. And from that
point of view, the i n t e r n a l lessons just mentioned are
insufficient. The unprecedented historical eruption from
which the entire twentieth century arose does not speak
only of the madness of Europe and of national passions. It
is evidence of a wider adventure concerning humanity as
a whole: the sudden appearance of storms whose warning
signs on the horizon we Europeans have too long pretended
to ignore, storms no one can control once they have been
unleashed. When such sudden acceleration of history oc­
curs, it signals the defeat of political action, which can do
nothing but run after political events until it is swallowed
up by them. If Europe has any message to transmit to the
word, it is truly this one. 7
In other words, together with Delpech’s politological reflection we rapidly depart from positive conno­
tations usually associated with the metaphor of the
home. 8 The “House of Europe” described by the au­
thor is certainly not a safe space. It is neither haven

�D an u sz C zaja • THE SHADOWS OF EUROPE. HISTORY AND METAPHOR

nor a refuge or asylum for its residents. True, it is still
a family home, but its foundations rest on unexpired
crime. It is, first and foremost, a space full of risk, un­
certainty, fear, and anxiety. This is a home encum­
bered with its dirty family history, which it is incapa­
ble of getting rid of and with which, in the opinion
of some, it is impossible to battle. Finally, it is a place
in which phantoms appear and which brings to mind
the image of the haunted house with its exemplary reali­
sations by Walpole (The Castle of Otranto), Poe (The
Fall of the House of Usher), or Dickens (The Haunted
House), so frequent in the English Gothic novel. This
is a house full of the ghosts of the past returning at
night. A house, which on the outside is imposing and
noble but actually is in a state of advanced ruin. A
house that conceals unresolved dark secrets.
In one of the subsequent paragraphs Delpech
went on to expand this image of the European home.
Once again she was assisted by literature, whose fic­
tional products sometimes possess the amazing power
of condensing historical experiences into a symbolic
abbreviation. Together with successive close-ups the
image of the “house of Europe” assumes a concrete
form. Now, it becomes the familiar, gloomy castle
from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the Danish Elsinore, the
castle haunted by the Ghost of Ham let’s Father. R e­
call, however, that this is also space that turns into
the scene of consecutive tragedies, set into motion as
if by accident. More: the titular character becomes
an extremely credible porte parole of the European
spirit: apathetic, listless, and immersed in acedia.
European mentality seeks its reflection in the soul
of Hamlet: capacious, ambiguous, and a puzzle even
for him:
If one has to define the twentieth century with a single
word, Herzelend, the German for 'sick at heart", would
be the most accurate. It designates a form of melancholy
and a debilitation of the emotional side of human nature.
Twentieth-century man finds a natural companion in the
most universal of tragic heroes, Prince Hamlet, whose pa­
ralysis of will he shares. The century’s tragedies all arrived
without having been willed just as Hamlet never willed the
death of anyone, except for Claudius. The detour down
which the human species began to travel early in the last
century resembles a storm, whose causes and ultimate con­
sequences it remains ignorant of. Those consequences are
still washing upon our shores, like the belated waves of
a great catastrophe of which we have not heard the last.
Elsinore thus possesses exceptional symbolical power
for the Europe of the twentieth century.
By chance, the two world wars were the occasion for
many studies of Shakespeare’s play: like the Elizabethan
hero, cultivated Europeans found themselves engulfed in
barbarism with no time to understand what was happening
to them. In a sense the mystery of Hamlet’s character held
up a mirror to them: the more he was examined the more

there was to elucidate. Death was the theme of the play, as
it was of the century. 9
Delpech regarded this inability to conduct (the
admittedly) difficult self-reflection to be the mortal
sin of the European spirit. The titular l’ensauvagement,
barbarity or, more literally, savagery of twentiethcentury history is only rarely the object of thorough
reflections. After all, the heart of the matter does not
involve a simple registration of the phenomenon (this
has been already performed by school textbooks!),
but a meticulous and multi-strata analysis of the po­
litical, mental and, possibly above all, spiritual condi­
tions that turned the “house of Europe” into a space of
ghouls, death, and cruelty. The crux of the matter is a
lively, emotional response but also a wise examination
of the historical trauma on an individual and group
scale. Apparently, the absence of such reflection is the
reason why bloody history keeps on repeating itself.
Add some sort of an organic (Hamletic?) unwilling­
ness on the part of Europe towards embarking upon
deeds, a clear-cut opposition towards barbarity. Exam­
ples from our recent past only confirm the aptness of
this finding:
While Europeans sleep, others become aware of the
power of ideas. But the ideas that are spreading most wide­
ly are very much contrary to European values. Contempt
for human life, the refusal to distinguish civilians from
combatants, assassination presented as a duty - these are
direct challenges to the values that our societies are sup­
posed to defend. What price are we ready to pay to do that?
Considering the E U ’s reaction to the appalling massacre
in Beslan, South Ossetia, in September 2004, we may
conclude that the price must not be very high. Apart from
The Netherlands, not a single Western government dared
question Putin about his incompetent and ambiguous han­
dling of the tragedy. It seems, however, that more than one
question would be relevant, since information about the
attack was available beforehand and not provided to South
Ossetia, since the explosives and the weapons came from
the Russian Interior Ministry, and since at least one of the
hostage takers belonged to the Moscow police internal af­
fairs service. 10.
The “House of Europe” in the descriptions formu­
lated by Delpech is also a museum full of junk from the
past, of little value and submerged in the stultifying
smell of mothballs. This is the source of the helpless­
ness of its residents and their frequent conviction evidently, quite correct - about the relegation of the
“old Continent”, which not so long ago ruled over the
whole world, to the margin of history. The “House of
Europe” is not only haunted - it is simply lifeless, a
space of vanishing vitality, and it seems that its inhab­
itants manage to move only thanks to the force of in­
ertia and are devoid of a firm substrate. They resemble
bloodless shadows from the Elysian Fields, wandering
listlessly and without a purpose:

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�D an u sz C zaja • THE SHADOWS OF EUROPE. HISTORY AND METAPHOR

Europe is at once turned too much toward the past
(...). Like other Western societies, it lives in the moment
and prevents it from adapting its present to its past and
from imagining a future for itself. The reason it does it
have a politics based on its thought is because that thought
has ceased living. European democracy has become ab­
stract like its values, unable to exercise the kind of influ­
ence in the world that the world needs. In a period of great
international stability, this might have no consequences.
In an era of profound transformations and exasperated
passions this exhaustion is charged with danger. It is time
for Europeans to interrupt the subterranean ruminations
about history and start thinking about the future. Other­
wise, others will do it for us. 11
The paradox formulated at the beginning of this
statement must be understood correctly. W hat does it
mean that Europe looks towards the past and, at the
same time, is cut off from it? This turn towards the
past, a source of negative consequences for European
awareness, should be understood as a ritual celebra­
tion by Europe of its former glory. The process of being
cut off from the past is a traumatic burden, the result
of the absence of reflections on the more profound in other words, not only, and not predominantly po­
litical - reasons for its historical decline. Both gestures
are the cause, increasingly often stressed by analysts,
of the weakness of Europe as a space of ideas, the fra­
gility and meagreness of the civilisation project called
“Europe”, which, one has the impression, has exhaust­
ed its creative power and can be interred. European
ideas no longer constitute a model for the rest of the
world or even a source of inspiration. The most strik­
ing consequence of this state of things is the absence
of a clearly outlined vision of the future. Europe is a
home drifting helplessly on the sea of history, a leaking
raft full of castaways with an obscure identity.
What sort of a future awaits this “house of Eu­
rope”, haunted and with quaking foundations? In the
epilogue of her book, nota bene titled: The Human Soul
Torn to Pieces (naturally, from our point of view it is
impossible to ignore the fact that in the heart of this
gloomy “home” metaphoric there appears and is ex­
cellently exploited its “ghostly” supplementation!) 12
Delpech stressed that our present-day situation resem­
bles the one in 1905. The whole second part of the
publication (whose protagonists include, i.a. Nicholas
II and Wilhelm II, but also Blok, Bely, Einstein, D e­
rain, Freud, et al.) is a brilliant analysis of forecasts
of future misfortune, whose symbolic onset was the
year 1905. The French original version of Savage Cen­
tury... appeared precisely a hundred years later, as if
to strongly accentuate spiritual affiliation with that
period. We know that history never repeats itself ex­
actly, but it is possible to capture analogies between
distant moments. The author insists that an earnest
identification of certain signs of time is not only an

essential cognitive task but can protect us from the
realisation - quite feasible - of a black scenario, from
historical recidivism. What is it that we are concealing
in the basement of our European home that we do not
want to - or do not know how to - adapt?
What is most peculiar about our age is the conviction
that evil is installed at the core of history and our frenetic
rejection of that conviction. Twenty-first-century man
bears a strange resemblance to primitive man seeking to
drive evil outside the known world and transform it into
a taboo. For us as for him, evil brings misfortune, and we
want it out of our sight. But the world no longer has any
borders beyond which we might cast it. The experience of
evil has such force in contemporary consciousness, and the
disorder of minds and things is so evident, that what seems
most pressing is restoring vigor to whatever might allay the
ubiquitous anxiety. 13
Our situation resembles the mood prevalent in
1905 - similar to the inhabitants of that world we have
eyes full of fear and anxiously await something that we
foresee with a sixth sense but which we are incapable
of defining and describing. This anticipation is con­
nected in a mysterious way with traumatic memory
relegated to the unconscious (the basement) regions
of the European soul: The history of the last century, that
hortus inclusus, of which we remain unconscious prison­
ers, is so full of misfortunes on which to meditate that we
sometimes feel the weight of the dead mowed down by wars
and revolutions, wandering like ghosts through our cities
demanding justice. 14 As long as we do not adopt that
ominous heritage (at this point, I supplement the au­
thor’s reflection) the European home will be haunted
by phantoms of the past. There is no doubt that we
have to start thinking by considering that dark back­
drop still present in the cellars of our European sub­
conscious, because only such a strategy will enable us
to discover once again the promise of the future, dim
on the distant horizon. Crimes of the twentieth cen­
tury are to a great measure committed by the subcon­
scious, and this is why they remain so mysterious and
menacing. Delpech cited with unconcealed emotion
the words of François de Menthon, the French chief
prosecutor at Nuremberg, who was certain that he
was adjudicating “a crime against the spirit”, i.e. un­
dermining the foundations of every civilisation. This
is the sort of crime that leads towards a decline of the
human race into barbarity: More than fifty years later,
those remarks are moving not only because they evoke
the atrocities committed but because of the strangeness of
the words used by the French prosecutor, particularly the
deeply unfashionable expression "crime against the spirit”.
We no longer understand what it designates: the loss of
that which constitutes humanity itself. 15
The characteristic of the European home deline­
ated in the discussed book certainly does not emanate
excessive optimism. The “house of Europe”, it turns

214

�D an u sz C zaja • THE SHADOWS OF EUROPE. HISTORY AND METAPHOR

out, is not merely a pleasant and friendly place, and
its residents do not feel comfortable in it. Its twenti­
eth-century portrayal brings to mind a collapsing ruin
with a dirty past leaning time and again out of its base­
ments. Apparently, Delpech toppled thoroughly our
naive optimism born on the tide of a Union-oriented
and very much ad hoc Euro-enthusiasm. She does not
startle us but merely warns. By placing an analytical
probe into the not so distant past of the Continent she
pointed out the hidden sources of a possible repetition
of the past.
I looked upon the scene before me - upon the mere
house, and the simple landscape features of the domain upon the bleak walls - upon the vacant eye-like windows
- upon a few rank sedges - and upon a few white trunks
of decayed trees - with an utter depression of soul which I
can compare to no earthly sensation more properly than to
the after-dream of the reveler upon opium - the bitter lapse
into everyday life - the hideous dropping off of the veil.
There was an iciness, a sinking, a sickening of the heart an unredeemed dreariness of thought which no goading of
the imagination could torture into aught of the sublime. 16
Is it so difficult to recognise in this great evocative
fragment of The Fall of the House of Usher a repulsive
(but credible) portrait of our “house of Europe”? Are
we to such a degree under the spell of the unification
project that we are incapable of feeling any sort of af­
filiation with it? Remember upon this occasion that a
metaphor sometimes assumes a concrete form and does
so with brutal literalness. Is the recently announced
and widely commented case of the Austrian Josef
Fritzl, who in the very centre of merry Europe (Aus­
tria felix!) for years imprisoned and raped his daugh­
ter in the basement of her family home, not - apart
from moral revulsion accompanying this discovery - a
painful confirmation of the aptness of remarks about
a European home with an underpinning of horror? A
house that is haunted, continuously and always 17.

3.
It was probably Edmund Husserl who was the first
twentieth-century philosopher - and certainly the first
to propose such a strong formulation - to conceive Eu­
rope not as a geographical, national or political space
but as a spiritual being. In his Viennese lecture titled
evocatively: The Crisis of European Sciences and Tran­
scendental Phenomenology Husserl proposed to compre­
hend Europe not in topographic categories but men­
tal ones or, in more risky albeit exact terms, spiritual
ones: Clearly the title Europe designates the unity of a
spiritual life and a creative activity - with all its aims, inter­
ests, cares and troubles, with its plans, its establishments,
its institutions. Therein individual human beings work in
a variety of societies, on different levels, in families, races,
nations, all intimately joined together in spirit and, as I
215

said, in the unity of one spiritual image. This should stamp
on persons, groups, and all their cultural accomplishments
an all-unifying character. 18
Husserl wrote outright about the “spirit of Europe”
and its serious crisis, which in his opinion was closely
connected with a re-orientation of Western thought
into a naturalistic and objectivising current. I refer
to the example of Husserl not for analytical purposes
since tracing the “theology of the history of the W est”,
outlined so acutely therein, and “shaping the idea of
European humanity” are not our supreme objective.
I recall Husserl’s observations, which, on the margin,
resound with the rhetoric of yore (“spirit”, “soul”,
“spiritual Europe”) for two fundamental reasons. First:
his comments comprise a solid intellectual base for
all those thinkers who will perceive the canvas of Eu­
rope in “spiritual” categories and are sufficiently bold
to write about the “European spirit”. Secondly: curi­
ously, the reflections of two Czech authors - philoso­
pher and theologian - about the “spirit of Europe”, at
which I would like to take a closer look, owe much to
the reconnaissance performed by the author of Logical
Investigations. The first, the outstanding Czech thinker
Jan Patocka - a student and to a certain extent an
heir of Husserlian phenomenology - deliberating on
the condition of Europe embarked upon certain mo­
tifs indicated by the master, although the course of
his thoughts runs in a slightly different direction. The
second, the Czech theologian Tomás Halik - in turn,
a student and to a certain degree an heir of patocka
- already considered directly the phenomenon of the
“spirit of Europe”, checked by Husserl. In this intel­
lectual rally race it was necessary to determine the
point of departure for historiosophic thought. In our
case, therefore, such a point of departure is Husserl
and his musings, and the goal - those of Halik. Here,
contemplations by patocka play the role of a keystone
between the two, and thus we shall start with them.
Just like Husserl, the philosopher from prague
strongly accentuated the metaphor of the soul as a
useful tool for understanding the essence of European
culture. In order to describe the basic core of Europe­
anness the Czech philosopher evoked the Greek idea
of “concern for the soul” (epimeleia tes psyches), per­
ceiving it as a foundation of the European existential,
cultural, and political idiom.
Man is just and righteous owing to concern for the
soul, which is the legacy of classical Greek philosophy.
This means that truth is not given once and for all, nor
due to its comprehension and acceptance, but that it
is a lifelong self-controlling and self-unifying intellec­
tual-life praxis. In Greek philosophy concern for the
soul assumes two extreme forms: we care for the soul
so that it could transverse the world via the eternity
of the universe and in this fashion attain at least for a
short time a form of existence fitting for the gods (De­

�D an u sz C zaja • THE SHADOWS OF EUROPE. HISTORY AND METAPHOR

mocritus, then Aristotle); or, on the contrary, we think
and learn to render our soul a hard crystal of being, a
steel crystal tempered in the perspective of eternity.
It is one of the possibilities of being which contains
the source of motion, decisions about its existence and
non-existence, i.e. dissolution in the indefiniteness of
the instinct and unenlightened tradition (Plato). 19
This conceit of the spirit as the foundation of Eu­
rope possessed for Patocka foremost importance, and
he returned to it upon multiple occasions, both when
he stressed the breakthrough nature of the introduc­
tion of this category (psyche) into the philosophical dic­
tionary of the ancient Greeks, and when he emphasized
the existential and cultural relevance of the conceit of
"concern for the soul”, 20 or when he distinctly marked
a demarcation line between "spiritual man” and “the
intellectual”. 21 Jacques Derrida, in a penetrating com­
mentary on Plato, this time assuming the role of an
analyst of famous fragments of Plato’s Phaedo - nota
bene, in the French philosopher’s text a prominent role
was performed by the entries: “spirit” and “Europe” accentuated predominantly the mysterious and evasive
nature of psyche, features so strongly indicated by the
Czech philosopher. 22 The inclusion by Patocka of the
“spirit” into the European genotype was certainly not
accidental, but a well conceived gesture.
In his theological and philosophical reflections H a­
lik often referred to comments made by Patocka, but
in this context something else is relevant: one could
have the irresistible impression that the whole time
his thoughts contain the philosophical legacy of the
Prague phenomenologist. The constant point of refer­
ence, which for Halik is Patocka’s oeuvre, is disclosed
in a lecture given in Berlin in May 2003. Its modest
title: What Binds Europe? seems to announce a rather
routine set of banalities about “European values”, but
the Czech theologian turned out to be the winner of
this intellectual confrontation. As is almost always the
case he tried unconventional solutions, and his lan­
guage is free of theological-catechetic newspeak. It is
noteworthy that both in the study by Delpech and in
her writings political reality enters into close relations
with the rebirth of art. In his, let us recall, nominally
theological deductions Halik referred to real facts of
twentieth-century history but often, in order to render
them more expressive, he cited aptly chosen literary
examples that are always more than mere rhetorical
ornaments. Halik started his reflections by question­
ing a certain disseminated and obvious view:
In connection with the progressing integration of
Europe we frequently hear Christians demand: “give
Europe its soul”. I cannot help myself, but the longer
I listen to this initially justified slogan that more it ap­
pears to be a superficial and outright arrogant cliché.
Is Europe really soulless? And if this were the case,
does anyone have at his disposal such power as to be
216

capable of proposing and offering a soul for Europe? Is
the person offering a soul not actually proposing ex­
clusively ideology? No man and no institution - even
the Church - is able to give a soul: we know from
Goethe’s Faust that it is even quite difficult to take a
soul, since at the very last moment such an endeavour
can be crushed by the One who is the only capable of
granting and redeeming a soul. 23
One way or another, there are no doubts that
the concept and metaphor of the spirit comprise the
point of departure of Halik’s considerations about the
phenomenon of Europe. In doing so, he creatively ap­
proached the concept of dualistic anthropology, well
embedded in European thought. If, according to it,
man is composed of “soul” and “body” then such in­
gredients will be easily found in European identity: In
the process of the transformation and expansion of the
European Union prime interest is focused certainly on
the “body of Europe” - its political, economic and ad­
ministrative structures; it could appear, therefore, that
the spirit of Europe has remained slightly in the shade.
Is, however, the courage that leads towards presentday radical operations and changes affecting the body
of Europe not based on some sort of non-verbalised
conviction about the existence of a unifying princi­
pium, which lends “Europe” its meaning, that some
sort of a force of inner attraction is at work here and
merges Europe at the time of all those changes? Per­
haps this is why we could use the “spirit of Europe”
metaphor for describing this force? 24
The point is not, therefore, to once again whine
about the soullessness of Europe or produce yet an­
other publicistic pamphlet maintained in rather wellworn elegiac poetics. By following the example of
Patocka cited verbatim in the successive paragraph
Halik wished consider the rich contents of ”the spirit
of Europe” metaphor. In doing so, he drew attention
to the need for a constant awareness of the fact that
we are dealing with a metaphorical expression, i.e. a
multi-motif product with extensive meaning. He was
particularly concerned with avoiding an overly rapid
identification of metaphorical contents and replacing
“the spirit of Europe” metaphor with concepts most
frequently evoked within this context: culture, reli­
gion, spirituality, and philosophy. Let us first allow the
whole diverse scale of associations produced by this
image be heard. 25
By emulating classical differentiations of meta­
physical anthropology Halik mentioned three ’’powers
of the spirit”: memory, intellect, and will. In turn, by
referring them to European history he showed in detail
what each of those components means in reference to
the collective organism, whose cryptonym was created
by the metaphor in question.
Analysing the phenomenon of memory, Halik and this is significant - was more willing to write about

�D an u sz C zaja • THE SHADOWS OF EUROPE. HISTORY AND METAPHOR

forgetting. He showed that thanks to the eschatologi­
cal heritage still alive in Christian science Europe fre­
quently turned towards the future, a dimly outlined
perspective of salvation. The revolutionary and uto­
pian spirit intensively permeating European thought
denoted a sometimes violent turn towards the future
and contributed to rewarding the process of forgetting
about one’s past. To put it in stronger terms: towards
sacrificing the past for the sake of the future. Seculari­
sation and nationalisation only assisted this attitude.
Halik proposed an interesting combination of the con­
ceit of memory with that of the conscience. He argued
that not only did they refer to identical domains but,
on the contrary, they belong to each other inseparably
and enter into the reaction of a hermeneutic circle. To
possess knowledge about oneself, to possess one’s iden­
tity is tantamount to knowing one’s history and being
able to tell it to others, both on a personal level and a
group one. Nonetheless, memory without conscience
is mute. Only the light of the conscience is capable of
penetrating the nooks and crannies of our memory.
In turn, to prevent conscience from being susceptible
to ideological poisons it must graduate from an exact­
ing school of historical memory. Seduced by promising
visions of European integration we cannot forget the
past of Europe and in particular its dark sides. This
means a readiness to show compassion and “solidarity
with the victims”, as was put so poignantly by the Ger­
man theologian Johann Baptist Metz. 26
The slogan that Europe places most often on its
coat of arms is the intellect. In a brief recapitulation
of the adventures of the intellect in European history
Halik stressed the diversity of its comprehension. Nous
and logos, intellectus and ratio, Vernunft and Verstand
are not necessarily semantically equivalent concepts.
Events with greatest effects in the history of the Eu­
ropean intellect include an alliance of Greek intellect
and Christian faith. One of the consequences, with
a negative impact upon European thought, was the
application of the Greek instrumentarium for the pur­
pose of describing divine reality. Due to a thoughtless
error the living God of the Old Testament became
identified with the Aristotelian supreme being, the
Unmoved Mover. This onto-theological hybrid was to
haunt for centuries to come. Modern emancipation of
the intellect and liberation from this theological su­
pervision had two consequences. On the one hand,
the intellect retrieved the rights due to it, and on the
other hand there took place its distinction, resulting
in the emergence of a current of dogmatic rationalism.
The intellect freed from religious concessions started
to brilliantly play the role of a harsh critic of assorted
religious and ideological delusions. A t the same time,
there appeared within European space a new protago­
nist: the intellect blind in one (metaphysical) eye.
This intellect does not understand itself and is incapa­
217

ble of excusing itself. Halik perceived one of the ways
of leaving this cul de sac in expanding the conception
of the rational, restricted to unambiguous Logos, and
in opening the intellect towards the mythical founda­
tions from which, after all, it originates.
Nothing probably characterises the European Con­
tinent and its spiritual identity as satisfactorily as the
concept of the will. In his long history the European
is constantly permeated by the will of power. “Euro­
pean will” time and again enters a state that Halik de­
scribed as “European messianism”: the truly essential
features of European history include the urgent wish
to convince the rest of the world, a tireless willing­
ness to offer (...) always that, which in a given period
Europe did not regard as its greatest gift, entrusted
for the sake of a universal dissemination of goodness:
Hellenic and Roman civilisation, Christianity, the
emancipation of women, human rights, the protec­
tion of the natural environment... .27 From time im­
memorial the European readily assumed the role of a
missionary converting others to his “infallible convic­
tions”, whose excess he always possessed, or the role
of a travelling salesman trading in ideas that were sup­
posed to be - and this is a premise with all the qualities
of an axiom - forever superior. Europe performed a
catechesis, imposed, urged, and handed out, perceiv­
ing in this process the fulfilment of its supposed spir­
itual mission. In front of our eyes the European will of
might (and will of power) fell apart, leaving behind a
shadow of its former splendour. Does Europe still have
something to offer? The last question, referring to the
“post-messianic” status of Europe, does not sound very
convincing when asked by Halik (assuming that I cap­
tured his tone correctly): Who shall present, and what
part of the European heritage to the new inhabitants
of our Continent today and tomorrow? 28 A t the same
time, there is clearly no mention of “aliens” but of “our
continent” ; thus Halik accentuated the thought about
the offer that Europeans can make. Old dreams about
European might seem to have vanished irretrievably.
Having followed the basically “positive” (although,
as we have seen, slightly contested) and culture-cre­
ating dimension of the European “spirit” Halik also
mentioned and underlined its “dark” foundation. As
an expert on psychoanalysis he was well aware of the
fact - which he particularly stressed - that the will is
always directed by motives. The latter could be situ­
ated on the surface, open and discernible, but they are
also just as often concealed and embedded in the sys­
tem of the unconscious. A t the same time, and this
is essential, hidden motives are beyond the range of
our reflections, although this is not to say that they
are absent. Halik thus postulated that while speak­
ing about ”the origin of Europe” one should speak not
only about open phenomena, Europe’s visible “bright
consciousness”, but also to fathom intensively and

�D an u sz C zaja • THE SHADOWS OF EUROPE. HISTORY AND METAPHOR

earnestly the European “subconsciousness”. Since
much of that, which affects Europe is concealed be­
neath the stratum of consciousness should we not ex­
amine also the “dreams cherished by Europe” and its
“flawed undertakings”? Should we not study its myths
and "archetypes? 29. Halik suggested that gauging the
archaeology of mythical narrations about Oedipus,
Odysseus, Merlin, Ahasver, Faustus, Hamlet or Don
Quixote could fulfil a revealing role and disclose the
hidden - and not necessarily positively evaluated - as­
pects of impulses steering European projects, plans,
and dreams.
We recall that in the reflections pursued by Delpech
the metaphor of the “house of Europe” ultimately re­
sulted in that of the “fragmented spirit”. In the case
of Halik the opposite is true: the metaphor of the
“stratified soul” together with its dark, low, and drivefocused foundation overlaps in a very natural fashion
the familiar image of the “haunted house”: a house
whose subterranean parts conceal wicked secrets.
Apart from the notorious European longing for
“light” mention is also due to the poets, philosophers
and mystics of the night. Europe stores many most val­
uable treasures in its dungeons. Once we examine the
place held by European rationalism it seems appropri­
ate to descend to the cellars of mysticism, esotericism
and gnosis; since we tour the cathedral of faith we
should not overlook the crypts of heresy, superstition
and secret cults.
A fragment of the spirit of Europe consists of vi­
sions and fantasies concerning “the others”, who ini­
tiated their missionary, discovery-buccaneer or war
expeditions beyond the boundaries of our Continent.
To become acquainted with Europe means to see its
relation towards other cultures and civilisations since
it frequently transfers to them its hopes and fears as
well as its shadows.
A bold project for European unity and a joint Eu­
ropean home spanning from the Atlantic to the Ural
Mts. is not built on unknown and unploughed soil. It
is, however, erected on a foundation composed of a
multi-storeyed arrangement of forgotten treasures and
charred ruins, the burial ground of deities, heroes and
felons, rusty ideas and unexploded bombs. We do not
have to grant our Europe a spirit but from time to time
we have to follow it towards “the mothers”, the under­
ground, in the manner of Orpheus following Eurydice
or the slayed Christ following Adam and the Old Tes­
tament fathers, depicted on old icons. 30
Halik persistently reminded us, his contemporary
readers, of this simple truth, empirically tested by psy­
choanalysis: sometimes the repressed returns to the
surface and does so with even greater force. He tells
us about the traumatic lesson of twentieth-century to­
talitarianisms, a lesson, which we either did not com­
prehend or which we refused to deliberate on: The
218

conflagration of evil and violence, which swept across
Europe during two world wars and under the rule of
two inhuman “substitute religions”, i.e. Nazism and
communism, destroyed, in the opinion of many peo­
ple, both trust in the might of goodness as the foun­
dation of the world (the metaphysical conception of
God) and the Enlightenment-era trust in the intellect
and the goodness of human nature capable of creating
an ideal society with the assistance of the instruments
of its rationality - the power of science and technol­
ogy. A confrontation with the evil of two world wars,
the secular regimes of the twentieth century, and such
phenomena as Auschwitz and the Gulag demonstrat­
ed that an uncritical lay-humanistic belief in the om­
nipotence of human rationality was at the very least as
illusory as uncritical dependence on divine authority
from “the netherworld”. “The divinity of man” proved
to be incapable of occupying the throne emptied after
“the death of God”. 31
alik demonstrated that the spirit possesses a number
of bright powers, which play their games in the day.
A t the same time, he stressed the importance of the
exploration of the subconscious, the nocturnal and
dark sphere that conceals everything that for assorted
reasons we do not disclose or want to reveal to the
outside world. Here we store our feelings, desires, and
dreams that produce embarrassment and shame. It is
here that elements of psychic life described as repul­
sive, rejected, and unwanted are to be found. Finally, it
is here that contents repressed from the space of con­
scious life exist. Halik did not express this firmly, but I
believe that completing his thought will not constitute
abuse on my part. As was mentioned, it is in the na­
ture of the repressed that it likes to resurface. If this is
the case, then the analogy between the individual soul
and that of the group is basically apt, and reflection on
the “sprit of Europe” metaphor leads to a conclusion close to the diagnosis formulated by Delpech - that for
the sake of our spiritual wellbeing we should become
acquainted with the nature of this dark space. Europe
must descend to “the Mothers”, those enigmatic per­
sonae from the second part of Faust, and their dark
kingdom in order to establish direct contact with the
horror of this world of chaos. One has to pass through
such initiation, known in Jungian terminology as “the
integration of the shadow“. It is precisely the accept­
ance of the actual existence of the “’shadowy spheres”
and their subsequent inclusion into conscious life that
is (could be) a condition for spiritual rebirth. Any oth­
er path is at best the maintenance of illusion, and in
the worst case - of self-deceit.
Interestingly, those two distinctions, at first glance
radically different both as regards the profession of their
diagnosticians and the points of departure accepted
by them, share fundamental conclusions. Delpech ac­
centuated not the peace, warmth, and security of the

�D an u sz C zaja • THE SHADOWS OF EUROPE. HISTORY AND METAPHOR

“house of Europe” but, on the contrary, its terrifying,
concealed spaces. She revealed the horror of dark cel­
lars haunted by phantoms of the past and brought to
the surface dangerous and spiritually toxic places. Just
as Edgar Allan Poe showed the symptoms of the disin­
tegration of the house of Usher so she traced cracks on
the walls of the once solid European construction. In
a similar vein, Halik first stressed the possibilities and
opening outlined in a ”positively” comprehended met­
aphor of the soul. Interestingly, he ultimately concen­
trated on its dark ”interior”. In doing so, Halik stressed
and brought forth elements of the dark subconscious
of the Europeans, the enormous and still pulsating re­
gions of horror and wilderness. These are the cursed
terrains, which we, as a rule, do not wish to know and
maintain a safe distance, because subconsciously we
experience their toxic power. Both texts, with their
careful forecasts and far from optimistic, leave us in
a state of uncertainty. There is, however, a single leg­
ible suggestion: reality will not change by itself, and,
as always, everything is up to us. A transformation of
the world has (must have!) a transformation of our
interior as its foundation and an inalienable condition
for potential. 32 A book must be an ice-axe to break the
seas frozen inside our soul. This motto taken from Kafka
and opening the book by Delpech could be engraved
on the façade of the renascent “house of Europe”.

4.
A t the end of his comments about the “European
spirit” Edmund Husserl, sharing his fears with the
readers, recalled yet another symbol from the dis­
tant mythological European past: the symbol of the
phoenix undergoing rebirth, a strong and spectacular
source of food for further thought. Described by the
great phenomenologist it becomes the figure of future
reborn Europe.
Europe’s greatest danger is weariness. If we struggle
against this greatest of all dangers as ‘good Europeans’
with the sort of courage that does not fear even an infinite
struggle, then out of the destructive blaze of lack of faith,
the smoldering fire of despair over the West’s mission for
humanity, the ashes of great weariness, will rise up the
phoenix of a new life-inwardness and spiritualization as
the pledge of a great and distant future for man: for the
spirit alone is immortal. 33
Husserl wrote those words in 1935. As we all know
too well, they were never heeded. Because they were
not loud enough? Because no one wanted to hear them?
Because they were said much too late? The catastrophe
came almost on the next day. The phoenix turned to
ashes in the death camps. It seems, however, that more
than seventy years from the time when they were writ­
ten the above remarks - with the possible exception of
their pathos and messianic hype - have not lost any of
their therapeutic force. One could add: unfortunately.
219

Today, we know for certain that the European Phoenix
is not strong enough to rise on its own. We have to as­
sist it. To put it differently: we must help ourselves and
extract ourselves from the quagmire around us. “His­
tory” is a hypostasis and no one will perform our task for
us. The problem lies in the fact that no one knows, or is
capable of knowing, whether matters have not gone too
far. The fact that the spirit is essentially immortal does
not necessarily comfort us in this situation.
The sober voices of the two cited intellectuals, de­
prived of illusions but also far from barren pessimism,
propose a difficult lesson, an ominous memento, and
cautious hope. Those two tones resound very clearly,
a circumstance that renders their identification ex­
tremely credible.
Endnotes
1 R. Calasso, Zaślubiny Kadmosa z Harmonią, transl.
S. Kasprzysiak, Kraków 1995, p. 14.
2 M. Kundera, Zachód porwany albo tragedia Europy
Środkowej, “Zeszyty Literackie” no. 5:1984. An acute
polemic with the theses proposed by Kundera was con­
ducted by Joseph Brodsky: Why Milan Kundera Is Wrong
About Dostoyevsky, in: idem, Pendulum’s Song, Paris
1989, pp. 99-106; an excellent reconstruction of the
ideological and mythological foundation of Kundera's
reflections combined with a critical analysis of the omis­
sion of the Balkans in his concept of Central Europe is
to be found in a chapter in the book by Maria Todorova:
Bałkany wyobrażone, transl. P Szymor, M. Budzińska,
Wołowiec 2008, pp. 301-344.
3 An extensive set of symbolic associations connected with
the “home” (a reconstruction based on Polish literary
and belief material) is contained in the publication by D.
and Benedyktowicz, Dom w tradycji ludowej, Wrocław
1992; on linguistic stereotypes and symbolic aura surro­
unding the “spirit” (an analysis based on the contempo­
rary vernacular) see more in: D. Czaja, Anatomia duszy.
Gry językowe i figury wyobraźni, Kraków 2006.
4 Texts about the cognitive role of the metaphor total
hundreds and reference to even the basic corps would
take up several pages. Metaphor and Thought, ed.
Andrew Ortony, Cambridge 1993, still remains an
instructive anthology of texts on this topic. Owing to
the holistic epistemological project directed against the
philosophy of concepts let us note by way of example the
study by Hans Blumenberg: Paradigmen zu einer
Metaphorologie, Bonn 1960.
5 J. Ortega y Gasset, Dwie wielkie metafory, in: idem,
Dehumanizacja sztuki i inne eseje, transl. P Niklewicz,
introduction S. Cichowicz, Warszawa 1980, p. 223.
6 P Ricoeur, Język, tekst, interpretacja. Wybór pism, transl. P
Graff, K. Rosner, Warszawa 1989, p. 133.
7 Th. Delpech, Powrót barbarzyństwa w XXI wieku, transl.
W. Dłuski, Warszawa 2008, p. 41; my emphasis - D. C.
Nb. The translation into the Polish is slightly more “nar­
rative-oriented”, while the original has the brief and
ambiguous: Uensauvagement.
8 J. Bartmiński, Dom i świat - opozycja i komplementarność,
in: idem, Językowe podstawy obrazu świata, Lublin 2006,
p. 168.
9 Delpech, op. cit., p.145.

�D an u sz C zaja • THE SHADOWS OF EUROPE. HISTORY AND METAPHOR

10 Ibid., pp. 104-105.
11 Ibid., p. 105.
12 Analogisation between the image of the house and that
of man is a frequent motif in symbolic imagination. Cf.
Cirlot's remarks about symbolic oneirism: [...] in dreams
we employ the image of the house as a representation of the
different layers of the psyche. The outside of the house signi­
fies the outward appearance of Man; his personality or his
mask. The various floors are related to the vertical and spa­
tial symbols. The roof and upper floor correspond to the head
and the mind, as well as to the conscious exercise of self­
control. Similarly the basement corresponds to the uncon­
scious and the instincts (just as sewers do in symbols perta­
ining to the city), J. E. Cirlot, Słownik symboli, transl. I.
Kania, Kraków 2000, p .112, s. v. House.
13 Delpech, op. cit., p. 296.
14 Ibid., p. 297.
15 Ibid., p. 304.
16 E. A. Poe, Zagłada Domu Usherów, transl. B. Leśmian, in:
idem, Opowiadania niesamowite, transl. B. Leśmian, S.
Wyrzykowski, Warszawa 1976, pp. 319-320.
17 From this viewpoint it is worth reflecting on the state­
ment made by Elfriede Jelinek, who without any illu­
sions explained the origin of the history of the "monster
from Amstetten": The terrible crime committed against
Natascha Kampusch or the Fritzl family in Amstetten do not
surprise me (and I would no want to know how many similar
cases, about which no one will ever find out, still exist). (...)
History allowed Austria to feel like a victim without any
greater acts of penance, and to always hide behind a beauti­
ful façade its active participation (for instance, in Nazi
atrocities). Nonetheless, the repressed returns with doubled
force. In Austria, both in concealment (as in the basement in
Amstetten) and in public (the economic scandals of the
recent period) things take place that could not be imagined
elsewhere, at least in comparable countries. Perhaps the
reason lies in the fact that, e.g. in Germany the press is much
more varied and more critical. I am particularly interested in
the paradigmatic nature of such horrible stories as those from
Amstetten, and am not surprised by the crimes committed in
Austria, Elfriede Jelinek talks to Magdalena Miecznicka,
“Dziennik", 16 August 2008.
18 E. Husserl, Kryzys europejskiego człowieczeństwa a filozo­
fia, transl. and introd. J. Sidorek, Warszawa 1993, p. 16.
19 J.Patocka, Europa i dziedzictwo europejskie do końca XIX
wieku, transl. J. Zychowicz, in: idem, Eseje heretyckie z
filozofii dziejów, transl. A. Czcibor-Piotrowski, E.
Szczepańska, J. Zychowicz, Warszawa 1988, p. 111.
20 The question, which we shall pose, will be as follows: is
concern for the soul, located at the very source of
European legacy, capable of creatively attracting our
attention today, when amongst general weakness and
coming to terms with decline, we need support to such
a great extent, J. Patocka, Sytuacja człowieka - sytuacja
Europy, transl. J. Kłoczowski, p. 191.
21 J. Patocka, Człowiek duchowy a intelektualista, “Logos i
Ethos", no. 1:1993, pp. 125-134. I cite one of the closing
paragraphs from this excellent text whose topicality
appears to be constantly growing: spiritual man, capable
of sacrifice and seeing its sense and significance (...)
cannot be afraid. Naturally, spiritual man is not a politi­
cian in the commonplace comprehension of that term:
he is not a side in the dispute conducted by this world
but he is political in a different manner (...) because he
compels society and all those around him to face that
220

unobvious nature of reality, ibid., p. 134.
22 J. Derrida, Secrets of European Responsibility, in: idem,
The Gift of Death, Chicago-London 1995, p.15.
23 T Halik, Co zespala Europę? Wykład berliński, in: ide­
m, Wzywany czy niewzywany Bóg się tutaj zjawi. Europejskie
wykłady z filozofii i socjologii dziejów chrześcijaństwa,
transl. A. Babuchowski, Kraków 2006, pp. 129-130.
24 Ibid., p. 130, emphasis: D. C.
25 Ibid., p. 131.
26 J. B. Metz, Teologia wobec cierpienia, transl. J. Zychowicz,
Kraków 2008, cf. in particular reflections on “theology
after Auschwitz", pp. 31-59.
27 Halik, op. cit., pp. 140-141.
28 Ibid., p. 143.
29 Ibid., p. 144.
30 Ibid., p. 145, my emphasis - D. C.
31 Ibid., p. 237.
32 32. One more thing. Both analytical studies can be inc­
luded into the wide and truly “unclear" category of texts
from a domain of, so to speak, historical anthropology
(in the case of Delpech with an accent on the political
sphere, and in Halik's writings - on the cultural-religious
one). Apart from the contents they possess, in my opi­
nion, yet another methodological value: they demon­
strate how within the space of a single text it is possible
to readily encounter symbolic anthropology (examining
contents in abstracto) together with engagée anthropolo­
gy (stressing the necessity of referring research conclu­
sions to the real world). This benefits both approaches.
At any rate, studies by Delpech and Halik prove that
between these two attitudes towards research into cul­
tural reality there does not have to exist an insurmoun­
table obstacle.
33 Husserl, Kryzys...., p. 51.

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                <text>and become part of the genetic code. Cultural habits
are our “second nature”, making itself known in the
most varied situations.1
2.
Babette’s Feast: a refugee fleeing France in the
throes of revolutionary terror arrives in a small Dan­
ish settlement. The kindly albeit distant Danish women
who offered her shelter entrust her with keeping their
home and introduce her to the arcana of local culi­
nary art - simple or even primitive, frugal recipes based
on a few basic ingredients (the famous recipe for rye
bread soup, nota bene used up to this day in traditional
Scandinavian cooking). Babette, slightly mysterious,
with an obscure past, adapts herself to the new envi­
ronment but when she unexpectedly wins in the lot­
tery she spends all the money on a curious caprice - a
1.
De re coquinaria by Apicius (first century A.D.)sophisticated banquet for her Danish hosts. The meal
was probably the first to verbalise the view that the way becomes a demonstration of her culinary mastery as the
former chef of a famous Parisian restaurant as well as a
of taking nourishment is a refined “culinary art” - a skill
manifestation of the refined and always slightly liber­
that belongs to the domain of art (ars techne), and thus
tine French culture of dining.
entails doing something according to a set of rules. Close
This simple plot told in the unhurried rhythm of
to Aristotelian “productive knowledge”, ars victuaria in
consecutive
sequences of preparations for the feast the twelfth-century classification by Radulf da Campo
whose detailed presentation at a certain moment out­
Lungo, known as el Ardiente, and by Hugo of St. Victor
right balances on the edge of a television cooking show was one of the seven mechanical arts. Although later it
should be analysed as an out-and-out textbook exercise
was excluded from classifications aimed at formulating
in
cultural anthropology. We are dealing with a typical
a definition of art exclusively as an ability to produce
confrontation
of two different lifestyles - dissimilar sets
beauty (the seven fine arts according to Batteax in the
of daily/routine behaviour within the range of European
mid-eighteenth century), thanks to idealistic aesthetics
culture in which the table (the culture of dining) is,
“culinary art” could find its place either among skills
according to Norbert Elias, a fundamental element of
still comprehended according to the classical and only
Western
civilisation and testimony of certain domains
slightly redefined distinction (art conceived as profes­
of
cultural
competence (lifestyle/manner of living).2
sional knowledge, such as tailoring, medicine, trade,
Obviously, “table manners” (to paraphrase the title of
and “defensive capability”) , or - as Libelt interpreted it
a textbook by Erasmus of Rotterdam, basic for modern
in a slightly convoluted manner - among the so-called
social sciences showing Platonic ideals of truth, beau­ Western civilisation) is simultaneously an expression of
a certain existential thesis and, consequently, as a be­
ty and goodness in life, all enhancing the latter. Such
havioural
category it is an element of social stratification
maximalist speculations constituted the whole sphere
and
a
factor
shaping distinctive behaviour. This makes it
of material culture, of which it was demanded that it
should satisfy purely practical needs on par with “supe­ possible to treat the story described in Babette’s Feast as
rior” requirements, so that the useful would be simul­ part of the socio-ethnological orbis interior-orbis exterior
thesis and an illustration of a cultural confrontation ini­
taneously pleasant, as Aristotle desired. This shifts the
tiated by the appearance of the “stranger”. In this case,
whole issue to an equal degree towards psychological
we are concerned with a confrontation of two antitheti­
aesthetics (especially its Cartesian hedonistic version,
rendered dynamic by basically anti-intellectual twenti­ cal European cultures: the closed, severe “town” culture
and the open, refined and cosmopolitan “court” culture,
eth-century speculations on the theory of satiation) as
well as towards the history of culture and cultural an­ created and “civilised” by modern France, whose social
thropology. Culinary art, together with the accompany­ symbol became French cuisine. French cooks (M.A.
Careme), aristocrats and statesmen (e.g. cardinals Rich­
ing ritual of recipes, cookbooks, hierarchy of interiors,
elieu and Mazarin or Marquis Louis de Béchamel), suc­
furniture, table setting, servants, etc., is one of the key
ceeded in granting modern culinary art created during
moments in manners and morals (lifestyle) embedded
in social hierarchies. Today, it may be viewed in yet an­ the sixteenth century by the Italians a heretofore un­
known sophistication and diversification, propagated
other, new way toppling the old, segmentary findings,
subsequently by such works as the famous La Physiologie
which separated the inherent from that, which is gained
du Goût by A. Brillat-Savarin (1825).
through culture: we know that manners and morals From this viewpoint, the story told in Babette’s Feast
social experience - cultural (milieu) conventions shape
assumes
the features of a veritable “credo” by referring
our personality thanks to their durability/rootedness

MARTA LESNIAKOWSKA

The Sin of Gluttony
and the Cultural
Conflict. On the
Margin of Babetteys
Feast

294

�M arta Lesniakowska • THE SIN OF GLUTTONY AND THE CULTURAL CONFLICT ON THE MARGIN OF B A B E T T E 'S F E A S T

- presumably - to the very essence of Kantian poetic
involving the middle class (the bourgeoisie) and the
higher court class. As a consequence, it evokes a dis­
pute between two moral stands: Protestant (in the ex­
treme version represented by the pietists) and Catholic,
together with their dual comprehension of civilisation
either as closed and internal morality (Protestantism)
or its external counterpart (Catholicism).
All these factors require that we regard Babette’s
Feast as a morality play exploiting the immanent feature
of the culture of dining, namely, that as a quintessence
of a certain philosophy of life this particular culture is
determined by its characteristic ethical premises. In
accordance with the steadfast rules of a philosophicaldidactic tale we witness a battle waged for human souls,
in which the protagonists face the necessity of making
a choice between basic categories and concepts that
they appear to allegorically personify: between Vir­
tue and Sin (here: Gluttony), Pride and Faith, Truth
and Falsehood. The situation of the choice balances
on the very edge of a cultural/world outlook conflict
in its entire dimension. The decision to participate, or
not, in the feast is tantamount to choosing one of two
choices evaluated, however, from the Protestant point
of view: to opt for tradition (stability, durability, truth)
or change (revolution and motion and hence also false­
hood and illusion).
Despite the referent danger of disturbing the bal­
ance, the very fact of sitting down to a table proves de­
cisive for the ultimate rejection of a conflict for the sake
of participation and opening up towards the “stranger”.
An examination of this process of attaining acceptance
may be explained by the mechanisms of the mutual im­
pact of cultures; we know that such impact is provoked
more by differences than similarities for two reasons:
either because the “strange” idea becomes part of famil­
iar conceptions and ideas (“a search for one’s own”) or,
on the contrary, because it is unfamiliar and thus gives
29 5

rise to curiosity (“the quest for the strange”). It is the
“stranger” who introduces into the inner cultural struc­
tures that, which comes “from the outside” and causes
the impulse of cultural change.
The course of Babette’s feast, with its growing drama­
turgy of gradually overcoming distance and conventions,
turns almost into a rite of mutual gift giving in the manner
of the potlatch, a key moment of activating two authentic
European cultures “towards integration”. The first bite of
sophisticated French hors d’oeuvre produces an integra­
tion of different traditions; in this case, the gesture has
an outright oecumenical dimension, so distant from the
destructive leftist vision of the self-annihilating consumer
society shown in La grande bouffe. Quite possibly, this
could be also a poetical gesture if we were to consider the
problem from the viewpoint of the still utopian vision of
a united Europe (and, more widely, a united world, in
the once again activated illusion of “internationalism”).
A t this point it seems worth recalling the end scenes of
Babette’s Feast: after the magnificent dinner everything
becomes the same as before. The level of understanding
and acceptance did not cross the limits delineated by, for
example, dinner in an exotic restaurant - a mere pleas­
ant, festive episode in the routine of daily life or a tourist
programme. New experiences outlined even more strong­
ly the spheres of “one’s own-ness” (“smaller homeland”),
established by tradition and prejudice, in order to protect
them against a successive utopia.

Endnotes
1 These problems were presented in detail by Elżbieta
Gieysztor-Miłobędzka, Natura, nauka, sztuka - nowy p a ra ­
dygmat, in: Sztuka a natura. M ateriały XXXVI I Sesji
Naukowej Stowarzyszenia Historyków Sztuki przeprowadzo­
nej 23-25 listopada 1989 roku w Katow icach, Katowice

2

1991, pp. 15-29, especially p. 17.
Norbert Elias, Przem iany obyczajów w cyw ilizacji Zachodu,
Warszawa 1980.

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                <text>A

mong all the interiors and buildings providing
shelter and a dwelling, an artist’s studio is by
its very function and purpose an ambiguous
space. The usefulness of this home is temporary. The
roof guarantees an opportunity to work and organise
a workshop and provides time for concentration and
creative energy. It also makes it possible to safely ac­
cumulate various tools or instruments, sketches in the
making, auxiliary works - all the projects and seemin­
gly tiresome and yet indispensable papers that surro­
und the artists’ effort, which appears somewhat ardu­
ous despite the effective results. The roof provides
isolation from intruders, noise and visual chaos. Or at
least it should do so1. Nonetheless, artists tend to tre­
at this aspect of the studio as a different, albeit their
own, space of clamour and chaos, filled with intru­
ders, who arrive upon the authors’ request, by the lat­
ter’s choice and according to their imagination2. On
the other hand, a studio roof - to adhere to the con­
cept of elementary space - is not a complete guaran­
tee of home isolation and privacy. After all, an
exchange of dimensions and substances is the predo­
minant activity in all types of studios: be they a room
open right through, as in a sculptor’s studio, or glasse­
d-in, with light coming from the north and set in an
attic, from the nineteenth century regarded to be ide­
al for painters, or even in a small, half-dark duchtynia
(a cramped studiolo), the source of images and con­
cepts, visionary dreams or intellectual ideas. The
exchange in question predominantly involves provi­
ding the art form with everyday reality. Measurable
cubature becomes a springboard for the non-compu­
table space of a painting, the astonishing scale of
a sculpture and the conceptual game played with ide­
as. Essential for artistic endeavours, the commonpla­
ce or even unusual objects surrounding the artist
(known for a tendency to collect just as many trifles
as sophisticated valuables) turn into a part of the sub­
stance. The temporariness of a studio becomes conso­
lidated as if in passing, through a transformation of
the accidental into the irrevocable and via incorpora­
tion into the very structure of the work of art 3 4.
Temporary space often assumes the form of inspira­
tion, a leitmotif identified with this unique place 5 6.
The artist’s stay and its outcome are intended for
the temporary and provisional home due to their very
principle and purpose. Artworks are supposed to leave
this space, ’’to go among the people”; they are in mo­
tion or destined to be transported 7. This is the objec­
tive of creation. Impermanence, however, often beco­
mes domesticated. And if today (and not only)
artworks remain with their author, forcedly congest
and domesticate the fleeting and transitory quality of
the studio’s interior, and do not set off into the world,
then they resemble children attached to their parents,
growing up and aging with them (even in the best me-

JACEK

WALTOŚ

The Studio
- the Partially
Domesticated, Portable
or Transitory Home
aning of the term) and thus endowing temporary al­
ternation with stabilizing substance. An artist uncer­
tain of the fate of his works - usually non-commissio­
ned - becomes their collector, forced to amass his
own output. He transforms the studio into a gallery or
a storeroom and grants it the traits of a compulsorily
created collection that, even if it is copious, remains
rather monotonous because it consists of the works of
a single author.
Over a span of years the works held in a studio,
settled down and merged with it - even though their
relation was supposed to be temporary - provide it
with the character of a "creator’s home”, while the
studio as such turns into an "artist’s museum” or be­
comes celebrated as a "temple of art”. This descrip­
tion could be appropriate for the family homes of arti­
sts sharing the qualities of their bourgeois milieu, such
as the Kraków residences of Józef Mehoffer and Woj­
ciech Weiss, professors at the Academy of Fine Arts
who, nonetheless, worked in the Academy studios to
which they were entitled.
Tales about respectable ”homes of creators” and
”temples of art” are accompanied by oft-repeated le­
gends of studios conceived as the sites of Bacchic or
erotic excesses, witnessing both extraordinary creati­
ve momentum and the artist’s helplessness or melan­
choly 8 9. Each individual story deserves a legend of its
own, and together they all add the myth of extraordi­
nariness to studio space, sometimes reasonably afflu­
ent 10 and at other times movingly deprived11. This in­
terior, in which transformation, transgression and
creation transpire, remains a legend also today, when
the creative act has left the studio for the streets, the
walls of graffiti artists or the showrooms, in which it
appears in the form of an installation or a performan­
ce. It has become a "project”, from the beginning to
the end commissioned by exhibition or museum cura­
tors. Temporariness has become an attribute of the la­
test works and not of the studio. The physical space of
the studio has been replaced with virtual public spa­
ce. We are far from the materialization of ideas and
from preserving the transient.

65

�Jacek Waltoś • THE STUDIO - THE PARTIALLY DOMESTICATED, PORTABLE OR TRANSITORY HOME

It would be difficult to avoid discussing the essen­
ce of the studio in the People’s Republic of Poland du­
ring the 1970s and 1980s. Although studios were as­
signed upon the basis of administrative decisions, due
to their aesthetic aura and political extraterritorial
status they sometimes assumed the function of asy­
lums of an "another life” in prevailing reality. This
fact was particularly appreciated by the art milieu du­
ring the martial law period12. Instead of the natural
temporariness of an interior from which the works go
further and further into the world, the studio was ga­
ining the qualities of a centre of ideas and meetings a place of confessions and discussions.
In the past, for instance in the Middle Ages and in
the modern era, the artist was frequently a nomad
among settled European clients, changing countries
and places while searching for the most convenient
working conditions. It would be difficult to claim that
the traveller took root and settled down in the places
of his temporary stay. The example of Pablo Picasso
leaving behind successive residences (castles and pa­
laces) filled with his works paradoxically combines the
qualities of an established owner and a travelling con­
jurer. A characteristic trait of this genius, gifted with
unmatched creative energy confirmed by fame and fi­
nancial success, is that his studios both preserved the
attributes of a transitory work place and gained the fe­
atures of a museum collection. Abandoned by the au­
thor, they did not lose their links with him.
To what extent is a studio a domesticated space?
Probably to the degree that it supports and does not di­

stract the moment of creation when intention changes
into a work of art, when for a single instant it merges
conditions, time and creative energy and seems to com­
prise a painting-metaphor of creation. But this meta­
phor collapses and loses its significance once the studio
is perceived as a domesticated dwelling. This is also the
case when from the very beginning the artist treats it as
an alien and intentionally non-domesticated place. Ap­
parently, such was, and still is Stanisław Wyspiański’s
abandoned "sapphire studio” in Krowoderska Street in
Kraków 13, probably never inviting or snug. On the con­
trary, the blue colour of its walls and ceiling lead us out­
side, into the faraway world, almost into cosmic dimen­
sions, as does the visionary stained glass - merely
designed in the studio but fulfilled somewhere else.

Footnote:
1
2
3
4

Jacek Gaj, Visit
Jacek Gaj, At Adam’s
Zbigniew Szprycha, Studio
Marek Przybył, Imaginary Portrait of Francis Bacon - Stu­
dio

5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

Olga Boznańska, Study of the Artist’s Studio in Kraków
Wacław Taranczewski, Young Painter
Andrzej Okińczyc, Packaging
Jerzy Mierzejewski, Studio
Jacek Sienicki, Studio
Zbysław Maciejewski, Studio of Olga Boznańska
Antoni Kamieński, Unfinished Work
Barbara Skąpsza, Night
Illustration: photograph by Mirosław Sikorski

Fragment of an exhibition: Home - the Way śfBejng, City Rrt Gallery in Częstochowa 2009

66

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                <text>Lud, vol. 79, 1995

III. FOLK STUDIES AND OTHER DIRECTIONS
RESEARCH IN POLISH ETHNOLOGY

OF

BARBARA BAZIELICH
Institute of Ethnology
Wrocław University

THE STUDY OF FOLK

CLOTHES

AND COSTUMES

IN POLAND

Poland is one of the few European countries whose extensive ethnographic
literature does not contain any monograph or even an album devoted to
regional costumes. Folders with colorful largescale photographs, published in
1841, 1855, and 1954 (Zieńkowicz, 1841; Gerson, 1855; Manugiewicz, 1954) as
limited editions are almost inaccessible nowadays. At present, one often finds
that no papers on this topic appear at all, and even the volumes of Atlas
Polskich Strojów Ludowych [Atlas of Polish Folk Costumes] are not published
any more (Kantor, 1982, p. 26). This gap may be filled by papers that have been
written and are currently in press (Karwieka, Gadomski, Bazielich), yet the
editing process each year becomes longer and longer. It would be, therefore,
a mistake to think that the question of peasants' clothing, (commonly called
a folk costume or a regional costume) 1, is no longer the subject of inquiry and
dissertations. Among those interested in this subject are not only ethnographers, but also historians (Rosen-Przeworska,
1953; 1954; Turnau, 1991),
historians of material culture (Kowecka, 1978), art historians (Bartkiewicz,
1979; Żygulski, 1974), costumologists and theatrologists (Tyrowicz, 1957;
Kostiumy teatralne ... [Theatre Costumes ... ], 1952) as well as folklorists 2.
While some of these discipline treat peasants' clothing in a marginal way,
others, in particular historians and historians of material culture, view it as
a binding element in the national culture. For many reasons, therefore, it is of
great importance to acknowledge such publicatins as well as studies written by
historians of art on fashion and the history of clothing, even though the
1 Further
in the paper such expressions as folk costume, peasant's costume, or regional
clothing will be used interchangeably, yet always to designate a decorative, festive type of wear in
opposition to clothing understood as commonplace, everyday clothes. Here, we do not aim at
defining these terms, as it is not the subject of this paper. An attemptat definition was given by
Irena Turnau, 1977.
2 As an example, we can give a series of publications
about the folklore of particular regions,
published by Centralny Ośrodek Metodyki Upowszechniania
Kultury [Central Institute of
Methodology of Dissemination of Culture] in Warsaw. They cover songs, dance, customs, and
costumes.

�102
aforementioned publications are completely ignored by ethnographers and folk
specialists writing about folk costumes. Even though the achievement of the
folk culture scholars does not include any concise monograph, album or
a synthesis of this period, many of them have written and published articles
about costumes, as this subject is always valid and popular.
In Poland folk costume has been arousing scholarly interest for over two
hundred years, and with changing, yet always increasing intensity. There are
also many negative evaluation of Polish scholarship of this subject and some
regret that so far neither theory nor appropriate research methods have been
developed (Kantor, 1982). However when we take into account the points of
view of various acedemic disciplines as well as the time period and stages in the
development of the interest in folk clothing, such severe criticism would seem
unjustified.
The existing literature of folk costume not only describes the forms and
ornamentation of costumes, the ways of making them, the materials, functions,
genesis, history, archaisms, regional variations, and specific character, changes
in time and long-term duration as well as the problem of fashion and
conditions, but also discuss the question of iconography and try to grasp the
influence of the clothing of noblemen and townsmen on the Polish folk
costume. These issues are discussed in papers published either in journals 3 or
popular magazines 4, or - in the case of characteristics of specific folk
costumes - in monographs of some regions (Kultura ludowa Wielkopolski
[Folk Culture of Wielkopolska], 1960; Nad rzeką Ropą [On the Ropa River],
1965; Ziemia Myślenicka
[The Region of Myślenice], 1971), as separate
publications (Świeży, 1954; Cholewa, 1946; Grodecka 1986; Bazielich, 1988) or
chapters in papers concerning folk culture and art (Fischer, 1926; 1934;
Reinfuss, Świderski, 1960; Hermanowicz-Nowak,
1976; Grabowski, 1977;
Fryś- Pietraszkowa, Kunczyńska, Pokropek, 1988) of which, due their numbers
we can mention only a few.
Among all those publications we should distinguish Atlas Polskich Strojów
Ludowych [Atlas of Polish Folk Costumes] prepared by different authors and
published by Polskie Towarzystwo Ludoznawcze [The Polish Ethnological
Society] in separate volumes as monographs of regional variations of the
costumes. Since 1949 there have appeared 32 fascicles5, the last of which was
3 "Wisła",
"Lud", "Polska Sztuka Ludowa", "Etnografia Polska", "Kwartalnik Historii
Kultury Materialnej", "Kwartalnik
Historyczny", "Pamiętnik Słowiański", "Łódzkie Studia
Etnograficzne", "Prace i Materiały Antropologiczno-Archeologiczne
i Etnograficzne", "Prace
i Materiały Etnograficzne", "Literatura Ludowa", annual sets issued by some museums.
4 "Orli Lot", "Wierchy",
"Ziemia", "Zaranie Śląskie", "Wiedza i Życie", "Turysta", Kalendarz
Ilustrowany Kuryera Codziennego, and others.
5 Subsequent
volumes of Atlas Polskich Strojów Ludowych are devoted to: costumes of the
Szczawnica mountaineers, of the Lower Silesia (Pogórze), regions of Rzeszów, Szamotu/y, and

�103
submitted for publication in 19946. Each fascicle, in addition to detailed data
on the history, distribution, and the forms of particular pieces of ladies' and
men's dress, also contains data about the ornamentation of clothing, fabrics,
and makers. Although in a sense the last three topics constitute separate
sections of literature and because of their specific subject matter are discussed in separate publications (Halt i zdobienie stroju ludowego [Embroidery
and Ornamentation of Folk Costume], 1955; Reinfuss, 1953; Strój i tkanina
ludowa Mazowsza Płockiego [Folk Costume and Fabric of the Płock Mazovia], 1972), they are directly related to costume and thus should be taken into
account.
A review of all publications can be found in bibliographies published both
before and after World War II (Gawełek, 1914; Bystroń, 1922; Jackowski,
Jarnuszkiewiczowa, 1962) and in references in some publications (Kutrzeba-Pojnarowa, 1964). Bibliography has been continuously updated by a branch
of the Polish Ethnological Society - Ośrodek Informacji i Dokumentacji
Etnograficznej [The Center of Ethnographic Information and Documentation]
in Łódź 7. It should be emphasized that in the postwar years the number of
publications about folk dress and costumes has considerably increased and is
still growing. In this respect much credit should go to the workers of museums,
in particular to ethnographic museums who have no only collected, stored,
conserved and documented this type of articles, but also have conducted
research, published the results of their investigations, put up exhibitions, and
ha ve written folders and guide-books for the exhibitions and catalogues of their
collections 8. Almost every museum that has been collecting folk costumes has
engaged in some scholarly work of this kind (Lipiarz, 1978; Bazielich, 1973;
1982; Grodecka, 1986; Rostworowska, in press). These achievements, however,
have in general been ignored by authors who try to summarize the current
research on folk costume in Poland, thus the picture they present is usually
incomplete and inaccurate. This, in turn, often leads some scholars complain
about the ineffectiveness of scholarship, in particular of Polish ethnography, in
this specific field of folk culture. There have been several attempts evaluating
Krzczonowo Region, the Kurpie district (Puszcza Biała), regions of Łowicz, Dzierżacki, Kujawy,
Spisz, Piotrków, Pszczyna, Pyrzyce, Łańcut, Opoczno, Lubusz, Silesian Highlands, Zagórze,
Sandomierz, Biłgoraj ~ Tarnogród region, Podlesie, Kashubian, Sieradz, Warmia, West Cracovians, Puszcza Zielona of Kurpie, Świętokrzyskie Mountains, Orawa, Silesian Lachs, Kołbiel,
Kielce, and Limanowa Lachs.
6 Costumes
of the Łąck mountaineers - in press.
7 Bibliography
of the Center of Ethnographic Information and Documentation of the Polish
Ethnological Society in Łódź.
8 Among the museums
are: the State Ethnographic Museum in Warsaw, Ethnographic
Museum in Cracow, Ethnographic Museum in Toruń, Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum
in Łódź, Regional Museum in Rzeszów, Museum of the Upper Silesia in Bytom, the Silesian
Museum in Katowice, Ethnographic Museum-Section of the National Museum in Poznań.

�104
the achievements of studies on folk costume in Poland (Kutrzeba-Pojnarowa,
1964; Hermanowicz-Nowak,
1977; Kantor, 1982). Such papers always contained a list of important publications, were often quite critical of existing
scholarship and, what is especially important, put the question of folk costume,
questions of methodology and the importance and meaning of this walk of the
life at the forefront of folk culture (Kantor, 1982). Along with bibliographies,
these articles provide valuable information and materials necessary in researching and studying problems related to folk dress and costumes. Another
source of and inspiration for new concepts of research and studies are
previously published papers that include geographic information, photographs,
drawings, archival document extracts, and dictionaries with names and
descriptions of pieces of clothing. Some information is also drawn from field
studies, questionnaires, and inquiries conducted with makers and users of folk
costumes as well as from the preserved original pieces of traditional dress and
costumes. Moreover, this is an area where museum collections, either those
stored in storage rooms or displayed in exhibitions, etc. are also important
scholarly resources. Contemporary researchers have at their disposal a great
number of opportunities to comprehensively study the subject of their interest,
including many helpful technical means. They also may, by following foreign
publications, get insight into the complicated issues relating to various factors,
that for centuries, and on vast territories, have had a bearing on the role and
development of folk dress and costumes. They may thus become aware of the
subsidiary role of other related academic disciplines, such as linguistics, the
history of economy, politics, as well as demography, sociology, geography,
aesthetics, the history of art, etc.
At the time when the interest in folk dress and costumes only started to
emerge - which took place, as was already said, over 200 years ago - the
results of such interest were manifested quite differently. It should be
remembered however, that, in comparison with other European countries,
Polish papers devoted to the topic of clothing appeared relatively late. Łukasz
Gołębiowski (1773 -1849) was the pioneer whose first paper was issued twice in
the 19th century (Gołębiowski, 1831; 1861). This would seem to indicate some
demand for this kind of publication. The same author expended folk costumes
then modest bibliography with a small book containing information about
traditional Polish dress (Gołębiowski, 1863). This period witnessed also the
appearance of valuable works of other authors, i.e. Jędrzej Kitowicz who
devoted the last chapter of his book to folk customs and clothing (Kitowicz,
1840), Jan Matejko, who undertook an inquiry to study the issue of historic
garments and did not disregard the peasants' dress (Matejko, 1860),
and Walery Eliasz Radzikowski whose work - as the previous ones (except
for Kitowicz's) also containing illustrations of folks costumes - and
which had many editions (Radzikowski, 1879 - 1899). Wojciech Gerson was

�105
artist who published costumes of Polish folk (Gerson, 1885). Among the works
published in the mid- 19th c., the multi-volume editions of the works of Oskar
Kolberg (Kolberg, 1865-1910) and Wincenty Pol (1807-1872) constitute
a separaty category, where the ethnographic
descriptions also included
information about folk costumes (Pol, 1966). Also at this time a folder of
drawings prepared by Leon Zieńkowicz (Zieńkowicz, 1841) appeared. Among
later publications containing materials on dress and costume, of notice are also
old Polish encyclopedias by Zygmunt Gloger and Aleksander Bruckner
(Gloger, 1900; Bruckner, 1937 - 1939) and the book by Władysław Łoziński,
where in the 3rd chapter "Ubiory i splendory" [Dress and Splendor] the issue
of folk costume is also discussed (Łoziński, 1907).
The above publications point to two other issues relating to the question of
folk costume. First, that illustrations, i.e. black-and-white or tinted engravings,
and colorful full-page illustrations that are more or less accurate documents
play an important role in the literature of this subject; and second, that both
the descriptive and pictorial information about folk dress and costumes is
interwoven with data concerning higher social classes. This latter fact was
primarily recognized by folklore specialists, but was then ignored, until the
second half of the 20th century.
As far as the deliberate documentation of the phenomena observed in the
country, and not pure artistic creation is concerned, it is worth mentioning that
the first attempts at describing and showing the appearance of peasants and
their dress were already taken in the 18th century, a fact which was discussed in
a detailed and critical way in a number of papers (Bystroń, 1934; Jacher-Tyszkowa, 1975; Ruszel, 1976; Jaśkiewicz, 1976; Główczewska, 1955;
Turnau, 1968). This is not a uniquely Polish phenomenon; the value of old
iconography as a source of information was also noticed by difTerent authors in
other European countries (Noss, 1970; 1973; 1981; Dolouche, 1985). As regards
pictorial documents, what comes to the fore is the form of dress, the
composition of its particular elements, its colors, ornaments, and even the
kinds of fabric, provided that the artist was able to capture all of these
elements. Other important factors are: composition of the whole dress and its
length, its fullness or slimness, differences in the appearance relative to sex,
sometimes also to age, and the circumstances, i.e. whether the wearers were old
or young, married or single, if they participated in a wedding or took part in
festivals. Illustrations very rarely depicted other situations, such as baptisms,
funerals, particular religious holidays, or community events, though some
pictures of such events can also be found 9. These pictures sometimes show
archaic manners of wearing some clothes or an older method of matching
particular pieces. These traditions are totally obscure today and are often not
9

For example, in the paintings

ofAxentowicz

and Kotsis.

�106
even to be found in museum collections. The same applies to some elements or
ornamental motifs.
The elTect of liberation movements and of the consequent changes in the
structure and social position of the peasantry that gradually brought it
personal freedom and enfranchisement is that other social classes took an
interest in the life of the country inhabitants. From the turn of the 19th c.,
attention was focused on the way lived and dressed, on their customs and
folklore, which was reflected in art and academic studies. By the same token,
archetypes and features common to all Slavs were discerned, and in the era of
Panslavism the search for commonalities found favorable conditions to
develop and thus directed further inquiries and research, which deepened
knowledge of folk dress and costumes. Romanticism, on the other hand,
prompted a search in the country for heretofor unknown and mysterius themes
manifested in rituals, lyrics, stories, beliefs, and various practices that were
- as it turned out - closely associated with manners of dressing and the
preparation of costumes and dress.
Already in 1802, in his project for folk studies Hugo Kołłątaj, inspired by
the ideas of the Enlightenment, recommended, among other things, that "we
should learn of ... the difference in the garments (of the folk) not only as
regards the cut, but even the color, not to overlook any sort of their clothing",
and this should cover all "provinces, voivodships, and districts". On the basis
of different aspects of folk culture, including that of garments in the first place,
it can be said that gradually the objective of research was to capture the
regional peculiarities and specific features characteristic of a given territory.
The festive attire appeared to be a very distinct manifestation of these specific
features which, on the one hand, are the expression of homeliness, and on the
other, of differences relative to neighbours both near and far. In compliance
with this trend, in his work, Kolberg provided no information about dress,
though in some volumes he specified the names of the regions and described
some details concerning "the dress" also (Burszta, 1974).
Fascination with regionalism, founded on the desire of scholars to search
for one's identify and to identify with particular place of origin or living can be
detected even today. For a dozen of years it has triggered authors to write
more or less comprehensive descriptions and even monographs on particular
regIOns.
In the beginning such descriptions appeared, often with corresponding
pictures, in the 19th or 20th c. magazines such as "Tygodnik Ilustrowany",
"Przegląd Tygodniowy", "Wieś Ilustrowana", "Kłosy", and then in "Wisła"
and "Lud". The second half of the 19th c. witnessed also the appearance of
monographs of the folk culture of particular regions or settlements in which
much room was devoted to the issue of costumes (Mączyński, 1858; Malinowski, 1877; HolT, 1888; Polaczek, 1892; Świętek, 1893). This kind of publication,

�107
practiced until recently (Malicki, 1936, pp. 53 - 61; Zabytki kultury ludowej
[Remains of Folk Culture], 1975, pp. 48 - 65), comprises mainly descriptions of
festive, ritual, and ceremonial costumes and their particular pieces.
Such a perception of folk dress was not impacted by positivist slogans that
focused attention of the man of labor and his everyday life in poverty. The
development of more comprehensive studies of the question of everyday,
occupational dress appears to have been inhibited, among other reasons, by
ideas of the Young Poland that emphasized the stability, strength, colorfulness, and picturesqueness of the country and its people. A parallel "discovery"
of folk art in which the festive was stressed gave a stimulus to new papers on
the ornamentation of clothing: embroidery, jewelry, leatherware, lace, and
weaving. Articles on these topics were published mainly in the aforementioned
periodicals (Seweryn, 1929; Udziela, 1925; Stattlerówna, 1902). Although at
the turn of the centuryand
in the beginning of the 20th century different
authors noticed other aspects related to clothing, for example, its makers
- shoemakers and dressmakers (Kosiński, 1903; Goldstein, 1903; Pieniążek,
1934; Reinfuss, 1951), the problem of the maintenance of clothes (Gądzikiewicz, 1926) and fashion (Zborowski, 1930; Bazielich, 1967; 1968), these
questions have constituted a very small percent against the number of
descriptions of the costumes, still perceived in a static unchanging manner. In
1904 Bronisław Malewski wrote a critical analysis of the previously published
accounts of folk clothing, indicating, among other problems that of "static
presentation of the costumes and even unreliability of some of the used
records", yet the critique did not provoke any major response. Scholars
accepted standard paradigm, that the peasantries immobility its negative
attitude to all changes and illiteracy were the causes of its obscurantism and
conservatism, and at the same time for the unchangeability and long duration
of some of the products of folk culture, including clothes, and in particular
self-made ones.
The first monographs of folk costumes in the form of separate volumes were
published in the period of 1918-1939 (Udziela, 1930; 1932; Chmielińska, 1930;
Dobrowolska Agnieszka, Dobrowolski Tadeusz, 1936). Some specifically
concerned the ornamentation of folk costume (Seweryn, 1930; Matuszkówna,
1931; Udziela, 1936) and single pieces of clothing (Frankowski, 1928; Seweryn,
1929). The books appeared at the time similar publications on the history of
clothing were published (Błotnicki, 1930; Gutkowska,
1932); in general,
however, publications of folk costume missed information about peasants'
dress. All the publications were richly illustrated with drawings, color tables,
and photographs. In his work Ludowe stroje krakowskie i ich krój [Cracovian
Folk Costumes and their Cuts], Seweryn Udziela also included patterns of the
costumes, undeniably for practical purposes. Beside general introductory
information about the people, their settlements, and abodes, on seven

�108
illustrations ci la Jan Matejko the author discussed Cracovian "men's clothes
for the last five centuries", i.e. from 1400 to 1700, yet took no account of their
form and any changes that might possibly have taken place in between. He
rather focused on description of all pieces of the costume from the turn of the
century first of men's then of women's clothes, taking into consideration their
appearance, fabric ornaments, possible changes, and names. On the other hand,
in the introduction to this next work, Ubiory ludu polskiego [Clothing of Polish
Folk], devoted to "the clothing of the Beskid highlanders" he referred to the
protocol issued in 1903 by Komisja Antropologiczna Akademii Umiejętności
[Anthropological Committee of the Academy of Knowledge] which decided to
direct attention to "the picturesque costumes of our people, which before our
eyes are vanishing from day to day and yielding to trashy greyness" (Udziela,
1932) and consequently to publish papers covering Ubiory ludu polskiego
[Clothing of Polish Folk]. An aftermath of the decision was the publication of
two volumes that appeared in 1904 and 1909 (Tetmajer, 1904; 1909) which next
to the text contained illustrations and color tables, which he edited. It is
characteristic that it was just the "picturesqueness" of folk costume that was
brought to the fore. In the beginning, similar publications were of the same
character. Nonetheless, Udziela enriched his studyon
the clothing of the
Beskidy highlanders with historical materials based on archival records. Thus
he was able to take into account changes taking place in clothing as well as
their makers, fabric, patterns, colors, ornamentations,
the age of people
wearing them, and, last but not least, the differences among particular groups
of highlanders living in the Western Beskidy. This study was not just a search
for and emphasis of picturesque ornamentation of clothing, but, in compliance
with felt need to save things from oblivion, was an effort to - as faithfully as
possible - make documentation of what has remained in the country and
what human memory was able to convey. Thus it can be said that Ubiory
górali beskidowych, enlivered with color postcards, well-done photographs and
examples of some patterns, constitute one of the first exhaustive monographs of
costumes of a given ethnic group mainly based on the autors own field studies.
Such studies had been earlier undertaken by Kazimierz Moszyński who in
1929 published the first volume of Kultura kidowa Słowian [Folk Culture of the
Slavs], one chapter of which was devoted to clothing, giving a comprehensive
comparative and genetic analysis of that subject (Moszyński, 1929). Taken up
with Slavistic questions, he expanded the subject of his studies, both in terms of
the territory and the topic itself. In his work he employed many different
methods which for his later followers and students constituted a model they
sought to imitate. Since ca. 1920, systematic research on the territory of the
former Duchy of Łowicz was conducted by Aniela Chmielińska, a founder of
the Museum of the Łowicz Region. Following the guidelines of Adam Fischer,
in her book she presented the clothes of the inhabitants of the Łowicz region in

�109
the perspective of historical changes and territorial and circumstantial conditions. Chmielińska discussed particular pieces of clothing, ornaments, preferences of the wearers, fashions, and makers (Chmielińska, 1930). In her book
there is also some encouragement to observe traditional clothing.
A different compendium of knowledge of folk costumes, this time of the
Silesian region, is Agnieszka and Tadeusz Dobrowolski's work published in
1936, Strój. haft i koronka w województwie śląskiem [Costume, Embroidery, and
Lace in the Silesian Voivodship]. Divided into four chapters, their book covers
the Silesian highlands, the region of Pszczyna, and the northern part of the
voivodship. The fourth part is devoted to the Cieszyn laces. In this book the
costumes and their ornaments were discussed in an unconventional manner,
with many speculations on the origin, wide analogies, information about
chronology as well as indications of some research methods, precisely identified
with respect to embroidery (as for example analytical-comparative)
yet not on
the grounds of the diversity of motifs, but of applied technique, both in the
historical and typological perspective. The research material includes data not
only from the region of Silesia, but also from other regions of Poland, the
territories inhabited by Western Slavs, Hungary, the Balkans, Russia, and
Northern Europe, drawn from both folk and elite cultures. As far as
embroidery is concerned, the analysis also involves related techniques, such as
weaving and tapestry, which also permits establishing a certain chronology of
origin and genesis of some types of wear. Such a comprehensive picture is
completed with a dictionary of dialectal expressions (vernacularisms), sometimes with their etymology, a long list of weavers and lace makers according to
place of residence, and numerous photographs and tables. The number of facts
included in this publication, supplemented with appropriate references, is quite
imposing. It is also worth emphasizing that this work was the first to indicate
the relations between the folk costumes and the wear of other social groups
and to take on the subject of the methods of work.
The works cited above indicated, that the years after Poland regained its
independence were conducive to research and development of knowledge of
folk culture which was also manifested in an increasing interest in clothes and
regional costumes as well as in the desire to pursue and develop this subject.
However, the approaches taken by different authors varied considerably. Some
of the authors by illustrations and descriptions tried to produce documents of
the observed forms of costumes attributed to a given region or a town, yet most
often they took account of the differences generated by varied social situations,
functions, changes, and fashions. Others concentrated rather on the archetypes,
genesis, chronology, and historical conditioning. They all emphasized the
aesthetic features, ornamentation, and picturesqueness of costume. Still other
researchers attempted to discerning relationships with the past and the most
remote history of the country, or were looking for common or different

�110
elements that were indicative of either similarities or differences among the
Slavs.
Detailed descriptions of the form or recognition of the whole dress of
peasants paved the way for a typology of both particular pieces of clothing
(Fischer, 1934) and whole costumes. Already in the 18th c. Jędrzej Kitowicz
differentiated the costumes of Ruthenian, Cracow, or Mazovian peasants
(Kitowicz, 1951, pp. 607 - 610), while in the interwar period, Adam Fischer
singled out only two types of Polish costumes, i.e. Wielkopolska-Mazovia and
Małopolska (Fischer, 1934). Stanisław Poniatowski recognized four types, i.e.
Wielkopolska-Mazovia,
Małopolska, Podkarpacie,
and Polesie-Belorussia.
Also four types were differentiated by Kazimierz Moszyński: Pokucie-SouthPodolia and Eastern Carpathians, Małopolska-Polesie,
Silesia-Wielkopolska-Mazovia-Belorussia,
and Pomerania with the adjacent part of the Poznań
district (Moszyński, 1938).
As can easily be inferred, the objective for making the above and other
typologies (Seweryn, 1974) was to distinguish properties characteristic of folk
costumes of particular regions in Poland as well as to discern any possible
relations with folk costumes of the neighboring countries and thus indicate
a direction of borrowings and influences. It is really interesting that almost no
attention was paid to references to historic costumes of the privileged classes,
i.e. townsmen and curtiers, and to what was brought by European fashion.
Folk costumes were treated as a unique way of dressing among one group of
Poles who were thought to be isolated from the rest of society, much time was
to elapse before the issue of the interrelationship between the dress of various
strata of society was brought to light (Bogatyński, 1957; Turnau, 1972; 1966).
This problematic was taken on by a historian, Irena Turnau, who relied on
archival and iconographic records. This does not imply, however, that the role
of records was not appreciated in the circles of folk researchers (Kotula, 1954;
Błachowski, 1972), yet it was dominated by an increasing interest in social
question after the war. The most urgent task was to record all the still existing
manifestations of folk costumes and the signs of their functioning that folk
memory could recall. This is understandable since the basic source of material
for ethnographers are field studies. The immediate impetus to continue studies
of folk costumes was provided by the Polish Ethnological Society which issued
monographic volumes of Atlas Polskich Strojów Ludowych [Atlas of Polish
Folk Costumes] and by the work of the Sekcja Sztuki Ludowej [Section of
Folk Art] of Instytut Sztuki Polskiej Akademii Nauk [Institute of Art of the
Polish Academy of Sciences] in Warsaw, which sought to catalogue artworks
all over the country. To conduct the above initiatives, guidelines and inquiry
sheets (Reinfuss, 1950), methodology of a monographic publication on folk
costumes (Gajek, 1954) and guidelines for the illustrations for Atlas Polskich
Strojów Ludowych (Reinfuss, 1954, pp. 806 - 807) were developed.

�111
These guidelines were designed not only for the potential researchers, but
also for the future authors of similar publications, and as a consequence has
brought fruitful results. On the one hand, Atlas Polskich Strojów Ludowych in
the subsequent fascicles provided a comprehensive picture of costumes of
particular regions, this filling in the "gaps" on the map of Poland, while, on the
other hand, in "Polska Sztuka Ludowa" ["Polish Folk Art"] numerous articles
appeared, among the topics covered being costumes of various district, their
elements, fabrics, embroidery, laces, and other decorative techniques as well as
funtions. Although Atlas Polskich Strojów Ludowych was criticized by same
scholars (Rosen-Przeworska, 1958; Kantor, 1982; 1979), notwithstanding their
opinions it should be emphasized that against the background of European
literature on folk art this publication is one of a kind, except for the Lusatian
publications considered also a type of an atlas, yet a completely different
character and assumptions (Reinfuss, 1962; Kutrzeba-Pojnarowa,
1979). No
single author of a collective monograph would be able to either collect or
publish such an amount of materials as came out in the total number of 32
volumes of Atlas Polskich Strojów Ludowych. In their publications, authors
respond either to social demand which quite often calls for practical hints
about the look of costumes (Manugiewicz, 1951) and the possibility of their
reconstruction, or to new questions and challenges set for them by the
developing discipline. Thus, the scope of research expands, prompting them to
cooperate with other disciplines: linguistics - as regards terminology, etymology, and genesis; history - as regards the confrontation of concrete examples
and forms of costume with the period they were used and produced; history of
art ~ as regards fashion and analogies to models as well as patterns
characteristic of the elite and of the trend observed in art; sociology - as
regards mechanisms and patterns dominant in the social structure; history of
economy - as regards forms of economic relations and management of
resources and consumption (Turnau, 1986); and geography - as regards local
natural conditions. Thus expanded area of research furnishes newer and newer
subjects (Kutrzeba-Pojnarowa,
1976), which, in turn, entail development - via
related disciplines - of new methods of work. The choice of a method depends
on the question under investigation and its objective. We can still see almost
traditional description of phenomena, their analysis and comparisons, search
for a model and standard, historical insight into the changes taking place in
time and space (Turnau, 1974; 1991), identification of a regional, sometimes
even national character and properties (Kowalska-Lewicka,
1976; Kamocki,
1976), of differences and similarities. Recently, the focus has been put on social
conditioning and differentiation, on everyday, occupational dress (Turnau,
1994), the function of clothes and their role in culture (Kantor, 1982), symbols
and a sign code as one of the ways of communication among the wearers of
folk clothing and costumes (Kantor, 1979). It is also worth stressing that

�112
the vision of the whole issue expands, now presented in the context of the
dominant fashion and the manner of wearing observed by other social classes.
To sum up, against the background of other European countries, the
achievements of Polish scholars, in particular of ethnologists, in the domain of
folk clothing and costume does not seem to be inferior. The credit for that
should go to different specialists of various interests, to "Polska Sztuka
Ludowa", to museums setting up topical editions and exhibitions, as well as to
other publications. For over two hundred years researchers have touched
different problematic questions, and if they did not thoroughly study them, at
least they indicated important issues. They even gained insight into neighboring countries and related ethnic groups (Dobrowolska, 1947; 1948; 1951;
Bednarczuk, 1982) in order to learn of and popularize similar or different
meanings associated with clothing. Although regional variants have not been
perceived everywhere in Poland and still there is neither an album nor
a synthetic description of the varieties, the above can be accounted for by the
facts that not everywhere the regional specific character has evolved, and that
not all possible sources have been explored as yet. Such a state of affairs merely
prompts new goals and perspectives for the future as well as encourages new
research and publications.
BI B LI OG R A P H Y
Bartkiewicz
1979

Magdalena
Polski

ubiór

do 1864 [Polish

Clothing

till 1864], Ossolineum,

Wrocław.

Bazielich Barbara
1968

1973
1975

1977
1982

Moda w strojach regionalnych
tematem wystawy na Śląsku [Fashion in Regional
Costumes as the Subject of the Exhibition in Silcsia], "Polska Sztuka Ludowa" No 3,
pp. 112-120.
Złote hafty w tradycyjnej
odzieży na Śląsku [Golden Embroidery in the Traditional
Clothing in Silesia], "Rocznik Muzeum Górnośląskiego w Bytomiu. Etnografia" No 6.
Stroje regionalne
[Regional Costumes], in: Zahytki
ludowej kultury
na Śląsku
i w Częstochowskiem
[The Remains of Folk Culture in Silesia and in the Region of
Częstochowa], ed. by B. Bazielich, Muzeum Górnośhlskie w Bytomiu, pp. 48·65.
Moda w strojach regionalnych.
Katalog wYSil/wy [Fashion in Regional Costumes.
Exhibition Catalogue], Biuro Wystaw Artystycznych, Katowice.
U biory dziecięce

od XVllI

do początku

X X wieku. Katalog

zhiorów

//luzeów polskich.

[Children's Clothing from the 18th to 20th century. Catalogue of the Holdings of
Polish Museums], "Rocznik Muzeum Górnośląskiego w Bytomiu. Etnografia" No 7.
1988
ŚLąskie stroje ludowe [Silesian Folk Costumes], Śląsk, Katowice.
Bednarczuk Alicja
1982
Reliktowe.formy
uhioru Bałtów [Relic Forms of the BaIts' Clothing], "Lud" vol. 66,
pp. 179-194.
B1achowski Aleksander
1972
Stroje pLockie w .\:wietle źródeł X I X wieku [Costumes of the Płock region in the Light
of the 19th C. Sources], "Rocznik Muzeum Mazowieckiego w Płocku" No 3,
pp.5-94.

�113
Błotnicki Tadeusz
1930

Zarys

historii

ubiorów

[An Outline of the History of Clothing],

Kraków.

Bogatyński Wladyslaw
1957

Elementy

malopolskich

strojów

ludowych

8 -

Lud t. LXXIX

(X VI - X VI I I w.) [Elements

mieszczan

i chłopów

w świetle

materiałów

of the Folk Costumes of Townsmen and
Peasants in the Little Poland in the Light of Source Materials (16th - 18th C.)],
"Polska Sztuka Ludowa" No 3, pp. 159 -166.
Bruckner Aleksander
1937 - 1939 Encyklopedia
staropolska
[Old Polish Encyclopedia], Trzaska, Evert, Michalski,
Warszawa.
Burszta Józef
1974
Kulwra ludowa - kultura narodowa [Folk Culture - National Culture], Ludowa
Spółdzielnia Wydawnicza, Warszawa.
Bystroń Jan Stanisław
1922
Bibliografia
etnografii polskiej [Bibliography of Polish Ethnography],
Kraków.
Typy ludowe 1. P. Norblina [Folk Types in 1. P. Norblin], Muzeum Etnograficzne,
1934
Kraków.
Chmielińska Aniela
1930
Księżacy i ich strój [Inhabitants of the Łowicz District and their Costumes], Polska
Macierz Szkolna, Warszawa.
Cholewa Mieczysław Czcibor
1946
Stroje ludowe ziemi sądeckiej. Rozwój stroju ludowego ijego zasięgi terytorialne
[Folk
Costumes of the Sądecka Territory Development of Folk Costume and its Territorial
Range], "Lud" vol. 36, pp. 256 - 279.
Dobrowolska Agnieszka, Dobrowolski Tadeusz
1936
Strój, haft i koronka w województwie
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Silesian Voivodship], Polska Akademia Umiejętności, Kraków.
Dobrowolska Agnieszka
1947
Strój Jacków Jablonkowskich
[Costume of Jackowie Jabłonowscy], "Prace i Materiały Etnograficzne" vol. 7, Lublin - Kraków, pp. 1- 37.
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Strój ludowy na Łużycach
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1951
Ikonografia
ludowej odzieży zachodnio-slowiańskiej
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Dolouche D.
1985
F. H. Lalaisse
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Lud polski [Polish Folk], Ossolineum, Lwów, pp. 95-101.
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Etnograjia
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1928
Sukman y IlIdll polskiego
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Anna, Pokropek Marian
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Sztuka ludowa w Polsce [Folk Art in Poland], Arkady, Warszawa, pp. 134-171.
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1954
Metodyka
monogrąficzneyo
opracowywania
strojów
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[Methodology
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Bibliografia
ludOZllQwstwa polskiego
[Bibliography of Polish Folk Studies], PAU,
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źródłowych

�114
Gądzikiewicz Witold
1926
Strój górali podhalańskich pod względem higienicznym [Costume of the Podhale
Highlanders in Terms of Hygiene], Gebethner i Wolf, Warszawa.
Gerson Wojciech
1855
Ubiory ludu polskiego [Clothing of Polish Folk], Warszawa.
Glapa Adam
1960
Ubiór chłopski [Peasants' Clothing], in: Kultura ludowa Wielkopolski [Folk Culture
of Wielkopolska], ed. by J. Burszta, vol. 1, Wydawnictwo Poznańskie, Poznań, pp.
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Gloger Zygmunt
1990
Encyklopedia staropolska ilustrowana [Old Polish Illustrated Encyclopedia], P.
Laskauer, W. Babicki, Warszawa.
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1955
Ubiory w obrazach Canaletta [Clothing in Canaletto's Paintings], "Biuletyn Historii
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1903
Szewc - krawiec w ustach ludu [Shoemaker-Dressmaker
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1831
Ubiory w Polsce od najdawniejszych czasów aż do chwil obecnych (sposobem
dykcjonarza ułożone i opisane) [Clothing in Poland from the earliest time till the
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1863
Opowiadanie o ubiorach. zwyczajach i obyczajach ludu polskiego [A Story about
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1977
Sztuka ludowa [Folk Art], Wydawnictwo Artystyczne i Filmowe, Warszawa,
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1986
Stroje ludowe w dawnym i współczesnym Poznaniu [Folk Costumes in the Old and
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1932
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1968
Historia ubiorów [A History of Clothing], Ossolineum, Wroclaw.
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1955
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Krystyna
1976
Odzież [Clothing], in: Etnografia Polski. Przemiany kultury ludowej [Ethnography of
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Stan badań nad strojem ludowym w Polsce. Próba oceny dotychczasowych osiągnięć
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1888
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1975
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�115
Jackowski Aleksander, Jarnuszkiewiczowa
1962

"Polska

Sztuka

Ludowa".

Tables of Content
Jaśkiewicz Aleksander
1976

Rysunki

Adriana

Jadwiga

Spis treści za lata 1947 -1962 ["Polska

Sztuka Ludowa".

for Years 1947 - 1962] (appendix).

Głębockiego

źródłem

do poznania

XIX-wiecznego

stroju

ludowego

[Drawings of Adrian Głębocki as a Source of Knowledge about the 19th C. Folk
Costume], "Polska Sztuka Ludowa" No 1, pp. 43 - 46.
Kamocki Janusz
1976
Przyczyny
rozpowszechniania
się ubioru krakowskiego
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Sztuka Ludowa" No 2, pp. 75 - 78.
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1979
Rev.: A Jacher- Tyszkowa, Strój kielecki. Atlas Polskich Strojów Ludowych [Kielce
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Ubiory ludowe w Polsce [Folk Clothing in Poland], Polskie Towarzystwo Ludoznawcze, Wrocław.
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1840
Opis obyczajów
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Kolberg Oskar
1865-1910

Lud. Jego zwyczaje,
pidni.

muzyka

sposób życia, mowa, podania,

przysłowia,

obrzędy,

gusła, zabawy,

i tańce [The Folk. Its Customs, Way of Life, Speech, Legends, Rituals,

Witchcraft, Games, Songs, Music, and Dances], Warszawa, Kraków.
Kosiński Władysław
1903
Szewc - krawiec w ustach ludu [Shoemaker-Dressmaker
on the Lips of the Folk],
"Lud" vol. 9, pp. 59 - 64.
Kostiumy

teatralne ...

teatralne z XVI, XVII i XVIII w. z wymiennych
części [The 16th, 17th, and
18th C. Theater Costumes Made of Exchangeable Pieces], Centralna Poradnia
Świetlicowa, Warszawa.
Kotula Franciszek
1954
Poszukiwanie
metryk
dla stroju ludowego
[Search for the Certificate for Folk
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Kowalska-Lewicka Anna
1976
Ludowy strój krakowski
- strojem narodowym
[Cracovian Folk Costume - the
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1978
Odzież
[Clothing], in: Historia
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w Polsce od 1795 -1870
[A History of Material Culture in Poland 1795 - 1870], vol. 5, Ossolineum, Wrocław,
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Kutrzeba-Pojnarowa
Anna
1964
Stan badań nad strojem i tkaniną [The Current State of the Research on Costume and
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1952

1976

Kostiumy

Ubiór

i strój

ludowy

jako

wyraz

poziomu

produkcji,

pozycji

społecznej

i upodobań

[Folk Clothing and Costume as a Manifestation of the Level of Production, Social Status, and Aesthetic Taste of its Wearers
and Makers], "Polska Sztuka Ludowa" No 1, pp. 3 - 4.

estetycznych

jego

nosicieli

i wytwórców

�116
Rev.: Serbske narodne drastwy. Sorbische Volkstrachten,
"Polska Sztuka Ludowa" No 2, p. 121.

1979

Bautzen 1976, 1977, 1978,

Lipiarz Zofia
1978

Raciborski

strój

ludowy

[Folk

Costume

of Racibórz],

Muzeum

w Raciborzu,

Racibórz.
Łoziński Władysław
1907

Życie

polskie

Literackie,
Malewski Bronislaw

w dawnych

Kraków

wiekach

[Polish Life in the Early Ages], Wydawnictwo

1964.

charakterystyki
ubiorów ludowych [An Attcmpt at Charactcrization
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1936
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1877
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1951
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Matejko Jan
1901
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1931
Zdobnictwo
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N ad rzeką
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Próba

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1934
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1851
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Polaczck Stanislaw
1892

Wid

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Lud, je~Jo zwyczaje,

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1932
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1879-1899 Ubiory w Polsce i u sqsiadów od I X - X V w. [Clothing in Poland and its Neighbors
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1950
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1953
Instruk(je
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1954
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1960
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1953
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1976
Temllly ludowe w akwarelach,
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1954
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�119
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i ich krój [Cracovian Folk Costumes and their Cuts],
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Moda

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No 19.

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Conditioning of the Dress Fashion],
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mody

"Kwartalnik

[Somatic and Semiotic
Historii Kultury Materialnej"

ubiorów

Translated by M arek Wilczyński

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VIOLETTA

vol. 79, 1995

KRAWCZYK-WASILEWSKA

Chair

of M lIsical

Łódź

Univcrsity

ON

Education

THE STUDY OF
THE CENTENNIAL

POLISH
FOLKLORE
ANNIVERSARY
OF

"LUD"

I. Romantic Views on Folklore
Studies of Polish folklore started in 1802 when Hugo Kołłątaj's
famous
memorial was published. The memorial anticipated
the program of ethnographic studies and closed the period of the so-called
pre-ethnography
(e.g.
discoveries of handwritten
collection of 18th century songs (Hernas, 1965».
Conscious
and planned
collection
of materials,
today called folkloric
materials, started in Romantic
Poland (Maślanka,
1984). Field investigations
conducted
with "a cane held in hand"
were started
by Zorian
Dołęga-Chodakowski,
who was followed by a group of enthusiasts,
among them
Żegota Pauli, Wacław of Olesko, Ryszard Berwiński, Roman Zamorski, Józef
Lampa, Jan J. Lipiński and, first of all, Lucjan Siemieński and Kazimierz W.
W ójcicki. These collectors of the so-called "Polish and Slavonic antiquities"
gathered folk songs and sagas believing that they would help them to directly
learn about the past of the nation preserved in the spiritual culture of peoples
inhabiting
Polish territories
and territories
in neighbouring
countries
(Lithuania, Belarus and the Ukraine). As the collectors were not scholars, their
publications
were burdened
with various
editorial
interpolations,
literary
interpretations
and regional inconsistencies
(Kapełuś,
Krzyżanowski,
1970).
In the middle of the 19th century, first attempts at theoretical discussions of
the sense and value of this collection "rush" were made by J. I. Kraszewski, M.
Wiszniewski,
W. A. Maciejowski,
W. Pol and E. Dembowski.
Generally,
however, the authors mentioned above followed Chodakowski's
manifesto. For
this reason Ryszard Berwiński, who in 1854 tried to prove that folk creativity
was not independent
but reproductive
and therefore should be researched
scientifically
(Berwillski,
1854), did not win many supporters.
Despite the
criticism of his views by his contemporaries,
he was the first to pave the way for
investigations
by scholars of the post-Kolbergian
era.
Oskar Kolberg grew up admist the romantic fashion of folkloric literature
and music and in the atmosphere
of entusiasm
for field collecting. Kolberg
collected his materials
more thoroughly
during regular field investigations

�44
(from 1839 for fifty years) on almost all Polish lands. Although an amateur, he
had an enormous methodological talent, seen in the evolution of his research
programme. Initially, he wanted to popularize folk songs in salons. Therefore,
he recorded both the text and music, at the same time ordering the genres and
giving the location of each song. As he was gaining experience and as his
collections were growing, he planned to systematize the songs and started to
record their melodic variants in different areas. Soon, however, he changed his
research assumptions. He noticed a relation between songs and other elements
of folk culture, which he also started to collect and describe, although he was
not always able to properly explain and understand individual phenomena.
Such a wide spectrum helped him to abstract the notion of region (most often
referred to by him as "the country"), for which he created a model of
folkloric-ethnographic monograph. Thirty three volumes arranged in a "series"
(i.e. regional encyclopedic monographs) were published during Kolberg's life
under one common title Lud, jego zwyczaje, sposób życia. mowa. podania.
przysłowia,
obrzędy, gusła, zabawy. pie.Ś'ni, muzyka i tańce [The people, its
customs, way of life, speech, sagas, proverbs, rituals, superstitions, games,
songs, music and dances] 1. The title itself is the first definition and classification of folklore. The extent of Kolberg's work has won him the first place
among other European collectors of folklore. In history of Polish studies of
folklore he was a link between Romantic collecting of "antiquities" and the
scholarly study of the folklore of the positivist era.
2. Beginnings of Scholarly Studies of Folklore
In the last quarter of the 19th century a tendency grew up to studyfolklore
in accordance with the requirements of modern European science. Likewise, in
Poland it was thought necessary to respond to an urgent need to expand
knowledge about one's own country and nation, at the time annexed by foreign
powers.
That period witnessed the development of archaeology, anthropology,
linguistics, ethnography and ethnology. These sciences gave a new meaning to
such terms as "culture" and "civilization". This was also a time when a new
term, namely "folklore", discovered by William Thoms in 1846 and brought to
Poland by Jan Karłowicz in 1888, was popularized 2.
When the Anthropological Commission at the Academy of Sciences in
Cracow and its Ethnological Section were established in 1874, the research
1 A new edition of Kolberg's
works, with the inedita, comprises 68 volumes published as
Dzieła wszystkie Oskara Kolherga [Oskar Kolberg's Complete Works], Wrocław - Poznań.
1961 -1995.
2 1. Karlowiez, Folklore, "Wisła" vol. 2, 1888, p. 84. Cr. also W. Thoms, Folklor [Folklore],
"Literatura Ludowa" 1975, No 6, pp. 37 - 39 (translated by V. Krawczyk).

�45
programme of ethnographic work was agreed upon. It was later modified by
various resolutions (Jaworska, 1982). Much space in the programme was
devoted to the principles of collecting ethnographic materials in the field,
fidelity of recordings, methods of text verification (it was proposed to omit
obscene elements), problem of phonetic transcription of dialectal expressions 3
and other editorial problems. Another postulate was to restrict collection as
such and focus on interpretation.
Consequently, towards the end of the 19th century studies of folklore were
inspired by positivist scholars, who interpreted folk literature and culture from
ethnological, historical, linguistic and literary points of view. They conducted
their own research and headed teams of amateurs who furnished field
materials. They also organized institutional scientific activities in aU three
annexed territories. Their views were published in scholarly journals edited by
anthropologists and philologists.
One of such journals was "Zbiór Wiadomości do Antropologii Krajowej"
(an organ of the Anthropological Commission, Polish Academy of Sciences in
Cracow), edited by Izydor Kopernicki between 1877 and 18954. Articles on
folklore were also published in this periodical by Kolberg's foUowers: Władysław Siarkowski, Władysław Kosiński, Karał Matyas, Józef Rostafiński and
Seweryn Udziela.
"Wisła", a monthly issued in Warsaw between 1887 and 1916, published
articles written by amateurs (usuaUy more progressive inhabitants of the
country), who submitted them foUowing precise instructions given by the
editorial board. Up till 1903 "Wisła" was edited by Jan Karłowicz, an eminent
linguist and father of the Polish comparative school in folkloric studies. In his
works on sagas, fairy tales and songs (Kapełuś, 1982a), he advocated studies
based on extensive comparative Polish and foreign materials. This approach
rejected the old views advocated by Max oMLiller (the solar theory of myths)
and the romantic concept of the national character of plots of fairy tales and
lyrics of songs. Noticing the polygenesis of folkloric phenomena, he came close
to the English anthropological school of Tylor and Lang. Karłowicz also took
account of the historical aspect of sagas. The research method to study folk
prose, which he advocated, was very similar to the Finnish method (also called
comparative-geographic
method), although Karłowicz was not familiar with
3 After the discovery of the phonetic alphabet by Lucjan Malinowski, the discussion related to
the use of the phonetic transcription continued in the Commission from 1888 to 1890. Eventually,
it was decided not to publish texts in their phonetic transcription, whieh was unintelligible to many
readers, and let dialectologists study them phonetically.
4 After
1895 anthropological and philological articles were published in "Materiały Antropologiczno-Archeologiczne
i Etnograficzne" (1896-1919); the ethnographic section was edited
by Seweryn Udziela, the author of many works on the folklore of Galicia, organizer and first
director of the Ethnographic Museum in Cracow.

�46
the latter (Krawczyk-Wasilewska,
1986, pp. 123 - 125). In this way, Karlowicz
laid foundations for modern folkloric comparative studies which were followed
by the next generation.

3. "Lud" (1895-1918) -

a Folkloric Periodical

Apart from "Wisła" an important contribution to the development of the
Polish folkloric thought at the beginning of the 20th century, was made by
"Lud", published in Lvov as a journal of the Ethnological Society.
In the first volume the editorial board (headed by Antoni Kalina, a Slavist)
published an extensive methodological article entitled Najnowsze prądy w ludoznawstwie [The latest trends in ethnography] by Iwan Franko, an Ukrainian
writer and scholar (Franko, 1895). It is significant that in the article, which was
an expanded version of a paper read at the first meeting of the Ethnological
Society, the wordfolklore
was used as an English equivalent of the Polish word
ludoznawstwo
[ethnography] and German Volkskunde. The concept was used
in a very broad meaning, althoug.h it pertained to the study of a people,
generally understood as "the lower strata which underwent the smallest
civilizational changes". Speaking in favour of modern research in the spirit of
the migratory-historical and comparative-literary and anthropological schools,
Franko often made references to examples from traditional oral literature:
myths, fairy tales and songs.
Folkloric phenomena understood as above were extensively represented in
successive volumes of "Lud", edited by Kalina's followers (after 1904), i.e. Karol
Potkań ski (historian), Seweryn Udziela (ethnographer) and historians of
literature - Wilhelm Bruchnalski and Józef Kallenbach.
In the twenty volumes of "Lud", which appeared till 1918, various valuable
ethnographic materials were published, mainlyon
the folklore of Galicia
(written by B. Gustawicz, J. Świętek, H. Dobrowolski,
L. Młynek, H.
Windakiewiczowa, W. Brzega, S. Udziela and others). Materials on the folklore
of other areas were published sporadically, for example on the Sieradz folklore
(I. Piątkowska), Poznań folklore (W. Łabiński) or Silesian folklore (W.
Madłówna). It must be mentioned that towards the end of the 19th century
research work was not comparable with the great collection effort. The
situation did not change much after 1905 when Seweryn Udziela published an
appeal to the collectors (in "Lud") to put more emphasis on descriptions and
comments (Udziela, 1905).
Apart from documentation on fairy tales and songs, editors of "Lud" were
also interested in folk theatre. They published many articles on satirical
performances and Christmas nativity plays (S. Gonet, W. Semkowicz,
F. Gawełek, J. Cieplik and others) and a historical synthetic study entitled

�47
Polskie

widowiska

ludowe

[Polish

folk performances]

prepared

by Adam

Fischer in 19I3.
In the first decade of the 20th century "Lud" published articles on current
folkloric phenomena. There were articles on written documents of Galician
peasants, such as literary pieces or folk epistolographic forms. Collection of
children's and Jewish folklore was promoted. Notice was made of the dialect
and folklore of Polish and Ukrainian recruits, the folklore and language of
rafters and the Lvovian suburban folklore and thieves' jargon (Kapełuś, 1982b,
pp. 355 - 358).
The editorial board of "Lud" also encouraged contributors to collect and
write about proverbs. This appeal was responded to by Franciszek Krcek who
wrote a critical supplement to Samuel Adalberg's Księga przysłów i wyrażeń
przysłowiowych
[A book of proverbs and proverbial expressions] (Adalberg,
1880 - 1894). It must be said at this point that Krcek wrote many short articles
and rewiews and made a considerable contribution to the modern approach to
problems of folklore.
Very few articles were written about the folklore of Slavs inhabiting
territories bordering Poland. Most of them were on Ukrainian and East
Carpathian folklore. There were also some reviews, among them one of
the collection of fairy tales made by J. Polivka, a Bohemian comparative
scholar.
Comparative studies on oral literature dominated in volumes published
between 1909 and 1912. Mention should be made of interesting articles by
Stanisław Ciszewski and Adam Fischer, as well as an extensive essay by Witold
Klinger, a classical philologist, entitled Do wpływów starożytności
na folklor
[The influences of ancient times on folklore] (Klinger, 1909). "Lud" must be
also credited for publication of articles bordering on literature and folklore.
These articles, belonging rather to literary comparative studies, were published
by W. Bruchnalski, S. Oobrzycki, W. Jankowski, H. Łopaciński, S. Maykowski,
W. Nartowski, S. Wasylewski, H. Windakiewiczowa,
S. Windakiewicz,
W. Szyszkiewicz and S. Zdziarski (Karpińska, Niewiadomska, 1988).
In 1907 editors of "Lud" published a pioneer study entitled O metodach
zbierania i porządkowania
melodii ludowych [On methods of collecting and
ordering folk melodies] by Adolf Chybiński, the father of modern musical
ethnography in Poland (Chybiński, 1907; 1910).
In sum, between 1895 and 1918 "Lud" played an important role in the
promotion of folkloric studies which, at the time, were part of ethnography.
The studies were pursued by skilled amateurs and scholars representing
different humanistic, social, artistic and natural disciplines. This was the reason
for the variety of methods used and problems researched. All the activities were
subordinated to one supreme goal - to deepen knowledge about the nation at
the time annexed by foreign powers.

�48
4. Folklore in the Interwar Period
When Poland regained her independence, new social, cultural and scientific
reality appeared. The attitude to folklore and peasant culture changed under
the influence of regionalistic ideology (also promoted outside the boundaries of
Poland) and the agrarian orientation. Agrarianism as a doctrine of folk
movement ennobled peasant culture, seeing in it a valuable part of the national
culture, worthy of development.
Agrarian ideas became apparent, inter alia, in the discovery of folkloric and
literary achievements of peasant diarists, such as J. Kupiec, H. Oerdowski,
Jantek of Bugaj, S. Nędza-Kubiniec or F. Kuraś. The ideas of regionalism, on
the other hand, shaped the national ideals, opposing the culture of Polish
villages to urban cosmopolitical culture. Regionalists noticed creative powers
in folklore and folk tradition, capable of providing incentives for national art
and culture.
Due to this type of thinking, folk features were often included in literature,
music, art and theatrical plays. The ideas of an amateur folk theatre were also
born then. Jędrzej Cierniak, the author of these ideas, wanted to create
a peasant theatre that would stage dramatized rituals and customs, traditional
and modern ones, with genuine props, costumes, music and folk songs (Olcha,
1963).
In the interwar period field collecting was continued and amateur movement pursued. A network of regional circles of the Tourist Society and regional
museums was established. First issues of such magazines as "Ziemia" and "Orli
Lot" were published.
The scientific approach to folklore lost its former, one-sided character. In
ethnographic, sociological and cultural studies conducted by Adam Fischer,
Aleksander Bruckner, Stefan Czarnowski or Kazimierz Moszyński one could
easily detect new theoretical and methodological assumptions. Folklore was
investigated from the genetic and typological, interethnic and historical-sociological positions, as a living category, constituting an integral element
of the national culture. The view advocated in 1929 by Stefan Czarnowski,
a sociologist, that folklore was a relic of primary times and that the folklore of
different social and occupational groups should be studied (Czarnowski, 1956),
was very significant for the history of Polish studies of folklore at the time.
At this point special mention must be made of a publication entitled
Przysłowia polskie [Polish proverbs] by Jan S. Bystroń (1933), the first Polish
synthetic paremiological monograph. Bystroń, like Karłowicz who analysed
fairy tales and sagas, followed the trends at that time dominant all over the
world (Krawczyk-Wasilewska,
1986, p. 127).
Assumptions of comparative literature and linguistics could be detected in
the works written by philologists Witold Klinger, Jan Janów, Stefan

�49
Vrtel- Wierczyński and Ryszard Gansiniec. One could find ancient elements in
Polish folklore, Slav elements in fairy tales, legends and romances. The
comparative school was created by Julian Krzyżanowski, the author of many
studies on the relations between literature (mainly old Polish literature) and
folk and popular literature (Krzyżanowski, 1935) and works on ancient
Russian epic folk songs and fairy tales.
Mention should also be made of the presence of folklore in "Lud". The
periodical, edited by Adam Fischer (from 1914 to 1939), changed its character
and became more a scholarly and anthropological
journal. Fischer had
excellent collaborators in the persons of Jan Czekanowski and Bronisław
Malinowski. Soon, many reviews of and articles about works of foreign
folklorists were published in "Lud". Much attention was given to Slavonic
folkloric studies (in Bohemia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Lusatia). Works by
English, French, German, Italian and Hungarian authors were discussed (e.g.
reviews by Karol Korany). Readers could also find information about Greek,
Lithuanian and Panamanian folklore. "Lud" also carried articles describing
investigations of folklore connected with customs and rituals (satirical performances and nativity plays), methodological, regional and historical descriptions of musical and choreographic folklore (Karpińska, Niewiadomska, 1988).
5. Studies of Folklore Versus Philology and Anthropology
In post-war history of the Polish folkloric thought a separate chapter was
written by Julian Krzyżanowski (1882-1976), an eminent historian of Polish
literature, editor and theoretician of folklore and organizer of the ethnographic
scholarly community.
Krzyżanowski's studies of fairy tales begun before the First World War
resulted in a pioneer catalogue entitled Polska bajka ludowa w układzie
systematycznym
[Polish folk fairy tales], arranged in accordance with the
international system developed by Aarne-Thompson (Krzyżanowski, 1947). In
addition to many studies of fairy tales, Krzyżanowski also entered the domain
of paremiology - he dealt with the genesis and systematic description of
Polish proverbs. Results of his studies were published in Mądrej głowie dość
dwie słowie [A wise head will do with two words] and in a critical and enlarged
version of Adalberg's books (Krzyżanowski, 1958 - 1960; 1969 - 1978). Krzyżanowski was in favour of the isolation of folkloric studies from ethnography. In
his studies of the theory of oral and written literature he proved the integrity of
the two. This won him the support of a group of young philologically-oriented
scholars (Helena Kapełuś, Ryszard Górski, Ryszard Wojciechowski and
others). Krzyżanowski helped establish the Research Department of Folk
Literature affiliated with the Institute of Literary Studies of the Polish
Academy of Sciences in Warsaw. In 1957 he founded the first folkloric
4 -

Lud

t.

LXXIX

�50
magazine, "Literatura
Ludowa", which he edited till 1972. Of his many
publications,
mention should be made of Słownik folkloru
polskiego
[A dictionary of Polish folklore] (1965) and Dzieje folklorystyki
polskiej [The
history of Polish studies of folklore] (Kapełuś, Krzyżanowski, 1970; 1982).
Julian Krzyżanowski's work continued and developed the long tradition of
comparative, genetic and historical investigations. This direction was also
dominant in the works of Polish folklorists of the past fifty years.
In the middle of 1960s Polish investigations of folklore were very
diversified. The topics addressed were very varied and methodologies used very
different. Increased interest in the folklore of different occupational communities and a new approach to children's folklore (Jerzy Cieślikowski, Dorota
Simonides) were noticed. More monographs on single types of folklore were
published (for example, there were monographs ofthe ballad (Jadwiga Jagiełło),
riddles (Mirosław Kasjan). Discovery of such phenomena as folklorism
(Burszta, 1974, pp. 309 - 311) or a new approach to the folk character of
literature (Sulima, 1976) and the language of folklore (Bartmiłlski, 1973; 1990)
indicated an interdisciplinary approach to the study of folklore.
The profile of "Literatura Lu~owa" was changed in 1972 when Czesław
Hernas became editor-in-chief. The editorial board abandoned regional descriptions of verbal folklore and opened themselves to the modern folkloric
thought. The magazine published translations and reviews of foreign works
written in the spirit of structuralism, semiotics, contextualism and ethnolinguistics. The magazine also sponsored contemporary Polish investigations and
was a discussion forum about the specific character of folklore and its
functioning, particularly in modern times.
Scholars more frequently adopted the anthropological-cultural
approach in
which folklore was treated as a living element of social communication.
Because of this, investigations had to account for the cultural and situational
context.
At the end of 1970s problems related to the new definition of folklore as
part of symbolic culture (expressed not only by words) were strenghtened. This
was connected with the need to use new methods to investigate the phenomenon within the framework of folkloric studies. Mention should be made here of
manual-like works (Waliński, 1978; Krawczyk-Wasilewska, 1979; 1986; Czekanowska, 1988; Kowalski, 1990). Such terms as "folklore", "folkloric studies",
"folklorism" were redifined in Słownik etnologiczny
[An ethnological dictionary] (Staszczak, 1987) and an anthropological approach could be detected
in articles on folklore published in "Polska Sztuka Ludowa", particularly when
the name of the periodical was changed to "Polska Sztuka Ludowa. Konteksty" (in 1990).
One must not forget about the development of ethnolinguistic investigations, particularly in the last decade, which focused on means of expression

�51
in folklore, main linguistic stereotypes, themes and formulae. The most notable
achievements in this respect must be attributed to the Lublin centre, where
"Etnolingwistyka" was published since 1988 (editor-in-chief: Jerzy Bartmiński).
In recent years the Łódź centre initiated investigations of modern folklore
from the ecological point of view. Experience in human and deep ecology
inspired the need to look at folklore as an expression of ecological awareness,
in which the latter is a relation between the condition and quality of life in face
of civilizational, cultural, political and moral hazards.
In the past fifty years a considerable progress was made in the investigations of Polish musical folklore owing to the development of ethnomusicology, particularly at the Institute of Art, Polish Academy of Sciences, but also
at the academic centres in Poznań and Katowice. Mention must be made of
interesting achievements by Jadwiga Sobieska, Jan Sadownik, Ludwik Bielawski, Anna Czekanowska, Jan Stęszewski, Piotr Dahlig, Bogusław Linette and
Zbigniew Przerembski. All these authors also used the experience of "philological" and "anthropological"
folkloric studies.
Let us also remember that Slavonic philologists, active in many scientific
centres, were also interested in problems of folklore. These problems were also
followed by the Polish Ethnological Society, the sponsor of many publications.
In 1961, the Polish Ethnological Society appointed the editorial board of
Oskar Kolberg's Dzieła wszystkie [Oskar Kolberg's Complete Works], headed
till 1987 by Józef Burszta and after J. Burszta's death by Bogusław Linette.
Sixty eight volumes have been published to date.
In the foregoing only the most characteristic directions of modern folkloric
studies were discussed. It is clear that they are mutually supportive and
complementary although often their basic assumptions are different. Folkloric
studies have not developed a uniform research base; they are rather a system of
interpretative views on a specific fragment of culture in change. As there are
possibilities of new interpretations, the number of folklorists grows as sciences
on culture develop.
In conclusion it must be stressed that folklore and folkloric studies are still
present in "Lud", in studies and articles, reviews and reports on conferences
and events significant to modern studies of folklore.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Adalberg Samuel
1889 - 1894 Księga przysłów i wyrażeń przysłowiowyclt polskich [A book of Polish proverbs and
proverbial expressions], Warszawa.
Bartmiński Jerzy
1973
O jrzyku folkloru [About the language of folklore], Ossolineum, Wrocław.
1990
Folklor. kzyk, poetyka [Folklore, language, poetics], Ossolineum, Wrocław.

�52
Berwiński Ryszard
1854

Studia

o literaturze

ludowej

1970

Rytmika

polskich

pieśni

historycznej
i naukowej krytyki [Studies of
of historical and scientific criticism]. vol. I - 2.

ze stanowiska

folk literature from the standpoint
Poznań.
Bielawski Ludwik
ludowych

[Rhythmicity

of Polish

folk songs].

PWM.

Kraków.
1976
1986

Strefowa teoria czasu i jej znaczenia dla antropologii
muzycznej
[Zonal time theory
and its significance to musical anthropology],
PWM, Kraków.
Drogi i bezdroża
muzykologii
polskiej [About Polish musicology]. Ossolineum,
Wrocław.

Burszta Józef
ludowa - kultura narodowa
[Folk culture - national culture], LSW.
Warszawa.
Bystroń Jan Stanisław
Przysłowia
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1933
Chybiński Adolf
O metodach zbierania i porządkowania
melodii IUl/owych [On methods of collecting
1907
and ordering of folk melodies], "Lud" vol. 13, pp. 171 - 201.
1910
Etnografia
muzyczna
na l II międzynarodowym
kongresie
muzycznym
w Wiedniu
(25 - 29 maja 1909) [Musical ethnography at the 3rd Intcrnational Musical Congress
in Vienna (25-29 May 1909)], "Lud" vol. 16, pp. 160-178.
Cieślikowski Jerzy
1967
Wielka zabawa [Great play]. Ossolineum. Wrocław.
Literatura i podkultura dziecięca [Children's literature and subculture]. Ossolineum.
1975
Wrocław.
Czarnowski Stefan
Kształtowanie
się Iolkloru polskiego [The formation of Polish folklore], in: Dzieła
1956
[Collected works]. vol. 5, PWN, Warszawa.
Czekanowska Anna
1988
Etnografia muzyczna,. Metodologia
i metodyka [Musical ethnography. Methodology
and methods], "Pomorze". Bydgoszcz.
Polish Folk Music:
Slavonic
Heritage,
Polish Tradition,
Contemporary
Trends,
1990
Cambridge University Press. Cambridge.
Dahlig Piotr
1987
Muzyka
ludowa we współczesnym
społeczeństwie
[Folk musIc in modern society].
WSiP. Warszawa.
Fischer Adam
1913
Polskie widowiska
ludowe [Polish folk theatrical plays], "Lud" vol. 19.
Franko Iwan
1895
Najnowsze prądy w ludoznawstwie
[The lastest trends in ethnography], "Lud" vol. I.
Hernas Czesław
1965
W kalinowym lesie. U źróde/.folklorystyki
polskiej [In the cranberry forest. Sources of
Polish studies of folklore]. vol. 1- 2, PIW. Warszawa.
Jagiełło Jadwiga
1975
Polska bal/ada ludowa [Polish folk ballad], Ossolineum, Wrocław.
Jaworska Elżbieta
1974

1982

Kultura

DziałalnoŚl'

Iolklorystyczna

Komisji

Antropologicznej

Akademii

Umiejęlllości

\II

Kra-

[Folkloristic activities of the Anthropological
Commission. Academy of
Sciences in Cracow], in: Dzieje Iolklorystyki
polskiej 1864 - 1918 [History of Polish
studies of folklore 1864-1918]. cd. H. Kapeluś, J. Krzyżanowski, PWN, Warszawa.
kowie

�53
Kapełuś Helena
1982a
Jan K arlowicz ( 1836 - 19(3), in: Dziejefolklorystyki
polskiej 1864 - 1918 [History of
Polish studies of folklore 1864-1918], ed. H. Kapełuś, J. Krzyżanowski, PWN,
Warszawa.
1982b
"Lud". Organ Towarzystwa
Ludoznawczego
we Lwowie ["Lud". A journal of the
Ethnological Society in Lvov], in: Dziejefolklorystyki
polskiej 1864 -1918 [History of
Polish studies of folklore 1864 - 1918], cd. H. Kapełuś, J. Krzyżanowski, PWN
Warszawa.
Kapełuś Helena, Krzyżanowski Julian (eds)
1970
Dziejefolklorystyki
polskiej 1800-1863.
Epoka przedkolbergowska
[History of Polish
studies of folklore 1800 - 1863. The pre-Kolbergian era], Ossolineum, Wrocław.
1982
Dzieje jólkloryslyki
polskiej
1864 -1918 [History of Polish studies of folklore
1864-1918], PWN, Warszawa.
Karłowicz Jan
1888
Folklore, "Wisła" vol. 2.
Karpińska Grażyna Ewa, Niewiadomska Maria
1988
Bihliografia
zawarto.~ci "Ludu" za lata 1895 -1985 ["Lud" from 1895 to 1985.
A bibliography], PTL, Wrocław.
Kasjan Jan Mirosław
1983
Polska zagadka ludowa [Polish folk riddle], Ossolineum, Wrocław.
Klinger Witold
1909
Do wplyw(hv starożytno.ki
na folklor [The influences of ancient times on folklore],
"Lud" vol. 15.
Kowalski Piotr
1990
W~pólczesny folklor ifolklorystyka
[Modern folklore and studies of folklore], PTL,
Wrocław.
Krawczyk-Wasilewska Violetta
1979
Wprowadzenie
do folklorystyki
[Introduction
to studies of folklore], Uniwersytet
Łódzki, Łódź.
I986
W~pólczeslla wiedza o folklorze
[Contemporary
knowledge about folklore], LSW,
Warszawa.
Krawczyk- Wasilewska Violetta (ed.)
1992
Ecology and Folklore, Łódź.
1994
Ecology and Folklore II, Łódź.
Krzyżanowski Julian
1935
Paralele [Parallels], Warszawa.
1947
Poi.~ka hajka ludowa w układzie systematycznym
[Polish folk fairy tales], vol. 1- 2,
Warszawa.
1958 - 1960 Mqdrej glowie do.v£'dwie słowie [A wise head will do with two words], vol. 1- 2, PIW,
Warszawa.
Krzyżanowski Julian (ed.)
1965
Slownik folkloru polskiego [A dictionary of Polish folklore], Wiedza Powszechna,
Warszawa.
1969-1978
Nowa ksirga przysłów
i wyrażeń przysłowiowych
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W oparciu o dzielo S.
Adalhaga
[A new book of Polish proverbs and proverbial expressions. Based on S.
Adalberg's book], vol. 1-4, PIW, Warszawa.
Linette Bogusław
1981

Ohrzędowe
pieJni weselne
kryteriów
wyznaczających

w Rzeszowskiem.
Typologia
wqtków
muzycznych
jako
regiony etnograficzne
[Wedding songs in the Rzeszów

province. Typology of musical
regions], KAW, Rzeszów.

elements

as criteria

determining

ethnographic

�54
Maślanka Julian
1984
Polska folklorystyka romantyczna [Polish romantic studies of folklore], Ossolineum,
Wrocław.
Olcha Antoni
1963
Jędrzej Cierniak i jego dzie/o. W~tęp do źróde/ i nurtów polskiego teatru ludowego
[Jędrzej Cierniak and his work. An introduction to the sources and trends of Polish
folk theatre], Warszawa.
Przerembski Zbigniew
1994
Style iformy melodyczne polskiej pieśni ludowej [Styles and melodic forms of Polish
folk songs], IS PAN, Warszawa.
Sadownik Jan (ed.)
Pieśni ludowe Podhala [Folk songs in Podhale], PWM, Kraków.
1971
Simonides Dorota
Wspó/czesna śląska proza ludowa [Modern Silesian folk prose], WSP, Opole.
1969
Wspó/czesny folklor s/owny dzieci i m/odzieży [Contemporary
verbal folklore of
1976
children and teenagers], PWN, Wrocław.
Sobieska Jadwiga
1972
Ze studiów nad folklorem muzycznym Wielkopolski [From studies of the musical
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1987
S/ownik etnologiczny. Terminy ogólne [An ethnological dictionary. General terms],
PWN, Warszawa.
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1966
Prolegomena do klasyfikacji etnomuzykologicznych [An introduction to ethnomusical
classifications], "Muzyka" No 3-4.
Rzeczy, świadomość i nazwy w badaniach etnomuzykologicznych [Things, awareness
1974
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Sulima Roch
1976
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1982
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1990
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Kraków.
Thoms William
1975
Folklor [Folklore], "Literatura Ludowa" No 6.
Udziela Seweryn
1905
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classify and order folk tales], "Lud" vol. II.
Waliński Michał (ed.)
1978
Teoria kultury. Folklor a kultura [Theory of culture. Folklore versus culture],
Uniwersytet Śląski, Katowice.

Translated by Zbigniew Nadstoga

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                <text>reader to the term: “sign”. A lthough the word: “sym­
bol” as such appears many times on the pages of this
book in assorted combinations, variants, and contexts
(e.g. in entries on “symbolic culture”, “myth“, “ sac­
rum - profanum"), and although the authors in vari­
ous places stress the part performed by the symbol in
culture, as in the case of Zofia Sokolewicz in the entry:
’’anthropology of comm unication” - (...) It is argued
(S. K. Langer) that the terms like “sign”, “m eaning” in all

ZBIGNIEW
BENEDYKTOWICZ

The Symbol in
Ethnography

theirs variants are the dominating terms in our times, and
that the sign, the symbol, the processes of signifying and
communicating belong to our current cultural resources.
Since the 1960s at the latest these terms are being intro­
duced into ethnological sciences - we would look in vain
for reference to “symbol” or “symbolism” as one of the
numerous trends listed by the author and which con­
sider studying the symbol.5 T o put it in more graphic
terms, in this contemporary compendium of knowl­
edge about ethnological terms the “’symbol” collapsed
and concealed itself amidst numerous entries merged
with “sign” . If, however, one takes a closer look at
the entry: ”sign” then one could say that it had been
placed there by force or, to put in gentler terms: “in­
serted” . Despite the fact that we read: Symbols might
be regarded as a special group of symbolic signs, and it is
m entioned (with reference only to E. Cassirer and S.
K. Langer) that: The concept of the symbol occurs often

I

t is unnecessary to explain why a consensus regarding
the meaning of the word “symbol” could be of value for
all sorts of studies on art or literature, M arcin Czer­
wiński wrote in Symbol dzisiaj, 1 published in “Polska
Sztuka Ludowa” . Regardless of the answer to the posed
question: Is such an agreement possible? each attem pt at
a presentation of assorted stands concerning the com ­
prehension of the nature of the symbol appears to be
equally valuable.
Num erous emergent studies dealing time and
again with reflections about the symbol confirm and
reflect this need for rendering precise both the term
“symbol” and the need for constantly delving into its
meaning. Although such inquiries are undertaken in
assorted fields of research, and formulated in vari­
ous languages, it is possible to find numerous tangent
points, similar intuitions, concurrent lines of reflec­
tion, shared motifs, and alike problems. It would be
thus needless to explain the benefits of such investi­
gations for representatives of ethnography, ethnology,
and the anthropology of culture - domains that have
made such a considerable contribution, and continue
to do so, to research dealing with the symbol.
In the cited article M arcin Czerwiński frequently
drew attention to science’s enmity towards the sym­
bol, the distance and even antagonism between the
two: Science behaves towards primary language only part-

within a wider conception of man comprehended as animal
symbolicum, only half a column out of a total of nine
devoted to the entry on the sign had been intended
for the symbol.6 In this manner, so to speak, the sign
swallowed the symbol.
M eanwhile, different authors, such as P. Ricouer,
M. Bakhtin, S. A vierintsev, Y. Lotm an and others
accentuated in their characteristics of the symbol the
differences between the sign and the symbol. In his
eidetic analysis Ricoeur considered the specificity of
the symbol contrasted with the sign, the allegory, and
the myth: symbols are signs (...) but not every sign is a
symbol. 7 In a similar vein, A vierintsev, while writing
about the symbol as a universal category o f aesthet­
ics added that it can be best discussed via an opposi­
tion to adjoining categories: on the one hand, the
image, and on the other hand, the sign.8 Is, however,
a dictionary of contem porary (or rather: yesterday’s)
science, depicted by M arcin Czerwiński and oriented
exclusively on “ejecting am biguities” , familiar with
only one way of enunciation: a discourse meeting the
sharpened criteria of explicitivity, a science protecting
itself against the wavering of meaning, capable of ac­
cepting and including such “im precise” and uncom ­
pleted sequences as those that we may come across
am ong tireless researchers dealing with the symbol,
which, in my opinion, can best bring us closer to its
essence:

ly as an opponent, but in relation to the symbol it maintains
total opposition (...). 2. He went on: True, in the course of
centuries the role of discursive statements incessantly grew
in multiple if not all domains of social life. Science, in the
form in which we see it today (or rather in which it was
seen still yesterday), has questioned the rank of symbolic
statements. 3
In the case of ethnography and its attitude towards
the symbol the situation remained more complicated
from the very onset, and generally speaking did not
deviate from the general model of science. The most
vivid evidence is the absence of the entry: “symbol” in
the contemporary Słownik etnologiczny. (Ethnological
Dictionary) 4 In the suitable spot the authors refer the

6

�Zbigniew Benedyktowicz • THE SYMBOL IN ETHNOGRAPHY

The word and the image — (an object, an ethnog­
rapher could add at this point - Z. B.) — are symbolic
when they contain something more than that, which
can be recognised at first glance (C. G. Jung).9

tradiction between the truth contained in the material
and his interpretation.
Ethnographer:
As we already partially know, not only the features (e.g.

The memory of a symbol is always older than the memo­
ry of its non-symbolic textual surrounding (Y. Lotm an).10

hardness, sharpness...) but even the functions (...) of certain
objects (...) are comprehended by the primitive and unen­
lightened mind in such a way as if they comprised - speaking
in our language —something akin to condensed matter or en­
ergy embedded in those objects or even tantamount to them.
Consequently, each such object can be and is interpreted by
the uncivilised mind from two or even several sides. A stone
or a piece of metal are, i.a. an ordinary stone or piece of
metal, but apart from that they can be also something that
we may describe as condensed might, hardness, resilience;
a thorn is a thorn, but apart from that it can be condensed
sharpness or the function of piercing; a lock is undoubtedly
a lock, but it is also a condensed function of closing; an egg
is, i.a. condensed life in statu nascendi, and a double nut or
an ear of grain, etc. is, i.a. a condensed gain, i.e. potential,
fruitfulness (and thus also happiness). And so on.

N ot only do we live in a world of symbols, but the
world of symbols lives in us (J. Chevalier).11
Finally, a contemporary science dictionary could
include sentences whose veracity, in the existential
experience, could be confirmed by many; the m ean­
ing of such sentences appears to be particularly legible
and important as regards studies on the still unclear
processes of artistic creativity (regardless whether we
encounter it within the range of primitive folk art or
high art).

We do not embellish our experiences with symbols but
it is they, which cooperate with our experience via proc­
esses of affiliation, which we understand only partially. To
symbolize means to arrange those particles and elements of
a flowing stream of experiences, which, once united, create
luminescence, temporary or permanent rays, in which a
part of the cosmos, a corner of our habitat or some dark
subterranean labyrinth lightens up.
(...) At any rate, the first syntax of the defined, embod­
ied spirit is that of symbols.12

M. Eliade:

By way of example, whenever the "cult of stones" is
mentioned not all stones are regarded as holy. We always
encounter only certain stones worshipped due to their
shape, size or ritual affiliations. The heart of the matter is
not the cult of stones, but the fact that those stones were
worshipped as long as they were not ordinary stones, but
hierophanies and thus something more than commonplace
"objects”. (...) A certain object becomes sacral as long as it
embodies (i.e. reveals) something else, something different.
At this stage, it is meaningless whether this "difference”
should be ascribed to an original shape, effectiveness, or
simply "might”, or whether it originates from the partici­
pation of that object in some sort of symbolism or is the
outcome of a consecration rite or the voluntary or imposed
situating of the object in a sphere suffused with sanctity (a
holiday, holy time, some sort of an “event": lightening...,
etc.).13

A s has been said, the attitude of ethnography to­
wards the symbol has been complicated from the very
beginning. On the one hand, ethnography as a science
emulated and realised this general model of science
opposing the symbol, while on the other hand, ow­
ing to the object and scope of its interest, it not only
docum ented but also adapted for one-sidedly oriented
European civilisation the world of mythical thought
and imagination, the "products of the primeval mind”,
the language of the myth and the symbol. It rediscov­
ered them, with time increasingly consciously and
thoroughly, identifying their cognitive value, diversity,
and depth. In order to demonstrate more clearly this
complex attitude of ethnography towards the symbol I
would like to resort to a comparison of two extensive
quotations. The first is taken from a classical ethno­
graphic work and the second comes from Treatise on
the History of Religions by M ircea Eliade. By means of
this contrast I would like to show how close the author
of a classical ethnographic text is to Eliade’s descrip­
tion and comprehension of the symbol, and how many
years prior to Eliade he described that, which the
author of Treatise called "hierophany”. Then I shall
return to the first quotation revealing the authorethnographer and a further sequence of his arguments
in order to demonstrate how in accordance with the
accepted scientific convention these opinions turn
against the symbol and how the convention accepted
by the ethnographer led him towards a profound con­

Let us return to the first quotation borrowed
(as could be surmised right away) from Kazimierz
Moszyński’s Kultura Ludowa Słowian (The Folk C ul­
ture of the Slavs), since he is also the author of this
fragment, so close and affiliated to the spirit of the
text by M. Eliade ... and we shall see how many sur­
prising and contradictory conclusions can be drawn.
I intentionally repeat parts of a fragment already fa­
miliar to us, so as to faithfully render this link with
the next paragraph containing conclusions in order to
faithfully render the whole drama of the contradiction
contained therein.
...A stone or a piece of metal are, i.a. an ordinary stone

or a piece of metal, but apart from that they can be also
something that we may describe as condensed might, hard­
ness, resilience; (...) an egg is, i.a. condensed life in statu
nascendi, and a double nut or an ear of grain, etc. are, i.a.
a condensed gain, i.e. potential, fruitfulness (and thus also

7

�Zbigniew Benedyktowicz • THE SYMBOL IN ETHNOGRAPHY

happiness). And so on. Absolutely undisputed and simul­
taneously innumerable examples of similar concepts are
preserved among all the unenlightened peoples on Earth.
One of the most vivid mistakes in ethnology is to dispose of
the discussed products of the primitive mind by using the
term: s y m b o l; I do not know in ethnology a more naive
view that the one claiming that, in its day, in folk magic a
double ear of grain played the role of a fertility symbol, and
an egg - that of a symbol of life, etc.14

overly refined intellectual creativity. In other words,
Moszyński’s enmity towards the term: “symbol”, his
postulated turn towards empiric research and descrip­
tion of those concepts and “psychic products”, so char­
acteristic for all unenlightened peoples and the world
of folk culture whose examples he had just described,
could resemble identical hostility and be modelled on
the critical attitude towards symbolism that appeared
in the poetry and aesthetics of Die N eue Sachlichkeit,
among representatives of Acm eism or the sort we en­
counter in the case of Osip M andelstam , returning to
classical sources of the comprehension of the symbol
and describing literary and poetical symbolism outright
as faux-symbolism.17 Quite possibly, this resentment
towards the symbol in the case of Moszyński, with a
simultaneous postulate of a factual description of the
m atter of those primary concepts, could have the same
source and in praxis is caused not so much by animos­
ity towards the symbol in general as by enmity towards
interpretations posing a threat to ethnology. However
deep we would delve into the intentions of the au­
thor of Kultura ludowa Słowian or explain his aversion
towards the term: “symbol”, facts remain facts. D e­
spite the fact that in his introductory reflections about
spiritual culture 18 Moszyński with great caution and
numerous reservations accepted the premise that it is
impossible to speak about progress in religion and art
(at least in the meaning of progress mentioned in the
preceding volume, in reference to material culture),
the cited fragment, whenever there is mention of the
symbol, and the whole opus reveal a distinct division
into the world of primeval man, an unenlightened and
primitive mind, and the world of m an of the culture of
writing and developed civilisation, a world to which
the contemporary researcher belongs. Between those
two worlds there yawns a chasm. Naturally, it would
be superfluous to recall that in this conception the
former world is devoid of symbolic thinking and the
symbol of the sort that may appear in the latter world.
In an even more vivid presentation of this question,
and posing a possibly caricature question: Can a peas­

It does not suffice to merely quote yet another ex­
ample of the opposition of science vis a vis the symbol,
which at times assumes outright the shape of an anti­
symbolic manifesto. I try to delve into the intentions
of such astonishingly contradictory conclusions. W hat
do they conceal? W hat forbids Moszyński to recognise
the symbolic dimensions he had just described as sym­
bols? First and foremost, we are dealing here with a
certain already anachronistic understanding of the
symbol. Defending ethnography against the symbol
Moszyński presumably secured it against the loom ­
ing danger of excessive poetisation, an invasion of su­
perfluous literariness, and a flood of aestheticisation.
Moszyński warned against the tem ptation of treating
those beliefs or, as he put it, those “products of the
primitive mind” as metaphors, and against the appli­
cation in relation to them of some sort of allegorical
interpretations. Remember that the author of Kultura
Ludowa Słowian wrote the book, or rather those parts
relating to spiritual culture, at a time of ever strong
and increasingly lively disputes about the symbolic
or “imaginary” nature of the construction of Wesele
(Wedding) by Stanisław Wyspiański, when assorted
symbolic interpretations of the spectacle tended to
multiply, and when a publication of the unequalled
study by Stanisław Pigon: Goście z zaświata na Wese­
lu (The Guests from the Other W orld at W edding),
which contains a reference to ethnography and the
world of folk culture, was still far off. 15 Finally, in his
capacity as an active poet 16 the author of Kultura Lu­
dowa Słowian must have been familiar with the most
varied fate and adventures of symbolism in poetry,
including the extreme degeneration attained by sym­
bolism in Russian poetry (if only in the works of A.
Bely, a theoretician of this m ovem ent and the author
of Simvolizm, 1910).
One may thus suspect and deduce that whenever
Moszyński used the word “symbol” he treated it as a
synonym of a poetical metaphor and even allegory. A t
any rate, from this viewpoint the symbol appears to
be not something embedded in an ethnographic con­
crete, abstract, arbitrary, and dependent exclusively
on man, creator or interpreter of the symbol and ar­
bitrarily evoked by him. In this approach the symbol
seems to be predominantly something distant from
the world of primitive culture, something literary and
devised, as if exclusively reserved for sophisticated or

ant (a person living in the primeval world) think symboli­
cally?, Moszyński proposed both in this fragment and
in many others an unambiguous answer: He cannot.
Nothing resembling a symbol exists in the primitive mind.
Several verses after the cited fragment rejecting
the possibility of symbolic interpretations in ethnog­
raphy Moszyński disclosed the chasm separating the
world of primitive, primal man and that of civilised,
contemporary man:

It is impossible to precisely describe the essence of the
psychic creatures with which we become acquainted at
this moment. Their completely elementary and sponta­
neous simplicity cannot be embraced in our concise con­
cepts. At any rate, they do not belong to a world ruled
by clear-cut views and sober thoughts but to a totally

8

�Zbigniew Benedyktowicz • THE SYMBOL IN ETHNOGRAPHY

different world, whose roots, trunks, and branches are
“primitive” man and that of contemporary m an (the
embedded in the subconscious while we see only their
world of the researcher), is still preserved, although
tops. 19
in a slightly altered form. This modification consists
of a certain shift. In the case of Moszyński the sym­
This time, in the light of the above-cited words,
the “symbol”, rejected a short while ago, deprived of
bol exists only and exclusively in a world of high cul­
ture or within the range of complicated contemporary
the right to exist in the world of primeval man, and
feasible only in the world of high culture and sophis­
culture, and is absent in folk culture. Such division
ticated activity pursued by the intellect, appears to be
reflects the conception launched by Levy-Bruhl and
his partition into the world of the primitive, infantile
a synonym if not of a precise, lucid, and unambiguous
m an at the stage of pre-logical thought and the world
concept then certainly of one that is endowed with
of civilised man. For the present-day researcher, and
concise contents and thoughts. Upon numerous oc­
in particular for the empirically oriented ethnographer
casions Moszyński, describing those products of the
primitive mind, so different and distant from the world
for whom ethnography starts and ends in its research
of the researcher, drew attention to the characteristic
domains (provided, depending on the given village,
absence of conceptual distinctness, the variability and
region or theme, with a suitable footnote referring to
nineteenth-century collections of ethnographic m ate­
fluidity of their contents, the numerous cases of an ab­
rial, “Lud”, Kolberg, Fischer, etc.), and often for the
sence of consistency in ascribing those products of the
scholar representing other disciplines dealing with the
primitive mind to a great variety of often contradic­
tory meanings in accompanying folk interpretations.
culture of contemporary man, the symbol in its eth­
nological dimension, assuming that it actually existed,
Summing up: the symbol as understood by
took place only in the folk culture of yore (straight out
Moszyński seems to be, on the one hand, abstract, un­
of Moszyński or Kolberg) or the culture of the archaic
real, distant, and detached from the concrete and, on
m an of the past, and today is no longer. A ccording to
the other hand, approaching the unambiguity char­
Moszyński the symbol in folk culture has not yet come
acteristic for intellectual concepts. In both cases, the
into being, assumed shape or appeared; numerous
symbol remains somewhat intellectual. It does not ap­
researchers dealing with contemporaneity claim that
pear in the reality of the culture of the primeval man,
or at least not in this role or in the same manner as in
the symbol a l r e a d y does not exist. Following the
example of Moszyński, solutions and answers to the
the culture of m an belonging to a developed civilisa­
question whether the peasant (or contemporary man)
tion. Elsewhere, the symbol in Moszyhski’s work oc­
is capable of thinking symbolically are still sought in
curs as a synonym of the sign or in reflections concern­
empirical field research with a foreseeable outcome,
ing embellishment.
I
devoted so much attention and place tobecause if the word “symbol” is not m entioned in the
“authentic” statem ent and interpretation (and this is
Moszyhski’s deliberations not only to indicate the
rather the case) then this means that it is absent. This
source of the deep contradiction between what he ob­
is the way in which the chasm between archaic and
tained in material descriptions of folk magic-religious
contemporary man, the peasant of the past and his
beliefs and the conclusions he drew in his book, and
present-day counterpart is retained. The whole strat­
not merely to show how certain a priori accepted his­
egy of such contemporary empirical investigations,
torical conditions and a limited comprehension of the
symbol made it impossible for him to use the term
based solely on convictions (beliefs, opinions) ob­
tained in an interview and expressed explicitly, often
“symbol” in reference to those beliefs and phenomena
loses that dimension of symbolic legacy and compels
belonging to the spiritual heritage of folk culture. I re­
to treat it, often a priori, as a moribund Skansen, and
called his thoughts also because Moszyhski’s compre­
is ready only to capture that, which is different, origi­
hension of the symbol, despite the fact that I described
nal, and individual. It is not surprising, therefore, that
it as anachronistic, has left a distinct imprint upon the
from this perspective the symbol and symbolic inter­
attitude of ethnography towards the symbol and is
pretations - as in the case of Moszyński — still appear
continued up to this day in various statements. D e ­
to be something given, abstract, unreal, and literary.
spite the m ultifaceted development of contemporary
More, this lifeless Skansen is treated as thoroughly ex­
research into the myth and the symbol it is still pos­
amined. The symbol is still - as it was for Moszyński
sible to observe in ethnography a dislike and reserva­
(from the perspective of “empirical”, anecdotic eth­
tion towards the symbol and symbolic interpretations.
The symbol and symbolism continue to be treated as
nography that does not transcend the world of the
village of N . and informer X) - something provided a
something unreal, abstract, arbitrary, and distant from
the world of “authentic” folk culture. The fundam en­ priori by the interpreter.
tal premise assumed by Moszyński and discernible
This is why the greatest accomplishment of M ircea
in his comprehension of the symbol mentioning the
Eliade is, in my opinion, the fact that his studies abol­
ish the division between primitive and civilised man,
basic difference between the world of the primeval,

9

�Zbigniew Benedyktowicz • THE SYMBOL IN ETHNOGRAPHY

cussed the sui generis ambiguous structure of the sym­
bol (in the strict meaning of the word: "am biguous”);
this structure does not possess a single meaning but
presents a bundle of assorted m eanings.25
Such a cluster of meanings entails references of one
meaning to another and calls for interpretation (...);
regardless what word we use to express it, this task
is imposed by the very nature of the symbol, which is
a tangle of meaning of sorts, composed of meanings
enclosed within each other... .26
In Existence and Hermeneutics Ricoeur described
four fundam ental figures o f com prehending the sym­
bol via a symbol.27 The first consists of extracting and
com paring numerous values of the same symbol. The
second figure of com prehension entails understand­
ing a given symbol via another symbol and will thus
encom pass an increasingly large range of remaining
symbols dem onstrating an affiliation with the given
symbol (water, stone, etc.). In the third figure, the
given symbol will be com prehended via some sort of
ritual and myths, and thus via other symptoms of the
sacrum . M oreover, it is possible to dem onstrate - and
this is the fourth figure of com prehension - how in
the same symbol num erous spheres of experience un­
dergo a process of merging. This perspective shows
how the symbol integrates assorted levels - cosmic,
theological, anthropological, existential - binding all
the levels, but not m elting it into a single unity. Such
an understanding of the symbol and such decipher­
ing of symbolic m eanings refer to a type of herm e­
neutics known under various names: “amplifying
herm eneutics” (from the Latin: amplificare), which
expands the symbol, allowing itself to be lifted by the
force of its integration,28 the herm eneutics of a “re­
turn to sources” (Eliade), “a return to things” , “the
herm eneutics of listening”29 (Heidegger), and “the
herm eneutics of reconstruction” (Gerardus van der
Leeuw). Gilbert Durand, a French researcher dealing
with symbolic im agination, encom passed this cur­
rent within a single name by including, alongside the
above-m entioned authors, also the works of B ach e­
lard, and proposed: “the herm eneutics of remythization” ; remythization m eans the concentration of
m eaning gathered in the m anner of grapes during a
grape harvest (...).30 Here, D urand referred directly
to yet another definition of the sort of herm eneutics
that we find in the works of Riceour, who described
this type of approach as: “the herm eneutics of recol­
lection” ; according to the m ost expressive m eaning
of the word “recollection” m eans both: to recollect
oneself, reminisce, as well as: to deliberate, to gath ­
er, in the m eaning used by Heidegger telling us that
legein —speech is also: legein - gathering, as in: lese in
Weinlese, the grape harvest.31
W orks by M ircea Eliade still constitute a challenge
for ethnography and for embarking upon such recollec­

artificially intensified by science, without obliterating
the differences between them and indicating that sym­
bolic thinking is both the domain of “primitive, prime­
val m an” , a psychopath, a child, a poet, a member of a
village community, a representative of the civilisation
of the town, archaic man, and the ultimate contem ­
porary man: It is consubstantial with human existence, it

comes before language and discursive reason. The symbol
reveals certain aspects of reality— the deepest aspects - that
defy any other means of knowledge. Images, symbols and
myths are not irresponsible creations of the psyche; they
respond to a need and fulfil a function, that of bringing to
light the most hidden modalities of being. Consequently,
the study of them enables us to reach a better understand­
ing of man - of man as he is ... .” 20
A s we saw, upon the level of empirical material
description Eliade’s reflections concur with those of
Moszyński. Nonetheless, in the case of Eliade the com­
prehension of the symbol is quite different. In contrast
to Moszyński’s version, the symbol is not unreal or
abstract and is always enrooted in the concrete. One
could describe the work of Eliade and his understanding
of the symbol by resorting to words of Boris Pasternak’s
Doctor Zhivago: The idea that underlies this is that com­

munion between mortals is immortal, and that the whole
of life is symbolic because it is meaningful. 21 Symbolic,
hierophanic reality is a reality “par excellence existent”
(strong, effective) just as in the case of the hierophany
of the rock (in the way it appears in folk beliefs). The
symbol is not a synonym of unambiguity. Eliade used
the concept of the symbol in a loose, unfettered, and
frequently collateral manner with the concept of the
image and the myth. Etymologically speaking, imagination/imaginatio is connected with the word: imago, im­
age, emulation, and the word: imitare with: to emulate,
to recreate. The imagination, imaginatio imitates m od­
els-images, recreates them, renders them topical, and
repeats them endlessly. To be imaginative means to see
the world as a whole, since the power and task of im­
ages consist of showing all that evades conceptualisa­
tion. 22 That, which deserved to be stressed in the first
place is the polysemantic and multi-strata nature of the
symbol: the true image is, therefore, a set of meanings
and not one of its numerous references.23
Such an approach to the symbol was further de­
veloped by Paul Ricoeur in one of the chapters of
his hermeneutics relating to this essential feature of
the symbol: the symbol provides food for thought, he
wrote, adding that he would interpret the symbol in
the m ost radical sense, in the spirit of Eliade, who re­
garded symbols as analogous, spontaneously shaped
and given meanings. This is the case of the meaning of
water as a threat, when mention is made of a flood, or
as purification, when mention is made of baptism. 24
Ricoeur thus expanded reflection about the multi­
strata nature of the symbol elsewhere, when he dis­

10

�Zbigniew Benedyktowicz • THE SYMBOL IN ETHNOGRAPHY

19
20
21
22
23
24

tions. Today, in view of the development of numerous
studies on the myth and the symbol, conducted from
different points of view— structuralistic, semiotic, and
phenomenological 32, as well as in assorted domains,
such as humanistic folkloristic 33, in the wake of stud­
ies making the effort of reinterpreting the material,
ethnography cannot be protected by hiding its head in
empirical sand. “Empirical” ethnography is compelled
to acknowledge that there also exist the empiricism of
the symbol.

25
26
27
28

*Bibliographic note: This is a slightly altered and
brought up to date version of an article opening an issue
of “Polska Sztuka Ludowa” on the symbol, prepared as an
homage for the oeuvre of Mircea Eliade [cf. “Polska Sztuka
Ludowa” no. 3/1988].

Endnotes
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

9

10

11

12
13
14
15

16

17
18

29
30
31
32

M. Czerwiński, Symbol dzisiaj, “Polska Sztuka Ludowa”
1987, no.1-4, p. 100.
Ibid.
Ibid. p. 104.
Słownik etnologiczny, terminy ogólne, ed. Zofia Staszczak,
Warszawa, Poznań 1987.
Ibid., pp. 26-27.
Ibid., p. 386.
P Ricoeur, Egzystencja i hermeneutyka, selected, prep. and
afterword Stanisław Cichowicz, Warszawa 1975, p. 11.
S. S. Avierintsev, Simvol, in: Kratkaya litieraturnaya entsiklopediya, Moscow 1971, vol. 7, p. 826; Polish transla­
tion in: “Polska Sztuka Ludowa”, no. 3/1988, pp. 149­
150.
Quoted after: Gerd Heinz Mohr, Lexikon der Symbole,
Bilder und Zeichen der christlichen Kunst, Düsseldorf, Köln
1972, p. 2.
Yuri Lotman, Symbol w systemie kultury, transl. Bogusław
Żyłko, “Polska Sztuka Ludowa”, no. 3/1988, p. 151,
based on the original text: Y. Lotman, Simvol v sistieme
kulturi, in: Trudy po znakovim sistemam, vol. 21, 1987, pp.
10-21.
Quoted after: Gerd Heinz Mohr, Lexikon der Symbole,
Bilder und Zeichen der christlichen Kunst, Düsseldorf, Köln
1972, p. 2.
R. R. Niebhur, “Harvard Divinity Bulletin”, OctoberNovember 1989, p. 3.
M. Eliade, Traktat o historii religii, transl. Jan WieruszKowalski, Warszawa 1966, p. 19.
K. Moszyński, Kultura Ludowa Słowian, Warszawa 1967,
vol. 2, part 1, p. 316.
Stanisław Pigoń, Goście z zaświata na Weselu, in: idem,
Poprzez stulecia. Studia z dziejów literatury i kultury,
Warszawa 1985, pp. 442-478.
Apart from writing poetry Moszyński also studied at the
Cracow Academy of Fine Arts in the studio of Józef
Mehoffer; cf. Wiktor Stoczkowski, Uczony - postać faustyczna, in: Szkice i próby etnologiczne, ”Studenckie
Zeszyty Naukowe UJ”, Kraków 1985; cf. also. XY,
Życiorys II, “Nauka Polska”, vol. 9, 1928.
Cf. S. S. Avierintsev, op. cit., p. 830; cf. Osip Mandelstam,
Słowo I kultura, Warszawa 1972.
K. Moszyński, op. cit., p. 15.

11

Ibid., p. 317.
M. Eliade, Sacrum, mit, historia, Warszawa 1970, p. 33.
B. Pasternak, Doctor Zhivago, Paris 1976, p. 44.
M. Eliade, Sacrum, mit, historia, Warszawa 1970, p. 41.
Ibid., p. 36.
P Ricoeur, Symbol daje do myślenia, in: Egzystencja i her­
meneutyka, op. cit., Warszawa 1975, p. 14.
Ibid., p. 78.
Ibid.
Ibid.
This is the sort of hermeneutics, which opposes the
“hermeneutics of destruction”, as P Ricoeur described it
(op. cit., pp. 77-94; 80). Fundamental division into two
types of hermeneutics was mentioned also by Gilbert
Durand: generally speaking, there are two types of her­
meneutics, thhe one that reduces the symbol to some­
thing that is (...) only the outcome (...), the symptom,
and that which, on the contrary, expands the symbol,
making it possible for the power of integration to rise in
order to gain access to a certain type of experienced
“supra-consciousness”. Cf. G. Durand, Wyobraźnia sym­
boliczna, Warszawa 1986, p. 118.
P Ricoeur, op. cit., p. 81.
G. Durand, op. cit., p. 119.
P Ricoeur, op. cit., p. 80.
On structural, semiotic, and phenomenological currents
in studies on the myth and the symbol as well as their
significance for contemporary Polish ethnography see:
Antropologia kultury w Polsce - dziedzictwo, pojęcia, inspi­
racje, “Polska Sztuka Ludowa”, no. 1, 2 /1980; no.
1/1981; here also an extensive biography of M. Eliade
and his works together with a bibliography.
In Polish ethnography I have in mind works that embar­
ked upon the effort of such a reinterpretation of ethno­
graphic sources and material, often referring to studies
by M. Eliade: Joanna i Ryszard Tomiccy, Drzewo życia,
Warszawa 1976; and the structuralistic works by Ludwik
Stomma, Słońce rodzi się 13 grudnia, Warszawa 1981;
idem, Antropologia kultury wsi polskiej XIX w., Warszawa
1980; second edition containing selected essays, Łódź
2002; Jerzy Sławomir Wasilewski, Podróże do piekieł,
Warszawa 1979; idem, Symbolika ruchu obrotowego i rytu­
alnej inwersji, Warszawa 1978, “Etnografia Polska”, vol.
XXII, fasc. 1; idem, Tabu a paradygmaty etnologii,
Warszawa 1989. At this stage it is difficult not to express
astonishment that L. Stomma's Magia Alkmeny (issued
in different publications, cf., i.a. Słońce rodzi się 13 grud­
nia, op. cit., pp. 24-45) - one of the breakthrough works
in Polish ethnography as regards interpretations not only
of the symbolic of bonds but also a presentation of the
function of the myth, integrating assorted domains of
human experiences, as well as methodological consequ­
ences and the importance of his study for an interpreta­
tion of folk tradition relating to beliefs about time,
space, folk demonology, etc. - has been totally ignored in
the above-cited Słownik terminów etnologicznych (cf. op.
cit., 1987); these works by Stomma are not mentioned
in bibliographies under: Magic, or in the general biblio­
graphy.
o n references to publications and reflections by M. Eliade
and the application of “the hermeneutics of recollections'”
in an interpretation of the symbolic structure of beliefs and
folk tradition cf. also later works: Danuta Benedyktowicz,
Zbigniew Benedyktowicz, Dom w tradycji ludowej,
Encyklopedia Kultury Polskiej XX wieku, Studia i materia-

�Zbigniew Benedyktowicz • THE SYMBOL IN ETHNOGRAPHY

ły, Wrocław 1992. On the symbol in ethnography: Zbigniew
Benedyktowicz, Stereotyp-obraz-symbol- o możliwościach
nowego spojrzenia na stereotyp, in: Zeszyty Naukowe
Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego. Prace Etnograficzne, fasc.
24, 1988, pp. 7-35 and idem, Portrety ’obcego. Od stereotypu
dosymbolu, Kraków 2000. See also: Zbigniew Benedyktowicz,
Danuta Benedyktowicz, The Home - the Way of Being. The
Home in Folk Tradition, Częstochowa, 2009
33 Works by Jerzy Bartmiński are fundamentally important
for the interpretation of the symbol in ethnography. Cf.
Słownik stereotypów i symboli ludowych, conception and
ed. Jerzy Bartmiński, vice-editor Stanisława
Niebrzegowska, vol. 1. Cosmos, [part] 1, Niebo. Światła
niebieskie. Ogień. Kamienie, Lublin: Wydaw. UMCS
1996, 439 pp., part 2. Ziemia. Woda. Podziemie, Lublin:
Wydaw. UMCS 1999, 481 pp.
The authors invariably retained the specific methodology
of the description of the entry devised for Słownik...,
which reviewers regarded as an original and successful
solution. This fact was stressed after the publication of
fasc. 1 of Słownik... by Władysław Kupiszewski, Anna
Tatarkiewicz, Marian Pilot, Jacek Banaszkiewicz, and
Roch Sulima in a discusssion published in: “Regiony”
1997, no. 3, pp. 2-11; Czesław Hernas, Krzysztof
Wrocławski, Anna Dąbrowska, Jan Miodek, Jolanta
Ługowska, Roch Sulima, Iwona Smolka, and Piotr
Matywiecki in a discusssion published in: “Literatura
Ludowa” 1998, no. 6, pp. 51-71; Barbara Boniecka in:

“Twórczość Ludowa” 1997, no. 4, pp. 43-45; positive
assessments were formulated by foreign researchers:
Svetlana M. Tolstaya (in: “Zhivaja Starina”, Moskva
1997, no. 4, pp. 52-53), Alexei Yudin (“Slavynovedeniye”
1998, no. 5, pp. 98-100 and “Narodoznavchi Zoshiti”
1997, no. 6, pp. 400-403) and Kasanovic Bogdan
(“Slavistika” IV, Belgrade 2000, pp. 277-278). According
to Jerzy Bartmiński: It is based on a conception of “cognitive
definition” built of stereotype motifs arranged into uniform and
semantically cohesive sets resolving questions about the place
of the given entry (object) in the system of inner relations
(collections, oppositions), its appearance, origin, application,
etc. The principle of building entries in the Lublin Słownik is
the division of explication and documentation; in the latter,
contexts are grouped according to genres that can be discove­
red also in traditional folklore. The purpose of thus created
entries is the reconstruction of particular fragments of the folk
image of the world seen by a carrier of traditional folk culture.
Work on Słownik... is being continued; starting with issue
no.1. 2007, the quarterly “Konteksty. Polska Sztuka
Ludowa”, published at the Institute of Art at the Polish
Academy of Art, proposes successively selected entries
prepared for consecutive volumes of Słownik... (cf. Jerzy
Bartmiński, Słownik stereotypów i symboli ludowych; Dorota
Piekarczyk, Joanna Szadura, [entry] Chaber; as well as
Czesław Robotycki, Przeciwko Kopalińskiemu w stronę
Bartmińskiego - o Słowniku stereotypów i symboli ludowych,
“Konteksty Polska Sztuka Ludowa” no. 1/2007).

12

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                <text>aul Claudel wrote in his Journal from 1910 that
it is important to always possess a strong feeling
of reality and hard facts. This statement could
be referred to assorted life situations. But Claudel was
thinking of a special state of affairs: the stand assu­
med by the artist and his task. The word "reality” must
at this stage bring to mind yet another note made by
the poet four years earlier, when he wrote that he had
been thinking not of a reality accessible to our senses
but a “total reality of things visible and invisible”, the
base of truly universal poetry.
Claudel returned to this reflection upon many oc­
casions, i.a. in Positions et propositions, published in
1928, when he announced that the matter of poetry are
not dreams, illusions or thoughts but sacred reality, in
which we are enrooted for always: a universe of the vis­
ible to which Faith grants a universe of the invisible,
all that gazes at us and which we contemplate. All is
the work of God, lauded by the songs and poems of the
greatest poets as well as the songs of the most modest of
birds. Poesis perennis does not devise its themes but in­
cessantly returns to those suggested by Creation, in the
manner of our liturgy, of which we never tire just as we
do not grow weary of the seasons of the year. The pur­
pose of poetry is not, as Baudelaire maintained, to reach
the bottom of Infinity in order to discover novelty but,
on the contrary, to attain the bottom of the finite so as
to arrive at that, which is inexhaustible. In a travesty
of Jesus: He that is not with me is against me; and he that
gathereth not with me scattereth (Matthew 12,30; Luke
11,23) Claudel added that only truth links and con­
nects all, while all that, which is not truth, disperses.
We accept that an authentic work of art discloses
or at least intends to reveal or render closer that, which
in a domain other than reflection on art is described as
the boundary of meaning. This term comes from the
philosophy of religion or, to put it as extensively as pos­
sible, the study of religion. Religion in Essence and Mani­
festation: A Study in Phenomenology by Gerardus van der
Leeuw disseminated this term, borrowing it from a today
already less known work, namely, Types of Men by Edu­
ard Springer (published in 1914), who wrote that the
religious meaning of things is the one beyond which no
further or more profound meaning may hide. This is the
sense of entirety, the last word. Such meaning, however,
will be never comprehended and such a word will be
never uttered. They shall always remain above us. Ul­
timate sense is an ever-revealed mystery that, however,
keeps on being concealed. It denotes a path leading to
the ultimate boundary where only one thing is compre­
hended: all understanding remains “on the other side”.
Ultimate sense is thus the very limit of meaning.
Karen Blixen died in 1962. Immediately before she
said in an interview given on Danish Radio, i. a. that
inspiration is composed predominantly of all experi­
ences comprising a unity thanks to which that, which

P

277

WIESŁAW

JUSZCZAK

The Work and the
"Boundary of Meaning”

we usually find so difficult to understand suddenly be­
comes lucid and appears to have been bestowed upon
us in the manner of a gift.
An excellent commentary to this statement is a
fragment from a biography by the writer Judith Thur­
man, who noted: the sentence “I understood every­
thing” or “suddenly, I comprehended everything”
appears in the writings of Karen Blixen almost as a
liturgical formula. It signifies an awareness of the great
mystery that each one of us carries within, buried in
the past and now suddenly discovered, describing mo­
ments that disclose the very skeleton of our identity.
This sketch is an outcome of attempts at comment­
ing on Babette’s Feast (Babette’s gaestebud, 1987), Gabri­
el Axel’s film adaptation of a novel written by Karen
Blixen in English in 1950. The novel was included in
Anecdotes of Destiny, a collection issued in 1953.
Babette’s Feast occupies an exceptional place in the
oeuvre of Karen Blixen: it is her masterpiece or belongs
to a group of her most complete works. A xel’s film, a
faithful transposition of the original, attains the same
extremely high level, so rare in cinematographic art. It
is and will undoubtedly remain one of the masterpiec­
es of film. Nonetheless, due to the fact that as befits
a masterpiece it is known to a rather narrow audience
it seems necessary to propose at the very onset the
simplest possible and, unfortunately, rather abridged
introduction at least to its theme.
In the story the plot takes place in the small N or­
wegian port town of Berlevaag. The film transferred
it to Denmark and a seacoast village in the northern
part of a peninsula. Here, probably at the beginning
of the 1920s, lived a pastor who in time gathered
disciples or believers from among simple fishermen
and sailors. Certain features of this congregation
could point to the impact of Swedenborg. A t this
stage, however, it suffices to add that the movement
aimed at a revival of religious life, initiated by the
pastor, spread across the country, gaining followers
among the high strata of the nobility and at the royal
court.

�Wieslaw Juszczak • THE WORK AND THE “BOUNDARY OF MEANING

The pastor married late and soon became a widow­
er. Alone, he brought up two daughters, Martina and
Philippa, christened after Luther and Melanchton.
Their upbringing must have been stern; moreover, the
pastor did not want the girls to leave home, declaring
that their assistance would be always indispensable in
view of his vocation. The daughters did not protest,
but upon two occasions the extraordinary beauty and
enchanting voice of the younger one disturbed the un­
ruffled course of their life.
First there appeared at the pastor’s house Lorens
Loewenhielm, a young officer from a well-born family,
in love with Martina. He had gained access thanks to a
pious aunt, a long-time supporter of the pastor’s activ­
ity whose country residence was located nearby. The
young man, however, soon understood that he would
be unable to win over the girl and after telling her that
he found out for the first time that fate is cruel and
that there are certain impossible things in the world,
he left for always - or so it seemed at the time.
N ext there arrived on a sightseeing tour a bril­
liant French singer, Achille Papin, who had just per­
formed at the Royal Opera in Stockholm. Having seen
Philippa and heard her astonishing voice in church he
decided to share his life and career with her. He suc­
ceeded only insofar as the pastor permitted him to give
the young girl several singing lessons. Philippa, how­
ever, resigned from them, evidently uncertain about
her feelings for the teacher.
Many years later, Achille wrote a letter to the
sisters requesting that they would take the person
delivering it, a certain Babette Hersant, under their
care. A t the time of the Paris Commune Babette had
lost her husband and son and was forced to flee from
France. Her nephew, working on a ship belonging to
the Scandinavian fleet, could take her along. Achille
Papin recalled the pastor’s home and presented her
with a letter of recommendation informing that Ba­
bette was an excellent cook. The two sisters, living
very modestly (their father had passed away a long
time ago), devoted all their funds to charity and thus
concluded that they could not afford a housekeeper.
Babette pleaded to permit her to stay and work free of
charge, claiming that this was the last chance in her
life. The sisters were compelled to relent.
Upon a certain occasion Babette mentioned that
the only bond with her homeland was a lottery ticket
purchased a long time ago and renewed yearly by one
of her Parisian friends. More than ten years after hav­
ing settled down in her new place of residence she re­
ceived the news that she had won the first prize: 10
000 franks. This event coincided with the hundredth
anniversary of the pastor’s birth, which his daughters
intended to celebrate. Babette convinced them to al­
low her to cook a French-style dinner on that day, for
which she would pay with her winnings. Having over­
278

come their doubts, Martina and Philippa consented,
especially considering that this was Babette’s first re­
quest and, they believed, the last one before her now
likely departure for France. Babette had become rich
and, in their opinion, the cost of a single reception
would not affect her resources.
Despite considerable anxiety caused by the scale
and type of purchases preceding the dinner, the
evening was a success. Even more so since it especially
impressed, and was appreciated by a totally unexpected
guest announced almost at the last moment. This was
Lorens Loewenhielm, now a retired general, who had
enjoyed an imposing career and for years represented
his country at the court of St. Petersburg and Paris.
The striking features of both the novel and the film
are unusually concise narration and the simplicity of all
applied means. This simplicity and aptness serve, al­
ready on the outside, the essential expressive effect of
the whole dramatic construction, basically identical in
both works and granting the illusion of reality to things
and events that are by no means obvious but puzzling
and uncommon. That which should be regarded as
openly improbable is rendered credible in assorted ways,
one of them being the precisely defined historical qual­
ity of facts. We know, for instance, that the closing and,
at the same time, main link of the plot takes place on
15 December 1885 and thus that the pastor was born in
1785. We also learn that Martina was born in 1836 and
Philippa - in 1837, that Lorens paid his first visit to the
pastor’s house in 1854, and that Achille Papin came a
year later, that Babette arrived in 1871, etc.
This whole network of dates, given directly or eas­
ily recreated, aims, first and foremost, at rendering real
all those unlikely coincidences that bring to mind an
intervention of supernatural forces and that in a ra­
tional order should be regarded either as confabula­
tion or a challenge to faith.
On the other hand, fate or Providence reveals its
power through an improbable symmetry of events.
All the sequences aim at a single point designated by
the dinner given by Babette. Unfulfilled feelings and
crossed plans are realized, disclosing their concealed
order and meaning, becoming ultimately the reason
for an explanation of the central event and finding
their elucidation within it. In this manner, the despot­
ic nature of the pastor and his egocentrism, only os­
tensibly justified by noble vocation, are as if overcome
and vanquished, but actually reveal themselves in the
unexpected truth of their essential effects. The love of
Lorens for Martina and of Achille for Philippa, timidly
reciprocated but instantly stifled, now triumphs at a
totally different level. Thanks to the singer Babette
found herself at the home of the pastor’s daughters.
Owing to the general’s seemingly accidental but nec­
essary presence at the dinner table and the experienc­
es that he pursued owing to failed love the greatness of

�Wieslaw Juszczak • THE WORK AND THE “BOUNDARY OF MEANING

Babette’s feast can be duly appreciated, since the meal
is a great work of art and Babette - a remarkable artist.
This is the way in which cards dealt by fate are shown.
Suddenly, we decipher the heretofore-concealed plan
and discover the essence of the game. The impact of
grace can ultimately come to the fore via the artwork
and in a place created by the latter.
General Loewenhielm rises to say a single sentence:
But the moment comes when our eyes are opened, and we
see and realize that grace is infinite.
In this fashion we discover the topic of Babette’s Feast,
its theme and most profound contents. This is a story
about a work of art and the revelation of grace - some­
thing that might be described as coup de grâce, if this ex­
pression were to be freed of its idiomatic meaning
Let us repeat: according to Babette’s Feast a work of
art describes and as if discloses the place that is to be
struck by the “bolt of grace”.
Each of the two motifs (“religious” and “artistic”)
of the story and, naturally, the film, can be separated
more clearly only at an analytical level, possesses to a
certain extent separate sigs of recognition, and con­
trasts with the other.
The text of Babette’s Feast is full of open or con­
cealed - at times travestied - Biblical quotations. Mem­
bers of the pastor’s congregation at times speak in the
words of the Bible (e.g. the story about the cluster of
grapes comes from The Book of Numbers, and about the
treacherous nature of language - from The Epistle of St.
James). The theme from Psalm 85: Mercy and truth are
met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each oth­
er recurs several times. One of the hymns sung by the
congregation and composed, as we learn, by the pastor
alludes to sentences repeated by St. Matthew (7, 9-10)
and St. Luke (11, 11): Or what man is there of you, whom
if his son asks bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks
for a fish, will give him a snake? It is said that Babette was
the dark Martha in the house of two fair Marys. The
feast is associated with two New Testament events the Wedding at Cana and the Pentecost, the second
being recalled as follows: Of what happened later in the
evening, nothing definite here can be stated. None of the
guests later on had any clear remembrance of it. They only
knew that the rooms had been filled with a heavenly light,
as if a number of small halos had blended into one glorious
radiance. Taciturn old people received the gift of tongues;
ears that for years had been almost deaf were opened to it.
Time itself had merged into eternity. Long after midnight,
the windows of the house shone like gold, and golden song
flowed out into the winter air.
A t the onset Babette and the theme of artistic crea­
tivity are defined by a sombre ambiance. Karen Blixen
(as well as Axel and the brilliant Stephane Audran
playing the part of Babette) masterfully outlines a por­
trait of the protagonist: simple and obvious, puzzling
and undefined, full of unexpected possibilities inces­
279

santly revealed and realised. Into the world formed by
the pastor Babette introduced multi-faceted outland­
ishness derived from her biography, customs, language
and religion. She does not demonstrate this trait but
also does not reject it. A t the same time, she enters a to­
tally new environment and almost blends with it while
remaining essentially mysterious and unknown. When
the circumstances allow her to disclose that what she
regards as most important - her vocation and talent,
there emerges also something that defines her strange­
ness to the very end: some sort of a pagan feature con­
taining the idea and form of an offering.
The originally blurred outlines of this form give rise
to fear and outrage among everyone. In a single mo­
ment, the whole trust that had been bestowed upon Ba­
bette for the past fourteen years disappears and someone
even proposes to ignore her suspicious and undoubtedly
sinful gift and to treat it with silence and indifference.
A t that particular moment no one, and up to the end
almost no one infers an offering in the French women’s
caprice or is capable of assessing its dimensions.
In contrast to the obvious grace suffusing the con­
tents of the life of the pastor’s daughters Babette’s of­
fering is - not only ostensibly - dark, impenetrable,
violent and cruel. Regardless of the sophistication that
ultimately comes to the fore in its outcome, its sources
contain something primeval. First and foremost, it is
again due to this trait that the offering is “pagan”. A t
this stage, the film by Gabriel Axel adds something to
that, which Karen Blixen merely suggested and which
at first glance appears to be fleeting. The sequence of
preparations for the feast shows mounds of slaughtered
animals; next, we watch many other first-hand testimo­
nies of unrestrained extravagance, the end result being
an image of frenzied wastage and destruction, a “pot­
latch” in which, as it turns out at the end, the sum of 10
000 franks, enormous at the time, simply vanishes.
This “pagan” character of the feast, which, as has
been mentioned, became apparent rather prior to the
feast than in its course, compels us to regard Babette’s
offering in religious categories. In this context, “pagan”
means primarily “cult”, “religious” and belonging to a
different religious order than the one universally preva­
lent in the given environment.
In the novel the image of the feast is humbler than
in the film and apart from the story about the gigantic
turtle, which appears in the kitchen and terrifies Mar­
tha, it says little about the backstage preparations. The
general recognises and admires the brands and vintage
of the wines. He also knows the particular dishes: turtle
soup, blinis Demidoff and cailles en sarcophage, the latter
being the trademark of Babette Hersant and her artistry
at the Parisian “Café Anglais” restaurant famous for her
cuisine. In the story Lorens Loewenhielm reminisces
but does not exteriorise his recollections. In the film,
on the other hand, he speaks but his remarks do not

�Wieslaw Juszczak • THE WORK AND THE “BOUNDARY OF MEANING

produce any sort of reaction or understanding among
the listeners. In both cases, therefore, data that would
make it possible to finally unveil the mystery of the feast,
i.e. to identify Babette, are not associated. The general
never saw her in Paris nor will he see her here. He rec­
ognizes the work, which he once admired but does not
attempt to deduce by what miracle it had made its way
to the pastor’s home. In a certain sense his reaction is
correct: he distrusts sensual evidence and succumbs to
that, which he regards as improbable and thus cannot
be considered “real” according to commonly observed
rigours. In doing so, he accepts the order into which he
had been introduced, although he is unable to explain
it.
General Loewenhielm stopped eating and sat immov­
able. Once more he was carried back to that dinner in Paris
of which he had thought in the sledge. An incredibly recher­
che and palatable dish had been served there; he had asked
its name from his fellow diner, Colonel Galliffet, and the
Colonel had smilingly told him that it was named “Cadies
en Sarcophage”. He further told him that the dish had been
invented by the chef off the very café in which they were din­
ing, a person known all over Paris as the greatest culinary
genius of the age and —most surprisingly —a woman! “And
indeed”, said Colonel Galliffet, ”this woman is now turning
a dinner at the Café Anglais into a kind of love affair —inot
a love affair of the noble and romantic category in which one
no longer distinguishes between bodily and spiritual appetite
or satiety!
The term “romantic” used here is by all means justi­
fied. The cited dialogue should be situated somewhere
at the turn of the fifth decade of the nineteenth centu­
ry. Romanticism, devised as an artistic current, was still
alive and although its tide was declining and becom­
ing dispersed it grew increasingly universal. Mentioning
cailles en sarcophage Karen Blixen described the stylistic
features of Babette’s work and evoked the historicalarchaeological predilections of the period as well as its
macabre-grotesque inclination towards "creating an
atmosphere”. The name of the dish contains all: from
subjection to fashion to the use in culinary art of inspi­
rations stemming from the great spiritual discoveries of
the epoch. Moreover, let us add, it again suggests some
sort of a cult ceremony, a ritual and an offering.
The speech given by General Loewenhielm disclos­
ing the moral and religious meaning of Babette‘s feast
is preceded by a brief comment on the impact of wine.
Once more we come across an echo of The Acts of the
Apostles. The miracle of glossolalia that occurred on the
day of the Pentecost was commented in two ways by
those gathered around the supper table (2,12-13): And
they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to an­
other, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men
are full of new wine.
The novel similarly justifies and appears to use ra­
tional arguments to hide the general’s irrational behav­
280

iour. For all practical purposes, we may perceive the
influence of some sort of inspiration stemming from
unidentified sources. But, as we had already mentioned,
the narrator prefers to remain firmly on the ground:
Then the General felt that the time had come to make a
speech. He rose and stood up very straight. Nobody else at
the dinner table had stood up to speak. The old people lifted
their eyes to the face above them in high, happy expectation.
They were used to seeing sailors and vagabonds dead drunk
with the crass gin of the country, but they did not recognize
in a warrior and courtier the intoxication brought about by
the noblest wine of the world. “Mercy and truth, my friends,
have met together," said the General. “Righteousness and
bliss shall kiss one another".
He spoke in a clear voice, which had been trained in
drill grounds and had echoed sweetly in royal halls, and
yet he was speaking in a manner so new to himself and
so strangely moving that after his first sentence he had
to make a pause. For he was in the habit of forming his
speeches with care, conscious of his purpose, but here,
in the midst of the Dean’s simple congregation, it was as
if the whole figure of General Loewenhielm, his breast
covered with decorations, were but a mouthpiece for a
message which meant to be brought forth.
“Man, my friends,” said General Loewenhielm, “is
frail and foolish. We have all of us been told that grace
is to be found in the universe. But in our human foolish­
ness and short-sightedness we imagine divine grace to
be finite. For this reason we tremble ...” Never till now
had the General stated that he trembled; he was genu­
inely surprised and even shocked at hearing his own
voice proclaim the fact. “We tremble before making our
choice in life, and after having made it again tremble in
fear of having chosen wrong. But the moment comes
when our eyes are opened, and we see and realize that
grace is infinite. Grace, my friends, demands nothing
from us but that we shall await it with confidence and
acknowledge it in gratitude. Grace, brothers, makes
no conditions and singles out none of us in particular;
grace takes us all to its bosom and proclaims general
amnesty. See! that which we have chosen is given us,
and that which we have refused is, also and at the same
time, granted us. Ay, that which we have rejected is
poured upon us abundantly. For mercy and truth have
met together and righteousness and bliss have kissed
one another”.
This moment of illumination in which everything
that the general had experienced in his life appeared as
a “logical whole” now suddenly assumes meaning, re­
veals its deep sense and comes into being thanks to Babette’s work. The feast, an artistic creation, delineates,
as has been said, space that makes possible perception,
experience and comprehension totally different from
their “ordinary”, common or pragmatic counterparts. A
feast conceived as a work of art places its participants
vis a vis complete reality revealing all its dimensions.

�Wieslaw Juszczak • THE WORK AND THE “BOUNDARY OF MEANING

The densification and intensification of the sensual is
such that it appears to undergo a crisis of sorts. On a
daily basis, the firm cohesion of the visible cracks and
ensuing fissures contain invisible perspectives of things,
domains of “the invisible”.
Such a work is attainable thanks to sacrifice. Each
great work possesses something of an offering. It either
is an offering or originates from it; similarly to the offer­
ing, it does not “communicate” anything to those who
come into contact with it or, to put differently, those
who find themselves within its range.
The probably most prominent message of Babette’s
Feast is contained in the discovery and process of ren­
dering aware of the work of art both as the concentra­
tion and liberation of a certain force and energy that it
would be most correct to describe as the force of the
truth - such a work takes us into its possession, embrac­
es us, and compels us to participate in it. It is impossible,
therefore, to speak about the reception and recipients
of that, which has taken place and emerged in the act of
creation. Babette’s Feast shows how regardless of “com­
petence” and even of will, willingness and resolutions
the work captivates those who had been drawn into its
orbit. And how regardless of experience, knowledge,
and even the state of consciousness it allows and forces
to see that, which it cannot indicate even indirectly or
ostensibly: to see “total reality” and the “sense of the
whole”, to reach the “boundary of meaning”. When Lo­
rens Loewenhielm speaks about grace and Babette ad­
mits that if she offered all that she could give then she
offered others perfect happiness they are both express­
ing the same: experiencing an infinite, limitless whole.
That which we have chosen is given us, and that which
we have refused is, also and at the same time, granted us.
Let us repeat: great art is the reason why we become
its substance, the “matter” of its works.
The novel and the film end with a conversation
containing a unique and artistically important creed. In
this case, the text of the novel is much more extensive
than the film version of the dialogue.
Martina says: “We will all remember this evening when
you have gone back to Paris, Babette”.
Babette said: “I am not going back to Paris”.
“You are not going back to Paris?” Martine ex­
claimed.
“No, ” said Babette. “What will I do in Paris? They have
all gone. I have lost them all, Mesdames”.
The sisters’ thoughts went to Monsieur Hersant and his
son, and they said: “Oh, my poor Babette”.
“Yes, they have all gone", said Babette. “The Duke of
Morny, the Duke of Decazes, Prince Narishkine, Generał
Galliffet, Aurelien Scholl, Paul Daru, the Princes Pauline!
All! “ .
The strange names and titles of people lost to Ba­
bette faintly confused the two ladies, but there was such
an infinite perspective of tragedy in her announcement
28 1

that in their responsive state of mind they felt her losses
as their own, and their eyes filled with tears.
A t the end of another long silence Babette suddenly
smiled slightly at them and said: “And how would I go
back to Paris, Mesdames? I have no money”.
“No money?” the sisters cried as with one mouth.
“No” said Babette.
“But the ten thousand francs? The sisters asked in a hor­
rified gasp.
“The ten thousand francs have been spent, Mesdames”,
said Babette. [...]
The ladies still did not find a word to say. The piece of
news was incomprehensible to them, but then many things
tonight in one way or another had been beyond comprehen­
sion [...]
“Dear Babette”, she said softly, “you ought not to have
given away all you had for our sake”.
Babette gave her mistress a deep glance, a strange
glance. Was there not pity, even scorn, at the bottom
of it?
“For your sake?” she replied. “No. For my own”.
She rose from the chopping block and stood up be­
fore the two sisters.
“I am a great artist!” she said.
She waited a moment and then repeated: “I am a
great artist, Mesdames”.
Again for a long time there was deep silence in the
kitchen. Then Martine said: “So you will be poor now
all your life, Babette?
“Poor?” said Babette. She smiled as if to herself. “No.
I shall never be poor. I told you that I am a great artist. A
great artist, Mesdames, is never poor. We have something,
Mesdames, of which other people know nothing. [...]
“But all those people whom you had mentioned,” she
said, “those princes and great people of Paris whom you
named, Babette? You yourself fought against them. You
were a Communard! The general you named had your hus­
band and son short! How can you grieve over them?”
Babette’s dark eyes met Philippa’s. “Yes", she said, "I
was a Communard. [...] And those people I named, Mes­
dames, were evil and cruel [...] But all the same, Mesdames,
I shall not go back to Paris, now that those people of whom I
have spoken are no longer there". [...] “You see, Mesdames
[... ] those people belonged to me, they were mine. They had
been brought up and trained, with greater expense than you,
my little ladies, could ever imagine or believe, to understand
what a great artist I am. I could make them happy. When
I did my very best I could make them perfectly happy”. [...]
“It was like that with Monsieur Papin too" [...] “He told
me so himself: ‘It is terrible and unbearable to an artist, ’ he
said, ‘to be encouraged to do, to be applauded for doing, his
second best’. He said: ‘Through all the world there goes one
long cry from the heart of the artist: Give me leave to do my
utmost!”.
June-November 1992

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                <text>Lud, vol. 79, 1995

OLGA GOLDBERG-MULKIEWICZ
Hebrew University
Jerusalem

REFLECTIONS

THE WORLD THAT CEASED TO EXIST.
ON THE STUDY OF CULTURE OF POLISH

JEWS

Studying a culture that an anthropologist has not had a direct contact with
is not a new phenomenon in our discipline. Already during World War II,
a seminar of Ruth Benedict inspired papers whose authors were drawing from
other, non-traditional sources, looking for materials that would replace a field
interview or observation (Mead, Matraux, 1953). The papers written in the
seminar concerned "inaccessible" cultures; the reasons why anthropologists
were not able to conduct their research in situ, i.e. among the people they were
interested, were of a political nature. The time of war created a specific
situation; on the one hand, it was difficult to cross the border, but on the other,
there was a need to acquire knowledge about societies that were either on the
enemy's side or that were conquered. Because of the post-war division of the
world, the methods applied in anthropological studies conducted at a distance
were for some time still continued and improved, despite repeated criticism
of the very essence of such studies and their purposes, and despite many
objections concerning the employed methodology.
In time, the methods developed in that period became outdated, and studies
conducted at a distance were discontinued. Nonetheless, it should be emphasized that they provided grounds for a discussion about the possibilities of
carrying out anthropological studies on cultures that ceased to exist at all as
a result of a disaster caused by the war. This refers also to the possibility of
studying the culture of Eastern European Jews.
The aftermath of the total extermination of Jewish people in the territory
of Eastern Europe during World War II was not only that the people were
killed, but also that to a large degree the material culture and the art that
represented that culture vanished too. The task that the anthropologists
interested in traditional Jewish culture had to face involved the development of
methods which would permit reconstruction of what had been destroyed
during the war. The task was the more difficult that in the period preceding
the Holocaust, studies on traditional Jewish culture had only just begun

�232
(Weinreich, 1959) l. The first thing to do was then to start an intensive search
for all kinds of materials scattered outside the Jewish ethnographic literature
on that subject (Goldberg-Mulkiewicz,
1988). Particular authors to a large
extent relied on fiction in Yiddish which possessed a fair share of authenticity.
The ethnographic photo archives were extended, and their goal was not only
to collect old photo albums and family pictures, but also to copy the already
published photographs that were of value for the ethnologist2. A campaign
for the search for preserved works of art and culture was also organized, and
is still continued by museums. Recently, a campaign for documenting the
artifacts related to traditional Jewish art has been launched 3. There is no
doubt, however, that of all those sources of information about the traditional
Jewish community the most essential is direct contact with respondents,
and - if possible - with the area previously populated by the community. It
should be emphasized that the Jewish community was closely linked with its
traditional place of living. Such links, strengthened by many historical and
religious reasons, on the one hand united the Jewish community, but on the
other, separated it from the non-Jewish neighbors. In Eastern Europe, and
primarily in Poland, all these processes led to the formation of a specific
provincial Jewish culture whose model has been classified as a characteristic
cultural unit among other traditional territorial groups. Hence, by using the
commonly accepted name shtetl, we mean not so much a geographical area,
a definite place, an Eastern European town, as it may be suggested by
a literal translation of the word, but rather a Jewish community that lived
there4, a community of a specific structure, governed by its own, strictly
defined laws which, on the one hand, resulted from particular historical
processes, but on the other, remained subject to the commandments of Jewish
religion.
A standard approach often taken by scholars interested in the Jewish
town - which actually still seems valid - involves referring to the memory of
those who survived the Holocaust. Such an approach, however, often faces
many of obstacles that the contemporaries are not always aware of.
l The publications
which I am quoting in the present paper are certainly not lhe only ones
pertaining to the problematic. I believe, however, that they are lhe most characteristic or contain
the most interesting data.
l The
largest one is in New York in the YIWO.
3 The center of Jewish documentation
of traditional art founded at Hebrew University in
Jerusalem has in its archives descriptions and photographs of individual artefacts of all the Jewish
groups of the diaspora and Israel, including Poland.
4 The term shtetl that
I am using here in reference to the Jewish town does not imply that
I exclude the existence on the same territory of a Polish population next to the Jewish one. Still,
such an approach is justified by the homogeneity of the Jewish community and separate laws lhal
governed it.

�233
Because of the tragedy of war only a few Jews from Eastern Europe have
survived. Those who came back to their homeland for a longer period of time
are exceptional, and we know only of few cases of Jews who decided to stay in
the same town in which, they had lived before. There are many, mainly
psychological, reasons for the above, which definitely reaches beyond the scope
of this paper. The research on the residual traditional Jewish communities in
Poland provides data about the mobility of Jews in the postwar period or
about the development of new local groups in which, however, one should not
look for traces of continuation of the tradition from before the war 5.
A large Jewish diaspora originating from the area of our interest to which
the anthropologist automatically refers does not constitute a group of uniform
cultural features - as it is assumed by most contemporary researches. On the
contrary, this community is highly differentiated, and the differences are of
various nature. It is very difficult to establish features that would unmistakably
identify those differences; nevertheless, I will try to indicate the aspects which
should not be neglected, especially since some of them are very helpful in
evaluating the material presently obtained from respondents.
For the contemporary researches, a crucial issue is the time when his or her
respondent left the area of our interest. Apart from such an obvious factor as
the age at which he or she left, it is also necessary to identify and take into
account the causes of displacement. Ideological reasons and involvement in
the Zionist movement highly contributed to a more objective opinion about
the Jewish population that stayed in Poland and its living conditions.
Departure caused by the growing anti-Semitism or by hunger left wounds that
were hard to heal and thus tinted the relations with subjectivism. The postwar
emigration - in particular its later waves of 1956 and 1968 - mostly
encompassed people engaged in the life of Polish society who only reluctantly
recollect the period under investigation. The problem of objectivism or of the
most often encountered idealization of the memories of one's youth, either
conscious or even unconscious selection of these memories (Goldberg-Mulkiewicz, 1991), will be left outside the scope of the present paper.
To properly define the research problematic and, as a consequence, to
obtain valid results, it is also important to take into account the place of
settlement of the contemporary respondent. For the most part, Jews that live in
the countries of diaspora, in particular in the United States or in South
America, observe the tradition inherited from their countries of origin 6 and in
5 This was proved by the field studies performed among the Jewish population
belonging
a local religious group in Łódź. M ost of its members settled down in this town after the war, yet
majority of them eame from the area that now is outside Poland.
ó Here we should
be very careful and distinguish the studies on the transformation
traditional provincial culture in groups of the diaspora from those which aim at reproduction
the traditions observed in the town.

to
the
of
of

�234
the first place, from the town they or their parents left behind. The communities
living in Israel are engaged in this kind of activity to a much lesser extent. The
reasons for rather ambivalent attitudes of the inhabitants of Israel to their past
in the diaspora should be sought in their involvement in the problems of the
state. Besides, already in the interwar period the Zionist emigration consciously
reduced its ties with the country of origin, thus obeying one of the fundamental
laws of its ideology which advocated breaking with the tradition, developing
a new society, and building up a new country based on new and completely
different laws. Such an approach to the past was continued in the period of
formation and development of the state of Israel, which favored the unification
of its inhabitants coming from many different parts of the world. The basic goal
of many compatriots from Eastern European towns who were very active in
Israel was to save Jewish communes from oblivion. This has been manifested
first of all by publishing a book commemorating the past life in Europe
(Goldberg-Mulkiewicz,
1991) and by organizing an event on the occasion of
any anniversary of the extermination of a particular community to commemorate those who were killed. The main concern of the compatriots is to
strengthen the ties among the former inhabitants of the town that presently live
on different continents and to pass down to the children and grandchildren the
memory of the native shtetl. However, most descendants are not interested in
studying their family past 7.
Taking into account the stratification of Jewish communities, we should
look for the traces of life in diaspora among the strata closer to tradition,
i.e. primarily among the orthodox Jews. They cultivate knowledge of the
language of diaspora, which is Yiddish, respect the traditional intragroup social
strafification, wear the old clothing of Polish Jews and observe some elements
of rituals brought from Eastern Europe. Without any doubt then it can be
claimed that the Hasidic groups, both in Israel and in other countries of
diaspora, continue some of the shtetl traditions contained in many aspects of
their culture. Still, we must remember that such Jews form self-contained
communities conforming to only one tradition, that of a definite Hasidic court,
which displaces other, no less important and sometimes even richer, components of the shtetl culture. If we rely on the Hasidic tradition only, we will
make an often committed mistake and overemphasize the importance of the
contribution
of the Hasidim to the global picture of life in the shtetl
community. It should be stressed that the popular image of a town inhabited
7 Evidence in support of a lack of close interest in the former town includes the fact that, when
asked about the place of origin of their parents, contemporary young people can often supply the
name of the town, yet in most cases they are not aware where it actually was or is, whether it was
big or small, etc. Only the recently started school trips of Israeli students to Poland have somewhat
strengthened their ties with the place of origin of their parents.

�235
exclusively by the Hasidim is simply wrong; in most cases it is based either on
postwar literature or on mass media which in this way try to reconstruct the
world of Polish Jews that perished. Undoubtedly, the Hasidic groups constituted the most distinct and colourful social communities, and as such they
remained in the memory of their former neighbors, yet they were not the only
inhabitants of a Jewish shtetl.
By referring to the memory of our informers we force them to reconstruct
the world of their childhood and youth. As regards the settled society or
immigrant groups that were for many reasons displaced some time ago, this
reconstruction seems to be a relatively easy task. However, studying the Jewish
community, we deal with a different problem. In this case, the recollection of
the world of youth implies both the resurrection and extermination of this
world, which is why it is not always possible. Right after the war many
anthropologists had to give up their studies among the Jewish immigrants
because the respondents were not able to recollect the world that had ceased
to exist. Reluctance to remember the tragic past has been encountered by
anthropologists even to the present.
Studying a culture that perished in reality, but exists in the memory
inevitably imposes some restrictions on the topic under consideration. We
must be aware of the impossibility of obtaining some data, of the deformations
resulting from an ordinary process of idealization of one's past, of the stereotypization of the Eastern European Jewish tradition, and of the assumption by
the respondents of the structural model of the Jewish town that was commonly
accepted by fiction (Miron, 1981; Weissenberg, 1930), mass media or some
anthropological studies (Zborowski, Herzog, 1953). A scholar should not
ignore a frequently occurring phenomenon of subjection of the respondents to
the influence of other traditional societies, which blurs the recollected picture of
their hometown. Under the influence of their new societies the respondents
tend to submit their own recollections to those derived from the stories of their
present neighbors who in the past lived in a completely different region of
Poland, yet now at the new place along with the respondent form a group of
former residents of Eastern Europe.
Another factor that should be taken into account in a attempt to base our
studies on a model most closely related to the Eastern European Jewish town,
is that we also are subject to the process of mythologization. As we know,
myths differ and they do not have to be complementary. The most common
myth refers to the supposed dominance of Hasidic culture and its overwhelming influence on all walks of life in a shtetl. The Hasidic culture as the most
colourful feature of the Jewish community that destinguished it most visibly
from the neighbors has been most perspicuously preserved - as it was already
mentioned - in the memory of non-Jews. A considerable charge of mysticism,
so characteristic
of the Hasidim, created in the Jewish tradition

�236
a unique picture of the Hasidic community. A direct consequence of the above
has been the myth of shtetl living in a state of ideal harmony, in accordance
with the law of the Hasidic tradition fixed in Jewish fiction and in other arts
such as film or theater. Beside this myth, there is also another one, widely
known from literature (Weissenberg, 1930), which shows the poverty of
a Jewish town and its hopeless life devoid of any prospects as well as the
necessity to rebel against such a situation 8. The third myth concerns the
picture of a town created by Księgi pamięci [Books of Memory] (Goldberg-Mulkiewicz, 1991) which overemphasizes the significance of the activity of
cultural and social organizations, in particular of youth groups cultivating the
ideology of Zionism.
Defying the commonly accepted mythologization of the traditional shtetl
and recognizing the need to collect materials from the respondents as quickly
as possible, a few years after the war studies on the atlas of Jewish culture and
language in Eastern Eurpe were launched; they were considered the most
important and also the most possible kind of studies to carry out (Weinreich,
1960). That implied a shift of focus from a local Jewish community to
a considerably larger group, including the core of the Ashkenazi Jewry as
a whole9.
The organizers of these studies, primarily conducted in the United States,
relied on a valid assumption that the language of immigrants remained the
most resistant to all kinds of influences that memory cannot resist. The results
of these studies have significantly extended the scope of knowledge about the
Jewish community in general. First of all, the studies provided grounds for
finding out and presenting on maps not only the difference in the dialects of
Yiddish, but also for formulating conclusions about regional differentiation of
particular cultural phenomena as well as about family and annual rituals and
traditional folk culture. Moreover, the results of the studies allowed the
formulation of a hypothesis suggesting a new division of the Yiddish society
into regional groups. They proved that the areas populated by Jews did not
overlap with the boundaries that marked cultural differences among the
non-Jewish inhabitants of the same area (Weinreich, 1962). It is regrettable that
contemporary anthropologists very rarely use in their studies the data from
this atlas, which are essential in research on larger areas. However, even
dealing with territories of a smaller geographical range, we should not forget
that the regional boundaries were often disturbed by the high mobility of the
Hasidic communities. The Hasidim visiting the courts of their saintly rabbis
which were sometimes very distant from one another met there inhabitants of
8 The conviction about common poverty of the Jewish masses in Poland before World War II
has been lingering on till today in many countries of the diaspora.
9 In time the studies have been expanded to include also the Askhenazi Jewry living in Europe.

�237
other, often equally remote regions. From their gatherings, especially those
related to holidays, they brought to their hometowns traditions celebrated in
the courts of the rabbis along with elements of culture borrowed from their
coreligionists from other parts of the country. This was manifested by
popularization
of traditional music of other regions, tales and legends
constituting oral folklore, and the acceptance of individual components of
different rituals or elements of traditional clothing, particularly of men.
Another field that was relatively slightly affected by outside influence and
cultural transitions was oral folklore. This has been corroborated by the results
of numerous studies conducted mainly by Jewish folklore scholars in Israel and
in all countries of the diaspora. The folklore of Eastern European Jewry has
been the subject of many papers and publications based on the preserved
material. The aforementioned difficulties may ais o be encountered in other
fields of research. For reasons already discussed, they become particularly
significant when studies are conducted in Poland. Actually, the possibilities for
studying the culture of Polish Jews are limited to just a few areas of research.
ln thc first place, it has been possible to study the stereotype of a Jew in the
culture of Polish peasants. Research on this subject is mainly based on direct
field studies, nowadays conducted among the non-Jewish population (Cała,
1987) or on available sources that were not yet processed by ethnologists.
(Goldberg-Mulkiewicz,
1980; Jastrzębski, 1989). We should, however, constantly keep in mind what is unfortunately not always respected in many
publications, that contemporary studies, and particularly field studies, are
implicated in the general conditions governing the process of stereotype
formation. Apart from the problem of emotional involvement of the anthropologists in the evaluation of material, scholars should not forget about the
many different factors that affect the process of stereotype development in
general, and in particular the stereotype of a Jew in Poland (Irwin-Zarecka,
1988).
Material-based studies whose authors aim at thorough examination of
specific problems of material culture or artistic handicraft have to draw from
former ethnographic publications, the already existing museum collections
(Frankel, 1975; Goldberg-Mulkiewicz, 1976) or from published or unpublished
field materials collected for other reasons, which contain interesting data
relevant to the conducted study (Goldberg-Mulkiewicz,
1983).
The centuries-long coexistence of the Polish and Jewish culture on the same
territory created conditions conducive to mutual borrowings. The first to show
interest in this problematic were folklore specialists on Polish and Polish-Ukrainian cultures (Franko, 1892) l o as well as on Jewish culture (Sadan,
la I do not think it is necessary to quote the all extensive literature
I consider I. Franko's work as the most representative in this respect.

on that subject, as

�238
1980) 11. Later anthropologists extended their interests to include rituals and
folk art (Fryś-Pietraszkowa, 1989; Goldberg-Mulkiewicz, 1989). Nonetheless, it
seems to me that mutual borrowings have not yet been fully explored.
Enriching our knowledge with more data will undoubtedly contribute to
a better understanding of many aspects of both cultures 12.
H is really surprising how few objects of the traditional Jewish culture have
been preserved. The limits of this article do not permit consideration of the
reasons for this phenomenon, yet we must be aware that the material basis that
a contemporary ethnographer has at his or her disposal is very scarce13. Quite
often the museum or private collections that ethnographers may use lack the
most fundamental documentation concerning the function of a given object, its
provenance, and the name of the maker and owner. One should also remember
that such objects were frequently moved from place to place, even at the time
when they still functioned in the Jewish culture. They often travelled even
outside the country where they were made, which was the case of elements of
the dowry or components of synagogue furnishing and decoration, often
ordered in faraway places. Most often even the prewar collections do not have
appropriate documentation. Coming after the war across a Jewish cult object
in a local antique shop did not necessarily have to imply that it came from the
local area.
The only valid exceptions are cemeteries and the remaining synagogues
bearing the traces of the original decoration or houses that are used for ritual
purposes or in which Jews dwelled in the past. That group of objects, however,
is predominantly the subject of interest of art historians. Particularly rich are
the collections of tombstones found in Jewish cemeteries which are now being
taken care of by restorers or individual museums. The preserved inscriptions
and bas-reliefs decorating the tombstones, which are often of great artistic
value, may provide a significant amount of information. Unfortunately, the
research in this field has practically just begun and thus far has not reached
beyond the initial stage of documentation.
The popularization
of basic
meanings of Jewish symbols related to the tombs undoubtedly fosters interest
in Jewish culture in general, which does not, however, equal a systematic study
of this culture.
11 The arlicle was writlen and published earlier in Hebrew, but I am quoting from its English
version. It is not the only article of this author who in all his works expressed much interest in the
problem of the Polish-Ukrainian·Jewish
cultural frontier.
12 This problem
has been thoroughly and in an interesting way covered by Eugenia
Prokop-Janiec (1992) who, in the basis of the Polish-Jewish literature produced between the world
wars, showed the richness of the problematic involved in the study of the cultural frontier.
13 The reasons for this state of affairs were discussed in my paper devoted to the beginning of
the studies on the ethnography of Polish Jews and to the Jewish problematic in studies writlen in
Polish (Goldberg-Mulkiewicz,
1986).

�239
In conclusion, we must agree with an assumption that the study of the
traditional culture of Polish Jews is possible, yet it requires both thorough
preparation and the compliance of the anthropologist with limitations that
cannot be surmounted.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cała Alina
1987

Wizerunek

Culture],

Żyda

w polskiej

Uniwersytet

kulturze

ludowej

Warszawski,

Instytut

[The Image of a Jew in Polish Folk
Socjologii, Warszawa.

Franko Ivan
1892; 1893 Wojna żydowska, przyczynek
do studiów nad literaturą
ludową [The Jewish War.
A Contribution to the Studyon
Folk Literature], "Wisła" vol. 6, 7.
Frankel Giza
1975

Little-known

Handicrafts

of Polish

Jews

in the Nineteenth

and Twelltieth

Centuries,

"Jewish Art" vol. 2.
Fryś-Pietraszkowa
Ewa
1989

Udzial

żydowskich
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wsi [Contribution
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to the Village's Culture], "Polska Sztuka Ludowa" 43, fasc. 1 - 2.

rzemidlników

Handicraftsmen
Goldberg-M ulkiewicz Olga
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Jewish

Folk

Folklore
1980
1983
1988
1989

Art

and

Craft:

Textile

Printers

in Eastern

Europe,

"International

Review" vol. 2.

[A Figure of the Jew in Polish Folk
35, fasc. 3 - 4.
The Stereotype
of the Jew in Polish Folklore, in: Studies in Aggadah and Jewish
Folklore, cd. I. Ben-Ami, J. Dan, The Magnes Press, Jerusalem.
Problematyka
żydowska
w etnografii
polskiej [The Jewish Problematic in Polish
Ethnography, "Lud" vol. n.
Postać

ŻYlia

w

polskiej

Sculpture],

"Polska

Przenikanie

elemelItów

rzeźbie

ludowej

Sztuka Ludowa"

twórczości

ludowej

między

spolecznością

polską

a żydowską

[Penetration of the Elements of Folk Art between the Polish and Jewish Community], "Polska Sztuka Ludowa" 43, fasc. 1- 2.
1991
Księga pamięci a mit żydowskiego
miasteczka [The Book of Memory and the Myth of
a 1cwish Town], "Etnografia Polska" vol. 35, fasc. 2.
Irwin-Zarecka Iwona
1989
Neutralizing
Memory.
The Jew in Contemporary
Poland, Transaction Publishers,
New Brunswick and Oxford.
Jastrzębski Jerzy
1989
Żyd jako "obcy" ijako "swój" w kulturze wsi polskiej XIX wieku [The lew as "One of
Us" and as "One of Them" in the Culture of a 19th C. Polish Village], "Literatura
Ludowa" 33, fasc. 4 - 6.
Mead Margaret. Metraux Rhod
1953
The Study of a Culture at a Distance, The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
Miron Dan
1981
Der image frm sztetl, I. L. Perec Verlag, Tel-Aviv.
Prokop-Janice Eugenia
1992
Międzywojenna
literatura polsko-żydowska
[The Polish-Jewish Literature between
the World Wars], Universitas, Kraków.

�240
Sadan Dov
1980

Plica Polonica", in: The Field of Yiddish, cd. M. I. Herzog, B. Kirsehenblatt-Gimblett,
D. Miron, R. Wisse Institute for the Study of Human Issues,
Philadelphia.
Weinreich Uriel; Wienreich Beatrice
Yiddish Language
and Folklore, "Janua Linguarum" vol. 10.
1959
Wienreich Uriel
Wegen a naje.~ jidiszen szprach un kullur-atlas,
"Di Goldene Kejt" vol. 37.
1960
1962
Culture Geography
at a Distance: Some Prohlems in the Study (if East European
Jewry. Proceedings (if 1962 Annual Spring Meeting in American Ethnological Society,
27 - 29, Seattle.
Weissenberg Icchak Meir
1930
A Shtetl, Emes Verlag, Moskva.
Zborowski Marek, Herzog Elizabeth
1952
Life is with People - the Culture of the Shtell, International Universities Press Inc.
"Koltn;

Translated

by Elżhieta

Wilczyńska

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                <text>TIULOWE

CZEPCE

KURPIOWSKIE'

MARIA
Częścią składową' dawnego s t r o j u kobiet-mężatek n a terenie k u r p i o w s k i e j Puszczy Białej był
czepiec t i u l o w y , z w a n y tutaj — c y p e k z t u ­
l i к u . F o r m y czepca, t a k j a k i cały strój, prze­
chodziły k i l k a k r o t n i e ewolucję. Znane m i są t y l ­
ko d w a j e j p r z e j a w y : c y p e k
kurpiecki
z k a c u r e m (tak go n a z y w a n o w części
O t r o w s k i e j P u s z c z y ) ) , l u b inaczej z w a n y c y ­
pek
kurpiecki
ze
skrzydłami
lub
o g o n e m (nazwa s p o t y k a n a częściej w g r u p i e
Pułtuskiej). T e n t y p noszony był jeszcze p r z y
końcu X I X w i e k u . D r u g i t y p — to t a k z w a n y
c y p e k ś l a c h e c k i , noszony w p i e r w s z y m
i częściowo d r u g i m dziesiątku X X w i e k u .
Czepek otrzymywała k o b i e t a w czasie obrzędu
oczepin i przechowywała go najczęściej «na
2

t

44

ŻYWIRSKA

śmierć», gdyż był najstaranniej w y k o n a n y i moż­
l i w i e bogato zdobiony.
Celem tego artykułu jest omówienie j e d y n i e
haftu czepka. D l a zrozumienia j e d n a k założeń
twórczych h a f c i a r k i m u s i m y zapoznać się z jego
k r o j e m i sposobem noszenia. Haft, b o w i e m , po­
myślany t u był, j a k o nieodłączna część składowa
s t r o j u g ł o w y i t y m się tłumaczy t a k i e , a n i e inne
rozłożenie go na płaszczyźnie czepka.
K u r p i e c k i c y p e k z k a c u r e m (czasem
mówią z k a c o r e m ) ) , w y k o n a n y był z dwóch
części: głowy z gładkiego t i u l u suto wokoło mar­
szczonej, p r z y b r a n e j koronkową,
tryfioną
f г у s к ą i haftowanego k a c u r a , c z y l i skrzydeł,
obszytego także koronką t y p u V a l e n c i e n n e .
Miejsce połączenia głowy z k a c u r e m podszywano
3

la

�jednocentymetrową listwą płócienną przez którą
p r z e w l e k a n o sznurek, aby czepek można było
m o c n o zawiązać n a głowie. Podobną t y l k o szer­
szą listwą p o d s z y t y był brzeg czepka ułożony

wraz z koronkową t r y s k a w równe k a r b y .
typ czepka zakrywał szczelnie całą głowę
dając głęboko na czoło, zaś k a c u r był luźno
szczony na ramiona. N a czepek zawiązywano

Ten
opa­
opu­
zło-

45
I

�żoną «па г о д » (ukośnie) wełnianą chustkę — s a1 i n ó w к ą ) zakrywając całą głowę t a k , że w i ­
doczna była j e d y n i e f r y s k a z t r y f i o n e j k o r o n k i
i kacur. Końce c h u s t k i zaś związywano wokoło
głowy tworząc rodzaj z a w o j u .
Cypek
ś l a c h e c k i — to romboidalny ka­
wałek t i u l u obejmujący głowę, z l e k k a zmar­
szczony, obszyty ze w s z y s t k i c h stron.fryską z t u l i k u , zakończony szerokimi s i a r f a m i . Z a k r y ­
wał o n j e d y n i e czubek głowy i tworzył jedną
dekoracyjną całość z h a f t o w a n y m i siarfami, za­
wiązanymi p o d brodą w sztywną rozłożystą k o ­
kardę. Dlatego też haft pokrywał cały czepek
z wyjątkiem t y c h części siarfy, które zawiązywa4

�ne p o d brodą u k r y t e były w węźle. Siarfy ob­
szyte były również koronką. Czepki te można
było nabyć w p o b l i s k i m miasteczku, w d n i j a r ­
marczne. Piętno i n d y w i d u a l n e nadawał i m do­
piero haft w y k o n a n y własnoręcznie przez k o ­
b i e t y puszczańskie. G d y czepek był u s z y t y i ob­
rzeżony koronką, w t e d y dopiero p o k r y w a n o go
haftem, w końcu prano, k r o c h m a l o n o i oddawano
do t г у f i e n i a.
T r y f i e n i e m n a z y w a n o równe, niezmiernie sta­
ranne ułożenie f r y s k i w s z t y w n e k a r b y . Pracę tę
umiały wykonywać j e d y n i e specjalistki, których
było zaledwie k i l k a w danej p a r a f i i l u b w są­
siednim miasteczku. A b y utryfić fryskę сурка

�z k a c u r e m maczano ją w gęstym k r o c h m a l u i za­
szywano w j e j drobne fałdki kawałki gładkiej,
bagiennej t r z c i n y j e d n a k o w e j wielkości, nacią­
gając mocno mokrą jeszcze koronkę. Po w y ­
schnięciu w y p r u w a n o t r z c i n k i i u z y s k i w a n o
w t e n sposób równe k a r b y . C y p e k ślachecki t r y fiono ślacheckimi r u r k a m i do włosów.
Mając teraz obraz kobiecej głowy w każdym t y ­
pie czepka, możemy wyśledzić główne założenie
twórcze h a f c i a r k i . Haft w y k o n y w a n y był « w e
wzór z pamięci*—jak mówiła W i k t o r i a Szczepa­
n i k z O b r y t e g o , pokazując swój czepek h a f t o w a n y
przez nią około 1890 r. W y k o n y w a n y był białą
bawełną, której grubość w a r u n k o w a n a była gę­
stością t i u l u . Początek n i t k i i j e j zakończenie t a k
zręcznie były u k r y t e w r y s u n k u haftu, że bada­
jąc avers i revers czepka, t r u d n o jest go znaleźć.
Bogactwo haftu i j e g o przedziwną finezję uzy­
s k i w a n o j e d n y m t y l k o t y p e m ściegu: zwykłym
p r z e w l e k a n i e m n i t k i przez poszczególne oczka
t i u l u . Siedząc dokładnie d u k t n i t k i w i d z i m y sub­
telną intuicję artystyczną h a f c i a r k i , która n i e
przerywając n i t k i r y s u j e nią samodzielnie m o ­
t y w y i w y k o r z y s t u j e j e j ciągłość d l a swoich za­
łożeń twórczych. Ta właśnie ciągłość d u k t u n i t k i
dodaje lekkości całej k o m p o z y c j i .
Elementów h a f c i a r s k i c h jest także
niewiele.
Przede w s z y s t k i m z y g z a k : prawidłowa l i n i a
łamana, w i a t r a k , g w i a z d k a złożona z k i l ­
k u dośrodkowych obwodów, k w i a t e k i o c k o .
Urozmaicenie zygzaka z w i e l o k r o t n i e n i e m l i n i i
położonych obok siebie i tworzących różnej sze­
rokości płaszczyzny, poza t y m różnorodność p r o ­
p o r c j i o d c i n k a zygzaka pozwalały uzyskać w i e l ­
k i e możliwości d e k o r a c y j n e w hafcie począwszy

48

�o d l i n i i ostrych, wydłużonych, j a k g o t y c k i e
iglice oraz rózeg (środkowa część kacura), koń­
cząc zaś na miękkich, p r a w i e okrągłych k r z y ­
w i z n a c h r a m i o n w i a t r a c z k a czy l i s t k a . T a szeroka
rozpiętość p r o p o r c j i wzbogacała t a k samo możli­
wości hafciarskie każdego elementu, s k w a p l i w i e
w y k o r z y s t y w a n e przez h a f c i a r k i . W r e s z c i e różnokierunkowość l i n i i , uzyskana dzięki gęstości
t i u l u , powiększała możliwości
kompozycyjne.
N a w e t p r z y r y s o w a n i u płaszczyzn trójkątnych,
prostokątnych, a nawet wielokątnych dążących
do o w a l u czy koła, h a f c i a r k a posługiwała się l i ­
nią łamaną, położoną b l i s k o , jedna obok d r u ­
giej — używając t y l k o wyjątkowo l i n i i zamknię­
t y c h , n p . rysując ocko. N a j l e p i e j da się to w y ­
śledzić na płaszczyźnie listków k w i a t k a , czy peł­
n y c h trójkątach gwiazdy.
Jak już poprzednio zaznaczyłam, w czepku z k a curem haft pokrywał j e d y n i e kacur. Najbogaciej
występował w częściach bocznych ubożejąc k u
środkowi, który wypadał na t y l e głowy. Zaraz za
koronką obiegającą k a c u r szedł ś 1 a k . Resztę
płaszczyzny k a c u r a po w y k o n a n i u ślaku, dzieliła
hafciarka przez złożenie na d w i e równe części
i w t e d y każdą połowę rozdzielała l i n i a m i piono­
w y m i na nierównej wielkości pola (biorąc p r z y
t y m p o d uwagę szwy łączące kawałki t i u l u ) p r z y
czym pola boczne — n a z w i j m y j e przybrzeżny­
m i — były największe i najbogaciej zakompono­
wane. Oddzielał j e od następnego pola p i o n o w y
pas, będący sam w sobie zamkniętą kompozycją,
n i e k i e d y dość skomplikowaną, n p . w czepkach
3 i 4. Rzadziej s p o t y k a n y był d r u g i t y p , gdzie na­
stępne pola miały także odrębną, choć dużo
uboższą ornamentykę. W o b u w y p a d k a c h jest
j e d n a k wyraźna tendencja do zrównoważenia
części przybrzeżnych ze środkowymi, a t y m sa­
m y m u t r z y m a n i e równowagi w całości układu
kompozycyjnego
przez odpowiednie
rozmiesz­
czenie motywów. Rozplanowanie h a f t u n a całym
kacurze przeprowadzała h a f c i a r k a po w y k o n a n i u
szlaku biegnącego równolegle do k o r o n k i . W y ­
stępuje w n i m u l u b i o n y m o t y w hafciarek t o jest
szereg rombów, u z y s k a n y c h przez d w i e l i n i e ła­
mane, występujący w k i l k u n a s t u w a r i a n t a c h .
W szlaku t y m n a t r a f i a m y n a interesujący proces
t r u d n o u c h w y t n y w twórczości l u d o w e j , a bę­
dący często tematem gorących d y s k u s j i wśród
badaczy s z t u k i l u d o w e j : adaptacji w y t w o r ó w fa­
b r y c z n y c h — m i e j s k i c h i włączenia występują­
c y c h w n i c h motywów do zespołów k o m p o z y c y j ­
n y c h o charakterze l u d o w y m . W czepkach k u r ­
p i o w s k i c h m a m y tego w y m o w n e przykłady. N a j ­
wyraźniej występuje t o zjawisko w czepkach re­
p r o d u k o w a n y c h na r y c . 2 i 6. D w a szeregi l i n i i
łamanej — zygzaka i tworzącej r o m b y , są niewąt­
p l i w i e świadomym naśladownictwem tego sa­
mego m o t y w u występującego w koronce. Z j e d -

I

�10

nej s t r o n y wiąże t o koronkę z czepkiem w orga­
niczną całość dekoracyjną, z d r u g i e j s t r o n y w i ­
dzimy, j a k samodzielnie i niezależnie t e n m o t y w
został przez narciarkę z i n t e r p r e t o w a n y . Przede
w s z y s t k i m p o w i e r z c h n i a r o m b u została znacznie
powiększona, a co za t y m idzie — musiałaby po­
wstać dużo grubsza l i n i a boków. Tymczasem haf­
c i a r k a rozbijając j e na d w i e lub t r z y cienkie l i ­
nie i dając na n i c h z w a r t y szereg krótkich l i n i i
prostopadłych zyskuje równowagę, a zarazem
lekkość odpowiadającą t i u l o w i .
I n n y przykład k o r e l a c j i szlaku z koronką w i d z i ­
m y w czepku n a r y c . 3. Chcąc związać szlak z m o ­
t y w e m k o r o n k i h a f c i a r k a dodała u dołu miękką
linię falistą, która jest głównym m o t y w e m w y ­
stępującym w k o r o n c e . Ponieważ w części pio­
n o w e j szlaku, w s k u t e k gęstości rombów l i n i a
ta zatarłaby czystość r y s u n k u , h a f c i a r k a posunęła
się aż d o zerwania z ciągłością m o t y w u n a k o ­
rzyść przejrzystej h a r m o n i i k o m p o z y c j i i dała sa­
modzielną, drobną linię falistą n i e m a l identyczną,
j a k w zakończeniu fabrycznej k o r o n k i . T a po­
zorna niedokładność pozwoliła j e j szczęśliwie n i e
naruszyć głównego k o m p o z y c y j n e g o
założenia.
Zupełnie podobne rozwiązanie występuje bardzo
d o b i t n i e w czepku ślacheckim (ryc. 9a). Siarfa
czepka obszyta jest inną koronką niż część głów­
na. W k o r o n c e siarfy m a m y j a k o m o t y w główny,

50

10a

rodzaj rozłożystego liścia paproci. T a k i liść r y ­
suje h a f c i a r k a n a d główną gwiazdą, j e d n a k znów
linią podwójną dla u z y s k a n i a lekkości. Dalsza
część siarfy obszyta jest koronką w m o t y w r o m ­
b o i d a l n y , który m a m y — j a k o m o t y w główny —
w k i l k u i n t e r p u n k c j a c h na zasadniczej części
czepka. Wreszcie małe p a n t e 1 к i obiegające
siarfy czepka (ryc. 10) znajdują swój o d p o w i e d n i k
w drobnej l i n i i falistej, zamykającej
obwód
mniejszej gwiazdy, a powtórzonej w gwieździe
większej. Podane przykłady stanowią przyczy­
nek do wyjaśnienia p r o b l e m u naśladownictwa
i zależności.
Wróćmy j e d n a k do haftu. Po w y k o n a n i u szlaku
hafciafka przystępuje do dalszej pracy. J a k już po­
przednio wspomniałam, główna część k o m p o z y c j i
zdobiącej czepek ma założenie p i o n o w e . Wystę­
puje t o n i e t y l k o p r z y podziale całej płaszczyzny
k a c u r a na pola ornamentacyjne, ale jeszcze jest
podkreślone w układzie piórkowatych l i n i i w y ­
kańczających szlak. I t u t a j h a f c i a r k a w y z w a l a się
z szablonu w z o r u , aby osiągnąć cel główny: har­
monijną statykę k o m p o z y c j i . I n n y , b o w i e m , jest
układ piórkowatych l i n i i w p i o n o w e j
części
szlaku, i n n y w poziomej. W p i o n o w e j części są
one prostopadłe do boków r o m b u , tworząc p r z y
załamaniach о с к o, k i e d y w części
poziomej
cały czas u s t a w i o n e są p i o n o w o , podkreślając

�11

11a

w ten sposób przesunięcie p u n k t u ciężkości, j a k
g d y b y wyciągając skrzydła czepka k u dołowi.
Przyglądając się uważnie poszczególnym par­
t i o m szlaku w czepku (na r y c . 5) zauważymy, że
hafciarka nie t y l k o w t y m w y p a d k u nie trzyma
się n i e w o l n i c z o raz przyjętej k o n c e p c j i i z m i e n i a
ją w zależności o d swego głównego p l a n u : rów­
nomiernego rozłożenia motywów k o m p o z y c j i . To
samo da się powiedzieć o z y g z a k u wewnętrznym
drugiego szlaku z k w i a t k a m i oraz o układzie
i zwartości k r e s k i w części p i o n o w e j szlaku.
Przystępując do wypełnienia haftem części przy­
brzeżnej j a k o m o t y w p o d s t a w o w y brała haf­
c i a r k a gwiazdę. Zaznaczyła dla niej środek tak,
aby odstęp o d l i n i i bocznych był t a k i sam j a k od
podstawy. Haft zaczynała o d środka bądź ockiem,
bądź maleńkim w i a t r a c z k i e m . Następnie, licząc
dokładnie oczka t i u l u , rysowała przekątnie ra­
m i o n g w i a z d y l u b inne l i n i e k o n t u r o w e . N a n i c h
dopiero narastały dalsze elementy gwiazdy, d y k ­
t o w a n e n i e z a c h w i a n y m nakazem wewnętrznym
a r t y s t k i . Potem zamykała pole n a d gwiazdą j e d ­
n y m l u b d w o m a d w u r a m i e n n y m i , zróżnicowa­
n y m i z y g z a k a m i , p r z y c z y m zawsze d o l n y był
cięższy o d górnego. W końcu dopiero wypełniała
pozostałe, w o l n e przestrzenie m o t y w e m w i a ­
traczka, czy k w i a t k a . Z k o l e i przystępowała do
d r u g i e j p a r t i i zamykającej kompozycję przy­

brzeżną: s k o m p l i k o w a n e g o p i o n o w e g o szlaku.
Sam środek k a c u r a wykańczała symetryczną,
wiotką rózgą, narysowaną pojedynczą nitką.
Dzieliła je jedna, c i e n k a l i n i a . Wykończony i roz­
łożony k a c u r pozwoliłby n a m zobaczyć, j a k har­
m o n i j n i e powiązane ze sobą zostały poszczególne
części całej k o m p o z y c j i . Z chwilą wejścia w modę
czepków ś l a c h e c k i c h haft n a n i c h wygląda
j a k g d y b y wycięty z czepka z k a c u r e m i zastoso­
w a n y w n o w e j formie. W i d z i m y t o wyraźnie na
siarfach czepka r y c . 9. Szlak jest t a m asyme­
t r y c z n y m w y c i n k i e m części przybrzeżnej czepka
k u r p i e c k i e g o . (Być może, k o b i e t a puszczańska
rzeczywiście w t e n sposób zużytkowała d a w n y
czepek, t y m bardziej, że dalszy ciąg szarfy jest
d o s z t u k o w a n y i obszyty inną koronką). Jednak
i haft na głównej części czepka n i e jest zwią­
zany z j e j r o m b o i d a l n y m kształtem. Stanowi, j a k
gdyby
wycinek
z koronki
skomponowanej
w pasy — ś 1 а к i . Część środkowa, najszersza,
s t a n o w i oś s y m e t r i i . Następne pasy kończą z u ­
pełnie niespodziewanie, często także asymetry­
czne, poszczególne, luźne m o t y w y . T a k samo t r u ­
dno jest zrozumieć myśl h a f c i a r k i w zakończeniu
tej p a r t i i haftu asymetryczną gałązką.
Inaczej już i dużo prawidłowiej rozwiązana jest
k o m p o z y c j a czepka z r y c . 10. M o t y w na siarfie
s t a n o w i logicznie zamkniętą całość budowaną

51

I

�świadomie z uwzględnieniem zwężania się pola
zdobionego, czego w y r a z e m są t r z y malejące
g w i a z d y . Część główna, choć jeszcze złożona
z wycinków pasów, jest w zwężających się r o ­
gach zakończona s a m o d z i e l n y m m o t y w e m k w i a t ­
k a w wazonie i wreszcie w i a t r a c z k a .
Najdokładniej j e d n a k możemy zaobserwować
uniezależnienie się o d d a w n y c h k o n c e p c j i k o m ­
p o z y c y j n y c h z czepka z k a c u r e m na czepku ślac h e c k i m z r y c i n y 11. T u , n i e t y l k o m o t y w na siarfie t w o r z y zamkniętą całość, zrośniętą z kształ­
tem płaszczyzny, ale i na części głównej j e d y n i e
środek pozostał w y c i n k i e m ze szlaku. Reszta
s t a n o w i t a k j a k na siarfie kompozycję wytłu­
maczoną kształtem m a t e r i i i wyobraża k w i a t e k ,
przypominający
popularne w
hafcie
koszul
z i e l e i gwiazda. N i e d b a l e w y k o n a n y zygzak
w s a m y m rogu, w s k a z u j e raczej na niecierpliwość
h a f c i a r k i , aniżeli sens zamknięcia całości. T a nie­
dokładność i pośpiech m i m o w o l i nasuwają po­
równanie z późniejszym, o przekwitających for­
mach, haftem k o s z u l miejscowego s t r o j u kobie­
cego.
Kończąc n a t y m u w a g i o hafcie czepców k u r ­
p i o w s k i c h zdaję sobie sprawę z w i e l u braków
i niedociągnięć. W i n n o się b o w i e m wyśledzić i c h
pełną linię rozwojową w układzie, r o z b u d o w i e
motywów i i c h przeobrażeniach. T r u d n o jest
jednak pokusić się o jakąś wyczerpującą analizę

na podstawie t y c h 9 okazów, z których zaledwie
czepek z r y c . 9 posiada dokładną metrykę ) . W y ­
raźna l i n i a rozgraniczająca chronologicznie t y l k o
o b y d w i e g r u p y czepców, p o z w a l a sądzić, że r a ­
czej w czepkach szlacheckich winniśmy znaleźć
następny etap r o z w o j o w y .
Tymczasem n i e w i ­
d z i m y t u n o w y c h motywów, które b y wzbogaciły
haft. Z n a j d u j e m y t a m natomiast mniejszą subtel­
ność k r e s k i (można b y t o tłumaczyć cieńszym,
czy g r u b s z y m tiulem), powiększenie motywów,
zastąpienie k r e s k i przez płaszczyznę i gęstsze
wypełnienie płaszczyzn, p r z y daleko mniejszej
staranności w y k o n a n i a . W s z y s t k i e te m o m e n t y
wykazują wyraźną analogię do l i n i i r o z w o j o w e j
haftu n a koszulach k o b i e t puszczańskich omó­
w i o n y m w numerze 2 «Polskiej Sz t u k i Ludowej».
H a f c i a r s t w o na t i u l u przepada nagle, razem z za­
rzuceniem czepka w s t r o j u k o b i e c y m . K i e d y cze­
pek przestał być częścią składową s t r o j u świą­
tecznego k o b i e t y i stał się j e d y n i e s y m b o l e m
w czasie obrzędu weselnego, wystarczył stary
czepiec b a b k i , p r z e c h o w y w a n y
«na śmierć»,
a wypożyczany w t y c h u r o c z y s t y c h c h w i l a c h .
Obecnie jeszcze wyjątkowo uda się natrafić
w niezniszczonych domach puszczańskich na
dawne czepki zarzucone n a strychu, a czepki
z k a c u r e m istnieją j e d y n i e w e w s p o m n i e n i a c h
starych ludzi wygasającego p o k o l e n i a .
5

PRZYPISY

czorowa"

') A r t y k u ł t e n został n a p i s a n y g ł ó w n i e n a p o d s t a w i e z b i o r u
czepków, z e b r a n y c h

r o w a n y c h bezinteresownie
'-') N a

terenie

I n s t y t u t o w i do

Puszczy Białej, K u r p i o w s k i e j

tworzyła n i b y r o g i » (str. 21). Starsze k o b i e t y n a Puszczy

opracowania.

twierdzą, że c h u s t k i d o czepka z k a c u r e m b y ł y specjalne,
duże z bogatą frendzlą, p o d z i e l o n e n a c z t e r y różnej b a r w y

wyodrębniają

pola.

się d w i e g r u p y t e r e n o w e , które różnią się całym szere­
giem

przejawów

k u l t u r o w y c h , co

objawia

się

także

*) Salinówką

nazywają

dotychczas

kobiety

miękką, wełnianą chustkę w ż y w y c h b a r w a c h : c z e r w o n e j ,

żej określić, g d y n a t e r e n i e g r u p y O s t r o w s k i e j n i e udało

zielonej, szafirowej

się natrafić n a czepiec h a f t o w a n y , j e d y n i e ż y j e

zróżnicowane barwą, t o szlak miały przeważnie

on we

cach z g r u p y Pułtuskiej twierdzą, że b y ł i d e n t y c z n y .
cor, n a s u w a się s k o j a r z e n i e z nazwą c h u s t e k к а с о г o-

l u b pomarańczowej. O i l e b y ł y one
jedna­

k o w y . C h u s t k i te jeszcze teraz można spotkać n a Pusz­
czy.

Noszone

są

jedynie

w

d n i świąteczne

czy

uro­

czyste.

) Rozważając trudną d o z r o z u m i e n i a nazwę k a c u r czy k a 5

) Był o n h a f t o w a n y i n o s z o n y przez A n n ę Rakowską z W i e -

w у с h n a M a z u r a c h P r u s k i c h , o c z y m pisze K a r o l M a l -

lątek N o w y c h około 1915 r o k u . C z e p e k t e n j a k o p o c h o ­

lek

dzący z k o ń c o w e j fazy występowania i c h w s t r o j u k o ­

w s w e j książce «Plon, c z y l i dożynki n a Mazurach»,

O l s z t y n 1946. M ó w i o n t a k : « M ę ż a t k i nosiły n a głowach

b i e c y m Puszczy może być jednocześnie przykładem ostat­

c z e p k i białe, związane p o d brodą» i d a l e j «Chustka „ka-

nich form haftu na tiulu.

Zdjęcia fotograficzne czepków kurpiowskich nr 1—11 wykonał Stefan'Deptuszewski

52

puszczańskie

w s t r o j u . Jeśli c h o d z i o h a f t n a t i u l u , t r u d n o j e s t t o b l i ­

w s p o m n i e n i a c h s t a r y c h k o b i e t . Oglądając h a f t n a czep­
3

(t. j . pięknego k a c z o r a ) zawiązana n a d czołem

i ofia­

przez ob. W . Modzelewską

�КУРПЁВСКИЕ Т Ю Л Е В Ы Е Ч Е П Ч И К И .

В Курпёвской пуще, находящейся на север от Варшавы, во время

каёмки вышивки, обрамляющей нижнуто часть чеппа с кацуром»

обряда «очепин» (после замужества) женщины получали тюлевые

являются подражением покупному кружеву, которым

чепчики,

вышивка

тюль, что является моментом, определяющим отношение народного

отдельно

для

которых

двух

хетского» чепчика.

рассмотрена

видов:

чепчика

в

с

настоящей статье

«кацуром»

и

«шля­

Как на характерную черту вышивки актор

обшивался

искусства к посторонним элементам. Сравнивая курпёкскую вы­
шивку на давнишнем чепце с «кацуром» и более поздним «шля­

укавынает на ее простоту, выражающуюся в том, что ее богатство

хетским» чепцом, автор приходит к выводу, что композиция сего

и изящество достигались исключительно

последнего не шла по линии требований новой формы, но пере­

обычным

продеванием

нитки

при помощи строчки:

через отдельные дырочки тюля

с применением небольшого количества

вышивальных

мотивов,

несена была с давнишних форм без согласования их с новыми
условиями. Эта черта, а также отсутствие новых элементов по­

:!ИГзаков, мельничного крыла, звезды, состоящей из нескольких

казывают, что

кругов, цветка и петли. Эти элементы повторялись в ритмиче­

прогресса и развития, но представляет собой упадочную форму,

ском укладе, изменялись в своей пропорции, а также менялось

которая, впрочем, уже исчезла, также как и чепец с «кацуром».

их направление и расположение. Автор замечает, что

«шляхетский»

чепец

не

является

выражением

мотивы

BONNET

DE TULLE, DES

KURPIE

Dans l a f o r e t des K u r p i e a u n o r d de V a r s o v i e , l e s o i r des

d u b o n n e t «matou» i m i t e n t l a d e n t e l l e f a i t e a l a m a c h i n e

noces

d o n t o n b o r d a i t l a t u l l e ; chose q u i c o n s t i t u e r a i t u n a p p o r t

les

jeunes

epousśes

etaient

rituellement

coiffees

d ' u n b o n n e t de t u l l e d o n t les b r o d e r i e s o n t ete s p e c i a l e m e n t

au

t r a i t e e s dans cet a r t i c l e . O n d i s t i n g u e le b o n n e t

p o p u l a i r e et les elements s t r a n g e r s . C o m p a r a n t l a b r o d e r i e

«matou»

donnśes

p e r m e t t a n t de p r e c i s e r

le

raport entre

l'art

d u b o n n e t « n o b l e » . L ' a u t e u r donnę c o m m e t r a i t c a r a c t e r i s t i -

«Kurpie»

q u e de cette

le b o n n e t « n o b l e » de date p l u s r e c e n t e l ' a u t e u r a r r i v e a l a

broderie u n point

o b t e n a i t u n effet m e l a n g e

unique,

avec

lequel

on

de richesse et de finnesse.

employant

zigzag,

u n nombre

moulin

a vent,

limits de

etiole

motifs

a plusiers

de

q u i est l e p l u s a n c i e n

broderie:

circonferences,

ne

s'est p o i n t p l i e e

a u x e x i g e n c e s d'une n o u v e l l e

s'adapter a u x c o n d i t i o n s n o u v e l l e s .
Ce t r a i t d i s t i n c t i f a i n s i q u e le m a n q u e d'elements

r h y t m i q u e s de ces e l e m e n t s e n c h a n g e a n t l e u r s p r o p o r t i o n s

d e m o n t r e n t q u e le b o n n e t

et l a d i r e c t i o n de l e u r s a l i q u e m e n t s . L ' a u t e u r f a i t r e m a r q u e r

ni developpement

que les m o t i f s de l a b o r d u r e b r o d e e de l a p a r t i e i n f e r i e u r e

reste d i s p a r u e c o m m e le b o n n e t «matou».

TULLE KURPIE
I n t h e K u r p i e forest n o r t h o f W a r s a w

i t was the custom

t h e B r i d e at t h e e n d of t h e m a r r i a g e

festivity,

The

author remarks

bordering

the l o w e r

that

v a t i o n h e l p s to e x a m i n e

the «tabby»

cap a n d t h e « n o b l e » cap.

and

T h e a u t h o r r e m a r k s t h a t t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c t r a i t of t h i s em­
b r o i d e r y is i t s s i m p l i c i t y . T h e

richness

design

one t y p e

is a c h i e v e d

passing

with

only

a n d fineness o f t h e
of p o i n t , j u s t b y

the thread t h r o u g h the singular

eye-lets

o f the

tulle.
Very

nouveaux
ni

progres

de d e c a d e n c e d u

foreign

t h e designs

of

the

p a r t of the «tabby-сар»

machine-made

as r e g a r d s

ne marque

CAP

in

article, separately

«noble»

et n'est q u ' u n e f o r m e

w i t h a t u l l e cap, t h e e m b r o i d e r y of w h i c h has b e e n t r e a t e d
the present

forme,

et q u ' e l l e et t o u t s i m p l e m e n t s u i v i les m o d e l e s anciens sans

f l e u x r o n s et a j o u r s o u r l e s . O n m u l t i p l i a i t les c o m b i n a i s i o n s

to « c a p »

avec

c o n c l u s i o n q u e l a c o m p o s i t i o n de l a b r o d e r i e de ce d e r n i e r

O n passait u s u e l l e m e n t le f i l a t r a v e r s les m a i l l e s d u t u l l e
en

d u b o n n e t «matou»

embroidery
imitate the

lace u s e d t o t r i m t h e t u l l e , a n d t h i s
elements.

the r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n
The

author compares

obser­

popular art
the K u r p i e

e m b r i o d e r y o n t h e m o r e a n c i e n t «tabby-сар» w i t h t h e l a t e r
«noble»

one a n d a r r i v e s to t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t t h e c o m ­

p o s i t i o n o f t h e e m b r o i d e r y of t h e s e c o n d o n e d i d n o t f o l l o w
t h e l i n e of t h e e x i g e n c y
taken

from

the older

of t h e n e w f o r m , b u t w a s s i m p l y
forms

without adaptation

to new

conditions.
T h i s f e a t u r e a n d t h e l a c k of n e w e l e m e n t s s h o w

that the

w i n d - m i l l , the m a n y - c i r c l e d star, t h e f l o w e r , a n d t h e e y e l e t .

few embroidery-designs

«noble-сар»

develop­

These elements

m e n t , b u t is o n l y a p a s s i n g f o r m w h i c h i n d e e d has a l r e a d y

w i t h change

are m u l t i p l i e d

are

used:

the

zigzag,

the

i n r y t h m i c a l arrangements

of p r o p o r t i o n a n d d i r e c t i o n of a l i n e m e n t .

shows

no tendency

o f progress

and

d i s a p p e a r e d as w e l l as t h e «tabby-сар».

53

t

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                <text>A D A M CHĘTNIK

TKACTWO N A KURPIACH
Z teki pośmiertnej

Adama

Chątnika

W dniu 29 maja 1967 r. zmarł w Warszawie docent dr Adam Chętnik, zasłużony
etnograj-regionalista,
badacz kultury ludu
kurpiow­
skiego. Urodzony w Nowogrodzie nad Narwią 20 XII 1885 r. w rodzinie
chłopskiej, od dawna zamieszkałej
na terenie regionu kurpiowskiego *,
z regionem tym związał całą swoją bogatą twórczość naukową.
Lud­
ności tej ziemi poświęcił również wiele lat działalności
oświatowej
i wychowawczej jako nauczyciel tajnych szkół w okresie okupacji ro­
syjskiej
przed I wojną światową,
następnie
działacz społeczny
oraz
twórca i współorganizator
miejscowych muzeów regionalnych:
skanse­
nowskiego muzeum w Nowogrodzie (w 1927 r. i ponownie po II wojnie)
i muzeum w Łomży (1910 r. i 1947 г.). Obok licznych prac drukowa­
nych od 1913 r. jako samodzielne pozycje książkowe **, artykuły
publi­
cystyczne i opracowania naukowe (drukowane w okresie ostatnich lat
także w „Etnografii
Polskiej",
„Ludzie", „Polskiej Sztuce
Ludowej",
Bibliotece
Etnografii
Polskiej
i innych)
Adam Chętnik
pozostawił
w rękopisie dużą pracę o życiu leśnym Kurpiów oraz artykuły
pisane
w różnych okresach życia, omawiające wybrane dziedziny życia i pracy
tradycyjnej
wsi
kurpiowskiej.
Redakcja „Etnografii Polskiej" chcąc uczcić pamięć Zmarłego
za­
mieszcza poniżej jeden z artykułów,
stanowiący
ważny
przyczynek
źródłowy do znajomości kultury tej wsi, a zarazem
charakteryzujący
sylwetkę
naukową i metodologiczne założenia pracy Adama
Chętnika.
Artykuł
zamieszczamy bez zmian redakcyjnych
w formie dostarczonej
nam przez Autora na kilka miesięcy przed Jego
śmiercią.
Redakcja
* Por. A. C h ę t n i k , Mój życiorys,
„Polska Sztuka Ludowa", R. 18: 1964
nr 3, s. 179—180.
** Bibliografię drukowanych prac Adama Chętnika podaje M. P o k r o p e k
w artykule poświęconym omówieniu jego działalności naukowej w „Roczniku
Białostockim", t. 6: 1966, s. 11—25.

�TKACTWO

MA

KURPIACH

189

Mieszkając w lasach i puszczach lud kurpiowski musiał — jak
i wszędzie na świecie — korzystać z ciepłych skór i futer upolowanych
zwierząt leśnych. Nie było wtedy specjalnego kroju ani obmyślonej
przez kobiety mody. Aby okryć górną delikatniejszą część ciała, to
i dosyć! Na nogach wystarczyły też byle łapcie. Ludność przez setki
lat żyła tu z wszelkiego zbieractwa, łowiectwa i w ogóle z puszczy,
miejscowe płody leśne musiały wystarczyć na wszystko. Do dziś o t y m
wiemy z opowieści starych ludzi i ze starej literatury opisowej czy
pamiętnikowej.
Ale przyszły czasy, kiedy bór czy las nie dał rady już wyżywić
rozrastającej się i przybywającej nowej ludności puszczańskiej. Za­
brakło i skór na okrycie. Zaczęto myśleć o sposobach nowych zaradze­
nia biedzie. Ale szło to opornie i niełatwo, bo nie było ani stałej
hodowli owiec, ani ziemi ornej na sianie lnu i konopi. To przyszło
z czasem, ale w X V I I w., kiedy ludność „na polach" czy też „na r o l i "
ubierała się już w tkaniny swego wyrobu, to tu w puszczy, jak czyta­
my z wiarygodnych opisów, mężczyźni chodzili często w łachmanach,
a ich „dzieci i nawet starsza młódź obojga płci łażą nadzy bez żadnego
wstydu. Sprawia to ich wielka bieda" .
Z powyższego krótkiego opisu widzimy, że musiały to być dla K u r ­
piów czasy przejściowe, kończyło się życie leśne, a. nie zaczęło żadne
inne, bo inaczej dzieci chodziłyby chociaż w lichych parcianych płótniakach, a i starsi nie nosiliby łachmanów.
Te łachmany musiały być nie miejscowe, zdobywali je pewnie K u r ­
pie od zamożniejszych sąsiadów z pól, którzy przez życzliwość czy drogą
zamiany wyzbywali się na rzecz biedaków kurpiowskich różnej sta­
rzyzny i lichych niedodzierków. Nie wszędzie na puszczy była taka
bieda, tylko pewnie w głębi lasów — wśród łowców, Smolarzy, w ę ­
glarzy itp. mających nędzną pracę i liche widać zarobki.
W wieku X V I I I w lasach Puszczy Zielonej (nad środkową Narwią)
zaczęły już powstawać stałe osiedla i wioski, na pół rolniczo-bartnicze.
Ale i w t y m czasie ludność miała większe dochody z barci niż z roli,
chociaż los ich znacznie się już polepszył . Życie na pół cygańskie
też zanikało. Na początku X V I I I w. Kurpie walczą już ze Szwedami
jako zwarte bractwo kurpiowskich strzelców, w wcale zgrabnych ubio­
rach i barwach, a w czasie wyświęcenia nowego kościółka w Kadzidle,
i

2

1

Podług ks. Łukasza Kościesza-Załuskiego, misjonarza z 1650 г., odbywającego
misje w Puszczy Kurpiowskiej (I. B a r a n o w s k i , Najstarszy opis Puszczy
Kur­
piowskiej, „Ziemia", t. 2: 1911, s. 278—279).
O czym dalej przy strzelcach.
2

�190

ADAM

CHĘTNIK

w roku 1783 w tych barwach strzelali już na wiwat z rusznic i moździeży .
Wpierw niż z włóknem roślinnym mieli Kurpiowie do czynienia
z wełną z własnych owiec, hodowanych masowo na paśnikach między
borami i na smugach nadrzecznych. Hodowano owce na wełnę, na
kożuchy i na mięso, o które w puszczy nie zawsze było łatwo. Życie
pasterskie kwitło tu dość wcześnie, o wiele wcześniej niż rolnicze —
może na paręset lat. Wełnę strzyżoną czesano na włókno do przędzenia
za pomocą ręcznych kolczastych szczotek od gręplowania, wyrabianych
po wsiach , a jeszcze przedtem kolczastych owoców koliboku rosnącego
na pustkowiach. O t y m wiedzieli od swych rodziców starsi puszczanie,
jeszcze przed paru dziesiątkami lat.
Mając przędzę wełnianą, a z czasem i lnianą, nauczyły się kobiety
tkać sukno i płótno na własną potrzebę. Krosien jednak — jak współ­
czesne — nie było, prawdopodobnie więc kobiety tkały pierwsze sztuki
sukna grubego czy płótna na ścianach swych niewielkich chat — od
wewnątrz, a częściej pewnie od zewnątrz, jak to do ostatnich niemal
czasów wyrabiano szale i ciepłe narzutki na głowę w niektórych miej­
scowościach starej Kurpiowszczyzny. Na ścianę skromnej wówczas
chatki namotaly nici z wełny (postaw) i robili tkaninę przy użyciu
wątku. Z czasów tego prymitywnego tkactwa pozostała tylko nazwa
miary tkanin spod krosien teraźniejszych pod nazwą ściany. Ściana
sukna, ściana płótna — tak się mówi kupującym przy sprzedaży domo­
wych tkanin, a taka „ściana" na dzisiejszą miarę to 6 m bieżących
tkaniny, z normalnych wiejskich wąskich krosien.
O rozwiniętym już dobrze tkactwie kurpiowskim czytamy dokładne
wzmianki na początku zeszłego stulecia. Gawarecki podaje w 1928 г.,
że Kurpie „wiele t u płótna wyrabiają" \ a w innym miejscu pisze,
że na wszystkie potrzeby miejscowe „płótno i sukno wyrabiają same
Kurpianki" .
W 1888 г., kiedy to w Warszawie urządzono wystawę tkactwa
ludowego (w salach przy Muzeum Przemysłu i Rolnictwa), Kurpianki
z okolic Kadzidła i Lipnik, które wystawiły swoje wyroby, okrzyczane
były za jedne ze zdolniejszych tkaczek w Polsce i otrzymały odznacze­
nia i nagrody za swoje wyroby .
3

4

6

7

3

L . K r z y w i c k i , Kurpie, „Biblioteka Warszawska", R. 52: 1892, t. 3, s. 527—
558; t. 4, s. 61—97, 349—385.
B y ł y takie w Muzeum Kurpiowskim w Nowogrodzie pod Łomżą do 1939 r.
(pochodziły z X V I I I w.).
H. Gawarecki,
Przywileje, nadania i swobody udzielone miastom woje­
wództwa
płockiego, Warszawa 1928.
H . G a w a r e c k i , Pamiętnik
historyczny płocki,
t. 2, Warszawa
1930.
A. C h ę t n i k , Warunki gospodarczo-kulturalne
na pograniczu
kurpiowsko-mazurskim, Łomża 1927, s. 80.
4

5

6

7

�TKACTWO

NA

KURPIACH

191

Aż do ostatnich czasów i lat tkactwo kurpiowskie stoi na odpowied­
n i m poziomie. Wprawdzie nie znajdziemy już w każdej chałupie krosien
tkackich, ale tam, gdzie one są, gospodynie kurpiowskie wyrabiają
płótno, dywany i sukno pierwszorzędnej jakości. Przed I I wojną wy­
roby z rozwiniętych spółdzielczo warsztatów tkackich w Myszyńcu
i Lipnikach miały zbyt za granicą, szły do Ameryki Północnej i w inne
kraje.
Obecnie tkactwo podupadło z wielu przyczyn, a jedną z nich jest,
że ludność w dziedzinie ubioru i stroju nie stara się już być — jak
dawniej — samowystarczalna, zadowala się wyrobami
fabrycznymi,
a Kurpianki coraz częściej przekładają miejską i fabryczną tandetę nad
swoje własne wartościowe wyroby. Również zamiana hurtowa lnu
i gotowego włókna na gotowe z fabryk dostarczane płócienka i perkaliki robi poważne spustoszenie, Kurpiankom „nie brak" już ślęczeć
całą zimę i dłużej nad krosnami, a t y m bardziej tracić całe długie
wieczory jesienne i zimowe przy kołowrotkach.
Wreszcie otrzymywane masowo paczki z zagranicy od krewnych,
często z gotowym ubraniem, modne suknie, koronki i jedwabie do
reszty niweluje starą kulturę w dziedzinie tkackiej. Tkactwo — nie
tylko jako trudna praca rękodzielnicza, ale nieraz i jako prawdziwa
sztuka ludowa w tej dziedzinie — zaczyna być niepotrzebne. Jeszcze
tu i ówdzie po ziemiach polskich spotykamy Kurpiów i Kurpianki
z wałkami samodziałowego płótna, chodnikami itp., które wyroby swoje
lub członków rodziny rozwożą na sprzedaż, ale i na to przychodzi
koniec.
Tkactwo kurpiowskie przechodzi dotkliwy kryzys, którego skutki nie
wiadomo jakie w tej dziedzinie przyniosą rozwiązanie. Raczej ujemne.
B a r w i e n i e s a m o d z i a ł ó w . Barwienie, czyli farbowanie (jak
tu mówią), samodziałów na ulubione kolory przechodziło różne fazy
swego rozwoju i upadku, w jakim znalazło się w czasy obecne. Daw­
nymi laty płócien samodziałowych nie farbowano.
Gdy kobieta narobiła płótna lnianego, to naszyła z niego wszyst­
kim domownikom bielizny (kosiul) i ubrania. Wszyscy chodzili prze­
ważnie na biało. Ale jak chłopak usiedział koszulę na mokrej trawie
przed chałupą i ją uzielenił, a dziewczyna zbierając jagody czarne
w lesie zrobiła to samo przypadkowo na jagodach, zafarbowawszy ją
na granatowo czy modro i niebiesko — to już i były pierwsze zapocząt­
kowane kolory! Przy innych podobnych czy innych wypadkach kolory
były inne — i tak uzbierało się samo to, co potrzebne do k o l o r ó w .
8

8

Od F . Pijanowskiego (lat 90) ze wsi Kuzie, pow. Kolno, w 1910 г.; od
M. Sobiechowej (lat 85) w 1947 г.; od J . Krasycnej (lat 80) z Brzozówki ok. 1932 r.
i in.

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Zaczęto wtedy lniane i wełniane farbować, płótno białe zaczęto prze­
tykać modrymi nićmi czy pasemkami i tak powstały płócienka w ta­
kież paseczki; taka płótniana dotychczasowa z tymi paseczkami była
już strojem od święta.
Używając barwników roślinnych do przędzy lnianej, przy wyrobie
np. pościeli na łóżka w pasy i kraty, Kurpianki używały następujących
barwników:
1. Na kolor chabrowy (modroniebieski) gotowano nici w leśnych
jagodach czarnych (czernicach).
2. Na kolor brunatnoczarny i czarny — w odwarze z olszowej kory
z lnianym siemieniem.
3. Na kolor czerwony — leśne krzaczki podobne do czernic pod
jesień (mają czerwone łodygi i pestki).
4. Na kolor żółty — brzozowe liście i kora z dodatkiem koperwansu.
5. Na kolor zielony — specjalna trawa wodna, długa dająca po
ściśnięciu miazgę. Nadrzeczanie nazywają ją „muzga". Nici gotowano
w odwarze z tej t r a w y .
Były i różne sposoby farbowania nici, nie wszystkie dochowały się
do naszych czasów, bo przez parę ostatnich pokoleń używano barwni­
ków przeważnie chemicznych.
Często farbowane były tylko nici na osnową (szczególnie przy w y ­
robie kilimów i dywanów), wtedy kręcone lniane nici do osnowy, grub­
sze i mocne, nazywano cięciwami, dawano je pod przędzę wełnianą.
Len siał zawsze gospodarz, a czyściła go z chwastów, rwała, suszyła,
otłukała z nasienia i t d . i t d . aż do sporządzenia w piękne i cienkie
włókno — sama gospodyni. Jedna z nich opowiadała m i , że chcąc otrzy­
mać z lnu koszulę, trzeba przy n i m odbyć aż pięćdziesiąt różnych pra­
cowitych czynności!
Wyroby ze l n u były na Kurpiach najwięcej lubiane i popularne,
szczególnie latem. Prócz białych koszul farbowano w paski spódnice
(kitle), fartuchy (zapaski i do nakrycia), chusteczki na głowę, a dla
mężczyzn prócz koszul portki letnie, parcianki i onuczki w chodaki.
Sukno grube na sukmany bartników czy strzelców farbowano nie­
kiedy na kolor bury; gotowano je wtedy w olszowej korze z lnianym
siemieniem.
Najczęściej jednak robiono kolor sposobem naturalnym. W t y m celu
do sukman dawnych (ciemnobrązowych) dobierano od razu wełnę ruda9

9

Wiadomości
z 1949 r. i in.

od A . Kordeckiej z Myszyńca

i M. Sobiechowej

z

Kadzidła

�TKACTWO

NA

193

KURPIACH

wą, która dawała przędzę i sukno potrzebnego koloru. Jeżeli kolor był
za siwy (za jasny), to wełnę czy przędzę wystawiano latem na upalne
słońce przez dłuższy czas, aż nabrało potrzebnej barwy. W dawne lata
tak tylko robiono, nie inaczej, komu tylko było pilno przed zimą,
a słońca już gorącego nie było, ten szukał farby olszowej .
10

Do pewnego rodzaju sztuki tkackiej należało wyrabianie barwnych
i ozdobnie wykonanych pasków do fartuchów; wyrabiano je z bawełny
kolorowej i lnu na specjalnych tzw. „klockach". Niektóre były bardzo
artystyczne i była ich wielka rozmaitość. Wyrób ich skończył się już
przed kilku dziesiątkami lat.
W i e j s c y k r a w c y . O krawcach tych pisałem w książce Strój
ludoiuy Puszczy Zielonej . Dodam tylko, że krawcy wiejscy (ludowi)
rekrutowali się spośród ludności miejscowej, wiejskiej. Żadnych do tego
szkół czy kursów nie było. Taki krawiec latem pilnował lichego swego
gospodarstwa, a zimą obszywał rodzinę lub wieś. Czasami miał i pomoc.
Szyto ręcznie, a maszyny do szycia pokazały się tu ok. 1900 r. (z Ame­
r y k i na raty, firma Singer). Krawcy żyli sobie na ogół dostatnio,
a który miał więcej gustu i nowych pomysłów w „przystrojach", to
o przyszłość materialną mógł się nie martwić. Każdy z nich miał swój
dom i inwentarz. Co do krawców żydów (w ostatnich lat dziesiątkach
przed wojnami), to ci pracowali w miastach i osadach miasteczkowych,
na zimę jeździli po wsiach („wędrowni"), zadomowili się gdzie u gos­
podarza, obszyli mu całą rodzinę, potem szli do innego itd. Za pracę
otrzymywali gotówkę i kolądą w naturze do domu. Po wsiach gotowali
sobie w swoich naczyniach (nasze były trefne), a produkty otrzymywali
od gospodarzy. Krawcy szyli stroje wiejskie, regionalne, a czasem miej­
skie, wsoółczesne.
B i e l e n i e p ł ó c i e n l n i a n y c h na Kurpiach i w ogóle nad
Narwią znane jest powszechnie. Przy każdej chałupie, dawniej w ogród­
kach zabezpieczonych przed inwentarzem, były specjalne placyki równe,
z piękną murawą, zwane bielnikami. Sama nazwa wskazuje, że służyły
do bielenia. W niektórych wioskach czy osadach nadrzecznych były
bielniki do wspólnego użytku, wydzielone przez zebrania gromadzkie
dla całej wsi, dobrze ogrodzone.
Początkowo pewnie płócien nie bielono, na koszule czy też portki
itp. używano surowego partu, zwanego tu jeszcze płótnem szarym lub
pacześnym.
Ale pewnie ten sam deszcz, co przy praniu, nauczył ludzi
11

i» Wiadomości od I. Jesionkowskiego i M . Swiderskiej z Nowogrodu
Łomżą z 1931 r.
А. С h ę t n i k, Strój kurpiowski Puszczy Zielonej, Wrocław 1961.
11

13 — E t n o g r a f i a P o l s k a , t. X I I

pod

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i bielić płótna, które bielały same na karkach ludzkich, od deszczu
i słońca. A że płótno wybielone jak śnieg mogło być pięknym strojem
odświętnym, pewnie więc na ten strój odświętny, uroczysty, obrzędowy
itp. zaczęto bielić płótna specjalnie.
Robiono bielenie w ten sposób. Sztukę płótna z krosien rozciągano
na murawie, przygważdżano do ziemi specjalnymi kołkami na pozosta­
wiane w t y m celu pętelki (lub z braku tych — przytłaczano po bokach
w y m y t y m i kamieniami). W słoneczną pogodę płótno polewały wodą
czystą przez sita polewaczki raz wraz po każdym wyschnięciu prze­
ważnie kobiety i młode dziewczęta. Nieraz dziesiątki razy dziennie,
dlatego bielniki są zawsze blisko wody. Po paru tygodniach bielenia —
czego oczywiście dokonywa słońce letnie — płótno zwijają na wałki
i zabierają do użytku. Tak samo trzeba zbierać płótno z bielników na
noc i przed każdą burzą, pilnować przed wędrownymi złodziejami,
również by kura czy nierogacizną nie dobrała się na bielnik i nie
zrobiła nieporządku, szkodliwego dla płótna w czasie bielenia.
Takie bielniki i bielenie można często spotkać i dziś, na ogół jednak
gospodynie sobie upraszczają bielenie w domu, gotując sztuki płótna
w specjalnie spreparowanym ługu z palonych łęcin łubinu, a dawniej
z jałowca itp.
Bielone płótna kurpiowskie cieszą się wielkim popytem na miejscu
i dalej w Polsce od stu kilkudziesięciu blisko lat.
F o l o w a n i e s u k n a . Sukno zaraz z krosien nie nadaje się do
krawca, jest rzadkie, rozciągliwe i kurczy się od wilgoci i deszczu.
Ubranie uszyte z takiego sukna po pierwszej ulewie skurczyłoby się
niepomiernie i trudno by je nałożyć na siebie. Tak pewnie w dawniej­
sze czasy przytrafiało się niejednemu elegantowi puszczańskiemu, i to
zmoknięcie właśnie ze skurczeniem się gwałtownym sukna naprowa­
dziło zapewne tkaczów na pomysł zbicia sukna na gęstsze, więcej nie­
przepuszczalne i nierozciągliwe. Folowanie sukna — bo tak nazywa się
cała ta manipulacja utrwalenia, zbicia i ujednostajnienia rozciągliwości
włókien —• odbywa się od niepamiętnych przez ludzi lat, na całym
terenie, gdzie znane jest tkactwo z wełny. Do folowania służy specjal­
ny przyrząd-warsztat, zwany foluszem, a będący właściwie długim
(około 3—4 m) korytem, dłubanym z grubego pnia drzewnego, z wol­
nymi wylotami w obu końcach i dość wysokimi bokami. Do koryta
dorobiony jest specjalny długi i dość cienki smyk z kołkami do rąk.
Do smyka trzeba 6, 8 i więcej nieraz ludzi.
Zwykle folusz ustawiony jest na kołach wbitych w ziemię (słup­
kach), przed oknami chałupy, przez które przechodzi światło lampowe
na zewnątrz przez szyby, żeby pracujący mieli widno. Praca rozpoczyna
się o zmierzchu, zwykle w czasie adwentowym (w grudniu), do której

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zaprasza się sąsiedzkich chłopców dorosłych na cały wieczór. Jeżeli
sukna jest mało w jednej chałupie, to kilka gospodarstw razem znosi
sukno na wspólne folowanie, dość pracowite i kłopotliwe.
Sukno naparzone ukropem, rozciągnięte w foluszu (korycie) chłop­
cy międlą, gniotą i przewracają smykiem, ciągając nim gromadnie
w obie strony wzdłuż. Z kobiet domowych co chwila któraś leje wrzą­
tek z dużego sagana na sukno, a po k i l k u godzinach, gdy znawcy za­
wyrokują, że sukno gotowe — zbite i ścisłe, pracę się przerywa. Sukno
mokre naciągają, prostują, nawijają na wałki, suszą i oddają po t y m
do krawca. J u ż mu żaden deszcz nie zaszkodzi ani zmiana pogody.
Chłopcy po ciężkiej do potu pracy przy suknie otrzymują zasłużoną
dobrą kolację, folusz pożyczany jest dalej po wsi, bo nieraz i kilka
razy różne sukna w ciągu grudnia doprowadzone są do stanu używal­
ności.
Do reszty biorą je w obroty wędrowni krawcy.
W ostatnich latach, bliżej miast fabrycznych, sukno takie dają nie­
którzy do specjalnych fabryk do wyrównania jednej strony, prawej,
przez maszynowe postrzyżenie włosia, ale większość poprzestaje na tym,
jakie wyszło z warsztatów wiejskich.
Sukno takie służy dziesiątki lat, ubranie z niego „nie do zdercia" —
jak mówią, a przy t y m na zimowe mrozy i zawieje ciepłe i wygodne
w ubraniu. Ma też wzięcie na Kurpiach do ostatnich lat, a na jarmar­
kach czy targach w Myszyńcu można go nabyć odpowiednio wymierzo­
ne sztuczki na krótkie sukmanki.
P r a n i e s a m o d z i a ł ó w . Pierwotnie nie prano bielizny (która
w lato była jednocześnie i strojem), nie znano tej potrzeby, i nie
względy higieniczne, tylko pewnie estetyczne wpłynęły na wynalazek
prania.
Pierwszą praczką bielizny czy płóciennego stroju był prawdopodob­
nie niejeden ulewny, letni deszcz, który, gdy był z silną falą, t j . wia­
trem, nie tylko strzepał i sprał skórę będącym w podróży czy gdzieś
przy rybołówstwie puszczakom, ale to samo zrobił z płóciennym stro­
jem, będącym jednocześnie bielizną, trzepiąc je z całą pasją wprost
na człowieku. Gdy człowiek wysechł, zauważył pewnie, że jego strój
czy bielizna jest ładniejsza, coraz bielsza i bez brudu. Dziewczyna
w pięknej bieliźnie, bielutkiej, zaczęła się prędzej podobać chłopakom,
co podrażniło pewnie ich ambicję w kierunku częstszego moknięcia na
deszczu, który je prał bezinteresownie a skutecznie. Jeszcze przed paru
dziesiątkami lat dziewczyny umyślnie mokły na majowym deszczu,
żeby i m włosy długie rosły (wtedy jeszcze nie strzyżono włosów). Taki
musiał być początek prania.
Zaczęto też z czasem — nie czekając deszczu — prać bieliznę w wo-

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dzie bieżącej, trzepiąc ją ręką, dłonią, a z czasem podobną do tego
kijanką z płaskiej szczapy czy ułamanej gałęzi.
Prawdopodobnie z przyrodzonego lenistwa człowiekowi nie chciało
się urządzać prania zbyt często, ale bądź co bądź trzeba powiedzieć na
korzyść ludności tutejszej puszczy, że nie czekano tu aż płótno rozleci
się na człowieku w strzępy (jak to się zdarza po świecie) od znoszenia,
ale je prano, co nastąpiło pewnie już w wiekach X V I I i X V I I I . Wtedy
już nie deszcze, ale kobiety prały bieliznę.
Również warto zaznaczyć, że zmarłych domowników nie chowano
w bieliźnie brudnej, ale ją starano się wyprać, wybielić, by nieboszczyk
w dobrej formie mógł się zaprezentować w zaświatach. To mówią naj­
starsi tu ludzie, a pozostałość po t y m zwyczaju jest taka, że starsze
lub schorowane Kurpianki oczekując już śmierci, gdy jeszcze mogą pra­
cować, przygotowują sobie na śmierć swój strój, a w nim czysto-śnieżna
kosiula odgrywa pierwszorzędną rolę.
Bądź co bądź, że na początku X I X stulecia bieliznę już nie tylko
prano w wodzie, ale starano się wynaleźć ku temu odpowiednie mydliki-sposoby, ułatwiające otrzymanie możliwie czystej bielizny.
Ze sposobów tych znane były następujące:
1. Woda stojąca, miękka, wygrzana na słońcu, w pierwszym lepszym
dole czy kanale lub jeziorku. Moczono w niej bieliznę na całą dobę,
specjalnie w błocie lub ile, na drugi dzień spierano rozmiękły brud
w wodzie czystej bieżącej, wykręcano z nadmiaru wilgoci i suszono na
słońcu i wietrze, niekiedy od razu na sobie, żeby nabrała odpowiedniego
fasonu.
2. Ił rzeczny (mazisty i tłustawy muł gliniasto-marglowy), nad brze­
giem w niektórych miejscach rzek i strumieni. Szorowano w nim brud
zastarzały, a potem wysiastano w wodzie bieżącej, czystej i ogrzanej.
(Z takiego mułu Niemcy robili nam kartkowe mydło w czasie I i I I
wojny).
3. Zaparzanie bielizny w nawozie końskim, który — jak wiadomo —
przefermentowany, zawiera w sobie dużo ciepła, odbywało się jeszcze
na początku X I X wieku. Bieliznę z zastarzałym brudem zakopywano
głębiej w nawóz koński w stajni, żeby się tam dobrze zagrzała. Na drugi
czy trzeci dzień bieliznę wydobywano i prano w ciepłej wodzie z ługiem
gotowanym z popiołu. Spłukiwano w ogrzanej wodzie, czystej i bieżącej.
4. Gotowanie w ługu brudnej bielizny odbywało się jeszcze po­
wszechnie ok. 1900 r. Ług wygotowywano z popiołu drzew liściastych,
posiadający w sobie potaż zastępujący ludziom mydło. Wyługowany
potaż szedł znad Narwi na handel (dawnymi czasy) w dalszy świat.
Bieliznę z ługu prano w czystej wodzie ciepłej i miękkiej, najlepiej
w strugach i rzekach.

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5. Owczy ług. Była to na pozór brudna woda pozostała po myciu
owiec przed strzyżeniem. Woda taka była mętna i jakby tłustawa.
W wodzie takiej prano dawniej koszule płócienne, spierając do reszty
z brudu w wodzie czystej, bieżącej. Od lat 60—80 sposobu tego prawie
nie używają.
6. Dębowy ług. Palono w piecach dębową korę, odsiewano na sitach
i wygotowywano ług. Ług taki przez szereg dziesiątków lat uważano
za najlepszy i gotowano czy też prano w nim bieliznę. W końcu czysta
woda spłukiwała do reszty, co niepotrzebne .
Co do sukna i sukman, to praniem ich mało kto się interesował,
wystarczał deszcz i śnieg; dla „odnowienia" sukna wycierano je rękami
miękkim śniegiem.
Tak więc sobie radzili Kurpiowie, a właściwie Kurpianki z praniem
bielizny. Tylko na tratwach spławnicy drzewa (miejscowi oryle) musieli
prać sobie bieliznę w gratunach
gdzie indziej robiły to zawsze kobiety
i dziewczęta. Praczkami zawodowymi też są kobiety. W dawniejsze lata
na Starych Kurpiach zdolny kawaler rzeźbił ładną kijankę w kwiaty
i różne wzory i robił z niej prezent przedślubny swojej upatrzonej
dziewczynie. Przywiązywał widać do kijanki znaczną uwagę, a i dziew­
czyna nie obraziła się za to .
M a g l o w a n i e t k a n i n . Płótno spod krosien czy w ogóle tkaniny,
jest zawsze trochę pomięte, nierówne, pogurbanione, jak tu nazywają,
wyrównują je nakręcając na wałki, wyciągając za oba brzegi, roz­
płaszczając mokre na bielniku itp. W wypadkach koniecznych mniejsze
sztuki płótna maglują
na szerokiej ławie, na wierzchnim nakryciu
szlabana (łóżka służącego na dzień za kanapę do siedzenia) itp. Do ma­
glowania służy ręczna maglownica, zwana tu wałkownicą, i wałek dłu­
gości ok. 1 łokcia (50—60 cm). Czynność ta znana jest prawie wszędzie
po kraju, więc jej nie opisuję. Dodam tylko, że żadnych maglów zme­
chanizowanych na Kurpiach prawie nie ma, prostowanie wszelkiej bie­
lizny po praniu i wysuszeniu, jak ręczników, obrusów, koszul, far­
tuchów itp., odbywa się ręcznie przez kobiety podanymi powyżej na­
rzędziami.
Wałkownicą
— z płaskiego drzewa brzozowego czy klonowego lub
jesionowego, posiada do prawej ręki okrągły trzonek, a do lewej za­
krzywioną rączkę u przodu narzędzia. Spód wałkownicy
nacinany jest
12

1 3

u

1 2

Wiadomości od S. Chętnikowej (lat 91) z Nowogrodu, 1949 г.; M. Sobiechowej (lat 87) z Kadzidła, 1949 г.; od A. Kordeckiej (lat 55) z Myszyńca, 1949 r.
i in.
Gratuny są to duże szpary między klocami w płynących pasach drzewa.
Takie kijanki można oglądać w Łomży, w Muzeum. Stare Kurpie to od­
cinek dawnej Kurpiowszczyzny z lewej strony Narwi od Nowogrodu do Ostrołęki.
13

1 4

�198

ADAM

CHĘTNIK

w karby, który przy toczeniu wałka z bielizną naciąga ją coraz mocniej
na wałek, wyrównując wszelkie fałdy i nierówności. Wspominam o walkownicy jeszcze i dlatego, że jest ona u każdej starannej gospodyni
i często jest ozdobiona pracowitymi motywami sztuki ludowej, robotą
rzeźbiarską . Bielizna czy fartuch po praniu nie maglowany wygląda
tak ,,jak psu wyciągnięty z gardzieli". Żelazka do prasowania od paru
dziesiątków lat są w użyciu u miejscowych krawców, ogół wiejski
dopiero zaczyna je lepiej poznawać.
15

1 5

Jak to widzimy np. w Muzeum w Łomży.

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            <elementTextContainer>
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          <element elementId="39">
            <name>Creator</name>
            <description>An entity primarily responsible for making the resource</description>
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              <elementText elementTextId="133382">
                <text>Mulkiewicz, Olga</text>
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            <name>Publisher</name>
            <description>An entity responsible for making the resource available</description>
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                <text>Ulga

Mulkiewicz

К
Wśród

N

N
wielu

prac

o ludowym

U

tkactwie

artystycz­

nym

b r a k j a k i e j k o l w i e k w z m i a n k i o t k a n i n i e ażuro­

wej.

Niewątpliwie

jest

to zagadnienie

nesowe i t e c h n i k a t a jest
dycyjnej

kulturze

stosunkowo
i

duży

odmienną

prawdopodobnie

ludowej,
zasięg,

zupełnie

raczej

jednak

ze

częstotliwość

technikę

tkaninę tę choćby pokrótce

obca

nia

Plastyki

tyczący
lasia

Ludowej,

Według

północnej

występowania

zdobniczą

—

części

nym

ostatniej

lub

po

informacja
przed

..uczyły
nie,

również

materiał

wszystkim

w

okresie

wojną

n i e udało

ze

światową,

się

roz­

jedynie

wsi na

jednak

stwierdzić,

Fraczek.

Na

ażurową
(jedynie

wspomiany

bawełny,

którą

wyżej

płótna;

warsztacie
i

następnie

od czterech

przystępując

dwunicielnicowym
przewleka

przez

d o szesnastu

do

że

rozwinięte,
młodsze

tkacz,

Fraczek
po

pracy

snuje

ażuro­
nazwis­

nici

lnia­

używał

do

rozkręceniu
tkaczka

osnowę

nicielnice

nitek w

jest

pasmami

—

zależności o d t e g o ,

1

ażurowa.
Ancuty,

Dolne
pow.

drewniany,

dobrze

ostrugany, t a k szeroki, j a k szerokie
i znów przerzuca

nić w ą t k u

potem

i

gładko

jest pasmo

określoną

a b y następnie w y j ą ć

pręt i założyć go n a

W

t e n sposób

się

uzyskuje

o kwadratowych
lonych

pasmami

tkania

nazywa

„tkaniem

„oczkach"

tkaninę
zbitego

się

w

zakończeniu

czenie

tkaniny:
nieco,

nitką

otrzymując

właściwe

wykoń­

lnianą,

czasem

najczęściej
ściąga

Pole, pow.
Hajnówka.

Sokołów.

t e n efekt,

owalu,

poszczególne

różne w z o r y .

T a k więc

luźne

ściągając

wę

t e n można z n ó w

Ściągając

otrzymuje

płótna,
wzór

że „ o c z k a " płótna nabierają

a owal

poziom.

luźny w ą t e k

szereg

kwadracików

przylegających

wykonuje

układać

zarówno

się
się

w

rodzaj
ludowej

patyk".

t k a n i a następuje

tkaczka

przedzie­

nitek. Ten

nomenklaturze

z p a t y k i e m " l u b „przez

Po

nowo.

szachownicową,
płótna,

luźno biegnących

osno­

ilość r a ­

zy,

rogami

do

w

pas l u b

jak i
ze

siebie.

t e n sposób, że

otrzy­
kształtu
osno­
zbitego

Następny

ściąga

się

po

parę n i c i luźnego w ą t k u i o s n o w y , o t r z y m u j ą c w k o ń ­
jak

nych

gdyby

szereg

kwadracików

mereżką. G d y p a s m a

osnowy

płótna

połączo­

i wątku

składają

się z p a r u n i t e k , a odstępy m i ę d z y n i m i
trzech

razy

większe

— wówczas

w

są d w a d o

miejscu

splotu

p r z e r a b i a się krzyżyk, obejmując n i m cały k w a d r a c i k .

na

rzadko

D l a przykładu podaję k i l k a
schematów:
Wieś
K o r y t n i c a , p o w . W ę g r ó w : 14 n i t e k , 14 oczek p u s t y c h
w nicielnicy. Wieś Dolne Pole, p o w . Sokołów: 4 n i t k i ,

П. 1. Tkanina
nina ażurowa.

pręt

muje

zawsze

otrzymywał

wkłada

p a s a m i r a z luźne części w ą t k u , a r a z o s n o w y ,

bardzo

się

ziew

przy­

przerzu­

j e d n y m paśmie o s n o w y ,

roznosi-

Pole, p o w . Sokołów,

używa

tkaczka

żadnym

kupionej w sklepie „liny"). T k a n i n a ta w y k o n a n a
splotem

w

cu
tkaninę

się

snucia

w

u m i e tkać w y ł ą c z n i e j e d e n

kiem

ile

oczek zostawia

k t o był

I n f o r m a t o r k i twierdzą,

firanki

n a t k a n i n i e . Następnie,
pustych

zakończeniu

tów, i l e n i t e k j e s t w

pasma,

od d r u g i e j " . N a t y m tere­
jest

wzór

stępuje d o t k a n i a : czółenkiem r o b i o n a t y l e

krótko

jedna

ludowe

być

nitek, tyle
1

grubszą

mody.

tkactwo

ma

n i c i e l n i c y . Po

wska­

się k o b i e t y

tkaczki, a w e w s i Dolne

tkania

do­
Pod­

t e j właśnie

gdzie

nych

z

światowej;

przyszła

_w

międzywojen­

sposób t k a n i a a ż u r ó w znają t y l k o z d o l n i e j s z e
we

Bada­

Lubelszczyzny.

wojnie

n a ażury

pierwszą

cielem

prowadzo­

do w s i Czekanów, p o w i a t Sokołów,

moda

wypadku

dopiero

gęsty

wy,

i n f o r m a t o r e k , t e c h n i k a t k a n i a ażurów
się

że

należy

I n s t y t u t S z t u k i , Sekcję
zebrano

powszechniła

zuje,

na

omówić.

t k a n i n y ażurowej, przede

oraz

tra­

względu

Podczas badań n a d t k a c t w e m l u d o w y m ,
n y c h przez Państwowy

margi­

jak

przewleczono

W

Tych

kilka

dotychczas
sy

z

wzorów

materiale.

Jaczewa,

Bielsk

występuje
Wyjątek

pow. Węgrów,

w

całym

stanowią
oraz

z

zebranym

tylko

obru­

Dubna,

pow.

Podlaski.

4 o c z k a p u s t e . W i e ś Bełcząc, p o w . L u b a r t ó w : 8 n i t e k ,
8 oczek p u s t y c h . W i e ś J a c z e w , p o w . W ę g r ó w : 15 n i ­
t e k , 15 o c z e k p u s t y c h .

II. 2. Tkanina

ażurowa.

Kunów,

pow.

Lubartów.

II. 3.

Tka­

37

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*.

П. 4, 5. Tkaniny

O b r u s ze w s i J a c z e w t k a n y
osnowa

nawinięta

przez

środek

jedna

nitka.

mieszczała

jest

przestrzeni
wątku

po

pomiędzy

Przerzucając

nici

jest w

pasmami

w

miejscach

czone są a ż u r o w e

pasmami

uzyskano

splotu

płótna,

Obrus

z Dubna

cały

na.

Podczas

dwóch
jednym

tkania,

prętów,

lecz

które t k a c z k a

poziomie

w

pewnej

są

roz­

stanowią

one

osno­

końcowym

osnową

nie

przetykaną.

ażur,

musiała

używane

rozmieścić

odległości

od

Rys.

Maria

Czarnecka

powiązanie

z

na
i

innej

techniki

uzyskuje

swój

rozmiesz­
charakter

firanki

do

występującą

t e r e n a c h tkaniną m e r e ż k o w ą ,
się

gdzie p r z y

bardzo

okien;

często

na

użyciu

zbliżony

efekt

zdobniczy.
Występują
Bielsk

one,

jak

Podlaski,

Hajnówka,

na

i

oryginalną

wspomniałam,

na

Lubelszczyźnie, a ściślej: w

dzyń, S i e d l c e , S o k o ł ó w ,

siebie.

n a której

względu

na obrusy

się

M a t e r i a ł y z e b r a n o w następujących w s i a c h : D u b no (Nurzec), Z a k r z e w o (Wyszki), p o w . B i e l s k Podlas­
k i ; A n c u t y (Trzścianka), p o w . Hajnówka;
Belcząc
(Czemierniki), K u n ó w (Firlej), p o w . Lubartów; D a n i ł o w o Duże ( O l e k s i n ) , p o w . Ł a p y ; R u d n o ( B r z o z o ­
w y K ą t ) , p o w . P a r c z e w ; W o l a Suchożebrska ( K r z e 2

ze

jedynie

i w północnej

płót­

używa

tych

tkanina,

kwadraty.

ażurowe

roz­

jak

jest splotem

uzyskać

t e n sposób powstała
Tkaniny

biegnie

tkaczka

z

tkaninę

wykonany

aby

nitek,

poszczególne p a s m a
wątku

Podlasia.

W

t e n s a m sposób

skrzyżowania

г

siedem

w y j a k o całości — w t e n sposób w e f e k c i e
w

ażurowe

t e n sposób, że

czółenkiem

mieściła osnowę, traktując

11

odmianę

Lubartów,

Podlasiu
powiatach

Łapy,

W ę g r ó w -, stanowiąc
tak

silnie

Ra­

swoistą

rozwiniętego

tam

tkactwa.

ślin), p o w . S i e d l c e ; C z a p l e
(Korczew);
Czekanów
(Jabłonna), Łuski (Jabłonna); D o l n e P o l e ( G r o c h ó w ) ;
P e t r y k o z y ; Z ą b k ó w ; Z e m b r ó w (Sterdyń), p o w . So­
kołów P o d l a s k i ; Jaczew, K o r y t n i c a (Korytnica), L i w
(Ruchna), p o w . Węgrów.
N a z w y g m i n podano w nawiasie.

— il. 1, 2, 3. Fot. Jan Swiderski

— il. 4. 5.

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                  <text>czasopismo</text>
                </elementText>
              </elementTextContainer>
            </element>
            <element elementId="40">
              <name>Date</name>
              <description>A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource</description>
              <elementTextContainer>
                <elementText elementTextId="25240">
                  <text>1958-</text>
                </elementText>
              </elementTextContainer>
            </element>
            <element elementId="47">
              <name>Rights</name>
              <description>Information about rights held in and over the resource</description>
              <elementTextContainer>
                <elementText elementTextId="25241">
                  <text>Licencja PIA</text>
                </elementText>
              </elementTextContainer>
            </element>
            <element elementId="42">
              <name>Format</name>
              <description>The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource</description>
              <elementTextContainer>
                <elementText elementTextId="25242">
                  <text>pdf</text>
                </elementText>
              </elementTextContainer>
            </element>
            <element elementId="44">
              <name>Language</name>
              <description>A language of the resource</description>
              <elementTextContainer>
                <elementText elementTextId="25243">
                  <text>polski</text>
                </elementText>
              </elementTextContainer>
            </element>
            <element elementId="39">
              <name>Creator</name>
              <description>An entity primarily responsible for making the resource</description>
              <elementTextContainer>
                <elementText elementTextId="25254">
                  <text>IAiE PAN ( d.IHKM PAN)</text>
                </elementText>
              </elementTextContainer>
            </element>
            <element elementId="45">
              <name>Publisher</name>
              <description>An entity responsible for making the resource available</description>
              <elementTextContainer>
                <elementText elementTextId="25255">
                  <text>IAiE PAN</text>
                </elementText>
              </elementTextContainer>
            </element>
          </elementContainer>
        </elementSet>
      </elementSetContainer>
    </collection>
    <itemType itemTypeId="1">
      <name>Text</name>
      <description>A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.</description>
    </itemType>
    <elementSetContainer>
      <elementSet elementSetId="1">
        <name>Dublin Core</name>
        <description>The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.</description>
        <elementContainer>
          <element elementId="46">
            <name>Relation</name>
            <description>A related resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="124589">
                <text>oai:cyfrowaetnografia.pl:publication:606</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="40">
            <name>Date</name>
            <description>A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="124590">
                <text>1967</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="43">
            <name>Identifier</name>
            <description>An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="124591">
                <text>oai:cyfrowaetnografia.pl:555</text>
              </elementText>
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          <element elementId="50">
            <name>Title</name>
            <description>A name given to the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="124592">
                <text>Tłoki na Kurpiach / ETNOGRAFIA POLSKA 1967 t.11</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="41">
            <name>Description</name>
            <description>An account of the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="124593">
                <text>ETNOGRAFIA POLSKA 1967 t.11, s.203-207</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="39">
            <name>Creator</name>
            <description>An entity primarily responsible for making the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="124594">
                <text>Chętnik, Adam</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="44">
            <name>Language</name>
            <description>A language of the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="124595">
                <text>pol.</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="45">
            <name>Publisher</name>
            <description>An entity responsible for making the resource available</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="124596">
                <text>Instytut Archeologii i Etnologii PAN, Instytut Historii Kultury Materialnej PAN</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="42">
            <name>Format</name>
            <description>The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="124597">
                <text>application/pdf</text>
              </elementText>
              <elementText elementTextId="124598">
                <text>application/pdf</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
        </elementContainer>
      </elementSet>
      <elementSet elementSetId="4">
        <name>PDF Text</name>
        <description>Text capture metadata for PDF documents</description>
        <elementContainer>
          <element elementId="52">
            <name>Text</name>
            <description/>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="124599">
                <text>ADAM

CHĘTNIK

TŁOKI NA KURPIACH
Od nestora etnografii
polskiej,
Adama Chętnika, doskonałego
znawcy
i zasłużonego badacza kultury
wsi Kurpiowskiej
Puszczy Zielonej
reda­
kcja otrzymała uwagi
dotyczące tradycyjnej
pomocy
sąsiedzkiej we
wsiach kurpiowskich,
polegającej na wspólnej pracy dużych grup
lud­
ności wsi. Praca ta nosi tradycyjną nazwę tłoki (tłuki). Zdając
sobie
sprawę z wartości nadesłanych materiałów jako źródła do
niedawnego
jeszcze, ale już zamykającego się rozdziału historii
wsi, drukujemy
je
w tej formie, w jakiej zostały nadesłane: jako encyklopedyczne
zestawie­
nie różnych rodzajów prac, przy których jeszcze w ciągu ostatnich
kilku­
dziesięciu lat występowała zwyczajowo
tłoka. Autor
omawia
również
prace zespołowe, które (jak sianokosy czy połów ryb) opierały się w ca­
łości lub częściowo na odpłatności w naturze
lub gotówce. Nadesłane
materiały dotyczą 1 pol. XX w., w tym w największej mierze
okresu
sprzed I wojny światowej
[Red.].
Zwózka drzewa budulcowego
na własną chałupę zawsze
p r a w i e odbywała się za pomocą tłuki. Ponieważ przeciętnie na nową
chałupę zużywano ok. 60—70 kloców sosnowych, trzeba więc było na to
do 30 f u r m a n e k l u b sań podwójnych (z zajdami)
do zwózki. I l e czasu na
to potrzebowałby sam gospodarz, jadąc do lasu raz na dzień albo i d w a
razy na odległość 5—10 k m . N a j m n i e j miesiąc, a i l e b y się namęczył,
ile b y wozów napsuł, k o n i zajeździł — to lepiej nie mówić. P r z y tłoce
zjechało zawsze 20 do 30 f u r m a n e k i za j e d n y m zamachem albo obró­
ciwszy jeszcze raz, p o z w o z i l i wszystko w ciągu jednego d n i a . A i na
w o z y łatwiej galdka (pień drzewa) włożyć w k i l k u i gdzieś pod górkę
pomóc n a przyprzążkę i p r z y jakiejś szkodzie sobie poradzić. Po zwózce
gospodarze, k r e w n i i sąsiedzi odprowadzą konie, dadzą i m o b r o k u , zapalą
f a j k i l u b papierosy, zjedzą olbiad s u t y z okrasiwem,
a czasem z p i w e m ,
wreszcie rozejdą się do domów, o t r z y m a w s z y szczere: „Panie Boże za­
płać!"

�204

ADAM

CHĘTNIK

Obróbka drzewa
budulcowego
też czasami o d b y w a się
za pomocą tłoki. A l e t u już schodzą się najbliżsi k r e w n i i sąsiedzi z piła­
m i i t o p o r a m i . D r z e w o popiłują na odpowiednie proste s z t u k i , obcieszą
z grubszego wióra i poukładają na laguny do dalszej obróbki. Tracze
z piłami przychodzą już za pieniądze. Tłoki do obróbki są albo również
za obiad z podwieczorkiem, albo za wynagrodzenie, n p . w obciosanych
wiórkach na opał i t p . , czasami w zbożu czy ziemniakach i t p .
B u d o w a d o m u też d a w n i e j odbywała się n a tłokę. N a K u r p i a c h
w każdym d o m u są cieśle, toteż g d y się zeszło z narzędziami 8—10 męż­
czyzn, t y l k o majster kierujący r o b o t a m i (o i l e n i m n i e był sam gospo­
darz) pobierał zapłatę dzienną z u t r z y m a n i e m , reszta zaś otrzymywała
całkowite u t r z y m a n i e i podziękowanie. D o m (długi przeciętnie na 5—6
sążni polskich) stawiano w t e d y (zrąb) w ciągu 8—10 d n i . Reszta m a j ­
strów — stolarze, mularze, szklarze, przychodziła t y l k o za gotówkę.
Przesuwanie
budynków
postawionych n a inne miejsce
w całości l u b przenoszenie i przewózka rozebranych na kolonie o d b y w a
się przeważnie gromadnie p r z y pomocy sąsiadów. D o zestawienia b u d y n ­
k u z oznaczonych nacięciami kawałków b y w a angażowany majster-cieśla, czasami płatny. Przesuwanie w całości budynków (niemieszkalnych
np. obórki, chlewy) mających wspólną podwalinę o d b y w a się w t e d y , g d y
b u d y n e k trzeba usunąć na i n n y plac l u b d l a poszerzenia podwórza, czy
też obórki. B u d y n e k opróżniony wewnątrz podnoszą do góry drągami
(dugują), podsuwając pod p o d w a l i n y okrągłe wałki, t a k b y toczyły się
w k i e r u n k u pożądanym. D w u d z i e s t u nieraz mężczyzn, popychając b u d y ­
nek drągami od tyłu i z boków l u b drągami na zajazdkę, przepchną go
ostatecznie na miejsce pożądane, często o dziesiątki metrów d a l e j .
Zwożenie
k a m i e n i . Idzie t u o w i e l k i e głazy, które czasami
leżą n a polach l u b paśnikach. G d y głaz uradzono postawić gdzieś na
rozstajkach
jako przyszłą podstawę do krzyża żelaznego czy i n n e j f i g u r y
w i o s k o w e j , to w p r a c y t a k i e j poza głównym m a j s t r e m brała z w y k l e
udział cała wioska. W y b i e r a n o najmocniejsze d w a (czasami jeden) w o z y
z d y l a m i w poprzek, p r z y k a m i e n i u kopano głęboki rów, żeby łatwiej
było kamień wtoczyć na wepchnięty t a m wóz, a g d y kamień za pomocą
drągów i łańcuchów znalazł się n a wozie, k i l k a k o n i wyciągało wóz
z wgłębienia i ciągnęło p o w o l i do w s i . I n n i po drodze pomagali drągami,
żeby wóz się nie przechylił i żeby kamień się n i e stoczył. Poczęstunku za
taką pomoc n i e żądano.
P r z ę d z e n i e l n u w ciągu z i m y jest uciążliwe d l a jednej k o b i e t y .
Toteż g d y było potrzeba więcej przędzy do krosien, urządzały również
i k o b i e t y swego r o d z a j u tłoki, zebrawszy sąsiadki-prządki na w s z y s t k i e
w i e c z o r y t y g o d n i a . N i e k i e d y przędło i c h 5 do 10. Opowiadano sobie p r z y
tej p r a c y ciekawe opowieści, zagadki w i e j s k i e (zagodywki),
śpiewano

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205

piosenki i t p . Był to początek późniejszych wieczornic.
Podobnie urządza­
ły się k o b i e t y p r z y t a r c i u l n u na cierlicach (międlicach), robiąc to w g r o ­
madce, po k i l k a .
Folowanie
s u k n a spod k r o s i e n na d o m o w y użytek również
odbywało się p r z y pomocy tłoki. Z w y k l e r o b i l i to chłopcy, 8 do 10 po są­
siedzku, w d o m u , gdzie był ręczny folus z o g r o m n y m smykiem do ciąga­
nia i u b i j a n i a sukna, które polewano gorącą wodą. Folowanie o d b y w a się
w i e c z o r a m i przed d o m e m p r z y świetle l a m p padającym z wewnątrz przez
okna, najczęściej późną jesienią l u b na początku g r u d n i a . Po d w u l u b
k i l k u g o d z i n n e j p r a c y o t r z y m y w a n o wspólną kolację i nic więcej. N i e ­
k i e d y sukno do f o l o w a n i a dawano z k i l k u chat naraz. W t e d y ze wszyst­
k i c h t y c h chat mężczyźni szli do pracy p r z y foluszu. T a k zostało do
ostatnich czasów.
K r a j a n i e k a p u s t y n a zimę jest też pewnego rodzaju tłoką
kobiecą. Wykonujące tę czynność k o b i e t y (krajacki)
schodzą się ze s w y ­
m i o s t r y m i nożami do chaty, gdzie zamierzają krajać kapustę na zimę
do jednej l u b dwóch beczek, zależnie od wielkości r o d z i n y . K o b i e t jest
przeciętnie 6 — 8 . Obsiadają na stołkach okrągłą balię i trzymając w l e ­
w e j ręce główkę obraną z b r u d n y c h i r o b a c z y w y c h liści prawą ręką szatkują kapustę nożem bardzo z w i n n i e i równo. Wkrótce z główki zostaje
głąb, na który czekają dzieci j a k o na przysmak. Chłopcy d o m o w i ostrzą
noże l u b ubijają krajaną kapustę w beczkach w i e l k i m i u b i j a k a m i z drze­
wa, specjalnie na t e n cel z r o b i o n y m i . U b i j a n i e k a p u s t y n o g a m i n i e jest
na K u r p i a c h w zwyczaju. W ciągu wieczora k o b i e t y Skraja nieraz k i l k a
k o p główek k a p u s t y . P o t e m otrzymują za to kolację, a n i e k i e d y chłopcy
przychodzą z muzyką i praca kończy się tańcami. N a następny wieczór
tłoka przenosi się d o i n n y c h sąsiadów.
T ł o k a ż n i w n a znana była t y l k o u większych gospodarzy r o l ­
nych, w leśniczówkach prowadzących gospodarstwa rolne, a n i e m a l do
ostatnich czasów n a gospodarstwach p r z y plebaniach. D a w n i e j dziesiątki
żniwacek (żniwiarek) z sierpami, a od niedawna kosiarzy z kosami sprzą­
t a l i zboże, a n i e k i e d y i owiązali w ciągu jednego d n i a . O t r z y m y w a l i za
to obiad i podwieczorek oraz b r a l i udział w dożynkach, o i l e te były
wyprawiane.
S i a n o k o s y p r z y pomocy tłoki odbywały się podobnie j a k żniwa
t y l k o u posiadaczy większych łąk nadrzecznych, potrzebujących dziesię­
c i u l u b więcej kośników n a dzień. N a d r u g i dzień, o ile praca była jeszcze
nie skończona, płacono już za nią. Po ścięciu t r a w y ta sama drużyna k o ­
siarzy przenosiła się na inną łąkę. W tłoce t a k i e j b r a l i udział przeważ­
nie zainteresowani, mający t a k i e same łąki. O t r z y m y w a l i całkowite u t r z y ­
manie dzienne, a w razie potrzeby noclegi. P r a c o w a l i od świtu d o nocy.

�206

ADAM

CHĘTNIK

T ł o k i w r y b o ł ó w s t w i e znane były d a w n i e j n a d r z e k a m i l u b
r y b n y m i j e z i o r a m i , szczególnie p r z y użyciu większych sieci, n p . n i e w o ­
dów. Zwoływał tłoki właściciel n i e w o d u , n p . raz na tydzień l u b co d w a
tygodnie w ciągu lata. Brał przeważnie l u d z i lubiących r y b a c t w o . Za
pracę dawał r y b y . Tłoki z i m o w e do łowienia r y b pod lodem przetrwały
do ostatnich czasów t a m , gdzie są dobre sieci, również n i e w o d y . Do rą­
bania otworów, przesuwania l i n , ciągnięcia n i e w o d u , p i l n o w a n i a m a t n i
i t p . potrzeba o k . 5—6 l u d z i , znających się na r y b a c t w i e . Dobiera i c h so­
bie właściciel sieci d w a l u b k i l k a razy w ciągu z i m y , daje za pracę r y b y
i rozgrzewkę. O i l e to jest dzierżawa wód r y b n y c h , dobiera stałych l u d z i
za zapłatą.
K o p a n i e s t u d z i e n jest ważną czynnością w wioskach i m i a ­
steczkach. D o niedawna, k i e d y nie było betonowych c e m b r o w i n , do w y ­
kopania s t u d n i kopano w i e l k i l e j o w a t y dół, nieraz do 10 i więcej metrów
głęboki, aż do w o d y bijącej z podziemnego źródła. Miejsce p r z e d t e m zna­
lazł i wskazał różdżkarz, ceniony przez ludność. Po w y k o p a n i u dołu
zakładano c e m b r o w i n y z drzewa, na węgieł, j a k w domach, l u b z k a ­
m i e n i , po c z y m dół dokoła c e m b r o w i n y zasypywano. Robiono t o wszystko
p r z y pomocy tłoki, ale t y l k o z t e j części w i o s k i czy też d z i e l n i c y m i a ­
steczkowej, gdzie chciano mieć swoją Studnię.
T ł o k i k o ś c i e l n e przetrwały do ostatnich czasów p r z y r e m o n ­
tach i odbudowie kościołów, n a p r a w i e cmentarzy, s t a w i a n i u pamiątko­
w y c h f i g u r , k a p l i c i t p . Roboty były bezpłatne, ze s w o i m posiłkiem cało­
d z i e n n y m . D o p r a c y szła młodzież i starsi z łopatami l u b w o z a m i , k o ­
lejno z każdej w s i danej p a r a f i i , aż do ukończenia większych robót. K o ­
lejność wyznaczał sołtys bez stosowania p r z y m u s u . Po ostatniej w o j n i e
w zniszczonych parafiach rzemieślnicy r o b i l i masowe tłoki dobrowolne
p r z y odbudowie mniejszych kościołów na użytek tymczasowy.
T ł o k i g r o m a d z k i e po g m i n a c h i osadach m i e j s k i c h p r z e t r w a ­
ły j a k o szarwark z nakazu władzy m i e j s k i e j . Były jednak podobne tłoki
po wioskach bez żadnego nakazu, dobrowolne. Z n a m wieś, gdzie grzązkie
i kwaśne łąki sprowadzały choroby na bydło, nie dawały siana, były
p r a w i e bezwartościowe (ok. 1900 г.). Za namową p a r u oczytanych gospo­
d a r z y cała wieś wzięła się d o p r a c y na przednówku, pokopano r o w y o d ­
pływowe, osuszono mokradła i w ciągu p a r u l a t p r a c y zbiorowej u p o ­
rządkowano całe łąki. Robiono d a r m o , z ochoty. Żywność zabierano z so­
bą. Po k i l k u dziesiątkach l a t mieszkańcy w s i w s p o m i n a l i t y c h pionierów
k u l t u r y r o l n e j , którzy namówili ludność do w y k o n a n i a pięknego dzieła.
Podobnie r o b i o n o b r u k i , ścieki, budowano d o m y gromadzkie, mosty, n a ­
p r a w i a n o p r o m y na rzekach i t p . Ludność zwoziła z ochotą k a m ie nie ,
żwir, ponieważ rząd zaborczy o t o mało dbał.

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207

T ł o k i p o d c z a s k l ę s k ż y w i o ł o w y c h połączone były z r a ­
t u n k i e m sąsiadów, całych osiedli i w ogóle w s z y s t k i c h , k t o potrzebował
r a t u n k u . A więc prace w i o s k o w e p r z y zasypanych śniegiem drogach, o d ­
k o p y w a n i u domów spod zasp śnieżnych, r a t u n k u w czasie pożarów (prze­
mianowane z czasem na ochotnicze straże pożarne) i t p . Znałem wieś,
gdzie w i a t r y zachodnie zasypywały zabudowania, ogrody i pola miałkim
piachem l o t n y m . Idąc za dobrą radą gospodarze wspólnymi siłami w y k o ­
p a l i w i e l k i rów z wałem o c h r o n n y m , a groblę (wał) obłożyli darniną
i obsadzili wikliną. P i a s k i l o t n e przestały odtąd szkodzić wiosce.
Z w o ż e n i e z a b y t k ó w . Rzadko to się zdarzało, ale były w y p a d ­
k i , że trzeba było zwieźć jakiś p o m n i k przeszłości z k a m i e n i a czy d r z e ­
w a , coś, co łechtało m i l e miejscowy p a t r i o t y z m l u b szlachetne ambicje.
Po wytłumaczeniu ludności i s t o t y rzeczy, ta pomagała gromadnie. P r z y
z d e j m o w a n i u z woza p r z y w i e z i o n e j z puszczy o l b r z y m i e j barci do m u z e ­
u m w Nowogrodzie p o d Łomżą, p r z y ciężkiej i niebezpiecznej pracy, p o ­
magało „na o c h o t n i k a " 16 najbliższych sąsiadów przyszłego m u z e u m ,
którzy p r z y s z l i z o d p o w i e d n i m i narzędziami. O t r z y m a n y po pracy p o ­
częstunek (piwo i biały chleb) był d l a n i c h miłą niespodzianką.
T a k i c h przykładów było pewnie i więcej w czasach odległych, k i e d y
ludność sama nieraz musiała pamiętać o s w y c h biedach, k i e d y zresztą,
mieszkając w z w a r t y c h wioskach, mogła prędko się ze sobą porozumieć,
zebrać i wspólnie wzajemną pomoc obmyśleć.

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                <text>11_Stieghorst.ps - 4/25/2007 2:12 PM

BERND S T IE G H O R S T

Tłum i jednostka

D

obrze pamiętam ten piękny wiosenny dzień
w marcu 1997 roku, w Nowym Jorku, kiedy
poszedłem do Muzeum Guggenheima, żeby
obejrzeć Kolekcję Nasherów. Przechadzałem się leni­
wie pomiędzy indywidualnymi ekspozycjami słynnych
rzeźbiarzy. W końcu, w wydzielonej przestrzeni na naj­
wyższym piętrze, natknąłem się na całą armię postaci
zbitych w gęsty tłum. Ustawiono je jakby w szyku bo­
jowym. Chociaż bezgłowe i puste w środku, wywoły­
wały swoim wyglądem niezrozumiały lęk!
N a początku byłem przestraszony. Spontaniczna
chęć odwrotu skłoniła mnie do zatrzymania się na
dłużej. Wielkie zakłopotanie przerodziło się w szcze­
gólne zainteresowanie dla tej grupy postaci. Zbliżyłem
się, nieco podejrzliwie, i dotknąłem jednej czy dwóch
figur (na szczęście nie było w sali strażnika). Gładzi­
łem wyżłobienia w nich. Przyglądałem się uważnie
każdej z osobna. Żadna z trzydziestu sześciu postaci
nie była kopią innej. Czasem różnice były niewielkie,
dotyczyły jedynie rozmiaru bądź postury, ale każda
pojedyncza rzeźba, każdy członek „tłumu”, był osobną
jednostką!
W twórczości Magdaleny Abakanowicz grupa
rzeźb nazywana Tłumem ma szczególne znaczenie. Od
lat 70. liczba bezgłowych i pustych w środku form
symbolizujących ciało ludzkie narastała z roku na rok.
Do dzisiaj musi ich być ponad tysiąc pięćset, ale nigdy
nie zaprezentowano ich naraz. Wyobraźmy sobie moż­
liwość ujrzenia tych wszystkich grup i indywidualnych
postaci w jednym miejscu...
Zwykle zaludniają światowe muzea i kolekcje
w grupach od dwudziestu do dwustu bezgłowych, wy­
drążonych skorup. Wypełnione wewnętrzną pustką
stanowią niemą wizję ogromnej i przypuszczalnie ano­
nimowej masy.
Każdy zwiedzający dostrzega ten sam fenomen tym bardziej oczywisty im bliżej „tłumu” - powierz­
chownie anonimowa, seryjna produkcja okazuje się
pracami indywidualnymi. Nagła świadomość, że każdy
pojedynczy „członek” tej masy jest wyróżniającą się in­
dywidualnością, wzbudza niemal zachwyt.

Z drugiej strony, przyjrzyjmy się Inkarnacjom A ba­
kanowicz, które wydają się niezwykle kontrastowe
wobec „tłumów”. Są to kompozycje przedstawiające
jej własną głowę osadzoną na wątłym i kruchym że­
laznym pręcie. Powierzchnie tych rzeźb pokrywają
resztki wosku, fragmenty żelaza z odlewu i ślady jej
własnych rąk, których specjalnie nie usunęła. Cho­
ciaż wszystkie rzeźby są kopiami tej samej twarzy,
każda z nich reprezentuje pojedynczy, ulotny mo­
ment w czasie. Delikatne ślady szybko twardniejące­
go wosku przypominają impresjonistyczne rzeźby
Medardo Rosso, który w sposób niemal mistyczny
obrazował indywidualność za pomocą ustawionych
rzędami głów.
Cykl Inkarnacje, na który składa się 50 odlewów
twarzy ustępuje Tłumom pod względem liczby rzeźb,
jednak pozostaje równie istotnym dziełem w twórczo­
ści Magdaleny Abakanowicz. Pracując nad odlewami
własnej twarzy, artystka eksploruje swój własny byt.
Ona sama twierdzi, że rezultaty tej pracy zaskoczyły ją.
Inkarnacje ujawniły jej fragmenty skrywanego pod ży­
wym obliczem chaosu. Każda z tych nieruchomych
metalicznych twarzy ukazuje wymyślony lub prawdzi­
wy wyimek z życia artystki.
Poprzez Tłumy i Inkarnacje Magdalena Abakano­
wicz udowodniła, że jest artystką głęboko humani­
styczną. Zajęła także klarowne stanowisko w sprawach
politycznych, wywodzące się oczywiście z jej życiowe­
go doświadczenia. Już jako mała dziewczynka zaznała
okropności wojny, później przeżyła praską wiosnę i in­
wazję radziecką w 1968 roku. N a stacji kolejowej
w Pradze widziała masy śpiących radzieckich żołnierzy
w brązowych płóciennych mundurach. Ich nierucho­
me ciała przypominały anonimowe worki z ubraniami.
Istota ludzka oraz uczucia i lęki egzystencjalne sta­
ły się centralnym tematem twórczości Abakanowicz.
Widać to w jej wszystkich pracach. Chociaż na pierw­
szy rzut oka Tłumy i Inkarnacje nie mają ze sobą nic
wspólnego, uważniejsze spojrzenie pozwala zauważyć,
że w obu wypadkach Abakanowicz koncentruje się na
temacie jednostki ludzkiej.
Dzisiejsze społeczeństwo zwykle przywiązuje więcej
wagi do grupy niż do pojedynczego człowieka. Lęk
przeważa nad odwagą, a prawo i porządek są ważniej­
sze od wolności. A jednak społeczeństwo, każda jego
warstwa, składa się z jednostek, które muszą określić
swoje role w grupie. Jedna z podstawowych prawd do­
tyczących ludzkiej egzystencji to fakt, że jednostka
i masa są ze sobą połączone niewidzialnymi więzami.
Magdalenie Abakanowicz udało się zobrazować to zja­
wisko. Ujawniła przy tym zarówno wielki humanita­
ryzm, jak niezachwiane przekonanie o mocy jednostki.

110

Zürich, 19 lipca, 2006
Przełożyła Agata Diduszko-Zyglewska

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(Alnus)
Oprac. Agnieszka Lebeda
Kier. naukowe Zygmunt Kłodnicki

Kwestionariusz nr 11 „Wiedza i wierzenia ludowe": Czy dawniej opowiadali, dlaczego olcha ma
czerwoną korę?
Objaśnienia znaków: K o r a olchowa jest czerwona wskutek: 1 — działalności diabla; 2 — powieszenia
się na niej człowieka; 3 — śmierci człowieka; 4 — przeznaczenia olchy na krzyż Chrystusa; 5 — inne
odpowiedzi; 6 — brak tradycji; 7 — brak odpowiedzi.

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          <elementContainer>
            <element elementId="50">
              <name>Title</name>
              <description>A name given to the resource</description>
              <elementTextContainer>
                <elementText elementTextId="25235">
                  <text>Polska Sztuka Ludowa - Konteksty</text>
                </elementText>
              </elementTextContainer>
            </element>
          </elementContainer>
        </elementSet>
      </elementSetContainer>
    </collection>
    <itemType itemTypeId="1">
      <name>Text</name>
      <description>A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.</description>
    </itemType>
    <elementSetContainer>
      <elementSet elementSetId="1">
        <name>Dublin Core</name>
        <description>The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.</description>
        <elementContainer>
          <element elementId="46">
            <name>Relation</name>
            <description>A related resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="128691">
                <text>oai:cyfrowaetnografia.pl:publication:6560</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="47">
            <name>Rights</name>
            <description>Information about rights held in and over the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="128692">
                <text>Licencja PIA</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="40">
            <name>Date</name>
            <description>A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="128693">
                <text>2005</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="49">
            <name>Subject</name>
            <description>The topic of the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="128694">
                <text>Gierałtowski, Krzysztof</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="43">
            <name>Identifier</name>
            <description>An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="128695">
                <text>oai:cyfrowaetnografia.pl:6132</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="50">
            <name>Title</name>
            <description>A name given to the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="128696">
                <text>To nie stało się dzisiaj - rozmowa z Krzysztofem Gierałtowskim na wystawie "Twarz jako znak"Polska Sztuka Ludowa - Konteksty 2005 t.59 z.1</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="41">
            <name>Description</name>
            <description>An account of the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="128697">
                <text>Polska Sztuka Ludowa - Konteksty 2005 t.59 z.1 s.135-150</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="39">
            <name>Creator</name>
            <description>An entity primarily responsible for making the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="128698">
                <text>Benedyktowicz, Zbigniew</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="44">
            <name>Language</name>
            <description>A language of the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="128699">
                <text>pol</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="45">
            <name>Publisher</name>
            <description>An entity responsible for making the resource available</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="128700">
                <text>Instytut Sztuki PAN</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="51">
            <name>Type</name>
            <description>The nature or genre of the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="128701">
                <text>czas.</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="42">
            <name>Format</name>
            <description>The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="128702">
                <text>application/pdf</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
        </elementContainer>
      </elementSet>
      <elementSet elementSetId="4">
        <name>PDF Text</name>
        <description>Text capture metadata for PDF documents</description>
        <elementContainer>
          <element elementId="52">
            <name>Text</name>
            <description/>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="128703">
                <text>ZBIGNIEW
BENEDYKTOWICZ

To nie stało się dzisiaj
- rozmowa z Krzysztofem
Gierałtowskim na wystawie
Twarz jako znak.
Królikarnią, czerwiec 2005 *

Zatrzymujemy się przy fotografii EwyPodleś
K r z y s z t o f G i e r a ł t o w s k i : To było w jej apartamen­
cie, gdzieś na W o l i i o d w a m e t r y o d nas w trakcie
dwugodzinnej pracy stał barek obficie zaopatrzony, ale
p r i m a d o n n a nie pomyślała, że napiłbym się chociaż
szklankę wody, więc po pierwszej godzinie zacząłem
polować na jej m i n k i . . . T o jest zdjęcie m n i e j więcej z ja­
kiegoś 8 1 . r o k u . Jak jej pokazałem p o t e m rezultat, t o
powiedziała, że ona zadzwoni gdzie trzeba i zostanę po­
uczony. A l e widocznie zgubiła n u m e r t e l e f o n u , bo nie
zostałem pouczony i to zdjęcie ukazało się w „Itd."
przy wywiadzie z nią jako t a k i , o d czasu do czasu, prze­
r y w n i k humorystyczny...
Z b i g n i e w B e n e d y k t o w i c z : A na t y m zdjęciu ks.
Tischnera czy t o już w t e d y rodziła się i miała początek
dziś realizowana przez Pana koncepcja robienia por­
t r e t u „bez twarzy"?
K . G . To powstało w t e n sposób, że o n mieszkał
w t y m d o m u księży profesorów w K r a k o w i e i posze­
dłem do niego, i jego t e n p o k o i k - k a j u t a był tak zawa­
lony papierami, że nie było t a m żadnego neutralnego
tła, wobec tego wyszliśmy na klatkę schodową, i to m i
się spodobało, że jednocześnie

to miasto było za

o k n e m , a t u t a j o n był w kontrze, a na dodatek t e n
krzyż z tego o k n a - i tak t o zrobiłem. Zresztą z tej se­
r i i , jest t a k i i n n y p o r t r e t już z twarzą, na okładce książ­
k i , która wyszła z zeszłym r o k u w „Znaku":
Z Tischnerem

Rozmowy

i t a m t o zdjęcie jest w tej książce...

Z . B . Po raz pierwszy na tej wystawie umieścił Pan
pod zdjęciami rozbudowane podpisy, komentarz, n o ­
t a t k i , okoliczności w j a k i c h powstały, pańską pamięć
o t y c h ludziach i zdjęciach jaka się z n i m i wiąże ale nie
umieścił pan dat, w których powstały...
K.G.

Powiem zupełnie szczerze, daty wynikają

z p e w n y c h kontekstów, wskazują na pewne konteksty,
natomiast ja niechętnie zdradzam k o n k r e t n e lata, po­
nieważ w t e d y ludzkość wymagałaby ode m n i e , aby
moja twórczość była krzywą wznoszącą się. A ponie­
waż moja twórczość jest sinusoidą, raz m i się udawało,
a raz „leciałem na mordę", wobec czego nie c h c ę , nie
c h c ę datować specjalnie, żeby nie powiedziano: „no
jak t o , a t o się cofnął w r o z w o j u " .

ks. Józef Tischner, Fot. Krzysztof Gierałtowski

135

�T O N I E S T A Ł O SIĘ DZISIAJ - R O Z M O W A Z K R Z Y S Z T O F E M G I E R A Ł T O W S K I M N A W Y S T A W I E T W A R Z J A K O Z N A K .

Feliks Topolski, Fot. Krzysztof Gierałtowski
Z . B . Dlatego p y t a m o daty, że na tej wystawie, w i ­
dać jak te idee pańskie „Twarz jako znak" albo „ludzie
bez twarzy" rodziły się już wcześniej jeszcze na etapie
fotografii czarnej. N a przykład Czapski...
K . G . N o t a k , oczywiście. To jest zdjęcie m n i e j
więcej z połowy lat 80., chyba na d w a czy trzy lata
przed jego śmiercią. Już był bardzo zmęczony, bo d o ­
słownie po k i l k u m i n u t a c h , kiedy mogłem jeszcze zro­
bić zdjęcia twarzy o n po p r o s t u zasnął. Zasnął, głowa
m u opadła na ramię, ale zobaczyłem w t y m m o m e n ­
cie te ręce, które tak leżały, bardzo piękne, arystokra­
tyczne ręce i tak t o utrwaliłem. M a m również takie
zdjęcia z twarzą, ale uważam, że to jest dużo bardziej
wymowne.

Stanisław Lorentz, Fot. Krzysztof Gierałtowski

I Jonasz Kofta, Fot. Krzysztof Gierałtowski

Józef Czapski, Fot. Krzysztof Gierałtowski
136

�T O N I E S T A Ł O SIĘ DZISIAJ - R O Z M O W A Z KRZYSZTOFEM G I E R A Ł T O W S K I M N A W Y S T A W I E T W A R Z J A K O Z N A K .

Z . B . Jak to doświadczenie (z t a m t y c h czarno-bia­
łych fotografii) m a się do tego, co obecnie p a n r o b i , do
tej ingerencji w obraz, jego przetwarzanie (kolor, k o m ­
puter, w y d r u k )

7

K . G . Ja traktuję zarówno moje zdjęcia nowe, j a k
i stare tak samo, ponieważ ja uważam, że negatyw jest
surowcem do tworzenia obrazu. Jeśli chodzi o sposoby
tradycyjne ja naświetlam - n p . t a k i m jest zdjęcie Fe­
liksa Topolskiego, które w sposób klasyczny robiłem,
naświetlam pozytyw w 12 fazach, t u rozjaśniając, t u
przyciemniając i t d . , i t d . . . . K o m p u t e r pomaga m i w t y m
niepomiernie, b o tak jak tutaj w przypadku Jonasza
Kofty negatyw jest negatywem k w a d r a t o w y m , a ponie­
waż ze względów organizacyjno-technicznych zdjęcia
p o w i n n y mieć j e d n ą wielkość, żeby się lepiej mieściły
w skrzyniach t r a n s p o r t o w y c h , to musiałem z k w a d r a ­
t u zrobić prostokąt, wobec tego odbiłem lustrzanie
dolną część twarzy K o f t y stwarzając obraz prostokątny.
A tutaj z k o l e i w stosunku do Ryszarda W i n i a r s k i e g o
zdjęcie samego m o d e l a jest klasyczne, z t y m że w pier­
w o t n e j wersji o n patrzył na nas, obecnie zrobiłem w y ­
d r u k ponieważ

chciałem

mieć c h m u r k i .

Chmurki

mógłbym pewnie o d biedy skopiować metodą trady­
cyjną i zrobić i n n e rzeczywiste c h m u r y a tutaj jest ta­
kie maskowanie chmur...zresztą to pomaga. A l e te
moje zdjęcia ciągle się zmieniają, bo n p . profesor L i ­
piński jeszcze n a mojej stronie i n t e r n e t o w e j m a całą
głowę, a t u t a j została przycięta, kadr został zbliżony

Ryszard Winiarski, Fot. Krzysztof Gierałtowski

ponieważ wtedy te oczy bardziej się jarzą. I tutaj też
m a m y do czynienia z ingerencją klasyczną, bo to jest
papierek na c i e n k i m d r u c i k u , który pozwolił rozjaśnić
okolice oczu, p r a w d a . To, że ja działając k o m p u t e r e m ,
przemieniam obraz, walor obrazu, to nie stało się dzi­
siaj. K o m p u t e r jest narzędziem, które pomaga m i to
dzisiaj zrobić. N a t o m i a s t nie ma takiego p r o b l e m u , że
to r a p t e m Gierałtowski chwycił się, jak Pana Boga za
n o g i , za k o m p u t e r . Przedtem to były papierki na d r u ­
c i k u , włożone ręce, wycięte maski z k a r t o n u w trakcie

1

kopiowania i t d . , i t d
A t u jest 100%,

9k

klasyczne zdjęcie - G i e r o w s k i .

Wydawało m i się po p r o s t u , że te jego pasy w jego m a ­
larstwie są ważne, więc poszedłem do niego z t a k i m
ścinkiem lustra i prosiłem go, żeby to trzymał. To jest
zupełnie klasyczne, więc właściwie widz wpuszczony
na te wystawę nie jest w stanie odróżnić t e c h n i k . To
zresztą jest nieważne jaką techniką to jest zrobione.
Ważny jest skutek.
Z . B . A to D u d a - Gracz...
K . G . A t o n o r m a l n i e położyłem Dudzie — Graczo­
w i autentyczne kawałki rozbitej szyby samochodowej.
Pamiętam, że wiozłem to do K a t o w i c jak relikwię d o ­
słownie, bo b a ł e m się, że m i się to rozsypie zanim m u
to położę na oczach. A l e to pozwala m i asocjować t o ,
co uważam za najprawdziwsze w twórczości D u d y -Gracza, a m i a n o w i c i e t o jego satyryczne malarstwo
p o d naszym adresem. I tak jak w tej bajce o źdźble l u ­
Profesor Edward Lipiński, Fot. Krzysztof Gierałtowski

stra w sercu chłopca, to tak ja tutaj odwołuję się, cią-

137

�T O N I E S T A Ł O SIĘ DZISIAJ - R O Z M O W A Z KRZYSZTOFEM G I E R A Ł T O W S K I M N A W Y S T A W I E T W A R Z J A K O Z N A K .

gle zresztą, nie tylko t u t a j , do p e w n y c h archetypów
k u l t u r o w y c h . Tak jak n p . w t y m portrecie niedawno
powstałym - Waldemara Świerzego, gdzie t r u d n o jest
go zrozumieć jeśli nie zna się p l a k a t u Świerzego z lat
70.,

plakatu cyrkowego, prezentującego

klowna

w przezroczystym cylindrze, bo to są te nawiązania.
Ukazał się w „Pozytywie" teraz artykuł na mój temat,
który jest zatytułowany Problemy z Gieraltowskim.

Pro­

b l e m e m Gierałtowskiego jest również to, że te zdjęcia
związane są z naszym polskim „tu i teraz". Ze one znaj­
dują t u dodatkowe relacje wzajemne, że dopiero żyjąc
t u możemy te odniesienia odczytywać. Bo zarówno
wspaniałość jak i śmieszność naszych współczesnych
w y n i k a również z p e w n y c h kontekstów społecznych.
To jest właśnie Feliks Topolski, to jest to zdjęcie
o którym mówiłem. Jakbym pokazał Panu surową o d ­
bitkę tego, to to w ogóle było nie t a k . Były bardzo waż­
ne te książki, ta twarz tego niemowlęcia n i k n i e zupeł­
nie, dopiero ją trzeba było wyciągnąć maskując. Jak
byłem w L o n d y n i e w p r a c o w n i Topolskiego i robiłem
m u zdjęcia, o n malował taką grupę grajków irlandz­
Jerzy Gierowski, Fot. Krzysztof Gieraltowski

k i c h , i w przerwie tej sesji malarskiej, kiedy o n odpo­
czywał popijając koniaczek, zobaczyłem dziecko na
pierwszym planie, które ci Irlandczycy przynieśli ze so­
bą i t o wydawało m i się takie symboliczne: właściwie
nieświadome siebie dzieciństwo i doświadczenie czło­
wieka...
To zdjęcie właśnie pokazuje, że w momencie, kiedy
ja operowałem we wnętrzach n a t u r a l n y c h , na ulicach,
nie mogłem panować n a d światłem, wobec czego m u ­
siałem pomagać sobie p o t e m w opracowaniu obrazu.
Naturalnie

moim

zyskiem dziś, jeżeli

fotografuję

w p r a c o w n i jest to, że mogę precyzyjnie sterować świa­
tłem i k o l o r e m . A l e z k o l e i rozmawiałem wczoraj
z k o m p o z y t o r e m p a n e m Mikołajem Góreckim, który
Jerzy Duda-Gracz, Fot. Krzysztof Gieraltowski

jest chory, gdzieś mieszka pod Zakopanem,.... a ja go
muszę mieć u siebie w studio, bo m a m nowy pomysł na
jego p o r t r e t . . . I wobec tego to jest zarówno dobrodziej­
stwo, jak i przekleństwo. Jak również to, że w kolorze
pracuję k a m e r a m i większego f o r m a t u , co

najmniej

średniego, co daje możliwość eksploracji materialności
ciała ludzkiego, co w t y m o s t a t n i m czasie, w o s t a t n i c h
sześciu latach kiedy tobie kolor, stało się szalenie istot­
n y m c z y n n i k i e m opisu ludzi. Bo n p . sięgając właśnie
do p o r t r e t u Lema widać całą wspaniałość jak i nędzę
naszej egzystencji. W i d a ć tutaj bezradność wspaniałe­
go starego człowieka, który się zaciął, a tutaj się nie
dogolił i t d . , i t d . . .
Bo proszę wziąć p o d uwagę to, jak ja operowałem,
tak jak tutaj w fotografiach czarnych, f i l m e m wysokoczułym, który rozbijał obraz ziarnem, poza t y m ostrość
była w j e d n y m planie. Proszę zobaczyć, kiedy byśmy
porównali ostrość tego zdjęcia ze współczesnymi zdję­
c i a m i k o l o r o w y m i , to z jednej strony nastąpiła szalona
zmiana warsztatu. Ja musiałem się nauczyć operowa­
nia dużo bardziej nieporęczną kamerą, ale z tego m a m
również zysk: właśnie ta notacja materialności, ale

Waldemar Świerży, Fot. Krzysztof Gieraltowski
138

�T O N I E S T A Ł O SIĘ DZISIAJ - R O Z M O W A Z KRZYSZTOFEM G I E R A Ł T O W S K I M N A W Y S T A W I E T W A R Z J A K O Z N A K .

z drugiej strony ludzie się z m i e n i l i ! To jest ta podsta­
wowa trudność!...Otóż wymarła cała generacja, j a k ja
i c h nazywam: „tych starych szlachciców". Już dziś nie
mógłby powstać t a k i p o r t r e t jak profesora Kazimierza
Michałowskiego, który powstał dzięki t e m u , że po se­
sji profesor uznał za swój obowiązek odprowadzić m n i e
do granicy swojej posiadłości, to znaczy piętnaście me­
trów do f u r t k i i włożył w t y m celu specjalnie płaszcz,
kapelusz i dopiero w t e d y tak ubrany wyszedł ze m n ą .
Ponieważ wtedy padał śnieg, to był refleks o d śniegu
i zobaczyłem to oko, j a k oko rzeźby egipskiej, wypeł­
n i o n e czarnym hebanem. I wtedy to natychmiast asocjowałem.
I to jest właśnie bardzo ważne, że ludzie się zmieni­
l i . Ja mówię dzisiaj, że ja muszę dziś m o i m współcze­
snym pomagać, ja i c h muszę barwić charakteryzacją,
żeby dodać i m indywidualności...
Z . B . A l b o żeby czasem wydobyć taką istotna ce­
chę, rys, znak, czasem fragment... A czasem przy po­
mocy k o l o r u , jak w przypadku p o r t r e t u Karskiego. Ja
pamiętam tę poprzednią czerwoną wersję, z poprzed­
n i c h wystaw...
K . G . N o tak, właśnie. C h o d z i o t o , ze ja ciągle szu­
k a m . Ze t a m t o w czerwieni było już nawet wystawione
na wystawie, ale ciągle byłem niezadowolony. Potem
znalazłem taką klatkę, na której o n t a k i pełen nadziei
jakby, patrzy w górę. Też zrobiłem kopię wystawową
i...ciągle byłem niezadowolony. A to jest w y d r u k k o m ­

Kazimierz Michałowski, Fot. Krzysztof Gierałtowski

puterowy, ponieważ t r a d y c y j n y m i m e t o d a m i nie moż­
na było uzyskać tak zimnej gamy barwnej, tak jak t u ­
taj. I wobec tego poszedłem do k o ń c a zimna skali tra­
dycyjnego

powiększalnika

operującego

fotografią

barwną, wziąłem to zdjęcie, zeskanowałem, i p o t e m
już w komputerze dalej ciągnąłem w stronę z i m n y c h
odcieni. N a t u r a l n i e tej pierwszej wersji Karskiego t o ­
warzyszyła też pewna myśl: o n był tak, jak oświetlony
odblaskiem pożogi wojny. Wyobrażałem sobie, że go
pokazuję w o d b i c i u łuny, łuny pożaru, łuny holokaustu
i to też znajdowało jakieś wytłumaczenie, stwarzało ja­
kąś interpretację. A l e ja myślę, że i ta interpretacja ma
swoją moc. W końcu m a m y chyba już w tej c h w i l i pięć
lat po jego śmierci i o n wygląda t u tak j a k b y m go eks­
humował. Przy czym t o bardzo dziwna reakcja przy
t y m zdjęciu, ponieważ wielu ludziom to zdjęcie się po­
doba, ale n i k t nie chciałby go mieć...
Z . B . Dlaczego Głowacki w t y c h tonach?
K . G . Głowacki jako k o n d o t i e r literatury świato­
wej, jak t e n z p o m n i k a na dziedzińcu A k a d e m i i Sztuk
Pięknych w Warszawie. N o t a bene będę się starał zro­
bić t a m t e m u p o r t r e t , bo być może użyję go na okład­
kę katalogu, w każdym bądź razie będę próbował.
Kołakowski jest też w y d r u k i e m , ponieważ ciało sta­
rego człowieka jest sinofioletowe w rzeczywistości.
Wobec czego n a t u r a l i z m tej siności i f i o l e t u zarzynałby
każdą intencję obrazu, więc musiałem to znowu ska­
nować i znaleźć taką kolorystykę, która byłaby kolory­
styką praktycznie maksymalnie neutralną, żeby nie by-

Jan Karski, Fot. Krzysztof Gierałtowski

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to tego odrzucenia.
Z . B . K i e r u n e k zwiedzania, oglądania tej wystawy
jest t a k i , że o d portretów najnowszych w kolorze, prze­
chodzimy do czarno-białych...
K G .

Tak.

Z . B . Dlaczego mówiąc o tej wystawie „Twarz jako
znak" powiedział Pan: zapraszam na moją wystawę
„ludzi bez twarzy"? T u jest pewna dwuznaczność: raz
dotyczy to ludzi n o w y c h , których pokazuje Pan t a k i m i
j a k i m i są, ci współcześni, którzy często pojawiają się
na pierwszych stronach gazet. A i n n y m razem j a k
w przypadku p o r t r e t u ks. Tischnera chociaż pokazane­
go bez twarzy ale z wielką siłą...
K.G

działania. Tak, ale proszę spojrzeć na to

zdjęcie A x e r a , ponieważ ja chciałem osiągnąć efekt,
powiedzieć, że o n jest magiem t e a t r u , prawda, taką
wróżką, która patrzy w szklaną kulę. I wobec tego to
było ważniejsze o d pokazania twarzy simplicité.

Czy

proszę spojrzeć tutaj na t e n p o r t r e t Drzewieckiego,
nieważne jest t o czy o n był mały, rudy, istotne jest t o ,
że to jest p o r t r e t człowieka, który się bardzo stara, bo
ja go odwiedziłem dosłownie na k i l k a m i n u t przed pre­
mierą, kiedy już ludzie w c h o d z i l i do sali t e a t r u , a o n
jeszcze udzielał o s t a t n i c h i n s t r u k c j i s w o i m tancerzom.
To jest najważniejsze. Myślę, że moja świadomość t y c h
m o i c h dążeń wcześniejszych stała się bardziej oczywi­
sta dopiero w momencie pracy w kolorze, wcześniej to
były takie oderwane usiłowania, natomiast praktycz­
nie można powiedzieć, że o d m o m e n t u zdjęcia Czap­
skiego, dokładniej mówiąc, wyjęcia zdjęcia Czapskiego
z a r c h i w u m , bo nie o d m o m e n t u kiedy ja je zrobiłem,
bo trzeba t u rozróżnić m o m e n t pewnego spontanicz­
nego działania o d m o m e n t u świadomego kształtowa­
nia pewnego zbioru wystawowego i pewnego przekazu.
Twarz — proszę spojrzeć: to zdjęcie Wajdy, gdzie wszy­
scy mówią: „O nie widać, czy to na pewno Wajda?"
D l a m n i e istotniejsze w gruncie rzeczy było to, że to
jest człowiek naznaczony światłem. Bo ja to zdjęcie
zrobiłem na proscenium Teatru Starego w K r a k o w i e ,
kiedy w trakcie próby o n patrzył na scenę, a ja pobie­
głem, żeby rozsunąć kotary, mniej więcej trzydzieści
metrów, w tło pomiędzy jego twarzą a t y m światłem,
które powstało z rozsunięcia kotar na o k n i e . . . I ważne
jest światło i to przepływanie światła. Proszę zwrócić
uwagę, że tak naprawdę t o przepływanie światła jest
już wzięte z następnej k l a t k i - bo zrobiłem serię zdjęć,
dzięki t e m u to światło, „naznaczenie światłem". Ja dla­
tego nazywam to nie tyle p o r t r e t e m Wajdy, nazywam
t o „sytuacją W a j d y " , bo to był m o m e n t , kiedy o n robił
t a m Z biegiem lat, z biegiem dni...", kiedy o n był właści­
wie na zupełnym indexie. Czy dramatyczna sytuacja
Jerzego A d a m s k i e g o - do zrozumienia którego dopro­
wadziło m n i e t o , że kiedy przyszedłem do niego zoba­
czyłem n a ścianie zawieszoną, rozkwaszoną dosłownie
„Omegę", zegarek jego ojca. I o n m i powiedział: tak,
to jest „Omega" mojego ojca, którą N i e m c y przysłali
m i z Oświęcimia, po jego śmierci. I ja w t e d y zdałem

K o n r a d D r z e w i e c k i , Fot. Krzysztof G i e r a l t o w s k i

140

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sobie sprawę, że t e n człowiek żył po w o j n i e w przera­
żeniu. I być może dlatego się niejako zaprzedał, dlate­
go chciał być m i n i s t r e m kultury, chciał działać i t d . ,
i t d . . . D l a t e g o przyszedłem do niego p o t e m d r u g i raz
z czarnym bandażem i powiedziałem: Panie Profesorze
proszę sobie zabandażować głowę. Zresztą o n bardzo
lubił t e n p o r t r e t .
Z . B . A t o Jarocki?
K.G.

Z Jarockim była taka sytuacja, że byłem

w K r a k o w i e i o n t a m pracował ze s t u d e n t a m i , i ja m u
zaproponowałem, że m u zrobię takie zdjęcie jak o n
idzie p l a n t a m i w m e l o n i k u i stosownym płaszczu. A o n
się żachnął, powiedział ależ ja jestem

człowiekiem

sportowo u b r a n y m , proszę spojrzeć. A ja m u na t o mó­

Erwin Axer, Fot. Krzysztof Gieraltowski

wię dobrze, dobrze, jak Pan jest ubrany t o nieważne.
A l e zupełnie nie chciał, nie chciał się na t o zgodzić.
Wobec tego ja poszedłem do niego do d o m u i zrobiłem
m u zdjęcie dosłownie na pół sekundy z ręki, co dało
t e n efekt takiego rozmazania a ja c h c i a ł e m wyrazić at­
mosferę rozedrgania.
Czy t u t a j m a m y Brzozowskiego. To jest świadectwo
właściwie przypadku ale też znowu odczytywania sytu­
acji. P o j e c h a ł e m do niego do Zakopanego i zobaczy­
łem r a p t e m amatorskie zdjęcie przedstawiające go ja­
ko króla w Balladynie

K a n t o r a w czasie wojny. Ja m u

na t o mówię: dla m n i e t o jest Pan co n a j m n i e j księ­
c i e m p o l s k i c h malarzy. O n wziął nożyczki sztrach,
sztrach, sztrach i zrobił koronę, i koronował się. A t u
znów - w przypadku Brzozowskiego - m a m y bardzo
ciekawą sytuację, m i a n o w i c i e m a m y swoistość f o t o ­
grafii. Bo t a k i c h k l a t e k , że o n w tej k o r o n i e patrzy m i
do kamery m a m chyba sześć i dopiero szóste zdjęcie
jest dobre. Dlaczego? Ponieważ o n na p o p r z e d n i c h pa­
trzy m i do kamery, a t u patrzy m i niby z jednej strony
do kamery, a z drugiej strony jakby zapadał się w sie­
bie, bo o czymś pomyślał...I t y l k o fotografia właśnie
potrafi t e n m o m e n t bezwzględnie złapać.
Z . B . A Kantor?
K . G . To było zdjęcie na tydzień przed jego wygna­
n i e m z K r a k o w a . , jego w latach osiemdziesiątych na
trzy lata wygnano do W ł o c h . W i e Pan, zachowując
wszystkie proporcje moja sytuacja jest analogiczna. N i e
Andrzej Wajda, Fot. Krzysztof Gieraltowski

w i e m czy t a wystawa nie jest moją ostatnią wystawą.
Jeśli ktoś m n i e zechce to ja pojadę, bo ja t u w tej c h w i ­
l i już więcej nie mogę nic zrobić. Praktycznie żeby zro­
bić tę wystawę zabrnąłem w takie długi, że za chwilę
m n i e rzeczywiście zlicytują. K a n t o r wtedy był w takiej
dramatycznej sytuacji: właściwie w y g o n i o n o go z K r a ­
kowa i o n był w t a k i m napięciu przed t y m wyjazdem.
Właściwie tutaj nie m a nic specjalnego, t o jest obiek­
tyw standardowy 55 m m , na tle o k n a w jego d o m u .
W i ę c praktycznie nic t u nie ma, t y l k o jest to właśnie,
że c i ludzie, u m a r l i , ludzie którzy już dziś nie żyją - o n i
emanowali swoją osobowością. I dlatego, gdybym ja i c h
sfotografował bardzo zwyczajnie, n o r m a l n i e , gdybym
i m robił zdjęcie legitymacyjne t o o n i też by się do nas
przebili. N a t u r a l n i e ja dodawałem swoje sztuczki, ale

Jerzey Adamski, Fot. Krzysztof Gieraltowski

141

�T O N I E S T A Ł O SIĘ DZISIAJ - R O Z M O W A Z KRZYSZTOFEM G I E R A Ł T O W S K I M N A W Y S T A W I E T W A R Z J A K O Z N A K .

o n i b y l i t a k silni i e m a n o w a l i sobą, że t o nas uwodzi,
porusza do dzisiaj. Młodzież mówi do m n i e : Gieraltow­
ski t o p o w i n i e n robić zdjęcia czarno-białe, tak jak po­
przednio. A t o jest niemożliwe! Bo już t y c h ludzi nie
m a . T a k i c h ludzi nie m a ! Przecież skromność tej sytu­
acji - proszę spojrzeć na t o zdjęcie Gustawa H e r l i n g a
Grudzińskiego - w t y m d o m k u ogrodnika w Maisons-Lafitte, gdzie o n mieszkał w p o k o i k u 2 na 3 metry, tak,
że ja w ogóle nie miałem gdzie światła postawić, bo
jeszcze t e n m a l u t k i p o k o i k był zastawiony paczkami
z „Zeszytami H i s t o r y c z n y m i " , które były przykryte jakąś
materią. I ta skromność, normalność zachowań t y c h
Jerzy Jarocki, Fot. Krzysztof Gieraltowski

ludzi w t a k i c h sytuacjach - t o dowodzi i c h wielkości,
której w tej c h w i l i d a r m o szukać!
Z . B . Maksymiuk?
K.G.

N o , M a k s y m i u k , to jeden z największych

komplementów j a k i m i ktoś k i e d y k o l w i e k powiedział.
Ja dzwoniłem do niego i t u t a j trzeba podkreślić, jak
ważny jest t e n pierwszy k o n t a k t , żeby nawiązać k o n ­
t a k t na płaszczyźnie partnerstwa. Bo ja zadzwoniłem
do niego i powiedziałem proszę Pana m a m zlecenie na
pański p o r t r e t , ale jest p e w i e n p r o b l e m : Pan ma twarz,
jak kartofel...ale ja Pan bardzo lubię...I zapadła cisza,
długa cisza. A l e wie Pan u k r y j e m y tę Pańską kartofla­
ną powierzchowność i proponuję, żeby Panu namalo­
wać maskę k l o w n a na twarzy. I w telewizji, kiedy była
m u m a l o w a n a ta maska, jakiś ważniak przyszedł i mó­
w i : Panie Jerzy co Pan robi?! A M a k s y m i u k mówi tak:
Pan Gierałtowski uważa, że t a k trzeba, a ja m u wierzę.
W i e Pan jeżeli te relacje są właściwe, bo samo zdjęcie
powstało w windzie h o t e l u V i c t o r i a , gdzie wówczas by­
ło j e d n o z n i e w i e l u tak w i e l k i c h luster i ta atmosfera
powstała stąd, że jeździliśmy tą windą, nie można jej
było zatrzymać, bo wtedy dzwonił dzwonek szalenie
donośnie, wobec tego jeździliśmy tą windą, w c h o d z i l i
ludzie z walizkami, myśmy j e c h a l i z n i m i dalej i o n i
mówią: Panie M a k s y m i u k , co Pan robi?! l t d . , i t d . , W i e
Pan - takie sytuacje, prawda....
T u t a j , przy t y m portrecie L w a Starowicza znowu
widać do czyjego malarstwa ja się t u t a j odnoszę. W i a ­
d o m o , że p o r t r e t w zbroi, z muzą i t d . Przy czym cieka­
we jest t o , że Malczewski malował albo w zbroi, albo

Tadeusz Brzozowski, Fot. Krzysztof Gieraltowski

z muzą, nigdzie nie znajdziemy u niego zbroi i muzy ra­
zem. A wszystko t o zostało zrobione po t o , żeby poka­
zać t e n pierścień herbowy L w a Starowicza. A l e t o
zdjęcie też na przykład przeżywało swoje przemiany.
Pamiętam, jak przy pierwszych prezentacjach - o n ma
taką kurtkę dżinsową - pamiętam, jak ja się strasznie
mordowałem, żeby te szczegóły oddać. A p o t e m rap­
t e m opadło t o ze m n i e , t e n realizm. I wszystko zaciem­
niłem — i jest dużo lepsze zdjęcie.
Z . B . Zapasiewicz?
K . G . Z Zapasiewiczem to było t a k , że ja po prostu
uważam, że m a m y do czynienia z z a n i k i e m elit. Ze eli­
ty w Polsce wymarły. Ze polska inteligencja właściwie
wymarła. N i e d a w n o p a n prezydent Kaczyński przeglą­
dając spis tej wystawy, powiedział: „No nie wszyscy

Jerzy Maksymiuk, Fot. Krzysztof Gieraltowski

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z n i c h należą do i n t e l i g e n c j i , chociaż niewątpliwie
wszyscy skończyli studia wyższe." I coś w t y m jest,
szczególnie w przypadku m o i c h bohaterów zdjęć b a r w ­
n y c h . N a t o m i a s t Zapasiewicz był dla m n i e

takim

przedstawicielem tej wymierającej polskiej i n t e l i g e n ­
cji, z dobrej, tej najlepszej rodziny, wobec czego dałem
m u tę papierową maskę śmierci, która o n chciał ograć
jak maskę z Hamleta. Ja musiałem m u ją wyrwać i d u ­
żo t r u d u m n i e kosztowało, żeby go właśnie namówić,
żeby pozwolił sobie założyć maskę śmierci na potylicę.
T u jest najnowszy mój wynalazek, m i a n o w i c i e :
w książce zdjęcie powstało inaczej, a t u t a j to zostało
zrobione w t e n sposób, że najpierw jest Ważyk a p o t e m
wywołany, wypłukany, a p o t e m jest ostrzykiwany w y ­
woływaczem i zapalone na sekundę światło, i p o n o w ­
nie wywołany, więc stąd powstają te smugi ognia pie­
kielnego... ( ś m i e c h ) . Ja chciałem wyrazić tę sytuację
Ważyka, który był w p e w n y m m o m e n c i e „niczyj", po­
nieważ komuniści się o d niego odwrócili, pozwolili m u
jeszcze mieszkać w A l e i Róż, ale n i c więcej, a opozycja
go nie przyjęła jako swojego, wobec czego o n tak ist­
niał, jak w piekle, czy właściwie w czyśćcu, w

Nie-

mandslandzie.
Jan K o t t sfotografowany w K a m i e n n y m P o t o k u ,
Stony B r o o k , t a k to się bodajże nazywało, p o d N o w y m
Jorkiem. Postawiłem go p o d zawieszona lampą i rap­
t e m zobaczyłem, że K o t t ma wąsy, i t e m u s t u d i u m się
poświęciłem.
Jerzy Grzegorzewski. Grzegorzewski c h c i a ł

Tadeusz Kantor, Fot. Krzysztof Gierałtowski

być

człowiekiem niewidzialnym. O n był na tyle świadom
jako malarz, że jego obraz jest obrazem „ugly" i że w o ­
bec tego odrzucającym więc o n właściwe nie lubił się
fotografować. To zdjęcie uwielbiał. Muszę powiedzieć,
że jak je zobaczył na wystawie w H o l a n d i i , a nie wdział
go przedtem w Polsce, to przybiegł do m n i e i pocało­
wał m n i e w rękę, co było dla m n i e szokującą sytuacją.
A l e t o zdjęcie kochał, bo właściwie o n o było syntezą
Grzegorzewskiego a nie materialnością Grzegorzew­
skiego. I t o n a t y m polegało. Nalegał, żeby zdjęcie zna­
lazło się na plakacie podsumowującym jego dorobek
w Teatrze N a r o d o w y m .
Z . B . Ewoluują też tytuły Pańskich wystaw, k o l e j ­
n y c h edycji w których widać ewolucję Pańskich p o ­
szukiwań: „Gry z portretem" „Twarz jako znak", jeszcze
nie tytuł ale: „ludzie bez

twarzy"...

K . G . N i e , generalnie kolekcja nazywa się o d lat
Polacy, portrety współczesne,

Gry z portretem t o nazywa­

ła się sama dokumentacja, w y d a w n i c t w o , ta książka
tekstowa. W y s t a w a w Poznaniu, w M u z e u m N a r o d o ­
w y m już nazywała się Twarz jako znak, z t y m t y l k o , że
t a m były prezentowane tylko zdjęcia k o l o r o w e . Rów­
nież t a m usiłowaliśmy znaleźć odniesienia łacińskie
i ciągle nie jestem p e w i e n bo była taka wersja: Facies
significat, albo Facies signum,

t a k m i ktoś dzisiaj przy­

szedł i powiedział, że tak się t o p o w i n n o nazywać Fa­
cies signum, uczyłem się wprawdzie łaciny ale ciągle je­
stem niepewny, i sadzę, że chyba to Facies significat jest

Gustaw Herling Grudziński, Fot. Krzysztof Gierałtowski

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Lew Starowicz, Fot. Krzysztof Gieraltowski

Piotr Skrzynecki, Fot. Krzysztof Gieraltowski
jakieś szmery z łazienki, więc t a k rozkładam swoje rze­
czy ale oczekuję, że za chwilę przyjdzie t e n Białoszew­
ski. I dopiero jak z tej łazienki wychodzi druga kobie­
ta, n o to zaczynam się przyglądać t e m u k o r p u l e n t n e ­
m u i konstatuję, że to m u s i być Białoszewski...Zaczy­
n a m go fotografować. Tak więc t o zaskoczenie....
Z . B . Piotr Skrzynecki .
K . G . N o , mój Boże, z P i o t r e m tośmy i trochę wó­
deczki w y p i l i . . . i trochę kawy. T u t a j , kiedyś spotkałem
się z n i m na R y n k u i posadziłem go na lwie. M a m ta­
kie zdjęcie, jak o n ujeżdża takiego l w a przy tej Wieży
Ratuszowej. A p o t e m weszliśmy napić się kawy do Su­
k i e n n i c i ja wybiegłem na zewnątrz, i sfotografowałem

Zbigniew Zapasiewicz, Fot. Krzysztof Gieraltowski

go przez szybę, w której j a k widać odbija się filar Su­

być może taką k u c h e n n ą łaciną, ale kojarzyć się może

k i e n n i c , jakiś i n n y człowiek...I to wydaje m i się, że ta­

Polakowi, który liznął trochę łaciny z p o l s k i m o d n o ­

kie przemieszanie stanowi pewną parabolę Piwnicy,

śnikiem.

gdzie o n tak sklejał spektakl z różnych fragmentów.

A t u , chciałbym zwrócić Pana uwagę na p o r t r e t

N a przykład Stern,. To jest zdjęcie na k i l k a miesię­

Białoszewskiego, znowu p e w i e n kontekst, pewna sytu­

cy przed jego śmiercią. Fotografowałem go parę razy,

acja psychiczna dała t e n p o r t r e t . B o dostałem zlecenie

bo bardzo lubiłem go w K r a k o w i e odwiedzać. O n mó­

z P i W - u , żeby zrobić p o r t r e t Białoszewskiego. Poje­

wił, że o n jest panem, który mieszka u kota... (śmiech)

c h a ł e m gdzieś daleko do takiego b l o k u z płyty. W c h o ­

— bo tak m u kiedyś dziecko powiedziało. I o n koniecz­

dzę, o t w i e r a m i drzwi zażywny, starszy p a n . Zdjęcie

nie chciał, żeby jeden znajomy zawiózł nas p o d K r a ­

Białoszewskiego t o ja widziałem j a k o średnio-zaawan-

ków, bo powiedział, że chce m i pokazać swoją katedrę.

sowanego w i e k i e m człowieka i wobec tego ja tak

I cóż m i pokazał? Wzgórek w a p i e n n y ! A l e jego imagi-

wchodzę, zaczynam ostrożnie rozkładać rzeczy, atmos­

nacja czyniła z tego katedrę. Pamiętam t a k i obraz,

fera jest bardzo dziwna, bo szyby pomalowane są na

który bardzo chciałem mieć, ale nigdy nie miałem pie­

czarno, w j e d n y m p o k o j u stoi ślepa kobieta ale słyszę

niędzy, który o n zrobił. To był kawałek błękitnego kar144

�T O N I E S T A Ł O SIĘ DZISIAJ - R O Z M O W A Z K R Z Y S Z T O F E M G I E R A Ł T O W S K I M N A W Y S T A W I E T W A R Z J A K O Z N A K .

�T O N I E S T A Ł O SIĘ DZISIAJ - R O Z M O W A Z KRZYSZTOFEM G I E R A Ł T O W S K I M N A W Y S T A W I E T W A R Z J A K O Z N A K .

t o n u w skrzyneczce z pleksiglasu - b y l wygięty - na do­
le był p u c h łabędzi i parę ziarenek piasku...i to stwa­
rzało takie poczucie wieczności, człowieka rozstrzela­
nego w czasie wojny, który się wyczołgał spod zwałów
trupów. Wszystkie te d r a m a t y widać na twarzach „tych
starych szlachciców".
Tak, to papież awangardowego t e a t r u - Grotowski.
Miał t e n order chyba dwie czy trzy m i n u t y . Zrobiłem
je na X X lecie t e a t r u , kiedy o n go dostał we Wrocław­
s k i m Ratuszu, złapał go dziennikarz radiowy, i on
udzielał w y w i a d u , a ja strzeliłem i o n w p e w n y m mo­
mencie się zorientował, schował natychmiast order do
kieszeni. Tak to nie pasowało do jego obrazu papieża
biednego t e a t r u , bo n a t u r a l n i e w kącie gdzieś pleca­
czek pielgrzyma czekał. T a k że, j a k mój przyjaciel Get-Stankiewicz poszedł d o niego przy następnej okazji,
kiedy o n był we Wrocławiu i chciał, żeby o n m u udzie­
lił autografu na t y m zdjęciu, to G r o t o w s k i z wściekło­
ścią podarł je. W i ę c z prawdziwą satysfakcją mogę od­
notować, że obecny prezydent miasta Wrocławia za­
kupił t e n p o r t r e t do I n s t y t u t u Grotowskiego.
M n i e zawsze bawią te przewrotności, jak na przy­
kład sytuacja, kiedy po mojej wystawie dwa lata temu
w M u z e u m N a r o d o w y m Litwy, w Pałacu Radziwiłłów
w W i l n i e , L i t w i n i bardzo c h c i e l i dostać jakieś moje
portrety. I n a t u r a l n i e , nasz ambasador poprosił, żeby
M S Z kupił trzy portrety. W i ę c proszę sobie wyobrazić,
kogo wybrałem?... -

Tomasza Niewodniczańskiego,

Czesława Miłosza i Tadeusza K o n w i c k i e g o . I w t e n

Miron Białoszewski, Fot. Krzysztof Gierałtowski

146

�T O N I E S T A Ł O SIĘ DZISIAJ - R O Z M O W A Z KRZYSZTOFEM G I E R A Ł T O W S K I M N A W Y S T A W I E T W A R Z J A K O Z N A K .

sposób na życzenie Litwinów bezkrwawo wróciliśmy
do W i l n a . . . ( ś m i e c h )

Czy t e n p o r t r e t mojego synka, jako uniwersalny
p o r t r e t dziecka.

Prażmowski. Z Prażmowskim było tak, że ja znalem

W i ę c właściwie, te p o r t r e t y bez twarzy to powsta­

twórczość Prażmowskiego, natomiast nie znałem jego

wały ciągle. N a t o m i a s t te, takie zdjęcia ludzi, które

samego. Poszedłem n a spotkanie w Z a m k u Ujazdow­

wpisuję w moją prywatność zaczęły się w tej c h w i l i po­

skim, zobaczyłem takiego „Mena", duży chłop m o c n y

jawiać, i jeżeli zdążę to może jeszcze coś z t y m zrobię...

z twarzą jak należy. I myślałem sobie: co jest antytezą
takiej męskości, takiej męskiej urody, wiec pomyśla­
* Twarz jako znak. Wystawa Fotografii Krzysztofa Gierattowskiego,

łem sobie, że ha, ha, h a taka kokarda, „gapa" dziecka,
dziewczynki przedszkolnej, to jest symbol tej kobieco­
ści rodzącej się i wobec tego zaproponowałem m u ta­
ka kokardę, jako d r u g i b i e g u n męskości.
W sześćdziesiątym trzecim r o k u miałem wystawę

Warszawa, Królikarnią, czerwiec 2005. Wystawa prezentowana w ra­
mach Roku Polsko -Niemieckiego 2005/2006 przygotowana we
współpracy z Instytutem Adama Mickiewicza, prezentowana będzie
w Niemczech pt. Das Gesicht aus Zeichen w: Abgeordnetenhaus, Ber­
lin (wrzesień 2005), Statliche Kunstsammlungen, Dresden (luty 2006)

Kompozycje fotograficzne 63, która była prywatną wypo­

przy współpracy Auswärtiges A m t ; Deutsch-Polnische Gesellschaft

wiedzią o życiu. Gdyby nie klęska tej wystawy, która się

Bundesverband e. V ; Deutsch-Polnische Gesellschaft Berlin e.V.

zaczęła o d tego, że najpierw towarzysz sekretarz we
Wrocławiu pozrywał m i połowę prac ze ścian i w prasie
miejscowej druzgocąca krytyka się rozległa. A p o t e m
przeniesiona do K l u b u Książki i Prasy M P i K w Warsza­
wie właściwie nie spotkała się z żadnym odzewem. — Je­
d y n y m śladem po niej jest pół zdania w miesięczniku
„Fotografia". To spowodowało moje załamanie się, w o ­
bec klapy jaką się zakończyła. Zmuszony przez życie za­
cząłem być fotografem o d przecinania wstęg, uścisków
dłoni i t d . I właśnie w tej sali teraz jest dopiero jakby
powrót, część, kawałeczek p o w r o t u do t y c h subiektyw­
n y c h sytuacji. Tak, j a k t a m pokazałem t a k i tryptyk
0 miłości, w którego środkowej części były ręce kobie­
ty i mężczyzny splecione ze sobą na tle takiego m u r u ,
sztucznego m u r u z atelier filmowego, i dookoła był ta­
k i wianek zrobiony: prezerwatywa, kwiatek, prezerwa­
tywa, kwiatek, i t d . , to tak tutaj jest t a k i portret k u czci
m o i c h wszystkich sympatii. Bo przed zaśnięciem kiedyś
pomyślałem sobie: a jakby wyglądało moje życie, gdy­
b y m b y l z Małgosią, Kasią czy Jadzią, i wobec tego zro­
biłem takiego syntetycznego ducha.
A l b o , tutaj jest obraz Jacka Żakowskiego, który
właściwie mógłby być m o i m a u t o p o r t r e t e m . Byliśmy

Fot. Krzysztof Gierałtowski

bardzo zaprzyjaźnieni w l a t a c h 80. Byliśmy bardzo za­
angażowani w „Solidarność" i to „V" pełne zwątpienia,
to takie: „Co n a m pozostało z t y c h marzeń..."
Czy, t a m p o r t r e t pana Czesława Bieleckiego, był
t a k i U B - e k w stanie w o j e n n y m , przesłuchiwał m n i e
1 mówił tak: Panie Gierałtowski, Pan to musi wiedzieć
k t o t o jest t e n Poleski, który pisze do „Kultury", b o
Pan wszystkich zna. ( N a t u r a l n i e , wiedziałem.) - A ja
na t o : „Ja, proszę Pana??? Skąd mógłbym wiedzieć?"
I proszę zobaczyć zrobiłem takie zdjęcie w lustrze,
w którym jest atmosfera przesłuchania.
Czy t o zdjęcie w jeziorze, które pokazuje moją sy­
tuację, że topią m n i e , ale ja się jeszcze nie daję.
Czy t o zdjęcie o chuciach, które było zdjęciem
czarno-białym i zostało jaskrawo rozkolorowane.
Czy t e n wspaniały tors... jest taka piosenka - „Ja
jestem Kaśka, Kaśka z obrazka, k t o na m n i e spojrzy za­
raz by głaskał..." (śmiech). Każdy z nas m a tęsknotę za
kobiecością uniwersalną.

Fot. Krzysztof Gierałtowski

147

�T O N I E S T A Ł O SIE DZISIAJ - R O Z M O W A Z KRZYSZTOFEM G I E R A Ł T O W S K I M N A W Y S T A W I E T W A R Z J A K O Z N A K .

Konwicki, Fot. Krzysztof Gieraltowski

Tomasz Niewodniczański, Fot. Krzysztof Gierałtowski
148

�NIE STAŁO SIĘ DZISIAJ - ROZMOWA Z KRZYSZTOFEM GIERAŁTOWSKIM N A WYSTAWIE TWARZ JAKO ZNAK.

�T O N I E S T A Ł O SIĘ DZISIAJ - R O Z M O W A Z KRZYSZTOFEM G I E R A Ł T O W S K I M N A W Y S T A W I E T W A R Z J A K O Z N A K .

Fot. Krzysztof Gierałtowski

150

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                <text>WI ESŁAW SZPILKA

To See the World.
Ethnography vis a vis
Film and Mass Culture

T

he FIFA World Cup is watched by millions of
people all over the world. Concerts of pop stars
attract tens of thousands of fans worldwide.
Rambo entertained a mass audience in China, while
the Chinese actor Bruce Lee became a major film icon
in Europe and America. Jeans, Coca Cola, rock music
think nothing of borders and are everywhere. Bond or
Madonna are just two examples of well-known figures
popular on a scale unimaginable in the world of serio­
us high art. Naturally, this is the field of mass culture,
one of the most characteristically modern phenomena
analysed so often and from so many angles that, to
quote Stefan Morawski, it is impossible to recount even
the most important reasoning.1
I believe that ethnography too can add to this vast
group an interesting image of mass culture. As befits its
nature ethnographic description will not be tempted
to imitate or opt for comprehensive portrayal. Rather,
it will aim at emphasising the most crucial points for
a caricature and not a portrait, to use a metaphor de­
vised by Ludwik Stomma. This is why an ethnographer
should focus on the phenomenon itself, attempting to
find the specific organising principle decisive for its
external shape. Only after the main narrative threads
of the discussed phenomenon are revealed along with
a catalogue of protagonists and the qualities attributed
to them that we can begin contemplating their sense
and meaning. This is when one can transcend the in­
terpreted phenomenon towards historical reality and
refer to man’s existential problems. Even then, how­
ever, it is best to adopt a distinct perspective. After all,
we are examining mass culture from the inside by fol­
lowing its rules and truth. Such a description opposes
the traditional perception of cultural phenomena that,
to cite Ricoeur, falls victim to three illusions - the il­
lusion of the source, the creator and the audience.2
Now, a quick look at what these illusions consist of.
It is assumed that the meaning of a phenomenon
can be comprehended by referring to the reality in
which it was created, to its social, political and aes­
thetic determinants. Another type of genetic inter­
348

pretation involves linking the subject with its author.
Consequently, his biography, plans and intentions are
supposed to provide the foundation of comprehen­
sion. A phenomenon may be also explained by draw­
ing attention to the audience. In this case it is not the
cause but the effect that is the most important factor
for formulating final conclusions. Cause-and-effect
explanations are the most frequent method of treating
mass culture.
I would like to use several standard examples to
show how the three illusions hidden in the foundation
of these popular strategies exert a decisive influence on
the perception and assessment of mass culture. Only
in this light will it be possible to evaluate the chance
offered to ethnographic description, an opportunity
inspired by an awareness of the traps that sociologists
and art historians collectively fall into.
The works of Marshall McLuhan are an extreme
but thus an instructive example of explanation via
sources.3 McLuhan believed that to understand mass
culture is to comprehend the meaning of electronic
mass communication media since their emergence is
to lead to a new quality of civilization. A global elec­
tronic village has replaced the galaxy of Gutenberg.
The change is radical because it affects not only media
but de facto has an even larger impact on the transmit­
ted content. According to McLuhan the method of
transmission becomes synonymous with its content hence his classification of hot and cool media. Regard­
less of its content the meaning of a message is already
determined by the way it is transmitted. This would
mean that Batman is closer to Bergman’s Wild Strawberries than to the comic book it was based on just
because it is a motion picture.
Defending this conviction poses a difficult chal­
lenge. One can legitimately claim that the carrier is
one of the factors shaping information. The thesis
proposed by the Canadian philosopher, however,
is certainly stronger by arguing that what has been
manifested depends fundamentally on the media car­
rying the information. If this were actually true then
it would be impossible to explain evident differences
observed within the reality created by the same media.
The division into mass and high culture would have to
be considered absurd. After all, mass culture obviously
exists above the divisions discussed by McLuhan. Fig­
ures characteristic for its world move freely from the
movies to comic books, from literature to films, and
exist simultaneously on the stage and in the press. To
put it differently, Donald Duck is defined by a specific
reality of mass imagination that must be respected by
authors using all techniques. This is why Batman, Dick
Tracy - contemporary films based on classic comic
books - render old plots so faithfully, adhere to char­
acter profiles, and even try to evoke the atmosphere
of the drawings.

�Wiesław Szpilka • TO SEE THE WORLD. ETHNOGRAPHY ViS A ViS FILM AND MASS CULTURE

Civilisational transformations - and mass media
changes undoubtedly belong to this group - say little
about the essence of mass culture. After all, an analy­
sis of the mass media does not tell us why the products
of American dream factories are watched all over the
world contrary to their Soviet counterparts. Moreo­
ver, it will not explain the sources of the remarkable
popularity of archaic forms, e.g. fables, or of charac­
ters from a totally different world, such as demons,
ghosts, sorcerers and angels. Naturally, the views of
the electronic village prophet are an extreme example
of thinking in which the base (source) decides about
the superstructure. It is impossible to uphold a convic­
tion about a sole causative reason setting into motion
an entire structure. Nevertheless, a more subtle form
of this particular style of thinking remains highly wide­
spread.
The number of factors influencing the reality from
which mass culture emerged tends to grow. Urbanisa­
tion, industrialisation, mass education - these are the
forces that together with the new media gave rise to
the phenomenon in question.4 It is possible to present
these processes in numbers and to express them in
tables and charts, thus rendering them objectively
perceptible and a better analysis foundation than the
intuitive belief that print leads to a more fragmentary
world perception and TV to a comprehensive grasp.
The fact that the number of TV sets has increased
considerably does not explain why Dynasty won a
mass audience and Seventeen Moments of Spring did
not. The expanding opportunity to transmit all types
of contents does not account for the universal accept­
ance of some and the slender approval of others.
Why then do Indiana Jones, Madonna, soccer,
Stephen King novels, or images of attractive but­
tocks and breasts get the upper hand, and not films by
Tarkovsky, avant-garde music and scientific specula­
tions? After all, the civilisational frames accompany­
ing their creation are identical, and the transmission
media - similar. And yet two opposite phenomena
- mass and high culture - emerge on the very same
ground. Surprisingly, while origin is supposed to en­
tirely determine the former it does not seem to have a
larger impact on the latter. Genetic explanations are
not helpful in solving this mystery. An interpretation
of mass culture based on its sources is not particularly
productive. It shows why cultural contents can spread
rapidly and widely but is incapable of pointing out the
reasons why some take advantage of this opportunity
while others fail to do so.
The explicit insufficiency of the above option calls
for a backing. Therefore, the focus switches from
sources to the audience. From the very beginning
critical opinions relating to mass culture have been
accompanied by an illusion pertaining to the audi­
ence, the conviction that the nature of mass culture

depends on the people who consume it. The reflec­
tions of Jose Ortega y Gasset, cited up to this day, are
a classic expression of this concept.5 Gasset outlined a
highly determined picture of the mass-man:
The mass is the average man (■ ■ ■ ). The characteristic
of the hour is that the commonplace mind, knowing itself
to be commonplace, has the assurance to proclaim the
rights of the commonplace and to impose them wherever
it will. (...) This leads us to note down in our psycho­
logical chart of the mass-man of to-day two fundamental
traits: the free expansion of his vital desires, and therefore,
of his personality; and his radical ingratitude towards what
has made possible the ease of his existence. These traits
together make up the well-known psychology of the spoilt
child. (...) That man is intellectually of the mass who in
face of any problem is satisfied with thinking the first thing
he finds in his head. (...) For the basic texture of their
soul is wrought of hermetism and indocility; they are from
birth deficient in the faculty of giving attention to what is
outside themselves, be it fact or person. They will wish to
follow someone, and they will be unable. They will want
to listen, and will discover they are deaf. (...) Hence we
apply the term mass to this kind of man —not because of
his multitude as because of his inertia.6
Primitive, lacking taste and morality, seeking ex­
clusively consumption and amusement, desiring pow­
er but avoiding all types of responsibility, opposed to
everything autonomous and different, the mass-man,
whom the Spanish philosopher additionally linked
with communism and fascism, poses a threat to all au­
thentic values.7
Works by Ortega y Gasset do not consider the
cultural environment of the mass-man but shift their
focus from civilisational transformations straight to
mental traits. And yet a definition of a representative
of the masses also indirectly describes his culture. The
principles of the homogenization of contents and the
lowest common denominator apply only when it is
possible to define the basic recipient. After all, it is he
who sets the level of images aimed at mass imagina­
tion. Mass culture envisaged as the realisation of the
needs of the average man is the key to understanding
the phenomenon. Take a look at some examples.
Just as its name suggests mass culture is aimed at the
masses of average consumers, everymen devoid of aesthetic
culture or possessing it to a slight degree. (...) Mass culture
is based on already worn out aesthetic and non-aesthetic
stereotypes, on epigonic consciousness so obvious in popu­
lar belief that the discussed stereotypes seem to be eternal.
(...) [Dominated by] mass-produced conventional com­
monplace values, with a definite aesthetic aura replaced
by the climate of banality, something to be used and used
up quickly, and no deliberate distinction; on the contrary,
differences between an art product and everyday items are
obliterated. On the one hand, appreciation for individual­
ity, uniqueness, talent, genius, innovation, and originality,

349

�Wiesław Szpilka • TO SEE THE WORLD. ETHNOGRAPHY ViS A ViS FILM AND MASS CULTURE

together with the breaking of conventions and the question­
ing of stereotypes at the very least, and on the other hand,
a longing for the stereotypical and the conventional; the
epigonic approach does not offend and talent is not sought
after contrary to accessibility, i.e. communicative contents
and old, reliable communication forms.8
Mediocre people strive for mediocrity. This equa­
tion leaves no place for doubt. By opposing uniqueness
the mass scale creates, on the one hand, horror of the
“terrible bourgeois” and on the other hand - kitsch in
art, banality and stereotypes in thinking, an apothe­
osis of passivity and consumption. This “aristocratic”
perception is at its very basis entangled in assumptions
that in advance determine description and assess­
ment. There is no proof to support the view claiming
that the original and the extraordinary are superior in
any way to the common and the average. Ethnography
shows that in “cold” or folk-type cultures we encoun­
ter a completely opposite situation. Well-known and
traditional objects and behaviour are wise, beautiful,
good, and desirable. Even in high European culture
the extraordinary career of originality did not begin
until Romanticism. Taking as granted the historical
conviction that elitist means high, valuable, and sig­
nificant, while commonplace is synonymous with low,
banal, and degraded is to say that mass culture does
not exist as a characteristic and original phenomenon.
It is affected by special ethnocentrism, i.e. a process
of measuring with reference standards treated as if
they were universal and absolute. Cultures considered
primitive were once perceived as first stages along a
path leading to the culture of the West, but now mass
culture is recognized as the latter’s infantile phase.
The world of the elites is obviously supposed to be im­
mersed in a strong, exemplary emanation of Western
culture.
The time and space proximity of mass and high cul­
ture probably generates the method used to describe
pop concerts, action films, or sports events. It consists
of psychological identification and produces many at­
tributes reflecting emotional states, e.g. pleasant, easy,
carefree, or obvious. It may be also the reason for the
lack of interest in contents creating this “little world”.
They seem to be familiar and similar to a reproduction
or an inferior copy do not require reflection.
Without granting mass culture a separate manner
of existence we have to assume that quantitative and
not qualitative differences are the only thing separat­
ing a researcher from a participant. Both experience
in a similar way, albeit some less and others more con­
sciously. By perceiving in the same way, though more
acutely and extensively, it is possible to formulate
binding opinions and define what is banal and childish
and what is noble and creative. The imperfection of
this manner of interpreting is perhaps most obvious
upon the example of Ortega y Gasset’s predictions of
350

the future of societies dominated by mass culture. His
prophesies of an imminent collapse turned out to be an
obvious mistake in the light of the progressing massscale Americanization of the world. Ortega y Gasset
also missed the mark when linking mass culture with
fascism and communism. After all, democracy is at its
strongest in a reality dominated by the blue jeans-style
culture, whereas the worst examples of tyranny and
barbarity are encountered wherever elites shaped the
framework of life.
The history of film is yet another proof of misun­
derstandings caused by the recipient illusion.8 A t its
onset, film was plebeian, fairground entertainment
created with the masses in mind. The same pictures
that used to universally entertain and move, such as
those with Chaplin, are now treated as significant ar­
tistic achievements. This career of elements creating
Cosmos with Bond in the coat of arms is no longer
unusual. Post-modern art readily applies quotes, tech­
niques, and patterns derived from lowbrow culture. A
vivid example of succumbing to illusions are attempts
made by art historians maintaining that a work whose
form and content are of a decisively mass origin, but
which was created by a renowned artist and circulates
within high art, is substantially different than the basis
from which it originated. The reason supposedly lies in
the awareness of the author and the audience as well
as in the distance, irony, etc. assumed by both parties.
The conviction that in order to understand a work of
art it is more important to define the experiences of a
concrete, historical audience than to analyse the work
itself is embedded in precisely such beliefs. In this psy­
chological reception the analysed phenomenon does
not exist objectively but depends on the readers even
though they continue to change and elapse while it
continues to persist in the same shape. In other words,
the recipient’s error inclines to absolutize a single per­
ception and opinion. In mass culture such an illusion
must be additionally intensified because it is difficult
to define its consumers. This remarkably heterogene­
ous milieu includes representatives of the most diverse
cultures, age groups, and professions, the rich and the
poor, the educated and the illiterate. Mass culture is
their only common denominator, and the sole quality
that we can attribute to them definitely is that they are
numerous, a mass. If these designations are not treat­
ed from the vantage point of evaluation - by accepting
assumptions determining a description but certainly
not arising from it - but from the point of view of de­
scription then the fact that Batman was watched by
millions and The Sacrifice by thousands will say noth­
ing about their value and significance. Meanwhile, the
view claiming that popularity is connected with shal­
lowness and that the nutriment of the common man is
bland says more about the image of the reality of those
making such assumptions than about the phenomena

�Wiesław Szpilka • TO SEE THE WORLD. ETHNOGRAPHY ViS A ViS FILM AND MASS CULTURE

in the centre of their attention. In this instance, mass
culture becomes a pretext to lecture on which values
are important and which judgments are true, and is
supposed to conceal confessions.
The author’s illusion stays closely connected to the
observation made via the audience. It was particularly
favoured by critics of the Western consumption life­
style and designers of the socialist version of mass cul­
ture.9 The belief that a text says what its author in­
tended it to say constitutes the centre of this illusion.
It is the author’s intention that is supposed to decide
about the meaning of a given work. If he knows how
to win over the audience then he is also able to im­
pose his views, assessments, and perception of reality.
Such reasoning leads towards treating mass culture as
a great tool of manipulation, a subtle device invisible
for those that succumb to it. The American sociologist
H.I. Schiller wrote in his symptomatically titled Mind
Managers: For manipulation to be most effective, evidence
of its presence should be non-existent. When the manipu­
lated believe things are the way they are naturally and in­
evitably, manipulation is successful. In short, manipulation
requires a false reality that is a continuous denial of its
existence.10
According to Schiller, the qualities that make it
possible to impose this false vision include lack of
criticism, excessive value assigned to consumption,
and belief in unchanging human nature.11 All this
corresponds well with the already discussed qualities
of the average man, a consumption-starved citizen of
a country dominated by poverty, violence, mawkish­
ness, pandemonium, and puerile ditties. We should
not blame, therefore, viewers of films made by Walt
Disney Productions and readers of National Geograph­
ic (examples analysed by Schiller12), originating from
precisely these circles, for not being able to perceive
in such products American imperialism and activities
consolidating the binding status quo. The inclination
of the mass-man to succumb to manipulation is rein­
forced by the fact that certain sources of information
making it possible to assess the actual situation belong
to scarce elites distributing only certain beneficial im­
ages and not allowing others to be revealed. The com­
mercial success of music, literature, and films originat­
ing in protest against existing reality seems to suggest
quite the opposite. Exploiting the dark sides of exist­
ence, highlighting the disadvantages of the system, and
emphasising injustice can be a good way to reach Bat­
man aficionados, punk rockers, and football fans. A f­
ter all, this world is full of figures representing all types
of denominations, professions, convictions and skin
colours, with the most contrasting opinions attributed
to them. Indians can be depicted as good, noble and
brave or terrifyingly despicable and cruel. Stories are
told about good bandits, innocent prostitutes, corrupt
policemen and the horrifying world of business. Natu­
351

rally, tales about the infernal evil forces of violence
and superhuman good law enforcers also exist. In their
perfidiousness the authors of popcorn entertainment
went so far as to clad Arnold Schwarzenegger - a pop
cinema star - in the uniform of a Soviet police officer,
endow him with all suitable attributes, and show him
battling the Soviet mafia together with American law
enforcers in the USA. To make things even more per­
fidious this Soviet police functionary towers above his
American colleagues and unmasks the incompetence
of the local administration of justice. If Donald Duck
is an apology of middle-class America then Red Heat
must be praise of socialism and the USSR. After all, a
search for the author’s hidden intentions can lead to
even such a risky thesis.
If one believes that it is the author who decides
about the meaning of a work then there is nothing
absurd in the conviction that after captivating the
audience he will be capable of incapacitating it, and
thus rendering it subordinate to the forces he serves
or represents. If this were actually the case, if a work
were not autonomous, then becoming commercially
successful would be extremely simple. Familiarity with
the preferences of the mass audience, and such famili­
arity is taken for granted, should make it easy to com­
plete the author - communiqué - audience relation.
However, this is not the case, as sufficiently proven
by the frequent financial bombs of products developed
for the mass audience. The already bygone history of
the so-called socialist version of mass culture may be
an even better example. When an author determines
the message of a text he either surrenders to the audi­
ence’s taste in order to become successful or tries to
oppose the audience and impose his own project. The
former approach supposedly dominated mass culture
in capitalist countries. Those discussing mass culture
in the socialist bloc believed that the latter attitude
could win. After all, when authors do not depend on
the market, mass culture could be applied for the pur­
poses of social pedagogy. Having all the mass media
and accommodating executors at their disposal, the
leading forces in those states hoped to mould the “av­
erage man” any way they wanted. The result was rath­
er mediocre. The success of the Four Tank-men and a
Dog TV series and the adventures of Captain Kloss
did not influence the attitude towards the prevail­
ing system or intensify Polish-Soviet friendship. The
upright characters of party secretaries evoked laugh­
ter, as did the exploits of editor Maj, a Polish James
Bond combating neo-fascists. Competing with its
Western counterpart socialist mass culture was losing
in all fields. Even though various enlightened forces
were demonstrating in myriad ways how degrading it
is to enjoy pop music, action films, fashion or gossip
from the grand monde, consumption of this forbidden
fruit was a favourite pastime from the Elbe to Vladi­

�Wiesław Szpilka • TO SEE THE WORLD. ETHNOGRAPHY ViS A ViS FILM AND MASS CULTURE

vostok. It became something more: as Tyrmand and
Bukovsky emphasised in their memoirs, adherence to
mass culture seemed to be a specific form of a battle
for independence and the right to different opinions
and tastes. It is difficult to assume that when writing
their songs the Beatles anticipated that they would be
used in a crusade against communism. It is also rather
unlikely that designers of colourful socks intended to
turn them into a weapon in the battle against a hostile
system. And yet the phenomena in question gained
precisely such connotations. This example demon­
strates how each phenomenon applying the language
of inter-subjectivity and using symbols reveals new and
unexpected meanings in a novel historical and social
context, meanings whose existence the author was
unable to predict. Mass culture pointedly reveals that
the horizon of a work goes infinitely beyond the inten­
tions of its author. This is also one of the reasons why
it does not have to concern itself with boundaries.
While describing how three interpretation illu­
sions determine the shape of a presented image we
obviously did not assume that transformations of
civilisation, audience and author are insignificant
for comprehending the phenomenon. A satisfactory
presentation of mass culture, however, has to focus
on culture itself; otherwise, the discussion merely con­
cerns a new dimension of civilisation, mass audience,
and authors working for its sake. To put it differently,
other issues are being considered. After all, mass cul­
ture is predominantly synonymous with a collection of
texts that have a mass audience. This is its core and
true reality. The texts, recorded in various systems of
signs, should be interpreted and only in the light of the
knowledge contributed by this exegesis can we discuss
the relation between mass culture and mass commu­
nication media, the reasons for this culture’s universal
acceptance and, finally, the traditions inspiring its au­
thors. Critique of illusions is thus the starting point of
an ethnographic description of mass culture, showing
that its specific character does not involve civilisational conditions because they also give rise to opposing
phenomena. Nor is it the mythical “mass-man”, a the­
oretical construct whose pure form has never existed
anywhere. Finally, it is impossible to characterise mass
culture as the product of third-rate authors capable
only of iterating well-worn models and enjoying com­
mercial success by pandering to the public.
Once again: mass culture is a collection of texts that
are, or used to be read on a mass scale. To participate
in it is to read those texts and interpret them while dis­
covering their meaning. Their world is entered only for
the duration of reading and we stay in it only as long as
we read. This is why it does not have any permanent
residents and is inhabited by passers-by.
Childishness, banality, kitsch, and inauthenticity
are some of the numerous designations attributed to
352

the phenomenon of interest to us. The assessments
contained therein seem to be off the mark, but the
intuition they share is unquestionably apt. It empha­
sises the chasm between mass culture and everyday
“normal” life, a dissimilarity caused by a different form
of existence. The extraordinary character of mass cul­
ture must be connected with its complete textuality. If
the conviction maintaining that this is how the phe­
nomenon actually exists is correct then the question
of the structural homology of the texts creating it be­
comes crucial. Does the mass public, a factor making
it possible to notice the existence of the phenomenon
and determining its borders, have its fundamental
counterpart within the texts? What are the mutual re­
lations of the two denominators? These are the ques­
tions that an ethnographic description should answer.
Its point of departure includes books, films, fashion,
and concerts because it knows that this is where the
meaning is hidden.

Endnotes
1 S. Morawski, Na zakręcie od sztuki do po-sztuki, Kraków
1985, p. 89.
2 P Ricoeur, Egzystencja i hermeneutyka, Warszawa 1985,
pp. 334-335.
3 M. McLuhan, Wybór pism, Warszawa 1975.
4 A good example is: A. Kłoskowska, Kultura masowa,
Warszawa 1983.
5 J. Ortega y Gasset, Bunt mas i inne pisma socjologiczne,
Warszawa 1982.
6 Ibidem, p. 7, 13, 63, 69.
7 Ibidem, p. 82.
8 A. Jackiewicz, Moja filmoteka, Warszawa 1989, pp.
32-41.
9 For a review of the Polish authors of such concepts see:
E Kowalski, Parterowy Olimp, Wrocław 1988, pp. 7-60.
10 H.I. Schiller, Sternicy świadomości, Kraków 1976, p. 25.
11 Ibidem, pp. 22-35.
12 Ibidem, pp. 113-143.

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                <text>Edyta Diakowska
Pracownia Polskiego Atlasu Etnograficznego w Cieszynie

Tolerancja w obliczu
odmienności wyznaniowej
na przykładzie mieszkańców Cieszyna
i Czeskiego Cieszyna

W niniejszym artykule poruszono temat zróżnicowania wyznaniowego mieszkańców Cieszyna. Pokazano w nim obecną sytuację religijną miasta oraz relacje zachodzące pomiędzy przedstawicielami różnych współwystępujących na tym terenie wyznań. W celu zbadania tego zagadnienia posłużyła autorska ankieta zawierająca 25
pytań, zarówno zamkniętych (kilka wariantów wyboru), jak i otwartych, w których
ankietowani mieli możliwość wyrażenia własnego zdania. Artykuł jest wynikiem analizy tychże badań.
Poruszając kwestie tolerancji religijnej, uważam za kluczowe przybliżenie wpierw
losów historycznych Śląska Cieszyńskiego, które miały zasadniczy wpływ na kształtowanie się tolerancji wśród mieszkańców.

Tło historyczne zróżnicowania wyznaniowego na Śląsku Cieszyńskim
Początki chrześcijaństwa w Cieszynie wiążą się z powstaniem grodu na Górze Zamkowej w końcu X wieku. Natomiast w historii Śląska Cieszyńskiego, w średniowieczu
i początkach nowożytnych, można pod względem religijnym zaobserwować trzy wyraźnie różniące się od siebie etapy. Pierwszy z nich trwał do początków XVI wieku,
kiedy to praktycznie jedyną funkcjonującą religią był katolicyzm. Po okresie przejściowym, w połowie XVI wieku zwyciężył luteranizm, zaś po roku 1610, po przejściu
na katolicyzm księcia Adama Wacława, nastąpił powrót katolicyzmu, jakkolwiek za
rządów ostatnich Piastów w formie jeszcze dość ograniczonej1.
1 I. Panic: Ziemia Cieszyńska w czasach piastowskich (X-XII wiek). W: Śląsk Cieszyński.
Środowisko naturalne, Zarys dziejów. Zarys kultury materialnej i duchowej. Red. W. Sosna.
Cieszyn 2001, s. 134.

�Edyta Diakowska: Tolerancja w obliczu odmienności wyznaniowej

237

Na Śląsku Cieszyńskim reformacja wywarła silny wpływ na ukształtowanie się języka narodowego. Początkowo językiem kancelarii książęcej był język łaciński; w drugiej połowie XIV wieku zaczęto wystawiać dokumenty także w języku niemieckim.
Od wojen husyckich w XV wieku kancelaria książęca zaczęła używać języka czeskiego, który stał się także głównym językiem sądów, co trwało do XVII wieku. Kancelaria
zniemczonych ostatnich Piastów cieszyńskich coraz częściej stosowała język niemiecki. Natomiast ludność wiejska i ludność niższych warstw w miastach posługiwała się
od wieków w większości dialektem języka polskiego, który na zachodnich ziemiach
Księstwa Cieszyńskiego stykał się z dialektem morawskim języka czeskiego. Polskim
językiem władała również większość szlachty, posługując się nim nawet w urzędach.
Reformacja wprowadziła język narodowy do nabożeństw, przyczyniając się w ten sposób do rozwoju języka polskiego na Śląsku Cieszyńskim2.
Początki Reformacji na ziemi cieszyńskiej sięgają lat 20. XVI wieku, kiedy to ks.
Marcin Luter rozpoczął reformę Kościoła. Jego nauka natrafiła tu na korzystne stosunki społeczne, odpowiadała bowiem oczekiwaniom i mentalności mieszkańców
Księstwa. Ówczesny władca piastowski z dynastii Piastów Kazimierz II oraz następujący po nim regent morawski hetman ziemski Jan z Persteinu, luteranin, swoją przyzwalającą postawą spowodowali zainteresowanie „tanią religią” (zwolnienie z wielu
obowiązkowych ciężarów na rzecz Kościoła), zarówno przez szlachtę, mieszczan, jak
i chłopów3.
Polska była krajem tolerancji religijnej, często innowiercy znajdowali tu schronienie, jednak większość społeczeństwa pozostawała wierna Kościołowi katolickiemu.
Na Śląsku Cieszyńskim książęta umacniali ruch reformacyjny, zabezpieczając
w Księstwie przodującą pozycję wyznaniu augsburskiemu. Jednak trwało to tylko do
1610 roku, bowiem rola Księstwa zaczęła się zmniejszać i w związku z tym książęta,
jak przedtem byli protektorami luteranizmu, tak teraz z kolei zaczęli przechodzić na
katolicyzm i stawali się obrońcami Kościoła.
W 1545 roku władzę przejął prawowity władca książę Wacław III Adam, który z własnej
woli przyjął nauki reformatora, i od tego momentu protestantyzm staje się wyznaniem
panującym w Księstwie Cieszyńskim. Następnie książę usunął z miasta dominikanów,
franciszkanów oraz duchownych, którzy nie chcieli mu się podporządkować, a kościoły zostały przejęte przez ewangelików. W kościele parafialnym odprawiano nabożeństwa
i głoszono kazania w językach słowiańskich, w dominikańskim po niemiecku4.
W 1610 roku syn i następca Wacława III, Adam Wacław porzucił wiarę ojca i przeszedł na katolicyzm. Okoliczności tego kroku wiąże się na ogół z planami awansu
Adama Wacława na dworze cesarskim. W niedalekiej Opawie armia cesarska zmusiła tamtejszych ewangelików do kapitulacji i narzuciła miastu niezwykle surowe restrykcje, jednak na Śląsku Cieszyńskim w owym czasie tego rodzaju wydarzenia nie
miały miejsca. Przeciwnie, większość pobliskich wielkich feudałów wyznawała religię
ewangelicką, toteż zmiana wyznania pociągnęła za sobą izolację księcia5. Po tej zmianie wyznania duchowni ewangeliccy musieli opuścić miasto, kościół parafialny objęli
z powrotem księża katoliccy, drugi kościół zwrócono dominikanom.
2
3
4
5

J. Kuś: Z dziejów kościelnych ziemi cieszyńskiej. Kraków 1983, s. 10.
E. Gajdacz, J. Pustelnik: Kościół Ewangelicki w Cieszynie. Cieszyn 2009, s. 6.
J. Spyra: Via Sacra. Kościoły i klasztory w Cieszynie i Czeskim Cieszynie. Cieszyn 2008, s. 5-6.
I. Panic: Ziemia Cieszyńska w czasach piastowskich (X-XII wiek). W: Śląsk Cieszyński …, s. 135.

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W czasie wojny trzydziestoletniej (1618-1648) Cieszyn był wielokrotnie zajmowany przez różnowiercze wojska, na przemian też zmieniały się warunki bytu obu
społeczności wierzących. Ogłoszone w 1629 roku przez księżną piastowską Elżbietę
Lukrecję rozporządzenie pozbawiło innowierców wszelkich praw, nie było jednak do
końca przestrzegane. Jej zgon w 1653 roku zakończył czasy panowania piastowskiego
na tym terenie, następnie pociągnął za sobą przepadek ziem księstwa na rzecz Habsburgów, którzy odtąd stali się ich bezpośrednimi panami.
Jak we wszystkich podległych sobie krajach dominującą cechą polityki Habsburgów na Śląsku Cieszyńskim było dążenie do rządów absolutnych oraz utrzymania
i wzmocnienia pozycji religii katolickiej. Ich działania doprowadziły do szybkiej rekatolizacji miasta, podobnie jak Skoczowa, Strumienia, Jabłonkowa i Frysztatu. Początkowo walkę z protestantyzmem prowadzono przy pomocy duchowieństwa świeckiego i urzędników cesarskich, od 1670 roku ponownie zaczęli działać w Cieszynie
Jezuici6.
Z ich też polecenia rozpoczęta została na wielką skalę akcja rekatolizacyjna. Już
w 1654 roku ewangelicy zostali pozbawieni wszystkich świątyń. Przemoc i inne represje spowodowały, mimo przypisania do ziemi, ucieczkę wielu rodzin w bardziej
ustronne miejsca lub poza granice Księstwa, a osoby, które nie opuściły swoich domów, a chciały trwać w swoich przekonaniach, musiały to czynić potajemnie. Posiadanie jakichkolwiek druków protestanckich, sprowadzanych m.in. z Polski, było karane. Kościoły były zastępowane przez odludne miejsca – „leśne świątynie” (m.in. przy
„Kamieniu” na Równicy), gdzie gromadzono się na potajemnych nabożeństwach.
Niespodziewaną odmianę losu przyniosło zakończenie tzw. wojny północnej. W wyniku pertraktacji we Wrocławiu, cesarz wydał tzw. Reces egzekucyjny, zezwalający
na wybudowanie sześciu nowych kościołów „z łaski”, w pobliżu następujących miast:
Milicz, Kożuchów, Żagań, Jelenia Góra, Kamienna Góra i Cieszyn. Pierwotnie budowa tych kościołów była obwarowana pewnymi ograniczeniami. Musiały stać poza
murami miasta, poza głównych traktem, nie mogły być murowane i przypominać wyglądem świątyń. Nie mogły tez posiadać wież z dzwonnicą – dlatego też do cieszyńskiego kościoła dobudowano wieżę dopiero w 1750 roku, po uzyskaniu specjalnego
pozwolenia. Był to jedyny Kościół ewangelicki na Śląsku Cieszyńskim i w okolicach.
Dopiero po 1781 roku pozwolono na budowę świątyń w innych, większych skupiskach ewangelików.
Tendencje reformatorskie w państwie austriackim nasiliły się po objęciu samodzielnej władzy przez Józefa II. W 1781 roku wydał patent o zniesieniu poddaństwa
osobistego. W tym samym roku wydał również Patent Tolerancyjny dla Żydów, tak że
w końcu XVIII wieku urządzili oni w Cieszynie pierwszy, wspólny dom modlitwy.
Patent poszerzał zakres dostępnych zajęć Żydom, choć ograniczał ilość mieszkających tu rodzin żydowskich. Najważniejszym z aktów prawnych Józefa II okazał się
Patent Tolerancyjny dla protestantów w Austrii wydany także w 1781 roku (na Śląsku
Austriackim w 1782 roku). To on dał kres kontrreformacji na Śląsku Cieszyńskim.
Katolicyzm pozostał nadal religią państwową, ale wyznanie protestanckie zostało oficjalnie uznane przez władze państwowe. W 1827 roku 90% mieszkańców Cieszyna
6 J. Spyra: Śląsk Cieszyński pod rządami Habsburgów (1653-1848). W: Śląsk Cieszyński.
Środowisko naturalne, Zarys dziejów. Zarys kultury materialnej i duchowej. Red. W. Sosna.
Cieszyn 2001, s. 146.

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było katolikami (5500 na 6075)7. W miejscowościach gdzie żyło ponad 100 rodzin lub
500 wyznawców protestantyzmu, mogli oni postawić domy modlitwy (początkowo
bez wież i dzwonów) oraz mogli zakładać szkoły8.
Faktyczne równouprawnienie katolików i ewangelików nastąpiło dopiero w wyniku przebiegu Wiosny Ludów. Miało to miejsce w 1849 roku, kiedy zagwarantowano
innowiercom pełne prawa obywatelskie i wolność wyznania.
Już od Wiosny Ludów, a w szczególności po 1861 roku znaczna ilość ewangelików
przystąpiła do pracy nad zaktywizowaniem polskiego życia narodowego. Ewangelicy tutejsi stanowili w 80% ludność polską. Z chwilą zakończenia I wojny światowej
uczestniczyli i wspierali te ugrupowania społeczno-polityczne, które dążyły do włączenia Księstwa Cieszyńskiego do odrodzonej Polski.
Dane liczbowe z powszechnego spisu austriackiego wykazują, iż w 1910 roku
w Cieszynie zamieszkiwało 15.138 katolików (67,3% ogółu mieszkańców) oraz 5.174
ewangelików (27,6% ogółu mieszkańców). Wyznawcy judaizmu stanowili natomiast
9,4 % ogółu populacji miasta, co dawało liczbę 2.112 wiernych. Byli zrzeszeni w żydowskiej gminie wyznaniowej z własnym rabinem. Poza synagogą gminną działała
synagoga ortodoksyjna oraz kilka prywatnych domów modlitwy. Oprócz wyznawców
ww. religii chrześcijańskich przed I wojną światową w Cieszynie zamieszkiwało 65
osób deklarujących się jako będących innego wyznania.
Konflikt zbrojny czesko-polski w 1919 roku i późniejsze przetargi o ziemię cieszyńską
znalazły w końcu formalne rozwiązanie w postaci uchwały Rady Ambasadorów w Paryżu, w wyniku której dawne Księstwo Cieszyńskie zostało w 1920 roku podzielone pomiędzy Polskę i Czechosłowację. Po podziale miasta sytuacja poszczególnych Kościołów uległa dużej zmianie. Władze czechosłowackie doprowadziły do powołania osobnej
parafii katolickiej dla Czeskiego Cieszyna przy kościele Serca Jezusowego. Reszta miasta
pozostała w ramach diecezji wrocławskiej, która w 1925 roku. wraz z całym polskim
Śląskiem Cieszyńskim została włączona do nowo utworzonej diecezji śląskiej.
Kościół Jezusowy pozostał duchowym i organizacyjnym centrum parafii ewangelickiej w polskiej części Cieszyna, natomiast wyznawcy protestantyzmu w Czeskim
Cieszynie podzielili się na trzy kościoły.
Połączenie obu części miasta w 1938 roku wpłynęło także na sytuację poszczególnych Kościołów, zmiany administracyjne nie były jednak trwałe. Wiernych i duchownych obu wyznań połączył wspólny los w czasach okupacji hitlerowskiej, kilku księży
katolickich z terenu Cieszyna straciło życie w hitlerowskich obozach, innych wysiedlono. Niemcy zniszczyli prawie całą cieszyńską wspólnotę żydowską9.
W pierwszych latach po II wojnie światowej Kościół ewangelicki w ówczesnej Czechosłowacji musiał ostro walczyć o swój byt, istniały bowiem silne tendencje odgórne
połączenia Kościoła z Czeskobraterskim Kościołem Ewangelickim bez odpowiednio
zagwarantowanych praw autonomicznych. W gruncie rzeczy chodziło o złamanie
polskiego charakteru Kościoła ewangelickiego na Zaolziu.
Trudnym okresem dla Kościołów obu wyznań były też lata 1945–1953, kiedy musiały działać pod ścisłym nadzorem tajnej policji oraz władz komunistycznych. Także
7 J. Spyra: Via Sacra …, s. 11.
8 J. Spyra: Śląsk Cieszyński pod rządami Habsburgów (1653-1848). W: Śląsk Cieszyński.
.., s. 154.
9 J. Spyra: Via Sacra ..., s. 16.

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w późniejszych latach działalność kościołów, zwłaszcza katolickiego, była ograniczana
na każdym polu. Cieszyński zbór ewangelicki, skupiony wokół Kościoła Jezusowego,
jest największą parafią Kościoła ewangelicko-augsburskiego w Polsce. Liczy ok. 7 tysięcy wiernych, obok Cieszyna należy do niego kilkanaście okolicznych wsi.
Obecnie po polskiej stronie miasta funkcjonują następujące wyznania religijne: Kościół Rzymskokatolicki, Kościół Ewangelicko-Augsburski, Kościół Zielonoświątkowy
– Zbór „Elim” w Cieszynie, Kościół Wolnych Chrześcijan, Kościół Adwentystów Dnia
Siódmego, Kościół Chrześcijan Baptystów, Kościół Chrześcijan Wiary Ewangelicznej,
Świadkowie Jehowy. Natomiast po czeskiej stronie: Kościół Rzymskokatolicki, Kościół Ewangelicko-Augsburski, Husyci, Kościół Zielonoświątkowy, Kościół Czeskobraterski, Świadkowie Jehowy, Buddyzm Diamentowej Drogi10.

Współczesne zróżnicowanie wyznaniowe
mieszkańców Cieszyna – analiza badań
Przedstawione powyżej etapy kształtowania się wieloreligijności na Śląsku Cieszyńskim mają swoje odzwierciedlenie w otaczającej rzeczywistości dnia codziennego. Burzliwe nieraz losy współwystępowania obok siebie dwóch dużych religii chrześcijańskich mają swoje pozostałości w postawie mieszkańców Cieszyna, ich podejściu
oraz wzajemnym stosunku do siebie jako przedstawicieli różnych wyznań. Obecny
dualizm religijny tego terenu wynika z faktu wielowiekowego funkcjonowania różnych wyznań. Analizując historię rozwoju religijności widzimy, iż już od początku
XVI mamy tutaj do czynienia z dualizmem wyznaniowym. Nawet w czasach kontrreformacji, kiedy to protestanci byli prześladowani a jawne wyznawanie ich religii
było zabronione, trwali przy swoich przekonaniach, nie poddając się rekatolizacji.
Oba wyznania funkcjonowały więc obok siebie. Po wielu zawirowaniach dziejowych,
głównie na skutek zmian politycznych, ów dualizm wyznaniowy Cieszyna zachował
się do chwili obecnej. Dodatkowo do dwóch głównie tu występujących religii chrześcijańskich dołączyło sporo pomniejszych odłamów. Pod względem swobody wyznawanych religii Cieszyn wydaje się być miejscem zupełnie wyjątkowym, z czego nawet
niektórzy mieszkańcy nie zdają sobie sprawy. A wszystko za sprawą doświadczeń minionych wieków. Mieszkańcy Cieszyna nauczyli się tolerancji religijnej w stosunku do
przedstawicieli innych wyznań, gdyż są wychowani w otoczeniu innowierców, mają
z nimi kontakt od najwcześniejszych lat, często są to również członkowie rodzin mieszanych wyznaniowo – o zrozumienie i tolerancję nie jest tu trudno.
Na tolerancję religijną wśród mieszkańców obu części Cieszyna wpływają różne
czynniki zewnętrzne. Jednym ze współcześnie istotniejszych jest ich wiek, przy czym
młodsze pokolenie wykazuje przejawy znacznie większej tolerancji niż pokolenie ich
rodziców czy dziadków. Ale to już znak czasu. Nie odmawiam w tym przypadku tolerancji starszym generacjom, zwracam jedynie uwagę na to, iż kwestie wyznaniowe
były dla nich nieco ważniejsze niż dla młodego pokolenia, bardziej podatnego na innowacje i otwartego na nowoczesne wzorce i nowy styl życia.
10 Zob: www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestantyzm_na_%C5%9Al%C4%85sku_Cieszy%C5%84skim; http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cieszyn;www.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9Al%C4%85ski_Ko%C5%9Bci%C3%B3%C5%82_Ewangelicki_Augsburskiego_Wyznania

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W założeniu tego wystąpienia potraktowano Cieszyn jako jedno miasto, nie różnicując go na polską i czeską część. Przy takim wyborze kierowano się losami historycznymi miasta oraz tym, iż wszyscy ankietowani zadeklarowali przynależność do
narodowości polskiej (bez względu na miejsce zamieszkania). Jest to zapewne pozostałość czasów, kiedy Cieszyn był miastem jednorodnym państwowo. Jedyny podział,
jaki tutaj zastosowano dotyczy wyznania mieszkańców. Celem badań było ukazanie
wzajemnego stosunku do siebie ludności katolickiej i ewangelickiej oraz relacji panujących pomiędzy nimi. Badania przeprowadzono w styczniu i w lutym 2010 roku
zarówno po polskiej, jak i czeskiej stronie miasta, wśród osób narodowości polskiej,
głównie wyznania katolickiego i ewangelickiego11.
Narzędziem badawczym stała się ankieta, której głównym założeniem było ukazanie współczesnego obrazu sytuacji wyznaniowej Cieszyna poprzez sprawdzenie stanu
świadomości mieszkańców miasta o przedstawicielach innych wyznań oraz zaobserwowaniu zachodzących pomiędzy nimi relacji. W badaniach uczestniczyło 66 osób,
w wieku od 20 do 60 roku życia. Blisko połowa (48%) ankietowanych zdeklarowała
się jako katolicy, 45% jako ewangelicy; resztę stanowili wyznawcy innych religii (3%).
Połowę informatorów stanowiły kobiety. Największą grupę badanych stanowiły osoby młode w wieku 25-30 lat (47%), nieco mniej w wieku 20-25 lat (27%). Znacznie
mniej było osób w wieku 35-40 (12%) oraz w przedziale wiekowym 55-60 lat (9%);
najmniejszą grupę stanowili przedstawiciele średniego pokolenia, w przedziale wiekowym 45-50 lat (5%).

Analiza przeprowadzonych badań
Na wstępie analizy wyników badań przyjrzymy się wzajemnym relacjom panującym pomiędzy przedstawicielami poszczególnych wyznań w Cieszynie oraz ich stosunku do siebie nawzajem.
Osoby ankietowane deklarujące się jako wierzący i praktykujący katolicy, pochodzący z tradycyjnych rodzin, w których rodzice są (lub byli) katolikami, zgodnie
podkreślają, iż wzajemny stosunek katolików do ewangelików (i vice versa) jest pozytywny, w najgorszym przypadku obojętny. Cieszyńscy katolicy uważają, iż z dwóch
omawianych religii, bardziej ortodoksyjna i zamknięta na innowacje jest właśnie religia katolicka, a jako kolejne podają wyznanie mojżeszowe i Świadków Jehowy. Na
pytanie, czy kiedykolwiek myśleli o zmianie swojego wyznania i przepisaniu się do
innego Kościoła, w większości podali odpowiedź przeczącą, jedynie pojedyncze osoby zakładały taką możliwość. Jako potencjalny wybór wyznaniowy podano „religie
wschodu, jako bardziej zdrowe”12, aczkolwiek w tym przypadku jest to zapewne bardziej utożsamiane ze stylem życia niż z głębokimi przekonaniami wewnętrznymi.
O wzajemnej tolerancji może świadczyć również przekonanie ankietowanych o tym,
iż pomiędzy poszczególnymi wyznaniami nie istnieje rywalizacja, a co za tym idzie
ich wyznawcy nie są napiętnowani, dyskryminowani czy gorzej traktowani ze wzglę11 W przyszłości być może warto będzie przeprowadzić te same badania wśród ludności
deklarującej swą przynależność narodową do innej narodowości niż polska. Porównanie tych
wyników dałoby zapewne interesujące wnioski.
12 Kobieta, katolik, Czeski Cieszyn, 30-35 lat.

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du na swoją przynależność religijną. Podstawę takiej tolerancji badani upatrują głównie w uwarunkowaniach historycznych tego regionu, w wielokulturowości, a także
odrębnych tradycjach.
Cieszyn jest miejscem bardzo tolerancyjnym dla wyznawców nowych ruchów religijnych, gdyż występuje
tu wielokulturowość (kobieta, katolik, Czeski Cieszyn, 30-35 lat).
Funkcjonowanie wieloreligijności na Śląsku Cieszyńskim jest uwarunkowane podłożem historycznym
oraz stosunkowo dużą liczbą protestantów, a także występowaniem innych związków wyznaniowych (kobieta, katolik, Cieszyn, 20-25 lat).

Badani podkreślają ponadto, że w ich przekonaniu mieszkańcy Cieszyna (Śląska
Cieszyńskiego) są bardziej tolerancyjni dla wyznawców innych religii niż mieszkańcy
innych części kraju. Tolerancja ta wykracza poza relacje katolicy-ewangelicy i rozciąga się również na przedstawicieli innych religii (nie tylko chrześcijańskich). Uważają
również, że w codziennych kontaktach wyznanie nie ma znaczenia – przy wyborze
znajomych oraz partnerów życiowych nie kierują się tymi kryteriami. Badane osoby zakładają hipotetyczną możliwość posiadania we własnej rodzinie innowierców,
twierdząc, że jest im to obojętne. Jako przykłady podają najczęściej ewangelików
i prawosławnych. Indagowani często we własnych rodzinach posiadają wyznawców
innych religii i uważają to za czynnik wzbogacający wzajemne relacje, na zasadzie
przenikania i poznania innych zwyczajów. W żaden sposób ten fakt nie przeszkadza
im we wzajemnych relacjach rodzinnych.
Mój mąż jest ateistą, nie ma to wpływu na nasze relacje (kobieta, katolik, Czeski Cieszyn, 30-35 lat).
Mój szwagier jest osobą o wyznaniu prawosławnym. Nie przeszkadza nam to we wzajemnych kontaktach (kobieta, katolik, Czeski Cieszyn, 30-35 lat).
Mam w rodzinie przedstawiciela wyznania prawosławnego. Jeżeli chodzi o nasze relacje i wzajemne
wpływy to są to kontakty pozytywne. Prowadzące do wzajemnego wzbogacania i poznania inności (kobieta, katolik, Cieszyn, 20-25 lat).

Sami ankietowani nie doświadczyli ze strony przedstawicieli innych religii żadnych
przejawów dyskryminacji czy napiętnowania ze względu na własne wyznanie. Przyjmują jednak, w pewnych okolicznościach, możliwość utrudnienia wzajemnych relacji
ze względu na odmienność religijną. Podkreślają jednocześnie, że takich spornych
sytuacji można uniknąć przy założeniu, że osoby różnych wyznań będą tolerancyjne
dla odmienności. Mieszkańcy uważają się za osoby tolerancyjne w stosunku do innowierców tego terenu. Jednak w zależności od wyznawanej religii występuje spadek
zaufania do np. wyznawców Islamu, czy wyznawców „takich religii, w których kobieta
jest traktowana przedmiotowo, w której jej prawa są ograniczone”13. Uważają, że Śląsk
Cieszyński/Cieszyn jest miejscem specyficznym w skali kraju dającym możliwość
13 Kobieta, katolik, Cieszyn, 50-55 lat.

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występowania wieloreligijności opartej na tolerancji wynikającej z wielokulturowości
miasta i regionu oraz z dziejów historycznych.
Tolerancja, a przede wszystkim otwartość mieszkańców Śląska Cieszyńskiego może wynikać z chęci poszukiwanie nowych rzeczy, a także z przesłanek historycznych (kobieta, katolik, Czeski Cieszyn, 30-35 lat).

Mają świadomość występowania różnych wyznań i wspólnot wyznaniowych, takich jak: (po polskiej stronie) Kościół Zielonoświątkowy, Świadkowie Jehowy, Wolni Chrześcijanie oraz (po stronie czeskiej) buddyści, Świadkowie Jehowy, oraz kilka wspólnot wyznaniowych znanych ankietowanym tylko z nazw potocznych, są to:
Sabatyści, Zieloni, Czescy Bracia oraz Husyci. Badani katolicy wykazują się znaczną
tolerancją w stosunku do nich, swój stosunek określają jako pozytywny (po polskiej
stronie), poza skrajnymi sytuacjami, w których przedstawiciele innych wyznań są zbyt
„nachalni” i próbują przekonywać do swoich poglądów lub obojętny, neutralny (po
stronie czeskiej), póki nikomu nie szkodzą. Następnie polscy katolicy twierdzą, iż bardziej otwarte na zmiany są Kościoły znajdujące się po czeskiej stronie, ze względu na
fakt większego odpolitycznienia. Analogicznie stwierdzają katolicy z czeskiej strony,
argumentując, że tamtejsze Kościoły „mniej wymagają od swoich wiernych”14.
Katolicy zauważają więc spadek religijności po obu stronach Olzy, szczególnie
wśród ludzi młodych. Jako przyczyny tego stanu podają konsumpcyjny tryb współczesnego życia, materializm, a także ogólne zmiany światopoglądu wśród młodych,
obecnie bardziej otwartych na nowe technologie i podatnych na nowe wzorce kulturowe, które niekoniecznie wiążą się z religijnością.
Ogólne zmiany obyczajowości, poglądów młodych ludzi, ich otwarcie na nowe ideologie, ciekawość,
większy dostęp do mediów, a tym samym informacji oraz ich przepływu. Zjawisko ponowoczesności, które
niesie ze sobą więcej wzorców i modeli życia, wcześniej niedostępnych dla młodzieży (kobieta, katolik, Cieszyn, 20-25 lat).

Przyjrzymy się teraz analizowanemu zagadnieniu z punktu widzenia wyznawców
ewangelickich. Czy z ich strony kwestia religijności i tolerancji przedstawia się tak
samo? Różnice pojawiają się jednak już na samym początku. Wprawdzie ankietowani deklarują swoją przynależność do Kościoła ewangelicko-augsburskiego, podobnie jak katolicy uważają się za osoby wierzące, jednak procent takich odpowiedzi
jest już odczuwalnie niższy niż w przypadku katolików (blisko 20%). Ankietowani
ci mają problem z jednogłośnym określeniem swojego stosunku do własnej wiary
lub pojawiają się nawet odpowiedzi przeczące (określają się jako niewierzący). Ma
to swoje konsekwencje w podejściu do praktykowania religii. Cieszyńscy ewangelicy
w najlepszym przypadku deklarują, iż „czasami” biorą udział w nabożeństwach lub
stwierdzają wprost, iż nie uczęszczają do kościoła. Odmiennie przedstawia się kwestia
wyznania rodziców badanych ewangelików (u katolików mieliśmy do czynienia z tradycyjną katolicką rodziną, gdzie oboje rodziców jest tego wyznania, katolickie są też
dzieci). Większość ankietowanych ewangelików pochodzi z rodzin mieszanych wyznaniowo, w których każde z rodziców jest innego wyznania, są również tradycyjne
14 Mężczyzna, katolik, Czeski Cieszyn, 55-60 lat.

�244

Dziedzictwo kulturowe • Kulturní dědictví

rodziny ewangelickie. Różnice postępują dalej: ewangelicy uważają, że stosunek katolików jest do nich raczej obojętny, analogicznie jak ich stosunek do katolików. Tutaj
już pojawiają się odpowiedzi bardziej nacechowane emocjonalnie i nie tak neutralne.
Ewangelicy twierdzą, że ich stosunek do katolików jest pozytywny, jednak ci drudzy
uważają inaczej.
Stosunek ewangelików do katolików – gdzieś między pozytywny a obojętny, nie spotkałem się z negatywnym stosunkiem (mężczyzna, ewangelik, Czeski Cieszyn, 25-30 lat).

Incydentalnie stwierdzają, iż stosunek ten (ewangelików do katolików) jest negatywny.
Podobnie jak ludność ewangelicka, tak i katolicka twierdzi, że z obu analizowanych wyznań bardziej ortodoksyjna i ograniczona na zmiany jest religia katolicka.
W przypadku wychowywania się w rodzinach niejednolitych wyznaniowo pojawia się
możliwość zmiany wyznania przez dziecko na rzecz religii jednego z rodziców. Rzeczą
często spotykaną w Cieszynie jest zawieranie małżeństw mieszanych. W momencie
pojawienia się dziecka należy zadeklarować je do któregoś z Kościołów. Nie opiera
się to na przymusie, bardziej na wzajemnej umowie pomiędzy małżonkami. Jeszcze
w latach 80. i 90. ubiegłego stulecia istniał jednak (nieformalny) zwyczaj przypisywania dziecka do Kościoła katolickiego. W tym zakresie ewangelicy wydają się być religijnie mniej zaborczy, jak zresztą sami jednogłośnie twierdzą. Dzieci wychowywane
w rodzinach mieszanych, początkowo bez prawa wyboru, w dorosłym życiu mogą
jednak dokonać takiego świadomego wyboru. Zdecydowanie też cechują się większą
od innych tolerancją religijną. W przypadku poczucia tożsamości religijnej, w przeciwieństwie do katolików, ewangelicy odczuwają przejawy pewnej niesprawiedliwości i postaw krzywdzących. Jest to szczególnie zauważalne w przypadku młodszego
pokolenia, które osobiście doświadczało takich przejawów w życiu codziennym, np.
podczas naboru uczniów do szkół katolickich.
Ewangelicy nie mogą się zapisać do katolickiej podstawówki, gimnazjum i liceum, wymagane jest zdeklarowanie się na uczęszczanie na religię katolicką, a do szkoły ewangelickiej mogą chodzić wszyscy bez
względu na wyznanie (kobieta, ewangelik, Cieszyn, 20-25 lat).
Szkoły katolickie nie przyjmują uczniów innych wyznań i religii, w przeciwieństwie do szkół ewangelickich (mężczyzna, ewangelik, Cieszyn, 20-25 lat).

Badani oceniają Cieszyn, jak i Śląsk Cieszyński jako miejsca szczególnych możliwości rozwoju dla różnych wyznań, gdzie tolerancja jest wyższa aniżeli w innych
częściach kraju. Podobnie jak katoliccy mieszkańcy jako powody wieloreligijności podają uwarunkowania historyczne, wielowiekową tolerancję, a także inne kwestie.
Ludzie nie oceniają drugiego człowieka przez pryzmat jego wyznania, tylko za jego charakter (kobieta,
ewangelik, Cieszyn, 20-25 lat).

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Dlatego też w codziennych relacjach wyznanie nie ma dla nich żadnego znaczenia,
a przedstawiciele innych religii są przez nich samych traktowani tak samo, neutralnie,
czyli obojętna jest ich przynależność religijna. Dokonując również wyboru znajomych
czy partnerów życiowych ewangelicy cieszyńscy nie kierują się względami religijnymi, traktując je jako kwestie drugoplanowe. Może wynikać to z faktu, iż większość
ankietowanych posiada we własnych rodzinach wyznawców innych religii. Są to przeważnie katolicy, członkowie najbliższej rodziny, z którymi kontakt jest najsilniejszy
(najczęściej jedno z rodziców lub współmałżonek). Wiadomo więc, iż wyznanie nie
ma w tym wypadku najmniejszego wpływu na relacje pomiędzy zainteresowanymi
osobami. Jednak ankietowani, jako wyznawcy religii ewangelicko-augsburskiej, i jednocześnie przedstawiciele mniejszości wyznaniowej spotkali się z przejawami napiętnowania i dyskryminacji ze względu na swoje wyznanie. Bardziej błahym przykładem
może być dyskomfortowa sytuacja znalezienia się w grupie, w której jest się jedynym
przedstawicielem konkretnego wyznania.
Byłam na kolonii, gdzie nie było żadnego ewangelika i ludzie dziwnie się na mnie patrzyli (kobieta,
ewangelik, Cieszyn, 20-25 lat).

Znacznie bardziej kontrowersyjny jest przykład utrudniania i komplikacji ze strony księdza katolickiego w przypadku, kiedy osoba wyznania ewangelickiego chciała
pełnić obowiązki osoby chrzestnej dla katolickiego dziecka spotkała się z pewnymi
nieprzyjemnościami.
W momencie, gdy jako ewangeliczka chciałam zostać chrzestną katolickiego dziecka, bez łapówki się nie
obyło (kobieta, ewangelik, Cieszyn, 20-25 lat).

Powyższą wypowiedź można uznać za kontrowersyjną, ale i takie oblicza cieszyńskich Kościołów są znane informatorom.
Młodzi ludzie wyznania ewangelickiego zakładają więc w pewnych okolicznościach
możliwość utrudnienia kontaktów międzyludzkich ze względu na wyznanie, inaczej
przedstawiciele starszego pokolenia. Badani ze wszystkich grup wiekowych zgodnie
określają siebie jako osoby tolerancyjne, w szczególnych przypadkach mające tylko
pewne zastrzeżenia, nie tyle do przedstawicieli innych wyznań, co do zasad funkcjonowania ich społeczności (przykład Świadków Jehowy czy Adwentystów). Również
Śląsk Cieszyński uważają za region w skali kraju bardziej sprzyjający tolerancji religijnej, co argumentują uwarunkowaniami historycznymi, granicą państwową oraz
charakterem ludzi pogranicza, przyzwyczajonych do różnych przejawów „inności”,
też religijnej. Ewangeliccy mieszkańcy mają świadomość występowania w mieście
różnych Kościołów i grup wyznaniowych, jako sobie znane wymieniają: Adwentystów Dnia Siódmego, Kościół Zielonoświątkowy oraz Świadków Jehowy. Natomiast
swój stosunek do przedstawicieli powyższych wyznań oceniają jako pozytywny lub
obojętny/neutralny. Oceniając funkcjonowanie Kościołów po obu stronach Olzy ankietowani zarówno z polskiego, jak i czeskiego Cieszyna lepszą opinię wystawiają tym
znajdującym się po stronie czeskiej. Argumentując to m.in. tym, iż Kościoły po czeskiej stronie uległy większemu zeświecczeniu, w związku z czym mniej rygorystycznie podchodzą do swoich wiernych. Może właśnie w tym rozluźnieniu stosunków

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należy doszukiwać się przyczyn spadku religijności wśród ludzi młodych, szczególnie
po stronie czeskiej. Jako przyczyny spadku religijności wśród młodzieży ankietowani
podają spadek atrakcyjności Kościołów, które dla ludzi młodych nie są interesujące,
gdyż niczym ich nie przyciągają. Również istotna jest tutaj kwestia podejścia rodziców, którzy zaczynają przywiązywać coraz mniejszą wagę do religijności dzieci, a te
wolą poświęcić czas na inne, bardziej interesujące (w ich przekonaniu) zajęcia.
Wśród ankietowanych znalazły się również przykłady osób zdeklarowanych jako
ateiści. Ich poglądy i ocena stosunków panujących pomiędzy przedstawicielami poszczególnych wyznań nie różnią się szczególnie wyraźnie od poglądów katolików
i ewangelików. Cechują się postawą bardziej nihilistyczną, świadczącą o tym, iż wyznanie i kwestie religijne nie mają dla nich większego znaczenia.
W przypadku znajomych nie zwracam uwagi na wyznanie. Jeżeli chodzi o partnera, to uważam, że wzajemne zrozumienie w tej sprawie jest bardzo istotne. Obojętne jakie było by owo wyznanie, byle było tolerancyjne. W stosunku do wyznawców innych wyznań występujących w Cieszynie: nie ma to dla mnie żadnego
znaczenia, o ile nie propagują go zbyt „natrętnie” (mężczyzna, ateista, Czeski Cieszyn, 20-25 lat).

Podsumowując analizowany materiał można stwierdzić, iż mieszkańcy Cieszyna
są zdecydowanie tolerancyjni w stosunku do przedstawicieli innych wyznań (innych
niż swoje). W życiu codziennym i we wzajemnych kontaktach wyznanie nie odgrywa
najmniejszej roli. Tolerancję tę upatrują w wielokulturowości i różnorodności tego
terenu oraz w jego specyficznych losach historycznych. Wielowiekowe współistnienie
na tym terenie dwóch dużych religii chrześcijańskich (oraz kilku pomniejszych) było
możliwe dzięki determinacji i wzajemnej wyrozumiałości mieszkańców tego terenu.
Jego specyfikę wykorzystali także wyznawcy innych religii czy nowych ruchów religijnych, którzy na tym podatnym gruncie mogli zakładać własne zbory, świątynie czy
domy modlitwy. Nic nie wskazuje na to, ażeby sytuacja ta, odnośnie specyficzności
i tolerancji Cieszyna miała się zmienić.

Bibliografia:
Chlebowczyk J.: Cieszyńskie szkice historyczne. Kiedy sól była droższa od złota i krwi.
Katowice 1984
Gajdacz E., Pustelnik J.: Kościół Ewangelicki w Cieszynie. Cieszyn 2009
Kuś J.: Z dziejów kościelnych ziemi cieszyńskiej. Kraków 1983
Panic I.: Ziemia Cieszyńska w czasach piastowskich (X-XII wiek). W: Śląsk Cieszyński. Środowisko naturalne, Zarys dziejów. Zarys kultury materialnej i duchowej. Red.
W. Sosna. Cieszyn 2001, s. 121-144
Spyra J.: Śląsk Cieszyński pod rządami Habsburgów (1653-1848). W: Śląsk Cieszyński. Środowisko naturalne, Zarys dziejów. Zarys kultury materialnej i duchowej. Red.
W. Sosna. Cieszyn 2001, s. 145-165
Spyra J.: Via Sacra. Kościoły i klasztory w Cieszynie i Czeskim Cieszynie. Cieszyn
2008

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Źródła:
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cieszyn www.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9Al%C4%85ski_Ko%C5%9Bci%C3%B3%C5%82_Ewangelicki_Augsburskiego_Wyznania
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestantyzm_na_%C5%9Al%C4%85sku_Cieszy%C5%84skim

Shrnutí
Tolerance z hlediska náboženské různorodostí na příkladu
obyvatel Cieszyna a Českého Těšína
Článek začíná přiblížením geneze náboženské diferenciace na území Těšínského Slezska. Na
pozadí historických událostí se rodí, nejednou velmi bouřlivé osudy zdejších obyvatel, kteří v
průběhu staletí několikrát měli do činění se změnou vyznání, které momentálně vládlo v Těšínském Knížectví. Avšak díky jejich odhodlanosti, dokonce v podmínkách utajení zůstávali
věrni svému vyznání, a nepodléhali donucení. Na území Těšínského Slezska se vytvořila náboženská tolerance, která podle samotných zdejších obyvatel je něčím specifickým a odlišujícím
Cieszyn ve srovnání s jinými regiony Polska. Rovněž samotní občané Cieszyna se považují za
více tolerantní než občané jiných částí Polska.
Ke zpracování této problematiky posloužily vlastní výzkumy, prováděné po obou stranách
řeky Olše, mezi lidmi polského původu, deklarujících se jako katolíci a evangelíci. Tyto výzkumy se týkaly především náboženské diferenciace občanů města. Bylo analyzováno, jakým způsobem představitelé jednotlivých vyznání vnímají jedince jiných vyznání, jaké jsou mezi nimi
vztahy a nakolik důležité jsou pro dotazované otázky náboženství v každodenním životě.

Summary
Tolerance in the face of religious differentiation
– the case of the residents of Cieszyn and Czech Cieszyn
The article begins with introducing the origin of religious differentiation in Cieszyn Silesia.
Against the background of historical events, quite violent vicissitudes of its inhabitants are
outlined – over the centuries, people in the Duchy of Cieszyn have undergone changes of the
dominant religion several times. However, owing to their determination, they did not succumb to the constraint and secretly kept to their faith. Cieszyn Silesia has become an area
where religious tolerance has been shaped, which in the opinion of the residents is a specific
feature, distinguishing this place from other regions of Poland. The inhabitants of Cieszyn also
consider themselves to be more tolerant than other Poles.
The research into the issue was based on the author’s own studies, conducted on both sides
of the Olza River, among people of Polish origin who declare being mainly Catholics and
Evangelicals. The studies dealt with the current religious diversification of the inhabitants of
Cieszyn. The analyses were carried out of the ways in which the worshippers of other denominations are perceived by the representatives of particular churches, of their mutual relationships and of the significance of religious issues in everyday life.

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                <text>Filip I

U

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1

9

8

5r

o

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a

Student V roku etnologii na Uniwersytecie Jagiellońskim.

W r ó b l e w s k i

Tom &amp; Gerry, ale bez Toma
Nadinterpretacje
ziwić może przywołanie filmu animo­
wanego Williama Hanny i Josepha Bar¬
bery zrealizowanego dla wytwórni Mertro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
m-OnU
Tom &amp; Jerry to nagrodzona
siedmioma Oscarami historia przygód zawzię­
tych wrogów: szarego kota - Toma i brązowej
myszki - Jerry'ego. To opowieść o dwójce anta­
gonistów, o swoistej niemożności przekroczenia
własnej kondycji, przezwyciężenia przypadłości
losu, o konieczności prowadzenia bezustannej
walki, wreszcie opowieść archetypiczna osnuta
wokół cyklicznej koncepcji cza.su odzwiercie­
dlanej narracyjną repetycją. Warto dodać, że nie
jest to odosobniona fabuła. Poszukując tylko
wśród animowanych bajek tworzonych z myślą
o dzieciach nie można zapomnieć o Króliku
Buksie i zawziętym Elmerze Fuddzie Strusiu
P ę d z i w i a t r a i wiecznie głodnym kojocie, FreFOT. (C) CUTEK FILM

dzie i Barneyu z Flintstonów,
Dexterze i jego
siostrze Dee Dee z Laboratorium Dextera, ty­
tułowym bohaterze bajki Mi/Yogi bezustannie
tropionym przez Strażnika Smitha. Gdyby się
postarać, lista przykładów mogłaby być znacz­
nie dłuższa.
Zasadą naczelną, wspólną dla opisanych po­
wyżej narracji, byłaby coincidentia oppositorum
bohaterów, tak j ak j ą rozumiał na przykład Mircea
Eliade . Jednakże owa biegunowość dwóch po­
staci wydaje się niewystarczająca, aby wytłuma­
czyć złożoność różnorakich, często diametralnie
odbiegających od siebie narracji. Bynajmniej nie
chodzi tu o przejawianie się mitycznego modelu
bóstwa, ale o jego niewyraźne, zatarte echo roz­
łożone na wzajemną konkurencję. Schematyczue powtarzalne a przez to przewidywalne dzia­
łania odsłaniają zakonserwowaną niedojrzałość
1

�Tom &amp; Gerry, ale bez Toma. Nadinterpretacje
bohaterów kulturowych, niezdolność podjęcia
z pełną odpowiedzialnością codziennych ról
i obowiązków zwykłych ludzi, tak w porządku
społecznym, jak i odpowiadającym mu uwzorowaniom mitologicznym. Pojawia się zatem
pytanie: czy bezpłodna aktywność prezentowana
w przywołanych fabułach obecna jest w innych
tekstach kultury? Czy ten jałowy witalizm moż­
na odnaleźć w Gerrym Gusa Van Santa?
Anonimowa notka z programu telewizyjnego
dość trafnie, ale nie bezbłędnie streszcza fabułę
fdmu:

37

prowiantu i mapy, za to z pełnym przekonaniem,
że otaczająca ich przestrzeń to coś w rodzaju
równo przystrzyżonego trawnika w miejskim
parku. Takie podejście nie jest pozbawione ra­
cji, traktuje bowiem przedstawioną historię w
sposób nominalny. Otwarta struktura dzieła za­
chęca do wszelakich interpretacji, także ze stro­
ny odbiorców zdystansowanych i sceptycznych.
W końcu po lekturze tak specyficznego tekstu,
jakim jest Gerry, nie sposób się dziwić komen­
tarzowi internauty: „Z pewnością pokochają
ten obraz wszyscy fanatycy doszukiwania się
czegoś wielkiego w wielkim nic " Można po¬
dejrzewać że za podobna choć o wiele bardziej
dosadna omnia krvie sie ta sama osoba uznająca
Gerrv'eloza Wielkie Nic Pseudoeksoervmen
talne-dziełko" w dodatku'zupełnie nieszczere
skierowane dla wszelkiej maści Nadinterpretatorów" 7atem iak ieszcze można rozumieć ten
film ? Jakie „nadinterpretacje" sa możliwe?
3

Przyjaciele o tym samym imieniu - Gerry (Ca­
sey Afleck, Matt Damon) - jadą samochodem
pustą drogą. Po pewnym czasie zatrzymują się
i zaczynają przemierzać prerię pieszo. Spędzają
noce pod gołym niebem, a w ciągu dnia wędru­
ją. Wreszcie uświadamiają sobie, że zabłądzili.
Nie są w stanie dotrzeć do auta. Zmęczenie,
głód i pragnienie coraz bardziej im dokucza­
ją. Gus Van Sant po sukcesach w Hollywood
wrócił dzięki tej produkcji do swoich korzeni,
impresyjnego kina niezależnego .
2

4

Jak sugeruje jeden z bywalców kina, jest
to opowieść egzystencjalna, cokolwiek miał­
by oznaczać ten wyraz. „Egzystencjalny - to
słowo, które najczęściej pada z ust ludzi, wy­
chodzących z kina po obejrzeniu Gerry'ego" .
Czy chodzi o dramat egzystencji ludzkiej, doj­
mującą pustkę i osamotnienie - nie wiadomo.
Dlaczego akurat to słowo? Istnieje podejrzenie,
że pojawia się ono jako uzasadnienie, kategoria
zrozumiała dla każdego, a przez to pozbawiona
znaczenia. Jednym przymiotnikiem usiłuje się
załatwić wszystko, jednocześnie wyjaśnić ta­
jemnicę i zakryć jej niezrozumienie. Jak wielu
bywalców multipleksów zaczytuje się w Sartrze,
5

Po pierwsze, nie wiadomo do końca, jakie
relacje łączą tych ludzi. Po drugie, nie jest to pre­
ria, lecz pustynia, o czym dokładniej w dalszej
części tekstu. Po trzecie, Gus Van Sant nie miał
do czego wracać, bowiem fdmy, jakie tworzył,
zawsze były niezależne.
M o ż n a by się z d e c y d o w a ć na dosadne
stwierdzenie, że jest to produkcja opowiadająca
o dwójce kretynów, którzy zeszli ze szlaku bez

1

M . Eliade, Meftstofeles iAndrogyn, tłum. B. Kupis, KR,

będzie jednak równoznaczne ze zignorowaniem subtelności

Warszawa 2009, s. 89-149. W tym miejscu można by się

każdego z powyższych stanowisk

też odwołać do strukturyzujących narrację bajki funkcji

2

określonych działań czy zdarzeń zaproponowanych przez

3

Władimira Proppa (idem, Morfologia bajki, tłum. W Wojtyga-

Pustynne+Wielkie + Nic.html, 29.09.2006.

Zagórski, Książka i Wiedza, Warszawa 1976) albo koncepcji

4

„bohatera" losepha Campbella (idem, Bohater o tysiącu twarzy,

php3?fID=103, 20.09.2006.

tłum. A. lankowski, Zysk i S-ka, Poznań 1997). Użycie takie

5

Gerry, „Teleświat" 7.03-13.03.2008, s. 63.
Za: http://www.filmweb.pl/topic/124101/
Za: http://www.innastrona.pl/kult_filmy_show
E. Szabłowska, Gerry, http://www.europaeuropa.pl/rc/

rc_0304171.php, 29.09.2006.

3 - 3 ( 1 3 - 1 1 ) 3DD3

BARBARZVNCA

�Filip Wróblewski

38

Camusie, Marcelu czy Kierkegaardzie? Niepo­
dobna odgadnąć. Egzystencjalny - być może.
Jaki jeszcze?
Materiały dystrybutora podpowiadają, że z
portretu dwóch przyjaciół na bezludnej ame­
rykańskiej pustyni twórcy wywodzą refleksję
nad ludzką potrzebą poszukiwania nieznanego
i przekraczania własnych możliwości. Gerry to
eksperyment, fascynująca opowieść otwierająca
się na to, co w kinie niespodziewane, niemożli­
we i zaskakujące. To film o inicjacji .
6

ści jest pozorna łatwość tego aktu. Tym samym
nietrudno pomylić pielgrzymowanie z włóczę­
gą, z błąkaniem się. Bohaterowie filmu zabłą­
dzili, zaś doraźnym celem, a raczej punktem
orientacyjnym, jest dla nich upragniony samo­
chód. Idą przed siebie nie dlatego, że pragną
iść, lecz dlatego, że zostali do tego zmuszeni.
To zasadnicza różnica. Jan Olszewski w napisa­
nej dla „Kina" recenzji z a u w a ż a , że o ile Gerry
stanowi metaforę „filozofii drogi", o tyle jego
przesłanie z a m k n ą ć m o ż n a stwierdzeniem,
że „człowiek powinien dążyć wyżej i wyżej,
taka droga prowadzi na zatracenie" . Gorzka to
refleksja.
8

I rzeczywiście, w jakimś stopniu jest to film
o inicjacji. O doświadczeniu granic i umiera­
niu. Lecz użyte słowo sugerowałoby coś więcej,
istnienie pewnego społecznego porządku, ja­
sno zdefiniowanej sytuacji, szeregu rytualnych
działań i właściwej im sceny, co najważniejsze
jednak, treści symbolicznych i wtajemniczonych
organizatorów rytuału sprawujących pieczę nad
inicj antami. Choć powyższych elementów nie
sposób odnaleźć to myśl o inicjacji jest wielce
pożyteczna, przyjdzie do niej jeszcze wrócić.
Inni widzą w Gerrym film drogi na mia­
rę epoki kontestacji. Opowieść o beznadziei,
o konieczności przezwyciężenia własnego losu,
równie fatalną jak ta z Sutry
słonecznikowej
Allena Ginsberga. Nie chodzi tu o bunt w czystej
postaci, chyba że jest nim wyruszenie w wędrów­
kę, ale o samo podjęcie wyzwania. Bohaterowie
zdają się ucieleśniać średniowieczną ideę życia
jako pielgrzymowania. Każdy z nich stanowi
inkarnację homo viator. Jeden z komentatorów
stwierdza wręcz i „Celem ich wędrówki jest cel.
(...) postacie porzuciły świat, w którym my tkwimv Donicw^z to co on w sobie zawiera jest tak
naprawdę nieważne Widzimy piekrzymów"?
Problemem współczesnego oglądu rzeczywisto­

6

Materiały dystrybutora, www.gutekfilm.com.pl/gerry,

20.09.2006.
7

M . Surowiecka, Gerry, http://www.stopklatka.pl/film/film.

Nieco inaczej widzi sprawę Tadeusz Sobo­
lewski, dla którego „trudność odbioru polega
nie na komplikacji, ale na zwodniczej prostocie
filmu" . Struktura dzieła, jak też sam sposób
realizacji zmuszają widza do niebywałego wy­
siłku, bezustannej uwagi - tu bowiem liczy się
każdy szczegół. Nieznośna statyczność, by nie
powiedzieć drętwota filmu pozostaje na granicy
oczywistości. To, co Van Sant pokazuje, męczy
monotonią, jałowością kadru, przytłumiona ko­
lorystyka kłuje w oczy Widz ma. wrażenie że
gdzieś to j u ż było. Ciągle powracające sceny,
obsesyjne wręcz kadry zachodzącego słońca
nocne rozmowy przy oenisku uiecia szczytów
rórskich i Drzeslizeuiacvch sie pomiędzy nimi
ławic chmur. To wszystko gdzieś było. Tylko
gdzie?
9

Sugestię powtarzalności, ciągłego chodzenia
w kółko na wzór ekranowych postaci, potęguje
pozwalająca wybrzmieć ciszy minimalistyczna
muzyka skomponowana przez Arvo Pärta. Dwa
utwory, którymi posłużył się reżyser - Für Ałina
i Spigeł im Spigeł - pojawiają się w momentach
najistotniejszych dla filmowej fabuły i są klamrą
spinającą początkowe i końcowe kadry.

asp?fi=10605&amp;sekcja = recenzja&amp;ri = 1096, 20.09.2006.
8

J. Olszewski, Śmierć

zbawia od miłości,

http://film.onet.

pl/9269,21500,recenzje.html, 3.10.2006.

BARBARZYŃCA

3 - 1 ( 1 3 - 1 1 ) 3DD3

�Tom &amp; Gerry, ale bez Toma. Nadinterpretacje
Można pokusić się o wskazanie jeszcze jednej
płaszczyzny, w oparciu o którą Van Sant konstru­
uje misterną, w swej efemeryczności strukturę
rozpoznawalnego. Chodzi mianowicie o obraz
stanowiący jednocześnie medium komunika­
cji, jak i pewnego rodzaju sposób postrzegania
świata. Świata - jak pisał o tym Edgar Morin nie tyle odznaczającego się rzeczywistością, co
swoistą materialnością, tak daleką od opartych
na mimetyzmie powszechnych przeświadczeń
i przyzwyczajeń . Jak przyznaje sam reżyser,
„bezpośrednią inspiracją przy Gerrym, bardziej
niż współcześni artyści wizualni byli Tdla mniel
niektórzy wschodnioeuropejscy'filmowcy tacy
jak Bela Tarr lansco czy może najbardziej
Tarkowski" . Nabyte kompetencje kulturowe
widza oozwalaia wskazać ieszcze kilka innvch
nawiązań wizualnych, bo wyłącznie o filmowycłi mowy być tu rue może
10

11

Gus Van Sant u m i e j ę t n i e bowiem łączy
oszczędny język filmowy Dereka Jarmana, su­
rowość i eksperymentalizm choćby Blue - na
co mogą wskazywać błękitne kadry na począt­
ku i końcu - z ocierającymi się o prozaiczność
nagraniami Warhola. Lecz nie koniec na tym.
Pierwsza scena filmu, przedstawiająca długo­
trwałą przejażdżkę samochodem przez jałową
krainę, jako żywo przywodzi na myśl podobne
kadry z Lśnienia Stanleya Kubricka. Ujęcia su­
nących przez górskie szczyty chmur transplantowano wprost z Kovaanisaatsi Geofreya Reggio
Kolejnym nawiązaniem jeśli nie dosłownym cy­
tatem filmowym sa powtarzające sietrzykrotnie
sceny rozmów przy nocnym ognisku orzemesio
ne zMojego własnego Idaho. Zarówno droga jak

T. Sobolewski, Niezwykły film Gusa van Santa, „Gazeta

9

Wyborcza" 22.04.2003, http://www.gazeta wyborcza.
pl/l,75475,1438291.html, 3.05.2008.
10

E. Morin, Kino i wyobraźnia,

tłum. K. Ebenhardt, PIW,

Warszawa 1975, s. 199 i n.
11

Mówi

ognisko, jeśli potraktować je emblematycznie,
mogłyby posłużyć za przykład autorskiego języ­
ka, rodzaj piętna, które reżyser wyciska na swoim
dziele, komunikując się za jego pośrednictwem
raczej z sobą samym n i ż kimkolwiek innym.
Jak j u ż powiedziano, na filmie nie wolno
poprzestać. Czar srebrnego ekranu, który z cza­
sem nabrał rumieńców, zdaniem Morina oparty
został na ruchu, za pomocą którego możliwy
staje się realizm emocjonalny . Ruch w filmie
jest złudzeniem oka, to odpowiednia ilość klatek
wyświetlanych dostatecznie szybko, aby oszu­
kać patrzącego. Van Sant robi coś nowatorskie­
go w swej prostocie: nie wstrzymuje on filmu,
jak czynił to Jarman, każąc zamierać posta­
ciom na kształt płócien Caravaggia, czy Pasolini
w swojej części RoGoPaGa , naśladując Zdjęcie
z krzyża Reżyser Gerry'ego robi dokładnie na
odwrót. Jego aktorzy pozwalają ożyć malarskim
scenom w surrealnym krajobrazie matenalizuie sie szalony galop\ Płonących
W
Salvadora
Dali zaś myśliciel z Wrót liekieł Augusta Ro
dina'odzianv w T-shirt zasiada na szczycie rórv
i ciężko wzdycha - nad światem a może nad
12

soba Ponadto w omawianym filmie nietrudOV7L7CJ.

1_ V 7 1 1 d . V J . L V 7

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asp?fi=10605&amp;sekcja=3, 20.09.2006.

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no dostrzec nawiązania do malarstwa Casnara
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film,, iean Mnirh

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1810

r. wędruje samotnie przez słone dno wyscniego
jeziora jako który
Cerrych, wcześniej, na
podobieństwo ° P
g ° na granicy zywior

low

z t o

l o n e

i światów Wędrowca

posrod

morza

chmur

Gerry grany przez Matta Damona przygląda
się beznadziejnie rozciągniętemu po horyzont
bezkresowi nieprzekraczalnych gor.

12

Morin w odniesieniu do sztuki filmowej, czy raczej

„technik filmowych", stosuje diadę projekcje-identyfikacje
(idem, op. cit., s. 123, 133, 138, 199), którą przemianowano
tutaj na „realizm emocjonalny" (por. J. Storey, Studia
kulturowe

Gus Van Sant, http://www.stopklatka.pl/film/film.

3 - 3 ( 1 3 - 1 1 ) 3DD3

39

i badania kultury popularnej. Teorie i metody, tłum.
I. Barański, WUJ, Kraków 2003, s. 24-30).

�Filip Wróblewski

40

Zwodnicza prostota, o której pisze Sobolew­
ski, jest jeszcze czymś więcej niż formą, w której
okrzepła ekspresja reżysera. Składa się na nią
narracja, w swej nieokreśloności wymykająca się
najprostszym, narzucającym się interpretacjom.
Zdaniem krytyka piszącego dla „Gazety Wy­
borczej" pokazana przez Van Santa „wycieczka
staje się alegorią tego związku. (...) to, co miało
być wędrówką z wyboru, zamienia się w przy¬
mus. Co miało być bliskością, staje się obcością,
bowiem szukając drogi, mężczyźni ra.z po raz
rozdzielaia sie" Tym samym uiawniony zostaie podtekst ceiowski" filmu zdiaenozowany w
po'staci umiarkowana Dziennikarz utrzymuie
jednocześnie, ze nietrudno go odczytać w końcu
13

13

14

T. Sobolewski, op. cit..

film można traktować jako „gejowską tragedię,
alegorię romantycznego poszukiwania wolno­
ści na bezdrożach, poza społecznymi regułami,
poza prawem naturalnym. Jednak zepchnięcie
tego filmu do jakiegoś mniejszościowego getta
odbiera mu moc" . Rozumienie takie wydaje się
kolejnym uproszczeniem czy wręcz krzywdzą¬
cym skategoryzowaniem, wciśnięciem Gerry'ego
w negowana, co prawda, ale jednak orbitę pre¬
tensjonalności „gejowskiej tragedii".
14

Choć Gerry to film drogi, mówi o czymś
więcej n i ż o „alegorii romantycznego poszuki­
wania wolności na bezdrożach, poza społecz­
nymi regułami, poza prawem naturalnym" .
To jakże umiarkowane stanowisko Sobolew15

15

Ibid.

Ibid.

BARBARZYŃCA

3 - 1 ( 1 3 - 1 1 ) 3DD3

�Tom &amp; Gerry, ale bez Toma. Nadinterpretacje

41

JÊ

skiego nie daje zadość zawłaszczającym dzieło
radykalnym roszczeniom wysuwanym przez
bojowników „własnej racji", utrzymującym, że
Gerry to „symboliczne odniesienie do egzystencji
homoseksualnej" . Internauta o symptomatycz­
nym pseudonimie Querelle na łamach gejow­
skiego portalu społecznościowego z dużą dozą
pewności odrzucającą alternatywne odczytania
mówi wręcz o „naszych bohaterach", „naszych
outsiderach"; „naszych", to znaczy homosek­
sualnych, będących inkarnacją, „kwintesencją
NASZEJ natury", która pozostaje niezrozumia­
ła . Dodatkowo internauta ten wprowadza para.—
boliczna wykładnie faz filmowei akcii wzdedem
eezystericU homoseksualna" naznaczona ko­
leino euforia rozooznania zagubieniem a w
finalne niedostosowaniem SDołecznvm To ko
leina iaskrawa nadinternretacia Czy ostatnia
z możliwych? Z całą pewnością nie
16

17

Ideolog kampu, a jednocześnie postać przej­
ściowa - jak określiła Oscara Wildea Susan
Sontag - pisze w przedmowie do jednej ze swo­
ich powieści, którą uznać należy za manifest
artystyczny: „Sztuka jest zarazem powierzchnią
i symbolem. Kto sięga po powierzchnię, czyni
to na własną odpowiedzialność. Kto odczytuje
symbol, czyni to na własną odpowiedzialność.
W rzeczywistości sztuka odzwierciedla widza,
nie życie" . Zaraz potem całkiem poważnie,
choć z właściwą sobie dozą przewrotności, doda­
je, że „każda sztuka jest bezużyteczna" .
18

19

20

Cóż zatem zobaczy w Gerrym ofiara antropo­
logicznej tresury? Odpowiedź nasunie się sama.
Wystarczy zaryzykować.

16

Za: http://www.innastrona.pl/kult_filmy_show.

php3?fID = 103, 2.10.2006.
17

18

Przyglądając się strukturze filmu, nie sposób
oprzeć się pokusie przywołania koncepcji kozła
ofiarnego, sformułowanej przez René Girarda.
Analogia do odmalowanego w Księdze
kapłań­
skiej obrazu kozła wypędzanego na pustynię
nasuwa się sama, on to „zabierze ze sobą wszyst­
kie ich winy do ziemi jałowej" . Bohaterowie a może bohater, skoro obaj noszą to samo imię
- filmu wychodzą na pustynię niczym banici
21

22

i Nowego Testamentu. Opracował
z inicjatywy Benedyktynów

Ibid.

zespół biblistów

polskich

Tynieckich, wyd. I I I ,

Wydawnictwo Pallottinum, Poznań - Warszawa 1980, s. 123.

S. Sontag, Notatki o kampie, dum. W Wartenstein,

„Literatura na świecie" 9 1979, s. 321.

22

„'Gerry' znaczy mniej więcej tyle co 'zlamas'. Często

mówimy: » H e j , chodź no tu, złamasie«, albo »Popatrz

O. Wilde, Portret Doriana Graya, Kraków 2001, s. 3-4.

na tego złamasa«. Bohaterowie filmu nie mają imion. Są

20

Ibid.

właśnie takimi złamasami. To jedno ze słów, takich jak

21

Księga

19

kapłańska

16,22 [w:] Pismo Święte

3-1 ( 1 3 - 1 1 ) 3DD3

Starego

BARBARZVMCA

'facet' albo 'koleś', z tym że znaczy coś więcej. (...) To

�Filip Wróblewski

42

wygnani przez „cywilizację", odrzuceni przez
wspólnotę, która ich napiętnowała. W ich roz­
mowach i podejmowanych działaniach ujawnia
się pragnienie powrotu na łono ekumeny, porzu­
cenia złowrogiego locus horridus, w którym po­
byt dla jednego z bohaterów kończy się śmiercią.
Girard mówi jasno, że „znaleźć kozła ofiarnego,
to nie wiedzieć, że się go ma" . Pojawia się za­
tem pytanie: czy sam kozioł musi być świadom
roli, jaką przyjdzie mu spełnić? Czy bohaterowie
wiedzą, jakiego mechanizmu stali się częścią i co
ich czeka? Nie sposób tego odgadnąć.

po drugie, na odwołanie do wprowadzonej przez
Mirceę Eliadego kategorii illud tempus, w którym
uobecnia się to, co u początku. Sformułowanie
„dwa tysiące lat temu" nie jest niewinne, stanowi
figurę przywołującą chrześcijański praczas za­
łożycielskiej ofiary Chrystusa i jej zbawcze zna­
czenie. Sformułowanie to ujawnia jednocześnie
bezwiedność, intuicyjność właśnie, a z intuicyjnością najchętniej wiąże się mit. Jego istnienie
w pozornie odczarowanym świecie możliwe jest
poprzez mariaż z tym co oczywiste a zatem po¬
zostające poza kręgiem wszelkich podejrzeń

Wykorzystanie na potrzeby niniejszej inter­
pretacji nasuwającego się odwołania do koncep­
cji kozła ofiarnego Girarda to nazbyt prozaiczne
wytłumaczenie. Poszczególne elementy fabuły
wymagają o wiele wnikliwszej analizy, która
ujawni rozmytą i zakamuflowaną, ale jednak
możliwą inkarnację mitu. Mitu - należy do­
dać - ewangelicznego, transformującego epizod
z życia Jezusa, którym było kuszenie na pustyni,
w serię luźno powiązanych i na pierwszy rzut
oka niemających z sobą związku scen.

Zanim przyjdzie rozpatrzyć analogie mię­
dzy filmową fabułą a przywołanym wzorcem
zaczerpniętym z porządku mitycznego, należy
poświęcić nieco uwagi scenerii, w której mają
miejsce filmowe i ewangeliczne zdarzenia.
Miejscem „akcji" jest w omawianym przypadku
pustynia. Co znaczące, w filmie Van Santa jest
to słona pustynia, gdzie za pośrednictwem sym­
boliki soli uwypuklony zostaje aspekt śmierci.
Dorothea Forstner z a u w a ż a , że pustynia nie
tylko budzi lęk w człowieku, ale równocześnie
go fascynuje. „Jest krainą złego ducha, demo­
nów i smoków ełodu i pragnienia. Na pusty­
nię wypędza się zło. (...) Człowiek nie może
osiedlić
może ja tylko z trudem

23

Przywołana kategoria mitu ujawnia się nie
tyle w samym filmie, ile w wypowiedziach reży­
sera pragnącego w jakiś możliwie konstruktywny
sposób umotywować podjęty wysiłek twórczy.
Z rozbrajającą szczerością oznajmia on: „Nie
wiem właściwie, dlaczego kręcę takie filmy, ja­
kie kręcę. Robię to, co u w a ż a m w danej chwili
za słuszne, to raczej kwestia intuicji n i ż intelek­
tu" . Co ciekawe, „Gerry równie dobrze mógłby
opowiadać historię dwóch facetów, którzy się
tam zgubili dwa tysiące lat temu" . Powyższe
stwierdzenia wskazują, po pierwsze,
cjonalne uaktywnienie s i ę - i n k a r n a c j ę - mitu24

25

przejść w nadziel ze dotrze znowu do urodzaj­
nych okolic Pobvt na oustvni iest wiec czasem
pokusy i prób" , na które składają się oczekiwa¬
26

nie nokuta a w szczególności nost Widomym

znakiem ostatniego jest drastyczne zawieszenie
hiolocriczności ustanie codziennei aktywności
czy wręcz nnw.trzvmanie ,ie od I d z e n i a Tak
z a L w n i a L t r K r L k k i takie n L e n n w a n i e

słowo jest określeniem różnego rodzaju nieudaczników czy

onet.pl/F,9269,1121548,l,596,artykul.html, 29.09.2006.

bezużytecznych rzeczy". Mówi Gus Van Sant, http://www.

25

stopklatka.pl/film/film.asp?fi = 10605&amp;sekcja=3, 20.09.2006.

asp?fi=10605&amp;sekcja=3, 20.09.2006.

23

R. Girard, Początki kultury, tłum. M . Romanek Znak

Kraków 2006, s. 90.
24

Stach Szabłowski, Kiedy się zgubisz, robi się bardzo,

26

Mówi

Gus Van Sant, http://www.stopklatka.pl/film/film.

D . Forstner, Świat symboliki chrześcijańskiej.

Leksykon,

tłum. W. Zakrzewska, P. Pachciarek, R. Turzyński, PAX,
Warszawa 2001, s. 82-83.

bardzo cicho. Rozmowa z Gusem van Santem, http://film.

BARBARZYŃCA

3 - 3 ( 1 3 - 1 1 ) 3DD3

�Tom &amp; Gerry, ale bez Toma. Nadinterpretacje
działań, stanowić ma metonimic śmierci . Pu­
stynia jest zatem nie tylko miejscem przerażenia,
ale i najwyższego, poprzedzonego przygotowa­
niem doświadczenia Boga.
Czym jest pustynia w swej istocie, najle­
piej chyba ukażą pieczołowite notatki Henryka
Sienkiewicza stanowiące owoc dwuletniego po­
bytu w Stanach Zjednoczonych, zwłaszcza na
Wschodnim Wybrzeżu. Drukowane na łamach
„Gazety polskiej" wiatach 1876-1878 Listy z po­
dróży zawierają literacki zapis pewnej ekspedycji
krajoznawczej:

stynia i wielka woda, a za wodą znowu pustynia,
która nie ma już końca .

27

- Co „blada twarz" chce robić na Mohave? spytał po chwili.
- Chcę ją widzieć - odrzekłem.
- Mohave bardzo zła. Tam nie ma nic.
- I tu nie ma nic.
- Tu są wiewiórki. „Blada twarz" może zabić
wiewiórkę i zjeść ją. Na Mohave trzeba umrzeć
z głodu.
- Czy Pero był tam już wiele razy?
- Pero bywał przewodnikiem białych przez
tę część, która jest na drodze między wielki­
mi miastami, ale w stronie, od której słońce
wschodzi, Pero nie był nigdy, bo tam pustynia
nie ma końca.
- Skądże więc Pero wie, że pustynia nie ma na
wschodzie końca, jeśli tam nie był nigdy?
- Pero słyszał to od bardzo starych ludzi, któ­
rzy opowiadali mu, że za „umarłym lasem" są
w stronie, w której słońce wschodzi, wielkie
góry, Pero był nawet w nich, ale w innym miej­
scu. Są to bardzo złe góry, bo nie ma w nich
trawy ani zwierząt. Za górami jest też sama pu­

2 7

P. Kowalski, Leksykon. Znaki świata.

Omeny, symbole,

znaczenia, PWN, Wrocław - Warszawa 1998, s. 551.
28

H . Sienkiewicz, Listy z podróiy

do Ameryki, PIW,

Warszawa 1989, s. 270.
2 9

28

Pustynia jest zatem „ekstatyczną formą zani­
kania", miejscem mitycznym, zakazanym, nie­
gościnnym i niedostępnym. Ujawnia ona z całą
mocą znikomość ludzkiego żywota, który zostaje
przez nią przełamany. Na dwa aspekty pustyni
zwraca uwagę Jean-Paul Roux. Po pierwsze, jest
to obszar geograficzny, „gdzie nic nie rośnie,
gdzie nie ma żadnego życia". O wiele donioślej­
szy jest aspekt drugi, psychologiczny, bowiem
„jest to zarazem pustka serca wyjałowionego
z uczuć" . Pustka, wobec której możliwa jest
tylko i wyłącznie bezwarunkowa kapitulacja.
29

Pustynia jest zatem miejscem najdogodniej­
szym dla wypróbowania człowieka w warunkach
granicznych. Współczesny francuski myśliciel
Jean Baudrillard zwraca uwagę, że ona „jest
pułapką przestrzeni i pozorów. W tę pułapkę
wpadają wszystkie wartości i kategorie umysłu
i automatycznie się zacierają" . W konfronta­
cji z tym miejscem, z jego wszechogarniającym
ogromem, ciszą, która „jest także wizualna.
Buduje ją zasięg spojrzenia, które nigdzie nie
znajduje punktu od którego mogłoby sie od30

I

I

BARBARZVMCA

F

•&gt;

&amp;

&amp;

1

V

bić" uiawnia sie w sposób dramatyczny i to¬
talny'kruchość istoty ludzkiei iei ograniczenia
i znikomość Zaś wszystko co poza pustynia
ulara zawieszeniu ze względu na iei doimuiacà
i bezacelacvina obecność Dobro zło staia sie
nieistotne, prawda i fałsz obojętne Człowiek
umiera iest sam ze swoim ciemieniem I udz
kiee pożądania konaia w lezusie można odnieść
wrażenie iz nodohnie dzie,e siè z Gerrvm ara
nvm przez Caseya Aflecka
31

3 0

J. Baudrillard, Przed końcem.

Rozmawia Philippe Patit,

tłum. R. Lis, Sic!, Warszawa 2001, s. 108.
31

J. Baudrillard, Ameryka, tłum. R. Lis, Sic!, Warszawa

2001, s. 13.

J.-E Roux, Jezus, tłum. J. Fenychowa, Znak Kraków, s. 150.

3-1 ( 1 3 - 1 1 ) 3DD3

43

�Filip Wróblewski

44

Jezus kona w oderwaniu od ludzi, aby naro­
dzić się jako Chrystus. Towarzyszą mu jedynie
zwierzęta i Szatan . Umieraniem jest dla niego
j u ż sama walka. Jean-Paul Roux, pisząc o boskoludzkiej naturze Jezusa, zauważa, że „w kondy­
cję ludzką wpisane jest pragnienie jej przezwy­
ciężenia" . Pustynia staje się zatem miejscem
ucieczki umożliwiającym spotkanie z tym, co
wykracza poza tu i teraz, poza dojmującą rze­
czywistość. Walka wewnętrzna otwiera dostęp
do sfery przekraczającej człowieka i jego moż­
liwości poznawania, wymaga innej wrażliwości
i otwarcia sie na to co pozazmysłowe Zmysłv właśnie stanowią mdymentarna Przeszkodę
w oddzieleniu się od świata. Najdobitniej świadczv o tvm historia oiców pustyni eremitów
którzy Dorzucili dotychczasowy tryb życia D O '
świecaiac sie nieustannei adoracii Bopa Święty
Antonii Wielki „powiedział, ze człowiek, który
mieszka na nustvni i trwa w skunieniu wolnv
,est od nntrńinri walki - o słuch o mowę i'o snoi
rżenie. Musi jedynie walczyć o' serce"
32

33

34

Walka o serce stanowi najdonioślejszy mo­
ment próby, od niej zależy, czy pozostanie się
wiernym przekonaniom i przeznaczeniu, czy
pozostanie się sobą. Synoptyczne Ewangelie
Mateusza i Łukasza ukazują trzy etapy kusze­
nia Jezusa. W Ewangelii Marka znaleźć można
jedynie dwuzdaniową w z m i a n k ę o tym fakcie,
z kolei Ewangelia Jana pomija milczeniem całe
zdarzenie. Dramat możliwości zwątpienia roz­
grywa się między dwiema postaciami, między
kuszonym a kuszącym. Ewangelie przedsta­
wiają heroiczny obraz Jezusa, pewnego i zde­
cydowanego nie moga wsnominać o wahaniu
czy wątpliwościach Tym samym nie ma w tak
przedstawionym wizerunku lezusa merwiast
ka ludzkiego typowei dla niego niepewności
rozchwiania Nie ma mowy o przezwyciężeniu

samego siebie. Nie ma sugestii dotyczącej zma­
gania się z sobą, z głodem. Widzimy za to nie­
zachwiane zdecydowanie, wypowiadane słowa
utwierdzają stanowisko i autorytet.
Nieco inaczej rzecz ma się z Gerrym. Jeśliby
potraktować wprowadzenie dwójki postaci o tym
samym imieniu do fabuły filmu jako zabieg ma­
jący na celu artykulację walki wewnętrznej jed­
nostki, rozpisaniu jej z monologu wewnętrznego
na teatralny dialog, to zasadna staje się analogia
Jezusa z Gerrym. Język filmowy ze względu na
swą
specyfikę wymaga takiego zabiegu, bowiem
- jak twierdzi przywołany j u ż wcześniej Edgar
Morin - „każdy film kinowy (...) jest katedrą
w której celebruje się kult ruchu" . Gerry wyzuty
z tego aspektu stałby się jeszcze bardziej niezno­
śny, nie do oglądania.
M i ę d z y filmem Van Santa a przekazem
ewangelicznym istnieje wyraźna paralela doty­
cząca poszczególnych scen i przejawów kusze­
nia. Tak w pierwszym, jak i w drugim przypadku
przedstawione zostaje pragnienie zaspokojenia
podstawowych ludzkich potrzeb. Jezus sam po­
zbawia się możliwości spożycia chleba. Postacie
w filmie gorączkowo poszukują źródła, którego
jednak nigdzie nie ma. Jezus - idąc zgodnie
z kolejnością zdarzeń przedstawioną w Ewan­
gelii Mateusza - staje w narożniku świątyni.
Gerry grany przez Caseya Aflecka skacze z samotnei skały zaś iego towarzysz stara sie aby
tamten nie uraził stopy o kamień. Jezus staje na
górze i spogląda na wszystkie królestwa świata
Aktorzy Van Santa również przygladai a sie - dla
o d m i a n y - n i e g o ś c i n n e i krainie rozciagaiacei sie
az po horyzont.
Joseph Ratzinger wskazuje, że trzecia pokusa
jest najważniejsza, bowiem dotyczy tego, czego
„musi dokonać Zbawca świata"; to pokusa prze­
zwyciężenia „ziemskiej bezsilności" nie poprzez
35

32

Por. M k 1,13.

M . Borkowska, Wydawnictwo M , Kraków 1992, s. 38.

33

J.-P. Roux, op. cit., s. 154.

3 5

34

Pierwsza Księga

starców.

E. Morin, op. cit., s. 123.

Gerontikpn, dum.

BARBARZYŃCA

3 - 1 (1 3 - 1 1) 3 0 0 9

�Tom &amp; Gerry, ale bez Toma. Nadinterpretacje
ofiarną cierpliwość i posłuszeństwo, lecz za
pośrednictwem przemocy . Patrząc na wyraz
twarzy postaci filmowych spoglądających na
niekończące się łańcuchy gór, można przypusz­
czać, że ich myśli dalekie są od chrystusowego
opanowania i stateczności. Utwierdza w tym
załamujący się, płaczliwy ton głosu, jakim z sobą
rozmawiają. To, co im towarzyszy, to dezorien­
tacja, ból i rozczarowanie rodzące gniew, usilne
pragnienie zmiany własnego położenia. Później
jest j u ż dłużąca się niemal w nieskończoność tak dla bohaterów, jak i widzów - próba OpUSZ¬
czenia pustyni.
36

W przypadku Jezusa staje się ona punktem
wyjścia, stanowi bowiem pomost między ży­
ciem ukrytym a otwartą działalnością. Tekst bi­
blijny, posługujący się właściwym sobie kodem
alegorycznym, za pomocą liczby czterdzieści
zrównuje okres próby opisany w ewangeliach z
wędrówką ludu wybranego z Egiptu do ziemi
obiecanej. Tamta tułaczka przez pustynię miała
służyć wytraceniu starego pokolenia, a zatem
jego przewin. R ó w n i e ż dla Jezusa pustynia
jako przeciwstawienie ogrodu staje sie miej¬
scem pojednania i uzdrowienia" miejscem
oczyszczenia Jego misja staje sie możliwa do
realizacji gdyż udało mu sie wejść w dramat
ludzkie egzystencji przemierzyć i a az do sa
niegodna" *
37

3

Co się dzieje z bohaterami filmu? Czy ten
niegościnny teren pozwolił im wzrosnąć, stać się
doskonalszymi, zrozumieć sens ich wędrówki?
Jeśliby zinterpretować ciąg scen finalnych w
Gerrym za pomocą odwołania do wzorca mitycz­
nego - którego obecność wykazano - okazuje
się, że to, co niezrozumiałe czy wręcz szokujące

3 6

J. RMzinger, Jezus z Nazaretu. Cz. 1. Od Chrztu

45

dla większości widzów, ma głęboki umykający
współczesnemu myśleniu sens. Uogólniając,
myśl współczesna przeczuwa jedynie związek
z mitem, ponieważ - jak stwierdził w jednym
z wywiadów Mircea Eliade - „sacrum jest za­
kamuflowane w profanum" . Nie dziwi zatem
konsternacja wobec sceny, w której jeden z boha­
terów obejmuje drugiego, dopiero po chwili oka­
zuje się, że to co wydawało się być pocałunkiem,
było jedynie morderczym uściskiem.
i9

Pomocą w zrozumieniu związku tej sceny
z przygodami Jezusa na pustyni niech będzie
wypracowana przez Georgesa Bataillea teoria
dotycząca erotyzmu. W swoich pismach sta­
rał się on wykazać głęboką jedność pozornych
antagonizmów, jakimi są narodziny i śmierć.
W obydwu omawianych przypadkach chodzi
o uśmiercenie - w pierwszym działanie to do­
tyczy pożądliwości w sobie, w drugim jej per¬
sonifikacji. W przypadku Jezusa przybrało ono
formę trzech dobitnych deklaracji, u Gerryego
przyoblekło się w wy 111 () w 11 y dramatyczny akt.
Bataille podpowiada że sposobem na przekro­
czenie zakazu - a tym objęte zostało zabójstwo
- jest transgresja. Tworzy ona „wraz z zakazem
jedną całość, określając życie społeczne. (...)
transgresja jest jego oczekiwanym dopełnieniem
- jak rozkurcz przywołany skurczem pulsują­
cego serca. Skurcz nie poddaje się bynajmniej
rozkurczowi, lecz się go domaga" . Dodać na­
leży, że mechanizm transgresji daje „możliwość
przeżywania (...) tego wszystkiego, czego sami
nie mielibyśmy odwagi p r z e ż y w a ć " . Z ko­
nieczności upraszczając jego rozumienie, moż­
na przypisać mu funkcję organizowania fabuły
w tekstach kultury.
40

41

Rocąuetem,

tłum. K. Środa, KR, Warszawa 1992, s. 149.

G. Bataille, Erotyzm, tłum. M. Ochab, słowo/obraz

w Jordanie do Przemienienia, tłum. W Szymona,

4 0

Wydawnictwo M , Kraków 2007, s. 46-48.

terytoria Gdańsk 2007, s. 69.
G. Bataille, Historia erotyzmu, tłum. I . Kania,

37

Ibid., s. 37.

41

38

Ibid., s. 36.

Wydawnictwo Aletheia, Warszawa 2008, s. 139.

3 9

M. Eliade, Próba

labiryntu. Rozmowy z Chude-Henri

3 - 3 ( 1 3 - 1 1 ) 3DD3

BARBARZVMCA

�Filip Wróblewski

46

Teraz dopiero staje się zrozumiały czyn Gerry'ego granego przez Matta Damona. Aby doko­
nała się przemiana, a tym samym możliwe stało
się opuszczenie pustyni, winien on zabić. To, że
w chwilę po tym, jak to zrobił - z perspektywy
widza - dostrzega poszukiwaną przez cały czas
drogę, która znajdowała się nieopodal, mogło­
by świadczyć o ironiczności przesłania fdmu
lub wręcz braku takowego. Tak jednak nie jest.
U w a ż n a analiza tego, co reżyser pokazuje po
scenie śmierci wskazuje że drugi Gerry można
by powiedzieć Gerry prawdziwy, doświadczył
wizi i Chmurv przesuwaj ace sie z wielka szybkościa nad jego głowa wskazują na długotrwałość
tego stanu Ponieważ pozostał jedynym żywym
bohaterem można mniemać ze to co pojawia
sie na ekranie i est tym co widzi ocalały Gerry
W maiakn tym bohater 7 perspektywy kierowcy
pędzącego samochodu widzi długą krętą drogę,
na końcu którei stoi on sam O tvm że bvła to
tylko w i , a unewnia ciało kolein które n L u
ca zmierlaiac w stronę iadacvch samochodów
dnstr.e.nnwh wkrótce no tvm iak n d . v s k a î
7

L'A

ŁJ

y Lvy

A A A A AVJ

JV^•

Odczytanie tej sceny wydaje się kluczowe dla
zrozumienia całości dzieła, jak też jego związku
z przekazem Ewangelii. Popełniony czyn nosi
znamiona transgresyjnego, bo miał miejsce poza
ekumeną, w szczególnej przestrzeni naznaczo­
nej sacrum. Zdaniem Bataille'a świętość i święto
są źródłem transgresji wykraczającej poza to, co
zakazane. Mord staje się zatem możliwy i zo­
staje popełniony. W tym momencie najpełniej
ujawnia się mityczny wzorzec, bowiem bohater

doznaje oświecenia, prawda zostaje przed nim
odkryta - choćby miał jej nie rozumieć. W tej
także chwili dopełnia się jego przeznaczenie, ma
iść dalej, jego misją jest życie. Jakie ono będzie
- nie wiadomo.
To, czy film Van Santa z całą mocą pokazuje
„milczenie Boga", swoistą niemożność doświad­
czenia transcendencj i lub odwrotnie, niemożność
zrozumienia niemego, nie-ludzkiego języka, ja­
kim Bóg się posługuje, nie ma najmniejszego
znaczenia. Istotna jest za to paralela z postacią
Chrystusa i próbą, jakiej został poddany na pu­
styni. W Gerrym przemiana wewnętrzna zostaje
pokazana przez zjednoczenie przeciwieństw
- jeśliby w taki sposób scharakteryzować posta­
cie. To, czy się ona w pełni dokonała, pozostaje
kwestią otwartą. Przemawiałoby jednak za tym
wprowadzenie postaci dziecka jako metafory
niewinności i odrodzenia. Odrodzenia, którego,
tak jak Jezus, dostępuje bohater.
Rozstrzygnięcie tego, na ile zaprezentowana
nadinterpretacja Gerry'ego jest słuszna, pozosta­
je w gestii czytelnika. Na pewno nie jest to ani
jedyna, ani najpewniejsza interpretacja, bowiem
kluczy pośród koczowniczych obozowisk sensu,
niedoścignionych i dzikich, podobnych nie­
okiełznanym hordom nomadów z dalekich ste­
pów Azji, widzianych dawno temu i trwających
jedynie w bliżej nieokreślonej, zacierającej się
legendzie, w wątpliwych zakamarkach pamięci.
Na odchodnym można spytać, czy to jeszcze
antropologia? A jeżeli nie, to co by nią było? Co
byłoby ta jedyna najwłaściwsza nadinterpreta¬
cją, naddatkiem w próbie rozumienia?

Tom &amp; Gerry, But Without Tom
The article presents some possible interpretations of the movie Gerry directed by Gus Van Sant.
In the first part author goes through "overinterpretations" which appeared in newspapers and
internet portals. I n the second part author's own anthropological "overinterpretation" is presented,
in which mythological layers of the movie are explored. Most of them concern repeating evangelical
myth of Christ.

BARBARZYŃCA

3 - 3 ( 1 3 - 1 1 ) 3DD3

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TADEUSZ SŁABCZYŃSKI

TOMASZ AUGUSTYNOWICZ (1809-1891) I JEGO ETNOGRAFICZNE
PRACE O SYBERII
Tomasza Augustynowicza, jednego z wielu Polaków, którzy podróżowali w drugiej połowie XIX wieku po Syberii, znano i ceniono przede
wszystkim jako lekarza i przyrodnika. Warto jednak przypomnieć również o zasługach, jakie wniósł do wiedzy o tamtejszych ludach. Sto lat
temu tę ogromną połać ziemi przemierzył bowiem nie tylko jako zamiłowany poszukiwacz flory i fauny, ale także jako wnikliwy obserwator
jej mieszkańców. W swoich wędrówkach docierał do jej najdalszych
i najmniej zbadanych zakątków. Był, jak go nazwano pod koniec ubiegłego wieku, "jednym z pierwszych pionierów wyspy SachaliD i okręgu
jakuckiego" 1, a jego interesujące relacje z podróży oraz prace o charakterze etnograficznym dotyczące tych terenów wyprzedziły o kilkanaście
lat publikacje innych polskich badaczy, Szymańskiego, Sieroszewskiego,
Piekarskiego czy Piłsudskiego.
Augustynowicz urodził się w 1809 roku na Wileńszczyźnie. W latach
1830-1835 odbył studia na wydziale medycznym Uniwersytetu Wileńskiego, kończąc je ze złotym medalem. W 1835 roku wydał też w Wilnie
podręcznik dla studentów z zakresu medycyny 2. Później przez długi czas
przebywał w różnych rejonach europejskiej części Rosji. Do 1842 rok'l
odbywał służbę wojskową jako lekarz sztabowy w Briańsku, następnie
praktykował jako lekarz cywilny na Ukrainie. W 1853 r. ogłosił w Kijowie pracę o roślinach leczniczych guberni i połtawsldej 3, a osiem Jat

1 .,lstoriccskij
Vestnik" 1891, t. 46, s. 861; "Kraj" 1891, nr 45, s. 15; .,Novojc
Vrcmia" 1891, nr 562U, s. 3.
, T. Augustynowicz, Instrumenta
chirurgica
in discentium
commodum
50 tabulis
depicta et lapidl incisa, Wilno 1835.
3 Avgustinović,
O dikorastusćich
wrjacebnych
rastenijach
Poltavskoj
Gubernii. "Trudy Komisii dlja Opisanija
Kijevskogo Ucebnogo Okruga" 1853, t. 2.

�158

TADEUSZ

SŁABCZY

- SKI

później wraz z A. Grabowskim
instrukcję
zwalczania
wścieklizny 4.
W 1868 r. został mianowany
inspektorem
sanitarnym
w gubernii permskiej.
Dalekie podróże w głąb Azji oraz wzdłuż jej wybrzeży
rozpoc7:ęły
się w 1871 roku. W czerwcu tego roku Augustynowicz
wraz z komisją
do zbadania
warunków
prac katorżniczych
został wydelegowany
z Petersburga
na Sachalin. Po dwumiesięcznej
podróży przez Perm i krainy
zabajkalskie
dotarł
do Nikołajewska
nad Amurem.
Na Sachalinie
przebywał w latach 1871-1872, gdzie przez dziesięć miesięcy
obok badań
flory oraz warunków
klimatycznych
i glebowych
czynił jako pierwszy
z Polaków i jeden z pierwszych
Europejczyków
obserwacje
etnograficzne
wśród Giliaków, Oroczonów i Ajnów. Ich rezultatem
był między innymi
obszerny artykuł
Zyzn' russkich i inorodcev na ostrove Sachaline opublikowany
w 1874 r.;; Po opuszczeniu
wyspy Augustynowicz
prowadził
poszukiwania
flory w okręgu irkuckim
i zabajkalskim
oraz w rejonie
Władywostoku.
Na początku
1874 r. wyjechał
z Irkucka
na zachód
Syberii
w celu kolekcjonowania
okazów botanicznych,
docierając
do
rzeki Ob w gubernii tobolskiej.
W tym samym roku powródł
do Irkucka,
skąd na polecenie gubernatora Wschodniej
Syberi wyruszył
wraz z pięcioma innymi lekarzami
do Jakucji
i okręgu kołymskiego.
Ekspedycja
trwała
trzy lata (18741876). W jej trakcie gromadził
okazy flory oraz materiały
etnograficzne
o tamtejszych
plemionach,
głównie a Czukczach,
a ponadto o Jakutach,
Tunguzach,
Jukagirach,
Czuwańcach
i Omokach.
Nad Kołymą
zbierał
między innymi stroje ludowe eksponowane
później na wystawie
antropologicznej
w 1878 r. Zamieszczał
też w czasopismach
rosyjskich
wiele
sprawozdań
i artykułów 6. Na największą
uwagę zasługuje właśnie ostatnia z wymienionych
praca Tri goda w severo-vostocnoj Sibiri za polarnym
krugom ogłoszona w 1880 r.
Pod koniec lat siedemdziesiątych
i na początku
osiemdziesiątych
Augustynowiczodbył
szereg podróży morskich
wzdłuż wybrzeży
Azji,
pływając jako lekarz na statku przewożącym
rosyjskich zesłańców z Odessy na Syberię.
Wynikiem
prowadzonych
w tym okresie obserwacji
są
liczne korespondencje,
które ukazywały
się w czasopismach
.,Pravitel-

Nastavlenije
volostnym
feldserarn
o pomnscz ukusennym
i zarazivsym
sja sibirskoju
jazvoju,
[KIIVl 1861, ss. 26.
5 "Vsemirnyj
Putesestvennik" 1874, nr 2, S, 42-84.
6 Oplemenach
naselajuscich
Kolymskij
ok rug. "Izvestija Obsccstva Ljubilelej
Jestestvoznanija,
Antropologii i Etnografii" 1878-1879, t. 31, (priłożenije), zasiedanije
17-oje, s. 41-43; Tri goda v severo-vostocnoj
Sibiri za polarnym
krugom, .,Drevniaja
i Novaja Rossija" 1880, nr 12, s. 641-733.
4

F. Avgustinovic,

biesennymi

sobakami

�TOln(ISZ

J\l!gllsillnOwic.?

i jego

prace

etnoQr.

l5ll

o Syberii

stvennyj Vestnik", "Bereg" oraz "Drevniaja i Novaja Rossija" 7. Znalazłszy się w latach 1879-1880 ponownie na Sachalinie, zajął się przede
wszystkim uzupełnianiem swojej kolekcji botanicznej oraz badanier.!
warunków klimatyczno-glebowych wyspy z punktu widzenia ich przydatności do rolnictwa. Napisał też na ten temat krótką notatkę w dzienniku "Bcreg" 8.
Owocem syberyjskich wypraw Augustynowicza jest poza tym szereg
prac botanicznych oraz bogaty zbiór roślin liczący 40 tysięcy okazów,
przekazany do ogrodu botanicznego w Petersburgu, a opracowany przez
Herdera i Trautvettera. Ostatnie lata swojego życia spędził podróżnik
na Litwie, gdzie zmarł w 1891 roku.
Powracając do etnograficznej działalności Augustynowicza warto przyjrzeć się bliżej wspomnianej już publikacji pt. Zyzn' russkich i inorodcev
na ostrove Sachaline. Część tego obszernego artykułu poświęcona jest
ocenie stosunków, jakie panowały wśród rodzin rosyjskich urzędników
zamieszkujących posterunek Due, omówieniu warunków życia i pracy
przebywających tam zesłańców oraz naszkicowaniu kontaktów, głównie
handlowych, Rosjan z miejscową ludnością. Większą uwagę przykuwC1ją
jednak dalsze fragmenty pracy, dotyczące wyłącznie sachalińskich plemion. Zawierają one szereg interesujących danych o ich cechach fizycznych, rozwoju umysłowym oraz najbardziej charakterystycznych
elementach kultury materialnej, duchowej i społecznej.
Szczególne miejsce zajmują w artykule Giliacy. Znajomość tego plemienia była w chwili przybycia Augustynowicza na Sachalin bardzo
powierzchowna. Wcześniejsze źródła rosyjskie poprzestawały zazwyczaj
na opisie cech antropologicznych Giliaków 9, ich siedzib 10 oraz zajęć

7

Izvlecenije

nuvsym

iz putievych

le tom, partiju

zapisok

doktora

ssylno-katorznych,

Avgustinovica,

otpravlennych

soprovożdavsogo,

na ostrov

Sachalin

mi-

morskim

"PraviteIstvennyj
Vestnik" 1879, nr 276, s. 3; Krejser "Niznyj
Novgorod"
"Bcreg" 1880, nr 37, s. 3; S krejsera "Niznyj Novgorod". (Krasnoje More).
,.Bereg" 1880, nr 53, s. 3, nr 54, s. 3; Ot Adena do Singapura, "Bercg" 1880, nr g5,
s. 3; Na "Niżnem Novgorode" ot Odessy do Sachalina. (Putevyje zametki). "Drevniaja
i Novaja Rossija" 1880, nr 5, s. 54-66, nr 9, s. 25-75; Zametki ob ostrove Sachalint'.
"PraviteIstvcnnyj Vcstnik" 1880, nr 284, s. 3, nr 285, s. 3, nr 286, s. 3.

putem.

Port-Said.

8

Kratije

zametki

o pocve

i klimate

ostrova

Sachalina

w

otnosenii

k

chlebo-

pQ.~estvu. "Bereg" 1880, nr 6, s. 1-2.

N. Sverbejev, Opisanije plavanija po reke Amuru ekspedicii g,·-guO. Vostoćnoj
w 1854 gadu. "Zapiski Si birskogo Otdeła Geograficeskogo Obscestva" 1857.
t. 3, otd. 1, s. 1-78.
10 N. Bosniak,
Ekspedicii
w Priamurskom
Kraje. "Morskij Sbornik" 1859, t. 3!1,
nr l, s. 111-131;
E. Sperk, "Geografo-patologiceskije
ocerki
Vostocnoj
Sibiri.
Oćerk V. "Mediko-Topograficeskij
Sbornik" 1871, t. 2.
9

Sibiri

�l(lO

TADEUSZ

SŁABCZyNSKI

łowieckich 11. 2yzn' russkich i inorodcev na ostrove Sachaline opublikowana w 1874 r. wzbogaciła tę wiedzę o wiadomości z zakresu kultury
duchowej i społecznej. Fakt ten jest tym bardziej godny podkreślenia,
że gruntowniejsze
monografie o kulturze Giliaków, między innymi
L. Sternberga 12 i B. Piłsudskiego 13, ukazały się dopiero pod koniec XIX
i na początku XX wieku, a więc znacznie później.
Opis Giliaków autor rozpoczyna od omówienia ich cech fizycznych,
charakteru i sposobu zachowania się. Kwestionuje tu między innymi
często krzywdzące i błędne wyobrażenia ówczesnych podróżników o Giliakach. Pisze a nich, że " ...są bardzo nieufni, ale nie skłonni do oszustwa
i kradzieży. Przeciwnie, Giliak zawsze dotrzymuje danego słowa i zawsze
stara się spełnić swoją obietnicę w oznaczonym terminie ... Charakter
Giliaków jest daleki od srogiego i nie ma żadnej podstawy do nazywania
ich "okrutnymi", jak czynią to niektórzy podróżnicy. To prawda, ż~ na
Sachalinie rozprzestrzeniła się między zesłańcami pogłoska, jakoby Giliacy jedli ludzkie mięso, lecz jest ona pozbawiona wszelkiego prawdopodobieństwa. Krąży ona rzeczywiście już dawno, ale została puszczona
w obieg celem powstrzymania zesłańców od ucieczek w głąb wyspy" 14.
Dalej Augustynowicz przedstawia giliackie ubiory, ozdoby, potrawy
oraz wygląd i sposób budowy letnich i zimowych jurt, przy czym porównuje je z jurtami Giliaków amurskich. Pisząc a odzieży zwr3ca między innymi uwagę na pierwsze oznaki wpływów, jakie wywarły kontakty
z Rosjanami. Podkreśla na przykład fakt stopniowego wprowadzania
do tradycyjnego stroju ludowego płóciennych koszul i kaftanów w miejsce odzieży skórzanej.
Wiadomości o kulturze duchowej i społecznej zaczyna autor od opisu
zajęć. Pisze między innymi a zwyczajach łowieckich, przede wszystkim a polowaniu na sobole, w którym członkowie plemienia uczestniczą
już od najmłodszych lat; nieco mniej pisze a polowaniu na foki i o po11

Pargacev&gt;:kij, Pojezdka

skogo posta do Ust'-Strietocnogo

ZLmtm putem
karaula,

vverch

po reke

Anmru.,

v 1856-57 godach. "Vestnik

at

Nikotajel;-

Geograficeskogo

Obścestva" 1857, t. 21, otd. 2, s. 157-179.
1e L. Sternberg,
Sachalinskije
Gitiaki. "Etnograficeskoje
Obozrenije" 1893, kn. 17.
nr 2. s. 1-46; Giliaki. "Etnograficeskoje
Obozrenije" 1904, kn. 60, nr l, s. 1~42, kn.
61, nr 2, kn. 63, s. 66-119.
13 B. Piłsudski,
Nuzdy i potrebnosti
sachalinskich
Giliakov.
"Zapiski Priamurskogo Otdeła Russkogo Geograficeskogo Obscestva" 1898, t. 4, nr 4, s. 1-38; tegoż
.4borigeny ostrova Sachalina.
"Zivaja Starina" 1909, vyp. 2--3, s. 3-16; Rody, biel'emennost', vykidysy,
bezrolodije
i plodovitost'
u tuzemcev ostTOva Sachalina . .,Zivaja
Starina" 1909, vyp. 1-2, s. 22-48; Szamanizm u tubylców na Sachalinie . .,Lud" 190:J.
t. 15, s. 261-274, 1910, t. 16, s. 117-132; Poezya Gilaków.
"Lud" 19lJ, t. 17 , s. 95-12~:
Gilyak:; and their songs. "Folk-Lore" 1913, vol. 24, nr 4.
u "Vsemirnyj Puteśestvennik"
1874, nr 2, s. 75.

�Tomas:::

ilugustUnOWlCZ

i jego

prace

etnogr.

o

Syberii

Hil

łowie ryb. Wspomina
przy tym o wielkim
przywiązaniu
Giliaków
do
psów, które odgrywają
w ich życiu i gospodarce
dużą rolę.
Na czoło wysuwają
się jednak informacje
o wierzeniach
i obyczajach .
..Wszyscy Giliacy - stwierdza Augustynowicz
- są ogólnie poganinami,
z wyjątkiem
tych bardzo nielicznych,
którzy
przyjęli chrześcijaństwo.
='Iie mają szamanów, ani jakichkolwiek
innych osób zajmujących
się wyłącznie obrządkami
religijnymi.
Czczą natomiast
niedźwiedzia;
czczą go
jak bóstwo i raz w roku świętują
tak zwane Zabicie niedźwiedzia ..." 15
Opis tego święta przedstawiony
został bardzo dokładnie i jest niewątpli'.vie ciekawym przyczynkiem
do badań nad rozpowszechnionym
na Syberii kultem niedźwiedzia.
Interesująco
wyglądają również obyczaje związane z zawarciem związku małżeńskiego.
Kawaler pragnący założyć własną rodzinę "obowiązany
jest koniecznie ukraść dla siebie żonę, chociaż porwanie
to odbywa się
prawie zawsze za wiedzą rodziców dziewczyny
i za jej zgodą" 16. Zwyczaj "porwania",
po którym
nowożeniec
obowiązany
jest zawieić
rodzicom jakiś podarek składający
się w większości
z broni myśliwskiej
lub sprzętu rybackiego,
stanowi cały obrządek ślubny u Giliaków. Niekied:-' zdarza się, że Giliak porywa
cudzą żonę. W takich w\'padkach
pokrzywdzony
mąż kieruje zwykle skargę do naczelnika
plemienia.
Ten
ostatni z kolei zmusza porywacza
do zwrócenia
cudzej własności,
nie
wymierzając
przy tym jednak winnemu
żadnej kary.
Następnie Augustynowicz
omawia obrzędy pogrzebowe
Giliaków i formę pochó\vka. Opisuje też oryginalny
zwyczaj powitania gości. Przyszedłszy w odwiedziny
Giliak siedzi pewien czas w milczeniu paląc fajkę, po
czym, na prośbę gospodarza, kładzie głowę na jego kolanach. Gospodarz,
:-ozplótłszy warkocz na głowie gościa, początkowo
delikatnie
ją głaszcze,
a później, rozczesując
palcami coraz szybciej kosmyki włosów, wyjmuje
insekty, które są dla niego wielkim przysmakiem.
Zupełnie odmiennym
plemieniem,
różniącym
się nie tylko od Giliaków, ale i od pozostałych
mieszkańców
wyspy, byli Ajnowie. Informacje,
jakie można znależć o nich w artykule,
dotyczą przede wszystkim
ich
cech fizycznych
oraz wyglądu
jurt i odzieży. Nie brak jednak danych
o· charakterze
Ajnów, ich wierzeniach,
niektórych
formach
współżycia
zbiorowego,
jak na przykład
podział obowiązków
domowych
między
kobiety i illf;żczyzn oraz ceremonia powitania gościa, a także o ich głównych zajęciach.
Odrqbność Ajnów, obok wyglądu zewnętrznego,
jest najbardziej
widoczna \V sferze kultury niematerialnej,
a szczególnie w ich ustroju spo:5
:6

:; -

Tamże, s. 77-73.
Tamże, s. 79.

L,,,), t. 39

�162

TADEUSZSŁABCZY&amp;SKl

łecznym. Obserwacje Augustynowicza potwierdzają na przykład fakt \vystępowania u nich matriarchatu, jakkolwiek nie używa on tego terminu.
Pisząc o życiu rodzinnym Ajnów zauważa między innymi, że .....mężczyźni są obojętni na sprawy rodzinne i prawie całkowicie nie troszczą się
o swoich najbliższych. Kobieta musi sama łowić ryby, aby \vyżywić
siebie i swoje dzieci.. .•. 17. Ciekawe, chociaż różniące się od spostrzeżeń
późniejszych badaczy, są także informacje o wierzeniach: "Ajnowie
czczą - według polskiego podróżnika - jakieś mityczne bóstwo "Kamoi",
w kulcie którego zapalają ogromne ogniska, zarówno na brzegach wyspy.
jak i w jej wnętrzu na śródgórskich polanach. Zapalane latem w obecności
kilku rodzin ogniska, stanowią cały ich religijny obrządek" 18 W przeciwieństwie do tego K. Moszyński, powołując się na H. van Siebolda
(1881), podaje, że u Ajnów występuje również kult niedźwiedzia I~. Materiał o Ajnach, aczkolwiek niepełny i nie zawsze ścisły, zasługuje jednak
na uwagę w historii badań tego plemienia.
Oprócz Giliaków i Ajnów Augustynowicz zetknął się na Sachalinie
z Oroczonami. Wzmianka o nich jest dosyć pobieżna i zawiera głównie
informacje o cechach antropologicznych, sposobie ubierania się. wvglądzie jurt i niektórych innych elementach kultury materialnej.
Zbyt krótki pobyt na wyspie nie pozwolił Augustynowiczowi na dokładniejsze poznanie wszystkich tamtejszych plemion. Nie udało mu się
na przykład zebrać żadnych wiadomości o nielicznej zresztą grupie sachalińskich Jakutów i Tunguzów, a wspomniany wyżej materiał o Ajnach
i Oroczonach nie zawsze jest wyczerpujący. Tym niemniej omawiany artykuł był - co należy podkreślić - jednym z pierwszych źródeł wiedzy
o ludach Sachalinu. Toteż przedstawiony w skróconej formie 21 lutego
1873 r. na zebraniu Oddziału Etnografii Rosyjskiego Towarzystwa Geograficznego spotkał się z dużym uznaniem członków tego towarzyst\va ~O.
Innym źródłem etnograficznej wiedzy jest opis podróży do północnowschodniej Syberii pt. Tri goda v severo-vostocnoj
Sibiri za polarnym
krugom. Praca rozpada się na trzy wyraźne części. Pierwsza jest dziennikiem podróży prowadzonym na drodze z Irkucka do Jakucji, druga
geograficznym szkicem okręgu jakuckiego i kołymskiego, trzecia zaś
wyłączną charakterystyką plemion północno-wschodniej Syberii.
Pewne wiadomości z zakresu etnografii znajdują się już "V drugiej
części, materiał ten jest jednak bardzo przemieszany z informacjami

19

Tamże, s. 81.
Tamże, s. 81.
K. Moszyński, Ludy zbieracko-lowieckie,

20

Nabludenija

17
18

Geograficeskogo

nad

bytom

Obscestva"

naselenija

Kraków
ostrova

1973, t. 9, nr 4, s. 1I3-ll5.

1951, s. 293-294.

Sachalina.

"IzvcsŁija

Russkogo

�Tomasz Augustynowiez

i jego prace etnogr.

o Syberii

163

geograficznymi, przyrodniczymi i ekonomicznymi. Szczególnie częste są
tu wzmianki o Jakutach, ich kulturze materialnej, usposobieniu, zajęciach,
obyczajach, wierzeniach oraz przesądach; rzadsze natomiast o Tunguzach.
W części trzeciej, zawierającej najwięcej materiału etnograficznego,
Augustynowicz omawia kolejno Jukagirów, Czuwańców, Omoków, Tunguzów, Łamutów i Czukczów. Na pierwszy plan wysuwają się wiadomości o Czukczach. W większości stanowią one materiał poprzednio nieznany, gdyż wcześniejsze relacje o tym plemieniu, jakkolwiek dosyć
liczne 21, ograniczały się przeważnie tylko do niektórych aspektów kultury materialnej i życia gospodarczego.
Czukcze badani przez Augustynowicza zamieszkiwali Półwysep Czukocki oraz, w mniejszej ilości, północno-wschodnią część Jakucji. Dzielili się przy tym na cztery główne rody. Prowadzili koczowniczy tryb
życia wędrując za stadami reniferów, liczącymi u bogatszych Czukczów
niekiedy ponad 10 tysięcy sztuk. W miejscach nowych pastwisk zakładali obozowiska zwane "urusami"; Augustynowicz dokładnie omawia konstrukcję tych urusów. Wiele miejsca poświęca również innym elementom
kultury materialnej, takim jak odzież, ozdoby, sprzęt gospodarski oraz
główne potrawy.
Nowe, nieznane przedtem szczegóły o Czukczach, to jednak przede
wszystkim wiadomości o ich życiu społecznym i obyczajowym. Głównym
zajęciem Czukczów była hodowla reniferów. Prócz tego prowadzili handel wymienny między sobą oraz z Rosjanami. Corocznie uczestniczyli
na przykład w tzw. "jarmarku czukockim", który odbywał się w oddalonej o około 250 km od Niżniekołymska Twierdzy Aniujskiej. Była to
zarazem okazja do licznych uroczystości i ceremonii.
Ustrój społeczny opierał się u Czukczów na bezwzględnym posłuszeństwie wobec rodowych naczelników, zwanych "eremami". Cieszący się
ogromnym autorytetem erema sprawował między innymi władzę sądowniczą. Najczęściej spotykaną karą było bicie związanego winowajcy pałką
po głowie. Cięższe przestępstwa karano śmiercią, przy czym rodzaj kaźni,
często bardzo wyszukany, ustalał sam erema. Obok orzekanych przez
niego wyroków i wymierzanych kar istniał też u Czukczów ściśle przestrzegany zwyczaj zemsty rodowej, przypominającej sycylijską wendettę. Zarówno ten zwyczaj, jak i szereg innych, wynikał z porywczego
surowego charakteru Czukczów oraz z tego, że nigdy nie wybaczali
o Czukczach podaje A. A. Ivanovski (Ukazatel' literatury'
Obozrenije" 1891, kn. 10) oraz D. Zielenin (Bibliograjićeskij ukazatel' russkoj literatury
o vnesnem byte narodov Rossii. 1700-1910. "Zapiski Russkogo GeograIiceskogo Ob'scestva, po Otdeleniju Etnografii"
1913, t. 40,
vyp. 1, ss. XXIX, 733, 3 nlb.).
21

Obszerną

literaturę

o Cu.kćach. "EtnograIiceskoje

�16J

TADEUSZ

SLABCZyNSKI

uraz. W gniewie Czukcza potrafił na przykład obciąć swoJeJ zonie uszy
lub rękę, zdrada natomiast prawie zawsze karana była śmiercią. Charakteryzując zwyczaje małżeńskie Augustynowicz zwraca poza tym uwagę
na praktykowane tu małżeństwo na próbę, mogące trwać od trzech do
pięciu lat, oraz na występowanie u Czukczów wielożeństwa. Wyraźnie
dał się również zaobserwować podział obowiązków na zajęcia "męskie"
(przygotowanie sań, wypas i zabijanie reniferów na mięso) i "żeńskie"
(prace wewnątrz urusów).
Augustynowicz odnotowuje ponadto wiele innych szczegółów obyczajowych. Bardzo wyczerpująco omawia na przykład obrzędy pogrzebowe.
"Ciała zmarłych - pisze na wstępie - palą lub zostawiają na powierzchni ziemi w jakiejkolwiek górzystej okolicy na pożarcie dzikim zwierzętom, przeważnie wilkom, dla których żywią szczególny szacunek. .." 22.
Dalej wspomina o wierzeniach Czukczów. Według jego relacji "czczą oni
Słońce, ale nigdy się nie modlą i nie spełniają żadnych religijnych obrzędów ..." 23, poza tym są bardzo zabobonni.
Nieco mniej uwagi poświęcił Augustynowicz Tunguzom. Fragment
o nich zawiera głównie podstawowe informacje o ich cechach antropologicznych, charakterze, siedzibach, zajęciach (również ściśle rozgraniczonych dla mężczyzn i kobiet), o wierzeniach oraz niektórych obyczajach,
między innymi o obrządkach pogrzebowych.
Krótsze są również wzmianki o Jukagirach, Czuwańcach, Omokach
i Łamutach. Kreśląc tylko najbardziej charakterystyczne elementy kultury materialnej, duchowej i społecznej tych plemion Augustynowicz
zwraca między innymi uwagę na stopniowy zanik indywidualnych cech
kulturowych, szczególnie wśród mniejszych grup ludnościowych. Tak na
przykład Jukagirzy przyjęli w większości tunguski i rosyjski język,
prawosławne wyznanie oraz rosyjski, jakucki bądź tunguski ubiór. Czuwańcy w dużej części poddali się wpływom Rosjan (tryb życia, język)
i Jakutów (ubiór). Rusyfikacji w ogromnym stopniu ulegli również Omokowie i Łamuci. Większe plemiona, takie jak Jakuci, Tunguzi i Czukcze,
do czasu przebywania wśród nich Augustynowicza w dużej mierze oparły
się jeszcze obcym wpływom.
a przedstawionej wyżej pracy Tri gada v severa-vostocnoj
Sibi1'i
za pala7'nym krHgam wyrażał się pochlebnie na łamach "Izvestii Russkogo
GeografiCeskogo Obscestva" między innymi w 1881 r. V. 1. Vagin 24. Pod"Drevniaja i Novaja Rossija" 1880, nr 12, s. 727.
Tamże, s. 727.
24 V. L Vagin, Avgustinović
F. M., Tri goda w severo-vostocnoj
Sibiri za polarnym krugom. (Ree.). "Izvestija Vostocno-Sibirskogo
Otdeła Russkogo Geograficeskogo
Obscestva" 1881, t. 12, nr I, s. 42.
22
23

�Tomasz AllgustY1lowicz

i jego prace etnogr.

o Syberii

165

kreślał on wartość znajdującego się w niej nowego materiału etnograficznego, przy czym szcególnie wysoko ocenił wiadomości o Czukczach.
Podsumowując dorobek Augustynowicza stwierdzić można, że prace
jego często nie miały ściśle naukowego i metodologicznego podejścia
do omawianych zagadnień, często też czynione obserwacje były niepełne
i pobieżne. Tym niemniej wnosiły one do ówczesnej wiedzy wiele nowego materiału faktograficznego i dlatego można uważać je za godny
wspomnienia przyczynek do znajomości ludów Syberii. Zwracano na
nie między innymi kilkakrotnie uwagę w Rosyjskim Towarzystwie Geograficznym, tak na posiedzeniach jego członków, jak i w publikacjach
tego towarzystwa. Nie można również pominąć roli popularyzatorskiej,
jaką w okresie nielicznych jeszcze kontaktów z mało znanymi plemionami
spełniały artykuły Augustynowicza. Zainteresowanie nimi zmalało jednak wraz z rozpoczęciem systematycznych badań podjętych na szeroką
skalę pod koniec XIX wieku, głównie przez Wschodniosyberyjski Oddział Rosyjskiego Towarzystwa Geograficznego. Dzisiaj prace polskiego
podróżnika mają znaczenie przede wszystkim historyczne, ważne z jednej strony dla studiów porównawczych, z drugiej ze względu na pionierski ich charakter w dziedzinie badań etnograficznych niektórych
obszarów Syberii.

TADEUSZ SŁABCZYŃSKI

TOMASZ AUGUSTYNOWICZ (1809-1891) AND HIS ETHNOGRAPHIC
WORKS ON SIBERIA

(S ummar

y)

After finishing his Medical School at the Vilna University
in 1835, Tomasz
Augustynowicz first practiced medicine for a long time in European Russia.
In the 1870's and at the beginning of the 1880's he made a series of expeditions
deep inside Asia and along its coasts. He covered the length and breadth of almost
all of Siberia and did studies on ethnography
and nature in addition to his work
as a doctor. In 1871 and 1872, as the first Pole and one of the first Europeans to
visit Sakhalin, he made ethnographic
studies of the Gilyaks, Orochons and Ainus
and published the results in a long article in 1874. Augustynowicz spent the years
1874-1876 in northeastern
Yakutia, on the Kolyma River and on the Chukchee
Peninsula where he collected ethnographic materials about the Chukchees, Yakut~;,
Tungus, Yukagirs, Chuvans and Omoks. The result of this expedition was among

�TADEUSZ

SŁABCZyNSKI

other things an ethnographic
and geographic description of northeastern
Siberia
published in 1880. It was extremely valuable as a source of lots of entirely new
pieces of information about the intellectual and social culture of the Chukchees.
Another result of Augustynowicz's expeditions to Asia and Siberia was a rich
callection of plants numbering 40.000 specimens which was sent to the Botanical
Garden in Sto Petersburg and studied by Herder and Trautvetter. There was also
a series of lesser articles on geography, ethnography and nature and his correspondence published in Russian journals.

�</text>
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                <text>SŁAWOJ S Z Y N K I E W I C Z

TORGUCI

MONGOLII

Uwagi na tle pierwszych badań etnograficznych
wśród Torgutów
ałtajskich
Polska ekspedycja etnograficzna w M o n g o l i i p r z e p r o w a d z i ł a w r o k u
1975 w s t ę p n e badania terenowe w ś r ó d T o r g u t ó w a ł t a j s k i c h , k t ó r y to
f a k t z a s ł u g u j e na s z c z e g ó l n e odnotowanie, g d y ż b y ł y to badania p i o n i e r ­
skie. Torguci, jedna z g r u p o j r a c k i c h , z a m i e s z k u j ą na terenie M R L w somonie B u ł g a n a j m a k u kobdoskiego w s p ó l n i e z p e w n ą liczbą C h o s z u t ó w .
Odgrodzeni od reszty k r a j u pasmem A ł t a j u Mongolskiego, s ą s i a d u j ą na
zachodzie z Zachczinami, na p ó ł n o c y z a ś z U r i a n c h a j a m i i K a z a c h a m i ,
k t ó r z y z r e s z t ą w ostatnich d z i e s i ę c i o l e c i a c h d o ś ć licznie p o c z ę l i k o c z o w a ć
t a k ż e na terenach t o r g u c k i c h . T o r g u c i b u ł g a ń s c y s t a n o w i ą część T o r ­
g u t ó w a ł t a j s k i c h rozdzielonych g r a n i c ą p a ń s t w o w ą z C h i n a m i i j e d n o ­
c z e ś n i e część szerszej s p o ł e c z n o ś c i o b e j m u j ą c e j T o r g u t ó w S i n k i a n g u .
J e ś l i u w z g l ę d n i m y , że T o r g u c i s t a n o w i l i g ł ó w n y element etnogenetyczny
w s p ó ł t w o r z ą c y n a r o d o w o ś ć k a ł m u c k ą , d o j d z i e m y do w n i o s k u , ż e n a l e ż ą
oni do w a ż n i e j s z y c h i szeroko rozprzestrzenionych g r u p mongolskich.
1

W l i t e r a t u r z e i s t n i e j ą fragmentaryczne relacje o charakterze etnogra­
f i c z n y m d o t y c z ą c e T o r g u t ó w S i n k i a n g u . D o s t a r c z y ł y i c h z w ł a s z c z a prace
Potanina,
Iwanowskiego,
Grumm-Grzymajły,
Todajewej,
Haslunda
i Ramstedta. Natomiast T o r g u c i a ł t a j s c y s t a n o w i ą , j a k d o t ą d , b i a ł ą p l a m ę
na mapie naszego poznania. D o t y c z y to b a d a ń etnograficznych, g d y ż
j ę z y k o z n a w c z e p r o w a d z i ł w ś r ó d n i c h w latach 6 0 - t y c h m o n g o l s k i uczony
1

Ponadto bliżej nie określona, lecz niezbyt wielka liczba Torgutów i Szar
Torgutów znajduje się także na terenie somonu Tosoncengel w ajmaku D z a w c h a ń skim, C. S z a g d a r s ü r e n ,
Mongolyn cergijn zachion baiguulaltaas iiusen dorwón owog, [w:] Studia Archaeologica Instituti Historiae Ac. Sc. R. P. Mongolici,
t. V, Ułanbator 1972, s. 181. Przypuszczalnie są oni, podobnie jak Eleci w Archangaju, uciekinierami z Dżungarii z czasów podboju mandżurskiego. Mogli zatem
niegdyś stanowić wspólnotę z obecnymi Torgutami ałtajskimi przed krótkotrwałym
pobytem tych ostatnich nad Wołgą. Potwierdzałby to etnonim Szar Torgut, który
koresponduje z n a z w ą rodu Szar (Szaras, Szarnuud) w y s t ę p u j ą c e g o w ł a ś n i e u T o r ­
g u t ó w ałtajskich, podczas gdy brak go u Torgutów tarbagatajskich.

�118

SŁAWOJ S Z Y N K I E W I C Z

2

Ł u w s a n b a ł d a n . N a l e ż ą o n i do t y c h n i e l i c z n y c h m n i e j s z o ś c i w M o n g o l i i ,
0 k t ó r y c h b r a k n i e w l i t e r a t u r z e s k r ó t o w e j c h o ć b y i n f o r m a c j i etnograficz­
nej. P r z e w a l s k i , k t ó r e g o ś l a d a m i p r z e m i e r z a ł a nasza ekspedycja A ł t a j
Mongolski, p o z o s t a w i ł w zasadzie t y l k o opis k r a j o b r a z u , P o t a n i n z a ś
1 W ł a d i m i r c o w — jedynie listę r o d ó w zaczerpniętą z drugiej r ę k i i w y ­
m a g a j ą c ą , w ś w i e t l e naszych i n f o r m a c j i , poprawek. W tej s y t u a c j i ekspe­
d y c j a nasza p o d j ę ł a się etnograficznego opisu tej s p o ł e c z n o ś c i z z a m i a r e m
odtworzenia integralnego obrazu p e w n y c h dziedzin jej k u l t u r y . P o c z ą t k o ­
w y etap b a d a ń u z a s a d n i ł , j a k się w y d a j e , s ł u s z n o ś ć w y b o r u z u w a g i na
k u l t u r o w ą i historyczną specyfikę Torgutów.
Od k o m u n i k a t u na temat o r i e n t a c y j n y c h b a d a ń na z u p e ł n i e n o w y m
terenie nie n a l e ż y o c z e k i w a ć u o g ó l n i e n i a zebranego m a t e r i a ł u , t o t e ż ogra­
n i c z ę się do przedstawienia w s t ę p n y c h w n i o s k ó w , k t ó r e m o g ą m i e ć zna­
czenie dla dalszych s t u d i ó w . W y d a j e się j e d n a k celowe p o p r z e d z i ć je
k i l k o m a i n f o r m a c j a m i h i s t o r y c z n y m i i r e f l e k s j a m i p ł y n ą c y m i z zesta­
w i e n i a t y c h i n f o r m a c j i z obserwacjami t e r e n o w y m i .
INFORMACJE

HISTORYCZNE

Torguci p o j a w i a j ą się na scenie historycznej pod koniec X V I w i e k u
jako jedno z najsilniejszych u g r u p o w a ń k s z t a ł t u j ą c y c h s y t u a c j ę p o l i t y c z ­
n ą w zespole o j r a c k i m , obok C h o s z u t ó w , C z o r o s ó w , D e r b e t ó w i C h o j t ó w .
W k r ó t c e u t r w a l a się i c h p o d z i a ł na d w i e g r u p y k i e r o w a n e przez d w i e
g a ł ę z i e tej samej r o d z i n y a r y s t o k r a t y c z n e j . G r u p a p ó ł n o c n a prowadzona
przez Cho Or loka separuje się od podstawowego t r z o n u l u d ó w o j r a c k i c h
i odkoczowuje na t e r e n y zachodniej Syberii, w dorzecze g ó r n e g o Obu,
I r t y s z u i I s z i m u . M i a ł o to miejsce na p r z e ł o m i e w i e k ó w X V I i X V I I ,
3

4

2

Badania te nie były publikowane. Dr Łuwsanbałdan udostępnił nam wgląd
w swoje materiały terenowe, za co zespół ekspedycji jest mu szczególnie w d z i ę ­
czny.
Były to w ó w c z a s wolne obszary w sąsiedztwie terytorium zajętego przez
Ojratów. Pod koniec X V I w. Ojraci okazali się szczególnie zagrożeni od wschodu
przez Mongołów Chalcha (por. wojna 1587 roku), od zachodu zaś przez uaktywnia­
jących się Kazachów. Toteż dysydentom ojrackim pozostawała w ę d r ó w k a na po­
łudnie lub północ. Oba te kierunki zostały wykorzystane, przy czym najwcześniej
południowy (przez Torgutów zwanych później kuku-norskimi). Był on wykorzysty­
wany także i później, w drugiej ćwierci X V I I w. przez Guszi-chana, który usadowił
się również w okolicach Kuku-noru tworząc organizm nazywany niekiedy chana­
tem choszuckim, a także podjął próbę podbicia Tybetu. Tak więc w ę d r ó w k i Ojra­
t ó w kierunkowane były przyczynami zewnętrznymi, te zaś ostatnie miały również
pewien w p ł y w na decyzje o podjęciu wędrówki. Nie wydaje się zatem usprawie­
dliwiona przedstawiona przez Złatkina ostra krytyka poglądu Kotwiczą, iż tery­
torialna ciasnota powodowana była głównie naciskiem z zewnątrz (I. J . Z ł a t к i n,
Istorija Dżungarskogo
chanstwa, Moskwa 1964, s. 115 przyp.). Autor ten jedyną
przyczynę w ę d r ó w e k upatruje w zapotrzebowaniu na pastwiska, co jest niewątpli­
wie również uproszczeniem i wydaje się nie mieć zastosowania do Dżungarii.
3

4

Pierwszy znany raport o obecności Ojratów nad Obem pochodzi z 1598
Z ł a t к i n, op. cit., s. 123.

г.,

�119

T O R G U C I MONGOLII

o d 1627 r. z a ś Cho O r l o k p r o w a d z i w stepy n a d w o ł ż a ń s k i e t y c h ż e p ó ł ­
n o c n y c h T o r g u t ó w oraz c z ę ś ć C h o s z u t ó w i D e r b e t ó w , r a z e m 50 tys. rodzin,
c z y l i 250 tys. o s ó b . P o ł u d n i o w a g r u p a T o r g u t ó w p o d z i e l i ł a się na d w i e
części, z k t ó r y c h jedna jeszcze w X V I w i e k u o d k o c z o w a ł a poza S i n k i a n g
w r e j o n K u k u - n o r u , d r u g a z a ś p o z o s t a ł a w T i e ń s z a n i u , z w ł a s z c z a w do­
l i n i e r z e k i I i i . Ż a d n a z t y c h g r u p zdaje się nie o d g r y w a ć p o w a ż n i e j s z e j
r o l i w p o w s t a j ą c y m w ł a ś n i e p a ń s t w i e d ż u n g a r s k i m . Torguci u s u w a j ą się
na margines w a l k i o p r z y w ó d z t w o w ś w i e c i e o j r a c k i m , k t ó r a p r o w a d z i
do skoncentrowania w ł a d z y w r ę k a c h a r y s t o k r a c j i czoroskiej p r z e w o d z ą ­
cej u g r u p o w a n i u D ż u n g a r ó w .
5

N i e m n i e j azyl, k t ó r y T o r g u c i w y r o b i l i sobie nad W o ł g ą w postaci
c h a n a t u k a ł m u c k i e g o , nie i z o l o w a ł i c h od ojczyzny. Uczestniczyli o n i
w p r z y g o t o w a n i u kodeksu p r a w z 1640 г., w y m i e n i a l i w i z y t y , p o d t r z y ­
m y w a l i z w i ą z k i m a ł ż e ń s k i e z D ż u n g a r a m i , bezustannie p o d r ó ż o w a l i do
T y b e t u , p r ó b o w a l i w p ł y w a ć na przebieg sprav/ w d a w n e j o j c z y ź n i e . Po­
w r a c a l i t e ż k i l k a k r o t n i e w i ę k s z y m i g r u p a m i , stali się w a ż n y m p r z e d m i o ­
t e m p o l i t y c z n y c h p r z e t a r g ó w , oni t e ż s p r a w i l i , że d w ó r c h i ń s k i zdecydo­
w a ł się w y s ł a ć m i s j ę d y p l o m a t y c z n ą do E u r o p y , b y s k ł o n i ć chana K a ł m u k ó w do ostatecznego p o w r o t u . F a k t , że K a ł m u c y są l a m a i s t a m i , m i m o
iż r u s z y l i na z a c h ó d przed uznaniem l a m a i z m u za o f i c j a l n ą r e l i g i ę O j r a t ó w , r ó w n i e ż wskazuje na silne z w i ą z k i z p o z o s t a ł y m i o j r a c k i m i g r u ­
pami.
T r w a ł y nie t y l k o k o n t a k t y dyplomatyczne, rodzinne i religijne, lecz
t a k ż e w s t a ł y m p o g o t o w i u z n a j d o w a ł a się p r ę ż n o ś ć m i g r a c y j n a K a ł m u k ó w , m i m o iż k o r z y s t a l i oni bez w i ę k s z y c h o g r a n i c z e ń z d o b r y c h pastwisk.
O k o ł o 1644 r. r o z w a ż a n o p l a n p o w r o t u do A z j i , w ł a d c y k a ł m u c c y s ł a l i
p o s ł ó w do P e k i n u z d a n i n ą , c h o c i a ż f o r m a l n i e znajdowali się pod p r o ­
t e k t o r a t e m r o s y j s k i m . S y n chana A j u k i S a n c z d ż a w przenosi się do D ż u n g a r i i z 15 tys. r o d z i n , nieco p ó ź n i e j A j u k a zabiera część u p r o w a d z o n y c h
przez syna T o r g u t ó w , a z n o w u ż w 1724 r. arystokracja k a ł m u c k a śle do
6

7

8

9

5

Kałmyckije
istoriko-litieraturnyje
pamjatniki w russkom pieriewodie, Elista
1969, s. 50; D. G o n g o r, Chowdyn churaanguj tüüch, Ułanbator 1964, s. 45.
G a b a n S z a r a w, Skazanije ob ojratach, [w:] Kałmyckije...,
s. 157-158.
Tak to przynajmniej przedstawiają źródła chińskie. Szukur-dajczin
wypra­
wiał posłów do Pekinu w latach 1655-1657, zaś chan Ajuka w 1716 г., a jego wnuk
Donrob-raszi w 1766 r. (Men-gu-ju-mu-csi.
Zapiski o mongolskich
koczewjach,
S-Pietierburg 1895, s. 144). Poselstwo Ajuki datowane jest różnie, np. Łytkin mówi,
iż miało ono miejsce w 1700 r. (Kałmyckije...,
s. 71 przyp.), zaś Złatkin (op. cit.,
s. 339) ustala datę na 1709 r. Chan Ajuka interweniował w Pekinie na rzecz zwol­
nienia Arawdżura, arystokraty kałmuckiego, zatrzymanego w drodze powrotnej
z pielgrzymki do Tybetu. Misja okazała się bezskuteczna i Arawdżur z towarzyszą­
cymi poddanymi pozostał w granicach Chin tworząc w regionie Ningsia enklawę
torgucką (tzw. Torguci Edzi jn-golscy).
1

7

8

S

G a b a n S z a r a w, op. cit., s. 150.
' Batur-Ubuszi
Tiumen, Skazanije
71.

o dierbien-ojratach,

[w:]

Kałmyckije...,

�120

SŁAWOJ S Z Y N K I E W I C Z

D ż u n g a r i i poselstwo dla o m ó w i e n i a ewentualnego p o w r o t u
jednak, n a s t ę p n a

1 0

. Zamiast tego

m i g r a c j a o d b y w a s i ę w k i e r u n k u zachodnim. W

roku

1756 l u b 1758 Ceren t a j d ż i (Szeren w w e r s j i miejscowej) w r a z z 10
r o d z i n t o r g u c k i c h (a t a k ż e
przed

Mandżurami

wielka

z doliny

rzeki

H i nad

Wołgę

1 1

.

Wreszcie

m i g r a c j a z 1771 r o k u — p o w r ó t t e g o ż C e r e ñ a oraz

Ubasziego, k t ó r y
ków

derbeckich, choszuckich i chojckich)

(jedynie

do K o t l i n y D ż u n g a r s k i e j

przypadek

—

odwilż

na

poprowadził

Wołdze

—

ostatnia

kałmuckiego

połowę

miał

tys.

ucieka

Kałmu-

uniemożliwić

u c i e c z k ę c a ł e m u n a r o d o w i ) . B y ł to sukces d y p l o m a c j i c h i ń s k i e j i j e d n o ­
c z e ś n i e tragedia K a ł m u k ó w ,

gdyż spośród

170 t y s . o s ó b na

miejsce

t a r ł a t y l k o p o ł o w a w s k u t e k g ł o d u i k o n i e c z n o ś c i p r z e b i j a n i a sobie
przez n i e p r z y j a z n e okolice A z j i Ś r o d k o w e j w czasie w ę d r ó w k i
8 miesięcy

1 2

szunów
czuulgan

dokonali

zdecydowali

czowiska w

drogi

trwającej

.

Mandżurowie
którzy

do­

się

Tieńszaniu

wchodzących

w

następującej

porzucić

granice

lokacji
Rosji,

przybyszów.
otrzymali

oraz T a r b a g a t a j u . Podzieleni zostali na
skład

sejmu

„Prawowiernych"

Kałmucy,

rozległe

Unen
1 S

10

süsegtejn

i p o w r ó c i l i w S i n k i a n g u do e t n o n i m u T o r g u t . Z k o l e i

dani C e r e ñ a , k t ó r z y kilkanaście lat wcześniej opuścili Tieńszań,

ko­
chopod­

otrzymali

s t o j ą c e p u s t k ą t e r e n y p o d a ł t a j s k i e — d o l i n y r z e k B u ł g a n , Cagaan i C z i n 1 0

Z ł a t к i n, op. cit, s. 334.
Aż trzy różne daty podaje Men-gu..., s. 144, 154, 155. Por. także G o n g o r,
op. cit., s. 45; G r u m m - G r z у m a j ł o, Zapadniaja Mongolija i
Urjanchajskij
kraj, t. I I I cz. 1, Leningrad 1926, s. 186-187. Przekazywane przez tego ostatniego
autora przypuszczenie, że Ceren był Chojtem, nie może się ostać w świetle faktu,
że ¡po powrocie był on w ł a d c ą choszunu torguckiego (o takiej zaś kwalifikacji de­
cydowało pochodzenie władcy, a nie poddanych) oraz powtarzającej się w źródłach
jego konkretnej pozycji w genealogii w ł a d c ó w torguckich (m. in. Men-gu..., s. 145,
154; H . H a s 1 u n d, Men and gods in Mongolia, New York 1935, s. 307).
Men-gu..., s. 453.
13 Przewodnictwo sejmem spoczywało w rękach chana Ubasziego, który zaini­
cjował migrację znad Wołgi, po jego śmierci zaś pozostało w jego linii genealo­
gicznej. Torguci wchodzący w skład tego sejmu nazwani zostali „starymi" i dzie­
lili się na 4 ajmaki, których obiegowe nazwy pochodzą od nazw zajmowanych te­
renów. Torguci Char-szar stanowią grupę najliczniejszą (4 choszuny, 54 somony)
i mają koczowiska w Tieńszaniu, zwłaszcza w dolinie rzeki I i i . Torguci Chür-charus (2 choszuny, 7 somonów) oraz Tsin-ho (1 choszun, 4 somony) koczują na północ
od Tieńszaniu w stronę Tarbagataju. Pozostały ajmak, drugi pod w z g l ę d e m liczeb­
ności (3 choszuny, 14 somonów) zajął okolice Chowog-sair w górach Tarbagataju.
Ludność tych czterech ajmaków nazywa się często Torgutami Ili-Tarbagatajskimi.
Do sejmu „starych" Torgutów włączono także formalnie małą grupkę (1 somon)
znad rzeki Edzijn, która stanowi byłych poddanych Arawdżura (por. przyp. 7).
Całkowicie odrębną grupę stanowią Torguci kuku-norscy, którzy jeszcze w X V I
wieku odkoczowali z Dżungarii na południowy wschód. Liczą oni 12 choszunów.
Prawdopodobnie w okresie późniejszym część ich powróciła do doliny Iii, skąd ok.
1757 r. w y e m i g r o w a ł a na krótko do K a ł m u k ó w . Po powrocie zajęli oni koczowiska
podałtajskie. Pozostali Torguci kuku-norscy nigdy nie opuszczali Azji. Ich kon­
takty z Torgutami Sinkiangu były stosunkowo słabe.
1 1

1 2

�121

T O R G U C I MONGOLII

gel. U t w o r z y l i oni ajmak z ł o ż o n y z d w u c h o s z u n ó w . Jeden z n i c h z n a j ­
d o w a ł się pod p r z e w o d n i c t w e m C e r e ñ a , k t ó r y o t r z y m a ł t y t u ł
wanga,
w ł a d c ą drugiego z a ś z o s t a ł Szarchuchen z t y t u ł e m bejse. Ten ostatni b y ł
najprawdopodobniej b r a t a n k i e m C e r e ñ a . Poddani obu c h o s z u n ó w n a z y ­
w a n i b y l i T o r g u t a m i „ n o w y m i " albo b u ł g a n - g o l s k i m i ( t e r m i n „ a ł t a j s c y "
r o z p o w s z e c h n i ł się w l i t e r a t u r z e rosyjskiej), p r z y c z y m jest bardzo p r a w ­
dopodobne, że o b j ę t o t y m t e r m i n e m r ó w n i e ż nietorguckie n a r o d o w o ś c i ,
k t ó r e w r a z z Cerenem o p u s z c z a ł y D ż u n g a r i ę i w r a z z n i m p o w r ó c i ł y .
W 1773 r . na t e r e n y B u ł g a n u p r z y k o c z o w a ł choszun C h o s z u t ó w z T i e ń szaniu, k t ó r y m k i e r o w a ł a w d o w a po jego w ł a d c y , b ę d ą c a s i o s t r ą Szarchuchena. T r z y w y m i e n i o n e choszuny t w o r z y ł y sejm „ S e r d e c z n i e o d ­
d a n y c h " ( w d o m y ś l e : d w o r o w i cesarskiemu) Czin setgeltijn
czuulgan,
k i e r o w a n y przez wanga C e r e ñ a .
1 4

Zarysowana w y ż e j sytuacja s t a n o w i ł a r a m y f u n k c j o n o w a n i a s p o ł e c z ­
ności b u ł g a ń s k i e j w naszych czasach. S p o ł e c z n o ś ć ta dzieliła się i dzieli
nadal, w ś w i a d o m o ś c i starszego pokolenia, na T o r g u t ó w wanga i T o r ­
g u t ó w beela (co o z n a c z a ł o b y p o d w y ż s z e n i e r a n g i drugiego w ł a d c y w sto­
s u n k u do w y j ś c i o w e g o bejse). Od r o k u 1945 koczuje na terenie B u ł g a n u
około 170 r o d z i n p r z y b y ł y c h z C h o w o g - s a i r
w Tarbagataju (a w i ę c
byłych K a ł m u k ó w ) . Tworzą oni trzecią zasadniczą grupę w strukturze
miejscowej. W y s t ę p u j e ponadto jeszcze grupa T a j d ż i j n b ę d ą c a r e z u l t a t e m
p o d z i a ł u choszunu bejse-beela na d w a somony. W t e n s p o s ó b T o r g u c i
b u ł g a ń s c y d z i e l i l i się w p o c z ą t k a c h X I X w i e k u na 3 somony — w a n g a ,
bejse ( p ó ź n i e j beela) i t a j d ż i . Ź r ó d ł a z k o ń c a X I X w i e k u m ó w i ą o 5 som o n a c h , co oznacza, że j u ż w ó w c z a s w r a m a c h choszunu wanga w y ­
o d r ę b n i ł y się dodatkowe d w a somony A w d ż i j n i Bagszijn, n o t o w a n e
w naszych m a t e r i a ł a c h t e r e n o w y c h . M i m o iż z a c h o w a ł a s i ę p a m i ę ć o n i c h ,
nie w p ł y n ę ł y one zasadniczo na k o n f i g u r a c j ę g r u p o w ą s p o ł e c z e ń s t w a ,
w k t ó r y m obecnie w y r ó ż n i a s i ę t r z y g r u p y autochtoniczne: T o r g u t ó w
W a n g j i n (w w e r s j i miejscowej O n g i j n , najliczniejsi i p r z o d u j ą c y p r e s t i ż o ­
w o , co jest spadkiem po dawnej h i e r a r c h i i a d m i n i s t r a c y j n e j ) , B e e l i j n
(bardziej zasiedziali na obecnym terenie somonu B u ł g a n ) , T a j d ż i j n (grupa
n a j u b o ż s z a ) , oraz g r u p ę t o r g u c k i c h p r z y b y s z ó w z Chowog-sair, d a w n y c h
K a ł m u k ó w . C h o s z u t ó w n a l e ż a ł o b y u z n a ć r ó w n i e ż za g r u p ę autochtonicz15

1 6

1 4

Dotyczyłoby to przede wszystkim Chojtów i Derbetów, gdyż Choszuci, k t ó ­
rzy towarzyszyli Cerenowi, powrócili do Sinkiangu bez zmiany etnonimu (por.
Men-gu..., s. 147-148, 156).
Polskie nazewnictwo geograficzne proponuje pisownię Hebukesaier rosyjskie
zaś Kobuk-saur, my jednak będziemy używali pisowni fonetycznie najbliższej ory­
ginalnej.
G o n g o r, op. cii., s. 47, przypuszcza, że jest to pomyłka wynikająca z zali­
czenia do Torgutów dwu somonów choszuckich. Choszuci jednak nie tworzyli dwu
somonów, co byłoby warunkiem arytmetycznej prawidłowości wnioskowania. Po­
nadto miejscowa ludność wyraźnie odróżnia 5 somonów torguckich od somonu
Choszutów.
1 5

1 6

�122

SŁAWOJ S Z Y N K I E W I C Z

n ą w t y m s a m y m sensie, w j a k i m a u t o c h t o n i c z n y m i są b u ł g a ń s c y T o r g u c i .
Pastwiska p o d a ł t a j s k i e zajęli oni b o w i e m w t y m s a m y m m n i e j w i ę c e j
czasie, to znaczy w latach 70-tych X V I I I w i e k u , j a k k o l w i e k p ó ź n i e j przez
k i l k a lat koczowali na terenach p o ł o ż o n y c h bardziej na p ó ł n o c . S t o p i e ń
o d r ę b n o ś c i C h o s z u t ó w od c a ł e g o w y m i e n i o n e g o z e s p o ł u nie w y d a j e s i ę
p r z e k r a c z a ć o d r ę b n o ś c i w y s t ę p u j ą c y c h w e w n ą t r z z e s p o ł u , co sprawia, iż
n i e k i e d y zaciera się poczucie obcości samego e t n o n i m u , s p r o w a d z a j ą c
go do r z ę d u p o z o s t a ł y c h w y r ó ż n i e ń g r u p o w y c h .
P o w y ż s z e u w a g i nie w y c z e r p u j ą b y n a j m n i e j p r o b l e m u h i s t o r i i T o r g u ­
t ó w . I s t n i e j ą c e ź r ó d ł a u m o ż l i w i a j ą d o k ł a d n i e j s z e jego przedstawienie, co
w y d a j e się potrzebne w k o n t e k ś c i e s ł a b o d o t ą d opracowanej h i s t o r i i
w s z y s t k i c h O j r a t ó w . N a s z y m celem b y ł o wskazanie na t r z y k w e s t i e
o n i e w ą t p l i w y m znaczeniu dla b a d a ń etnograficznych.
Po pierwsze, w i e l k a r u c h l i w o ś ć przestrzenna T o r g u t ó w nie m a j ą c a ,
j a k się wydaje, o d p o w i e d n i k ó w u n o w o ż y t n y c h M o n g o ł ó w wschodnich.
R u c h l i w o ś ć ta, na poziomie w y ż s z y m n i ż z w y k ł e gospodarcze koczowanie
pasterzy — n a z w i j m y go poziomem p o l i t y c z n y m , w i n n a z n a l e ź ć odbicie
w k u l t u r z e . N a l e ż a ł o b y zatem p o s z u k i w a ć ideologicznych u z a s a d n i e ń
r u c h l i w o ś c i , jej e w e n t u a l n y c h k u l t u r o t w ó r c z y c h k o n s e k w e n c j i (tak w za­
kresie zmiany, j a k t e ż p e t r y f i k a c j i l u b t w o r z e n i a i n s t y t u c j i ) oraz mecha­
n i z m ó w przystosowawczych. Z p u n k t u widzenia h i s t o r i i s p o ł e c z n e j w a ż n e
b y ł o b y o k r e ś l e n i e o ś r o d k ó w i n i c j a t y w y , s p o s o b ó w przekazywania i n f o r ­
m a c j i i stopnia swobody decyzji, z w ł a s z c z a p r z y p o d e j m o w a n i u m i g r a c j i
przez część zainteresowanej s p o ł e c z n o ś c i .
Po drugie, w e w n ę t r z n e z r ó ż n i c o w a n i e badanego z e s p o ł u w y w o d z ą c e
się z f e u d a l n y c h p o d z i a ł ó w a d m i n i s t r a c y j n y c h ( t r z y g r u p y odpowiada­
j ą c e d a w n y m somonom t o r g u c k i m ) . S p o ł e c z n e i k u l t u r o w e konsekwencje
t a k i c h p o d z i a ł ó w u l u d ó w pasterskich nie s ą dobrze zbadane, c h o c i a ż k r y j ą
one i n t e r e s u j ą c e m o ż l i w o ś c i i n t e r p r e t a c y j n e .
Po trzecie, stosunek badanego z e s p o ł u do ś w i a t a z e w n ę t r z n e g o z ł o ­
ż o n e g o z T o r g u t ó w o o d m i e n n y c h losach historycznych, z i n n y c h n a r o ­
d o w o ś c i ojrackich, z M o n g o ł ó w Chalcha, wreszcie z l u d ó w obcych etnicz­
nie i k u l t u r a l n i e . K r y t e r i a z r ó ż n i c o w a n i a , s p o s ó b s a m o o k r e ś l e n i a , ustale­
nie stosunku do g r u p obcych oraz w z g l ę d n y c h odległości s p o ł e c z n y c h
w r a m a c h tego e t n o - u n i w e r s u m w i n n y s t a ć się t u ł a t w i e j u c h w y t n e n i ż
w p r z y p a d k u s p o ł e c z n o ś c i bardziej k o h e r e n t n y c h , o rzadszej sieci w i ę z i
w y c h o d z ą c y c h na z e w n ą t r z g r u p y .
S z c z e g ó l n e o k o l i c z n o ś c i s p r a w i ł y , iż na terenie a ł t a j s k i e g o somonu
B u ł g a n z n a l a z ł s i ę z e s p ó ł l u d z k i s p e ł n i a j ą c y w a r u n k i kompetentnego
zbioru p o t e n c j a l n y c h i n f o r m a t o r ó w w zakresie w y m i e n i o n y c h k w e s t i i .
P o d e j m i e m y obecnie jeden z a s p e k t ó w p r o b l e m u trzeciego, m i a n o ­
w i c i e podstaw s a m o o k r e ś l e n i a i r e l a c j i do i n n y c h g r u p ojrackich, z n o w u ż
zresztą w ujęciu historycznym.

�123

T O R G U C I MONGOLII

E T N O G E N E Z A TORGUTÓW

Zagadnienie to nie jest d o t ą d w y j a ś n i o n e . K r o n i k i p r e z e n t u j ą c e ideo­
l o g i ę p r z y w ó d c ó w f e u d a l n y c h w s k a z u j ą na kereickiego Wang-chana l u b
c z ł o n k a jego r o d z i n y j a k o p r o t o p l a s t ę l i n i i p a n u j ą c e j . N i e u d a ł o s i ę n a m
z n a l e ź ć powszechniejszego odbicia tego w t r a d y c j i l u d o w e j . O r i e n t a c j a
p o l i t y c z n a k r o n i k a r z a ma t u istotne znaczenie, g d y ż znany jest przekaz
0 pochodzeniu z a r ó w n o T o r g u t ó w , j a k i samego Czyngis-chana od m a n ­
d ż u r s k i e g o d o m u p a n u j ą c e g o . Jedna z p ó ź n i e j s z y c h genealogii w y w o d z i
a r y s t o k r a c j ę t o r g u c k ą od w ł a d c ó w i n d y j s k i c h , co zgodne jest z o g ó l n o m o n g o l s k ą t e n d e n c j ą towarzyszącą umacnianiu się w p ł y w ó w lamaizmu
1 t y m t y l k o s i ę od niej r ó ż n i , że nie adoptuje postaci Czyngisa do k l u c z o ­
w e j l i n i i , lecz konsekwentnie p o d t r z y m u j e obcość w stosunku
do
C z y n g i s i d ó w . Jednak nawet w tej genealogii w y s t ę p u j e i m i ę W a n g -chana, chociaż w s k a ż o n e j postaci.
Badacze mongolscy d o p a t r u j ą s i ę w y s t ę p o w a n i a e t n o n i m u tor gut j u ż
w Tajnej
historii .
Ramstedt przytacza e t y m o l o g i ę l u d o w ą z a n o t o w a n ą
u T o r g u t ó w w T i e ń s z a n i u — nazwa m a w y w o d z i ć s i ę od
turug-utu
„ s z c z u p l i i d ł u d z y " , sam z a ś ogranicza s i ę do wskazania tureckiego ź r ó d ł o s ł o w i a . Ł y t k i n w y j a ś n i a znaczenie n a z w y j a k o „ p r z y c z y n i a j ą c y t r u d ­
n o ś c i " , co t a k ż e m o ż e b y ć e t y m o l o g i ą l u d o w ą . Z k o l e i w naszych m a ­
t e r i a ł a c h t e r e n o w y c h etymologia b u ł g a ń s k a k o j a r z y (chociaż nie w y j a ś n i a )
t e r m i n z n a z w a m i trzech c h a r a k t e r y s t y c z n y c h dla tej z i e m i p r z e d m i o ­
t ó w — torcog
(czapeczka k o b i e t y z a m ę ż n e j ) , tookun
( b u t y filcowe)
i tooroj (drzewo gobijskie): torcog
malgataj,
tookun
gutaltaj,
tooroj
modtoj
torguud.
D o ś ć rozpowszechniony w l i t e r a t u r z e jest p o g l ą d , że nazwa w y w o d z i
się z w y s t ę p u j ą c e g o w Tajnej
historii
o k r e ś l e n i a g w a r d i i dziennej C z y n ­
g i s i d ó w , s k ą d niedaleko j u ż do w n i o s k u o genetycznej t o ż s a m o ś c i sub­
s t r á t u ludzkiego tej g w a r d i i oraz p l e m i e n i a T o r g u t ó w . Koncepcja taka
ma historyczne analogie i nosi cechy p r a w d o p o d o b i e ń s t w a , ale nie w y ­
kluczone, że p o w s t a ł a ona p ó ź n o j a k o ś r o d e k i n t e g r a c j i d y s y d e n t ó w
ojrackich, k t ó r z y p r a g n ę l i p o z o s t a ć na marginesie w a l k i o w ł a d z ę w D ż u n ­
garii. Tezę tę s p r ó b u j e m y u p r a w d o p o d o b n i ć w dalszym ciągu w y w o d u .
1 7

1 8

1S

2 0

2 1

2 2

1 7

Informacja ustna dr. Łuwsanbałdana.
Por. wyjątek kroniki przytoczony przez H a s 1 u n d a, op. cit., s. 306.
S z a g d a r s ü r e n, op. čit., s. 181.
G. I . R a m s t e d t , Etimologija imieni ojrat, [w:] Sbornik w czest 70-letija
G. N. Potanina, S-Pietierburg 1909, s. 556. Koresponduje to z przytoczoną przez
H a s l u n d a (op. cit, s. 307) z kroniki Torgutów Char-szar etymologią w y w o d z ą c ą
etnonim od wyrazu turelluk biyetai „wysokiego wzrostu, wyniośli".
Kałmyckije...,
s. 50 przyp.
Opinię tę powtarzają również G. G. S t r a t a n o v i c h , V . E . E r d n i e v ,
An analysis of social terms, Moskwa 1964, s. 15 (referat na V I I Międzynarodowy
Kongres Nauk Antropologicznych i Etnologicznych w Moskwie).
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SŁAWOJ S Z Y N K I E W I C Z

O T o r g u t a c h po raz p i e r w s z y wspomina k r o n i k a Szara Tudżi
wy­
m i e n i a j ą c i c h w ś r ó d i n n y c h l u d ó w ojrackich, z i n y c h z a ś k r o n i k X V I I - w i e c z n y c h czyni to j e d y n i e Erdene Tobczi Sagan Seczena. I n n e k r o n i k i
p r z e m i l c z a j ą i c h , n a w e t j e ś l i m ó w i ą o p o z o s t a ł y c h O j r a t a c h . Sam e t n o n i m
p o j a w i a się w e d ł u g Z ł a t k i n a
dopiero w 1567 г., c z y l i na około 40 lat
przed p i e r w s z ą m a s o w ą m i g r a c j ą T o r g u t ó w na t e r e n y Rosji. D a t a ta
nie m o ż e b y ć w p r a w d z i e uznana za d o w ó d na p ó ź n e pojawienie się T o r ­
g u t ó w , z tej p r z y c z y n y , że w c z e ś n i e j s z e pisane ź r ó d ł a mongolskie są b a r ­
dzo rzadkie. N i e m n i e j m o ż n a p r z y j ą ć h i p o t e z ę , że sam e t n o n i m jest sto­
sunkowo p ó ź n e g o pochodzenia.
I n t e r e s u j ą c e , że najbardziej k o m p e t e n t n a w sprawach
ojrackich
Szara Tudżi postacie historyczne, znane n a m s k ą d i n ą d j a k o p r z y w ó d c y
T o r g u t ó w , i d e n t y f i k u j e j a k o n a l e ż ą c e do omoku ( l i n i i pochodzeniowej)
K e r e i t . Z b i e ż n o ś ć z K e r e i t a m i Wang-chana jest oczywista. Z k o l e i
Gaban Szaraw, autor o stulecie p ó ź n i e j s z y i n a l e ż ą c y do a r y s t o k r a c j i
torguckiej, t w i e r d z i , że część b l i s k i c h p r z o d k ó w Cho O r l ó k a (inicjatora
k a ł m u c k i e j migracji) nazywano Machaczin K e r i a t a m i (Kereitami) . T a k
p o w a ż n e ź r ó d ł o j a k Men-gu-ju-mu-tsi
(z r a c j i d o s t ę p u do nie zachowa­
n y c h j u ż k r o n i k torguckich) t w i e r d z i , że w p r z e c i w i e ń s t w i e do pozos­
t a ł y c h g ł ó w n y c h n a r o d o w o ś c i ojrackich, pochodzenie rodowe T o r g u t ó w
( k o n k r e t n i e j : i c h p r z y w ó d c ó w ) jest n i e z n a n e .
M a m y praw o s ą d z i ć , że T o r g u t o m z a l e ż a ł o na u z n a n i u i c h p e ł n e j p r z y ­
n a l e ż n o ś c i do etnosu mongolskiego, czemu p r z e s z k a d z a ł a kereicka t r a ­
dycja. (Do dziś jeszcze istnieje n i e p e w n o ś ć , czy K e r e i c i b y l i l u d e m m o n ­
golskim, czy t e ż t u r e c k i m ) . W y r a z e m tego pragnienia jest p o d k r e ś l e n i e
przez Gaban Szarawa, ż e „ T o r g u c i autentycznie [pochodzą] z r o d u o j rackiego" . Z k o l e i a r y s t o k r a t a choszucki, jeszcze w p o c z ą t k a c h X I X w i e ­
k u k o n t y n u u j e — j a k się w y d a j e — o p i n i ę p r z e c i w s t a w n ą , iż „ T o r g u c i
2 3

ы

2 5

26

r

2 7

2 3

Z ł a t к i n, op. cit, s. 72.
Dotyczy to Mergen-Tumenego, inicjatora przyjęcia lamaizmu przez Ojratów,
niewątpliwego Torguta i kuzyna 2-go stopnia innego przywódcy torguckiego Cho
Orlóka, który prowadził migrację nad Wołgę. Por. Szara Tudżi, mongolskaja leto­
pis XVII wieka, Moskwa 1957, s. 169.
Chodzi o pięciu młodszych braci dziada Cho Orlóka, G a b a n
Szaraw,
op. cit., s. 141. Torgucka linia rządząca niewątpliwie traktowała owych Machaczin
Keriatów jako bliskich k r e w n i a k ó w (por. tamże, s. 154). Nie jest wykluczone, że
„Machaczin" jest pomocniczym etnonimem wyróżniającym linię boczną od głównej
linii Kereit (bez przymiotnika) reprezentowanej zgodnie z zasadą senioratu przez
starszych braci znanych jako rządząca linia torgucka. S p r a w ę komplikuje fakt, że
etnonim ma charakter patronimiczny, przodek zaś imieniem Machaczi był (w prze­
ciwieństwie do sugestii Gaban Szarawa) pradziadem w prostej linii Cho Orlóka,
co wskazywałoby, że to g ł ó w n a linia arystokracji torguckiej zrezygnowała z etnonimu Kereit, który zresztą rzeczywiście przestał być stosowany. (O Machaczim
wspominają jedynie genealogie wykorzystane w dwu, skądinąd bardzo kompeten­
tnych źródłach, Szara Tudżi..., s. 160 i Men-gu..., s. 133.)
2 4

2 5

2

&lt;¡ Men-gu..., s. 115, 133.
G a b a n S z a r a w , op. cit,

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s. 140.

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p r z y ł ą c z y l i się do O j r a t ó w " . N i e b y ł o b y zatem nic dziwnego w t y m ,
ż e część a m b i t n i e j s z y c h K e r e i t ó w o d r z u c i ł a t ę n a z w ę p o s ł u g u j ą c się
p a t r o n i m e m Machaczin l u b p r z y j m u j ą c n a z w ę T o r g u t , b y ć m o ż e z i n s p i ­
r a c j i Tajnej
historii,
czy z b l i ż o n e g o do n i e j ź r ó d ł a . Ten ostatni e t n o n i m
u t w i e r d z i ł s i ę z czasem w p r a k t y c e s p o ł e c z n e j , K e r e i t z a ś p o z o s t a ł w po­
staci n a z w y jednego z r o d ó w t o r g u c k i c h (ale w y s t ę p u j e t e ż w tej f u n k c j i
u i n n y c h l u d ó w ) . W e d ł u g i n f o r m a c j i Ramstedta Torguci S i n k i a n g u
m i e l i zachować p a m i ę ć o t y m , jakoby kilkakrotnie zmieniali n a z w ę .
2 B

3 0

Sugerowana t u zmiana m i a ł a j e d n a k szersze, n i ż t y l k o t e r m i n o l o g i c z ­
ne, znaczenie. T o w a r z y s z y ł a jej t a k ż e , j a k s i ę w y d a j e , zmiana s y m b o ­
licznej f u n k c j i e t n o n i m u . Przypuszczalnie K e r e i t o d n o s i ł o się jeszcze
(zgodnie ze ś r e d n i o w i e c z n ą t r a d y c j ą r o d o w ą , k t ó r ą w Szara Tudżi s z c z ą t ­
k o w o reprezentuje o k r e ś l e n i e omok) do c z ł o n k ó w l i n i i a r y s t o k r a t y c z n e j ,
a w i ę c l i n e a ż u w y w o d z ą c e g o s i ę od o k r e ś l o n e g o protoplasty. K i e d y z a ś
w w i e k u X V I O j r a c i poczęli t w o r z y ć p l u r a l i s t y c z n e s p o ł e c z e ń s t w o p o l i ­
tyczne z ł o ż o n e z m n i e j l u b bardziej n i e z a l e ż n y c h u d z i a ł ó w f e u d a l n y c h
ułusów,
k r y t e r i u m r e k r u t a c j i s p o ł e c z n o ś c i takiego ułusu
nie b y ł o j u ż
krewniacze, c h o c i a ż u O j r a t ó w d ł u ż e j n i ż u C h a ł c h a s ó w z a c h o w a ł y się
g r u p y o cechach r o d u . K r y t e r i u m t y m b y ł a s o l i d a r n o ś ć g r u p y zorganizo­
w a n e j na zasadach w s p ó l n o t y interesu, k t ó r a integrowana b y ł a ś r o d k a m i
e k o n o m i c z n y m i i p r z y m u s u zbrojnego. K i e r o w a ł a n i ą rodzina a r y s t o k r a ­
tyczna n a l e ż ą c a do l i n e a ż u o o k r e ś l o n e j nazwie, n a z w ą z a ś ułusu,
sym­
b o l e m i n t e g r u j ą c y m poddanych w o k ó ł w ł a d c y , m o g ł a b y ć w ł a ś n i e nazwa
jego l i n e a ż u l u b t e ż z u p e ł n i e inna, u t w o r z o n a dla tego celu. W y d a j e się,
że t a k i m o g ó l n o s p o ł e c z n y m czy p o l i t y c z n y m e t n o n i m e m b y ł „ T o r g u t "
Nie b y ł to też, j a k się w y d a j e , przypadek izolowany. Podobnie m o ż n a
interpretować relację między terminami Udżeit — Choszut
oraz
Czoros — D ż u n g a r i Czoros — Derbet. N i e m n i e j przypadek T o r g u t ó w
z jednego p u n k t u widzenia w y d a j e się s z c z e g ó l n y . O t ó ż jest bardzo
prawdopodobne, że w s p ó l n o t a i n t e r e s ó w , k t ó r a ex definitione
miała
i n t e g r o w a ć ułus t o r g u c k i , p o l e g a ł a na opozycji wobec idei p a ń s t w a
d ż u n g a r s k i e g o . W procesie f o r m o w a n i a się n a r o d o w o ś c i k l u c z o w ą r o l ę
o d e g r a ł p r o g r a m p o l i t y c z n y o d w o ł u j ą c y się do t r a d y c j i rozdrobnienia
feudalnego ( j a k k o l w i e k b y paradoksalnie t a k i wniosek nie b r z m i a ł ) . P r z y ­
puszczenie to m o ż n a b u d o w a ć na w y j ą t k o w o k o n s e k w e n t n e j polityce se­
p a r o w a n i a się T o r g u t ó w od w ł a d z y centralnej, t y m bardziej z r e s z t ą k o n ­
sekwentnego, i m bardziej Torguci r o ś l i w siłę, co oznacza p o w i ę k s z a n i e
się i c h l i c z e b n o ś c i w s k u t e k n a p ł y w u n o w y c h z w o l e n n i k ó w i c h izolacjonistycznej p l a t f o r m y politycznej.
31

2 8

В a t u r - U b u s z i, op. cit., s. 26.
" G i u m m - G r z y m a j ! o , op. cit., s. 188-189 przyp.
R a m s t e d t , op. cit., s. 556.
Według Szara Tudżi, s. 169, przywódca Choszutów Bajbagas należał do amo­
ku Udżeit.
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SŁAWOJ S Z Y N K I E W I C Z

Tworzenie n a r o d o w o ś c i w r a m a c h politycznej j e d n o ś c i ułusu
wyma­
g a ł o k u l t y w o w a n i a tej j e d n o ś c i , c z y l i d ł u ż s z e j stabilizacji. P o n i e w a ż j e d ­
n a k ułusy p o w s t a w a ł y w w y n i k u d z i a ł a ń spontanicznych, l i n i e p o d z i a ł ó w
u t r w a l i ł y p o c z ą t k o w ą m o z a i k ę . Czytelna jest ona z l i s t y nazw r o d o ­
w y c h w s k ł a d z i e p o s z c z e g ó l n y c h n a r o d o w o ś c i . T y t u ł e m p r z y k ł a d u po­
s ł u ż m y się l i s t ą r o d ó w n o t o w a n y c h u T o r g u t ó w i C h o s z u t ó w a ł t a j s k i c h
oraz T o r g u t ó w Chowog-sair. W y s t ę p u j e w n i c h co n a j m n i e j 5 r o d ó w
0 nazwach i d e n t y c z n y c h z e t n o n i m a m i ułusów
czy n a r o d o w o ś c i f u n k c j o ­
n u j ą c y c h samodzielnie w n o w s z y m okresie (Bagatuud, Barga, C h a t a m u u d ,
Chojt, C h u s z u u t ) . Ponadto w d w u w y p a d k a c h w y s t ę p u j e z b i e ż n o ś ć
nazw r o d o w y c h u C h o s z u t ó w i T o r g u t ó w ( C h o t t u u d i Szarnuut). Z k o l e i ,
dla p o d k r e ś l e n i a s p o n t a n i c z n o ś c i procesu f o r m o w a n i a się n a r o d o w o ś c i
trzeba w s k a z a ć na r ó ż n i c e w y s t ę p u j ą c e m i ę d z y a ł t a j s k ą i t a r b a g a t a j s k ą
g a ł ę z i a m i T o r g u t ó w . O t ó ż na 19 r ó ż n y c h nazw r o d o w y c h w y s t ę p u j ą ­
c y c h w obu grupach razem w z i ę t y c h , t y l k o 2 są w s p ó l n e (Chuszuut
32

3 3

1 M e r k i t ) . Jest to d o k ł a d n i e t a k i sam w s k a ź n i k z b i e ż n o ś c i , j a k i w y ­
s t ę p u j e m i ę d z y Choszutami i T o r g u t a m i a ł t a j s k i m i . Z a t e m s t o p i e ń z r ó ż ­
nicowania w ramach tej samej n a r o d o w o ś c i m o ż e b y ć t a k i sam j a k poza
jej granicami. S ą to o c z y w i ś c i e t y l k o formalne k r y t e r i a z r ó ż n i c o w a n i a ,
k u l t u r o w e m o g ą d a ć obraz odmienny. P r z e m a w i a j ą one jednak silnie na
rzecz w n i o s k u o p o c z ą t k o w y m chaosie c h a r a k t e r y z u j ą c y m f o r m o w a n i e s i ę
n a r o d o w o ś c i na etapie z w i ą z k ó w p o l i t y c z n y c h oraz na rzecz tezy, że d o ­
piero stabilizacja polityczna, p o c z y n a j ą c od X V I I w i e k u d a ł a m o ż l i ­
w o ś ć tworzenia się stosunkowo s t a ł y c h i j e d n o r o d n y c h s p o ł e c z n o ś c i j a k o
d e s y g n a t ó w i s t n i e j ą c y c h e t n o n i m ó w . P o n i e w a ż jednak stabilizacja ta n i e
b y ł a t r w a ł a , proces b y ł k o n t y n u o w a n y , c h o ć w z w o l n i o n y m tempie. Jest
p r z e c i e ż znamienny b r a k p e w n o ś c i , czy Derbeci i Chojci, k t ó r z y ok.
1757 r. u c i e k l i z D ż u n g a r i i w r a z z T o r g u t a m i C e r e ñ a , p o w r ó c i l i j a k o
Torguci, czy t e ż oddzielnie . Podobnie K a ł m u c y pod w o d z ą Ubasziego,
k t ó r z y nad W o ł g ą s k ł a d a l i się p r ó c z T o r g u t ó w co n a j m n i e j z C h o s z u t ó w
oraz D e r b e t ó w , osiedleni zostali w S i n k i a n g u j a k o Torguci, ź r ó d ł a z a ś
m a n d ż u r s k i e nie w s p o m i n a j ą nic o o d r ę b n y c h r o z w i ą z a n i a c h a d m i n i s t r a ­
c y j n y c h dla i n n y c h n a r o d o w o ś c i .
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W y d a j e się zatem, że nie m o ż n a obecnie d a ć precyzyjnej odpowiedzi
na pytanie o etniczne k o m p o n e n t y procesu etnogenezy T o r g u t ó w , poza
wskazaniem, że b y ł y to r ó ż n e g r u p y O j r a t ó w . W y d a j e się jednak n i e 3 2

Bagatuud, ród choszucki i zarazem omok ojracki poświadczony w Szara
Tudżi. Chadamuud, ród choszucki i zarazem lud wymieniony przez
Batur-Ubus z i (op. cit., s. 47) w jednym rzędzie z Choszutami i Chojtami. Chuszuut, ród
torgucki jednobrzmiący z etnonimem Choszut.
Opieram się na porównaniu własnych materiałów terenowych z informacja­
mi Potanina i Władimircowa.
T a druga ewentualność nie oznacza jednak zachowania odrębności, gdyż nie
ma żadnego śladu ich samodzielnego istnienia wśród azjatyckich Ojratów (por.
przyp. 14). Jeśli zatem powrócili, to tylko w składzie Torgutów albo Choszutów
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T O R G U C I MONGOLII

m a l pewne, że proces t e n r o z p o c z ą ł się n i e w i e l e w c z e ś n i e j n i ż w w i e ­
k u X V I , nie z a ś w czasach f u n k c j o n o w a n i a dziennej g w a r d i i C z y n g i s i d ó w .
Wskazanie p r o p o r c j i u d z i a ł u p o s z c z e g ó l n y c h n a r o d o w o ś c i o j r a c k i c h w et­
nogenezie T o r g u t ó w m u s i a ł o b y p o d l e g a ć o d r ę b n e m u p o s t ę p o w a n i u do­
w o d o w e m u dla k a ż d e j n i e m a l z 7 i c h g r u p t e r y t o r i a l n y c h ( p o m i j a j ą c
K a ł m u k ó w ) . D z i e l i je b o w i e m nie t y l k o p r z e s t r z e ń , lecz t a k ż e koleje l o ­
s ó w , kompozycja r o d ó w oraz odmienne stosunki z s ą s i a d a m i . W y s t a r c z y
p o w i e d z i e ć , że t y l k o w ostatnich d w u stuleciach T o r g u c i a ł t a j s c y w s p ó ł ­
ż y l i bardzo blisko (ze znamionami a k u l t u r a c j i ) z s ą s i e d n i m i Choszutami,
u t r z y m y w a l i t e ż ścisłe z w i ą z k i z Zachczinami i U r i a n c h a j a m i . P o z o s t a ł e
g r u p y t o r g u c k i e w s p ó ł ż y ł y bliżej — p r ó c z C h o s z u t ó w — r ó w n i e ż z E l e t a m i ,
D e r b e t a m i a t a k ż e Czacharami. P ó ł n o c n i Torguci s ą s i a d o w a l i z Kazacha­
m i , p o ł u d n i o w i z a ś m i ę d z y i n n y m i z U j g u r a m i , co r ó w n i e ż nie p o z o s t a ł o
bez w p ł y w u na pewne dziedziny k u l t u r y . Towarzyszy t e m u t a k ż e silne
z r ó ż n i c o w a n i e antropologiczne wykazane przez I w a n o w s k i e g o .
35

Przedstawiony p o w y ż e j wniosek o pochodzeniu T o r g u t ó w nie p o j a w i a
się po raz pierwszy. S f o r m u ł o w a ł go j u ż G r u m m - G r z y m a j ł o , ogranicza­
j ą c w p r a w d z i e proces etnogenezy do ś r e d n i o w i e c z a . W e d ł u g jego o p i n i i
T o r g u c i to „ g r u p a narodowa p o w s t a ł a w epoce mongolskiej z f r a g m e n t ó w
r o z l i c z n y c h n a r o d o w o ś c i " . Ś w i a d o m i go są t a k ż e Ojraci, k t ó r z y nazy­
w a j ą T o r g u t ó w cochor, c z y l i „ p s t r y m i , z r ó ż n i c o w a n y m i " . Co w i ę c e j ,
ś w i a d o m o ś ć ta nie obca jest s a m y m T o r g u t o m , k t ó r z y zgodnie z z a s a d ą
socjocentryzmu p r z y m i o t n i k i e m cochor o b d a r z a j ą i n n ą g r u p ę t o r g u c k ą ,
z a ś dżinken
„ p r a w d z i w y , a u t e n t y c z n y " o d n o s z ą do w ł a s n e j .
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W ź r ó d ł a c h nie z n a j d u j e m y b e z p o ś r e d n i c h s t w i e r d z e ń o w y p a d k a c h
zlania się T o r g u t ó w z i n n y m i n a r o d o w o ś c i a m i o j r a c k i m i . N a t r a f i a m y
jednak na w s k a z ó w k i , że n i e j e d n o k r o t n i e i s t n i a ł y po t e m u s p r z y j a j ą c e
w a r u n k i . Tak w i ę c część T o r g u t ó w k u k u - n o r s k i c h w c h o d z i ł a w s k ł a d
choszunu C h o s z u t ó w i celem przerwania tego stanu rzeczy g r o ż ą c e g o
a s y m i l a c j ą , z d e c y d o w a ł a się na uznanie z w i e r z c h n i c t w a c h i ń s k i e g o uzys­
k u j ą c mecenat dla o d r ę b n o ś c i a d m i n i s t r a c y j n e j . D o k ł a d n i e n i e m a l
o d w r o t n a sytuacja w y s t ą p i ł a w B u ł g a n i e z a g r a ż a j ą c i n t e g r a l n o ś c i Cho­
s z u t ó w , k t ó r z y j a k o p ó ł somonu w c h o d z i l i w s k ł a d choszunu torguckiego
beela Szarchuchena. K i e d y z w i ą z e k ten zaczął n a r u s z a ć interesy Cho­
s z u t ó w , u z y s k a l i o n i z g o d ę w ł a d z m a n d ż u r s k i c h na opuszczenie t e r y t o r i u m
B u ł g a n u pod pretekstem o k r u c i e ń s t w p o p e ł n i a n y c h przez beela.
Po­
w r ó c i l i do B u ł g a n u dopiero, gdy u z y s k a l i m o ż l i w o ś ć u f o r m o w a n i a od3 9

3 5

Opieram się na relacji przekazanej przez G r u m m - G r z y m a j ł ę ,

op. cit.,

s. 185.
36

Tamże, s. 186.
Tamże.
Zanotowane przez naszą ekspedycję
Torgutami ałtajskimi i chowog-sairskimi.
Men-gu..., s. 133.
37

3 8

39

we

wzajemnych

relacjach

pomiędzy

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SŁAWOJ S Z Y N K I E W I C Z

40

r ę b n e g o c h o s z u n u . O Choszutach z Char-szar i n t e g r u j ą c y c h się z t a m ­
t e j s z y m i T o r g u t a m i , p r z y n a j m n i e j w f o r m i e w s p ó l n e j organizacji w o j s k o ­
w e j , pisze H a s l u n d . M i m o iż nie m o ż e m y p r z y t o c z y ć k o n k r e t n y c h p r z y ­
k ł a d ó w d e f i n i t y w n e j asymilacji, o i c h i s t n i e n i u ś w i a d c z y k o m p o z y c j a
r o d o w a p o s z c z e g ó l n y c h n a r o d o w o ś c i o j r a c k i c h oraz historia E l e t ó w , k t ó ­
r z y u f o r m o w a l i się p ó ź n i e j od T o r g u t ó w , w c h ł a n i a j ą c stopniowo r ó ż n e
grupy, zwłaszcza zaś D ż u n g a r ó w .
4 1

K U L T U R A A D Z I E J E SPOŁECZNE

P r o p o n u j ą c w y ż e j uznanie tezy, iż n a r o d o w o ś ć torgucka r o z w i n ę ł a
się i u m o c n i ł a w X V I w i e k u j a k o o ś r o d e k d y s y d e n t ó w wobec n o w y c h
tendencji p o l i t y c z n y c h l u b raczej z w o l e n n i k ó w status quo,
przyjąłem
p o g l ą d , że T o r g u c i nie m i e l i a m b i c j i p o l i t y c z n y c h i pozostawali na
uboczu w a l k i o p r z y w ó d z t w o w ś r ó d O j r a t ó w , k t ó r a t o c z y ł a s i ę g ł ó w n i e
m i ę d z y Czorosami i Choszutami. Dlatego t e ż o p u ś c i l i D ż u n g a r i ę p r z e ­
k s z t a ł c a j ą c ą się z r e p u b l i k i u d z i e l n y c h p a n o w a ń w centralistycznie r z ą ­
dzony chanat. Paradoksalnie, owo d ą ż e n i e do p a r t y k u l a r y z m u m i a ł o
s p r a w i ć , ż e T o r g u c i u t w o r z y l i o r g a n i z m p o l i t y c z n y nad W o ł g ą i k i e r o ­
w a l i n i m jako p r z y w ó d c y K a ł m u k ó w . W i e m y t e ż , ż e u t r z y m y w a l i a k t y w ­
ne k o n t a k t y z r e s z t ą O j r a t ó w .
J e ś l i z p o w y ż s z e g o zechcemy w y c i ą g n ą ć wniosek, że c e c h ą T o r g u t ó w
jest pragnienie pozostawania na p e r y f e r i a c h w stosunku do o ś r o d k a
p r e z e n t u j ą c e g o d y n a m i k ę r o z w o j o w ą , to i c h w s p ó ł c z e s n e p o ł o ż e n i e , za­
r ó w n o w M o n g o l i i , j a k t e ż w S i n k i a n g u czy s ą s i a d u j ą c y c h z n i m p r o ­
w i n c j a c h C h i n , z d a w a ł o b y s i ę to p o t w i e r d z a ć . K o n t y n u o w a n y jest j e d n o ­
c z e ś n i e paradoks a k t y w n e g o m a r g i n a l i z m u , k t ó r e to p o j ę c i e s t o s u j ę na
oznaczenie odrzucenia z a ś c i a n k o w o ś c i i uczestniczenia z dystansu w w a ż ­
n y c h w y d a r z e n i a c h . P o d a ł t a j s k i , g ł ę b o k o k r e s o w y somon t o r g u c k i , m ó g ł ­
b y b y ć p o k a z o w y m p r z y k ł a d e m p o z y t y w n y c h z m i a n z a c h o d z ą c y c h obec­
nie w M o n g o l i i . W y s t a r c z y w s p o m n i e ć w i e l k ą b a d a w c z ą s t a c j ę sadown i c z o - o g r o d n i c z ą ( j e d n ą z czterech w k r a j u ) , d z i ę k i k t ó r e j B u ł g a n z y s k a ł
s ł a w ę oazy; r o l n i c t w o — w p r a w d z i e o d a w n e j t r a d y c j i — lecz w s p ó ł ­
c z e ś n i e sprawnie zorganizowane i p o s ł u g u j ą c e się m a s z y n a m i ; p r z e m y s ł
t e r e n o w y na s k a l ę w i ę k s z ą n i ż w i n n y c h znanych n a m somonach; w r e s z ­
cie urbanistyczne planowanie c e n t r u m somonowego. Somon s p r a w i a w r a ­
ż e n i e bogatego i wszechstronnie w y k o r z y s t u j ą c e g o m o ż l i w o ś c i awansu,
jakie s t w o r z y ł o p a ń s t w o .
K o n t r a s t u j e to z a r ó w n o z p r z e s z ł o ś c i ą , j a k t e ż ze w s p ó ł c z e ś n i e u k s z t a ł ­
t o w a n y m m o d e l e m z m i a n y k u l t u r o w e j . P i e r w s z y k o n t r a s t sprowadza s i ę
do prostej opozycji: dostatek — u b ó s t w o . P r z e ł o m w i e k ó w X I X i X X
40

4 1

Tamże, s. 156.
H a s l u n d , op. cit., s. 220.

�129

T O R G U C I MONGOLII

c h a r a k t e r y z o w a ł się w e d ł u g s ł ó w G r u m m - G r z y m a j ł y oraz naszych i n ­
f o r m a t o r ó w k a t a s t r o f a l n y m p o ł o ż e n i e m gospodarczym, k t ó r e z m u s i ł o a d ­
m i n i s t r a c j ę c h i ń s k ą do u l g p o d a t k o w y c h , z z w ł a s z c z a zniesienia u c i ą ż l i w e j
s ł u ż b y p o c z t o w e j . D l a b e z p o ś r e d n i e g o obserwatora
oczywista jest
r a d y k a l n a zmiana s y t u a c j i , p r z y n a j m n i e j w s k a l i o g ó l n e j , jeśli nie
w s z y s t k i c h jednostek.
D r u g i k o n t r a s t dotyczy k o n s e k w e n c j i z m i a n m o d e r n i z a c y j n y c h d l a
miejsca k u l t u r y t r a d y c y j n e j w systemie w a r t o ś c i . W w i e l u rejonach
k r a j u notuje się drastyczny spadek a u t o r y t e t u w a r t o ś c i t r a d y c y j n y c h ,
k t ó r e — z p e w n y m i w y j ą t k a m i — p o j m u j e się jako s t o j ą c e w sprzecz­
ności z procesem w s p ó ł c z e s n y c h przemian, co odbija się t a k ż e na sto­
sunkach m i ę d z y p o s z c z e g ó l n y m i p o k o l e n i a m i . W p r z y p a d k u T o r g u t ó w
nie s t w i e r d z i l i ś m y pojawienia s i ę t a k i e j opozycji, co nie oznacza, że
t r a d y c y j n a k u l t u r a f u n k c j o n u j e t a m w niezmienionej postaci. Z m i a n y
w ś w i a d o m o ś c i s p r a w i ł y , że s t r a c i ł a ona s w ą f u n k c j o n a l n o ś ć , jednak pa­
m i ę ć o n i e j akceptowana jest jako element o k r e ś l e n i a w ł a s n e j t o ż s a ­
m o ś c i g r u p o w e j . W tej sytuacji nie dochodzi do zerwania ciągłości prze­
kazu k u l t u r o w e g o , ani t e ż do przerwania k o n t a k t u m i ę d z y p o k o l e n i a m i .
42

P o j a w i ć się m o ż e pytanie o s t o p i e ń z a c h o w a w c z o ś c i k u l t u r y t o r g u c k i e j . N a l e ż a ł o b y s t w i e r d z i ć , że najprawdopodobniej nie s p r a w d z ą s i ę
oczekiwania G r u m m - G r z y m a j ł y , k t ó r y p i s a ł :
„Ałtajcy (tzn. Torguci ałtajscy) winni reprezentować inny stopień bytowania
niż ich współplemieńcy, którzy oddzielili się od nich w pierwszej połowie X V I I
wieku, ponieważ będąc grupą poddaną mniejszym w p ł y w o m obcym e w o l u o w a ł a
słabiej i w mniejszym stopniu podlegała przekształceniom, winna też zachować
bardziej pierwotne, podstawowe cechy życia społecznego..."
4 3

F a k t e m jest, że s p o t k a l i ś m y się z ż y w ą jeszcze p a m i ę c i ą o w i e l u
cechach k u l t u r y t r a d y c y j n e j , k t ó r e w ś r ó d C h a ł c h a s ó w nie t y l k o p r z e s t a ł y
f u n k c j o n o w a ć , lecz n a w e t nie w c h o d z ą j u ż do zasobu w i e d z y o w ł a s n e j
p r z e s z ł o ś c i . D o t y c z y to przede w s z y s t k i m sfery w i e r z e n i o w e j , a p r z y ­
czyna t k w i chyba w znacznie s ł a b s z y m o d d z i a ł y w a n i u l a m a i z m u , k t ó r y
nie zdołał z n i s z c z y ć p e w n y c h p r a k t y k n a l e ż ą c y c h do etapu w c z e ś n i e j ­
szego. Natomiast p o r ó w n a n i e , k t ó r e s u g e r o w a ł G r u m m - G r z y m a j ł o , to
znaczy z i n n y m i g r u p a m i t o r g u c k i m i , nie d a ł o b y przypuszczalnie spo­
dziewanego p r z e z e ń obrazu. N a podstawie w s t ę p n e g o zestawienia T o r ­
g u t ó w m i e j s c o w y c h z chowog-sairskimi m o ż n a p r z y p u s z c z a ć , że w ł a ś n i e
t y m o s t a t n i m n a l e ż a ł o b y p r z y p i s a ć w i ę k s z ą z a c h o w a w c z o ś ć , t a k w za­
kresie s t r o j u , uczesania i o b r z ę d o w o ś c i ( p r z y n a j m n i e j w e d ł u g s t a n u bez­
p o ś r e d n i o po i c h p r z y b y c i u pod A ł t a j ) .
N i e m n i e j w jednej w a ż n e j dziedzinie T o r g u c i b u ł g a ń s c y zachowali,
wprawdzie już tylko pamięć interesującego kompleksu obrzędowego,
k t ó r y w y d a j e s i ę m i e ć z r e s z t ą znacznie szerszy geograficznie zasięg, j a k 4 2

43

Grumm-Grzymajło,
Tamże, s. 193-194.

9 — Etnografia Polska, t. X X I , z. 1

op. cit., s. 194.

�130

SŁAWOJ S Z Y N K I E W I C Z

k o l w i e k w ł a ś n i e b y l i K a ł m u c y u t r a c i l i go. M a m t u na m y ś l i f u n k c j ę
o b r z ę d u weselnego p o l e g a j ą c ą na s y m b o l i c z n y m o d t w a r z a n i u wczesnego
s t a d i u m procesu f o r m a t y w n e g o s p o ł e c z e ń s t w a i jego k u l t u r y . J e ś l i u i n ­
n y c h l u d ó w Ś r o d k o w e j A z j i c e n t r a l n y m p u n k t e m o b r z ę d u weselnego
b ę d z i e inscenizacja bohaterskich w y d a r z e ń historycznych, to u T o r g u t ó w
w y d a j e się n i m b y ć demonstracja c y k l u ewolucyjnego domostwa. (Nie
b y ł to w p r a w d z i e w ą t e k eksponowany, t k w i ł on niejako w t l e o b r z ę d u ,
j a k k o l w i e k b y ł o b o w i ą z k o w y ) . N o w o p o w s t a j ą c a rodzina m i a ł a o b o w i ą z e k
r o z p o c z y n a ć ż y c i e w dżołom — pomieszczeniu b ę d ą c y m p r y m i t y w n i e j szą
f o r m ą j u r t y (pozbawionej p i o n o w y c h ścian), w k t ó r y m stawiano dodatko­
w o rosochaty maszt s y m b o l i z u j ą c y jeszcze w c z e ś n i e j s z ą f o r m ą domos­
t w a — s z a ł a s . Ognisko domowe i n i c j o w a n o p o m i ę d z y k a m i e n i a m i p o d ­
t r z y m u j ą c y m i kocioł. Ta demonstracja filogenezy domostwa, a p o ś r e d n i o
i r o d z i n y , t r w a ł a przez czas o b r z ę d u weselnego jedynie, m i a ł a w i ę c cha­
r a k t e r r y t u a ł u . K w a l i f i k a c j i tej nie zmienia fakt, że w p r z e s z ł o ś c i bar­
dzo w i e l e r o d z i n z p o w o d u u b ó s t w a k o n t y n u o w a ł o ż y c i e w
dżołomie
przez czas d ł u ż s z y . J e ś l i jednak o d p a d a ł y ograniczenia materialne, w ó w ­
czas nowa j u r t a , o m o ż l i w i e w y s o k i m standarcie, o c z e k i w a ł a z a k o ń c z e n i a
o b r z ę d u p o w t a r z a j ą c e g o j e j c y k l r o z w o j o w y , b y p r z e j ą ć swe f u n k c j e .
W t e n s p o s ó b s p o ł e c z e ń s t w o o d n a w i a j ą c e s i ę biologicznie przez zawie­
ranie m a ł ż e ń s t w , o d n a w i a ł o t e ż stale proces k r e o w a n i a s i ę j a k o i n s t y t u c j i
przez s y m b o l i z u j ą c e j ą r ó w n a n i e : domostwo 4- ognisko domowe = r o ­
dzina
s p o ł e c z e ń s t w o . W y s t ą p i e n i e t a k i e j f u n k c j i w o b r z ę d z i e wesel­
n y m l u d ó w mongolskich, w r a z z r u d y m e n t a r n ą i n t e r p r e t a c j ą , zanoto­
wane z o s t a ł o po raz pierwszy, co przypuszczalnie z a w d z i ę c z a m y ż y w o t ­
n o ś c i d a w n y c h e l e m e n t ó w w k u l t u r z e T o r g u t ó w , j a k t e ż zachowanej
przez n i c h samych, p r z y n a j m n i e j c z ę ś c i o w o , u m i e j ę t n o ś c i w i d z e n i a w ł a s n e ­
go ż y c i a s p o ł e c z n e g o i duchowego w kategoriach systemu uniwersalnego.
W y d a j e się, że ś l a d y tej u m i e j ę t n o ś c i dostrzec m o ż n a r ó w n i e ż w i n t e r ­
p r e t o w a n i u przez n i c h w ł a s n e j m o b i l n o ś c i .
H i s t o r i a T o r g u t ó w , j a k w s k a z y w a l i ś m y na to w c z e ś n i e j ,
obfituje
w p r z y k ł a d y d y n a m i z m u przestrzennego. R ó w n i e ż ta cecha jest k o n t y ­
nuowana. W y s t a r c z y w s k a z a ć na t r z y w i e l k i e m i g r a c j e w czasach n o w o ­
ż y t n y c h . R o k 1922 — T o r g u c i W a n g i j n o d b y w a j ą d r o g ę do T i e ń s z a n i u
(ok. 600 k m w l i n i i prostej) po to, b y po 20 z g ó r ą latach p o w r ó c i ć . Po­
dobnie, t y l k o w i n n y m czasie, w ę d r u j e część T o r g u t ó w B e e l i j n . Rok
1945 — n i e m a l 200 r o d z i n T o r g u t ó w tarbagatajskich przesiedla się pod
A ł t a j (ok. 460 k m w l i n i i prostej). R u c h y mniejszych g r u p na k r ó t s z y c h
nieco trasach t r w a j ą stale, powodowane naporem K a z a c h ó w l u b i n n y m i
p r z y c z y n a m i . D o l a t 4 0 - t y c h S i n k i a n g c h a r a k t e r y z u j ą c y s i ę b r a k i e m sta­
b i l n o ś c i p o l i t y c z n e j s t a n o w i ł d u ż ą siłę p r z y c i ą g a j ą c ą . W p ó ź n i e j s z y m
okresie, po z a m k n i ę c i u g r a n i c y p a ń s t w o w e j , d y n a m i c z n i T o r g u c i z w r ó c i ­
l i s w o j ą u w a g ę k u r o z w i j a j ą c y m się o ś r o d k o m p r z e m y s ł o w y m samej
M o n g o l i i , m i g r u j ą c do n i c h dla p o d j ę c i a pracy zarobkowej. C o k o l w i e k

�T O R G U C I MONGOLII

181

d a ł o b y s i ę p o w i e d z i e ć o m o t y w a c h tej r u c h l i w o ś c i , na pewno nie b y ł a
ona spowodowana k o n i e c z n o ś c i ą e k o n o m i c z n ą w sensie m a k r o s p o ł e c z n y m — m i a n o w i c i e p o t r z e b y m i e s z k a ń c ó w tej ziemi nie w y k r a c z a ł y poza
m o ż l i w o ś c i ś r o d o w i s k a . To ostatnie b o w i e m dostarcza obszernych i w y ­
d a j n y c h pastwisk, k t ó r e zawsze są w stanie w c h ł o n ą ć d o d a t k o w y c h u ż y t ­
kowników, o czym świadczy przykład Choszutów, przesiedleńców z Tarbagataju, czy licznych kazachskich p r z y b y s z ó w . N i e zamierzam b y n a j ­
m n i e j s u g e r o w a ć istnienia n i e o k r e ś l o n e j i m m a n e n t n e j potrzeby r u c h l i ­
w o ś c i przestrzennej u k o c z o w n i k ó w , c h c i a ł b y m raczej w s k a z a ć na r o l ę
c z y n n i k a ideowego j a k o p o w a ż n e j s i ł y m o t y w a c y j n e j w ż y c i u pasterzy
b ę d ą c y c h p r z e d m i o t e m niniejszej r e l a c j i .
P r z y j r z y j m y się p r z y k ł a d o m p r z y t a c z a n y m uprzednio. Choszuci (gdy
w 1773 r. p r z e n i e ś l i s i ę pod A ł t a j ) o d e r w a l i się od w s p ó ł p l e m i e ń c ó w rze­
k o m o w p r o t e ś c i e p r z e c i w k o i c h postawie w j a k i m ś zatargu i po to, b y
z a d o ś ć u c z y n i ć p r a g n i e n i u swej p r z y w ó d c z y n i p o ł ą c z e n i a s i ę z k r e w n y m i ,
z r y w a j ą c z r e s z t ą tego samego t y p u w i ę z i c a ł e j g r u p y . Po r e w o l u c j i ,
m i e s z k a ń c y d o l i n y B u ł g a n opuścili k r a j pod w p ł y w e m m o t y w a c j i p o l i ­
tycznej, p r o w a d z e n i nie przez w ł a s n e g o w ł a d c ę , lecz przez u r i a n c h a j skiego mnicha-demagoga. C i sami u c i e k i n i e r z y p o w r ó c i l i m i ę d z y i n n y m i
w rezultacie m i s j i propagandowej zorganizowanej przez lokalne w ł a d z e
b u ł g a ń s k i e . Z k o l e i T o r g u c i Chowog-sair zdecydowali s i ę o p u ś c i ć z a j m o ­
wane t e r e n y w w y n i k u sporu z ż o n ą z m a r ł e g o p r z y w ó d c y na t l e j e j n i e ­
u d o l n o ś c i oraz ulegania w p ł y w o m c h i ń s k i m i w y b r a l i B u ł g a n w s k u t e k
ideowego o d d z i a ł y w a n i a nowego w z o r u ż y c i a s p o ł e c z n e g o w l u d o w e j
M o n g o l i i , przekazanego i m u m i e j ę t n i e przez o f i c e r ó w p o l i t y c z n y c h .
O d w o ł a j m y s i ę do w e r b a l i z a c j i p r z y c z y n podobnych decyzji. W i e l k a
m i g r a c j a nad W o ł g ę r o z p o c z ę ł a się, p o n i e w a ż k s i ą ż ę Cho O r l o k „ n i e c h c i a ł
wyniszczenia s w o i c h poddanych, g d y w czasie zamieszek O j r a c i d ż u n garscy zabijali s i ę n a w z a j e m " . W s p ó ł o r g a n i z a t o r i p r z y w ó d c a m i g r a c j i
T o r g u t ó w Chowog-sair do B u ł g a n u podaje j a k o b e z p o ś r e d n i ą p r z y c z y n ę
d e z e r c j ę o d d z i a ł u r e k r u t ó w t o r g u c k i c h , przestraszonych źle z r o z u m i a n y m
s y g n a ł e m t r ą b k i ż o ł n i e r z y c h i ń s k i c h i o b a w ę przed s k u t k a m i tej dezercji.
C z ł o w i e k , k t ó r y to m ó w i , zdaje sobie j e d n o c z e ś n i e s p r a w ę ze w z m o ż o n e ­
go ucisku, j a k i z a s t o s o w a ł y w ł a d z e m a n d ż u r s k i e wobec T o r g u t ó w oraz
z a g r o ż e n i a ze s t r o n y kazachskich b a n d nacjonalisty Osmana. N i e prze­
szkadza m u t o jednak i n t e r p r e t o w a ć h i s t o r i ę , k t ó r ą sam t w o r z y ł , na w z ó r
m i t u o powrocie K a ł m u k ó w do D ż u n g a r i i w w y n i k u poruszenia spowo­
dowanego h a r c a m i konia, k t ó r e g o s i e r ś ć z a j ę ł a s i ę ogniem.
44

N i e p r o p o n u j ę t r a k t o w a ć r e a k c j i e m o c j o n a l n y c h — n a w e t jeśli rze­
czywiście w y s t ę p o w a ł y — jako przyczynowej siły w dzianiu się historii.
M i a ł y one b o w i e m g ł ę b s z e p o d ł o ż e i w n i m dopiero t k w i ą m e c h a n i z m y
o k r e ś l a j ą c e losy zainteresowanych s p o ł e c z n o ś c i . N i e m n i e j , w a r t o z w r ó c i ć
u w a g ę na to, że m y ś l e n i e historyczne k r o n i k m o n g o l s k i c h (ale p r z e c i e ż
4 4

В a t u r - U b u s z i, op. cit., s. 50-51.

�132

SŁAWOJ S Z Y N K I E W I C Z

nie t y l k o a u t o r ó w t y c h k r o n i k ) opiera się na mitologizacji zgody l u b n i e ­
zgody m i ę d z y p r z y w ó d c a m i , operuje b ł a h y m nieraz sporem czy niepo­
r o z u m i e n i e m j a k o w a r t o ś c i ą o b j a ś n i a j ą c ą wydarzenia. D z i ę k i t e m u za­
gadkowo dla nas b r z m i ą w Tajnej
historii
Mongołów
s p ó r Temuczyna
z Begterem czy r o z e j ś c i e się tego pierwszego z D ż a m u k ą oraz w i e l e i n ­
n y c h s y t u a c j i . D z i ę k i t e m u t e ż w ł a d c y ojraccy w d ą ż e n i u do ł a d u po­
litycznego p o r o z u m i e w a j ą się co j a k i ś czas, b y nie d z i a ł a ć sobie na prze­
kór, tłumacząc napięcia powstające w świecie ojrackim wzajemnym nieposzanowaniem swego arystokratycznego s t a t u s u . G d y „ r o z c h o d z ą s i ę
m y ś l i " grozi k o n f l i k t . W o m a w i a n y c h w a r u n k a c h k o n f l i k t m ó g ł d o t y ­
c z y ć t y l k o u d z i e l n y c h k s i ą ż ą t , r e a l i z o w a ł się jednak j a k o k o n f l i k t spo­
ł e c z n y l u b p o l i t y c z n y . M a m y t u zatem do czynienia z k o n c e p c j ą s p o ł e ­
c z e ń s t w a jako u n i w e r s u m g r u p reprezentowanych przez p r z y w ó d c ó w ,
w k t ó r y m chaos powstaje t y l k o w ó w c z a s , g d y w j e d n o c z ą c y m i c h k r ę g u
idei — m y ś l i , c z y j a ś m y ś l o p u ś c i tor n a t u r a l n y i z m i e n i a j ą c k i e r u n e k
zderzy się z i n n ą . W k o n s e k w e n c j i powstaje naruszenie p o r z ą d k u spo­
ł e c z n e g o , p o w o d u j ą c e w o j n ę l u b z e s p o ł o w ą z m i a n ę koczowisk. Ta ostat­
nia jest b o w i e m r ó w n i e ż p r z e j a w e m chaosu, m i m o iż dotyczy n o m a d ó w .
Ł a d s p o ł e c z n y ma w i ę c w znacznym stopniu o d z w i e r c i e d l a ć ł a d kosmicz­
ny, b y t y z a ś t w o r z ą c e jego s t r u k t u r ę p o c h o d z ą z koncepcji feudalnej.
45

Wniosek, że m i g r a c j a n o m a d ó w jest stanem chaosu d l a zaintereso­
wanej s p o ł e c z n o ś c i nie t y l k o z p u n k t u widzenia organizacji życia, lecz
t a k ż e w o g ó l n i e j s z y m w y m i a r z e k u l t u r o w y m , z a s ł u g u j e na p o d k r e ś l e n i e .
Z b y t c z ę s t o b o w i e m zdarza się r o z u m i e ć j ą o d w r o t n i e — j a k o stan n a t u ­
r a l n y . T o r g u c i b u ł g a ń s c y d o s t a r c z a j ą m o ż l i w o ś c i odpowiedzenia na w y ­
n i k a j ą c e z tego w n i o s k u p y t a n i a . Przemieszczenia l u d n o ś c i , k t ó r e prze­
ż y w a l i , nie m o g ą b y ć t r a k t o w a n e w jednej p ł a s z c z y ź n i e z przekoczowan i a m i sezonowymi j a k o zjawisko p o d l e g a j ą c e w y j a ś n i e n i o m ekonomicznej
n a t u r y . R ó ż n i je b o w i e m nie t y l k o skala wydarzenia. Jak w i d z i e l i ś m y ,
m a j ą one s w o j ą i d e o l o g i ę i m i t o l o g i ę , m o g ą m i e ć t a k ż e s p e c y f i c z n ą o b y ­
c z a j o w o ś ć , zwyczajowe mechanizmy u ł a t w i a j ą c e przystosowanie się do
n o w y c h w a r u n k ó w w n o w y m otoczeniu. B y ł y b y to mechanizmy ustalane
przez k u l t u r ę , nie z a ś w y n i k a j ą c e b e z p o ś r e d n i o z n a w y k u — u o g ó l n i o n e ­
go praktycznego d o ś w i a d c z e n i a , g d y ż rzadko migracje takie z d a r z a j ą się
częściej n i ż raz w j e d n y m pokoleniu. M a t e r i a ł y ekspedycji p o z w a l a j ą
s t w i e r d z i ć , że w p e w n y c h sytuacjach m i g r a n c i s t o s u j ą w i n t e n c j i magicz­
nej o d w r ó c o n y schemat p o d z i a ł u w e w n ę t r z n e g o j u r t y , p r z y p o m i n a j ą c y
ten, j a k i p r z e j ś c i o w o w p r o w a d z a się na w y p a d e k ś m i e r c i d o m o w n i k a .
Z m i a n a ma charakter s t a ł y , u t r w a l a ona a k t z w y c z a j o w y p o w o ł a n y dla
p o d k r e ś l e n i a w a g i p r z e j ś c i a w i n n y stan, p r z e m i a n y p o r z ą d k u rzeczy.
Stabilizuje niejako stan chaosu p o t w i e r d z a j ą c p r a w i d ł o w o ś ć p r z y j ę t e j t u
interpretacji.

45

Tamże,

s. 32-33.

�T O R G U C I MONGOLII

M ó w i ą c w y ż e j o t w o r z e n i u się m i t ó w m i g r a c y j n y c h oraz o l u d o w y c h
interpretacjach bodźców migracji d o t k n ę l i ś m y sprawy subiektywizmu
w t r a k t o w a n i u w y d a r z e ń przez l u d o w ą h i s t o r i o g r a f i ę . Postawa taka zda­
je się c h a r a k t e r y z o w a ć w i e l e a s p e k t ó w stosunku c z ł o w i e k a do h i s t o r i i .
T o r g u c i są z w o l e n n i k a m i zasady z g o d n o ś c i m i ę d z y w s p ó ł c z e s n o ś c i ą
a p r z e s z ł o ś c i ą . Postawa taka, k t ó r a k a ż e z d o b y w a ć d o ś w i a d c z e n i e (lub
m o t y w a c j e ) w h i s t o r i i nie jest w ś w i e c i e m o n g o l s k i m ograniczona t y l k o
do T o r g u t ó w , j e d n a k w M R L z o s t a ł a p r z y t ł u m i o n a w t a r g n i ę c i e m w ż y c i e
s p o ł e c z n e d o ś w i a d c z e ń urbanizacji. Te ostatnie n a d a ł y p r z e s z ł o ś c i w y ­
m i a r diachroniczny, n a k a z u j ą c t r a k t o w a ć j ą z szacunkiem w p r a w d z i e , lecz
t a k ż e z czasowym i i n t e l e k t u a l n y m dystansem. Natomiast t r a d y c y j n y
stosunek do p r z e s z ł o ś c i m i a ł charakter synchroniczny, p r z y b l i ż a j ą c y , na­
r z u c a j ą c y bardziej i n t y m n ą r e a k c j ę na w y d a r z e n i a dawne i w y m a g a j ą c y
j e d n o c z e ś n i e uznania z w i ą z k u p r z y c z y n o w o - s k u t k o w e g o m i ę d z y przesz­
łością i w s p ó ł c z e s n o ś c i ą . Z a c h o w a ł się on jeszcze w p e w n y m stopniu
w ś r ó d przedstawicieli starszego pokolenia T o r g u t ó w .
N a l e ż a ł o b y w y r ó ż n i ć p r z y n a j m n i e j d w a t y p y a k t y w n y c h historiozofów, b ę d ą c y c h j e d n o c z e ś n i e w swojej s p o ł e c z n o ś c i nauczycielami (a po
części t w ó r c a m i ) t r a d y c j i k u l t u r o w e j . T y p rzadszy — k r e a t y w n y ; p o b u ­
dzony i n t e l e k t u a l n i e , n i e k i e d y k o n t r o w e r s y j n y , „ p r o r o c z y " , t w o r z y i prze­
t w a r z a i n t e r p r e t a c j e w y d a r z e ń , uczestniczy w p o w o ł y w a n i u do ż y c i a he­
r o s ó w k u l t u r o w y c h . Ekspedycja z e t k n ę ł a się z o s t a t n i m w badanej g r u ­
pie przedstawicielem tego g a t u n k u , k t ó r y m . i n . l a n s o w a ł k s i ę c i a C e r e ñ a
(o n i m patrz część historyczna a r t y k u ł u ) na t w ó r c ę j u r t y . Istnieje t a k ż e
z r ó w n o w a ż o n a w e r s j a tego t y p u — d o ż y w a j ą c e g o s w y c h lat d z i a ł a c z a ,
t w ó r c y w y d a r z e ń , k t ó r y m obecnie przydaje i n t e r p r e t a c j ę . N a l e ż ą t u p r z y ­
p a d k i organizatora m i g r a c j i T o r g u t ó w chowog-sairskich oraz c z ł o n k a m i ­
sji m a j ą c e j z a c h ę c i ć do p o w r o t u z S i n k i a n g u g r u p ę p o r e w o l u c y j n y c h
uciekinierów.
46

T y p d r u g i , c z ę s t s z y — o d t w ó r c z y , r e i n t e r p r e t u j ą c y dawne a u t o r y t e ­
t y , w t y m t a k ż e k s i ę g i historyczne. L u d z i t a k i c h t w o r z y ł y z w y k l e s p r z y ­
j a j ą c e w a r u n k i , a m i a n o w i c i e d o s t ę p do ź r ó d e ł w i e d z y — d w o r u k s i ą ­
ż ę c e g o i p r z e c h o w y w a n y c h t a m k s i ą g . Z a r ó w n o relacje T o r g u t ó w b u ł g a ń s k i c h j a k t e ż chowog-sairskich m ó w i ą o i s t n i e n i u Historii Torgutów
4 7

4 6

Ilustruje to napotkany przez nas przypadek abstynencji od alkoholu uzasad­
nianej nakazem Czyngis-chana.
W relacjach grupy Wangijn nazywa się ją Torguutyn tiiiich, zaś grupy przy­
byłej z Chowog-sair Mongol cajdzyn dewter. Żaden z ich egzemplarzy nie zacho­
w a ł się na terenie M R L , tak w rękach prywatnych jak też w bibliotekach. H a s ­
l u n d , op. cit, s. 306-307, mówi o podobnej kronice w posiadaniu chańskiego cho­
szunu Torgutów Char-szar, przy czym - podany przez niego tytuł kroniki Torgutyn
Rarelro jest z pewnością skażony. Z przytoczonych przez Haslunda w y j ą t k ó w wy­
nika, że kronika powstała po migracji znad Wołgi. Czas powstania pozostałych nie
jest znany. Szczegółowy materiał genealogiczny zawarty w
Men-gu-ju-mu-csi
wskazywałby, że jej autorzy mieli dostęp do kroniki starszej.
4 7

�134

SŁAWOJ S Z Y N K I E W I C Z

czytanej na d w o r a c h w p u b l i c z n y c h seansach dla ograniczonego a u d y ­
t o r i u m . D w a j b y l i dworzanie, m o g ą c y p r z y s ł u c h i w a ć się l e k t u r z e z r a c j i
p e ł n i o n y c h o b o w i ą z k ó w , n a l e ż e l i do n i e l i c z n y c h przedstawicieli l u d u ,
k t ó r z y b y l i w stanie z a p o z n a ć s i ę p o ś r e d n i o z k s i ę g a m i . Obecnie n a l e ż ą
oni do a u t o r y t e t ó w l o k a l n y c h , p o w a ż n i e w p ł y w a j ą c y c h na k s z t a ł t o w a n i e
o p i n i i . Jeden z n i c h p r z e c i w s t a w i a s i ę w y n o s z e n i u C e r e ñ a na p i e d e s t a ł
herosa k u l t u r o w e g o o d n o s z ą c p o c z ą t e k k s z t a ł t o w a n i a się i n s t y t u c j i t o r ­
g u c k i c h do okresu n a d w o ł ż a ń s k i e g o , z czego t e ż logicznie w y n i k a uzna­
nie Czyngischana za jednego z p i e r w s z y c h r e e m i g r a n t ó w do D ż u n g a r i i
znad W o ł g i (a zatem k o n t y n u a t o r a mitycznego p o r z ą d k u j u ż na z i e m i
torguckiej). D r u g i z tych ludzi b y ł j e d y n y m informatorem, k t ó r y w y ­
m i e n i ł kereickiego Wang-chana jako p r o t o p l a s t ę T o r g u t ó w , co n a l e ż y
p r z y p i s a ć w i e d z y z a c z e r p n i ę t e j z k r o n i k oficjalnych. F a k t t e n z r e s z t ą
z o s t a ł p r z e t w o r z o n y tak, a b y p o z o s t a w a ł w zgodzie z s a m o i d e n t y f i k a c j ą
T o r g u t ó w j a k o jednej z g ł ó w n y c h g a ł ę z i l u d ó w mongolskich, m i a n o w i c i e
Wang-chan uznany z o s t a ł za syna Czyngisa. Przedstawiona t u sytuacja
w s k a z y w a ł a b y , że t r a d y c y j n a k u l t u r a torgucka nie m i a ł a z a m k n i ę t e g o
systemu mitologicznego, że stale b y ł y do niego wnoszone p o p r a w k i i prze­
sunięcia dzięki aktywności ludzi z k r ę g u i n t e p r e t a t o r ó w i twórców trady­
c j i . W y d a j e się zatem, że w podobnych badaniach n a l e ż y szerzej u w z g l ę d ­
n i a ć p o s t u l a t y dynamicznego t r a k t o w a n i a m i t o l o g i i l u d o w e j w procesie
jej bezustannego t w o r z e n i a s i ę i adaptowania do w a r u n k ó w .
4 8

S p o ł e c z n o ś ć torgucka podlega obecnie procesowi modernizacji w t e m ­
pie szybszym n i ż w i e l e i n n y c h na terenie M o n g o l i i . O b e c n o ś ć l u d z i , o k t ó ­
r y c h wspomniano w y ż e j , jest s z c z ę ś l i w y m p r z y p a d k i e m z a p o w i a d a j ą c y m
i n t e r e s u j ą c y przebieg z m i a n y k u l t u r o w e j , a j e d n o c z e ś n i e dostarcza etno­
g r a f o w i jednego z ostatnich j u ż b y ć m o ż e w M o n g o l i i p r z y k ł a d ó w f u n k ­
cjonowania k u l t u r y t r a d y c y j n e j , w p r a w d z i e w o t w a r t y m k o n t a k c i e ze
ś w i a t e m z e w n ę t r z n y m , ale za to -— co cenniejsze — z u d z i a ł e m j e j ak­
t y w n y c h r z e c z n i k ó w . Jest to zjawisko rzadkie nie t y l k o dla M o n g o l i i ;
nawet w t y c h c z ę ś c i a c h ś w i a t a , gdzie w y s t ę p u j ą jeszcze z a m k n i ę t e spo­
ł e c z e ń s t w a t r a d y c y j n e , nie zawsze dane jest e t n o g r a f o w i t r a f i ć na w y b i t y n c h f u n k c j o n a r i u s z y t r a d y c j i — jej t w ó r c ó w i i n t e r p r e t a t o r ó w o ż y ­
w i o n y c h duchem m i s j i , nie p o j a w i a j ą s i ę oni b o w i e m w k a ż d y m pokole­
n i u . Co frapuje w p r z y p a d k u t o r g u c k i m , t o m o ż l i w o ś ć p o ł ą c z e n i a w j e d ­
n y m c z ł o w i e k u tego ducha z a k t y w n o ś c i ą s p o ł e c z n ą i p o l i t y c z n ą na rzecz
z m i a n w s p ó ł c z e s n y c h . Z n a n y jest n a m t a k ż e p r z y k ł a d o d w r o t n y , nie
m o ż n a zatem p r z e w i d y w a ć p e ł n e g o sojuszu t r a d y c j i z n o w o c z e s n o ś c i ą
i jest to jeden z a r g u m e n t ó w za n i e o d k ł a d a n i e m dalszych b a d a ń .

4 3

Jest to wyraźnie inspirowane księgami historycznymi, gdyż człowiek głoszą­
cy tę opinię należy do tej grupy torguckiej, która pod p r z y w ó d z t w e m Cereña s p ę ­
dziła nad Wołgą jedynie kilkanaście lat.

�T O R G U C I MONGOLII

135

Славой Шинкевич

ТОРГУТЫ] МОНГОЛИИ. ЗАМЕТКИ НА ФОНЕ ПЕРВЫХ ЭТНОГРАФИЧЕСКИХ
ИССЛЕДОВАНИЙ СРЕДИ АЛТАЙСКИХ ТОРГУТОВ
Резюме
Этнографические исследования среди булган-мангольских торгутов (ин. называемых ал­
тайскими) не проводились еще до сих пор, и поэтому материалы, собранные в 1975 г. поль­
ско-монгольским исследовательским коллективом, заслуживают внимания. Статья стре­
мится разобраться в нескольких вопросах, возникающих в связи с предварительными ито­
гами исследований. Тот факт, что торгутское общество исследовалось впервые, заставлял
исходить с установлений, касающихся прошлого.
В части, посвященной исторической информации, изложены факты, проливающие свет
на следующие вопросы:
1. Большая миграционная подвижность торгутов по сравнению с другими монгольс­
кими народами (наблюдающаяся с XVI в.). Это подвижность политического, а не эконо­
мического порядка, а потому и возникает вопрос о ее особом месте в культурной традиции,
отличном от того, какое занимают сезонные перекочевки.
2. Дифференцированность торгутского этноса на 7 групп (не считая калмыков) с от­
личными историческими судьбами и с специфическими междуэтническими контактами.
Следует, поэтому, ожидать подачи интересных ответов относительно их самоопределения
как торгутов, и отдельно как общности булганских торгутов по отношению к остальным
торгутским группам и к другим монголам.
3. Внутренняя дифференцированность булганскою общества. Ее наличие делает воз­
можными поиски последствий былого феодального административного деления дж. об­
щественного сознания и для этнографических отличий. То же самое касается и результатов
сожительства с торгутами, прибывшими из Тарбагатая, и с хонгутами.
Во второй части статьи предпринята попытка привести в порядок накопленные до сих
пор сведения об этногенезисе торгутов, проблема о которой содержится в пункте 2 выше­
указанного перечня исследовательских вопросов.
Родословные владетельного дома Торгутов, ведущие его начало от кереитского Ванг-хана, не дают основания для высказываний о происхождении самого торгутского этноса.
Владетельная ветвь еще до X V I I в. пользовалась наименованиями кереит и махачин для
определения собственного происхождения. Они носили печать чужеродности в монгольской
среде, а потому и были покинуты в пользу этнонима торгут, появившегося, по всей веро­
ятности, в X V I в. Некоторые исследователи ведут этимологию этого термина от дневной
гвардии чингисидов. Если она окажется даже и верной, то это не может означать сущес­
твования непрерывной последовательности между людским субстратом этой гвардии и тор­
гутским обществом. Однако она может означать идеологическую попытку установить связь
с чингисской традицией через чуждую по своему происхождению торгутскую аристократию.
Автор полагает, что толчком для образования торгутской национальности вокрук двух
или большего числа ойратских улусов были политические события X V I в. Торгуты могли
зародиться как центр, сосредотачивающий диссидентов, которые не признавали тенденцию
к цеитрализаании власти, приведшую к возникновению джунгарского ханства. Политичес­
кая программа торгутов, как их южной, так и северной ветви, состояла в последовательном
обосолении от макрополитической структуры Эта программа могла составлять идеоло­
гическую основу объединения в одно целое различных ойратских групп — в торгутскрю
национальность.
В третьей части статьи автор рассматривает некоторые из остальных вопросов сфор­
мулированной в начале проблематики. Торгутский изоляционизм, который можно было
наблюдать в первый период их этнического бытия, сейчас не выступает. Торгуты сомона

�136

SŁAWOJ S Z Y N K I E W I C Z

Булган активнее многих других сомонов МНР используют возможности, созданные го­
сударством, благодаря чему они — одно из самых зажиточных обществ с.х.о., само же на­
селение часто мигрирует на работу в индустрии и интеллигентских профессиях в городские
центры страны. Это доказательство далеко продвинутого объединения с остальной частью
общества Монголии.
Так как булганские торгуты происходят из южной, кукунорской группы торгутов, в ли­
тературе встречались мнения, что они могут представлять „более первобытные черты"
в противоположность торгутам, составлявшим некогда часть калмыкской национальности
(Грумм-Гжимайло). Сегодня нельзя было бы поддерживать такое мнение потому, что про­
изошли коренные преображения, последовавшие после революции. Сравнение же с группой,
прибывшей в сороковые годы из Тарбагатая (именно былых калмыков), указывало бы на
то, что в момент соприкосновения больше традиционных черт представляли пришельцы.
Тем не менее, всему торгутскому обществу свойственно уважение к собственной тра­
диции и ко многим еще лицам, хранящим знание о ней (м.пр. в статье приведена система­
тизация таких „хранителей традиции"). Правда, это уже лишь историческое знание, но оно
тем более ценно для этнографа. Благодаря тому было записано редкое сообщение о сва­
дебном обряде, существенной частью которого являлся обычай показывать эволюцион­
ные стадии жилища как обрядовое оживление исторического процесса становления жилища,
а тем самым возобновление общества в ходе обряда, согласно с единством триады: жилище,
семья, общество.
Анализ примеров торгутских миграций указывает на то, что их сообщаемые причины
имеют идейный характер — их, как правило, сочетают с конфликтом, особенно с конфли­
ктом, вовлекающим феодального повелителя. Такой конфликт, толкуемый как наруше­
ние правил общественного сожительства, вызывает в обществе хаос в смысле отхода от
определенных культурой норм функционирования общества и его институтов. Он вместе
с тем является и стимулом для миграции, понимаемой как стремление выйти из хаоса.
Одновременно массовая миграция есть некое продолжение состояния хаоса (ей нельзя счи­
тать нормальном положением у кочевых народов) и сопутствуют ей некоторые обычаи,
свойственные такому состоянию (например, реверсирование функционального плана юр­
ты).
Более близкое изучение тсргутской культуры должно внести много нового в толко­
вание былой жизни кочевников Средней Азии и современных процессов социальных пре­
образований в МНР.

�</text>
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            <name>Creator</name>
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                <text>Czaja, Dariusz</text>
              </elementText>
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          </element>
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            <description>A language of the resource</description>
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                <text>pol.</text>
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            <name>Format</name>
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        <elementContainer>
          <element elementId="52">
            <name>Text</name>
            <description/>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="80803">
                <text>... Śliczna niewiasta odziana w bogate szaty, w narzuconym na nie płaszczu Wielkiego Księ­
stwa z czerwonego aksamitu podbitego gronostajami. Na głowie ma koronę Wielkiego Księ­
cia, suknia pod płaszczem ma być podobna do białej tuniki z cieniutkiego lnu. Po jej lewej
stronie widoczny jest różnoraki oręż i rzeka Arno, tj. starzec brodaty i długowłosy, spoczy­
wający z łokciem wspartym na urnie, z której wylewa się woda. Wspomniana rzeka ma czo­
ło opasane wieńcem bukowym; obok niej leży lew. Po prawej widać starożytny ołtarz, na
którym płonie ogień, naokoło zaś ołtarza widać wyrzeźbione urces, paterę, lutnię i laskę auguralną. Pośrodku znajdują się rozmaite przybory kaplaiukie, stosownie do fałszywego
a pradawnego zwyczaju Pogan. W lewej dłoni figura wdzięcznie trzyma czerwoną lilię
i książkę.
... Maluje sieją urodziwą, gdyż Prowincja ta, niezwykłej szlachemości, jest klejnotem Italii,
wielce świetnym i prześlicznym, przez naturę bowiem i sztukę obdarzona jest wszystkim, cze­
go tylko można pragnąć. Posiada więc nadzwyczaj łagodne Niebo, zdrowe powietrze i żyzne
ziemie obfitujące w Morza, Mosty. Rzeki, Ogrody; pełna jest sławnych i wielkich Miast tu­
dzież okazałych budowli.
Alegoria Toskanii: Cesare Ripa,

Ikonołogia

Toskania. Trzy podróże
Dariusz Czaja
Jak umarł Puszkin, z jakiegoś powodu nie każdy w Polsce
wie, ale jaki dialog wywiązał się w pociągu relacji Moskwa Pietuszki, gdzieś między 65. a 85. kilometrem trasy, wie
u nas każde dziecko. Przypomnijmy więc tylko w skrócie:
kiedy pojazd opuścił już Nazariewo i skierował się w stronę
Driezny, padło to, na wskroś dramatyczne, pascalowskie
z ducha i nieuchronne jak kolejny stakan pytanie:
„ - Dużo pan widział, dużo podróżował, niech pan po­
wie, gdzie bardziej Rosjan cenią - po tej, czy po tamtej stro­
nie Pirenejów?
- Nie wiem, jak po tamtej, ale po tej zupełnie nie cenią.
Byłem na przykład we Włoszech, tam na Rosjanina nie zwra­
ca się najmniejszej uwagi. Oni sobie tylko śpiewają i rysują.
Jeden, powiedzmy, stoi i śpiewa, a drugi tuż obok siedzi i ry­
suje tego, co śpiewa, a trzeci nieopodal śpiewa o tym, który
rysuje. I tak smutno się od tego robi. Ale oni naszego smutku
nie rozumieją.
- Ba, Włosi! Czy oni w ogóle coś rozumieją? - poparł
mnie Czarnowąsy".
Dialog na temat rozległych walorów poznawczych
podróży toczy się dalej. Wieniczka opowiada o tym, jak był
w Wenecji i oglądał zawody gondolierów, potem, jak usiło­
wał zobaczyć Wezuwiusz, ale Wezuwiusz z niejasnych powo­
dów gdzieś przepadł, potem jeszcze trudna peregrynacja
z Herkulanum do Pompei i z powrotem, dalej już prosta dro­
ga na Paryż i Francję, kanał La Manche itd., itd... Ta pijacka
logorea jest tylko pozornie chaotyczna i niedorzeczna. W rze­
czywistości, delirycznymi skojarzeniami i obrazami rządzi tu
żelazna logika: logika powielanego przez pokolenia, wygła­
dzonego jak kamień, stereotypu. Jak Wenecja - to gondolie­
rzy, jak Pompeje - to Herkulanum, jak Paryż - to burdele
i wieża Eiffla. Slinotok zafiksowanych w kulturowej pamięci
mechanicznych i niemal bezwiednych asocjacji.
1

34

I

Wróćmy do początku tej krajoznawczej gawędy. Nie do
tego fragmentu, gdzie mowa o jedynym w swoim rodzaju ro­
syjskim smutku i tego smutku powszechnym nierozumieniu
(co mogłoby być przedmiotem osobnego studium, vide:
choćby nie tak dawny przypadek Andrieja Tarkowskiego
z okresu, gdy kręcił we Włoszech Nostalgię), ale do bardziej
ekscytującej nas poznawczo kwestii: zarysowanego tam
w śmiałym porywie wyobraźni wizerunku Włoch. U Jerofiejewa Włochy są krainą szczęścia, radości, permanentnego
nieróbstwa. Są miejscem nieskrywanego zadowolenia z życia
(„jeden, powiedzmy, stoi i śpiewa"), bezinteresownej kon­
templacji piękna („drugi siedzi i rysuje tego, co śpiewa"),
estetycznego nienasycenia („trzeci śpiewa o tym, który rysu­
je"). Są połączeniem nostalgicznych wyobrażeń o rajskiej
kondycji i niewygasłych rojeń o Schlarajfenlandzie. Grote­
skowa tonacja tego rodzajowego obrazka w niczym nie zmie­
nia faktu, że całkiem trafnie, choć w skrótowej i karykatural­
nej formie, oddaje on podstawowe intuicje, które co najmniej
od końca XVIII (gdy chodzi o podróżowanie na szerszą ska­
lę) po dzień dzisiejszy, składają się na potoczne wyobrażenie
Włoch. Niech jeszcze nad tą śpiewająco-rysującą ekipą za­
wiśnie słońce przyczepione do płachty nieskazitelnego błęki­
tu, niech za dalekie tło mają pasmo lazurowego morza - uzy­
skamy w ten sposób podstawowy zestaw elementów wypeł­
niających kanoniczną Pocztówkę-Z-Italii.
2

Od czasów Winckelmanna i Goethego, od Byrona,
Wordswortha i Shelleya rozwija się mityczna opowieść
o Włoszech. Ale czy mówienie o Włoszech jako całości, ja­
ko jednym spójnym organizmie ma sens? Nie mam, natural­
nie, na myśli faktu, że formalne zjednoczenie kraju miało
miejsce dopiero w roku 1861, a więc długo po największej
w XIX wieku fali italomanii, ani też wynikającego z histo­
rycznych powikłań czy geograficznej odmienności zróżni-

�cowania prowincji wchodzących w jego skład. Rzecz jest
subtelniejszej natury. Dla przyjeżdżających bowiem do
Włoch geografia mityczna tego kraju rzadko pokrywała się
z nie znającą sentymentów kartografią. Znacznie częściej
nazwa „Włochy" skrywała wiele odmiennych doświadczeń
i idących za nimi wartościowań. Emocjonalna topografia
wiernie odzwierciedlała poszczególne, osobiste preferencje.
Czasem, to jedno jedyne, wybrane, szczególnie admirowane
miejsce funkcjonowało jako wyeksponowany reprezentant
całości, jako obrazowy skrót ogniskujący w sobie to, co naj­
ważniejsze w spotkaniu z Włochami, z Południem. Nietz­
sche, który znał przecież Włochy, którego pamięć zanoto­
wała z pewnością ważne jego pobyty w Sorrento, Turynie,
Rapallo, napisze w Ecce Homo całkiem jednoznacznie, nie
pozostawiając żadnych wątpliwości: „Jeśli mówię z tamtej
Alp strony, znajduję zawsze tylko słowo »Wenecja«". Sie­
dząc pisarskie rezultaty podróży do Włoch natrafiamy
w obrębie jednostkowego doświadczenia na powtarzające
się fascynacje: czasem równorzędne wobec innych, kiedy
indziej żądające wyłączności. Mamy więc osobną Wenecję
- Nietzschego, Wagnera, Brodskiego; wyjątkowy Rzym Gregoroviusa, Ibsena, Mandelsztama; niezwykłą Sycylię Goethego i Iwaszkiewicza.... „Prawdziwe" Włochy, „praw­
da" o Włoszech, „prawdziwa" lekcja włoskiej kultury jed­
nym objawić się może w Wenecji, Rzymie, na Sycylii,
w Rawennie, innym może na Capri, w Paestum albo jeszcze
gdzie indziej. Wszędzie możliwy jest błysk iluminacji. Na
przykład w Toskanii...
3

Przyjrzyjmy się bliżej trzem relacjom z podróży do Toska­
nii, opowieściom, które ofiarowują nam coś znacznie bardziej
pożywniejszego i wzbogacającego poznawczo od standardo­
wego obrazka z bedekera. Trzy odmienne spojrzenia na to
mitogenne miejsce, trzy zachowujące swoje indywidualne,
biograficzne piętno zapisy doświadczenia, trzy pisarskie wa­
riacje na ten sam temat. Spróbujmy, zwracając szczególną
uwagę na lekturę toskańskiego pejzażu, odnaleźć w tych te­
kstach miejsca o wyraźnej intensywności, zaznaczyć punkty
węzłowe, w których oko, wyobraźnia i intelekt zbiegają się
w jedno.

1.
Z licznych napisanych dotąd Italienischen Reisen, książka
Pawła Muratowa uchodzi, nie bez racji, za jedną z ważniej­
szych i piękniejszych, może najważniejszą i najpiękniejszą.
Nie są to kreślone na bieżąco impresyjne notatki z podróży.
Nie jest to też klasyczny przewodnik ani dzieło wypchane po­
nad miarę „historyczno-sztuczną" erudycją. Obrazy Włoch,
obok bez wątpienia zajmującej i wielostronnej lekcji historii
i pejzażu, sztuki i obyczaju, są w swojej warstwie głębokiej
książką o urzeczeniu. Mocniej: o miłosnej fascynacji. Nie
przypadkiem tak często mowa tu o sercu: „Było słychać, jak
bije serce, jak w nie wnika, aby już nigdy go nie opuścić,
umiłowanie Florencji", i trochę dalej: „Najbliższy Florencji
będzie ten, kto kocha. Dla pielgrzymów miłości jest to miej­
sce święte: tu, w tym świetlistym powietrzu, łatwiej i czyściej
płonie serce". W swoich opowieściach jest Muratów nade
wszystko miłośnikiem, kimś, kto jest bez reszty uwiedziony
i żadne, nawet najbardziej uczone i fachowe rozważania hi­
storyczne czy estetyczne, których w książce nie brak, nie są
w stanie tego faktu przesłonić.
4

Pośród licznych zauroczeń, olśnień i afektacji, które poro­
zrzucane są hojnie w wielu miejscach Obrazów Włoch, obok
słów małych, zwykłych, ale też i całkiem dużych, poświęco­
nych - a jest z czego wybierać - choćby letejskim wodom
Wenecji, widokowi spod San Miniato we Florencji czy szcze­
gólnemu zmysłowi Rzymu, najbliższe sercu Muratowa jest
wspomnienie Sieny. Ściślej: Sieny i rozciągających się wokół
niej okolic:
„Skupia się w nim to wszystko, co na dźwięk wyrazu
„Włochy" przyspiesza bicie naszego serca - święte piękno
antyku, kwitnąca sztuka, mowa Dantego w ustach ludu, uczu­
cie wypełnionej powietrzem, rozległej przestrzeni, tchnąca
delikatną mocą ziemia, która od wieków rodzi oliwki, sym­
bol pokoju, i winogrona, symbol upojnej wesołości".
Późna jesień, koniec listopada. Zebrano już ostatnie plony
z winnic i gajów oliwnych. Opustoszały pola. Życie wiejskie
schroniło się w domach. Lekka dwukółka wiezie Muratowa
drogą łączącą San Gimignano z Poggibonsi: „Byliśmy w ser­
cu Toskanii, na trakcie wiodącym z Florencji do Sieny. W ów
dzień listopadowy subtelność i surowa prostota toskańskich
krajobrazów zaznaczały się ze szczególna siłą. Jesień, wiej­
ska pora roku - a wokół nas ciągnęła się właśnie wiejska oko­
lica - kryje w swoim łonie głębię i czystość życia. Ale tutej­
sza wieś jest obdarzona delikatną duszą artysty. Gleba tu ma
nasyconą, bogatą barwę głębokiego brązu. I nie ma nic szla­
chetniejszego nad srebrzystą zieleń oliwek i brązowe cienie
na więdnących liściach winogradu. Nawet szare jesienne
obłoki lśniły perłowym blaskiem, a nieskończona dal wyda­
wała się przezroczysta niby drogie kamienie o barwie błęki­
tu. Horyzont Toskanii zawsze jest wyraźnie obwiedziony bie5

Ponęta Okolice Poggibonsi. fot. D. C/aja

55

�„Tak powinien wyglądać horyzont w ojczyźnie wielkich
malarzy". Nie tylko horyzont, ale - dopowiedzmy myśl Mu­
ratowa - cały niemal pejzaż toskański, który istnieje jakby
wyłącznie po to, by go malować, wręcz malowanie wymusza.
Ale i coś więcej: sam jest przecież najczystszym malar­
stwem. „Droga nasza biegła na południe. Nagie cynamonowe
pagórki otaczające Sienę tchnęły smutkiem pod nisko wiszą­
cą nad nimi białą zasłoną zimowych chmur". Krajobraz To­
skanii, z jego swobodną i zmieniającą się grą światłocienia,
z geometrią winnic i krętą linią cyprysów, z subtelnością
przejść kolorystycznych między sąsiadującymi obok siebie
pasmami ziemi, z całym tym różnorodnym splotem form
i faktur, tworzy, nie obwiedziony ramą, nadnaturalnych roz­
miarów obraz malarski. Muratów robi wiele, by czytelnikowi
to jak najdobitniej uzmysłowić.
Już w poprzednim fragmencie, przywołującym otwarcie
pierwszy rozdział Genesis, ożywia Muratów rajską topikę.
Inny fragment potwierdza, że Toskania była term prima, i to
z niej właśnie, z tej pierwotnej gliny ulepiony został pierwszy
przedstawiciel gatunku ludzkiego: „A ziemia Sieny, brązowa
i czerwona, jak gdyby wciąż jeszcze kipiąca siłami twórczy­
mi, wydaje się innej, szlachetniejszej natury i można by po­
myśleć, że to z niej właśnie powstał pierwszy kształt mie­
szczący w sobie ducha człowieczego". Są więc widome, na­
leżące do empirycznego porządku dane, świadczące, że wła­
śnie tu, w tym podsieneriskim krajobrazie dokonało się dzie­
ło stworzenia.
Nie ma wątpliwości: Toskania jest ziemią wybraną i zie­
mią obiecaną. Jeśli całe dzieło Muratowa jest rozpisaną na
wiele stron laudacją na chwałę Włoch, kreowanych tu na kraj
harmonii i piękna, opisywanych jako miejsce całkowitego za­
domowienia, gdzie wszystko stworzone jest na ludzką miarę
i gdzie każdy, miejscowy czy przyjezdny, czuje się u siebie,
to z pewnością Toskania jest krainą, w której wszystkie te ele­
menty występują w stanie najczystszego skupienia: „Kiedy
jechaliśmy pod górę, na niebie nastąpiły zmiany - ołowiane
cienie spłynęły ku zachodowi i cienka opona chmur zalśniła
nagle, prześwietlona słonecznym blaskiem. Byliśmy już wy­
soko; dokoła jak okiem sięgnąć widniały pola i winnice To­
skanii, pociemniały lasy dębowe, obejścia, nad którymi uno­
sił się dym, lśniące czerwienią dachówek sioła ze skromną
wiejską dzwonnicą. Wokół nas ciągnęła się ziemia święta ojczyzna godnego i wzniosłego piękna, które stało się udzia­
łem człowieka".
Pisząc o krajobrazach toskańskich, Muratów opowiada
nam baśń o świecie c a ł k i e m i n n y m , o znanej nie zna­
nej od czasów dzieciństwa fantazmatycznej Dalekiej Zamor­
skiej Krainie. Jej paradoks polega wszakże na tym, iż nie
dość, że istnieje całkiem realnie, to jest także niedaleko, po­
zostaje w każdym razie w zasięgu naszych możliwości.
W narracje Muratowa wpisane są i mit genezyjski, i opowieść
o czasie odnalezionym, i hymn o perle...
8

9

Ilustracja г przewodnika Florencja i Toskania, Wiedza i Życie 1996

gnącymi, jedna za drugą, delikatnymi liniami niewysokich
wzgórz. Tak wlas'nie powinien wyglądać horyzont w ojczy­
źnie wielkich malarzy. Nie ma tu naszego nieokreślonego
smutku i niewypłakanej skargi naszych lasów i wąwozów
[ten rosyjski smutek... - przyp. DC]. Świat jest tu taki, jakim
go stworzył Bóg, który podarował ludziom obficie rodzące
drzewa, wino, oraz zboże i nie tylko zapowiedział im, że bę­
dą pracowali w pocie czoła, lecz dał im także mocne, jak je­
sienne powietrze, rubaszne uciechy oraz jasny subtelny ge­
niusz artystyczny".
Muratów pisze niezwykle sensualnie, starannie skompo­
nowane opisy krajobrazów pobudzają zmysły. Jego pisar­
stwo, dla niektórych może miejscami nazbyt koturnowe, nie­
znośnie podbite stylistycznie, przeestetyzowane, można na­
zwać po prostu: estetycznym, pamiętając przy tym o źródło­
wym (gr. aisthesis - zmysłowy) sensie słowa. Bowiem język
Muratowa pozwala opisywany świat nie tylko zobaczyć, ale
także usłyszeć, powąchać i posmakować, nieomal dotknąć.
Nie jest to pisarstwo o ambicjach imitacyjnych - raczej krea­
cyjnych. Muratów, na naszych oczach wskrzesza widzianą
przez siebie rzeczywistość i - podobny w tym do Johanna
Huizingi, innego historycznego wizjonera - sprawia, że po­
jawia się ona przed nami „jak żywa".
6

7

36

10

2.
O ile Muratów chciałby wraz z czytelnikiem prześnić
swój sen o krainie egzystencjalnego i estetycznego spełnie­
nia, i tym samym, łatwo może narazić się na zarzut, że
w miejsce trzeźwej obserwacji oddaje się ryzykownej grze
fantazji, o tyle David Herbert Lawrence podróżując po Toska­
nii twardo chodzi po ziemi. Dosłownie. Lawrence bowiem,
w swoich rozważaniach, łączy w sobie znajomość rzeczy
agronoma i kompetencję botanika. Uzupełnia je jeszcze o na-

�miętność i pasję ogrodnika. Muratów rozpisał swoje uwagi
0 Toskanii na kilka rozdziałów, Lawrence zaznajamia z jej
osobliwościami w krótkim, kilkunastostronicowym artykule
Flowery Tuscany zamieszczonym siedemdziesiąt lat temu
w piśmie New Criterion. Zgodnie z tym, co podpowiada ty­
tuł, nie znajdziemy tu prób charakterystyki którejś ze szkół
malarskich czy profesjonalnych uwag o detalach architektu­
ry, żadnych ekskursów historyka w czas przeszły dokonany;
dowiemy się natomiast wiele o roślinnym świecie tej prowin­
cji. Lawrence oprowadza metodycznie po swoim ogrodzie
nie plewionym. Miesiąc po miesiącu, pozostając w zgodzie
z cyklem wegetacyjnym, prezentuje kolejne okazy.
Muratów przywoływał Toskanię jesienną, o barwach
przygaszonych i rozmytych konturach; u Lawrence'a kolor
nabiera intensywności, kształty wyraźnieją, nadchodzi eksta­
tyczne święto wiosny:
„Wiosna rozpoczyna się w lutym, wraz z zimowym ja­
skrem. Pewnego mroźnego dnia, kiedy wiatr schodzi w dół
z ośnieżonych szczytów, z początkiem lutego, dostrzeżesz na
skrawku ugoru, pod drzewami oliwnymi, bladozłote kulki,
zamknięte w sobie jak orzechy i spoczywające na krągłych
kryzach zieleni, tuż przy ziemi. To zjawił się niespodziewanie
zimowy jaskier.
Zimowy jaskier jest jednym z najbardziej zachwycających
kwiatów. Jak w przypadku całego wcześnie kwitnącego
kwiecia, kiedyś jego mały biały kwiat wyłoni się i będzie cał­
kiem nagi. Żadnego zamknięcia w niewielkim zielonym fute­
rale, jak to się dzieje ze stokrotką czy mleczem. Jego bańka
koszyczka, blada, z czystego złota, opiera się na okrągłym ża­
bocie zielonego kołnierza, i wraz z zimowym wiatrem próbu­
je zdmuchnąć go z siebie".
Kolejny miesiąc, kolejna botaniczna rewelacja:
„A teraz mamy marzec i przypływ kwiatów. (...) Nie znam
kwiatu bardziej fascynującego, wtedy gdy pojawia się po raz
pierwszy, od niebieskiego muszkatołowego hiacyntu. (...)
Pierwsze hiacynty muszkatołowe są kwiatami niebieskimi,
gęstymi, bogatymi i wyrastającymi ponad zeszłoroczną tra­
wę. Wyższe pączki są czysto niebieskie, zamknięte w sobie;
okrągłe kulki, czystego, doskonale ciepłego błękitu, błękitu,
błękitu; podczas gdy niższe dzwoneczki są ciemnawo niebie­
sko - purpurowe, z iskierką bieli u wylotu.(...)
Ale, od pierwszej chwili, masz przed sobą jedyną, zwartą
wieżę nocnego błękitu jaśniejącego w stronę brzasku, i nad­
zwyczajnie piękną. Gdybyśmy byli mali jak postacie z bajek
1 żyli tylko w lecie, jakże piękne wydawałyby się nam te
wielkie drzewa dzwonków, wieże niosące kule ciemnego i ja­
snego błękitu. Wyrastałyby nad nami grube i soczyste, a pur­
purowe klosze białymi iskrami zmarszczek wypychałyby te
błękitne do góry. I dostrzegalibyśmy w nich boga".
Wystarczy. Chociaż żal trochę, bo już niedługo kwiecień,
maj i można by pogawędzić nieco o szkarłatnych anemonach
(„nie można ich dostrzec, o ile nie patrzy się na nie w słoń­
cu), o żółtych tulipanach („wiotkie, kolczaste, trochę jak
Chińczycy"), o ciemnopurpurowym irysie („jest piękny, ale
ciężko go zauważyć")...
W każdym razie znać, że mówi fachowiec. Zachwycony,
ale fachowiec. Lawrence, dając rzeczowy komentarz do ro­
ślinnego świata, potrafi czasem odbić się od botanicznego
dyskursu w stronę porównania i metafory. I choć stara się dać
maksymalnie wierny ekwiwalent obserwowanej rzeczywisto­
ści, przybliżyć jej zmysłowy kształt we frazach nazbyt może
wyszukanych, nigdy przecież jego wypowiedź nie spada do
poziomu rzewnej egzaltacji bohaterek „włoskich" powieści
11

12

D H. Lawrence w Toskanii. 1927. il. z D.H. Lawrence. Etruscan
Nuova Immagine Editrice (Siena)

Places.

innego kulturalnego Anglika, Edwarda Morgana Forstera. Jak
choćby w tym kwietnym (kwiecistym?) fragmencie Pokoju
z widokiem: „Lucy dostrzegła rzekę, złocistą równinę i dalsze
wzgórza. (...) Z ust Lucy wyrwał się okrzyk zachwytu. Znaj­
dowała się na miniaturowej polance, pokrytej fiołkami. Oto­
czyły ją światło i piękno"." Hosanna in excelsis...
Zostawmy jednak Lucy i fiołki, porzućmy inne toskańskie
kwiatki. Lawrence, w swym tekście, dostarcza bowiem nie
tylko klucza do oznaczania roślin, ale próbuje i szerszego uo­
gólnienia, choć - jak dotąd - w dalszym ciągu trzyma się bli­
sko ziemi. Przypomina on i mocno eksponuje fakt, że Toska­
nia to przede wszystkim obszar rolniczy, miejsce w którym
wyraźne i nieusuwalne są ślady ingerencji ludzkiej w naturę.
„Dziwną jest rzeczą, że kraina tak doskonale uprawiana
jak Toskania, obszar gdzie zbiory z pięciu akrów ziemi mu­
szą wyżywić dziesięć żołądków, wciąż ma tak wiele miejsca
dla dzikich kwiatów i słowików. Od momentu gdy niewielkie
wzgórza nagle wypiętrzyły się i oddzieliły od siebie, czło­
wiek musi budować swój ogród i swoją winnicę, tym samym:
rzeźbić swój krajobraz. Mówi się o wiszących ogrodach Ba­
bilonu... Cała przecież Italia, wyjąwszy równiny, jest takim
wiszącym ogrodem. Przez stulecia człowiek cierpliwie mode­
lował powierzchnię krajów Śródziemnomorza, delikatnie wy­
równując wzgórza i formując na wielkich i małych zboczach
prawie niewidzialne poziomy terasów. (...) To dzieło wielu,
wielu stuleci. To jest ta delikatna, wrażliwa rzeźba każdego
krajobrazu. I tak właśnie zostało osiągnięte to szczególne
37

�włoskie piękno, które jest tak cudownie naturalne, ponieważ
człowiek, czując wrażliwość na owoce ziemi, kształtował zie­
mię zgodnie ze swoimi potrzebami, ale nie używał wobec
niej przemocy.
Co pokazuje, że to m o ż n a zrobić. Człowiek może żyć
na ziemi i dzięki ziemi, nie szpecąc jej. To udało się tutaj, na
wszystkich tych rzeźbionych wzgórzach i miękko, wrażliwie
kształtowanych terasach".
Podobnie jak Muratów, Lawrence przywołuje tu aluzyj­
nie, acz nie sposób tego przeoczyć, księgę Genesis. Z opisów
pomieszczonych w Obrazach Wioch, wynika, że Toskanię
uformowała Ręka Stwórcy, a z jej prymordialnej ziemi ule­
piony został pierwszy człowiek. W tekście Lawrence'a - wy­
przedzającym skądinąd znacznie manifesty ekologiczne - do­
konane u Muratowa dzieło stworzenia, kontynuowane jest,
i to z dobroczynnymi skutkami, ludzką ręką. To tu właśnie,
w tej krainie, człowiek zrozumiał głębokie znaczenie zalece­
nia, aby czynić sobie ziemię poddaną. Wiszące ogrody Toska­
nii nie powstały mocą boskiego fiat, ale dzięki cierpliwej
i konsekwentnej - „dzieło wielu, wielu stuleci" - pracy rolni­
czych pokoleń. Człowiek nie działał tu przeciw naturze, ale
wraz z nią, wykorzystując twórczo powierzony mu pierwot­
nie „materiał".
Obserwując nadejście toskańskiej wiosny, nietrudno do­
strzec, że zmiana w przyrodzie następuje tu szybko i gwał­
townie. Pory roku tworzą osobne światy o czytelnie zaryso­
wanych granicach. Inaczej niż w Anglii, odnotowuje Lawren­
ce, gdzie lata miękko przechodzą w zimy (i odwrotnie), bez
wyraźniejszych dla oka oznak. Wszystko spowija permanent­
na szarość i ciemność. I równie permanentny chłód. Ale róż­
nica między Północą a Południem nie tkwi jedynie
w odmiennej kolorystyce, wykracza też poza klimatyczne akcydensy. Jest znacznie bardziej elementarna. Dotyczy pojmo­
wania natury słońca. Niespodziewanie okazuje się, że przyro­
doznawstwo łączy cienka nić z eschatologią.
„W krajach Północy człowiek ma tendencję, aby instynk­
townie wyobrażać sobie i sądzić, że słońce zapalone jest jak
świeca w wieczystej ciemności i że pewnego dnia świeca wy­
pali się, słońce wyczerpie się, a wieczysta ciemność odzyska
nieprzerwaną władzę. Stąd też dla człowieka Północy świat
zjawiskowy jest esencjalnie tragiczny, ponieważ jest czasowy
i musi przestać istnieć. Z samej jego istoty wynika, że prze­
stanie istnieć i to leży u źródeł poczucia tragedii.
Ale dla południowca, słońce jest tak dominujące, że gdy­
by cały zjawiskowy świat zniknął z uniwersum, nie pozosta­
łoby nic prócz jasnej światłości, słoneczności. Słoneczność
jest absolutem; a cień albo ciemność są najwyżej względne:
są rezultatem czegoś, co trwa między rzeczą a słońcem".
Takie jest właśnie, utrzymuje Lawrence, instynktowne od­
czucie człowieka Południa. Ktoś mógłby jednak oponować,
że słońce również jest rzeczywistością zjawiskową. Skoro
kiedyś pojawiło się, to i musi zniknąć. Ale jest to argument,
który ma za sobą racje czysto rozumowe. Sądzimy, że tak jak
zapalamy świecę w ciemności, a więc dajemy uchwytny po­
czątek światłu, tak też jakaś Pierwsza Przyczyna musiała za­
świecić słońce w nieogarnionych ciemnościach początku.
Jest to jednak argument dość kulawy, bo przecież nikt z nas
nie wie i wiedział nie będzie, czy słońce w ogóle kiedykol­
wiek pojawiło się w jakimś konkretnym momencie, rozpo­
częło istnienie od pewnego punktu czasowego. Cała nasza
wiedza o nim sprowadza się do tego, że wiemy jak powstaje
cień i czym jest: jest wynikiem umieszczenia czegoś mate­
rialnego między nami i słońcem, nie ma więc on bytu samo­
14

15

je

istnego, jego natura jest czasowa, przemijająca. Te obserwa­
cje są podstawą dalszego wywodu:
„Możemy myśleć o śmierci, jeśli chcemy, jako o czymś
stale mieszającym się między nas i słońce: a to jest podstawa
południowej, podziemnej idei śmierci. Ale to nie zmienia
słońca w ogóle. Jak dalece sięga doświadczenie gatunku
ludzkiego, jedyną rzeczą, która istnieje zawsze, jest świecące
słońce, a ciemny cień jest jakimś przypadkiem ingerencji.
Stąd też, po prostu, tragedia nie istnieje. We wszechświe­
cie nie ma tragedii, a człowiek jest tragiczny jedynie dlatego,
że obawia się śmierci. Co do mnie, sądzę, że jeśli słońce
świeci zawsze i zawsze będzie świecić, to pomimo milionów
posępnych słów, śmierć, jakimś sposobem, nie przynosi wie­
lu obaw. W blasku słońca nawet śmierć jest słoneczna. A sło­
neczny blask nie ma końca".
W prywatnej mitologii Lawrence'a jest Toskania jedną ze
śródziemnomorskich wersji wiszących ogrodów Semiramidy.
Wielobarwnym ogrodem. Żyzną krainą obfitości. Słonecz­
nym kosmosem. Jej najgłębsze egzystencjalne przesłanie za­
wiera się w solarnej epifanii. Lawrence, wyśpiewując swój
hymn o słońcu i do słońca, tym radykalnie antytragicznym
O sole mio unieważnia śmierć. W istocie: likwiduje ją. Bo
czymże jest „śmierć słoneczna" - wyrażenie, w którym przy­
miotnik skutecznie neutralizuje rzeczownik - jeśli nie rzeczy­
wistością ledwie zjawiskową, pozorem, epifenomenem... Na­
prawdę jest, w mocnym sensie słowa, tylko słońce. A to
oznacza, że życie, nieustające, wiecznie odradzające się życie
jest esencją naszego świata, w którym śmierć jest, owszem,
spodziewanym, ale całkiem nieistotnym epizodem. Obok
zmiennej, znikliwej natury form widzialnych istnieje jeszcze
trwała, choć bardziej eteryczna, bo ze świetlistej materii zro­
biona, rzeczywistość. Toteż miejsce cierpkiej, tragicznej wi­
zji świata, zająć musi słoneczny optymizm. Where are the
snows of yesteryear? - cytuje Lawrence pytanie Villona. Ale
sens tego refrenu ulega tu odwróceniu: nie wtrąca już w me­
lancholię, ale jest śmiałą zapowiedzią przyszłości. Tak, niegdysieysze śniegi już stopniały. Płatki wiosennych kwiatów
też co prawda opadły, ale - nie ma strachu - za rok pojawią
się znowu, jak gdyby naprzemienny rytm kwitnienia i wię­
dnięcia poddany został przedustawnemu prawu wiecznego
powrotu.
16

Taką lekcję wyciągnął Lawrence z obserwacji toskańskiej
przyrody. A wydawało się, że to tylko o kwiatki chodzi....

3.
Muratów - jak wielu przed nim i wielu po nim - rozpo­
czyna swoją podróż po Włoszech od Wenecji. I już na samym
wstępie książki dokonuje na użytek czytelnika znaczącej autoidentyfikacji: „Dla nas, ludzi Północy, którzy wstępują na
ziemię włoską przez złote wrota Wenecji, wody laguny są
w istocie wodami Lety". Wyraźna deklaracja kulturowej
przynależności. Muratów przybywa z dalekiej Północy i, jak
widzieliśmy, Lawrence także czuje się dzieckiem Północy.
(W geografii mitycznej, która bierze w nawias utrwalone
podziały, Rosja graniczy z Anglią.) Pierwszy zatem, zostawia
za sobą ziemię „nieokreślonego smutku i niewypłakanej skar­
gi lasów i wąwozów", drugi - pochmurną, zimną i pogrążo­
ną w wiecznym letargu wyspę. Toskania zdaje się im dosko­
nałym przeciwieństwem miejsc, które opuścili.
Albert Camus natomiast, ostatni z przywołanych tu
podróżników, zdecydowanie jest człowiekiem Południa.
Gdyby pojęcie to podlegało stopniowaniu, trzeba by powie­
17

�dzieć, że jest reprezentantem południowego Południa. Całe
dzieciństwo i wczesną młodość spędził bowiem w Algierii.
A z mapy niezbicie wynika - krótka lekcja geograficznego
relatywizmu - że Algieria leży jeszcze bardziej na południe
od Włoch. Podobnie jak jego poprzednicy również nie jest
„stąd". Jak oni - jest obcy. Choć, trudno ukryć, obcy inaczej.
Miasta swojej młodos'ci opisał Camus w wydanym przed
wojną zbiorze esejów Zaślubiny, pisarskim debiucie. Bohate­
rami pierwszych trzech są Tipasa, Dżemila, Algier. W czwar­
tym eseju, Pustynia, nieoczekiwanie przeprawiamy się przez
morze do Włoch, jedziemy do Florencji, do Toskanii. Nazwa
„eseje" jest tu dość umowna. Są to bowiem utwory gatunko­
wo „nieczyste": po części jest to mocno zmetaforyzowany
opis pejzażu, po części medytacja, po części intymne wyzna­
nie, po części refleksja historyczna, po części wreszcie roz­
ważania antropologiczne - fragmenty, w których rozpoznaje­
my wątki i tematy rozwinięte później w Micie Syzyfa czy
Człowieku zbuntowanym.
Krajobrazy algierskiej młodości, miejsca dla Camusa
p i e r w s z e , zbudowane są z kilku powtarzających się pod­
stawowych elementów, choć przemieszanych w różnym po­
rządku i punktowanych z różną intensywnością. Wydobyć je
łatwo: morze, wiatr, słońce, zwłaszcza to ostatnie, z godzin
największego upału, ciężkie „czarne słońce". Z barw domi­
nują żółcień i błękit. Przypominam te elementarne fakty, bo
z perspektywy przybyszów z Północy, można by nie od rze­
czy zapytać, czego młody Camus szukał w Toskanii? Prze­
cież nie słonecznych promieni i intensywnych doznań zmy­
słowych, bo tych miał u siebie w nadmiarze. Sam tekst
wprost odpowiedzi nie udziela; dla nas istotniejsze jest nie to,
czego szukał, ale co rzeczywiście znalazł.
Introdukcja jest czysto malarska. Camus zauważa u mi­
strzów toskańskich - przywołuje z imienia Cimabue, Giotta,
Piero delia Francesca - szczególną własność: przenikliwą
zdolność widzenia życia ludzkiego w prawdzie. Bohaterowie
ich malarskich opowieści to ludzie z krwi i kości. Całkiem
dosłownie. Zrobieni są z ciała, przede wszystkim z ciała, tej
ulotnej materii, której jedyną prawdą jest rozpad i gnicie.
Nieśmiertelność duszy i nadzieja na życie wieczne są im nie­
dostępne. Malarstwo toskańskie jest syntezą tej ziemi, ale nie
w sensie, w jakim powiada się czasem, że pejzaże z obrazów
Piero delia Francesca są syntetycznym skrótem miejscowego
krajobrazu. Owszem, są, ale na znacznie głębszym, niż tylko
zewnętrznym, imitacyjnym poziomie:
„Nieraz twarz wskutek obojętności i nieczułości osiąga
kamienną wzniosłość krajobrazu. Jak niektórzy chłopi hi­
szpańscy upodabniają się do rodzimych oliwek, tak twarze
Giotta, odarte z żałosnych cieni ujawniających duszę, zrasta­
ją się w końcu z samą Toskanią w jedynej nauce, jakiej krai­
na ta szczodrze udziela: uprawianiu namiętności zamiast
wzruszenia, w mieszaninie ascezy i użycia, zestroju wspólne­
go ziemi i człowiekowi, przy którego pomocy człowiek, jak
ziemia, określa się w pół drogi między nędzą a miłością. Nie
za wiele jest prawd, o których serce byłoby przekonane. I do­
brze rozumiałem oczywistość tej prawdy pewnego wieczoru,
kiedy cień wielkim smutkiem zatapiał winnice i oliwki wsi
florenckiej. Ale smutek w tej krainie jest zawsze tylko ko­
mentarzem do piękna".
Od obrazów niedaleko do rzeczywistości. Ich wnikliwa
obserwacja prowadzi do zdobycia niekwestionowalnej wie­
dzy. To prawda, nie można wątpić: te pejzaże są widzialnym
ekstraktem piękna. Ale jest to piękno podszyte kruchością.
Więcej: nicością. Nad światem wykreowanym przez Murato18

Pocztówka z Toskanii. Fot. L . Betti

wa zawisła strzała Eleaty. Ziemia Toskanii była tam boskim
darem, a jej piękno emanacją wieczności. U Lawrence'a za­
kwitł wieczny powrót zdarzeń. Tu, z dojmującą bezwzględ­
nością, pojawiają się czas i ruch. Czas nicujący i ruch zstępu­
jący - zwiastuny śmierci.
„Mądrość pogrążona w pięknie żywi się nicością. Wobec
tych krajobrazów wielkich aż do skurczu w gardle każda z jej
myśli jest przekreśleniem człowieka. Wkrótce jednostka, za­
przeczona, osłonięta raz po raz, zaciemniona taką ilością przy­
tłaczających przekonań, staje się wobec świata jedynie tą nieforemną plamą, nie znającą innej prawdy niż bierna, albo jego
kolorem czy słońcem. Krajobrazy tak czyste wyjaławiają du­
szę, a ich piękno jest nie do zniesienia. Te ewangelie z kamie­
nia, nieba i wody mówią, że nic nie zmartwychwstaje".
Żadnych złudzeń. Komentujesz się słonecznym ciepłem zamienisz się w proch; zatapiasz wzrok w pięknie pejzażu zgnijesz; wypełnia cię słodycz winogron - zjedzą cię robaki.
Marzenia o nieśmiertelności zatrzaśnięte zostały w dziecin­
nym pokoju. Szczęście, jedynie możliwe szczęście, rodzi się
z braku nadziei, z mocnej świadomości, że ostatecznie umysł
znajduje swoją prawdę w ciele:
„Ale czy zawdzięczam tę naukę Italii, czy też wziąłem ją
z własnego serca? Niewątpliwie ukazała mi się tam. Ale rzecz
w tym, że Italia, jak inne uprzywilejowane miejsca, oferuje mi
widok piękna, gdzie mimo wszystko umierają ludzie. Nawet
tu prawda musi zgnić - i cóż może być wznioślejszego?". "
Przyjrzyjmy się jeszcze, jak Camus oglądał, „klasyczny"
krajobraz toskański, ze wzgórzami, cyprysami i rzędami
krzewów oliwnych. Wygląda to początkowo na zwykłe opiso­
we ćwiczenie, stylistyczną wprawkę. Przed naszymi oczami
rozwija się dekoracja teatralna. Scena jest obrotowa:
„Będąc we Florencji, w ogrodzie Boboli wszedłem na sa­
mą górę, na terasę, skąd odsłania się Monte Oliveto i pagórki
miasta aż do horyzontu. Na każdym z tych wzgórz rosły bla­
de oliwki jak mgiełki, a w spowijającym je lekkim oparze od­
cinały się twardsze piki cyprysów, bliskie - zielone, dalsze czarne. Na głębokim błękicie nieba kładły się plamy wielkich
obłoków. Z końcem popołudnia opadało srebrzyste światło,
w którym wszystko stawało się ciszą. Szczyt pagórków był
zrazu w obłokach. Ale zerwał się wiatr, czułem jego podmuch
na twarzy, i zaraz obłoki za wzgórzami się rozdzieliły jak roz­
suwana kurtyna. Jednocześnie cyprysy ze szczytu wytrysły
w nagle otwarty błękit. Wraz z nimi całe wzgórze z krajobra­
zem oliwek i kamieni powoli się uniosło. Napłynęły inne
obłoki. Kurtyna się zamknęła. I wzgórze wróciło na dół ze
swymi cyprysami i domami".
19

2

21

39

�Chwilowy spokój. Cisza. Obraz zielonej oazy. Ale Camus
nie roztapia się w kontemplacji, uważnie czyta tekst krajobra­
zu. Estetyka ustępuje miejsca hermeneutyce. Konkluzja jest
wciąż ta sama:
„Miliony oczu, wiedziałem, oglądały przede mną ten pej­
zaż, ale dla mnie był on jak pierwszy uśmiech nieba. Porywał
mnie w najgłębszym sensie tego słowa. Upewniał mnie, że
bez mojej miłości i tego pięknego krzyku kamieni wszystko
jest bezcelowe. Świat jest piękny i nie ma zbawienia poza
nim. Uczył mnie cierpliwie wielkiej prawdy - że niczym jest
umysł, a nawet serce. I że kamień wygrzany słońcem lub cy­
prys powiększony na tle otwartego nieba są ramami jedynego
świata, gdzie pojęcie 'mieć słuszność' nabiera znaczenia na­
tury bez ludzi. A ten świat mnie unicestwia, niesie do kresu,
odrzuca bez gniewu".
Ruch w górę, ruch w dół. Duchowy poryw, mocno jednak
wczepiony w ziemię. Fascynację drąży wciąż robak zwątpie­
nia. Jedyna możliwa soteriologia ma wymiar świecki. Pięk­
no, owszem, nie jest złudzeniem. Ale nawet ta niepowątpiewalna realność w niczym nie zmienia faktu podstawowego:
że świat jest miejscem wygnania. Teksty rozmawiają ze sobą,
choć o tym nie wiedzą. Muratów obwieszczał, że w Toskanii
odnalazł miarę egzystencji, Camusa tego rodzaju myśl wpra­
wia w irytację. Świadectwem wykrzykniki:
„Mówią mi ciągle: Italia, Morze Śródziemne, starożytne
kraje - tam wszystko jest na miarę człowieka. Ale gdzie?
Wskażcie mi drogę! Pozwólcie mi otworzyć oczy, bym zna­
lazł moją miarę i moje zadowolenie!".
Muratów i, przy wszystkich różnicach, Lawrence, pozwa­
lają nam jednak na chwilowy powrót do Ogrodu, podczas gdy
dla Camusa ta myśl nosi wszelkie cechy urojenia. Więcej: po­
znawczego złudzenia, skutecznie zamazującego nieusuwalną
prawdę egzystencji, do której kluczem jest pojęcie tragiczno­
ści. To przekonanie nie jest, co prawda, wolne od wątpliwo­
ści:
„Może się mylę. W końcu byłem przecież szczęśliwy we
Florencji, i tylu innych ludzi przede mną. Ale czymże jest
szczęście, jeśli nie zwykłą zgodą między istotą i istnieniem?
I czy jest prawowitsza zgoda łącząca nas z życiem niż
podwójna świadomość naszej chęci trwania i naszego prze­
znaczenia - śmierci? Zawiera się w tym przynajmniej ta nau­
ka, żeby na nic nie liczyć i uważać teraźniejszość za jedyną
prawdę, która jest nam dana «ponadto»". 1 parę stron dalej,
w podobnym tonie: „Florencja! Jedno z nielicznych miejsc
w Europie, gdzie zrozumiałem, że w głębi mego buntu drze­
mało przyzwolenie. Od jej nieba, stopu łez i słońca, uczyłem
się zgody na ziemię, na spalanie się w ciemnym płomieniu jej
uciech". Ten koncyliacyjny zwrot w zakończeniu w niczym
jednak istotnym nie narusza podstawy ujawnionych wcze­
śniej przekonań.
W Toskanii Camusa słońce dalej świeci, piękno jaśnieje,
a świat odsłania jedną ze swych najbardziej urodziwych twa­
rzy. To prawda. Ale pierwotną akceptację przenika tu raz po
raz zasadnicza niezgoda. Wyraźne „tak" zawsze ma w tle ja­
kieś mocne „nie". To nie jest przestrzeń, jak u Muratowa, peł­
nego, nie zostawiającego miejsca na wątpliwości, zadomo­
wienia. Warunkowe przyzwolenie nie usuwa w żaden sposób
esencjalnego poczucia wydziedziczenia. Mimo wszystkie
swe piękności i delicje świat jest głuchy - taki sens po­
brzmiewa w łacińskim absurdus - i obojętny. Antynomie nie
znoszą się, sprzeczności nie zostają pogodzone. Pod słońcem
Toskanii śmierć nie umiera. Tym światem, odwrotnie niż
w heliocentrycznej teorii Lawrence'a, rządzi „tragizm solar22

23

24

25

40

ny", pojęcie które rozwinie Camus w jednym ze swoich
późniejszych esejów śródziemnomorskich. Albo inaczej: heliocentryzm z nieusuwalną geocentryczną skazą.

4.
Trzy teksty, trzy różne charakterystyki tej samej rzeczy­
wistości. W pierwszym rzędzie można widzieć je jako ko­
lejne próby przeniknięcia i opisania czegoś w rodzaju arche
Toskanii. Która z nich jest lepsza, prawdziwsza? W której
słowo jest najbliżej rzeczywistości? Kto zobaczył więcej?
Kto opisał trafniej? Pytania, choć psychologicznie zrozu­
miałe, pozbawione większego sensu, bo nie ma ponadhistorycznej, ponadkulturowej i ponadjednostkowej miary, do
której można by je przymierzyć. Co ma być tym wspólnym
mianownikiem? Encyklopedyczne hasło z jego pretensją do
naukowego (?!) obiektywizmu? Przewodniki powielające
myślowe i wizualne clichesl Teksty, zwane z czyjegoś nazewniczego kaprysu, f i k c j a m i literackimi? Inne świa­
dectwa podróżnicze - te wcześniejsze czy te późniejsze?
Nasze, czytelników (a więc i moje) głębokie przekonania
poparte sumienną wizją lokalną? Gdzie, oprócz prawd czą­
stkowych, jest ta najprawdziwsza prawda? I kto jest jej dys­
pozytorem?
Wobec braku sensownej odpowiedzi skonstatujmy raczej
to, co widać gołym okiem. Każdy z tych tekstów jest osten­
tacyjnie subiektywny. To z pewnością coś więcej niż rutyno­
we sprawozdania z podróży. Oprócz warstwy opisowej i in­
formacyjnej zawierają, mniej lub bardziej wyraźnie wyeksplikowany, własny projekt egzystencjalny. W każdym z nich
więc obraz Toskanii jest wypadkową spotkania tego projek­
tu z interpretacją miejscowego krajobrazu. Widzenie, nie
dość że zainfekowane biograficznie, przesłonięte jest rów­
nież filtrem kulturowym bądź filozoficznym. Rzeczywistość,
za każdym razem, załamuje się w oku pod innym kątem. Ca­
ła trójka zobaczyła w Toskanii nie to, co zobaczyła, ale to co
zobaczyć chciała. Toskania przyjechała z nimi. I w nich.
Opis przenikający się z prywatną wizją pełni przy tym w zależności od pierwotnego nastawienia - różne funkcje:
od kompensacyjnych (Muratów, Lawrence), po diagnostycz­
ne (Camus).
Te trzy kreacje pisarskie wywołują inne jeszcze, ważniej­
sze być może pytania. Ważniejsze, bo dotyczące i dotykające
nas bezpośrednio, tu i teraz.
Mimo odmienności jest jednak pewna okoliczność, która
- z dzisiejszej perspektywy - teksty te mogłaby łączyć: czas
powstania. Spójrzmy na daty: Muratów - 1914; Lawrence 1927/8; Camus - 1937. Niewiele ponad dwadzieścia lat róż­
nicy. Muratów już wie o strzałach w Sarajewie; Lawrence
i Camus piszą już po doświadczeniach I wojny. Ale wciąż, je­
śli trzymać się tradycyjnych historiograficznych podziałów,
jest to ta sama epoka. Cezura drugiej wojny jest tu o tyle waż­
na, że wyraźnie wyznacza granice dwóch światów. Tego co
„przed" i tego co „po". Starej i nowej wrażliwości między
którymi nie może być mediacji. Więcej: dla wielu jest to mo­
ment radykalnego zerwania cywilizacyjnej ciągłości, zakwe­
stionowania całej dotychczasowej tradycji europejskiej.
Zmierzch ideałów kultury śródziemnomorskiej. A więc tak­
że: ostateczny i nieodwołalny koniec mitu Włoch jako zreali­
zowanej Arkadii. I , dodajmy, Toskanii jako jej najbardziej
eksponowanego przyczółka.
Jednym z najbardziej agresywnych i konsekwentnych de­
struktorów tego mitu stał się Tadeusz Różewicz. Poemat Et

�in Arcadia ego, powieść Śmierć w starych dekoracjach... Już
tytuły wystarczyłyby za konkluzję. Jego przypadek poprzez
swoją skrajność jest dość instruktywny. Różewicz chciał
sprawdzić trwałość i adekwatność zadawnionych wyobra­
żeń. Jego bohaterowie wyprawiają się do Włoch w nadziei
estetycznego olśnienia, duchowej przemiany. Nic z tego. Ita­
lia ze znanych obrazków nie istnieje. Rzeczywistość włoska
zamienia się w cmentarzysko, magazyn dekoracji, śmietnik,
kloakę, wydrążoną formę... „Próbowałem wrócić do raju" kończy swój poemat Różewicz. Ale raju już dawno nie ma.
W jego miejsce są jedynie gruzy cywilizacji, fałszywe war­
tości, idole z gliny, odmóżdżona ludzka masa, birth, copula­
tion and death. Słowem: monstrualne, zwielokrotnione, wie­
lokształtne Nic. Kłopot w tym, że jest to wizja mało przeko­
nująca, przede wszystkim epistemologicznie wadliwa. Róże­
wicz bierze cząstkowe fakty (jak najbardziej prawdziwe) za
całość i lepi z nich nihilistyczną kukłę. A nad tą łatwo się już
znęcać. Ponadto, pada ofiarą swoistego maksymalizmu. Rze­
czywistość przyjmuje u niego dwie skrajne postaci: albo raj­
ską albo apokaliptyczną - bez żadnych stopni pośrednich.
Różewicz, co dość paradoksalne, okazuje się osobliwym
utopistą: skoro współczesna rzeczywistość w żaden sposób
nie spełnia pokładanych w niej oczekiwań, to w odruchu ze­
msty przystawia jej lusterko, które ma tę właściwość, że tyl­
ko czarne barwy rejestruje. Różewicz, jak jego poprzednicy
we Włoszech, widzi tylko to, co widzieć chce. Zapomina też,
że destrukcja arkadyjskiego mitu Italii zapoczątkowana zo­
stała jeszcze przed wojenną traumą. Poważny jego demontaż
widzieliśmy w tekście Camusa. A jeszcze wcześniej był
Mann, romantycy....
Twarda lekcja, której udziela w swoich utworach Róże­
wicz, w naszym przypadku przekłada się na takie pytania:
czym jest Toskania dzisiaj? czy tylko złomowiskiem wyobra­
żeń o niej? dostarczycielką tandetnych złudzeń? czy można ją
jeszcze naprawdę z o b а с z у ć? po co jechać do Toskanii?

Całkiem niedawno, z początkiem sierpnia 1998, londyński
„The Times" donosił: „Państwo Blair oczarowani Toskanią".
Brytyjski premier po raz trzeci w ostatnim czasie spędzi tu
wakacje. Richard Owen skrupulatnie odnotowuje, że Blair
wraz z rodziną zamieszka w 50-pokojowej willi księcia Girolamo Strozzi, w Cusona niedaleko San Gimignano i że do je­
go dyspozycji będzie 1200 akrów książęcej posiadłości. Wie­
lu Włochów jest zachwyconych z tego powodu, inni dziwią
się temu przywiązaniu do jednego miejsca. Z zebranych przez
dziennikarza wypowiedzi stałych mieszkańców wynika, że
Toskania - odmiennie niż sugeruje to „północny" stereotyp jest duszna i pokryta kurzem, cierpi na niedobory wody, miej­
scowi robotnicy są niemili i agresywni, a spod traw wciąż wy­
pełzają jadowite pająki i węże... „Co jest tak atrakcyjnego
w Toskanii, że przyciąga Brytyjczyków" - pyta, cytowana
w artykule, włoska „La Republica". I sama sobie odpowiada:
„Po prostu dlatego, że pragną uciec od deszczowych wybrze­
ży Wysp Brytyjskich do radości i wina Chiantishire".
26

Czyżbyśmy już gdzieś tego nie czytali? Słoneczny mit To­
skanii ma się zupełnie dobrze.
Coś więc chyba jest w tej Toskanii, skoro premier Blair
z małżonką tam się rokrocznie udają. Coś, co syci pragnienia,
ale nie zaspokaja do końca. No tak, ale oni, podobnie jak re­
szta pospólstwa, padają ofiarą złudzenia. Szkoda. Państwo
Blair.... Tak, ci ludzie to byłoby jakieś rozwiązanie....
Ale może jest jeszcze inaczej. Może Toskania to nie jest
ani pojęcie geograficzne ani punkt na mapie. Może jest raczej
nazwą pragnienia. Imieniem tęsknoty. Zarysem formy, która
oczekuje na wypełnienie. I jak kiedyś: wszystko jest w oku
patrzącego. Dla jednych więc pozostanie Toskania kolorową
widokówką, arkadyjskim mirażem. Dla innych - ideałem po
przejściach. Ogrodem leżącym gdzieś „w pół drogi między
nędzą i miłością", między rozpaczą i nadzieją. W którym je­
dyna możliwa koniunkcja będzie zawsze hybrydą przeci­
wieństw. Anemon i popiół.
27

PRZYPISY
' W. Jerofiejew, Moskwa Pieluszki. Poemat, tl. N . Karsov, Sz. Szechter, Londyn 1986, s. 83
Por. wnikliwe i dobrze udokumentowane rozważania C.P. Brand,
Italy and the English Romantics. The Italianate Fashion in Early Ninete­
enth-Century England, Cambridge 1957
F. Nietzsche, Ecce homo, tł. L. Staff, Warszawa 1909, s. 40
P. Muratów, Obrazy Wioch, tł. P. Hertz, Warszawa 1972, t . I , s. 158
Tamże, s. 271
Tamże, s. 264
F. Ankersmit, Język a doświadczenie historyczne, tłum. S. Sikora,
„Konteksty", nr 1-2: 1997, s. 82-84
* Muratów, Obrazy..., s. 295
Tamże, s. 295
Tamże, s. 265
" D.H. Lawrence, Flowery Tuscany, w: Selected Essays, b.m.w.
1954, s. 141-142
Tamże, s. 145-146
E M . Forster, Pokój z widokiem, Л. A. Majchrzak, Warszawa 1992, s. 61
Lawrence, Flowery, s. 140
" T a m ż e , s. 153
Tamże, s. 154
Muratów, Obrazy..., s. 18
A. Camus, Zaślubiny. Lalo. przet. M . Leśniewska, Kraków 1981,
s. 39-40
Tamże, s. 45
Tamże, s. 48-49
Tamże, s. 46-47
2

3

4

5

6

2 2

Tamże, s. 47-48
Tamże, s. 46
Tamże, s. 46
Tamże, s. 50
R. Owen, Blairs beguiled by Tuscany, „The Times", 1 August
1998, s. 12
O trwałości i aktualności toskańskiego mitu wśród Brytyjczyków
pisałem w artykule Anglicy we Włoszech, w: Kino według Alicji, pod red.
W. Godzica i T. Lubelskiego, Kraków 1995, s. 213-221
2 3

2 4

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2 7

7

9

10

i:

NŁWS

Blairs beguiled by Tuscany

12

13

14

16

1 7

19

2 0

21

Ilustracja z artykułu z ..Timesa"

41

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„Etnografia Polska", t. X L V I : 2002, z. 1-2
PL ISSN 0071-1861

ANITA BRODA
Warszawa

TOŻSAMOŚĆ „PRZESIEDLEŃCA"
O LUDNOŚCI PRZESIEDLONEJ PO I I WOJNIE ŚWIATOWEJ ZE WSCHODNIEJ POLSKI
W REJON DZIATŁOWSKI (ZACHODNIA BIAŁORUŚ)
1

WSTĘP

W latach 1944-1947 na wschodnich ziemiach Polski (okolice Białegostoku
i Bielska) została przeprowadzona akcja przesiedleńcza, będąca wynikiem ukła­
du zawartego pomiędzy Białoruską Socjalistyczną Republiką Radziecką (BSRR)
a Polskim Komitetem Wyzwolenia Narodowego (Mironowicz 1993, s. 136).
Celem owej akcji było przemieszczenie zamieszkującej te tereny ludności bia­
łoruskiej, identyfikowanej na podstawie wyznania prawosławnego, na obszar
Białorusi, szczególnie zaś na jej zachodnią część. Przeprowadzone działania
były niejako „lustrzanym odbiciem" wydarzeń mających miejsce na terenie
ówczesnej BSRR, gdzie podobne wysiedlenia dotyczyły osób narodowości pol­
skiej wyznania katolickiego, udających się na tzw. Ziemie Odzyskane. Ludność
białoruska miała, w założeniu organizatorów, przejąć ziemię i gospodarstwa
opuszczających Związek Radziecki Polaków. Akcja, według deklaracji, miała
wyłącznie charakter dobrowolny. Na tereny polskie zostali zatem wysłani pełno­
mocnicy, których zadaniem było przekonanie potencjalnych zainteresowanych
do zamieszkania za wschodnią granicą . Zakończenie przesiedleń planowano po­
czątkowo na rok 1945, trwały one jednak do 1947. W okresie tym ze wschodnich
terenów Polski zostało wysiedlonych ok. 36388 osób (Mironowicz 1993, s. 143).
2

1

Artukuł jest częścią pracy „Być przesiedleńcem. Przykład ludności przesiedlonej po I I woj­
nie światowej ze wschodnich terenów Polski w rejon dziatłowski", napisanej pod kierunkiem
mgr Katarzyny Waszczyńskiej w Instytucie Etnologii i Antropologii Kulturowej UW, w ramach
grupy laboratoryjnej „Obrazy grup narodowych, etnicznych, wyznaniowych i społecznych - Bia­
łoruś, czyli o tożsamości ludności okolic Słonimia i Dziatłowa".
Nie była to pierwsza tego typu inicjatywa dotycząca tych terenów. W latach 1915-1918
przeprowadzono podobną akcję przesiedleńczą, określaną potocznie jako „bieżaństwo". Akcja
dotyczyła ludności prawosławnej zamieszkującej gubernię grodzieńską i wileńską. Główną za­
stosowaną metodą była, tak jak w przypadku przesiedleń po I I wojnie światowej, agitacja pełno­
mocników, przysłanych z carskiej Rosji specjalnie w tym celu. Ich działalność odniosła ogromny
skutek - masowy odpływ ludności przerażonej wizją represji stosowanych przez postępującą na
wschód armię niemiecką (Mironowicz 1999, s. 26).
2

�182

ANITA BRODA

Duże grupy tzw. przesiedleńców trafiły do Grodna, Baranowicz, Słonimia.
Ponad 40 rodzin rozpoczęło nowe życie w Dziatłowie , mieście oddalonym
ok. 40 km od Słonimia.
Moje pierwsze zetknięcie ze zjawiskiem „przesiedleńców" na terenie Biało­
rusi miało miejsce w trakcie badań etnologicznych przeprowadzonych w 2000 r.
w wioskach należących do rejonu dziatłowskiego , jak i w samym mieście.
Istnienie takiego problemu uświadomiło mi spotkanie z rodziną, zamieszkałą
obecnie we wsi Moskalowce, która w 1947 roku wyjechała z Maleszy - miejsco­
wości położonej niedaleko Bielska (Polska). Wieś Moskalowce to niewielka,
licząca zaledwie kilkadziesiąt domów osada, zamieszkana głównie przez ludność
wyznania katolickiego, gdzie jedynymi prawosławnymi są właśnie przyjezdni
z Polski. Wtedy też po raz pierwszy pojawił się termin „przesiedleniec", kluczowy
dla całych moich późniejszych badań, jak i dla treści mojej pracy licencjackiej
oraz tego artykułu. Wtedy również, jeszcze nie całkiem wyraźnie, ukazał się pro­
blem, od którego rozpoczęły się moje poszukiwania: jak rodzina przyjezdnych,
która przed półwieczem wyjechała z Polski i tu znalazła dom, poradziła sobie
z aklimatyzacją w nowym miejscu? Jak przyjęli ich miejscowi? Jak to wtedy
wyglądało i czy teraz sytuacja uległa jakiejś zmianie? Grupa badanych przeze
mnie osób została więc początkowo dobrana na podstawie ich „inności", a tym
co mnie głównie interesowało był charakter relacji pomiędzy dwiema zbiorowościami - miejscowych i przybyłych. Łatwo było zorientować się, że przy­
jezdnych z Polski, z Maleszy czy z innych wiosek województwa białostockiego,
jest w Dziatłowie i okolicach więcej. Rozmówcy wskazywali siebie nawzajem,
konsekwentnie używając określenia „przesiedleniec" . Podczas rozmów nie­
odmiennie powracał motyw wyjazdu z Polski, wspominanego w sposób bardzo
emocjonalny, zjawisko „podwójnej ojczyzny", ale występujący także całkowity
brak jakichkolwiek związków z krajem pochodzenia, nieprzywiązywanie do nich
wagi, marginalizowanie tego okresu życia.
Wtedy pojawiła się refleksja: czy może mam do czynienia ze specyficzną,
jedyną w swoim rodzaju jakością? Jakie znaczenie dla poczucia tożsamości
moich rozmówców ma fakt, że urodzili się poza granicami Białorusi i że zostali
na te tereny gwałtownie, w krótkim czasie „przeniesieni" ze wszystkim, co po­
siadali? Wówczas zrozumiałam, że problem, który początkowo ograniczał się do
relacji „swój" - „obcy" uzyskał nowy wymiar. Pojawiło się pytanie czy wydarze­
nie życiowe, jakim jest zmiana miejsca zamieszkania może wpływać na kształ­
towanie się tożsamości jednostki, a więc czy może istnieć coś takiego jak tożsa­
mość „przesiedleńca" i jaka ona jest? Moje badania, które przeprowadziłam
wśród ludności zamieszkałej w Dziatłowie i jego okolicach, miały odpowiedzieć
na te pytania, a poniższa praca prezentuje ich wyniki.
3

4

5

6

3

Polska nazwa - Zdzięcioł.
Są to wioski: Moskalowce, Raklewicze, Butwiełowicze i Wiązowiec.
Miałam wrażenie, jakby słowo to było kluczowe - niezbędne w procesie wyodrębniania
z grupy.
Porównaj: relacja „swój"-obcy", w: Religia i obcość, E. Nowicka (red.), Kraków 1991.
4

5

6

�183

TOŻSAMOŚĆ „PRZESIEDLEŃCA"

Tłumaczalnyj słounik biełaruskoj literaturnoj mowy pod hasłem „pierasialeniec" zawiera bardzo ogólną definicję tego pojęcia: „przesiedleniec" to „czieławiek jaki pierasialijsia ci pierasialajecca na nowaje miesta". W definicji tej
został jedynie podkreślony fakt zmiany miejsca zamieszkania na nowe, doko­
nywany p r z e z j e d n o s t k ę . Słownik nie zawiera terminu „przesiedlenie".
Według Krystyny Kersten, historyka, badaczki przesiedleń w X X wieku, pro­
blem ten nie jest zjawiskiem o wymiarze jednostkowym, gdyż jest to zorgani­
zowane przemieszczenie zbiorowości, zarówno przymusowe, jak i dobrowolne,
które ponadto „obejmuje nie tylko wyrwanie z dotychczasowego otoczenia, lecz
również trwałe osiedlenie w nowym miejscu" (Kersten 1997, s. 19). Posługując
się tą wskazówką postanowiłam pokazać w pracy zarówno moment „wyrwania",
zaznaczając jego przyczyny i okoliczności, jak i moment „osiedlenia". Ale histo­
ria tego tak ważnego dla większości moich rozmówców wydarzenia to tylko
część opowieści. Drugim, niemniej ważnym elementem, jest odpowiedź na pyta­
nie, kim jest przesiedlony dzisiaj. Istotne więc będzie zarówno to, co rozmówca
pamięta i w jaki sposób, jak i to, jak ten bagaż wspomnień wpływa (i czy wpły­
wa) na jego samookreślenie.
Przed przystąpieniem do dalszych rozważań uważam za konieczne zaznaczyć,
że w moich badaniach skupiłam się wyłącznie na relacjach i opiniach samych
„przesiedleńców", także w przypadku ich kontaktów z „miejscowymi" . Będzie
to zatem historia przesiedlenia widziana wyłącznie oczami samych „przybyszów" .
Grupa moich rozmówców obejmowała 30 rodzin przesiedlonych z Polski
w latach 1944-1947 z wiosek: Zaczerlany, Lewickie, Maleszy, Wojszki, Ryboły,
Białki, Pawlinowo, Niewadzica Norgilewska, Solniczki. Część tych osób wyje­
chała dobrowolnie (okolice Bielska - Wojszki, Ryboły, Pawlinowo, Białki), część
- pod przymusem, w wyniku różnego rodzaju represji (wioski położone blisko
Białegostoku - Zaczerlany, Lewickie, Niewadzica Norgilewska, Solniczki; wy­
jątkiem są Maleszy położone w rejonie bielskim) . Obecnie mieszkają w Dzia­
tłowie oraz w wioskach położonych w jego okolicy: Moskalowcach, Raklewiczach, Butwiełowiczach i Wiązowcu . Wśród 32 rozmówców było 14 mężczyzn
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Tzn. ludność urodzoną na Białorusi, zamieszkującą Dziatłowo i jego okolice w momencie
przyjazdu „przesiedleńców" i obecnie. W dalszej części artykułu grupę tę będę również określać
jako „ludność miejscową".
W ten sposób określam ludność wyznania prawosławnego, która została przesiedlona
z terenów polskich na obszar Białorusi w latach 1944-1947.
Przeprowadzone przeze mnie badania wskazują na to, iż przejmowanie inicjatywy w kwe­
stii wyjazdu ma ścisły związek z położeniem miejscowości, z której pochodzi rozmówca. Im
bliżej Białegostoku położona była wioska, tym mniej dobrowolny wyjazd. Wiąże się to naj­
prawdopodobniej z tym, że w okolicach dużego miasta działalność różnego rodzaju band była
dużo aktywniejsza a sytuacja bardziej napięta. Na południe od Białegostoku oddziaływanie band
było mniejsze. Tu z kolei przejmowali inicjatywę przedstawiciele władzy sowieckiej, którzy
namawiali ludzi do przeniesienia się na Białoruś.
W większości przypadków Dziatłowo i okolice były punktem docelowym, choć nie­
wielka grupa mieszkała także początkowo w Darachanowie, w okolicach Bobruj ska (wsch.
część Białorusi).
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i 18 kobiet. Bardzo istotny jest wiek badanych: przeważająca liczba to ludzie
pomiędzy 65 a 70 rokiem życia, tzn. tacy, którzy w momencie wyjazdu byli
jeszcze bardzo mali (ok. 5-7 lat), lub ci, którzy przekroczyli siedemdziesiątkę
(wiek w momencie wyjazdu - 11-16 lat). Najmniejszą grupę (dwie osoby) sta­
nowili rozmówcy po 80-tym roku życia. Moi rozmówcy to przede wszystkim
emeryci z wykształceniem podstawowym (jedynie dwie panie były czynne za­
wodowo, w tym jedna z wyższym wykształceniem). Najprawdopodobniej udało
mi się dotrzeć do wszystkich żyjących w Dziatłowie „przesiedleńców". Uznaję,
że grupa ta liczy obecnie ok. 30 rodzin .
Artykuł składa się z dwóch części. Pierwsza dotyczy historii przesiedle­
nia, opisanej przez rozmówców z perspektywy lat, złożonej z ich własnych
wspomnień i relacji bliskich. Druga pokazuje obecną sytuację „przesiedleńca"
ukazaną poprzez jego osobiste sądy i opinie, oraz zawiera próbę odpowiedzi na
pytanie, kim jest on dzisiaj.
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CZĘŚĆ I
BAGAŻ „PRZESIEDLEŃCA", CZYLI HISTORIA WYJAZDU Z POLSKI

Rozpoczynając analizę materiału dotyczącego historii wyjazdu, jego przyczyn
i okoliczności oraz wszystkich wspomnień o tym wydarzeniu, chciałabym wyjaś­
nić dlaczego będzie to stanowić tak istotną część artykułu. Zagadnienie to mogę
podzielić na trzy oddzielne tematy, które składają się na obraz tego, co cytowana
już K. Kersten określa mianem „wyrwania z rodzimego środowiska - «małej
ojczyzny»" (Kersten 1997, s. 17):
1. Opis życia w Polsce przed wyjazdem (sytuacja materialna i wspomnienia
z kraju pochodzenia);
2. Okoliczności wyjazdu (przyczyny, bagaż, informacje i wyobrażenia na
temat miejsca przeznaczenia a także nastrój, jaki towarzyszył podjęciu
decyzji o opuszczeniu Polski);
3. Miejsce przybycia (subiektywna ocena miejsca przybycia, także sytuacji
życiowej, relacje z innymi „przesiedleńcami", kontakty z miejscowymi).
Próba dotarcia do indywidualnej historii „przybysza", jego subiektywnej
wizji tego, co wydarzyło się w jego życiu, była ważnym elementem moich badań
nad „tożsamością przesiedleńczą". Interesował mnie charakter tych wspomnień,
czyli to, co w opisywanych zdarzeniach było dla rozmówcy najważniejsze i co
najbardziej utkwiło w jego w pamięci. Równie istotna dla analizy zagadnienia
była osobista ocena wydarzeń dokonywana przez rozmówców, stosunek do nich,
odczucia i emocje. Chodziło mi o zdobycie jak najpełniejszego obrazu tego
okresu ich życia. Nie było i nie jest moim celem weryfikowanie uzyskanych
11

Wnioskuję to z tego, że pod koniec moich badań w relacjach rozmówców nie pojawiało się
już żadne nazwisko „przybysza", którego bym nie znała i z którym nie udałoby mi się prze­
prowadzić rozmowy.

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w rozmowach informacji i porównywanie ich z odpowiednimi źródłami histo­
rycznymi. Obiektem mojego zainteresowania jest wyłącznie historia widziana
przez pryzmat wypowiedzi „przesiedleńców".
PRZED WYJAZDEM

Na zawarty we wspomnieniach rozmówców opis życia sprzed wyjazdu z Polski
składają się dwa elementy: z jednej strony, charakterystyka sytuacji materialnej
i ocena warunków życia (w niektórych rozmowach ten temat bywał rozszerzany
0 omawianie relacji między ludnością prawosławną a „Polakami" ), z drugiej
- mniej lub bardziej zatarty obraz rodzinnej miejscowości i jej okolic. Ilość
1 jakość udzielanych na ten temat informacji jest uzależniona głównie od wieku,
w jakim byli rozmówcy w czasie gdy opuszczali Polskę - u tych najmłodszych
zatarte już wspomnienia z kraju narodzin były prawdopodobnie odświeżane
opowieściami rodziców, przez co są rodzajem „relacji pośredniej". Poza tym zde­
cydowana większość „przesiedleńców" z Dziatłowa odwiedziła co najmniej raz
Polskę, czy to, aby spotkać pozostałych tam krewnych, czy to w celach zarob­
kowych. Miało to najprawdopodobniej wpływ na ich obraz kraju pochodzenia.
Charakter wspomnień zależy jednak także od tego, czy rozmówcy wyjeżdżali do
Polski dobrowolnie, czy też pod przymusem . Być może wpływ na wspomnienia
miał także fakt, że w życiu rozmówców był to pierwszy tak znaczący wyjazd .
Opis życia przed wyjazdem jest wyraźnie umieszczony w kontekście sytua­
cji, w jakiej znaleźli się „przesiedleńcy" na Białorusi. Ocena warunków życia
w Polsce jest zawsze w relacjach rozmówców zestawiona z tym, co zastali oni
po przyjeździe. To ciągłe porównywanie sprawia, że często tych dwóch opisów
nie można od siebie oddzielić. Należy poza tym zaznaczyć, że na pytania
dotyczące wspomnień z Polski odpowiadano chętnie i bez specjalnych oporów.
Opisując warunki życia w Polsce podkreślano, że były one zbliżone do tych,
z którymi rozmówcy spotkali się na Białorusi lub nawet gorsze. Jest to zrozumiałe
u tych osób, które wyjechały z Polski dobrowolnie , dla których względy
ekonomiczne, m.in. mała ilość ziemi, często stawały się przyczyną wyjazdu:
Ziemli tam nie była, rabotać nie balszo, no siudaprijechali, tut haziajstwo imieli,
jeszczo kałchozaw nie było w ta wremia tut, tut haziajstwo wziali, stali rabotać
na haziajstwie, no i żyli ot, tak [3].
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Mianem „Polaków" określam, za moimi rozmówcami, ludność wyznania katolickiego, za­
mieszkującą wioski w Polsce, z których przybyli „przesiedleńcy".
Pod określeniem „wyjazd dobrowolny" rozumiem sytuację, kiedy „przesiedleńcy" samo­
dzielnie podejmowali decyzję o wyjeździe, gdyż było to dla nich, w ich pojęciu, dobre. Nie
wykluczam w tym wypadku, że byli oni do opuszczenia Polski namawiani przez wyznaczonych
do tego celu pełnomocników, nie można tu jednak mówić o wyjeździe wymuszonym. W ten
sposób wyjeżdżali ci, którzy obawiali się represji ze strony tzw. band, których działalność stano­
wiła zagrożenie dla ich mienia, zdrowia a nawet życia.
90% moich rozmówców stwierdziło, że dla nich, a także dla ich rodziców, był to pierwszy
i ostatni poważny wyjazd. Podczas pobytu w Polsce wybierali się od czasu do czasu do Białego­
stoku ale poza tym prowadzili zdecydowanie osiadły tryb życia.
Tzn. ok. 60% moich rozmówców.
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ANITA BRODA

U niektórych rozmówców wyraźnie widać zadowolenie ze zmiany warunków
życia, jaka nastąpiła po opuszczeniu Polski. W tym kontekście dokonywana jest
ocena sytuacji sprzed wyjazdu Zamiana własnego gospodarstwa, do którego
utrzymania konieczna była ciężka praca, na zatrudnienie w kołchozie u części
rozmówców budziło uczucia pozytywne.
Jeśli chodzi o relacje z Polakami to tylko w nielicznych rozmowach pojawił się
opis tego typu kontaktów. Były one na ogół określane jako pozytywne, pełne wza­
jemnej sympatii, przynajmniej do chwil bezpośrednio poprzedzających wyjazd.
Zupełnie inaczej kształtuje się ocena życia w kraju urodzenia we wspomnie­
niach tych, którzy wyjechali pod wpływem represji i w atmosferze strachu .
Według nich, życie w Polsce było dużo łatwiejsze i przyjemniejsze niż to w miejs­
cu przesiedlenia. Oto typowa wypowiedź na ten temat: / hruzij szto choczesz.
I kartoszku brali z domu swaju, u nas kartoszka była dobraja, no ziemia dobra
była tam. Rasło wsio. Żywinu trymali, było czym dobrać. No. Samy abrablali
gaspodarku, nikogo nie najmali... Dom był u nas dobryj, nowy, na hutorie
żyli. Usio było swajo...
- Duży był dom?
- Duży. Maładzioż była drużnaja, usie hulali i świata sprawiali i... drużno
żyli. A patom pamału, pamału i zradzilisie ety bandy i wsio [7].
Drugim elementem składającym się na opis sytuacji przed przesiedleniem
jest zapamiętany przez rozmówców wygląd wioski, jej charakterystyka, oceny
estetyczne itd. Większość moich rozmówców miała dosyć ogólny obraz miejsco­
wości, w której mieszkali w Polsce. Informacje na ten temat ograniczały się do
określenia wielkości wioski, głównie na podstawie liczby domów. Dokładniejsze
wspomnienia, naznaczone większym zaangażowaniem emocjonalnym, są rzad­
sze i wiążą się przeważnie z poczuciem przynależności do miejsca urodzenia,
z tęsknotą za nim. W takich opisach można odnaleźć zarówno żal spowodowany
wyjazdem, jak i podświadomą chęć powrotu.
Spotkałam się jedynie z dwoma przypadkami, w których rozmówcy nie potra­
fili nic powiedzieć na temat swojego miejsca urodzenia, tłumacząc to tym, że
w momencie wyjazdu byli bardzo młodzi i zbyt dużo upłynęło czasu.
Podsumowując: znaczna większość moich rozmówców nie idealizowała życia
przed wyjazdem, zarówno sytuacji materialnej, jak i wyglądu okolicy, w której
się urodzili. Na postrzeganie obu zagadnień ogromny wpływ miały przyczyny
wyjazdu. Ci, którzy wyjechali dobrowolnie wspominają to, co ich skłoniło do
opuszczenia Polski, a był to przeważnie niski standard życia. Co do wyglądu
wioski - twierdzą zwykle, że była ładna, ale nie potrafią dokładnie jej opisać.
W przypadku wyjazdów przymusowych wspomnienia dotyczące wioski są już
bardziej szczegółowe, ale tylko w wyjątkowych przypadkach naprawdę dokładne
(wtedy, gdy rozmówcy czują silną więź z miejscem pochodzenia). Przymus
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16 Przymusowa kolektywizacja rolnictwa zachodniej Białorusi została przeprowadzona w la­
tach 1949-1952 (Mironowicz 1999, s. 180).
Tzn. ok. 40% moich rozmówców.
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towarzyszący przesiedleniom wpływa natomiast na pewną idealizację warun­
ków życia w Polsce. Rozmówcy uważają, że spotkała ich krzywda, gdyż po
przyjeździe na Białoruś standard ich życia obniżył się. Jest to jednak zasada,
od której także zdarzają się wyjątki.
OKOLICZNOŚCI W Y J A Z D U

Przystępując do kwestii opisu samych okoliczności wyjazdu należy najpierw
wyjaśnić pewne zawiłości terminologiczne. Jednym z najważniejszych proble­
mów są przyczyny przesiedlenia, widziane przez rozmówców. Zdecydowałam
się dokonać rozróżnienia na wyjazd wymuszony i dobrowolny, posługując się
typologią migracji proponowaną przez amerykańskiego socjologa, Williama
Petersena (Petersen 1958, s. 256). Określenie „wymuszony" uważam za traf­
niejsze niż „przymusowy". Moi rozmówcy samodzielnie dokonywali wyboru
- zostać czy wyjechać, mieli więc teoretycznie możliwość pozostania (określe­
nie „przymusowy" sygnalizuje, jak się wydaje, brak jakiegokolwiek wyboru),
wyjazd wiązał się jednak z chęcią ochrony życia lub zdrowia. Oznacza to,
że „przesiedleńcy" znaleźli się pod presją - poprzez zastraszenie (działalność
różnego rodzaju band) zasugerowano im, jaką decyzję powinni podjąć. W ich
przekonaniu była to jedyna szansa na normalne, spokojne życie.
PRZYCZYNY WYJAZDU

Większą część moich rozmówców (ok. 60%) stanowią ci, którzy wyjechali
z Polski dobrowolnie. Głównym motywem była, z całą pewnością, trudna sytua­
cja materialna - nieduża ilość ziemi lub utrata domu w wyniku działań wojen­
nych. Rozmówcy (lub ich rodzice) wierzyli w to, że wyjazd pomoże im „stanąć
na nogi", szczególnie, że przedstawiciele władzy sowieckiej (ruskie ahienty,
ahitatory, werbowszczyki) roztaczali przed nimi wizję dobrobytu, panującego
w BSRR. Były jednak i inne przyczyny, np. możliwość bezpłatnego kształcenia
dzieci. Zdarzało się także, że opuszczano dotychczasowe miejsce zamieszkania,
by znaleźć się bliżej jednego z członków rodziny, przebywającego na terenie
Związku Radzieckiego.
W przypadku wyjazdów dobrowolnych w relacjach moich rozmówców poja­
wia się postać agenta, zwanego werbowszczykiem lub ahitatorem. Jego nakła­
nianie do wyjazdu uważają oni za bezpośrednią przyczynę podjęcia decyzji
o przesiedleniu: - Można była astatsa?
- Można, etoż nikto nie zastawiał nas, no prosta zahitirowali, szto tam łuczsze budziecie żyć cziem tut. No i atiec padumał i pojechał.
- No kto wam skazał szto zdies budziet łuczsze?
- No ety, tam byli, ety... no, priedstawicieli, werbowszczyki no, adsiuda, zRasieji,
z Sajuza. No i szto liepsza żyźń, szto łuczsze, patamu szto tam biedna żyli... [14].
Z niektórych wypowiedzi można wręcz dosłownie wyczytać, że gdyby nie inge­
rencja owych przedstawicieli „przesiedleńcy" nie opuściliby swoich gospodarstw.

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Dlatego też część moich rozmówców właśnie ich obarcza winą za rozczarowa­
nie, jakie ich spotkało po wyjeździe: Można byłaby nie jechać, no zadumał atiec
i wsio. No padwieszczali, szto charaszo żyć i wsio, liudzi pawieryli. No szto żyli
tam [niezrozumiałe] eta nie chuże była, eta jasna... Как rabotał eta imieł wsio.
Sam siebie haziajnem... [14].
Druga grupa rozmówców (ok. 40%) to ci, których wyjazd z Polski został
wymuszony. Tu sprawa jest dużo bardziej skomplikowana. W przypadku moich
rozmówców określenie wyjazd wymuszony odnosi się raczej do ingerencji
tzw. b a n d niż do oficjalnych działań władz państwowych, zaangażowanych
w akcję przesiedleńczą. W każdym razie rozmówcy nie wiążą działalności „ban­
dytów" z oficjalną polityką rządową, podkreślając nawet, że była to działalność
bezprawna, której stanowczo się przeciwstawiano.
Najczęściej pojawiające się określenia dotyczące grup, które wymogły na
części moich rozmówców opuszczenie granic państwa polskiego to: bandity,
partizany bandy. Spotykałam jednak nazwy, które pozwalają sprecyzować, kim
- według „przesiedleńców" - oni byli: chłopcy z lasu, bandy Mikołajczyka, Palaki,
Narodna Armia. Nie było przedmiotem moich badań dociekanie, jaka jest prawda
i kim faktycznie były bandy, których działalność w tak wydatnym stopniu wpły­
nęła na losy moich rozmówców. Interesowało mnie jedynie, jak ten problem
wygląda z punktu widzenia samych zainteresowanych, dlatego skupiłam się
wyłącznie na ich opiniach. Duża rozbieżność w wypowiedziach rozmówców
nie pozwala ostatecznie określić, kto jest odpowiedzialny za wyjazd ludności pra­
wosławnej z Polski. Rozmówcy zgadzają się jedynie co do tego, że byli to Polacy.
Przyczyny takiego postępowania „prześladowców" były niezrozumiałe dla
prawie wszystkich osób, z którymi rozmawiałam. Tylko dwoje rozmówców
podało konkretny cel działalności band - potrzebowali oni domów dla siebie
i swoich rodzin przesiedlanych z Białorusi: No wyrzucali, jak eto skazać, ani
wyrzucali patamu, szto im nada byli dama, ani adsiuda sabrali swai rodzicieli,
panimajecie iii niet? No to prijeżdżali polskije siemii tuda do Polski a prawo­
sławne ujeżdżali siuda do Rosji. Im potrzebny był dom. Iw etom dzieła. No przy­
szli nocziu i dwadzieścia cztery godziny, sztoby żywego duchu tu nie było i wsio.
W tom dzieło [21].
Niektórzy rozmówcy podkreślali, że kwestią decydującą o wyjeździe było
wyznanie: Jakoś mówili w ten czas, że Polska powinna być Polaka - katolika,
a już jeśli my byli tam prawosławne to, no to tak, że nie wszystkie tam chacieli,
no o takie przyjdzie eta... kampania tech, które chacieli, sztoby wyjechać, to
treba zrobić tak, sztoby wyjechać [8].
Uzasadnienie wyjazdu nie przedstawia większych trudności: wyjeżdżali, po­
nieważ obawiali się o życie swoje i swoich rodzin.
Co istotne, u większości rozmówców fakt „wygnania" z Polski nie budzi więk­
szych emocji i nie wpływa na negatywny obraz wszystkich Polaków, choć zda­
rzają się i takie opinie: Ale szto za duszy u waszych Polaków, wy skazy tie, szto za
serce takoje, jak to tak? Tady pośle wajny byli, to jany biełaruskowo czieławieka
nienawoczy! [2].

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TOŻSAMOŚĆ „PRZESIEDLEŃCA"

Jedynie nieliczna grupa rozmówców nie mogła podać przyczyn swojego wy­
jazdu z Polski. Twierdzili, że niewiele pamiętają i niewiele ich to zagadnienie
interesuje. Wypowiedzi takie charakteryzują osoby, które miały 4-5 lat w mo­
mencie wyjazdu, przez co nie dociekały jego przyczyn i nie brały udziału
w przygotowaniach: Jaż mówię, takie lata, szto jeszczo i nie pytali się. Nakar­
mili, napoili ipałażyli spać... Ispij. Nas nie intieresowało [16] .
Niezależnie od tego, czy wyjazd był dobrowolny czy wymuszony, opuszcza­
niu wioski zawsze towarzyszyło uczucie przygnębienia, wiążące się z pozosta­
wieniem domu, gospodarstwa, rodziny oraz miejsca, które moi rozmówcy znali
i w którym czuli się bezpiecznie. Bardzo często, nawet w przypadku wyjazdów
dobrowolnych, rozmówcy wyjeżdżali tylko w wyniku stanowczej decyzji jednego
z członków rodziny, najczęściej ojca. Sami nie deklarowali wyraźnego zaintere­
sowania możliwością przesiedlenia.
18

BAGAŻ

Gdy w rozmowach poruszałam kwestię bagażu (jego ilości i jakości) intere­
sowało mnie, co bierze, a co zostawia człowiek „przenoszący swoje życie"
w inne miejsce oraz, jaki wpływ na status „przesiedleńca" miała ilość rzeczy,
które ze sobą zabrał. Odpowiedzi na oba te pytania były podobne we wszystkich
prawie rozmowach. Po pierwsze, „przesiedleńcy" mieli prawo zabrać ze sobą
wszystko, co zdołali przewieźć, tak że często tym, co zostawało był jedynie
pusty dom oraz ziemia. Po drugie, wielkość bagażu zależała od pomocy sąsia­
dów i liczby wagonów przydzielonych rodzinie , a także od czasu, którego
zwykle mieli od dwóch tygodni do kilku miesięcy. Spotkałam się tylko z jednym
wyjątkiem od tej reguły, gdzie rodzinie na wyjazd dano trzy dni.
Zabierano zwierzęta (konie, krowy, świnie, drób), proste umeblowanie
domu, narzędzia gospodarskie, ubrania, pościel, produkty żywnościowe itd.
Czasami brano również zboże i kartofle, ale znacznie częściej zdawano je
i wpisywano w tzw. ewakuacjonnyj list, aby odzyskać jego równowartość po
przyjeździe na Białoruś. Podobnie działo się z acenką domu i ziemi, pozo­
stawianych w Polsce. Wszystko, co „przesiedleńcy" zostawiali mieli odzyskać
w nowym miejscu. Nie jechali więc z pustymi rękami, a to, jak twierdzą roz­
mówcy, miało wielki wpływ na ich pozycję po przyjeździe. „Przesiedleniec",
według nich, to ten, kto przyjeżdża z całym dobytkiem, w związku z czym
dobrze mu się powodzi, a bieżency - anyż z pustymi rukami. Eta raznica [6].
Istotne jest to, że fakt wyjazdu nie czynił z „przesiedleńców" biedaków i nie
obniżał gwałtownie, jak można by przypuszczać, ich społecznego statusu.
Wprost przeciwnie - bagaż, który wyjeżdżający zabierali ze sobą zapewniał im
najczęściej dobry start w nowych warunkach.
19

1 8

1 9

Rozmówczyni stanowi wyjątek, bowiem wyjechała z Polski, mając lat 14.
Tj. od 1 do 3.

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WYOBRAŻENIA I INFORMACJE N A TEMAT MIEJSCA

PRZEZNACZENIA

Decyzja o wyjeździe, jak wynika z relacji, była jedną z najpoważniejszych,
jakie musiała podjąć rodzina rozmówcy. Jej przyczyny starałam się przybliżyć
wcześniej. W tym miejscu zajmę się przedstawieniem wizerunku Białorusi jako
miejsca przeznaczenia. Był on na ogół wynikiem zarówno własnych przemyśleń,
jak i opinii sąsiadów, znajomych i krewnych. Składała się na niego raczej ograni­
czona wiedza, jak też wiele przypuszczeń i wyobrażeń. Interesowało mnie rów­
nież to, czy rozmówcy wiedzieli, gdzie jadą i czy mieli jakiś wpływ na wybór
miejsca zamieszkania.
Z przeprowadzonych przeze mnie rozmów wynika, że większość dziatłowskich „przesiedleńców" nie wiedziała dokąd jedzie. Oto typowa odpowiedź na
pytanie o cel podróży: My nie znali kuda nas wiezut. Prosta tak jechali i jechali.
Kuda? W Biełarusiu, w Biełarusiu. A kuda w Biełarusi, ilisiuda, iii gdzie indziej,
Bielarus toz nie malienkaja, tożesz, mahli i tut sieść, mahli gdzie ta, ło, pojechać
na Paliesie iii kuda nibudź dalsze... No, tut o, prijechali i tut naszli [3].
Byli jednak i tacy (mniej liczni), których wypowiedzi świadczą o tym, że
znali cel trasy, czasem nawet sami go wybierali: Nam skaz... powiedzieli, my
chcieli jechać w Stołpowski rajon niekij, Stołpcy, ło, tam my chcieli jechać. Nam
powiedziali, że tam nie ma miestow, ło. I my użo zapisali ździeś, o, na hety, na
Baranowicze, w etu storonu, posowietul tam uże w Bielsku nam, eto wakucjonnyj
list takije dajuć i tamże zapisane, gdzie my pojedziem. I że my wiedzieli, gdzie
my uże jedziemy [4].
Jeśli chodzi o opinie dotyczące miejsca przeznaczenia, to nie są one zbyt
liczne i w większości negatywne. Są one „zlepkiem" własnych przemyśleń oraz
rad, jakich udzielali „przesiedleńcom" ich krewni i sąsiedzi : Okna tolko wzięli,
ety... bo u nas nie mówili, szto tam dadzą dom, może ziemianki budziem kapać
to choć okna buduć.
- Ale tak ludzie mówili, ze wam nie dadzą domu? Kto tak mówił?
- No, abhawarywali ludzi, oj, nie, nie buduć domy [15].
Z przeprowadzonych przeze mnie rozmów wynika, że uwagi dotyczące życia
na Białorusi, jakie „przesiedleńcy" zebrali przed swoim wyjazdem (przynajmniej
ze strony najbliższych) były najczęściej krytyczne. Przeciwwagą dla raczej
negatywnego obrazu miejsca przeznaczenia, jaki posiadali „przesiedleńcy" była
idealistyczna wizja przedstawiana przez wspomnianych już agitatorów. Celem ich
działalności było właśnie wykorzenienie tego pierwszego, negatywnego obrazu.
Przyjęcie przez rozmówców informacji, jakich dostarczali im agenci było zwykle
równoznaczne z podjęciem decyzji o wyjeździe lub taką decyzję ułatwiało.
Właściwie więc wiedza moich rozmówców na temat nowego miejsca była
niewielka. Być może byłoby inaczej, gdyby nie fakt, że większość z nich nigdy
wcześniej sama nie była w tych okolicach. Cała wizja „nowego życia" opierała
20

2 0

Z przeprowadzonych przeze mnie rozmów wynika, że „przesiedleńcy" zasięgali opinii
znajomych (w tym także sąsiadów wyznania katolickiego) przed podjęciem decyzji o wyjeździe.

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191

się z jednej strony na negatywnym obrazie przedstawianym przez otoczenie, z dru­
giej - na zachęcających opowieściach agitatorów. Żaden z tych obrazów nie był
prawdziwy, a jak było w istocie - „przesiedleńcy" mieli okazję przekonać się sami.
MIEJSCE PRZYBYCIA

Chciałabym przejść do ostatniego punktu składającego się na historię prze­
siedlenia, czyli do „miejsce przybycia". Temu fragmentowi historii „przesiedleń­
ców" poświęciłam stosunkowo dużo miejsca w badaniach. Interesowało mnie,
jak rozmówcy odbierali nieznaną wcześniej miejscowość, czy im się podobała,
jak szybko przebiegła adaptacja. Istotne były także relacje z miejscową ludno­
ścią - nawiązywanie kontaktów, przełamywanie oporów i różnic kulturowych.
Równie ciekawym zagadnieniem okazały się kontakty z innymi „przesiedleń­
cami". Zależało mi też na ustaleniu, jak duże znaczenie dla rozmówców miały
związki z tymi, którzy mieli podobne do nich doświadczenia.
OCENA MIEJSCA PRZYBYCIA

Interesujące jest, że duża część moich rozmówców na pytanie, czy podobało
im się Dziatłowo (lub sąsiadująca z nim wioska, w której zamieszkali) odpo­
wiadała, że nie miało to wtedy dla nich żadnego znaczenia - nie mieli bowiem
innego wyjścia i musieli tu zamieszkać: Żyć nada była. Ot tak. A padabało
sie, nie padabało sie - nikto nie smatrieł. Ot tak [16]. W wyborze miejsca nie
kierowali się estetyką, lecz kwestiami praktycznymi. Dużo istotniejszy od wy­
glądu Dziatłowa był np. stan domu czy urodzajność ziemi. Dlatego też ocena
miejsca przybycia ogranicza się niemal wyłącznie do opisu sytuacji materialnej,
jaką zastali. Warto tu przytoczyć kilka wypowiedzi dotyczących właśnie domu,
który rozmówcy otrzymywali na Białorusi. Niektórzy szukali go sami, innym
miejscowe władze przydzielały go odgórnie na podstawie dokumentów przy­
wiezionych z Polski. Powodowało to, że zadowoleni mogli być tylko ci, którzy
przyjeżdżali stosunkowo wcześnie - później nie było już w czym wybierać:
- / jak ten dom, w jakim on był stanie?
- Mały i stareńki taki był dom, padniszczeny takij był, znajecie. Nie da
smotra on był. Nie da smotra... No ale pamalieńku, papa jeho padremoncirował
i pierestroił, padniał, wysze zrabił, wsio, no i aczyścili, zrabili domik jak
domik, patamu szto papa był samym dobrym stolieram, to papa znaczit się
to znał etu rabotu [16].
Czasami opisowi domu towarzyszyły narzekania na poprzednich gospodarzy,
na to, że nie potrafili dobrze zbudować lub zaniedbali go: Jak pryjechali to tut
kuchnie stali, woda zamarzała [...] nic nie zrobione było, padłoga była zgnite, to
ja sam rabił padłogu bo było, jak my przyjechali to tu jamy byli [11].
Zdarzały się przypadki, że za jeden dobry, murowany dom w Polsce przy­
jezdni otrzymywali dwa drewniane, znajdujące się w bardzo złym stanie. Musiało
to budzić rozczarowanie i zniechęcenie.

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ANITA BRODA

Jeśli chodzi o przydział ziemi, to rozmówcy przeważnie twierdzili, że było jej
więcej niż posiadali w Polsce, niedługo jednak mogli się nią cieszyć. Zorganizowa­
nie kołchozów pozbawiło ich ziemi. Większość przesiedlonych odczuła to jako
osobistą klęskę i krzywdę. Poczuli się oszukani, gdyż nikt, jak wynika z przepro­
wadzonych przeze mnie rozmów, nie spodziewał się tego. Nie byli jednak skorzy
do wygłaszania opinii na temat systemu gospodarczego, w jakim przyszło im żyć.
Choć rozmówcy, oceniając miejsce przybycia, głównie skupiali się na domu
i ziemi, udało mi się zebrać kilka opinii na temat wyglądu Dziatłowa. Były to
zwykle wypowiedzi lekceważące, może dlatego, że prowokowała je prośba
0 porównanie życia w wiosce (Polska) z życiem w mieście (Białoruś). Oto bardzo
typowa wypowiedź jednego z rozmówców: Oj, tam takoje miasta, takoje była
miasta, szto eta [śmiech] trecia czaść ciepier żesz nie. Sczas wsio padastraiwałpsia, to i toże mała jak i wioska była. Nicziewo tut nie było. Eta czietwiorta uże
czaść, może piataja Dziatłowa astałasie ad tych ło, katoryje prijechali. A eta
sczias uże było, nastawiali chat sczias uze, ło, to był hor ad wastał. A tak...
wioska była ta sama. A nikto nikoho nie pytał -padabajetsa iii nie podobajetsa.
Chocież - bieri, a nie to... szukaj dalej [17].
Z przedstawionych opinii wynika, że przybysze nie byli zadowoleni z za­
stanych warunków. Podsumowując wypowiedzi można jednak stwierdzić, że
tak naprawdę ich sytuacja materialna nie uległa jakiejś zasadniczej zmianie.
Mamy tu do czynienia z „podróżą życia" - przeniesieniem się w inne miejsce
osób, które do tej pory nie ruszały się ze swej osady, nie znajduje to jednak
odbicia w odczuwalnych zmianach warunków egzystencji.
21

KONTAKTY Z I N N Y M I „PRZESIEDLEŃCAMI"

Rozpatrywanie zagadnienia kontaktów pomiędzy osobami, które przybyły
z Polski po I I wojnie światowej rozpoczęłam od ustalenia, czy taka relacja w ogóle
istniała. Ogromna większość moich rozmówców zadeklarowała, że ich rodzice
lub oni sami utrzymywali ścisłe kontakty z innymi „przesiedleńcami" na krótko po
przyjeździe i jeszcze w jakiś czas potem. Najbliższe kontakty wiązały ich z tymi,
którzy przyjechali z tej samej wioski z Polski. Więzi te były najsilniejsze, być
może dlatego, że przybyszy łączyło zarówno sąsiedztwo w Polsce, wspólny wy­
jazd, wspólnie przebyta droga, jak i sąsiedztwo w nowym miejscu zamieszkania.
W opisach relacji, jakie łączyły rozmówców z innymi „przesiedleńcami" bar­
dzo często pojawiają się określenia „jak radnia", „jak rodstwienniki": Daże et
jeśli niescziasno słuczi, plocho kakij to, tak uże wsie bolsze как radstwienniki
prichodiat odwiedzawati, adprawaditi wpoślednijpuć [9].
Z wypowiedzi tych można wnioskować, że ludzie, którzy urodzili się w Polsce
1 których spotkał ten sam los musieli w krótkim czasie przenieść się w nowe,
nieznane miejsce - odczuwali względem siebie bliskość i byli sobie potrzebni.
2 1

Powstawanie kołchozów przypada na lata 1946-1950, wtedy to realizowano pięcioletni
plan odnowy i rozwoju narodowej gospodarki w BSRR. Zakładał on między innymi tworzenie
kołchozów i sowchozów (Istorija Biełarusi 2000, s. 98, 100, 137).

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1

Związane było to m.in. z potrzebą bezpieczeństwa. Przyjezdni mieli bowiem do
siebie zaufanie a w grupie czuli się silniejsi.
Utrzymywanie bliskich kontaktów z osobami pochodzącymi z innych miejsco­
wości w Polsce jest rzadsze, ale również występuje. Interesujący jest sposób od­
najdywania się „przesiedleńców", już po przybyciu na nowe miejsce. Zwykle do­
chodziło do tego w miejscu pracy lub w cerkwi, albo po prostu na ulicy, gdyż - jak
twierdzili rozmówcy - Dziatłowo to małe miasto, w którym wszyscy się znają.
Ciekawe jest, że przy nawiązywaniu bądź odnawianiu kontaktów „pieresieleńcy" nie dokonywali analizy charakteru drugiego człowieka, nie oceniali, czy
warto utrzymywać z nim bliższe kontakty. Nie to było ważne. Byli przecież
„jak radnia", a rodziny się nie wybiera... Potrzeba odnalezienia osób w pewnym
sensie bliskich w obcym środowisku jest najlepiej widoczna w tym, z jaką ochotą
moi rozmówcy osiedlali się w miejscu, gdzie żyli już inni „przesiedleńcy": Zdies
uże byli z Biełastoka, [niezrozumiałe] nasze pieresieleńcy i как radzicieli uznali
ich, to tut srazu dali dama nam wsiem [5].
Określając charakter relacji pomiędzy „przesiedleńcami", moi rozmówcy
wspominali o wzajemnej pomocy w „zadomowieniu się" w nowym miejscu, ale
także o wspólnym obchodzeniu świąt, także rodzinnych. Naturalne było zapra­
szanie na wesela, chrzciny i pogrzeby. Reasumując można stwierdzić, że utrzy­
mywanie kontaktów z innymi przyjezdnymi było jednym z najważniejszych
elementów życia moich rozmówców. Żadna z osób, z którymi rozmawiałam nie
przyznała się do braku jakichkolwiek więzi łączących ją z innymi „przesiedleń­
cami" w tym okresie.
KONTAKTY Z MIEJSCOWĄ LUDNOŚCIĄ

Temat ten jest szeroki, dlatego - dla przejrzystości tekstu - zawężę go do
kilku punktów, które pokażą jak układały się (bezpośrednio po przyjeździe) kon­
takty między „przesiedleńcami" a ludnością miejscową. Należy w tym miejscu
zaznaczyć, że będzie to relacja jednostronna, gdyż moje badania obejmowały
jedynie grupę przesiedlonych. Było to z mojej strony świadome założenie, gdyż,
jak już zostało wcześniej zaznaczone, interesowała mnie historia „przesiedleń­
ców" „widziana ich oczami".
JĘZYK

Interesowało mnie, czy język miejscowy różnił się od języka przesiedlonych
i czy w związku z tym mieli oni problemy ze zrozumieniem go. Analiza tego
zagadnienia miała mi pomóc w określeniu tempa „wtapiania się" przybyszów
w otoczenie. Drugą interesującą mnie kwestią było: czy „przesiedleńców" roz­
poznawano na podstawie języka, to znaczy do jakiego stopnia byli identyfiko­
wani z odmienną mową.
22

2 2

Mam tu na myśli zjawisko asymilacji kulturowej, definiowanej jako „proces wzajemnego
przenikania się i zlewania kultur" (Kubiak, Paluch, 1980). Ważne w tej definicji jest wyraźne
zaznaczenie, że proces, o którym mowa ma działanie obustronne.

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ANITA BRODA

W kwestii różnic językowych pojawiły się dwie sprzeczne opinie. Część roz­
mówców twierdziła, że były one niewielkie lub żadne i że na ich podstawie nie
dało się zidentyfikować „przesiedleńca". Twierdzili oni, że język, którym posłu­
giwali się w Polsce był na tyle podobny (lub taki sam), że nie istniały kłopoty
z komunikacją. Oto potwierdzająca to wypowiedź:
- Ale jak było z językiem, rozumieliście co ludzie mówią jak tu przyjecha­
liście?
-Au
nas na futorie tak i hawarili.
- Tak samo?
- [śmiech] No. Jak da mnie tut z Bielszczyny prijechali to wsie tak hawarili
a jak treba było z wioski to po polsku uże hawarili [12].
Inni twierdzili natomiast, że istniały wyraźne różnice językowe, które utrud­
niały kontakty: [...] a razmowa jak, łojl Na stołek - hedoń (?),jak śnieg pada,
zawierucha - kutaza, oj, eta ich jazyk, ja nie razumieł, szto ani mówią. Kutaza...
- Ale to oni po jakiemu...
- O! Dla konia chabut - kulbaczka, na siodełko, siodełko, takie co - kulbaczka,
o, takie [15]. Odmienności językowe pozwalały także bardzo łatwo ustalić, czy
dana osoba przyjechała z Polski, czy nie: [śmiech] No, srazu poznawali, szto
pieresielenka bo rozgawor nie toj.
- Ale czy oprócz języka jeszcze po czymś ludzie poznawali, że pani z Polski
przyjechała?
- Nie.
- Tylko po języku?
- Po języku. Jak staniesz hawarić to tady [15].
Jak widać, trudno jest jednoznacznie określić czy język, którym posługiwali
się „przesiedleńcy" był podobny do używanego w okolicach Dziatłowa, czy też
zasadniczo się od niego różnił. Dodatkowo komplikuje tę kwestię to, że część
rozmówców czyniła rozróżnienie na język „prosty" - ten, którym mówili
w Polsce, i białoruski - obowiązujący w nowym miejscu. Niektórzy podkreślali
poza tym, że ich język w Polsce był bardziej podobny do ukraińskiego i stąd
wynikały owe utrudniające komunikację różnice: U nas w dzierewniu, u naszej,
w asnawnom razhawariwali na chachłackom jazykie, na ukraińskam. Ot nie
„gdzie" hawarili a „de". „De"piszoł... takijesława. To u nas bolszez chachłackim. A tut ot, biełaruski, ruski kanieszna, tak szto [5].
Wszyscy moi rozmówcy podkreślali jednak, że nie mieli kłopotów z przy­
swojeniem sobie nowego języka. Przy języku „przywiezionym" z Polski pozo­
stały, według rozmówców, tylko osoby najstarsze - rodzice lub dziadkowie. Stąd
przeprowadzanie identyfikacji „przesiedleńców" na podstawie różnic języko­
wych nie sprawdziło się.
PORÓWNANIE: JA -

MIEJSCOWY

Konieczność zadawania pytań dotyczących zauważalnych różnic kulturowych
jest łatwa do wytłumaczenia. Interesująca mnie ludność przenosząc się w nowe

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miejsce zabierała z sobą wspomniany już „bagaż przesiedleńca". W tym wypadku
chodziło mi jednak o pewien światopogląd, przyzwyczajenia czy zwyczaje.
W wypowiedziach rozmówców szukałam odpowiedzi na pytanie czy dostrzegali
oni różnice kulturowe i czy miały one dla nich jakieś znaczenie. Słowem, czy
rozmówcy (krótko po przyjeździe) porównywali siebie z ludnością miejscową
i jaki wpływ miało to na ich poczucie odrębności. Czy można tu mówić o zja­
wisku „szoku kulturowego" ? Zastanawiało mnie również czy możliwe jest
stworzenie autowizerunku „przesiedleńca" na podstawie takich opinii.
Niemal wszystkie zaobserwowane i zapamiętane przez rozmówców różnice
kulturowe dotyczą zachowań w życiu codziennym. Nie spotkałam się z opisami
innego sposobu obchodzenia świąt, innego wyglądu czy stroju. Rozmówcy spo­
radycznie porównywali konkretne cechy charakteru, przypisywane wszystkim
„przesiedleńcom" i wszystkim miejscowym. Do wymienionych zalet przybyszów
należała schludność, pracowitość, „akuratność". Rozmówcy nie wyrażali w tym
wypadku, jak twierdzili, swoich opinii - takie zdanie miała o nich ludność
miejscowa: Tut ruhalis matam, brytkimi sławami, a nasze prijechali to naszych
uważali, szto nasze takie grzeczne, uważitielnyje. I uważali nas oczień, patamu
szto... ot nie znaju, prijechali i uważali oczień sobstwienno...
- Ale coś mówili, jacy wy jesteście...?
- No sczytali nas takimi akuratnymi [7].
Oprócz pozytywnych cech, „przesiedleńcy" posiadali umiejętności, których,
według ich opinii, nie miała ludność miejscowa, np. przyjezdne kobiety świetnie
gotowały: U nas usie kobiety umieli smaczno hatowić. Piakli ciastki, poncziki,
u mienie mama hatowiła... A eta nasielenia, no takoje, tut katore żyli, one nie umieli
takprigatowić wsio, a nasze kobiety usie, pieresieleńskije, ani hotowali smaczno.
I u nas czysto u chatach było, akuratna i nas uważali za eta, eta nasilenie nas
uważała [18]. Stwierdzenie „nas uważali" pojawia się w większości wypowiedzi.
Zalety i umiejętności odróżniające przybyłych od miejscowych to jednak nie
wszystko. „Przesiedleńcy" przyznają, że mieli inne obyczaje, przyzwyczajenia,
w których wyniku ich życie zaraz po przyjeździe nie było łatwe. Do najczęś­
ciej wymienianych różnic należą innowacje gospodarskie, jakie przyjezdni znali
z Polski, a jakich nie znaleźli na Białorusi. Dziwiło ich wiele rzeczy, m.in.
zwyczaj trzymania kur w chacie, podczas gdy w Polsce rozpowszechnione były
kurniki: kury wa wsich byli, ja nie priedstawliaju ciepier, nas u Polszczę
wabszcze eta w chacie kab kury byli, noczowali. I wypuskali zimoj karmić ich
u ety, u chaci. A chat nie piereharodzina, to ony na krawacie te kury lecieli i na
stół, prilecieli na stół [niezrozumiałe]. My to musić toże dzierżali srazu jak adnu
zimu, bo nie było gdzie ich. A patom kurasznik pastwili, patom usie naczali
kuraszniki stroić na ulicy, ciepier nikto, szto ty, łojl [1]. Równie kłopotliwe były
23

2 3

Pojęcie szoku kulturowego przytaczam za antropologiem K. Obergiem (Oberg 1960). Rozu­
miał on pod tym pojęciem zaburzenie funkcjonowania psychosomatycznego wywołane przedłu­
żającym się kontaktem z odmienną, nieznaną kulturą i dostrzeżeniem różnic w funkcjonowaniu
własnej i obcej kultury.

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ANITA BRODA
24

tzw. ruskie piece . „Przesiedleńcy", przyzwyczajeni do „normalnych" grzew­
czych płyt, nie potrafili w takim piecu gotować. Kontrowersje wzbudzał również
brak firanek w oknach. Rozmówcy opowiadali, jak trudno im było znieść wraże­
nie, że są ciągle podglądani. W tym wypadku także wystąpili jako prekursorzy.
Ich „innowacje" w postaci firanek, tak jak i kurników, naśladowali mieszkańcy
tej samej ulicy lub całej wioski. „Przesiedleńcy" odczuwali też pewną obcość ze
względu na obyczaje. Przykładem mogą być zwyczaje związane z wioskowymi
zabawami: / wie pani, u nas takij zakon był, że, u Polszczy - dziewczyna sama
nie pójdzie na tancy, jeśli chłop jej nie przygłosi, o. A tu, nie! Aby muzyka za­
grała - przyjdzie i pamierli [4] oraz kwestią podziału ról w rodzinie: Jak mama
to nigdzie nie rabila paka nie umierła. Tata ot, takije raboty rabil i kazał:
Ty hoduj dzieciej, a ja budu zarabiać chleb, na to ty haziajka. A tut żesz wsie
robiać, tut mużczyny i żenszczyny robiać, wsie! Tut nie ma, tut nikto nie skazał
z mużczyn, szto ty haziajka, tobie trudna, ciażka, tut nie [15].
Rozmówcy widzieli dokładnie te elementy swojej kultury (ułatwiające życie
innowacje, normy obyczajowe), które odróżniały ich od ludności miejscowej.
Więcej, chlubili się nimi i byli konsekwentni w ich podtrzymywaniu, a nawet
ekspansywni kulturowo. Ich samoocena była wysoka: czuli się lepsi, jako
przedstawiciele wyższej, bardziej rozwiniętej cywilizacji.
25

OKREŚLENIA DOTYCZĄCE PRZYJEZDNYCH

W wypowiedziach moich rozmówców pojawia się kilka nazw, którymi okreś­
lali ich miejscowi. Każda z nich ma inne znaczenie i kładzie nacisk na co innego.
Najczęściej występujące określenia to: „pieresieleniec", „bieżeniec", „Palak"
i „pryjeżdyj". To pierwsze jest powszechne - dlatego też pojawiło się w prawie
wszystkich rozmowach. Użyłam go także jako teoretycznego „pojęcia" do okreś­
lenia przedmiotu moich badań. „Przesiedleniec", według rozmówców, jest
nazwą neutralną. Brak jej w każdym razie negatywnego zabarwienia. Wynika
wprost z faktu przesiedlenia - przeniesienia się w inne miejsce.
Jak już wspomniałam, w niektórych przypadkach określenie „pieresieleniec"
zestawiane było ze słowem „bieżeniec". To drugie, z punktu widzenia samych
zainteresowanych, było wartościowane negatywnie. Rozmówcy podkreślali,
że dla „bieżeńców" jedyną przyczyną wyjazdu z kraju pochodzenia był strach,
jednoznacznie kojarzony z tchórzostwem. A oto, jaka jest definicja tego słowa
stworzona przez samych rozmówców: Jany uciekali ad wajny. Jany uciekali ad
frontu, ad bandziożek, wot tamu jany uciehali i biehli. Jak z Czieczni ciepier
uciehajut ludzi. I wsie jany uciehajut, jany mianawita uciehajut ad wajny. Jany
nie zastajutsa na miestie a uciehajut [6]. Oba określenia dotyczyły sytuacji ma­
terialnej przybyłych, z tym że „bieżeniec" to ten, który przyjechał „z jedną
walizką", „pieresieleniec"zaś - ten, który ma ze sobą cały swój dobytek.
2 4

Tym mianem był określany zrobiony z gliny piec piekarski, nie posiadający płyty grzew­
czej. W jego wnętrzu nie tylko pieczono, ale także gotowano.
Mam tu na myśli pojęcie autostereotypu, rozumianego jako wyobrażenia o grupie własnej,
wyrażane poprzez sądy przekonaniowe (Szarota 1995, s. 4).
2 5

�TOŻSAMOŚĆ „PRZESIEDLEŃCA"

197

Nieco inaczej rozumieją rozmówcy znaczenie słowa „pryjeżdżyj". Występo­
wało ono, jak wynika z wywiadów, obok określenia „pieresieleniec", i pełniło
funkcję wzmacniającą. „Pryjeżdżyj" to ten, który nie jest „swój", jest „obcy".
Najlepiej wyjaśnia to jedna z rozmówczyń: Eta pryjeżdżyje - każe. Eta nie naszy
eta pryjeżdżeny. Ot takie jak ja - ot pryjeżdży, pryjeżdży ot, pieresieliliś [16].
Pewne kontrowersje towarzyszyły natomiast kwestii użycia określenia „Palaki" w odniesieniu do moich rozmówców. W niektórych przypadkach moje
pytanie budziło zaskoczenie. Osoby, z którymi rozmawiałam twierdziły, że
nigdy nie zwracano się do nich w ten sposób, gdyż nie są Polakami. Zadawane
pytanie wynikało jednak z kilku wywiadów, w których pojawiło się takie stwier­
dzenie: U nas czysto u chatach było, akuratna i nas uważali za eta. Eto nasilenie
nas uważała, o, to Palaki. Ani nas nazywali Palakami, Palaki, o, to Palaki [18].
W tej wypowiedzi widać, że określenie to miało również charakter pozytywny,
podkreślało bowiem poziom kultury.
Należałoby dodać, że niemal w 100% pozytywnie oceniono przyjęcie „prze­
siedleńców" przez ludność miejscową. Spotkałam się tylko z jednym złym
wspomnieniem: / tut my pewnyj czas nie moglipryżitsa, bo nas nazywali bieżeńcami, abrażali nas, bo tut ludzi żyli, jeny swoj eto, swaja [niezrozumiałe] była
i im heto było nie z usim to spadoba. Bo kali żyłosie na prykład u hetu chatu
czeławiek, ludzkij czeławiek, kali koło było ludzki susiedzi, to wiadomo, etim
susiedom nie padabałosia ety swojaki, szto prijechali niekije tut żywuć. Etot
men tali tet heto zwyczajna posta czeławieka i tut niczeho nie zrabisz [6].
Najlepiej jednak kwestię kontaktów „przesiedleńców" z ludnością miejscową
podsumowuje wypowiedź jednej z rozmówczyń:
- No, niech pani powie, jak oni was tu przyjęli?
- No... No, nie powiedzieć, szto nieważna, no, my byli dla nich... cudzyje [20].
Widać zatem, że z jednej strony relacje można określić jako poprawne - brak
konfliktów, dobre traktowanie nowo przybyłych, z drugiej jednak strony „prze­
siedleńcy" byli odbierani jako „obcy" i zachowywano wobec nich dystans.

CZĘŚĆ II
K I M JEST „PRZESIEDLENIEC" DZISIAJ?

Obecnie w Dziatłowie i okolicach żyje ponad 30 rodzin, które przyjechały
z Polski po I I wojnie światowej. Wiek tych ludzi waha się od 60 do 80 lat. Więk­
szość z nich wychowała się na Białorusi i tu spędziła całe swoje dorosłe życie.
Są związani z tym miejscem, ale przecież urodzili się w Polsce. Powstaje więc
pytanie: czy i jak oba te miejsca funkcjonują w ich świadomości? Kim jest
dzisiaj „przybysz zza zachodniej granicy"?
RELACJE Z LUDNOŚCIĄ MIEJSCOWĄ

Na wstępie muszę zaznaczyć, że interesowało mnie tylko to, co wiązało się
bezpośrednio z postrzeganiem „przesiedleńców", z tym, czy moi rozmówcy

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ANITA BRODA

nadal są określani jako przybysze i czy są na tej podstawie identyfikowani
i wyodrębniani. Chciałam się dowiedzieć, czy „przesiedleńcy" traktowani są
obecnie przez miejscowych jak „swoi", czy też spotykają się z jakąkolwiek
manifestacją obcości.
Pierwszym i podstawowym dowodem na wyodrębnianie przesiedlonych
spośród mieszkańców Dziatłowa i okolic jest fakt, że nie miałam problemów
z odnalezieniem interesujących mnie osób. „Przesiedleńców" potrafili wskazać
zarówno starsi mieszkańcy, jak i wiele osób spośród młodzieży. Świadczy to
o tym, że pamięć o przesiedleniu istnieje w świadomości ludności dziatłowskiej.
Funkcjonuje też w dalszym ciągu określenie „przesiedleniec". Na pytanie, które
kierowałam do rozmówców, czy mieszkańcy Dziatłowa wiedzą o tym, że przy­
jechał on z Polski otrzymywałam prawie zawsze odpowiedź twierdzącą: - Ale
czy teraz, dzisiaj, wszyscy w wiosce wiedzą, że pani z Polski przyjechała?
- No a czemuż nie? Ja uże ad sorok wasmowo hoda tut żywu to czemuż nie
wiedajut? Wiedajut. Szto z Biełastoku, szto z Lewickich. A gmina Juchnowiec...
- Wiedzą wszyscy? A młodzi też wiedzą? Młodzież?
- No a czemu nie wiedzą? Jaż każu - piendziesiat uże tri hody tut żywu to
znajuć [12].
Dodać także należy, że sami „przesiedleńcy" udzielali mi rad, jak można ich
odnaleźć w dalszych wioskach: Так как pójdziesz w Narbutowicze pytajsia,
kto tut z Polszy - skażuć [1]. Rady te świadczą o tym, że zdają sobie sprawę ze
swojej odrębności. Zdarzały się jednak wypowiedzi (bardzo rzadko), w których
rozmówcy mówili mi, że nikt już nie pamięta o ich przyjeździe i powszechnie są
uważani za miejscowych:
- A miestnyje liudzi - ani sczitajut was toże miestnymi iii ani dalsze gawariat,
szto wypieresieleńcy?
- No uże zabyto, uże sczas nie tak, uże, no ransze to... a sczas uże wsio praszło. Pieresieleńcy - eta kto tam? [14].
Mimo takich jednostkowych wypowiedzi mogę stwierdzić, że określenie
„pieresieleniec" ciągle jeszcze funkcjonuje, a ludzie określani tym mianem
są wyodrębniani z grupy „miejscowych". Wydaje się natomiast, że fakt po­
chodzenia z Polski niewiele dzisiaj już znaczy. Nie idzie za tym żadna głębsza
treść. „Przesiedleniec" to już nie to samo co „akuratny", nie jest to już słowo
- klucz do określenia „jakości" człowieka. Proces ten postępuje w bardzo
szybkim tempie.
RELACJE Z I N N Y M I „PRZESIEDLEŃCAMI"

Opisując historię „przesiedleńców" stosunkowo dużo miejsca poświęciłam
kontaktom, jakie utrzymywali oni pomiędzy sobą. Interesowało mnie, czy w tak
trudnej sytuacji życiowej, w jakiej się znaleźli szukali oni oparcia w grupie ludzi
o podobnych doświadczeniach. Czy tak traumatyczne wydarzenie mogło stwo­
rzyć więź grupową, czy mogło w końcu stworzyć grupę? W pełni na to pytanie
można odpowiedzieć tylko po przyjrzeniu się „przesiedleńcom" dzisiaj.

�TOŻSAMOŚĆ „PRZESIEDLEŃCA"

199

Trudno jest jednoznacznie stwierdzić, że „przesiedleńcy" podtrzymują
ścisłe kontakty ze swoimi „ziemlakami" , czy też, że takie relacje w ogóle
nie istnieją. Większość osób, z którymi rozmawiałam potrafiła wskazać kolej­
ne nazwisko, choć czasem bez adresu. Zwykle rozmówca informował mnie
o jednej lub dwóch takich osobach. Czasem trudności sprawiało określe­
nie miejsca zamieszkania, co może wskazywać, że odwiedziny nie są obecnie
specjalnie praktykowane.
Nie obowiązuje też zasada, że rozmówcy wskazują przede wszystkim osoby,
które pochodzą z tej samej miejscowości, co oni. Wygląda na to, że przez czas,
który upłynął od przyjazdu z Polski większość „przesiedleńców" poznała się
wzajemnie i fakt pochodzenia z jednej miejscowości przestał odgrywać tak
zasadniczą rolę integracyjną. Teraz jednoczy ich raczej przynależność dojednej
grupy. Nie są już „przesiedleńcami z Maleszy", „z Zaczerlan", „z Ryboł". Nie
zawsze potrafią nawet określić, z jakiej wioski przyjechał sąsiad lub znajomy:
No znaju, szto ziemlaki, a z jakoj wioski dapuścim, eto znaju, szto sasied byl,
no jak sasied... no karocze i tut pa sąsiedztwie i tam, on z hutora a ja z dzierewni
byl. A Liebiedzinskoj to nie znaju, iii tam z Parosław iii z gdzie tam, to szto
riadam gdzie tam byli. Gdzie ta riadam byli [17].
Prawie wszystkie osoby, z którymi rozmawiałam potrafiły wskazać innych
„przesiedleńców". Przyznawały się jedynie do tego, że nie utrzymują z nimi
kontaktów z powodu dużej ilości zajęć (Dziatłowo) lub odległości (okoliczne
wioski). Nawet długo nie widziani spotykają się niczym rodzina i biorą udział
w ważnych uroczystościach, takich jak wesele, chrzciny czy pogrzeb (dziś głów­
nie w tych ostatnich).
Wydaje się, że więzi wciąż istnieją, ulegają jednak osłabieniu z uwagi na wiek
rozmówców, którym trudno jest przemierzać duże odległości, aby się spotkać,
a także fakt zaadaptowania się do nowej sytuacji. Kontakty, które miały miejsce
zaraz po przyjeździe nie są już konieczne. „Przesiedleńcy" nie potrzebują od
siebie tak dużego wsparcia jak wówczas. Czują jednak wspólnotę, na co wskazują
kontakty przy naprawdę ważnych okazjach.
26

KONTAKTY Z OSOBAMI POZOSTAŁYMI W POLSCE

W zagadnieniu dotyczącym kontaktów z bliskimi pozostałymi w Polsce za­
wiera się nie tylko sama relacja z krewnymi, ale także wszelkie próby utrzymania
związków z krajem pochodzenia. Interesowało mnie to, czy rozmówcy wiedzą,
jak żyje w Polsce ich rodzina, czy interesują się jej losami, czy się odwiedzają.
Jakie formy kontaktu są praktykowane? Ważne było również to, czy posiadanie
rodziny w Polsce stanowi element tożsamości „przesiedleńca", czy odczuwa on
przez to swoją „częściową" przynależność do kraju pochodzenia. W tym miejscu
warto także wspomnieć o wiadomościach, jakie posiadają rozmówcy o Polsce,
np. czy interesuje ich sytuacja polityczna, społeczna.
6

„Ziemlak" - rodak. W tym wypadku dotyczy to krewnych pozostałych w Polsce.

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ANITA BRODA

Prawie wszyscy moi rozmówcy (poza jednym) posiadają rodzinę w Polsce,
w większości przypadków wiedza o niej jest jednak niewielka. Są to na ogół ci,
którzy nie chcieli bądź nie zdążyli wyjechać. Większość moich rozmówców
deklarowała, że jeździła w odwiedziny do rodziny przynajmniej raz. Byli i tacy,
którzy jeździli do Polski kilkanaście razy, w niewielkich odstępach czasu.
Podczas wizyt w Polsce rozmówcy nie tylko odwiedzali (i odwiedzają) krew­
nych, z których duża część mieszka obecnie w Białymstoku, ale także jeżdżą
do swoich rodzinnych wiosek, aby „odnowić" wspomnienia z dzieciństwa lub
młodości. Odnajdują swój dom i często poznają jego obecnych mieszkańców.
Podczas tych wizyt dochodzi czasem do trudnych konfrontacji. Jedna z rozmów­
czyń opowiadała mi, jak w trakcie pobytu w Polsce odwiedziła człowieka, który
był członkiem bandy wyganiającej jej rodzinę z Polski: Ja uże zajechała tuda
ipaszła w hosti ipaszła da etoho, szto hnał on nas. Ja waszła a on tak abruciłsia,
on lieżał, eta akurat było na Boże Narodzenie jak ja była... i on tak uże siebie
priedstawliajet, szto on tak nie uznał, no za dziesięć Het, szto ja zmieniłaś
i wsio. Ja każu: nie, ja nie zmieniłaś. No, jak żywietie, a to, a to, jak dzieci?
- Jak dzieci? Stali rabotać, skończyli spiecjalność... I żyć majom gdzie [10].
Spotkałam również osoby, które nie czuły konieczności odwiedzania rodzin­
nych okolic. Tłumaczyły to na ogół po prostu brakiem potrzeby, kiedy indziej
- możliwości. Gdy z różnych przyczyn nie dochodzi do odwiedzin, „przesie­
dleńcom" pozostają listy i telefony. Moi rozmówcy twierdzili jednak, że listy
przychodzą do nich rzadko a telefonowanie za granicę kosztuje zbyt wiele. Stąd
kontakty się urywają. Tylko nieliczni potrafili opowiedzieć, jak teraz żyje ich
rodzina i co u niej słychać. Wyraźnie jednak nie jest to dla nich kwestia ważna
- niezbędna do normalnego funkcjonowania.
Podobnie jest z informacjami dotyczącymi Polski. Rozmówcy oglądają pol­
ską telewizję i słuchają radia, gdyż nie wymaga to specjalnych starań . Gorzej
jest z prasą. Osoby z którymi rozmawiałam twierdziły, że kiedyś kupowały
polskie gazety (nie potrafiły podać tytułów, tylko niektórzy przypominali sobie
Przyjaciółkę), ale teraz już się to nie zdarza . Stąd ich wiadomości na temat
sytuacji w Polsce są bardzo skąpe, prawie żadne. Takie wypowiedzi zdarzały się
niezwykle rzadko: U sio ja paważanie wiedaju, szto ciepier u Polsce robitsa,
szto wasz Kwaśniewski prinimaje reszeniu, wiedaju pra supołki biełoruskije
na Biełastoczczynu, widaju pra peznatajki (?) żywiot u Warszawie, usio heta ja
wiedaju, usio heto ja czytaju usim.
- No właśnie, czyta pani, ale co, jakieś gazety?
27

28

2 7

Większość moich rozmówców ma dostęp do telewizji satelitarnej, gdzie ogląda TV Polo­
nia i inne programy polskiej telewizji. Jednocześnie istnieje także możliwość odbioru „Radia
Maryja" oraz I Programu Polskiego Radia.
Problem polega głównie na braku pieniędzy na prenumeratę polskiej prasy. Poza tym ofer­
ta jest bardzo uboga: rozmówcy mogą kupować właściwie jedynie Głos znad Niemna. Dostęp do
prasy wydawanej w Polsce jest dla mieszkańców Dziatłowa zdecydowanie kłopotliwy i wymaga
sporo wysiłku.
2 8

�201

TOŻSAMOŚĆ „PRZESIEDLEŃCA'

- Wiadomo tego że, panienoczka, wiadomo, hazetu czytaju. Nu i jaś [nie­
zrozumiałe] u Polsce zagoju. Dobra wiedaju palitycznemu nawierno ja wiedaju
i ekonomicznemu [6].
Tak więc, kontakty z krewnymi pozostałymi w Polsce nie są czymś ważnym
w życiu „przesiedleńców" dziatłowskich, ale mimo to w opowieściach o kraju
pochodzenia pojawiają się jako istotny element. Niewielka jest też wiedza
0 współczesnej Polsce a jednak rozmówcy wspominali kraj pochodzenia z roz­
rzewnieniem. Jak to pogodzić? Na to pytanie spróbuję odpowiedzieć w dalszej
części artykułu.
SAMOOKREŚLENIE „PRZESIEDLEŃCA"

Jednym z istotniejszych zagadnień jest to, za kogo uważa się sam „przesiedle­
niec", kim się czuje i z kim się identyfikuje. Interesowało mnie, jak w świado­
mości rozmówców zostają pogodzone dwie (już wielokrotnie wspominane) kwe­
stie: pochodzenia z Polski, z której wyjechali, oraz obecnego życia na Białorusi.
Myślę, że w tym punkcie warto też poruszyć problem dokonywanej przez roz­
mówców oceny losu, jaki ich spotkał.
Jak już starałam się pokazać, identyfikacja „przesiedleńca" z miejscem po­
chodzenia nie jest duża. Nie ma on zbyt wielu informacji na temat Polski i nie
jest ich zdobyciem zainteresowany. Jednocześnie jednak część moich rozmów­
ców starała się mówić do mnie w języku polskim. Wręcz wstydzili się tego, że
słabo pamiętają ten język, tak jakby źle to o nich świadczyło. Spotkałam także
1 takich „przesiedleńców", dla których mówienie w języku polskim (czasami
nawet lepiej niż miejscowa ludność katolicka) jest wartością . Wyraźnie wiąże
się to z pamięcią przynależności do kultury wyższej, za jaką uważano kulturę
polską. Najlepiej można zauważyć to w sposobie, w jakim rozmówcy opowiadają
o różnicach kulturowych, jakie zauważyli tuż po przyjeździe: Ot, daże my na
wiosce żyli to my żyli akuratniej, bolie kulturna żyli my jak tut. Potem prijechali
w miasteczko tak jany wsie kazali - o, heta Palaki, heta szlachta! Patamu szto
u nas byli paścieli, u nas było akuratno ścirano, akuratna robliena tak i wsio. A tut
hetowo nie było. Ot, ja hawaruprawdu... Kultura tam była wyższa czem tut [16].
Wynika z tego, że przynajmniej część „przesiedleńców" czuje swoją inność
opartą na wywodzeniu się z „wyższej kultury". Za tym poczuciem nie idzie
jednakże identyfikacja z Polakami. „Przesiedleńcy" wywodzą się wprawdzie, jak
twierdzą, z kultury polskiej (w znaczeniu lepszej, bardziej rozwiniętej cywiliza­
cji) i są z tego dumni, ale nie uważają się za Polaków.Na bezpośrednie pytania
o to, kim się czują, większość odpowiada, że miejscowymi: Ja uże jeść jak
29

2 9

Mam tu na myśli zamieszkujących Dziatłowo katolików, którzy znają język polski
z kościoła lub (ci starsi) z przedwojennych polskich szkół. „Znajomość" ogranicza się w tym
wypadku głównie do rozumienia tego języka. Jednak wyznanie katolickie jest wciąż utożsa­
miane z narodowością polską (katolik=Polak). Więcej na ten temat można znaleźć w książce
Iwony Kabzińskiej (1999).

�202

ANITA BRODA

miescowy, to ja prażył tut jeśli skazać... piać, to ot tak ot... piedziesiat siem a tam
wsioż że piać, to jak ja mogu sczitać siebie... ja sczitaju siebie miescowym.
0 tak... Ja szkołu kończył, ja szto ucziłsia koncził wsio, adrabił uże i pienśjanier
uże, na piensi darabił, ot tak... Ja uże miescowy Ja tolka tam piać Het prażył [17].
To właśnie ilością lat przeżytych w jednym i w drugim miejscu najczęściej
tłumaczone jest poczucie przynależności.
Najczęstszym przypadkiem identyfikacji jest identyfikacja na podstawie wy­
znania. Ponad połowa moich rozmówców określiła siebie jako prawosławnych.
Określenie „Biełarus", także pojawiające się w wypowiedziach, było przez
rozmówców utożsamiane z pojęciem „prawosławny", według zasady: „Polak-katolik", „Ruski-Biełarus-prawosławny". Jest ono stosowane wymiennie i nie­
koniecznie oznacza identyfikację z narodowością białoruską.
Żaden z moich rozmówców nie stwierdził, że czuje się Polakiem dlatego, że
urodził się w Polsce. Dla kilku jednak osób fakt urodzenia w Polsce ma do dziś
bardzo duże znaczenie:
- Ale czy to ma dla pani znaczenie, że pani przyjechała z Polski?
- Anita, czy majet dla was znaczenie to, szto kali wy byli maleńka, wy chadzili w dzieciaczyj sadzik?
- No tak, no chyba tak [śmiech].
- Tak, tak. Tak jenu jest u waszoj biohrafii, tak samo i dla mienie, takoje dla
mienia majut znaczenije, eto majo życio, eto etap majeho życia i jon jest mój
1 nikuda jeho nie bierz [6].
Zdarza się, że tęsknota za krajem urodzenia jest tak duża, że rozmówca zaczyna
nią żyć . Nikt jednak z moich rozmówców nie wyraził chęci powrotu do Polski.
Przyczyny są zarówno ekonomiczne (zniechęca konieczność zakupu ziemi
i domu na miejscu), jak i rodzinne - dzieci i wnuki, które mieszkają na Białorusi.
Nawet w przypadku tych osób, które odczuwały silną tęsknotę za Polską nie
wchodzi w grę możliwość wyjazdu. Pod tym względem „przesiedleńcy" są bar­
dzo mocno osadzeni w swoim „nowym" miejscu.
30

ZAKOŃCZENIE

Na podstawie przeprowadzonych wywiadów mogę stwierdzić, że fakt wy­
jazdu z Polski stanowi ważny element życia rozmówców. Wnioskuję to z braku
jakichkolwiek oporów w rozmowie na ten temat, jak i dużego zaangażowania
w opowieść. Analizując rozmowy przeprowadzone z „przesiedleńcami" mogę
stwierdzić, że moi rozmówcy po przyjeździe czuli się źle w nowej sytuacji
życiowej, co w niektórych przypadkach było pogłębione przez fakt gwałtow­
nego, wymuszonego wyjazdu. W większości odczuwali pewną obcość kultu­
rową, opartą na różnicach językowych lub też obyczajowych. Byli wyodrębniani
3 0

Rozmówczyni przez cały czas wywiadu mówiła do mnie po polsku, bardzo płynnie
i z dobrym akcentem. Wydawało się jakby wyjechała z Polski zupełnie niedawno.

�203

TOŻSAMOŚĆ „PRZESIEDLEŃCA"

spośród ludności miejscowej poprzez określenia „przesiedleńcy", „bieżeńcy",
„Palaki", „pryjeżdżyje"; czuli się silnie związani z innymi „przesiedleńcami" na
zasadzie wspólnoty losów.
Wielu „przesiedleńców" ma liczne i często drobiazgowe, w większości po­
zytywne, wspomnienia z kraju pochodzenia. W większości utrzymują kontakty
z krajem ojczystym, choćby dzięki pozostałym tam krewnymi. Podkreślają
znajomość języka polskiego, w większości utrzymują stosunki z innymi „prze­
siedleńcami" a przynajmniej znają ich nazwiska. Różnice kulturowe, które
wyodrębniały ich spośród ludności miejscowej, wciąż mają dla nich znaczenie,
choć ulegają zatarciu.
Jednocześnie jednak moi rozmówcy nie wyrażali chęci powrotu do Polski,
gdyż nie widzieli możliwości lub sensu takiego kroku. W większości uważali, że
wtopili się w otoczenie, choć ciągle można ich odnaleźć na podstawie określe­
nia „przesiedleniec". W większości akceptują fakt przesiedlenia, choć niektórzy
wciąż żywią pewną urazę (dotyczy to głównie tych, których wyjazd został
wymuszony).
Na podstawie przeprowadzonych badań można stwierdzić, że fakt wyjazdu
miał ogromny wpływ na ukształtowanie się tożsamości „przesiedleńca" - osoby,
która z racji zmiany środowiska życia „otrzymała" dwie ojczyzny, z którymi
łączą j ą silne więzi, choć mają one różny charakter. Polska to miejsce, z którym
wiążą się przyjemne wspomnienia z dzieciństwa, miejsce, gdzie życie jest naj­
prawdopodobniej łatwiejsze. Jest to ojczyzna, którą musieli z różnych względów
opuścić, stąd większość czuje się jej w jakiś sposób pozbawiona . Nie jest
to jednak strata zbyt dotkliwa, w każdym razie nie do tego stopnia, by chcieli
wrócić. Polska to także miejsce wyższej kultury, którą, w swoim mniemaniu,
reprezentują także i dzisiaj moi rozmówcy. Białoruś zaś, to kraj, gdzie się wycho­
wali i (lub) osiągnęli dorosłość i gdzie spędzili większą część życia. Rozmówcy
czują się „miejscowi" poprzez lata przeżyte w tym miejscu, a także poprzez swoje
prawosławne wyznanie.
Wynika z tego, że na tożsamość „przesiedleńca" składa się podwójna identy­
fikacja - bycie zarazem „z Polski" i „z Białorusi", bycie „przybyszem" i „miejs­
cowym" jednocześnie. Najlepiej obrazują to słowa jednego z rozmówców: Mnie
każetsa szto ja [niezrozumiałe] dwie rodziny. W adnoj radziłsie a druhaja katoraja spitała mnie. O, ů katoraj ja żywut. O, to wsio takoje [17].
Warto jeszcze zaznaczyć, że badana przeze mnie grupa jest niezwykle nietrwała,
gdyż ulega wtopieniu a przede wszystkim wymiera . Jest to grupa zanikająca,
na badania wyczerpujące to zagadnienie nie zostało więc zbyt wiele czasu...
31

32

3 1

Określenie „przymus" dotyczy w tym miejscu nie tylko sytuacji wyjazdu wymuszonego, ale
także decyzji podjętej nieodwołalnie przez rodziców, z którą moi rozmówcy musieli się pogodzić.
Grupa „przesiedleńców" mieszkających w Dziatłowie to osoby w wieku pomiędzy 65
a 90 rokiem życia. Zakładam w tym wypadku, że dziecko „przesiedleńca" urodzone na Białorusi
nie jest „przesiedleńcem", choć z problemem tym należałoby dokładniej zapoznać się w terenie.
3 2

�204

ANITA BRODA
SPIS WYWIADÓW CYTOWANYCH W P R A C Y

33

1. Kobieta ur. 1936 r. w Malieszach (Polska), Białorusinka, prawosławna, Moskalowce, 28.06.2001
2. Kobieta, 1. ok. 65, ur. w Malieszach (Polska), Białorusinka, prawosławna, Raklewicze,
29.06.2001
3. Mężczyzna, 1. ok. 65, ur. w Malieszach (Polska), Białorusin, prawosławny, Dziatłowo, 3.07.2001
4. Kobieta, 1. ok. 80, ur. w Malieszach (Polska), Białorusinka, prawosławna, Dziatłowo, 3.07.2001
5. Kobieta ur. 1939 r. w Wojszkach (Polska), Białorusinka, prawosławna, Dziatłowo, 7.07.2001
6. Kobieta ur. 1940 r. w Lewickich (Polska), Białorusinka, prawosławna, Dziatłowo, 9.07.2001
7. Kobieta ur. 1931 r. w Białkach (Polska), Białorusinka, prawosławna, Dziatłowo, 10.07.2001
8. Kobieta i mężczyzna, 1. ok. 70, ur. w Barszczewie (Polska), w Zaczerlanach (Polska), Biało­
rusini, prawosławni, Dziatłowo, 10.07.2001
9. Kobieta i mężczyzna, 1. ok. 70, ur. w Lewickich (Polska), Białorusini, prawosławni, Dziatłowo,
7.07.2001
10. Kobieta, 1. ok. 90, ur. w Zaczerlanach (Polska), Białorusinka, prawosławna, Dziatłowo,
10.07.2001
11. Mężczyzna, ur. 1921 r. w Lewickich (Polska), Białorusin, prawosławny; Kobieta, ur. 1922 r.
w Pawlinowie (Polska), Białorusinka, prawosławna, Wiązowiec, 31.12.2001
12. Kobieta, ur. 1919 r. w Lewickich (Polska), Białorusinka, prawosławna, Wiązowiec, 31.10.2001
13. Kobieta, ur. 1929 r. w Wojszkach (Polska), Białorusinka, prawosławna, Dziatłowo, 2.11.2001
14. Mężczyzna, ur. 1940 r. w Wojszkach (Polska), Białorusin, prawosławny, Dziatłowo, 3.11.2001
15. Kobieta, ur. 1928 r. w Solniczkach (Polska), Białorusinka, prawosławna, Dziatłowo, 3.11.2001
16. Kobieta, 1. ok. 70, ur. w Zaczerlanach (Polska), Białorusinka, prawosławna, Dziatłowo, 3.11.2001
17. Mężczyzna, ur. 1940 r. w Zaczerlanach (Polska), Białorusin, prawosławny, Dziatłowo, 4.11.2001
18. Kobieta, 1. ok. 65, ur. w Lewickie (Polska), Białorusinka, prawosławna, Dziatłowo, 5.11.2001
19. Mężczyzna, 1. ok. 70, ur. w Wijszkach (Polska), Białorusin, prawosławny, Dziatłowo, 6.11.2001
20. Kobieta, ur. 1925 r. w Zaczerlanach (Polska), Białorusinka, prawosławna, Dziatłowo, 6.11.2001
21. Mężczyzna, ur. 1932 r. w Niewadzicy Norgolewskiej (Polska), Białorusin, prawosławny, Dzia­
tłowo, 7.11.2001

LITERATURA
K a b z i ń s k a I . 1999, Wśród „Kościelnych Polaków".
Wyznaczniki tożsamości
etnicznej
(narodowej) Polaków na Białorusi, Warszawa.
K e r s t e n K. 1997, Przymusowe przemieszczenie ludności, [w:] Utracona ojczyzna, H . Orłow­
ski, A. Sakson (red.), Poznań, s.
M i r o w i с z E. 1993, Białorusini w Polsce 1944-1949, Warszawa.
- 1999, Białoruś, Warszawa.
O b e r g K. 1960, Cultural shock: Adjustment cultural environments, Practical
Anthropology,
nr 7, s. 177-182.
P e t e r s e n W. 1958, General Typology of Migration, American Sociological Review, vol. 23,
s. 256n.
S z a r o t a Т. 1995, Stereotypy narodowe jako temat badań historycznych w Polsce, Dzieje naj­
nowsze, t. 2, s. 3-13.
Tlumaczalnyj słounik... 1999, Tłumaczałnyj słounik biełaruskoj literaturnaj mowy, M . N . Kryłko
(red.), Mińsk.
Założenia teorii... 1980, Założenia teorii asymilacji, H. Kubiak, A.K. Paluch (red.), Wrocław.

Wszystkie wywiady były przeprowadzane przez autorkę artykułu.

�TOŻSAMOŚĆ „PRZESIEDLEŃCA"

205

ANITA BRODA

THE IDENTITY OF "TRANSPLANTED INHABITANTS"
POPULATION REMOVED FROM THE EASTERN TERRITORY OF POST-WAR POLAND
TO WESTERN BELARUS I N THE YEARS 1944-1947
Summary
The study deals with the identity of a "transplanted inhabitant", i.e. that of a person who,
either voluntarily or under pressure, changed suddenly his/her previous place of residence. The
problem is studied on the case of the Russian Orthodox population inhabiting the eastern areas of
post-war Poland and, in the years 1944-1947, removed to Belarus to the district of Dziatlowo.
The author tries to answer the question i f sudden change of locality can contribute to shaping
a particular kind of individual's identity and i f so, what is the identity like. Another question con­
cerns social ties and group identity which might be created i f a group of people is moved together.
The article consists of two parts. In the first one the author presents the process of the popula­
tion transplantation as it was remembered and related by the informants themselves. It included
life in Poland before the displacement, removal to the new place and the beginnings of new life:
relationships with other "displaced persons" and with local inhabitants.
The other part of the study concerns present life and identity of those once transplanted: their
relationships with people with whom they arrived to Belarus, with indigenous inhabitants, with
friends and relatives in Poland. The author is interested in self-definition of the people she studies.
Stories recalling the first period after removal show that at the beginning the newcomers were
regarded as strangers and discriminated from among the "local people". They had the sense of not
belonging to the new environment and that is why they felt close social bond with their own
group. They identified themselves with their place of origin and were identified with it by their
new neighbours as well. Now they have strong connections with Poland, having relatives there,
being attached to Polish language, but at the same time the "transpalanted inhabitants" are
attached to Belarus since so many years have been spent in that country by them.
The article points at the problem of the formation of a very specific identity of "transpalanted
person" embodying, as a matter of fact, two identifications: that of a person "from Poland" and the
one "from Belarus"; "the local" and "the newcomer" at the same time. The element of "two
homelands" can contribute to the the integration of the group and become a meaningful pillar
of group identification.
Translated

by Anna

Kuczyńska-Skrzypek

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                <text>Tożsamość narodowa w szkołach na pograniczu polsko-czeskim / Dziedzictwo kulturowe jako klucz do tożsamości pogranicza polsko-czeskiego</text>
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                <text>Dziedzictwo kulturowe jako klucz do tożsamości pogranicza polsko-czeskiego; pod red. Haliny Rusek,Agnieszki Pieńczak i Jacka Szczyrbowskiego, s.120-139</text>
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                <text>Grabowska, Barbara</text>
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            <description>A language of the resource</description>
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                <text>pol</text>
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                <text>ang.</text>
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                <text>cz.</text>
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            <name>Publisher</name>
            <description>An entity responsible for making the resource available</description>
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              <elementText elementTextId="134327">
                <text>Wydział Etnologii i Nauk o Edukacji Uniwersytetu Śląskiego w Cieszynie</text>
              </elementText>
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            <name>Format</name>
            <description>The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource</description>
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                <text>application/pdf</text>
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              <elementText elementTextId="134329">
                <text>Barbara Grabowska
Uniwersytet Śląski w Katowicach
Instytut Nauk o Edukacji

Tożsamość narodowa młodzieży
na Śląsku Cieszyńskim
Wprowadzenie
We współczesnym świecie dominującej wieloznaczności człowiek, a zwłaszcza człowiek młody, staje przed coraz trudniejszym zadaniem samookreślenia. Zadanie to jest
szczególne ze względu na okres rozwojowy, jakim jest dorastanie1, ale także, a może
przede wszystkim, ze względu na kontekst kulturowy płynnej ponowoczesności. Agendy socjalizacyjne wprowadzają człowieka w różnorodne sfery kultury, za pośrednictwem których poznaje on wartości, zdobywa doświadczenie i wiedzę umożliwiającą mu
poznawanie siebie i dokonywanie refleksji. A dzisiejszy zróżnicowany świat sprawia, że
tkwimy w „pułapce wieloznaczności”2 i, jak zauważa Zygmunt Bauman,
człowiek współczesny przechodzi w życiu przez wiele nieskoordynowanych wzajemnie, często rozbieżnych, czasem sprzecznych światów społecznych. Co więcej, w każdym momencie życia człowiek
zamieszkuje jednocześnie kilka takich rozbieżnych światów. W rezultacie jest „wykorzeniony” z każdego
z nich i nie jest „u siebie” w żadnym. Można go nazwać „obcym uniwersalnym”. Chciałoby się powiedzieć,
że jest on „w pełni u siebie” tylko sam ze sobą3.

Opisana powyżej sytuacja może dotyczyć zwłaszcza członków mniejszości narodowych, którzy funkcjonują często równolegle w dwóch kulturach, mniejszościowej
i większościowej.
Przedmiotem rozważań w prezentowanej pracy pragnę uczynić kwestie tożsamości etnicznej/narodowej młodzieży, członków mniejszości narodowej w perspektywie
porównawczej z młodzieżą pochodzącą z grup większościowych, polskiej i czeskiej.
1 W okresie dorastania młody człowiek przechodzi kryzys tożsamości, i aby go pokonać
musi scalić dotychczasową wiedzę o sobie, skonfrontować ze swoją przeszłością i koncepcją
przyszłości. Zob. I. Obuchowska: Drogi dorastania. Warszawa 1996.
2 Określenie Zygmunta Baumana.
3 Z. Bauman: Wieloznaczność nowoczesna. Nowoczesność wieloznaczna. Warszawa 1995, s. 134-135.

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Rozumienie tożsamości w naukach społecznych
Poszukiwanie tożsamości jest najistotniejszym, najtrwalszym i najtrudniejszym zadaniem w rozwoju człowieka, ponieważ sukces bądź niepowodzenie w zbudowaniu
jasno określonej tożsamości ma istotne implikacje dla wielu ważnych funkcji psychicznych, takich jak autoregulacja, przetwarzanie informacji odnoszących się do Ja,
doświadczanie afektu, wyznaczanie celów, spostrzeganie innych, czy też zachowania
wobec innych4. Zygmunt Bauman pisze, że tożsamość jest jedną z „najbardziej uniwersalnych ludzkich potrzeb, potrzeb przynależności lub bycia akceptowanym, potrzeb bezpieczeństwa”5. Jednak,
dociera ona do świadomości wtedy dopiero, gdy pytamy „kim jestem” i „gdzie jest moje miejsce” –
a pytamy wówczas, gdy prosta, jednoznaczna i natychmiastowa odpowiedź nie przychodzi łatwo, przysparza kłopotu, wymaga zastanowienia6.

Bez określenia „kim jestem” człowiek nie jest w stanie w pełni funkcjonować w społeczeństwie.
Spośród procesów społecznych stwarzających rosnące zapotrzebowanie na dyskurs
tożsamościowy wymienia się7 przyśpieszoną indywidualizację i bezprecedensową
ruch­liwość współczesnych ludzi, a w kontekście tożsamości zbiorowej wskazuje się na
renesans etniczności, zmierzch idei państwa narodowego, uznanie dla zasady wielo­
kulturowości, nowe ruchy społeczne, bunt przeciwko kolonializmowi i wewnętrznemu kolonializmowi, feminizmie i innych. Ważnym czynnikiem wpływającym na proces kształtowania się tożsamości jest – zdaniem Anthonego Giddensa8 – kulturowy
aspekt globalizacji. Zaawansowanie procesów komunikacyjnych pozwoliło na rozłączność pomiędzy doświadczaniem społecznych sytuacji a miejscem, w jakim takie
doświadczenie się realizuje9.
Analizując literaturę przedmiotu dotyczącą tożsamości człowieka należy zauważyć,
że istnieje wieloznaczność i nieprecyzyjność w zakresie tego pojęcia. Zdarzają się też
podejścia kwestionujące sens używania tego pojęcia poprzez używanie określeń „porzucenie tożsamości” czy „koniec tożsamości”10. Krytykę pojęcia tożsamości w sposób najbardziej radykalny przeprowadził Rogers Brubaker11.
4 Zob. Umysł społeczny. Poznawcze i motywacyjne aspekty zachowań interpersonalnych.
Red. Forgas, K. D. Williams, L. Wheeler. Gdańsk 2005.
5 Z. Bauman: Ziemia, krew, tożsamość, „Przegląd Polonijny” 1993, nr 4, s. 8.
6 Z. Bauman: Tożsamość. Wtedy, teraz, po co? W: Idee a urządzanie świata społecznego.
Red. E. Nowicka, M. Chałubiński. Warszawa 1999, s. 43.
7 Zob. J. Szacki: O tożsamości (zwłaszcza narodowej), „Kultura i Społeczeństwo” 2004,
nr 3, s. 11-12.
8 Zob. A. Giddens: Nowoczesność i tożsamość. „Ja” i społeczeństwo w epoce późnej nowoczesności. Warszawa 2007.
9 Zob. B. Misztal: Teoria socjologiczna a praktyka społeczna. Kraków 2000, s. 151 i n.
10 Zob. Z. Bokszański: Tożsamość aktora społecznego a zmiana społeczna. W: Zmiana społeczna. Teorie i doświadczenia polskie. Red. J. Kurczewska. Warszawa 1999, s. 55.
11 Zob. A. Jasińska-Kania: Wstęp. W: Współczesne teorie socjologiczne. Red. A. JasińskaKania, L. M. Nijakowski, J. Szacki, M. Ziółkowski. Warszawa 2006, s. 1117.

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Pojęcie tożsamości ma charakter interdyscyplinarny i jest jedną z podstawowych
kategorii w psychologii, socjologii, antropologii, filozofii, a nawet w lingwistyce. Wielu badaczy przyjmuje psychologiczną perspektywę badawczą. Podkreślają oni przede
wszystkim stosunek podmiotu do samego siebie. W psychologii podkreśla się, że
tożsamość to zespół wyobrażeń, sądów i przekonań wobec siebie – koncepcja siebie. W ujęciach socjologicznych tożsamość bywa odnoszona do wzorów zachowań,
postaw jednostek będących wynikiem wpływu środowiska społecznego. Przeważają
prace w aspekcie fenomenologii i interakcjonizmu, a można znaleźć prace na gruncie hermeneutycznym, czy strukturalnym. W socjologii pojęcie tożsamości przeszło
przemianę statusu teoretycznego, od determinującego wpływu społeczeństwa, stereotypowego wyobrażenia o roli wynikającej z tradycji, terminu akcentującego równość
i niezmienność do zdolności wyboru, poczucia władzy i autonomii, akceptacji róż­
nicy, a nawet niejednoznaczności naszego doświadczenia.

Podstawowe założenia teoretyczne
The Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure MEIM12
Jean S. Phinney konstruując narzędzie odwołała się do teorii tożsamości społecznej Henriego Tajfela oraz do modelu tożsamości Erika Eriksona i koncepcji statusów
tożsamości Jamesa Marcia. Poczucie przynależności do grupy oraz własne zaangażowanie jednostki w osiągnięcie tożsamości są, w ujęciu autorki, wspólne dla wszystkich
grup etnicznych.
Tożsamość jest budowana na bazie uznania pewnego systemu wartości istotnych dla
danej sfery życia społecznego, na przykład rodzinnego, religijnego, etnicznego. Wywodzi się ona z wiedzy na temat własnej grupy (rodzinnej, religijnej, etnicznej), jej historii,
roli, powołania. Tożsamości towarzyszy także element samooceny budowanej w kontakcie z inną kulturą, akceptacji własnych norm i wartości. Jak zauważa Henri Tajfel,
tożsamość społeczna wynika z wiedzy jednostki co do tego, iż należy ona do pewnych grup wraz ze
znaczeniem emocjonalnym i wartością przypisywaną członkowstwu grupowemu13.

Poprzez należenie do różnych grup i kategorii społecznych człowiek kształtuje
swoją tożsamość społeczną. Ważnym elementem teorii jest identyfikacja z grupą,
czyli definiowanie siebie w terminach przynależności grupowej. Zdaniem H. Tajfela,
na poczucie tożsamości społecznej składa się zjawisko akcentuacji, polegające na pomniejszaniu różnic pomiędzy osobami uznawanymi za reprezentantów własnej zbiorowości oraz przecenianiu różnic pomiędzy osobami zakwalifikowanymi do własnej
i innych grup. Identyfikacja z grupą i dążenie – na co wskazywał H. Tajfel – do jej
12 J. S. Phinney: Conceptualization and Measurement of Ethnic Identity: Current Status and
Future Directions. „Journal of Counseling Psychology” 2007, vol. 54, no 3, s. 271-281.
http://www.lifespan-resilience.human.cornell.edu/Ong%20Publication%20Pdfs/Phinney.
Ong.2007.pdf. Aktualizacja 24.10.2009.
13 H. Tajfel: La categorisation sociale. W: Introduction à la psychologie sociale. Ed. S.
Moscovici. Paris 1972, s. 31. Za: A. Kwiatkowska: Tożsamość a społeczne kategoryzacje.
Warszawa 1999, s. 86.

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faworyzacji oraz dewaluacji reprezentantów innych społeczności jest istotne do budowania poczucia tożsamości i kształtuje się w procesie socjalizacji pierwotnej i wtórnej
na bazie wielu różnicujących kryteriów, takich jak język, religia, historia, tradycje. Pozytywna ocena własnej grupy, szczególnie mniejszościowej, i siebie jako członka grupy są istotne, bowiem członkowie mniejszości narodowych mają często niższy status
w społeczeństwie większościowym, są gorzej w nim reprezentowani, muszą zabiegać
o należne im prawa, a bywa, że są przedmiotem uprzedzeń i dyskryminacji. Sposób
postrzegania grupy mniejszościowej jest istotny dla jej członków, bowiem na jego bazie budowane jest poczucie wartości grupy.
Tożsamość człowieka kształtuje się przez całe życie, jednak okresem najważniejszym, przełomowym jest – nie tylko zdaniem Erika H. Eriksona – wiek dojrzewania.
Z epigenetycznego punktu widzenia nikt nie może do końca „wiedzieć”, kim „jest”, dopóki nie spotka i nie „sprawdzi” obiecujących partnerów w pracy i w miłości. Trzeba
pamiętać, jak pisze Erikson14, że podstawowe wzorce tożsamości muszą być rezultatem
(1) selektywnej afirmacji i odrzucenia identyfikacji z okresu dzieciństwa oraz (2) tego,
w jaki sposób aktualne procesy społeczne identyfikują młodych ludzi – w najlepszym
razie rozpoznając ich jako osoby, które mają stać się tym, kim już w zalążku są, i którym – takim, jakie są – można zaufać. Z kolei społeczność czuje się rozpoznana przez
jednostkę, która prosi o takie rozpoznanie. Siła życiowa młodego człowieka w okresie
dorastania wiąże się z jego doświadczeniami z okresu dzieciństwa. Wówczas rozwija
się umiejętność trafnego współdziałania konceptualnego ze światem rzeczywistym.
Doświadczenia budowane są dzięki sile życiowej rozwijającej się w tym okresie, jaką
jest kompetencja, poczucie fachowości. Kłopotliwe z jednej strony jest dążenie dzieci
do „robienia rzeczy dobrze, a nawet perfekcyjnie”15, z drugiej strony wskazuje się na
pęd do opanowania różnych umiejętności, dziecięcą gotowość do uczenia się. W innym miejscu swoich rozważań E. H. Erikson zauważa, że mieć poczucie kompetencji oznacza dla dziecka rozumieć świat narzędzi w kulturze. Owa chłonność stanowi
uzasadnienie wprowadzenia treści kształcenia do programu szkolnego pomocnych
młodemu człowiekowi w budowaniu własnej tożsamości, wyposażania go w narzędzia rozumienia coraz bardziej skomplikowanego świata.
W okresie dorastania następuje uporządkowanie i integracja wiedzy o sobie i o innych, następuje ocena własnych zachowań, ale na plan dalszy schodzą już opinie innych osób – nawet tych znaczących. Młody człowiek odwołuje się do własnych standardów i do porównań z innymi osobami.
Erik H. Erikson podkreślał rolę czynników społeczno-kulturowych w procesie
kształtowania tożsamości człowieka. Autor wyodrębnił cztery aspekty (czynniki) tożsamości: 1. świadome poczucie jednostkowej tożsamości; 2. nieświadome dążenie do
ciągłości osobistego charakteru; 3. bezgłośna realizacja syntezy ego; 4. podtrzymywanie
wewnętrznej solidarności z tożsamością i ideałami grupy16.
14 E. H. Erikson: Dopełniony cykl życia. Poznań 2002, s. 90.
15 E. Erikson: The life cycle: epigenesis of identity. W: Developmental psychology. Ed. H.
Fitzgerald. New York 1970, s. 46-81. Za: L. Witkowski: Rozwój tożsamości w cyklu życia.
Studium koncepcji Erika H. Eriksona. Toruń 2000, s. 134.
16 E. Erikson: The Problem of Ego Identity. W: Identity and Anxiety. Survival of the Person
in Mass Society. Ed. M. R. Stein, A. J. Vidich, D. M.White. Glencoe 1960. Za: A. Kłos­
kowska: Kultury narodowe u korzeni. Warszawa 1996.

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Kolejnym elementem w założeniach teoretycznych rozważań J.S. Phinney jest koncepcja Jamesa Marcia17, który wychodząc z założeń teorii E. Eriksona, zaproponował
jej empiryczną operacjonalizację w postaci statusów tożsamości, które umożliwiają
mierzenie stopnia rozwoju tożsamości. Autor wyłonił dwa aspekty jej kształtowania
się: eksplorację (poszukiwanie połączone z przejściem kryzysu, w którym dotychczasowe wartości i wybory są ponownie rozpatrywane) i podejmowanie zobo­wiązania
(podejmowanie decyzji prowadzi do zobowiązania się do pewnych wartości lub ról).
Ich kombinacja – przejście, lub nie, etapu eksploracji oraz podjęcie lub niepodjęcie
zobowiązania pozwoliło autorowi na wyróżnienie czterech statusów tożsamości18: 1)
moratorium – młody człowiek doświadczył kryzysu lub kryzys nadal trwa, nie przyjął
jeszcze zobowiązania lub jest ono niejasno określone, pozostaje w stanie niepewności; 2) tożsamość przejęta – doszło do przejęcia zobowiązania z pominięciem okresu
kryzysu. Młody człowiek bezkrytycznie hołduje standardom uznawanym przez innych, zwykle rodziców, zaakceptował zobowiązanie wyznaczone przez kulturę lub
rodziców; 3) tożsamość rozproszona – młody człowiek nie przechodzi kryzysu (chociaż mógł go doświadczyć w przeszłości) i nie podjął zobowiązania. Rozproszenie,
zagubienie może zatem oznaczać albo wczesny etap procesu (przed kryzysem), albo
niepowodzenie w przejęciu zobowiązania po kryzysie; 4) tożsamość osiągnięta – jednostka przeszła kryzys i doszło do przejęcia zobowiązania w obszarze ideologicznych
i zawodowych celów19.
Elementy wyróżnione przez J. Marcia, a odnoszone do różnych dziedzin życia,
w tym do polityki, kariery zawodowej, przyjaźni, związków intymnych, religii, ról
związanych z płcią, istotne są również w koncepcji J. S. Phinney, przy czym autorka
skupia się zwłaszcza na życiu członków mniejszości narodowych i etnicznych, bowiem oni, z racji życia pośród większości, przypisują większe znaczenie pochodzeniu narodowemu, niż członkowie społeczeństwa większościowego. Młody człowiek
podejmuje dodatkowe zadania związane z postrzeganiem siebie jako członka grupy
mniejszości narodowej w społeczeństwie większościowym.
Dotychczasowe rozważania – zarówno teoretyczne, jak i empiryczne – wskazują, że
tożsamość ma wieloaspektową/wielowymiarową budowę, jest strukturą dynamiczną,
zmienną w czasie. Wśród podstawowych elementów tożsamości grupowej J. S. Phinney skupia się na identyfikacji siebie jako członka grupy, poczuciu przynależności do
grupy oraz poszukiwaniu tożsamości etnicznej/narodowej.

Pomiar tożsamości etnicznej/narodowej
W niniejszych badaniach skupiłam się na poznaniu elementów składowych tożsamości narodowej młodych ludzi. Interesowało mnie, jak młodzi ludzie budują swoją
tożsamość narodową, jakie podejmują działania, aby dokonać samookreślenia. W badaniach zastosowałam The Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM)20, narzędzie
17 Zob. H. Bee: Psychologia rozwoju człowieka. Poznań 2004, s. 366-367.
18 Autor zaznacza, że nie są to kolejne etapy tożsamości.
19 H. Bee: Psychologia rozwoju człowieka,…, s. 366-367.
20 J. S. Phinney: The Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure: A new scale for use with adolescents and young adults from diverse groups. „Journal of Adolescent Research” 1992, nr 7,

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skonstruowane przez J. S. Phinney do pomiaru procesu rozwoju tożsamości etnicznej
u młodzieży i młodych dorosłych. Kwestionariusz bada dwa składniki tożsamości:
poszukiwanie tożsamości etnicznej (zorientowane na rozwój poznawczy) i poczucie
przynależności do grupy (zaangażowanie emocjonalne). Kwestionariusz jest zbudowany z dwóch podskal, które mogą być wykorzystywane w badaniach niezależnie od
siebie: poszukiwanie – pięć stwierdzeń i zaangażowanie, afirmacja przynależności –
siedem stwierdzeń. Poszukiwanie zawiera stwierdzenia dotyczące starań, by dowiedzieć się więcej na temat własnej grupy etnicznej/narodowej i udziału w życiu społeczno-kulturowym grupy. Są to stwierdzenia:
staram się poszukiwać nowych informacji na temat mojej grupy etnicznej/narodowej, takich jak: historia, tradycje, zwyczaje”; „jestem aktywnym członkiem organizacji lub grup społecznych, do których przynależą głównie członkowie mojej grupy etnicznej/narodowej”; „dużo myślę o tym jaki wpływ na moje życie
będzie miało pochodzenie etniczne”; „po to, by dowiedzieć się więcej o moim pochodzeniu etnicznym/
narodowym często rozmawiam z innymi ludźmi z mojej grupy etnicznej/narodowej”; „pielęgnuję tradycje
i zwyczaje charakterystyczne dla mojej grupy etnicznej/narodowej, to jest jedzenie, muzykę, obyczaje”.

Afirmacja przynależności do grupy, zaangażowanie emocjonalne jest badane za
pomocą stwierdzeń:
mam jasne poczucie mojego pochodzenia etnicznego/narodowego i co ono znaczy dla mnie”; „jestem szczęśliwa/y, że jestem członkiem mojej grupy etnicznej/narodowej”; „mam silne poczucie przynależności do mojej grupy etnicznej/narodowej”; „bardzo dobrze zdaję sobie sprawę co znaczy dla mnie
przynależność do mojej grupy etnicznej/narodowej”; „jestem dumna/y z mojej grupy etnicznej/narodowej”; „czuję silne przywiązanie do mojej grupy etnicznej/narodowej”; „czuję się dobrze z faktem mojego
etnicznego i kulturowego pochodzenia”.

Kwestionariusz zawiera jeszcze trzy punkty niestanowiące części skali, a będące
samookreśleniem etnicznym/narodowym badanego i określeniem przynależności etnicznej/narodowej jego rodziców.
Badany odnosi się do poszczególnych stwierdzeń posługując się skalą pięciostopniową, obejmującą oceny od 5 do 1, gdzie 5 oznacza zdecydowanie się zgadzam, a 1
zdecydowanie się nie zgadzam. W ten sposób określa stopień, w jakim dane stwierdzenie go charakteryzuje.

Identyfikacja narodowa młodzieży na Śląsku Cieszyńskim
Badania przeprowadzono jesienią 2009 roku wśród uczniów ze szkół średnich
w Cieszynie i w Czeskim Cieszynie. Ogółem badaniami objęto 350 osób (w tym 42
uczestników warsztatów21 i 308 osób biorących udział w badaniach właściwych. W bas. 156-176. http://w3.fiu.edu/srif/ArchivedPagesJK/Phinney/MEIM-1999.doc. Aktualizacja
24.10.2009. Kwestionariusz nie był jeszcze stosowany w badaniach w Polsce i jest to próbne
jego użycie.
21 Badania przeprowadzono w dwóch turach: w trakcie warsztatów organizowanych w ramach grantu Dziedzictwo kulturowe jako klucz do tożsamości pogranicza polsko-czeskiego

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daniach wzięło udział 121 uczniów ze szkół polskich (wszystkie osoby narodowości
polskiej), 126 osób uczących się w szkołach czeskich (większość uczniów narodowości czeskiej, jedna Wietnamka, jeden Polak, Włoch i Amerykanin) oraz 113 uczniów
ze szkół z polskim językiem nauczania z Czeskiego Cieszyna. Struktura narodowości
młodzieży z ostatniej szkoły jest bardziej zróżnicowana, dlatego omówię ją bardziej
szczegółowo (zob. tabela 1).
Większość uczniów uczących się w szkole z polskim językiem nauczania jest naro­
dowości polskiej, a ich rodzice i dziadkowie są w większości Polakami. Przy czym
struktura narodowościowa rodzin jest często złożona. Rodzin czysto polskich, w których rodzice i dziadkowie z obu stron są Polakami jest 32% i tylko jedno dziecko
z tych rodzin jest narodowości czeskiej.
Tabela 1
Narodowość uczniów ze szkół z polskim językiem nauczania
(dane podano w procentach)
Kategoria
polska
czeska
polsko-czeska
śląska
zaolziańska

Kobiety
68
23
3
5
2

mężczyźni
56
22
7
11
4

ogółem
63
23
5
7
3

Źródło: badania własne

Kolejne 16% badanych uczniów narodowości polskiej ma obydwoje rodziców narodowości polskiej, ale ich dziadkowie (co najmniej jedna osoba) są mieszani narodowościowo. Najliczniejszą grupę stanowią uczniowie z rodzin mieszanych narodowościowo (43%), w których jeden z rodziców jest narodowości polskiej i co najmniej
jedno z dziadków jest Polakiem. Uczniowie ci są w większości narodowości polskiej
(80%). Dwóch uczniów narodowości czeskiej ma rodziców narodowości czeskiej, ale
dziadków narodowości polskiej i czeskiej. Całość badanej grupy dopełniają uczniowie narodowości czeskiej (9%) pochodzący z rodzin czeskich (rodzice i dziadkowie
narodowości czeskiej).
Ten szczegółowy opis wskazuje na złożoną kwestię narodowości obywateli Republiki Czeskiej mieszkających na Śląsku Cieszyńskim. Ludność polska zamieszkująca
od wieków te tereny w sposób naturalny w życiu codziennym obcuje z czeską więkna Śląsku Cieszyńskim. W 1200-lecie Cieszyna, realizowanego w latach 2009-2010 przez
Uniwersytet Śląski w Katowicach Wydział Etnologii i Nauk o Edukacji oraz Kongres Polaków w RC. W warsztatach uczestniczyło 45 uczniów, po 15 ze szkół: Gimnazjum z polskim
językiem nauczania w Czeskim Cieszynie, Gimnazjum w Czeskim Cieszynie, Liceum Ogólnokształcącego Towarzystwa Ewangelickiego w Cieszynie. W badaniach właściwych uczestniczyli uczniowie ze szkół w Polsce – Zespół Szkół Ogólnokształcących w Skoczowie (52
osoby), Zespół Szkół Zawodowych w Skoczowie (55 osób) – łącznie 108 osób; w Czechach
– w Gimnazjum w Czeskim Cieszynie (103 osoby) oraz w Gimnazjum z polskim językiem
nauczania w Czeskim Cieszynie (97 osób).

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szością, słowacką mniejszością, a wyrazem tego są liczne małżeństwa mieszane narodowościowo22. Jak zauważa E. Nowicka, jest to tradycyjnie uznany wskaźnik przełamywania dystansu społecznego i psychicznego, a także kulturowego, między grupami
etnicznymi i narodowymi pozostającymi w kontakcie23.
W szkole czeskiej uczy się tylko (czy też aż) jeden uczeń narodowości polskiej i mający rodziców i dziadków Polaków, ale również ośmiu uczniów narodowości czeskiej
mających matki polskiej narodowości i pięciu uczniów mających ojców Polaków. Kolejnych 16 uczniów posiada w pokoleniu dziadków co najmniej jedną osobę narodowości polskiej. Sumując możemy powiedzieć, że 25% badanych uczniów narodowości
czeskiej ma polskich przodków. Częstym zjawiskiem na pograniczu Śląska Cieszyńskiego jest zmiana identyfikacji narodowej w ciągu życia jednostki, konwersja narodowa. W poprzednim systemie ludzie dokonywali takiej zmiany kierowani chęcią awansu zawodowego, chęcią lepszego życia czy pozyskania innych korzyści. W przypadku
konwersji narodowej niekoniecznie musi dojść do równoczesnego zerwania z kulturą
poprzedniej identyfikacji. Jednym ze wskaźników dokonanej konwersji jest posyłanie
dziecka do szkoły czeskiej. Szkoła w środowisku zróżnicowanym kulturowo nie jest
tylko miejscem zdobywania wiedzy, lecz także – a może przede wszystkim – w szkole
mniejszościowej dokonuje się transmisja wartości kultury narodowej, ducha narodu.
W badanej grupie uczniów ze szkoły czeskiej w pokoleniu dziadków było 29 (25%)
małżeństw polsko-czeskich. Narodowość polską dla swoich dzieci (rodziców badanych uczniów) wybrało już tylko 13 małżeństw (11%). A ci wszyscy zdecydowali o narodowości czeskiej dla swojego dziecka. Na małej wprawdzie próbie możemy prześledzić zjawisko ubytku liczebności grupy polskiej na Zaolziu.
Również w przypadku tych badań znajduje potwierdzenie wcześniejsza tendencja
– opisana przez Tadeusza Siwka – częstszego pozostawania przy polskiej narodowości
dzieci pochodzących ze związków Polaków z Czeszkami, niż Polek z Czechami24.
Narodowość badanych i ich przodków, to tylko jeden z elementów przeprowa­
dzonych badań. Zasadniczym ich celem było poznanie stopnia poczucia przynależności do grupy narodowej, czyli grupy określonej przez jej dziedzictwo kulturowe,
w tym wartości, tradycję, a także poznanie starań, jakie podejmują młodzi ludzie, aby
dowiedzieć się więcej o swojej grupie narodowej.

Poszukiwanie tożsamości narodowej i zaangażowanie
w nią przez badaną młodzież
Jednym z elementów procesu tworzenia tożsamości jest samodzielne poszukiwanie
odpowiedzi na pytanie „kim jestem”? Polega ono na łączeniu w spójną całość własnych doświadczeń z przeszłości, bieżących informacji, własnych oczekiwań dotyczą22 Zob. H. Rusek: Kulturowe wzory życia polskich rodzin na Zaolziu a asymilacja. Katowice
1997, s. 25; A. Szczypka-Rusz: Elementy tradycji kulturowej a społeczności polskiej na Zaolziu. W: Kulturowe, społeczne i edukacyjne wyznaczniki dróg życiowych młodzieży z Zaolzia.
Red. T. Lewowicki. Katowice 1994, s. 53.
23 Zob. E. Nowicka: Dylematy i strategie tożsamościowe. Dzieci z małżeństw mieszanych.
W: Globalizacja a tożsamość. Red. J. Zdanowski. Warszawa 2003, s. 222-241.
24 Zob. T. Siwek: Małżeństwa Polaków w Republice Czeskiej, „Zwrot” 1995, nr 9, s. 27.

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cych przyszłości ze społecznymi potrzebami grupy narodowej. Człowiek może podejmować szereg działań, aby lepiej zrozumieć własną sytuację i położenie własnej grupy
narodowej. Wysiłki te prowadzą do ukształtowania nie tylko własnej tożsamości, ale
także świadomości narodowej.
Tabela 2
Poszukiwanie tożsamości i zaangażowanie w tożsamość narodową
przez badanych z uwzględnieniem środowiska szkolnego ucznia
Kategorie
poszukiwanie
zaangażowanie

uczniowie ze szkół
w Polsce

uczniowie ze szkół
w Czechach

2,43
3,53

2,92
3,33

uczniowie ze szkół
w Czechach z polskim
językiem nauczania
3,09
3,59

Źródło: badania własne

Pisałam wcześniej, że młodzież z grupy mniejszościowej wkłada dodatkowy wy­siłek
w kształtowanie własnej tożsamości. Tezę tę potwierdzają wyniki badań przedstawione w tabeli 2. Uczniowie ze szkół z polskim językiem nauczania, bo tę szkołę najczęściej wybierają członkowie mniejszości narodowej, poszukują informacji na temat
swojej grupy narodowej, chcą poznać jej historię, tradycje, są aktywnymi członkami
organizacji polskich na Zaolziu, myślą o swoim życiu w kontekście pochodzenia narodowego, bo nawet wybór szkoły jest taką decyzją, a zarazem deklaracją narodowościową. Dla porównania w tabeli 2 zestawiłam wyniki uczniów z Zaolzia z wynikami
uczniów ze szkół większościowych, w Polsce i w Czechach. Członkowie społeczności
większościowej też budują swoją tożsamość, przy czym w swojej tożsamości narodowej odwołują się do jednej grupy narodowej, do jednej kultury. Ich narodowość
również jest czymś jasnym, danym, chociaż podlegającym refleksji. Przyjrzyjmy się
zatem wynikom z uwzględnieniem narodowości ucznia. W szkole z polskim językiem nauczania kilku uczniów wpisało w miejscu swojej narodowości narodowość
zaolziańską, polsko-czeską i śląską. Ta ostatnia może nie budzić zdziwienia, bo była
ujęta w spisie powszechnym w Republice Czeskiej, ale już dwie wcześniejsze tak.
Uczniowie pomylili narodowość z poczuciem tożsamości narodowej. Wyniki zawarte
w tabeli 3 wskazują, że wysiłek związany z poszukiwaniem tożsamości narodowej jest
ważnym zadaniem dla uczniów z grupy polskiej mniejszości narodowej, jak również
dla uczniów innych narodowości ze szkoły czeskiej, osób narodowości wietnamskiej,
amerykańskiej i włoskiej.

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Wykres 1
Poczucie tożsamości uczniów ze szkół czeskich - czuję się...
80
70
60
50

%

40

78,7

30
20
10

0,0

12,6

7,9

12,6

2,5

0,0

0
Czechem

Polakiem

Zaolzianinem

Ślązakiem

Europejczykiem

obywatelem
świata

w jednakowym
stopniu każdym

Źródło: A. Szczurek-Boruta, B. Grabowska: Dynamika…, s. 37

Wykres 2
Poczucie tożsamości uczniów ze szkół z polskim
językiem nauczania – czuję się …
30

25

20

% 15
10

22,0

16,9

29,9

29,9

17,7

16,1

5

5,5

0
Czechem

Polakiem

Zaolzianinem

Ślązakiem

Europejczykiem

obywatelem
świata

w jednakowym
stopniu każdym

Źródło: A. Szczurek-Boruta, B. Grabowska: Dynamika…, s. 47

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Dziedzictwo kulturowe • Kulturní dědictví

Tabela 3
Poszukiwanie tożsamości i zaangażowanie w tożsamość narodową
przez badanych z uwzględnieniem narodowości ucznia
uczniowie
uczniowie
uczniowie innej
narodowości polskiej narodowości czeskiej
narodowości*
uczniowie uczniowie uczniowie uczniowie uczniowie uczniowie
ze szkół
ze szkół
ze szkół ze szkół z ze szkół
ze szkół
czeskich z polskim czeskich
polskim
czeskich z polskim
językiem
językiem
językiem
naucz.
naucz.
naucz.
poszukiwanie
2,4
3,19
2,91
2,72
3,57
3,27
zaangażowanie
3,4
3,71
3,32
3,12
3,48
3,79
kategorie

Legenda: * - w kategorii narodowości uczniowie podali narodowość: śląską, zaolziańską,
polsko-czeską, łotewską, włoską. Źródło: badania własne

W okresie dorastania – jak pisał Erik H. Erikson – młody człowiek szuka wiedzy
o sobie poprzez wewnętrzną refleksję i dlatego ten okres jest tak istotny w rozwoju poczucia tożsamości. To czas poznawania siebie i swojego miejsca w świecie, swojej roli
w życiu, to poszukiwanie tożsamości – w wielu jej wymiarach – i próby jej określenia.
Bardzo ważne jest w tym okresie wypróbowywanie siebie w nowych rolach społecznych, dokonywanie samodzielnych poszukiwań i wyborów życiowych. Poszukiwanie tożsamości wiąże się z funkcjonowaniem w grupie społecznej, z angażowaniem
się w jej życie. Najwyższy poziom zaangażowania w kształtowanie swojej tożsamości
naro­dowej deklarują uczniowie ze szkoły z polskim językiem nauczania. Oni też najczęściej pisali, że są aktywnymi członkami organizacji społecznych.
Tabela 4
Poszukiwanie tożsamości i zaangażowanie w tożsamość narodową
przez badanych z uwzględnieniem środowiska rodzinnego i szkolnego ucznia
rodzice narodowości rodzice narodowości rodzice narodowości
polskiej
czeskiej
polskiej i czeskiej
uczniowie uczniowie uczniowie uczniowie uczniowie uczniowie
ze szkół
ze szkół
ze szkół
ze szkół
ze szkół
ze szkół
czeskich z polskim czeskich z polskim czeskich
z polskim
językiem
językiem
językiem
naucz.
naucz.
naucz.
poszukiwanie
2,40
3,10
2,88
3,06
3,02
3,11
zaangażowanie
3,4
3,59
3,41
3,63
3,52
3,61
kategorie

Źródło: badania własne

Dla młodego człowieka w okresie dorastania bardzo ważne jest wsparcie ze strony
bliskich osób, wsparcie emocjonalne, a także przyzwolenie dla dokonywania samodzielnych poszukiwań i wyborów. Tabela 4 zawiera wyniki badań z uwzględnieniem

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środowiska rodzinnego i szkolnego ucznia. Wsparcie rodziców, nauczycieli i innych
osób znaczących optymalizuje budowanie tożsamości przez młodego człowieka.
Środo­wiskiem najbardziej sprzyjającym poszukiwaniu tożsamości – w kontekście
rozważań o tożsamości członków mniejszości narodowych – jest szkoła z polskim
językiem nauczania. Wyniki badań potwierdzają opinie przekazywane od pokoleń
o roli szkoły mniejszościowej w procesie kształtowania człowieka. Szkoła wzmacnia
kulturotwórczą rolę rodziny, tak polskiej, jak i mieszanej narodowościowo.
Okres dorastania, to również czas manifestowania sprzeciwu wobec otaczającego świata i eksperymentowania, często ze sobą. Istotne w tym czasie jest poczucie więzi z rodziną, z grupą społeczną, o czym pisze między innymi Jerzy Nikitorowicz25, wskazując,
na potrzebę świadomych działań wspierających zachowanie swojej tożsamości w nowej
kulturze, co może prowadzić do ukształtowania wielowymiarowego poczucia tożsamości.
Wówczas młody człowiek będzie siebie określał jako mieszkańca Zaolzia, Polaka i obywatela Czech. Jak potwierdzają wyniki wcześniejszych badań i analiz teoretycznych „identyfikacja z jedną kulturą nie wyklucza, a nawet wspomaga identyfikację z kolejną”26.

Próba podsumowania
Kształtowanie tożsamości jest zadaniem wymagającym od człowieka coraz bardziej refleksyjnego stosunku do samego siebie i otaczającego go świata. Poprzednie
pokolenia mogły korzystać ze wzorów przekazywanych w procesie socjalizacji, mogły
naśladować osoby znaczące. A dzisiejszy świat wymaga wręcz od człowieka dokonywania wyboru między współzawodniczącymi ze sobą stylami życia, a dążenie do
emancypacji i indywidualizacji sprawia, że młodzi ludzie prezentują niechętny sto­
sunek do proponowanych przez dorosłych scenariuszy życiowych.
Jak wskazują wyniki omówionych badań członkowie mniejszości narodowych
przypisują większe znaczenie pochodzeniu narodowemu, niż członkowie grup większości narodowych. W procesie budowania tożsamości liczy się nie tylko wiedza
dotycząca własnej grupy narodowej przekazana w procesie socjalizacji, to nie tylko
doświadczenia związane z przynależnością do tej grupy. Dla młodego człowieka ważne jest podjęcie samodzielnych poszukiwań, badań, eksploracji, mających w efekcie
doprowadzić do ukształtowania jasnej identyfikacji narodowej. Działania ze strony
wychowawców, rodziców powinny pobudzać – a na pewno nie hamować – takich
poszukiwań. U podstaw tożsamości narodowej leży bowiem poczucie przynależności
do grupy, daje ono poczucie siły, a nawet dumy, na co wskazywał Henri Tajfel.

Bibliografia:
Bauman Z.: Tożsamość. Wtedy, teraz, po co? W: Idee a urządzanie świata społe­
cznego. Red. E. Nowicka, M. Chałubiński. Warszawa 1999, s. 43
Bauman Z.: Wieloznaczność nowoczesna. Nowoczesność wieloznaczna. Warszawa
1995, s. 134-135
25 Zob. J. Nikitorowicz: Kreowanie tożsamości dziecka. Wyzwania edukacji międzykulturowej. Gdańsk 2005.
26 Tamże, s. 90.

�118

Dziedzictwo kulturowe • Kulturní dědictví

Bauman Z.: Ziemia, krew, tożsamość. „Przegląd Polonijny” 1993, nr 4, s. 8
Bee H.: Psychologia rozwoju człowieka. Poznań 2004
Bokszański Z.: Tożsamość aktora społecznego a zmiana społeczna. W: Zmiana społeczna. Teorie i doświadczenia polskie. Red. J. Kurczewska. Warszawa 1999, s. 55
Erikson E. H.: Dopełniony cykl życia. Poznań 2002
Erikson E. H.: The Life Cycle: Epigenesis of Identity. W: Developmental psychology.
Ed. H. Fitzgerald. New York 1970, s. 46-81. Za: L. Witkowski: Rozwój tożsamości
w cyklu życia. Studium koncepcji Erika H. Eriksona. Toruń 2000, s. 134
Erikson E. H.: The Problem of Ego Identity. W: Identity and Anxiety. Survival of the
Person in Mass Society. Ed. M. R. Stein, A. J. Vidich, D. M.White. Glencoe 1960. Za:
A. Kłoskowska: Kultury narodowe u korzeni. Warszawa 1996
Giddens A.: Nowoczesność i tożsamość. „Ja” i społeczeństwo w epoce późnej nowoczesności. Warszawa 2007
Jasińska-Kania A.: Wstęp. W: Współczesne teorie socjologiczne. Red. A. JasińskaKania, L. M. Nijakowski, J. Szacki, M. Ziółkowski. Warszawa 2006, s. 1115-1118
Mead M.: Kultura i tożsamość: studium dystansu międzypokoleniowego. Warszawa 2000
Misztal B.: Teoria socjologiczna a praktyka społeczna. Kraków 2000
Nikitorowicz J.: Kreowanie tożsamości dziecka. Wyzwania edukacji międzykulturowej. Gdańsk 2005
Nowicka E.: Dylematy i strategie tożsamościowe. Dzieci z małżeństw mieszanych.
W: Globalizacja a tożsamość. Red. J. Zdanowski. Warszawa 2003, s. 222-241
Obuchowska I.: Drogi dorastania. Warszawa 1996
Phinney J. S.: Conceptualization and Measurement of Ethnic Identity: Current Status
and Future Directions. „Journal of Counseling Psychology” 2007, vol. 54, no 3, s. 271-281
Phinney J.: The Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure: A new scale for use with adolescents and young adults from diverse groups. „Journal of Adolescent Research” 1992,
nr 7, s. 156-176
Rusek H.: Kulturowe wzory życia polskich rodzin na Zaolziu a asymilacja. Katowice 1997
Siwek T.: Małżeństwa Polaków w Republice Czeskiej, „Zwrot” 1995, nr 9, s. 27
Szacki J.: O tożsamości (zwłaszcza narodowej), „Kultura i Społeczeństwo” 2004, nr
3, s. 11-12
Szczypka-Rusz A.: Elementy tradycji kulturowej a społeczności polskiej na Zaolziu.
W: Kulturowe, społeczne i edukacyjne wyznaczniki dróg życiowych młodzieży z Zaolzia.
Red. T. Lewowicki. Katowice 1994, s. 49-57
Tajfel H.: La categorisation sociale. W: Introduction à la psychologie sociale. Ed. S.
Moscovici. Paris 1972, s. 31. Za: A. Kwiatkowska: Tożsamość a społeczne kategoryzacje.
Warszawa 1999, s. 86
Umysł społeczny. Poznawcze i motywacyjne aspekty zachowań interpersonalnych.
Red. Forgas, K. D. Williams, L. Wheeler. Gdańsk 2005
Źródła internetowe:
www. w3.fiu.edu/srif/ArchivedPagesJK/Phinney/MEIM-1999.doc.
www.lifespanresilience.human.cornell.edu/Ong%20Publication%20Pdfs/Phinney.
Ong.2007.pdf.

�Barbara Grabowska: Tożsamość narodowa młodzieży na Śląsku Cieszyńskim

119

Shrnutí
Národnostní identita mládeže na území Těšínského Slezska
V práci jsem se snažila ukázat prvky, které vytváří národnostní identitu členů národnostní
menšiny ve srovnání s mládeží ze skupiny dominující. V teoretické části jsem uvedla krátkou
charakteristiku jak společenské vědy chápou tuto identitu, poněkud v širším měřítku jsem
charakterizovala Teorii společenské identity /Teoria Tożsamości Społecznej/ H. Tajfela a model identity E. Eriksona, spolu s koncepcí postavení identit J. Marcia. Ve výzkumech jsem
použila The Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM), nástroj, který vytvořil J. S. Phinney
k měření procesu rozvoje etnické totožnosti u mládeže a mladých dospělých.

Summary
National identity of youth in Cieszyn Silesia
In the presented study, the author undertakes an attempt at recognizing the elements which
constitute national identity of the national minority in comparison to the youth from the
dominating group. In the theoretical part, the understanding of identity in social sciences
was briefly discussed and H. Tajfel’s Theory of Social Identity was characterized more broadly,
as well as E. Erikson’s model of identity and J. Marcia’s concept of identity statuses. In the research, The Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM) was applied - a tool designed by J. S.
Phinney for measuring the process of development of ethnic identity which occurrs in youth
and young adults.

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                <text>t is amazing how many cultural models, charac­
ter types or masks can be used by an artist while
creating his work. It is just as interesting that this
enormous number of cultural models includes tho­
se that are applied most frequently, and references
to which endow not only the given work but also its
author with virtuosity. Such a cultural model is the
mask. A t this stage it is necessary to transcend, albeit
not to the very end, the most trivial comprehension
of this term as part of a carnival costume concealing
the face. The mask conceived as a cultural model is
a specific symbol of the self, something that grants its
wearer a new being, a new identity, often demonic or
comical but always diametrically different from the
true self of the person hiding behind it. It was precisely
such a mask - helping to become a clown, a devil or
anyone else - that often inspired assorted artists, as
Mikhail Bakhtin noted in his essay: Characteristic here

I

is the artistic structuring of an image out of durable popu­
lar masks —masks that had great influence on the novelistic
image of man during the most important stages of the no­
vel’s development (...) 1. Such impact was exerted by the

mask not only on literature but to an equal or perhaps
even greater degree upon painting, photography or
film. Bakhtin stressed that a special sort of mask - the
folk mask2 - could have been chosen for assorted situ­
ations, was capable of bearing merriment and tragedy,
and no plot could destroy it once and for all.

269

GRZEGORZ
NADGRODKIEWICZ

Tragicomedy delVarte ,

or Pierrotade a la
Godard

It is exactly from the tradition of the folk mask that
Harlequin, his “nephew” Pedrolino, and Pierrot, per­
haps the best known of the three, originate. The lat­
ter, a clown with a white powdered face and wearing
a white costume with a ruff, became one of the possibly
most widely recognised masks. It was Pierrot who was
rendered a symbol of mute, unexpressed and unful­
filled love. Regarded as a tragic fool, he saddened and
entertained at the same time; first and foremost, he
inspired artists and apparently continues to do so up to
this day. The Pierrot character attained special place
in the cultural tradition of France, especially within
the range of the French pantomime. It was precisely

�Grzegorz Nadgrodkiewicz • T R A G IC O M E D Y D E L L A R T E , OR PIERROTADE À LA GODARD

French artists who most frequently resorted to the im­
age of Pierrot, outfitted their protagonists with a set
of features ascribed to him, and endowed the reality
created by them with the traits of a world in which
the tragedy of the sad clown took place. What was the
source of the strong position of the white-faced clown
in French culture? Naturally, there is a reason why the
image of Pierrot affects artists, including Godard, to
such a degree. N ot by accident is Pierrot’s name not
just an ordinary diminutive of the French: Pierre.
The Pierrot dramatis persona descends, albeit not in
a straight line, from the seventeenth-century commedia
dell’arte , i.e. an artful or professional spectacle in which
clearly defined characters improvise their lines, em­
bellishing them with comical lazzi - dialogue or action.
The core of each Italian comedy cast was composed of
two oldsters (Pantaloon and the Doctor), ladies and
lovers (Inamorati) and two zanni (e.g. Brighella and
Harlequin) - the most popular and characteristic for
the commedia dell’arte . The zanni were described by
various names, such as Harlequin, Trufaldino, Brighella, Buratino, or Pedrolino. Robert F. Storey in his book
Pierrot. A Critical History of a M ask derived from the
latter the name of the sad French clown: Pedrolino is
an “Italian equivalent" of Pierrot3. Storey cited several
other theories concerning Pierrot’s predecessor, but
he regarded the hypothesis associated with Pedrolino
as best justified and proposed the most extensive argu­
ments in its favour. Storey attributed the introduction
of Pierrot into French literature to Molière, who in the
middle of the seventeenth century wrote and staged in
Paris the comedy Le Festin de pierre, in which one of
the protagonists was Pierrot - a mellow lover though
wily and witty4. This is the onset of Pierrot’s presence
in French drama, from which his image spread rap­
idly to other domains of the arts. The early Pierrot
still possesses many features of the Italian Arlecchino.
Storey described him as l’homme spirituel5, but in time
French mentality and personality turned him into an
unhappy Pierrot. The colourful costume composed of
270

rhombi and worn by Harlequin became replaced by
a white billowing blouse and wide pantaloons. Gradu­
ally, Pierrot assumed serious psychological features and
a variety of traits. Although he was most frequently
known as Pierrot, in art he appears just as frequently
as Harlequin, his less popular synonym. According
to Storey, despite the fact that Pierrot underwent
a change he is still simple-hearted, trustful and inde­
pendent, and his love is still naive6. Pierrot constantly
offers proof of his Italian lineage, revealing ignorance
of the people surrounding him and in certain situa­
tions even his stupidity.
With a thus shaped personality Pierrot no longer
fits into a single epoch but is above time. The poses
he assumes and the mask he puts on not only build his
image but become an outright symbol of a certain con­
dition and state of spirit inclined towards sentimental
pessimism. For assorted artists Pierrot driven by pas­
sion became an inspiring dramatis persona , a form that
for long has been full of contents; now it suffices to
add a "contemporary face” so that he might express all
that an artist might wish.
Artists who acted in this way include Jean-Luc
Godard with his film Pierrot le fou (1965). Taking into
consideration the original title it would be difficult to
seek a more direct suggestion. The director referred
not only to the image of the character, aware of the
extent to which it is a carrier of meanings, but also to
one of the features of Pierrot’s personality. Godard’s
Ferdinand not only turned into a tearful Pierrot but
also contains traits of the devious and clever Harle­
quin. In the case of Ferdinand these are synonyms,
since he possesses as many countenances as the
number of the names of the zanni. Ferdinand is un­
able to reveal his true self because he cannot take off
his mask - the role and its performer are merged into
a single complex character. Ferdinand is funny not only
as a result of what he does and says - he is also ec­
centric. In other words, he is one of the contemporary
embodiments of Pierrot-Harlequin. Jean-Luc Godard

�Grzegorz Nadgrodkiewicz • T R A G IC O M E D Y D E L L A R T E , OR PIERROTADE A LA GODARD

applied an interesting trick of symbolically dressing his
lead protagonist to resemble the prime representative
of the French pantomime. The spectator may discover
the meaning of all the parallels between Ferdinand
and Pierrot by justifying the presence of this particular
artifice in Pierrot le fou with the assistance of a trans­
textual motivation. Reference to the convention of
the commedia dell’arte (i.e. an assumption of the spec­
tator’s previous experience) is necessary in order to be
27 1

able to perceive all the similarities and differences be­
tween Godard’s lead protagonist and Pierrot.
Correspondence between Godard’s film and the
Pierrot tradition is realised upon several levels. A re­
ference to this tradition is noticeable already in the
verbal stratum of the film - the m ost obvious example
being the title. W hen Ferdinand and M arianne be­
come known as the lead protagonists there emerges
a successive parallelism - the girl, despite Ferdinand’s

�Grzegorz Nadgrodkiewicz • T R A G IC O M E D Y D E L E A R T E , OR PIERROTADE A LA GODARD

constant and failed protests, continues to call him
Pierrot. There comes to the fore yet another feature
of Ferdinand as Pierrot - he refuses to accept his new
name and his new and adverse - ultimately tragic fate.
The iconographic stratum of the film indicates
even more distinctly that Ferdinand actually is Pierrot.
Godard inserted snapshots of reproductions of paint­
ings either in the direct vicinity of the photographed
Ferdinand or takes with Marianne, immediately fol­
lowed by the figure of Ferdinand. The paintings bring
to mind assorted portrayals of Pierrot by Picasso, A u­
gust Renoir or Henri Matisse. The most characteristic
and easiest to extract from the film is a reproduction of
Renoir’s Pierrot, with a small boy wearing the costume
of a clown. The director thus suggested Ferdinand’s
childish and naive nature matching the personality of
Pierrot.
Pierrott le fou refers to the Pierrot tradition also in
the construction of the protagonist. Ferdinand-Pierrot
steers his life in such a way that each encountered sur­
prise proves to be more acrimonious than the previous
and all are tragicomic. The love that he encounters
is more bitter than sweet and has an inevitably tragic
end. The closing scenes stress the connection between
Ferdinand and Pierrot - a confirmation of his condi­
tion of a tragic “fool” who perishes in an absurd man­
ner.
Throughout the entire film Ferdinand reads or
carries a comic book with the curious title Les Pieds
Nickeles. Although none of its fragments presented
on screen actually display Pierrot, the poetic, shape
and colour scheme of the characters bring to mind the
appearance of clowns. Pierrot’s clumsy floundering in
a strange and sad world is the comic and simultaneously
tragic act of a clown. The fact that Ferdinand carries
and reads this particular comic book (in other words,
is somehow attached to it) suggests that his life too
can be treated as a clown’s frenzied performance.
A detailed description of the Ferdinand dramatis
persona is rendered possible by applying Arthur Sy­
mons’ extraordinarily apt characteristic: Pierrot is one
of the types of our century, of the moment in which we live,
or of the moment, perhaps, out of which we are just pass­
ing. Pierrot is passionate; but he does not believe in great
passions. He feels himself to be sickening with a fever, or
else perilously convalescent; for love is a disease, which he
is too weak to resist or endure. He has worn his heart on
his sleeve so long, that it has hardened in the cold air. (...)
He knows that he is condemned to be always in public,
that emotion would be supremely out of keeping with his
costume ( ...) . It is in this way that the scheme of the

Harlequin character is realised in Ferdinand’s life. His
love for Marianne is unhappy and by no means pure
because it is smothered by jealousy (this is the rea­
son why he shoots her). Despite the turbulent course
272

of their relationship it is difficult to believe in great
passion. The reason lies in the fact that Ferdinand
becomes learned, perverse, intellectualising his pleasures,
brutalising his intellect; his mournful contemplation of
things becoming a kind of grotesque joy8.

Why then does the spectator not become repulsed
by a protagonist who complicates his fate only to ulti­
mately commit an absurd suicide? This is because the
construction of the lead character in Pierrot le fou con­
tains a certain dominating feature that justifies Ferdi­
nand, i.e. a set of traits linking him with the tradition
of the Italian comedy. Ferdinand is not solely an up­
-to-date version of the French Pierrot, and although
he has a multitude of traits resembling the latter the
prevailing ones connect him with the protagonist of
the commedia dell’arte . If we were to assume that Fer­
dinand is one of the zanni then he cannot enact his
lazzi alone. A tempting hypothesis suggests that we
should treat the whole film by Jean-Luc Godard as
a sui generis emulation of the commedia dell’arte scheme.
Apparently, quite a number of arguments speak in fa­
vour of accepting this hypothesis as an interpretation­
-analytical key. This concept places emphasis on in­
terpretation rather than on analysis indicating actual
relations within the film. Proving the compatibility of
the commedia dell’arte scheme with the structure of
Godard’s film will resemble interpretation rather than
methodical analysis.
The commedia dell’arte , whose characteristic fea­
tures include exceptional force and durability, is one of
the few products of the theatre9, which after so many
centuries are capable of strongly affecting works with
lively dramaturgy10. Apparently, commedia dell’arte in­
fluences not only the epic or the drama but with equal
success also film. Pierrot le fou seems to be a model­
-like example of translating the scheme of the Italian
comedy into the language of film in an incompletely
pure form but with the preservation of its specific fea­
tures while, at the same time, reducing the comedy
aspects. One would like to say that in this version we
are dealing with a specific tragicomedy dell’arte . Such
a description would be justified in situating Godard’s
work within a given national tradition. The French,
welcoming Italian actors of the commedia dell’arte ,
demanded that the performances be given at least
a pseudo-tragic overtone. w h en they finally began to
continue the commedia dell’arte tradition, scenes main­
tained in the tragic style became very popular. The sub­
sequent tradition of Pierrot in France enforced, by the
very nature of things, tragedy or outright tragicomedy
upon artists who referred to the mask of a clown with
a white-powdered countenance.
The core of Godard’s tragicomedy dell’arte , naturally
maintained in the mode of the Italian comedy, are the
zanni - the spiritus movens of action. The text of Pierrot
le fou provides numerous evidence that not only Ferdi­

�Grzegorz Nadgrodkiewicz • T R A G IC o M E D Y D E L E A R T E , OR PIERROTADE A LA GODARD

nand but also Marianne (and in the second part of the
film decidedly the latter) stimulates the action of the
film. In the tragicomedy dell’arte conception Marianne
(applying her entire energy) will play a different part
and the mask of the zanni must be entrusted to a man.
The tragicomic zanni is thus, obviously, Ferdinand.
As the lead protagonist of the film he simultaneously
combines the function of two zanni, since as Pierrot
he comprises a peculiar combination of astuteness
and stupidity. He delights in cheating others, but himself
is easily cheated11. Harlequin-Pierrot can become the
axis of the plot (when he drives Marianne home and
inaugurates their romance), but at other times he re­
ceives only lashes and blows (e.g. when two gangsters
try to drown him). Upon yet other occasions he tends
to reveal the diabolical features of his ancestor, Har­
lequin (when he kills his beloved), but can also be the
naive Pierrot (when he believes Marianne’s assurances
about her love for him, while she casts a conspiratorial
glance at the audience). He is also a servant, as befits
the zanni character, when without protest he allows
Marianne to embroil him into smuggling weapons. His
servility is visible in the film’s opening scenes show­
ing him as the “nice” son-in-law of Monsieur Espresso,
forced to take part in receptions. Within the context
of this argument it becomes significant that both his
wife and mother-in-law are Italian (their pretentious
surname easily brings to mind Italy). Godard’s Pierrot,
the son-in-law of the Espressos, thus remains within
the range of the impact of Italian culture and the Har­
lequin tradition. In other words, Ferdinand-Pierrot is
also a clown and a jester, increasingly involved in gro­
tesque situations and entertaining the spectator, while
at the same time unable to escape the enchanted cir­
cle of self-propelling absurdities.
Commedia dell’arte was constructed out of intrigues
devised by the zanni and the small deceits planned by
their female lovers - peasants or town dwellers known
in the tradition of the commedia dell’arte as soubrettes.
As a rule, they were housemaids and the multiplicity
of their names equalled that of Harlequin (e.g. Smeraldina, Arlecchina, Franceschina). The most popular
was Columbine, who was in love with Harlequin or
loved by him. Here is her description by Konstanty
Miklaszewski: She was a bonnie, comely and glib country
lass; fearing nothing, she treated her masters with license,
at times even with impudence, reacting immediately with
word and gesture; fit and supple, she was even capable of
striking a man12.

Such a likeness immediately brings to mind
Godard’s Marianne, a baby-sitter (she takes care of
children while Ferdinand and his wife go to a party at
the Espressos). As a character out of Godard’s tragi­
comedy dell’arte she too fits within the limits of the
comic and tragic world and in no way is worse than
columbine when she assaults a man at a gas station.
273

Nor can we negate Marianne’s physical prowess (watch
her on a beach dancing together with members of her
“brother” Fred’s ballet company). Marianne certainly
feels more at home in the tragicomic world than does
Ferdinand, although she too experiences grotesque
and, at the same time, tragic situations, their end be­
ing the moment of her death. Bold, ruthless and fear­
less, Marianne takes part in gun smuggling although
she becomes emotionally involved; her treatment of
Pierrot, to whom she is unfaithful, is outright cynical.
Her language sparkles with brilliant ripostes. A t the
same time, she is unable to overcome the sui generis
destiny looming over the fate she shares with Ferdi­
nand. Although Marianne seems to be courageous,
their joint journey towards death contains moments
of weakness (characteristically, while together with
Ferdinand on an island, she cries out: What am I to do?
I don’t know what to do! ).
Marianne also turns out to be similar (even if only
due to her name) to a character in Les Originaux,
a play by Houdart de la Motte13. Marinette, the hero­
ine of this drama written in the spirit of the comme­
dia dell’arte , is the object of Pierrot’s unhappy love
and just like Godard’s Marianne pushes the miserable
clown to the edge of ultimate despair; helpless and
distressed, he poisons her and immediately afterwards
himself. Is this scenario of events identical to the fi­
nale of Godard’s film? The historical transformation
of the commedia dell’arte is the reason why the Ital­
ian housemaid differs from her French successor, the
French soubrette. France (...) refined the early rough
Colombina into the dainty Columbine14 - wrote Allardyce Nicoll in World Drama. The French soubrette
has become more sophisticated and elegant, wiser and
wittier. She had, therefore, undergone a certain evo­
lution, experienced also by Marianne in Pierrot le fou .
The opening sequences introduce us to a meek girl
who in the course of her acquaintance with Ferdinand
starts showing her true face. True, the evolution of
Columbine is one from vulgarity to finesse, while in
the case of Marianne it runs an opposite course, from
calmness and subtlety (the conversation held in a car
about life that is not a novel) to cynicism and hypoc­
risy (the glance at the camera during the stay on an
island, betraying her true feelings), but it is the very
fact of experiencing a transformation and becoming
someone else that is essential.
Just as the Italian comedy so the tragicomedy dell’arte is
a sui generis masquerade. The assumption of masks and the
constant changing of the protagonists’ names comprise
a curious ritual of becoming immersed in mystery and
altering identity. columbine too takes part in this ritual
- first she is Pasquella, then Pierette, while upon another
occasion she becomes Ricciolina. Similar conversions of
identity, although rather in the metaphorical sense, are
experienced by Godard’s Marianne when Ferdinand calls

�Grzegorz Nadgrodkiewicz • T R A G IC O M E D Y D E L L A R T E , OR PIERROTADE À LA GODARD

her by using the names of the female characters in a book
he is currently reading: Marianne becomes Cassandra or
Virginia. Her new name always predicts danger and is an
ominous spell whose victims ultimately include Pierrot.
Here is another parallel between Columbine and Mar­
ianne - their fondness for changing costumes. Marianne
does so with genuine expertise, very often, and always
imperceptibly for the spectator. Nicoll noted that Colum­
bine had plenty of clothes, beginning with a housemaid’s
casual attire and ending with a stunning white dress
known from pantomime15. Finally, both women share an
outright tragic love for the hapless Pierrot.
The Godardian tragicomedy dell’arte is, however,
not merely a configuration of mysterious masks and
complicated personalities but living people enacting
their lazzi. Fleeing from Paris, the tragicomic couple,
Marianne and Pierrot, incessantly takes part in as­
sorted comic episodes. Just like the protagonists of
the true commedia dell’arte they constantly “stage” for
the spectator assorted images. Take the example of
the scene at a petrol station, with both demonstrating
grotesque bravura, the scene enacted in a port - a po­
litically engagée story of a Vietnamese woman and an
American man, or, finally, the sensually danced and
performed song about the fate-line and the thigh-line
(Ma ligne de chance, ta ligne de hanche). The lazzi col­
lection includes additional takes in which Pierrot dis­
plays assorted facial expressions (the cigarette smoked
in Marianne’s Parisian home or the face of an old man
speaking about the necessity of describing la vie toute
274

seule). Naturally, this is a direct reference to the tradi­
tion of Pierrot as a pantomime actor and thus to lazzi
enacted by Pedrolino16. Lazzi presented by Marianne

and Ferdinand obviously feature a comic trace derived
directly from the commedia dell’arte albeit always ac­
companied by tragic overtones. Each scene in which
they take part intensifies the tangle of ill-fated cir­
cumstances, thus creating a situation without a solu­
tion. Escaping from Paris they become involved in car
thefts, shoot-outs, gun smuggling and unhappy love,
which becomes the reason for their ultimate tragedy.
The commedia dell’arte tradition entails clever say­
ings (bons mots) and jokes. Both Pierrot and Marianne
are skilful adversaries in verbal duels and witty tete-a­
-tetes. They are also capable of conducting serious
conversation (such as the one on the island, when they
discuss their life needs). Even stronger than via the
bons mots they are linked with the commedia dell’arte
by eroticism, which in the film is realised more in the
verbal stratum than the visual one. Riding in a car,
Marianne tells Ferdinand: I am kissing you all over. On
a moonlit beach she requests: Let’s make love. Pierrot,
enthralled by her body, sings: T a ligne de hanche. Their
words appear to be desultory but they contain an
immense emotional load. Mutual erotic fascination
can be depicted by citing Konstanty Miklaszewski’s
description of the erotic element in the commedia
dell’arte : Cult of the body, passionate eroticism, monstrous
entanglement of dirty intrigues, pandering, adultery, jokes,
expressions and gestures more than ambiguous —such is

�Grzegorz Nadgrodkiewicz • T R A G IC O M E D Y D E L E A R T E , OR PIERROTADE A LA GODARD

the indecency of the commedia dell’arte 17. This was the

appearance of a world revealing its affiliation with
Godard’s world of the tragicomedy dell’arte, full of dis­
honest gangster business affairs, false love and a genu­
ine imbroglio of human destiny.
Commedia dell’arte , known also as commedia popolare , was intended mainly for a wide audience composed
of commoners. It was compelled, therefore, to embark
upon assorted issues of interest to this particular social
stratum. Nonetheless, numerous features held dear by
the public were ridiculed as befits a comedy (e.g. the
lascivious behaviour of the soubrettes or the brutality
of certain zanni). In a similar manner, the tragicomedy
dell’arte mocked the mass culture of the 1960s (by way
of example, the colourised takes in the scene of the
party held by the Espressos deride the guests’ captiva­
tion with pop culture). Godard, however, did not al­
low his tragicomedy to reach a member of the audience
in such a facile way as the commedia dell’arte did. It is
much more difficult to detect more profound meanings
in his text but elements subjected by the director to
a negative evaluation can be discerned rather easily.
Commedia dell’arte18 is a professional, well-crafted
comedy known also as commedia all’improvviso, a the­
atrical genre whose characteristic feature is improvisa­
tion of the text. Godard’s tragicomedy dell’arte is also
somewhat all’improvviso. Naturally, improvisation is the
domain of the actors - Marianne and Pierrot, whose
entire journey from Paris to the south of France is a se­
quence of improvised incidents and situations. Talking
with each other they seem to be playing a curious game
intent rather on the aesthetic effect of the statements
than on attaining any sort of understanding. The dia­
logues thus resemble witty and impromptu questions
and answers rather than factual conversation, excel­
lently illustrated by a fragment in which Marianne
and Pierrot are sailing in a boat and discussing politics.
Marianne starts calculating the length of human life
into the number of the seconds it contains. Although
her numerical tirade possesses certain charm it does
not help the conversation to make any progress. Their
curious behaviour, those tragicomic lazzi that are the
product of an impulse, is also improvised. Situations
when both protagonists appear as actors seem to be en­
tirely devoid of any sort of rational premises. The theft
of a Cadillac at a gas station and its subsequent drown­
ing in the sea by Ferdinand are deeds dictated by some
sort of irrational stimuli, hastily improvised situations.
The protagonists of Godard’s Pierrot le fou are not
merely comedians in love. Pierrot as a zanni and Mar­
ianne as a soubrette are also nimble and agile actors
in a tragicomedy dell’arte19. Writing about Harelquin
buffoonery Miklaszewski indirectly offered a character­
istic of Ferdinand’s behaviour: His poses are composed
symmetrically, foolish but witty, vulgar but full of charm,
always strange and reflecting the state of the soul in accord­
27 5

ance with the given situation and theme. Marianne vel Co­
lumbine - Miklaszewski wrote further on - is lively and
merry, implike and limber, with a lissom body in constant
motion20. Marianne and Ferdinand continuously prove
how much they match the protagonists of the commedia
dell’arte. Every now and then Pierrot leaps like an acro­

bat from trees or cliffs, sings and even dances with Mar­
ianne, as in the scene when singing M a ligne de chance,
ta ligne de hanche they execute a mock pas de deux. They
are perfect for the parts of Columbine and Harlequin,
who - to travesty Nicoll - are bouncing on a stage like
a spring and dodging with extravagant gesture21.
In the tragicomedy dell’arte Pierrot, heir of the Ren­
aissance Pedrolino, becomes a character endowed with
truly Romantic features. Storey calls him a fallen angel22,
someone who suffers from inner unrest, succumbs to
Romantic melancholy, experiences a spiritual rent,
and is doomed. Godard’s Ferdinand is familiar with
such moods. The world in which he has found himself
endlessly provides him with reasons to feel torn apart
and to steer his fate towards an ultimate catastrophe.
Looking into the rear view mirror of his car he utters
the symptomatic words: ...I see the face of a man who’s
about to drive over a cliff at a hundred kilometers an hour.
His Romantic nature is also confirmed by a scene
in which together with Marianne he lies on a beach
bathed in moonlight. Harlequin and Pierrot also fre­
quently pursued love affairs with their soubrettes in
moonlight or rendered it the theme of poetic meta­
phors. Storey too mentioned this fact, thus simultane­
ously confirming Pierrot’s Romantic nature23.
In Godard’s film, Ferdinand changes and evolves
just like Harlequin who in the commedia dell’arte be­
comes Pierrot. From a passive husband attending
flashy receptions he becomes Pierrot - Marianne’s
mad lover. He is closer to Pierrot or Harlequin due to
the fact that he writes and turns into a tragicomic au­
thor whose diary describes his equally tragicomic life.
In this manner he starts to resemble Pierrot as a poet
from a French children’s song24.
Finally, yet another similarity between the Italian
comedy and the tragicomedy dell’arte realised, however,
not within the diegesis of the film but due to the spe­
cific function fulfilled by the director, Jean-Luc Godard,
who in the context of the tragicomedy dell’arte became its
initiator and director performing the part of the concertatore supervising the play. In this capacity Godard also
proposed the scenario, in which, according to Nicoll, he
sketched the plot and determined its climax25. First and
foremost, Godard was the author of the screenplay to
Pierrot le fou (borrowing only little from a novel by Lionel
White). We are entitled to assume that the scenario was
not particularly detailed since numerous scenes appear
to be improvised (just like the lazzi in commedia dell’arte,
barely marked in the scenario). Moreover, Godard-concertatore took care that the key scenes were sufficiently

�Grzegorz Nadgrodkiewicz • T R A G IC O M E D Y D E L L A R T E , OR PIERROTADE À LA GODARD

accentuated so that eventually they could transmit
meanings granted by the director (in the same way the
concertatore distinguished elements of the plot).
Ferdinand-Pierrot is no longer a mere protagonist of
the tragicomedy dell’arte. As a comedian, he becomes the
participant of events transpiring in a strange and gro­
tesque world, which Storey described as le monde pierrotique26. Pierrot strides a world that is recalcitrant and bi­
zarre27. This is also the way Ferdinand behaves when he
begins to live as if in an adventure story. His entire activity
seems to stem from a curious (although probably uncon­
scious) need to fill the surrounding world with original
events and words. This specific horror vacui is the reason
why the essence of the acts carried out by Ferdinand­
-Pierrot - all those thefts, assaults, heists and murders - is
a multiplication of a clown’s jokes. Ferdinand’s journey
to the south of France constantly supplies him with new
opportunities for performing lazzi. His conduct assumes
clownish features. When it produces only laughter it
becomes a clown’s performance; moments later it is an
ordinary masquerade (the theatrical scene enacted in
a port by Ferdinand and Marianne wearing Vietnamese
and American costumes). As a rule, however, Ferdi­
nand proves to be the protagonist of a Harlequinade,
a comical and tragic, grotesque and ironic Pierrotade a la
Godard. Pierrot envisaged by Jean-Luc Godard proves to
be the servant of Death28 (he kills Marianne), but also
its victim (after all, he too will soon die). He is naive and
pitiful, embroiled in a sequence of tragicomic situations
crowned by his absurd demise. The Pierrotade in which
he participates or rather which he creates possesses
a specific Godardesque character. After all, not always
did Pierrot’s sad adventures end in his death. Pierrot le
fou produces such a tangle of various circumstances that
the only possible conclusion of the main protagonist’s
story proves to be his death (just as in classical tragedy).
This is why the Pierrotade constructed by Ferdinand is
a Pierrotade a la Godard - it runs its course and ends in
accordance with the poetic of this director’s films.
Finally, here is Mikhail Bakhtin: Popular masks (...)
never perish: not a single plot in Atellan, Italian or Italian­
ized French comedies provides for, or could ever provide for,
the actual death of a Maccus, a Pulcinello or a Harlequin.
However, one frequently witnesses their fictive comic deaths
(with subsequent resurrections). These are heroes of free im­
provisation and not heroes of tradition, heroes of a life proc­
ess that is imperishable and forever renewing itself, forever
contemporary —these are not heroes of an absolute past29.
Endnotes
1 Mikhail Bakhtin, Epic and Novel, in: idem, The Dialogic
Imagination, ed. Michael Holquist, transl. Caryl Emmerson,
Michael Holquist, Austin - London 1981, p. 36.
2 Ibidem.
3 Robert F. Storey, Pierrot. A Critical History of a Mask,
Princeton 1978, p. 15.
4 Cf. ibidem, p. 17.
276

5
6
7
8
9

10

11

12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23

24

25

26
27
28

29

Ibidem, p. 114.
Cf. ibidem, p. 22.
Arthur Symons, Aubrey Beardsley, London 1898, pp.
20-21.
Ibidem, p. 21.
The use of the expression "product of the theatre” is
intentional since commedia dell’arte is not drama sensu
stricto and a written play but rather the product of the
actor, the costume designer or the stage machinist.
Cf. Julian Lewański, O komedii żywej, introduction to:
Konstanty Miklaszewski, Komedia dell’arte, czyli teatr
komediantów włoskich XVI, XVII, XVIII wieku, transl.
Sława and Michał Browińscy, Wrocław 1961, p. 5.
Allardyce Nicoll, The World of Harlequin: A Critical
Study of the Commedia Dell’Arte, Cambridge 1963, p. 84.
Cf. also: Allardyce Nicoll, The Development of the
Theatre: A Study of Theatrical Art from the Beginnings to
the Present Day, New York 1927, p. 108.
Konstanty Miklaszewski, op. cit., pp. 51-53.
Example after: Robert F. Storey, op. cit., p. 27.
Allardyce Nicoll, World Drama: From Aeschylus to
Anouilh, New York 1961, p. 197.
Allardyce Nicoll, The Development of the Theatre, op.
cit., p. 107.
Robert F. Storey, op. cit., p. 25.
Konstanty Miklaszewski, op. cit., p. 81.
Arte in Italian means not only art but also: skill, profes­
sion, handiwork.
Cf. Konstanty Miklaszewski, op. cit., p. 110.
Ibidem, p. 116.
Cf. Allardyce Nicoll, The Development of the Theatre, op.
cit., p. 108.
Ange déchu.
Storey listed titles and quotes from books confirming
Pierrot's condition as a Romantic fond of the mood of
a moonlit night (with a slight dose of irony), e.g. the title
of the play by Nolant de Fatouville: Arlequin, empereur
dans la lune (op. cit., p. 24) or the words of Pierrot from
another drama: I could never be such a fool as to agree that
the moon is a world. The moon, the moon! Morbleu! And
the moon no bigger than an omelette of eight eggs! (op. cit.,
p. 25).
The lyrics of this song depict a sad and despondent
clown-poet:
Au clair de la lune
Mon ami Pierrot
Prête-moi ta plume
Pour écrire un mot.
Ma chandelle est morte
Je n’ai plus de feu.
Ouvre-moi ta porte
Pour l'amour de Dieu.
Cf. Allardyce Nicoll, The Development of the Theatre, op.
cit., p. 105. Cf. also: Guy Braucourt, “Pierrot le fou” ou les
héros de Jean-Luc Godard, “Etudes cinématographiques”
1967, vol. 57-61, no. 59; Konrad Eberhardt, Jean-Luc
Godard, Warszawa 1970.
Robert F. Storey, op. cit., p. 73.
Cf. ibidem.
Robert F. Storey suggested this function was also fulfilled
by Pierrot by referring to the title of Champfleury's
Pierrot, valet de la Mort (op. cit., p. 114).
Mikhail Bakhtin, op. cit., p. 36.

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                <text>LUDWI K S T O M M A

M

a Wercyngetoryks we Francji kilkanaście
pomników, z czego najokazalsze w Alise-Sa­
inte-Reine i Clermont-Ferrand, oraz trudną
do policzenia ilość ulic, alej, placów, skwerów swojego
imienia. W Paryżu ma swoją ulicę w XIV dzielnicy. N a
najbliższych przedmieściach: bulwar w Argenteuil,
aleje w Aulnay-sous-Bois, plac w Champigny-sur-Marne, ulice w Eaubonne, Houilies, Jouvisy-sur-Orges, Vitry-sur-Seine... Kim był Wercyngetoryks (ok.
72-45 p.n.e.)? - Galem z plemienia Awernów, czyli
mieszkańców dzisiejszej Owernii. Pochodził z rodziny
arystokratycznej - był synem Celtillusa (taką wersję
imienia przekazali nam Rzymianie) i w roku 52 p.n.e.
stanął na czele antyrzymskiego powstania, które zgro­
madziło znaczną ilość galijskich rodów. Miał niezwy­
kłe szczęście, gdyż jego przeciwnikiem był sam Juliusz
Cezar, równie wielki polityk jak pisarz, który uwiecz­
nił go w Commentarii de bello gallico. Odtąd też każde
dziecko uczące się na pamięć, iż „Gallia est omnis divi­
sa in parte tres...", już w następnych wersach spotkać
musiało romantyczną sylwetkę bezwzględnego celtyc­
kiego wojownika. Dzieje powstania są barwne. Nie
brak w nich nagłych, karkołomnych zmian sytuacji,
a samo oblężenie Alezji, które okazało się zgubne dla
Wercyngetoryksa, stało się na tysiąclecie natchnie­
niem dla pisarzy i poetów wysławiających tego, który
w imię wolności poświęcił życie i bogactwo całego bez
mała narodu, a sam utopiony został w Tybrze przez
nieubłaganych ciemiężycieli. Nie malownicza epopeja
nas jednak obchodzi. Był Wercyngetoryks Celtem,
Galem, z tych właśnie Galów, którzy po upadku po­
wstania „we wszystkim starają się naśladować zwycięz­
ców: budują takie jak oni miasta, uprawiają rolę na
sposób rzymski, zakładają sady i winnice, a w rzemio­
śle skutecznie rywalizują z wytwórczością Italii. Przez
300 lat będzie Galia jedną z najbardziej aktywnych za­
chodnich prowincji świata rzymskiego. U Galów rzym­
skich nie odnajdujemy już ani tej ciekawości świata,
ani tej oryginalności, czasem manierycznej, dziwacz­
nej, czasem nawet ożywianej trochę szaloną fantazją,
które podnosiły wartość sztuki celtyckiej. Galia jest
już tylko jedną z wielu rzymskich prowincji. Stała się
na wskroś rzymska, do tego stopnia, że zarzuciła swój
język i dobrowolnie przyjęła sposób życia i myślenia
właściwy światu śródziemnomorskiemu. Sto lat po
podboju wysyła do Rzymu senatorów. Dała mu też mi­
strzów słowa. Rytuliusz Namacjanus, poeta pochodze­
nia galijskiego, żyjący u schyłku cesarstwa, jest auto­
rem jednej z najpiękniejszych definicji patriotyzmu
rzymskiego: Fecisti patriam diversis gentibus unam' ('Dla
najróżniejszych narodów wspólną stałeś się ojczyzną').
W V wieku, niedługo przed Chlodwigiem, galijscy
możnowładcy, tacy jak biskup Sidonius Apoilinaris
(biskup Clermont, żył ok. 431 - ok. 478, znany jako
autor Pieśni, a przede wszystkim listów przynoszących
bogaty materiał historyczny - LS), byli typowymi Rzy-

Tradycja
Fragment książki Wstyd,
dzieciństwo, czas...
Antropologia historii*
mianami swoich czasów." (Albert Grenier, Historia
Galów, Gdańsk-Warszawa 2002).
Dodajmy od razu, że ów Chlodwig (466-511), któ­
ry pojawia się na scenie dziejowej niedługo po Sidonisie i który uchodzi za założyciela państwa francuskie­
go, był wnukiem Merowiusza, czystej krwi
Germaninem z plemienia (ludu) Franków Salickich,
nie miał więc nic wspólnego z Celtami, a i z Rzymia­
nami niewiele. Z germańskiej dynastii Merowingów
wyrastają, tak to przynajmniej, acz - Krzysztof Pomian
ma rację - z ideologicznych powodów ustalili history­
cy, Karolingowie, z nich z kolei Kapetyngowie, czyli
mutatis mutandis monarchia francuska, aż po Ludwika
Filipa, czy obecnych pretendentów do tronu: księcia
Paryża i Ludwika XX (Thierry Ardisson, Louis XX,
contre-enquete sur la monarchie, Paris 1986). Żadna
z tych dynastii nie miała, powtórzmy to, z Galami nic
wspólnego. Jeżeli można mówić (co jest przedmiotem
zajadłych dyskusji) o celtyckich pozostałościach
w langwedockiej kulturze d'oc aż po XIII w., i one zo­
stały starte z powierzchni ziemi przez rycerzy Ludwika
VIII Lwa i Ludwika IX Świętego. Gdzież więc owe ga­
lijskie korzenie Francji? Albert Grenier uderza w tony
wręcz liryczno-metafizyczne (choć złośliwy mógłby po­
wiedzieć, że i niepokojąco bliskie argumentów rasi­
stowskich), pisząc, w czym zresztą zaprzecza całemu
swojemu uprzedniemu wywodowi: „Klęska militarna
Wercyngetoryksa wstrzymala oryginalny rozwój Galii
i spowodowała utratę politycznej autonomii na całe
wieki; ale rzymski potomek nosił w sobie galijskie ge­
ny. (...) Dlatego właśnie Galowie mogą być uważani za
naszych przodków, a ich historia za początek naszej".
Trudno to wziąć na serio, tym bardziej że na Franków
spuścił Grenier beztroską zasłonę całkowitego prze­
milczenia. A jednak... zdanie „Nous les Gallois" wy­
głasza znaczna, jeśli nie przeważająca część Francuzów
z najgłębszym i niepodlegającym kontestacji przeko­

295

*

Jest to fragment książki, która ukaże się nakładem wy­
dawnictwa „Sens”. Redakcja składa serdeczne podzię­
kować Pani Ewie Katarzynie Kalinowej i autorowi za
zgodę na publikację.

�TRADYCJA

Ludwik Stomma

naniem. Apoteozę tej przybranej tożsamości odnaj­
dziemy w serii komiksów Rene Gościnnego i Alberta
Uderzo o przygodach Gala Asteriksa.
Jest to kpina, pastisz z domieszką surrealizmu.
Ograniczmy się, pisałem już o tym (Ludwik Stomma,
Z owsa ryż, Warszawa 2003), do samej onomastyki.
Główni bohaterowie to Astérix (od Aster - gwiazdy,
gwiazdy filmowej, głównego bohatera porostu),
Obélix (obelisk), Panoramix, Assurancetourix (od as­
surance tous risąues - kompletnego ubezpieczenia sa­
mochodowego), pies Astériksa - Idéfix (idée fixe idea prześladowcza, zwariowany pomysł stale zaprząta­
jący myśli)... Obozy rzymskie wokół ojczyźnianej „wio­
ski galijskiej”, to Petibonum (Małodobrze) Laudanum
(Chwalipiętowo) i zgoła Aquarium. Francuzi czytają,
zaśmiewając się, gdyż mają dystans do swojej historii.
Ale właśnie, nie zmienia to, lecz utrwala przekonanie,
że jest to ich historia. Francja, rzecz to dosyć wyjątko­
wa, nie ma oficjalnego herbu na kształt polskiego orła
białego. Jego funkcje pełni najczęściej (obok Marian­
ny, czapki frygijskiej czy rewolucyjnych rózeg liktorskich) przede wszystkim kogut galijski (le coq gallois)
wypuszczany na boisko przed każdym meczem repre­
zentacji państwowej, czy to grającej w piłkę nożną, czy
w rugby. Symbol koguci został niejako narzucony Ga­
lom przez Rzymian, na skutek bliskości fonetycznej.
Kogut, to po łacinie gallus. używali oni tego zestawie­
nia, niekiedy w sensie pozytywnym, jak Juliusz Cezar
przyrównujący odwagę Galów do determinacji kogu­
tów broniących piskląt, częściej w negatywnym, jak
Swetoniusz, który ośmieszając głos Nerona, jako „pia­
nie koguta”, dodaje, że owo pianie „jedynie ciemnym.
kogutom-Galom mogłoby się spodobać” (Michel Pa­
stoureau, Les emblemes de la France, Paris 2001). Sko­
jarzenie to upowszechnia się szeroko w czasach rzym­
skich. Już we wczesnym średniowieczu jednak kogut
zostaje zdegradowany. Święty Izydor z Sewilli (Isidorus
Hispalensis ok. 560-636) autor słynnych Etymologiarum sive. Originum libri XX („Dwudziestu ksiąg pocho­
dzeń, czyli Etymologii”) niekontestowany ojciec śre­
dniowiecznej etymologii, w bardzo skądinąd
skomplikowanym wywodzie, wyprowadza nazwę kogu­
ta od kastracji, która zmienia go w kapłona. Etymolo­
gia ta, przejęta przez licznych autorów, będzie przez
długie wieki obowiązująca. Nic dziwnego, że w tej sy­
tuacji nikt nie chce się wiązać z impotenckim i ośmie­
szającym kogucim symbolem. Skojarzenie Gal - Gal­
lus (kogut) przypomni dopiero antyfrancuska
propaganda angielska i niemiecka (cesarska) w XII
wieku. Król Francji rządzi na koguciej ziemi jest więc,
jak to koguty, krzykliwy, kłótliwy, pyszałkowaty, po­
dejmujący inicjatywy, które „z braku męskości” skaza­
ne są z góry na przegraną. Jest paradoksem - zauważa
Michel Pastoureau - że owe pierwsze «kogucie» pamflety wymierzone były w Ludwika VII i Filipa Augusta,
czyli akurat królów, którzy uznali oficjalnie za symbol

Francji kwiat lilii wywodzący się z ikonografii chrześci­
jańskiej i z Galami niemający nic wspólnego. Jest to
również epoka, w której nowofrancuskie coq, zaczyna
wypierać postłacińskie jal na określenie naszego pta­
ka, kiedy więc właśnie skojarzanie go z Galami staje
się dla mieszkańców Francji coraz mniej zrozumiałe.
Cóż więc tłumaczyć może fakt, że w końcu XIII wieku
powracają nagle triumfalnie i kogut, i miraże dziedzic­
twa po Wercyngetoryksie? - Powody są ściśle politycz­
no-ideowe. Potężniejąca Francja zaznaczyć chce swo­
ją niezależność zarówno od papieży (tradycja
łacińsko-rzymska), jak i Cesarstwa (tradycja germań­
ska). Dla potrzeb zaznaczenia odrębności następuje
więc wskrzeszenie Galów i pamięci o nich. Galów nie­
zależnych i niepodległych, tych sprzed podbojów Ju­
liusza Cezara. Ze byli poganami? - To w tej chwili nie­
ważne. Nie ma tu nic spontanicznego. Jesteśmy
w obliczu przemyślanej i konsekwentnej machinacji
historyczno-polityczno-ideologicznej. Zestaw doktryn
podważających zależność Kościoła francuskiego od
Rzymu nazwany zostaje przez profesorów Sorbony, po
długich deliberacjach przynoszących honor ich znajo­
mości kultury antycznej „proklamacją swobód gallikańskich” (1407). Kości zostały rzucone. Zaraz pojawi
się „gallikanizm polityczny”, ustalone zostanie pocho­
dzenie Galów od Trojan etc. Niech sobie nieprzyjacie­
le kpią z kogutów. My właśnie będziemy się nimi szczy­
cić! Karol VII (panowanie 1422-1461), Karol VIII
(1483-1498), Ludwik XII (1498-1515) nadają sobie
w dokumentach przydomek „Gallus”, równoważny
z kogutem. Franciszek I (panowanie 1515-1547) opła­
cił - pisze Pastoureau - „istny program rehabilitacji
galijskiego koguta. Ma on być symbolem przenikliwo­
ści, godności, odwagi, być powiązany ze słońcem,
z Marsem i z Merkurym. Specjaliści od mitologii,
astrologii, historii i archeologii zobowiązani zostają do
odnalezienia wszystkich danych świadczących o domi­
nującej roli koguta w naturze i kosmosie”. Tak na­
maszczony Gal-kogut powraca do narodowej emblematyki. Oto awers medalu wybitego w 1601 dla
uczczenia narodzin delfina - przyszłego Ludwika XIII.
N a otoku napis: Regnis natus et orbis. Pośrodku gołe
dzieciątko trzymające w ręku kwiat lilii. Przed dzie­
ciątkiem, jakby wychodzący na jego spotkanie, kogut.
Jeszcze niewielki, z zamkniętym dziobem. Ale to się za
chwilę zmieni. Już w dekoracjach pałacu wersalskiego
koguty strzegące kwiatów lilii będą potężne, bojowe
i majestatyczne. Charles Le Brun, który projektował
płaskorzeźby i stiuki, dostał w tej mierze kategoryczne
dyrektywy Ludwika XIV. Prawdziwy triumf przeżywa
jednak kogut dopiero w czasach rewolucji. Łączy bo­
wiem w sobie i ciągłość państwa, i tradycję antymonarchiczną (toż Wercyngetoryks walczy z Juliuszem,
który został cesarzem-krwiopijcą i aspekt ludowy ko­
guta z podwórka). „W 1790 - raz jeszcze odwołajmy
się do Michela Pastoureau - Zgromadzenie Narodowe

296

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przyjmuje wniosek, żeby oficjalnym. godłem Republiki
został kogut siedzący na szczycie sankiulockiej piki, ze
skrzydłami rozpostartymi, jakby szykował się do boju.
N a dole dewiza: Canat expugnatque vicissim («Na prze­
mian śpiewa i rwie się do walki»). Projekt ostatecznie
nie został przyjęty, kogut znalazł jednak miejsce na
monetach, pieczęciach i sztandarach. Wraz z nim ga­
lijskie korzenie. Apoteoza Galii jako pierworodnej oj­
czyzny osiągnie potem swoje ekstatyczne szczyty pod­
czas pierwszej wojny światowej, kiedy jakiekolwiek
germańskie odwołania stawały się bez mała zdradą na­
rodową.
Powstaje oczywiście w tym momencie pytanie: co
zrobić z samą nazwą „Francja” odnoszącą się nie tylko
do dziejów niegalijskich, ale wręcz do Galów - wrogów
i prześladowców? W szkolnych podręcznikach historii
pojawia się „Francja” deus ex machina: „Przed dwoma
tysiącami lat Francja nazywała się Galia. Potem zmie­
niła imię i nazywa się Francja”. Albo: „Karol Łysy pa­
nował” nad większą częścią Galii. Jego królestwo nazy­
wało się Francja”, czy jeszcze: „Potomkowie Karola
Wielkiego podzielili między siebie cesarstwo. Jeden
z nich objął władzę nad krajem, który nazwano Fran­
cja”. Żaden z podręczników nie wspomina, choć było­
by to wysoce wychowawcze, że Frankowie tłumaczy się
na „ludzie wolni”. Bo tłumaczy się wprawdzie dumnie,
ale ze starogermańskiego... Suzanne Citron (Le mythe
national — l'histoire de France en question, Paris 1987)
wykazuje, że właściwie, aby całkowicie przemienić' hi­
storię narodową i dostosować ją, jako „odwieczną tra­
dycję” do potrzeb ideologiczno-politycznych, nie trzeba
nawet uciekać się do fałszu. Wystarczy jedne fakty
opatrywać dogodnym komentarzem, inne zaś pozosta­
wić same sobie. Galia zmieniła nazwę i nazywa się
Francja. Czy naprawdę wiele jest tych nietaktownie
dociekliwych osób, które zapytają się: dlaczego?
Uwagi Suzanne Citron nie stosują się bynajmniej
tylko do historii Francji. Przenieśmy się do Polski.
W roku 1036 mają tu miejsce niepokojące wydarzenia.
N a skutek „reakcji pogańskiej” wnuk Bolesława Chro­
brego, syn Mieszka II i Rychezy - książę Kazimierz przepędzony zostaje z kraju, w którym następuje zupeł­
ny chaos, pognębiony jeszcze najazdem czeskim
w 1033. Rzecz kończy się jednak happy endem. „Kazi­
mierz Odnowiciel (to dumne miano dostał właśnie dla­
tego - LS) z drużyną liczącą 500 rycerzy, zwerbowaną
w Niemczech dzięki pomocy matki Rychezy i króla Nie­
miec Henryka III, zaniepokojonego wzmocnieniem
swojego czeskiego lennika Brzetysława, powrócił do
kraju, zajął Wielkopolskę i Małpolskę...” (Kronika Pol­
ski Pod redakcją Andrzeja Nowaka, Kraków 1998).
„Sam książę Kazimierz powrócił wraz z polsko-węgiersko-niemiecką drużyną 500 wojów do Polski. Stan,
w jakim zastał kraj, był fatalny” (Patrycja Ksyk-Gąsiorowska w: Piastowie. Leksykon biograficzny, Kraków
1999). „Henryk III (...) udzielił wygnanemu Kazimie­

rzowi pomocy, która umożliwiła mu powrót do kraju za­
pewne już w końcu 1039 r.” (Tadeusz Manteuffel w:
Zarys historii Polski. Warszawa 1979). „Nie wiadomo
kiedy ruszył” Kazimierz do Polski; zaopatrzony przez
Henryka III w oddział, złożony z 500 rycerzy» (Bene­
dykt Zientara w: Poczet królów i książąt polskich”, War­
szawa 1980). „Przy pomocy zbrojnej Henryka III odzy­
skał Kazimierz w 1039 władzę w Wielkopolsce
i Małopolsce”. (Jan Tyszkiewicz w: Encyklopedia historii
Polski —dzieje polityczne, Warszawa 1994). „Nowy król
niemiecki Henryk III (1017-1056) zaniepokojony
wzmocnieniem Czech pomógł Kazimierzowi I w powro­
cie do Polski (przekazał mu 500 rycerzy). Młodego księ­
cia poparli również krewni matki Rychezy (córki Erenfrieda Ezzona, palatyna reńskiego, i Matyldy, córki
cesarza Ottona II - LS). Kazimierz stłumił anarchię
i przywrócił w kraju porządek.” (Jerzy Serowiec i Hali­
na Niemiec, Dzieje Polski w datach, Warszawa 2005).
„Na przełomie 1038/1039 lub w 1039 r., po wcześniej­
szym pobycie na Węgrzech i w Niemczech, złożeniu
hołdu cesarzowi Konradowi II i otrzymaniu od niego
pomocy w postaci 500 rycerzy, Kazimierz wrócił do kra­
ju. Kraj pogrążony był w chaosie wewnętrznym.” (Józef
Dobosz w: Słownik władców polskich, Poznań 1997). Cy­
taty można mnożyć bez końca. Mniejsza z tym, czy
udzielił pomocy Kazimierzowi Konrad II, czy Henryk III
(nieubłagana chronologia wskazuje, że to raczej Józef
Dobosz jest w błędzie). Mniejsza też o to, jaki był skład
narodowościowy owej pięćsetki rycerzy, która wsparła
Kazimierza (jedna jedyna w całej historiozofii polskiej,
i bez żadnych podstaw źródłowych, Patrycja Ksyk-Gąsiorowska odnajduje między nimi Polaków). Pewni, lub
prawie pewni możemy być tylko dwóch rzeczy: że ryce­
rzy było około pięciuset i że opłacił ich niemiecki wład­
ca. Innymi słowy państwowość polska (a przynajmniej
ciągłość owej państwowości) oraz chrześcijaństwo
(a przynajmniej jego ciągłość w Polsce) w dziwnych la­
tach 1037-1040 ocalone zostało przez zbrojną pomoc
niemiecką. Tyle że tego komentarza nie znajdziemy
w żadnym z polskich podręczników. Dowiemy się
z nich, owszem, że Bolesław Chrobry spotkał się roku
tysiącznego w Gnieźnie z Ottonem III. Spotkać się brzmi to jak kolega z kolegą, czy szef państwa z szefem
państwa innego. Komentarza, że spotkał się podwładny
z przełożonym (które to przełożeństwo poddany w peł­
ni uznawał), nie spotkamy już w żadnych podręczni­
kach szkolnych, nigdzie, poza napisanymi w języku
dziesięciu zaklęć specjalistycznych, erudycyjnych pra­
cach dla wybranych. Natomiast mityczna na dziewięć­
dziesiąt dziewięć procent historia nieszczęsnych dzieci
głogowskich (1109) weszła do kanonu opowieści naro­
dowych - sam pisałem o tej bohaterskiej legendzie obo­
wiązkowe wypracowanie, gdyż tutaj akurat komentarz,
jednoznaczny komentarz, musi już być obecny. W Pol­
sce owa „tradycja” służy petryfikowaniu modelu mę­
czeńskiego narodu ściśniętego w cęgach między Rosją

297

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(tu dopiero manipulatorzy mogą sobie poszaleć!)
i Niemcami. Wystarczy jednak dłuższa w czasie zmiana
wektorów politycznych i tradycja też się zmieni. Inne
będą bajki i inne, co genetycznie zabawne, będą Polacy
prawdy „wysysać z krwią matek”.
W 1983 ukazała się nakładem wydawnictwa uni­
wersyteckiego Cambridge i przetłumaczona dotąd na
kilkadziesiąt języków, czy na polski - nie wiem, praca
pod redakcją Erica Hobsbawma i Terence’a Rangera
The Invention of Tradition [Wynalezienie (albo 'wynaj­
dywanie') tradycji]. Parę słów o autorach. Eric Hobsbawm uchodzi za jednego z największych współcze­
snych historyków idei, a jego Narody i nacjonalizmy od
1980 są dziełem, bez odniesienia się do którego żaden
amerykański czy angielski student nauk humanistycz­
nych nie może liczyć na zaliczenie magisterium. T e­
rence Ranger jest z kolei antropologiem, afrykanistą,
którego zasługi, a to już właściwie więcej, niż można
powiedzieć, uznali oficjalnie i Claude Lévi-Strauss,
i Georges Dumézil. Współpracowali też przy The In­
vention of Tradition między innymi: Hugh Trevor-Ro­
per, autor Catholics, Anglicans and Puritans, David
Cannadine, specjalista od dziejów i genealogii arysto­
kracji angielskiej, czy Bernard S. Cohen, który odwa­
żył się poruszyć jakże delikatną kwestię stosunków
hindusko-angielskich w sposób zupełnie inny, niż po­
dejmowała go literatura wiktoriańska. Powołuję się,
co doprawdy nie jest w moim zwyczaju, na te autory­
tety, żeby uprzytomnić znaczenie samego tytułu. Sta­
rałem się pokazać, jak dalece zmanipulowana jest
„tradycja” francuska, dorzucając nieśmiało półtora
przykładu z historii polskiej. Hobsbawm i Ranger pod­
jęli się czegoś nieskończenie bardziej patetycznego.
Udowodnili oto, że „tradycja” angielska, kraju, gdzie
tradycja jest świętością i reguluje zasady postępowa­
nia, jest również elementem „gry wychowawczej”, któ­
ra w danej epoce miała wychować obywatela, który gi­
nąłby za Anglię, tak mu się miało wydawać,
z patriotycznym i dżentelmeńskim oddaniem, nie zda­
jąc sobie sprawy, że swoją śmiercią uprawomocnia tyl­
ko mit. „Wynajdywanie tradycji” dotyczy oczywiście
nie tylko Europejczyków i nie tylko grup narodowo­
ściowych. Zawsze jednak, oprócz eksponowania jed­
nych (zreinterpretowanych pozytywnie) faktów kosz­
tem innych, przemilczanych, wzmiankowanych bez
komentarza lub zreinterpretowanych negatywnie, to­
warzyszy wynajdowaniu tradycji generalizacja grupo­
wa. Weźmy na przykład zdanie: „W 1863 roku Polacy
powstali przeciw zaborcom”. Otóż nie przeciw „zabor­
com”, ale tylko jednemu z nich. Nie „Polacy”, ale
drobna ich część, podczas gdy znacznie większa część
miała do powstania stosunek negatywny, lub wręcz,
jak część chłopów, czynnie przeciw niemu występowa­
ła. To już nie jest brak historycznej precyzji, ale wła­
śnie całkowita, stronnicza reinterpretacja dla bieżące­
go użytku. „Naród polski przeciwstawiał się

komunistom”. Pomińmy już użytkowanie słowa „ko­
muniści”, mającego bardziej charakter inwektywy, nie
słowa opisującego rzeczywistość ustrojową. Ale „na­
ród polski”? - Co zrobić wówczas z trzema milionami
członków PZPR (wraz z rodzinami to już 12-15 milio­
nów) i z następnymi milionami, które sobie po prostu
żyły, zadowolone, że mają pracę i mogą uprawiać ogró­
dek. Fałsz staje się jeszcze jaskrawszy, kiedy pojęcia
„naród”, „patriotyzm”, przerzucać zaczynamy w czasy,
kiedy one zgoła nie istniały lub miały radykalnie inne
znaczenie. Czym jest „naród francuski” podczas Wiel­
kiej Rewolucji? - Czy obejmuje on „emigrantów”?
A Wandejczyków? A mieszczan lyońskich? A panią
Marie-Fontaine Harel, która ukrywała opornego
(réfrataire) księdza, który z wdzięczności wymyślił dla
niej formułę sera Camambert bardziej dziś popularne­
go symbolu Francji niż Robespierre i gilotyna? Takie
niuanse nie zaprzątają jednak ideologów, a historia do
bieżącego użytku, tradycją też zwana, nie jest przecież
niczym innym niż ideologią właśnie. Manipulacja ide­
ologiczna nie musi operować fałszem w dosłownym
słowa znaczeniu. Zestawmy dwa zdania: „W PRL ist­
niała cenzura” i „W 1968 Dziady Mickiewicza zostały
zdjęte z afisza Teatru Narodowego”. Każde z osobna
jest prawdziwe. Razem wywołują one jednak wrażenie,
co potwierdzają sondaże (ponad 50% urodzonych po
1985 jest o tym przekonanych), że twórczość klasyków
romantyzmu była w PRL cenzurowana i zakazywana.
„Robespierre był zwolennikiem terroru”. „Ofiarą ter­
roru padli zaatakowani przez Robespierre'a Danton
i jego zwolennicy”. Znowu oba stwierdzenia obiektyw­
nie odpowiadają rzeczywistości. Czy jednak słyszący je
może się domyślić, że Danton i jego zwolennicy byli
właśnie promotorami i ideologami terroru? Nieporo­
zumieniem byłoby jednak systematyczne doszukiwa­
nie się manipulacji. O wiele częściej winne „wynajdy­
wania” tradycji są powielane przez środki masowego
przekazu (ongiś przez pieśń dziadowską, trubadurów
i „wieść gminną”) stereotypy.
Dlaczego Zawisza Czarny był „czarny”. Od razu po­
jawia się, poświadczone przez ikonografię (m.in. Janu­
arego Suchodolskiego „Bitwa pod Grunwaldem”, Mi­
chała Byliny „Zawisza Czarny i Jan Aragoński
potykają się na turnieju rycerskim”, ilustracje Micha­
ła Borucińskiego i Włodzimierza Tetmajera do Zawi­
szy Czarnego Kazimierza Przerwy-Tetmajera, rycina
Corsiego Zawisza Czarny etc.), wyobrażenie wojowni­
ka w czarnej zbroi, na czarnym, potężnym koniu.
Tymczasem Zawisza był „Czarny” z tego najprawdopo­
dobniej najprostszego powodu, że był brunetem, co
zresztą wydaje się rodzinne, bo jego brat to Piotr Kru­
czek, a więc również czarnowłosy. Inny Zawisza, stryj
słynnego
kardynała
Zbigniewa
Oleśnickiego
(1389-1455), to z kolei Zawisza Czerwony. Czerwony,
tym razem wiemy to na pewno, gdyż był rudy. „Mamy
wprawdzie mało świadectw, jak się ubierał Zawisza -

298

�TRADYCJA

Ludwik Stomma

pisze Anna Klubówna (Zawisza Czarny w historii i le­
gendzie, Warszawa 1974), ale na przykład na soborze
w Konstancji wystąpił w czasie okazałej uroczystości
strojnie, bardzo barwnie i przybrany w jakieś pióra,
a w owej nieszczęsnej bitwie pod Golabcem w 1428 ro­
ku, gdzie poległ, miał na sobie zbroję błyszczącą (jasną
- LS”). Dlaczego pomijać te świadectwa, a stwarzać
wizje bez pokrycia? Zaraz odpowiemy dlaczego. N a ra­
zie ze smutkiem przyznać musimy, że Anna Klubówna
mało drąży ów wątek „jakichś piór”, w które przybra­
ny jest Zawisza Czarny na soborze. Opowiada oto K a­
rol Szajnocha (Jadwiga i Jagiełło, Warszawa 1974):
„Upodobawszy sobie, dalej, hełmowe ozdoby, czyli
z niemiecka ‘klejnoty’ rycerstwa zachodniego, przybra­
li wielmoże rycerscy do swych dawnych herbów podobneż hełmu i oznaki na hełmie i nazwali te zmienio­
ne tak herby z cudzoziemska klejnotami, a siebie
samych klejnotnikami. Widząc, jak zazdrośnie rycer­
stwo zachodnie przywłaszczyło sobie zaszczyt noszenia
sukien czerwonych, postroili się rycerze polscy w ta­
kież szaty szkarłatne, pierwowzór późniejszej karma­
zynowej oznaki starożytnego szlachectwa. (...)
Względnie do uchwał synodów starodawnych, wzbra­
niających długim, utrefionym kędziorom przystępu do
kościołów i zgodnie z odpowiednim temu zwyczajem,
podgalała albo podstrzygała rycerska szlachta polska
włosy nad czołem (...) Jak pasowanym rycerzom za­
chodnim, tak i rycerskiemu panu polskiemu wisiał
u szyi do późnych czasów złoty z kosztowną spinką

łańcuszek i tkwił na palcu sygnet herbowy, nieodzow­
ne znamiona dostojnego szlachectwa”. Szajnocha
wielce jest delikatny. Spinka... łańcuszek..., a obok
trubadurzy liryczne wznoszące tony. Najsłynniejszy
z trubadurów środkowego średniowiecza to Wilhelm
z Akwitanii (1071-1127). Pisze o nim Richard Barber
(Rycerze i rycerskość, Warszawa 2000): „Poematy Wil­
helma, jak też utwory innych trubadurów, tworzących
we wczesnym okresie rozwoju tej poezji, zawierają wie­
le niespodzianek, zwłaszcza gdy oczekuje się tylko
dworskich i uprzejmych słów czy wyrażeń. Pierwsza
grupa poematów Wilhelma to utwory raczej obsce­
niczne, które pewnie powstały dla urozmaicenia czasu
spędzanego z przyjaciółmi na piciu i zabawie, tak jak
w satyrze Peire'a d'Auvergne (1150-1200 - LS): 'dla
głosu trąb, pośród zabawy i śmiechu'. Stosunek do ko­
biet jest nawet grubiański, język sprośny, punkt widze­
nia czysto męski. Są to raczej fantazje erotyczne zwią­
zane z fizjologią i ciałem...”. Richard Barber chciałby
to uważać za wyjątek. Niestety, przeczytajmy choćby
Sirventes Peire Vidala (1171-1205), a znajdziemy tam
obscena, które i dzisiaj wydałyby się nam szokujące.
Rycerze zresztą nie ograniczali się bynajmniej do spin­
ki i łańcuszka. Nie dość, że malowali włosy „pasmami
na różne kolory” (Leon Gautier, La Chevalierie Paris
1959), malowali również powieki, rzęsy i (sic!) zęby!
Rycerz z Burgundii Armand de La Clozuet zasłynął
tym, że miał zęby w dwunastu kolorach, skomponowa­
ne tak, „iż czerwone widać było tylko po bokach,
z przodu zaś zielonymi i białymi świecił, które jego
dziedziny barwy wyznaczyły”. Tutaj drobny żal mamy
do Anny Klubówny, że nie wgłębiła się w owe pióra
Zawiszy Czarnego. N a pewno też musiały coś znaczyć.
N a jaki kolor miał zaś Zawisza umalowane włosy i zę­
by, tego niestety, w braku źródeł stwierdzić na pewno
nie możemy. Jedno jest pewne, że za wzór dla harcerzy
nadaje się nieszczególnie. „Polegać jak na Zawiszy” to także jest zdanie, którego sens nie do końca jest ja­
sny. - Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz, który wprowadził je
do tradycji (właśnie!) polskiej, pisał:
„Zawisza Czarny, gdyż z tego imienia
Znany był później u świata,
W ciężkiej kolczudze, nie tknąwszy strzemienia,
Lekko wskoczył na bachmata
I gdy wesoło wpośród szranków pląsał,
Wywijał mieczem, kopiją potrząsał.
Wkrótce się wsławił czyny walecznemi
I tak śmiałość/ jego znano,
Ze w Niemczech, Włoszach i tureckiej ziemi,
Kiedy kogo wychwalano,
Przysłowiem było bojów towarzyszy
Polegaj na nim jakby na Zawiszy”.

Włodzimierza Tetmajera ilustracja do Zawiszy Czarnego
Kazimierza Przerwy-Tetmajera.

Nie bardzo tu wiadomo, w czym owo poleganie
„na Zawiszy” ma się przejawiać. Jeśli chodzi o prawdo­

299

�Ludwik Stomma

mówność? - Aubri le Bourgoing stwierdza i podaje
drastyczne przykłady, że obowiązkiem wasala było po­
pieranie swego seniora nawet w sprawach moralnie
dyskwalifikujących. Chodziłoby więc tylko o ślepe po­
słuszeństwo? - I ono rozumiane było w czasach rycer­
skich zupełnie inaczej niż dzisiaj, a niż w regulami­
nach harcerskich w szczególności. Dużo bliżej był już
Juliusz Słowacki:
„Będą się kładły wezgłowia,
A po nim oprócz przysłowia
Smętnego, co długo się słyszy:
Polegaj jak na Zawiszy,
Więcej nic... nic nie zostanie”.

Bo też rzeczywiście zostaje tylko przysłowie, przy tym
wyrwane z kontekstu i nie do końca wiadomo, o czym
nam mówiące. „Przysłowia sobie przeczą? - Dlatego
właśnie są mądrością narodów” - pisał Stanisław Jerzy
Lec. Warto jednak zwrócić uwagę, że wyrwanie z kon­
tekstu jest niezbywalnym warunkiem tworzenia „trady­
cji”. Harcerski rycerz, czy będzie nim Zawisza Czarny,
czy Lis z Targowiska, czy Zyndram z Maszkowic, nie
może być, kim być musiał: uperfumowanym i umakijażowanym rzeźnikiem-zapaśnikiem. Piast, gdyby istniał
realnie, musiałby zapewne być poddanym cesarza Rze­
szy, ale być takim nie może. Po co jednak wnikać w aż
tak odległe dzieje. Józef Piłsudski nie mógł być socjali­
stycznym bojówkarzem. To też jest nie do pomyślenia.
Organizując tradycję, musimy więc przepisywać historię
(o tym już była mowa) lub przyzwolić na ignorancję. To
drugie jest o tyle proste, że wyobrażeniami zbiorowymi
rządzą nie uczeni (z których też drobna tylko część za­
daje sobie pytania o realność rzeczy), ale media i usta­
nawiająca tradycję propaganda. Częściej jeszcze przypa­
dek. W tradycji polskiej za postać wielką, która nawet
ma być ponoć kanonizowana, uchodzi Romuald Trau­
gutt. Nie wiem, czy można znaleźć lepszy przykład,
w którym obowiązująca hagiografia tak bardzo oddala­
łaby się od rzetelnej biografii. Tak się oto składa, że ka­
rierę wojskową i szybkie awanse zyskał Romuald Trau­
gutt, tłumiąc powstanie węgierskie w 1848 (walczył
więc przeciw innemu naszemu bohaterowi narodowe­
mu - Józefowi Bemowi) i podczas wojny krymskiej. Ob­
jąwszy przywództwo powstania styczniowego w paź­
dzierniku 1863, a więc w momencie, gdy wszystko było
już definitywnie przegrane, wydawał rozkazy niemające
się, nijak do rzeczywistości i, przy ich rzetelnej lekturze
(której, zważywszy okoliczności, nie warto poświęcać
uwagi), całkowicie go ośmieszające jako polityka i stra­
tega. Dlaczego wszedł więc do narodowego panteonu?
- Właśnie dlatego. Powstanie 1863 było od samego po­
czątku polityczną i militarną niedorzecznością. Anali­
zując więc poczynania starających się ratować cokol­
wiek z tego, co uratowane być nie mogło, natrafiamy
zawsze i w sposób nieunikniony na polityczne nieudacz-

TRADYCJA

nictwo i śmieszności. Nie dotyczy to tylko człowieka,
który władzę przejął w momencie, w którym politykowanie było już tylko zupełnym pozorem, więc i rozlicza­
nie jego efektów nie ma najmniejszego sensu, po paru
miesiącach został ujęty i stracony, co zapewniło mu ma­
jestat męczeństwa. Tym razem mamy więc do czynienia
ze swoistą ironią tradycji. Nie do końca jednak. Owa
ironia (która nie jest nią w pamięci społecznej) aż prosi
się bowiem o wykorzystanie. Wyrwany z kontekstu hi­
storycznego Traugutt może stać się więc symbolem nie­
podległościowym (co na to Węgrzy?), antyrosyjskim
(był wprawdzie oficerem rosyjskim, ale przeszedł na
drugą stronę), wreszcie katolickim, gdyż osobiście,
szczególnie w ostatnich miesiącach życia, miał być bar­
dzo praktykujący. Czegoż więcej dla „tradycji” potrze­
ba? Podobnie dziwnych, czy dziwniejszych przypadków
(Traugutt rzeczywiście stracił życie w patetyczny spo­
sób) można znaleźć ogromne ilości w pamięci wszelkich
grup społecznych, etnicznych etc. O czym to świadczy?
- O podwójnym: mitycznym i utylitarnym charakterze
tradycji, który powoduje (znów wracamy do Rolanda
Barthesa), że nie jest ona tworem „zastanym”, „wyssa­
nym z mlekiem matek”, ale wręcz przeciwnie: przy­
właszczając sobie ów atrybut „odwieczności” podlega
w rzeczywistości ciągłym zmianom wynikającym zarów­
no z przemian społecznych w grupach odwołujących się
do niej, jak też z manipulacji czy zwykłych pomyłek.

Włodzimierza Tetmajera ilustracja do Zawiszy Czarnego
Kazimierza Przerwy-Tetmajera.

�</text>
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                <text>Lud, t. 68, 1984

KATARZYNA

KAl'VIOW8KA

KatedJ'a Etnografii

:;niwersytetu

ŁódZlkiego

TRADYCJA METODOLOGICZNA POWOJENNEJ
SKIEJ A EWOLUCJONIZM

ETNOGRAFII

POL-

Poniższy tekst stanowi fragment przygotowanej przeze mnie pracy
na temat ewolucjonistycznych i socjobiologicznych koncepcji kultury.
Obydwa te nurty mieszczą się w innej niż przyjęta w polskiej etnografii tradycji myślenia o kulturze. Etnologia anglosaska, a szczególnie amerykańska lokuje sposoby interpretowania kultury także i w perspektywie
doświadczeń nauk przyrodnkzych. Odniesień takich w polskiej etnografii nie czyniono. O ile zrozumiały jest brak zainteresowania socjobiologią, d2liedzin4 wlaśC'iwie dopiero się kształtującą, o tyle eWOilu&lt;:jO!l1izJm
znany był i komentowany od przełamu wieków. Nie znalazł on jednak
w polskiej etnografii podatnego gruntu. W przedstawianym tekście staram się wskazać nta pewne 'uwarulllkowania, (które zadecydowaly o braku
zaiJnJteresowaniaetno.logią ewolucjonistyczną we współc.z·esnej etnografii
polskiej.

Ewolucjonizm we wspókzesnej etnologii polskiej nie był traktowany
jako wartośdowy czy pociągający sposób interpretowania kultury. W
historii powojennej etnologii, poza pracami komentującymi, a ściślej prezentującymi ewolucjonizm jako odrębną teoretyczną i metodologiczną
perspektywę badania kultury 1, nie opublikowano żadnej próby badań
czy Irozważań, które deklarowałyby ewolucjonistyczną orientację ich
autora.
Brak zainteresowania ewolucjonizmem, szczególnie zaś neoewolucjonizmem, miał co najmniej kilka przyczyn, które generalnie dotyczyły
dwu obszarów: politycznych uwarunkowań nauk społecznych w powojennej rzeczywistości oraz określonej tradycji polskiej etnologii. Obydwa
te obszary kształtowały, w pierwszym przypadku, brak zainteresowania
ewolucjonizmem z konieczności, w drugim - brak zainteresowania z
1

Np. J. LUJtyński,

ka, Łódź 1956.

Ewolucjonizm

w etnologii anglosaskej a etnografia radziec-

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wyboru. Trudno naturalnie wyliczyć wszystkie powody, ale niektóre z
nich wydają się godne zwrócenia szczególnej uwagi.
Warto przypomnieć, że tezy klasycznego ewolucjoniz;mu znane były
głównie z tłumaczeń prac E. Tylora i L. H. Morgana dokonanych w końcu XIX wieku i w pierwszych latach XX 2. Z pewnością jednak bardziej
spopularyzowały ewolucjonizm nie tyle tłumaczenia dzieł oryginalnych,
ile prace L. Krzywickiego. Miało to określone konsekwencje. Teoria
ewolucji pojawiła się u Krzywickiego w kontekście prezentowania myśli
marksistowskiej, stąd służy tam rac.zej jako argument dla poparcia pewnych tez maT:ksizmu, niżli stan;)wi osobny obsz;ar rozważ3ń. Wprowadzenie ewolucjonizmu do nauk społecznych taką dr~
teoretycznie dawało temu kietrunlk,ow&gt;iswnsę bliżs7;ego 7!ainteresowania się nim pO'\vojennej etnografii polskiej.
Chara,kteryzując sytua,cję etnografii w lata,ch 40- tych i 50-tych w Fo,lsee autorzy szerszego na ten temat opracowania 3 piszą: "okres wyrażnych dążeń centralistycZlnych oraz presji metodologicznej w dziedzinie
etnografii wytyc.zają daty dwóch konferencji: pierwszej zwołanej przez
Polskie Towarzystwo Ludoznawcze w 1951 roku w związku z przygotowywanym Kongresem Nauki Polskiej i drugiej organizowanej w 1956
roku przez IHKM PAN.
Pierwsza konferencja dokonała stereotypowego rozra,chunku z dorobkiem przedwojennej
etnografii «z punktu widzenia postępowej myśli
społecznej oraz etnografii powojennej w dialektycznym procesie walki
starych tendencji z nowymi» reprezentowanymi przez dążenie do powiązania nauki z życiem i oparcie jej o materializm historyczny i dialektyezny" 4.
Postulaty formułowane na tej konf'eroocji odnosiły się, zdaniem autorów, do podejmowania prac z zakresu etnografii historycznej, kultury
tradycyjnej "ludu 'pracującego" oraz 'inicjowania badań pf'zyda1bnych dla
praktyki społecznej, uznając za takie przede wszystkim badania kultury
ludowej jako istotnego elementu kultury narodowej. Konferencja określała więc przedmiot zainteresowań dziedziny, zakres badań a także perspektywę metodologiczną. Ta ostatnia deklarowana była najmniej precyzyjnie, co nie znaczy jednak, że nie można określić generalnej tendencji.
Zarówno treści merytoryczne jak i specyficzny język, jakim owe treści

dzieł k1asyik6w ewO'lucj()inizmu 'll'ku'zywały się ko'lejnlQ: SpołeczeńL. H. Mor!!ana w 1887 r., Cywilizacja
pierwotna
E. Tylora w
1896 r., a Antropologia
E. Tylora w 1911.
3 J. Burszta,
B. Kopczyńska-Jaworska,
Polska etnografia
po II wojnie, "Lud"
. 1982, t. 66, s. 2 - 18.
, ibidem, s. 6.
2

stwo

Przekła,dy

pierwotne

�Tradycja

metodologiczna

powojennej

etnografii

53

polskiej

były wyrażane wskazuje, iż etnografia nie była w tym okresie dziedziną
bardziej uprzywilejowaną niż inne nauki społeczne. Tak jak np. w socjologii, uwaga badaczy miała skupić się na dwu kwestiach, krytycznej
ocenie dorobku dziedziny i projekcie sposobu jej uprawiania. Owcze:łlla
sytuacja nauk społecznych odsunięta była niejako na plan dalszy, podczas gdy stosunek do przeszłości i przyszłości wymagał niezwłocznego
określenia.
Pierwsze oceny aktualnej działalności naukowej pojawiły się w dyskusji na drugiej konferencji środowiska etnografów zwołanej w 1956
roku przez IHKM PAN. Autorzy wspomnianego wyżej opracowania
określili tę konferencję jako "otwierającą nowy okres rozwoju etnografii
polskiej", jednak analiza tez dyskutowanych na konferencji pozwala
wnioskować, że ów nowy okres rozwoju polsbej etnografii umożliwiły
zmiany polityczno-społeczne jakie niósł ze sobą rok 1956 niż miałby ów
rozwój źródła w zmianie świadomości badawczej środowiska etnograficznego.
Referat prof K. Dobrowolskiego, organizujący dyskusję na konferencji, jak i sam przebieg dyskusji.5 wykazują, moim zdaniem, szczególną
ciągłość mientacji wyrażanych w postanowieniach poprzedniej konferencji. Tekst wystąpienia, opublikowany z resztą w fatalnej dla późniejszego czytelnika formie, operuje właściwie równoważnikami zdań, co
utrudnia ustalenie ważności poszczególnych tez dla samego autora. Z
części zatytułowanej Rzut oka na drogi rozwoju etnografii polskiej nie
można wnioskować, czy wymienione cechy etnogratii są rzeczy"wistym
faktem, czy jedynie postulatem. Oto fragment tekstu:
" ... Rozszerzenie tema'tyki. Rola towarzystw naukowych \v rozwoju
etnografii. Motywy zbierania materiałów. Włączanie elementów kultury
ludowej do kultury naI'Oclowej. Dążenie do pozyskania chłopst\va dla
programów polityczno-społecznych reprezentowanych przez klasy panuj'1ce. Opracowywania materiałów. Rola obcych teorii etnologicznych w
rozwoju etnografii. Wpływy ewolucjonizmu. Pierwsze zainteresowania
marksis{olwską koncepcją rozwoju społeczeństwa i kultury. Doniosłe z'aslugi etnografii polskiej przez ogromne wzbogacenie wiedzy 'O kulturze
mas chł'olpskich, przez zgromadzenie bogatych materiałów rzucających
światło zarówno na aktualny sian kultury ludowej, jak też na minione,
odległe 'nieraz oikresy rozwojowe. Drogi rozwoju etnografii polskiej w
okresire międzywojrennym. Rola ustroju kaipitalistycznego w kształtowaniu się nauk społecznych. Jego Wipływna &lt;tendencje rozwoj!Owe etnografiei

lody

K. Dobrowolski, Drogi rozwoju
etnografii
i zwiq:ki
z innymi
naukami.
(rozważania

1858,

t. r, ~.

5

72 - 82.

polskej,

jej

dyskusyjne),

obecne

zadania,

"Etnografia

me-

Po'l'ska"

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KANlOWSKA

(wyróżniający się niejecinokrotnte 'Up. rw dohorze i w ujmowaniu tematów oraz w powiąza'Uiu z ideologią klas panujących)" 6.
Przytaczam ten fragment z wi-elu powodów. Przede wszystkim ilustruje on charakter wystąpienia i daje wyobrażenie o dyskusj,i, jaką
miało ono sprowokować. Konferencja miała krytyczni-e oc-enić stan ówczesnypolskiej
etnografii. Rela'cja dyskusji potwierdza częściowo, iż zamim: ten został Sipełniony. Przytoczyłam ów cytat także i ,po to, by zwróorie", "ideologia ,klas panujących"), operowanie term~nami wartościującić uwagę na język (pewne ,terminy, takie jak "chłopstwo", "obce tecymi ("ogromn-e wzboga,c-enie wiedzy", "bogate materiały") oraz stoipień
ogólno'ści twierdzeń.
Mówiąc 'O ,charakterze tego wystąiP!ienia chcę podkreślić nie tylko
wspomniane rwyż-ejcechy formalne. MeTytorycz'Ua treść wj'1powiedzi
Dobrowolskiego pozwala stwieTdzić, iż zawierała szczególną ocenę dyscypilny. Jest to borwiem próba scharakt-eryzowania -etnografii niejako z
zewnątrz. Zasadniczym pytaniem wydaje się tu być !pytanie o to, jak
mleści się -etnografia w preferowa'Uej konwencji uprawania nauki. Przytaczane argumenty ,pr:oekonać mają o braku koniecz'l1!ościzweryfikowania celu i sposobów uprawiania tej dziedziny nauk społecznych. Nie jest
natomiast przedmiotem wystą:pienia i dyskusji konfrontacja stanowisk
teoretycznych i metodolog'iczinych. Wyraźn~ określenie charakteru dyscypliny z góry taką wewnętrz'ną analizę etnografii wykluczyło.
Mimo deklamcji, iż konferencj.a miała rozważyć także teoretyczno-metodologiczne podstawy etmografi,i 7, żadna ikoncepcja kultury ~zy
orientacja badawcza, a więc także i teoria e'wolucj'OniS'tyczna, nie stała
suę przedm~otem refleksji.
Ewolucjonizm wymieniony został w wystąJpieniu K. Dobrmvolskiego
jeden raz. W toku dyskusji (opieram się tu na wyczerpujqcej relacji E.
Pietraszka) termin ten nie pada w !O'góle,,a nazwisko MOIrganaprzywołane zostało jedyny raz przez referenta, gdy wYPJwiadajqc s'ir: o pO'wi~IZdniach między etnografią a socjologią mów,ił: "z wielkim uznaniem i zaciekawieniem śledzimy zjawisko (... ) narastania wielkiej przyjazni między socjologią i etnografią. Dał temu począt'ek jeszcze Morgan. Morgan
bowiem z wyników własnych badań ter:enowych skonstruował zasadniczą kO'I1Cepcję,ewolucji, którą przejmował do swego systemu socj'ologicznego Engels" 8.
Powodem tego pomijania zagadnień teOTertycznych była, jak sądzę,
s. 74.

fi

ibidem,

7

Etnograficzna

Konferencja

Polska" 1958, t. I, s. 410 - 43l.
B ibidem, s. 430.

Metodologiczna

(Kraków

23.04.1956), "Etnografia

�Trad.ycja

metodologiczna

powojennej

e.tnogrujii

polskiej

55

szczególna wi:zj.aetmogI'afii, w myśl MÓI'ej miała być QU1;a
dziedziną historyczną, kt6r'ej charakter ,określony został przez K. Dobrolwolskiego
jako realistyczno-praktyczny
'w 'ociróżnien'iu od dogmatyzmu O'z.na'Czającego wszelką !inną :postawę teoretyczną. Uzasadni'ają'c ten pogląd autor
ref.eratu wypowiada swój sąd na temat dróg rozwojowych etnografii
stwierdzając:
"Każda nauka, joakozjawisko historycznae uwarunkowane, zmienia s.ię
w zależności od trzech podstawowych czynników: a) przez gramadzeni'e
wiedzy i dOSikonalenieśrodków .poznawczych, b) przez zmianę warunków
społeczno-gospodarczych, c) przez zmianę bada:nej rzeczywiS'tośd, Opierając się na takich zalożeniach (... )zawarte w referacie stwierdzenia ll1Ó.e
mają charakteru tylko postulatywnego, są bowiem ujęciem i podsumowaniem aktua~nego stanu rzeczy, aktualnych tendencji rozwojowych
etnografii polskiej. (... ) w różny'ch krajach eUTOlpejskichzai;nteresowani,a
problematyką etnograficzną w ciągu XIX i XX wieku kształtowały się
w niejednolitych warunka,ch Sipołec:zmo-gospodarezych i politycznych.
Inna była geneza społeczna i polityczna zainteresowania się kulturami
lud::r\':ymi narodów eUf'Opoejskich,inne z,aś były w pewnej mierze m&lt;Ytywy ksztal'tujące z:ainteresawania dla kultur tzw. ludów prymitywnych.
Stąd w dalszej konsekwencji pow5'tawały powiiąz'ania etnografii ludów
prymitywnych z geografią li antropologią, zaś etnografii narodów europejskich z hist'orią i historią literatury, obu beruników z językoznawstwem itd. Ostatnie dziesiątki lat przyniosły w etnografii różnych krajów szeregzasa.dJniczych osiągnięć. Omawiając osią,gnięcia etnografii radzieckiej (... ) (nal€"zy podnieść - KK) Jej kO!IlJkretno-historyczną posrtaWG w ujmowaniu
rzeczyw'istości etnograficznej. W,a:rtoOściowewyniki
przyniosły talkże badania nad współczesną wsią kołchozową oraz :nad
kultuq
rohotniczq, Zna'czne osiągnięcia zdlQ,była etnografia radziecka
również w badaniach nad proh:'emamietnogenezy.
Jeżeli chod:zi o etnografit: krajów kapiJta,listycmych, to mimo utrzymywania się w niej wielu różnych kierUin:kówo różnych 'celach 'badawczych li różnych postawach politycznych. widzimy w niej coraz wyraźniejsze umaenianie się
koncl')cj i etnografii jako nauki historycznej.
Wyraźniej 'stawiane są też przez czołowych etnografów ,postulaty
objęcia b3.daniami etnograficznymi współczesnej, i 'DO zarówno kultury
wiejskiej, jak i miejskiej, w tym rohotniczej" 9.
Stanowisko autora wydaje się więc dość jasne. Etnografia, jak każda
nauka, uwarunkowana jest hist'orycznie. W zależności od zmieniających
się warunków społeczno-gosiOtpodarczych zmienia się badana rzeczywistość, zatem !przedmiot zainteresowań etnQgrafii określony jest he:npo9

ibi.dem, s, 412 - 413 (za E. Pietras2'krem).

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średnio !przez socjo-ekonomic:zme uwarunkowania.
p.azostaja jednak nierozstrzygnięte pytanie, czy zmienność badanej rzeczywistości uznaj~ się
za jej atrybut,czy
stawia się tu tezę 'o nieu.sta'nrnym r'ozszerzaniu się
.pl-zedmiotu badań etnogroaficznych.
J,oot to, mJim zdaniem, 'Pytanie -o zakr-es zaintereS'oowań dziedziny i
prościej nieoo je ujmując dotyczy ono kwes'tii następującej: czy stwierdzając zmienność świat,a etnograf ma zdawać Slohie sprawę 'Z faktu, że
tej samej zmienności podleg'a wszystko to, OJ bada, czy też zainteresowania etrn'ogr,afii mają być skierowane wciąż gdzie indziej, a zatem czy
przedmiot etnograi'icznych badań j'est zawsze ten sam, OIkreślony jako
domena etnogT'afii, czy też ,kształtuje sri.ęwoiąż ,odmiennie, w z'alei;n:ośoi
od po,trzeb dyktowanych obiektywnymi uwarunkowani,ami.
Referat 'Z'agadnienia tego nie !rozstrzyga, ,ale kwestia ta dominuje wyTame w relacji z dyskusJi, jaką prowadzono. StosunkoWlo najwięoej poświęoono b::&gt;wiem czasu na rozważa'lliia :nad koniecznością wIącnenia do
badań etnograficmych
badań 'nad kulturą robotnliczą. I choć nie wykroczono ;poza to konkretne 'Pytanie uważam, że jest tu potwierdzenie,
być moż-e jedyni-e i'nrt.ui&lt;:yjnieodczuwanego, szerszeg,o problemu. Dyskusj.a nad uznaniem, bądź nie, kultury rohotnicz-ej jakio obszaru etnografii
d-otyka wIa-sn:ie wspomruiaJn-ej wyżej szerszej p'r'obJ.ematyki przedmiotu
etnOf'rafii, nie odpowiada jednak na pytanie&gt;;) jego zakres.
Ni'e wynika także 'ni z referatu ni z dyskusji sposób rozumien:iaowej
"zmiaJny badanej rzeczywistości" wymienionej jako jeden z ,trzech pudstawowych ·czynników przemian w n-auce.
Brak l'(nważań w ogólniejszych kategoriach ora'z nierozs&lt;!dzenie tak
p'odsitawowych dla 'każdej nauki społecznej kwestii miały swoje określone i k:cmkretn:e źródł.a. Warto zwrócić uwagę na fakt, że w wymienianych Iprzez Dobrowolskieg'oczynnikach,
w zależności Qd których :nauka
jako hisborycznie uWaTunkowana podlega z'mia,nom - jako pierwszy
warunek 'o:wej zmiany wymienione jest "gromadzenie wiedzy i doskonalenie środków poznawczych". Pozostałe dwa odnoszą się do r-elacji między
przedmiotem nauki -a charakterem rzeczywistości, roela.cjiobiektu zai-nteresowania -a kontekstem ów obiekt ot'aczającym i warunkują'cym_
Opis wzajemnej zależności tych dwu elementów wymag'a w każdej
naue'e spocyfi,czmego języka, 'którym jest język teo-ririi metody. Niezbędne
jest więc bliższezanalizowan:i'e
tegoż języka w takiej postaci, jaką nadano tej pmblematyce .podczas omawianej k.onfereneji. Bod5tawowe znaczernie mialo s'twierdzenie, ;iż etnografia jest nauką historyczną. Przy tocZlone w ref erade liczne -argumoorty wskazywać miały na zasadność
takieg'o rozumienia charakteru etnograHi. Autor m.in. w cytowanym już
przeze mnie fragmencie stara się wykazać, iż etnografia europejska pow!iązana jest trady'cyjrni'e IZ historią literatury, podczas gdy e1nografia

�Tradycja

metodoLogiczna

powojennej

e,tnogra/ii

poLskiej

57

pozaeu:r.O'pejsika,nastawiona na badanie tzw. ludów ,prymitywnych, .posiada silniejsze iZwiązJkiz geografią i antropologią. Etnograf'ię .radZLi'eeką
uznaje za historyczną, bowiem przyjmuje ona "Ikonkretno-historyczną
p0stawę w ujmowaniu rzee:zywist.aś'Cietnograficznej". Omawiają'c n.at&lt;)miast etnografię krajów ika1pita1istyeznych (za'chowując tu język !referatu) twierdzi, 'iż "mimo ut,rzymywania ,się w niej wielu różnych berunków o różnych cela,ch 'badawczych i ,różnych postawach polity'cznych,
widz~my w n~ej wraz wy:mźniejsz.e umClJcnia:niesię etnografii jako ;nawki
'historycznej" 10.
J'est rzeczą na'iur·alną,iż każda argumentacj,a na Ipoparoie wyraż'onej
uprzednio tezy podkreśla p.rz.ede wszystkim te fakty, któpe zdają się
mieć największą moc przekollliania. W tym jednak wypadkuatrgumen'ty
(przytaczane przez Dobrowolskiego) ir:a'cą ową moc, są bywieun stwierdzeniami lnadto ogólnymi, pobieżnymi lub po prostu błędnymi. O ile pobieżność ocen tłumaczyć można koniecznością operowania skrótami myślowymi z racji ,charateru wystąp'ienia, o tyle błędne oc-eny oslabiiają w
sposób bardzo isi1;:otnytok rozumowania. Dużym uproszczeni'em jest !TIIP.
w m:Jim odczuciu twierdzić, że etnogl'aha eur·opejSika Ipowiązana jest
tradycyjni'e z historią i hi:stol'ią liter'atury, 'p-ozaeUl'opejs'kaz·aś z geografią i .antT'Olpol'ogią,
gdy jedynym wymienia'nym tu .kryterium tej różnicy
staje się badanie tzw. społeczeńsi1;wpierwotnych. Tradycje te,choć rzeczywiści·e różne, nie mają swych ź,ródeł w innym przedmiocie badań,
jakim jest diu Dobrowolskiego społeczeństwo pi,erwotne(jeśli
w ogóle
można twierdzić, że rzeczywistość Ispołeczeństwa pierwotnego wymaga
innego tecrretyczno-metooclol:og,icz:negoaparatu badawcze niż rzeczywistość społ'ecz:no5ci wiej'skiej). Owa odmi€!l1m!ośćh"adycji eu.r'opejskiej i
poz,aeUl'opejskiej etnografii ma swe ko.rz,en~ebyn,aj:mniej nie w' obszarze
badań. Wywodzi się raczej z tradycj'i ,innego tY1pumyślenia o kulturze
oraz różneg'o postrzeg.a'nia char·akteru refleksji ·et:nolo.gieme.i. W odniesieniu do etnograf'ii radzieckiej ,argiument o jej "konJktr,etno-historyez:nej"
postawie wobec rzeczywisto'ści, pomilnąwStzy małą precyzję samego
określ'enia, jest argumentem nie na rzecz specyfiiki nauki, ile ra,czej jedy'nie iS1pecyfikime body. Najwięcejz,astrzeżeń budzi jednak teza o umacnianiu się koncepcji etnografii jako nauki historycznej w odniesieniu do
ówczesnych tendencji w etnografii na Zachodzie. Lata 40-te i 50-te były
dla cinol'ogii ,zachodnioeuropejskiej ok1"esemumaoniania się fU!lIkcjonaliZJmu-struktuf'alizmu i funkcjonalizmu, S'ocjologizmu, a także Istrukttutra1Jizmu. W etnologi~ amerykańskiej natomis.s,t w tym samym cz,aLSlie
etTI!Clpsychologiczna analiza kultury i n.€'oewolucj'onizm przyćmiewały historyZlffikonoepcji B0'a:sa,,a teorię kultury A. Kroebera, gdzie histor:i,a od10

ibidem,

iS.

412 - 413.

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grywa w ,anahzie iistOltną rolę, trudnoby na'zwać ebnog,rafią w sensie
nadawanym jej przez K. Dobrowolskiego. Wspomniany tu okr'es był w
etnologh świabowej szczególnie ważny Ksz,tałtowały :się wtedy zdecydow,a:nie różne tendencj,e badawcze i teorie. Stosunek do metody his'Vorycmejczy tzw. dalIly'ch historycznych stawał się często przedmiotem dyskusji. 'nie m'O'żnajednak w żaden sposób twierdzić, iż wówczas "umacniała się Jmneepcj1a etno gr1afii jako nauki historycznej". Wręcz odwrotnie.
Okr,eślenl~e ehmgmfjj jako dziedzi,ny hi:storycz.nej był,o nie ,tylko zaklasyfikowaniem Jej wohręb
nauk historycznych. Stwierdzenie takie
miało przede wszystkim 'lrons·ekwencj-emetodrol,ogiczne. Wyzna'czał{) mianowicie sposóbinrter:pr'etowa'lli1a zjawisk kulturowych, co więoej - stwarzala wyraźnie ,określalny kanon f10zumienia kultury. Warto poświęcić
chwilę uwagli j;,emu, jak określona z051;,a1,ametoda historyczll"1a.jp'rzez
Dohr,owolskieg::&gt;.F,r'3igment wYSltąpienia, w któ'rym referent wypowiada
się na temat teoretycznyoh i metod'ologkznych pocistaw etnografii rozpoczyna się rozważaniami nad etyką z.awodową, wyZJnaezającą rzetelność
badań i wni!ooków.
"Od sposobu (. .. ) zebrania materiałów, od wierności, prawdziwości,
od wszechstronności ,oświ,etleruia,od zobaczenia już w 'terenie właściwych
współzależn:ości, zlależy wartość IP'0zna'nia etnograficznego. Dlatego badacz terenowy, obok wY's/o/kiich
kwalifikacjii teoretycznych i technicznych,
powinien odznaczać się wysokimi kwaiifikacjami mOflalnymi. Zachodzi
bowiem zaws'z·e nieloo~pieoC'z€ństwoułatwienia sobie zadania pTz€'z powierzchowne {)ibserwacje, a Inawet przeistaczanie faktów" 11.
Rzetelność osiągana tak eharakteryaO'Waną postawą umacniana była
także kreśloną metbodą postępowania badawczego. Jak w każdym 'przypadku łączyła s:ię ,o'ruabezpośrednio z,e sposobem postrzegania przedmiotu
zainter eSiO\vań.Głównym ich ohiektem miaŁa być "żywa Slpoł,eczn::&gt;ść
i
jej kultura". W swym wystąpi-eniu Dobr'O'Wolskistwierdzał:
"Zasad'lloiczypostuJ/at w had:aJlliu żywej s'połetCznościto tworzenie dyńamieznego I{)pisu, postępow,anie zmierzające od rejestracj,i fa,któw do
odtworzenia proces6w i uchwyce,nia dynamiki rozwojowej. Rzeczywistość:
aktualna jest oglli'wem rozwojowym rozległego wczasie procesu historycznego. Stanowi ją żywa srpoleczno'ść wraz z.e swą kulturą w całej swej
dynamice i bJgactwie zjawisk dokonujących się na naszych oczach. Badamie tej żywej 'Sp'0łeczności i jej kultury to właśnie podstawowa domena etnografii. Wymag.a ono 'Od etnografa krzyżowania różnych metod
(od obserwaicjiaż do ekS1perymentu, charakterystycz:nego dla nauk ,przyrodniczY'ch) IQlfazhistorycznego, a zaraz'em socjo].ogicznego ujmowania
badanej rze'Czywistosci. Jeśli chodzi o f'ekom'&gt;trukcję rzeczywistośoi mi11

ibidem,

s. 415.

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nionej, wymag:a ,ona stosowamJia,przez 'etnografa (l'óżmych metod badawczych, pOlStępow:aniazarówno retrogresywnego jak i progresyw:nego, właściwego hisborii. Bardzo ważną rolę 'W p'OstępK)waniu ;retr·ogr'esywllym
odgrywają relikty zachowane we współcześnie hadanej rz:eczywisrt:ości,
a oś\vietlająee dawniejsze ;postacie kultury" 12.
Jest to w całym wystąlpieniu jedy;ny £r:ag.ment, w którym m:ywa o
metodzie:i nie ,przynJs.i on ż:adnej bliższej iprecyzacji :rozuJlli'€Jni~metody
historycznej. Zakres tegoostatmego 1;·ermi'nurozrasta się, obejmując nie
tylko kilka technik, jak 'Obserwacja, eksperyment, ale de iacbe&gt;zawiera
dyrek,tywy postępowania dJale'ko szersze niżeli te, któr:e tradycyjnie z
wnioskowaniem metodą historyczną się łączą 13. Ale nie brak pr-ecyzji
w określeniu :p.r€fer'Owaneg.oSJPOiSiObu
JP'::Js:tępowa;n'~a
hadawczego jest tu
szc?:C'gólnieważny. To, eo warto tu, moim zdaniem, silnie podkreślić, to
wyraźny rozziew między deklarowaną wizję etnografii i niesprecyzowaniem (poza nazwą) metodologii. Jednoznaczne scharakteryzowanie
etnografii jako nauki historycznej i il1d.emożnośćprzypisania jej j'a~mo:określanej me todologicZ1nej orientacji jest k'OIIlSekwencją ówczesnego stanu
etnografii polskiej.
Jest rzecz;:! interesującą, że IplTzeglądpublik'a!cji etnog'r'aficznych, j'a'kie
ukazały si~ w t'alilltych Jatach, 'pOlzra
.nielicznymi zupelmie wyjątkami wykazuje, że wizja etnografii zarysowana na kOlnfepencji nie była bynajmniej uznana za ohowiązującą. Jedn.ak można stwierdvić, iż wyksztalaił
si~ \vówczas ,pewien kanon badań, gdzie określonego typu m~.Jni8grafia
v.·si lub monografia wybraneg.o ,tematu domilnlowały. W żadnej z prac z
tego okresu nie znajdowały się jakiekolwiek odniesienia do ewolucjonizmu zarówno 'w teoretycz.nym jrak i metodolog:iC'ZIllymwymi'arze. Przegląd publika·cji dow.odzi również, że po 1956 !T'Okuw tematyce badań i
charaterze badań nie 'Zaszły sz,cz,ególne zm:any, natomiast w sferze
wiedzy te·oretycznej (myślę tu ,o publi,kacj,a.c:h ipT'ezEmtują'cych teorie
kultury) przemiany te były ogromne. Mimo jedtnJak nieporównywalnie
szerszej dostępności litteratury światowej, ewolucjonizm nie s1;ał się dla
polskil,j etnografii interesujące! perspektywą spojrzenia na kulturę. Przyczyny tej sytuacji były rozmaite. Niektóre z nich, ważniejsze w moim
odczuciu, chciałabym omówić.
GctziC'ś na wstępie 'pisaj,aim ,o braku zaintersowaJnlia ewolucjonizmem
z koniecznoś·ci, mając na myśli głównie polityczne uwarunkowania ówczesnej nauki i braku zainteresowania tym ki-erunkiem niejako z wyboru.
Trudno jest jednark nieraz całkowicie oddzielić te dwie sie,ry, a przyibidem, s. 416,
Por.: E. ;-.l,a,ge'!,Struktura
nauki,
Wa,rszawa 1970; J. Topo1:s'Jd, Metodologia
historii,
Warszawa 1973; J. Kmita, Z metodologic.~nych
problemów
interpretacji
hum.(lrzistiJc~·nej, Warszawa
1971.
12

13

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KANlOWSKA,

[padlku per,cepcji ewo:ucjonizmu w naukach społecznych w Polsce uwaT un kowani a obu ty'ch sfer ,przenikają się wzajem.
Presja, jakiej poddano nauki społeczne w r6żnym stoIpniu kształtowała sytuację ;poszczególnych dyscyplin. W etnografii, :czego dowodem są
rozważ'ania snute na konfer'encjii IHKM, presja ta odnosiŁasaę głównie
do preferencji określonej metody b-ldania i interipretowania faktów, a
także, choć w znacznie mniejszym ~t'oll)rniu,do zakresu badań.
W ;opublikowanym w 1947 roku w "Myśli Współczesnej" artykule
S. OSSiowSikiwyrażał iPogląd, iż "w materialiźmie dialektycznym należy
szukać nie dogmatu, lecz metody" 14. W etnografii (patrz wystąpienie K.
DOlbr1owollskiego)
próbowano dok'onać zabiegu o wręcz przeciwnej intencji - n,c:zynić dogmat z metody. Ponieważ zaś metoda ta niejako wbrew
delklar,aejom nie była spT'eeyzowana zbYlt ściśle i, jak próbowałam to wykazać wyżej, obejmowała elementy różnych metodologicznie mientacji,
dogmat ów nie mógł być w !pełni przestirzegany. Ma,rkslistO'Wskikształt
nauki, j'aiki ,prÓbCl'WallllO
wówc:z'as narzucić etno.grafii, oparty był na dość
powierzchownejada1pt'acji
IPodstawowych tez marksizJmu obiegowego.
Proh:em .pogoclzenia czy utrzymaniia tej perspektywy
pojawił Sl(~
dqpiero tam, gdzie k'onfrontacja wiedzy etnologicznej z marksistowskq
teorią r1olz'woju~połecz,nego nakazywałia przynajmniej rewizję zasadniczych założeń tej ostatniej. Problem ten jednak mógł pojawić się
znaeznie później n'iżeli w lat'alch 40-tych, gdzie interpretacja taka nie
miała szans na bycie dyskutowaną i publikowanel. Chociaż w 1948 roku
S. OSSrowskipisał ,iż ,,'p'f'awdz,iwymarksista wie, że marksizmowi rozum~atnemu w sensie dynamiez:nym nie zagraża ani !1!C)woczesna
lo:głka, ani
etniJlogia, ani socjologia" 15, to w odniesieniu do sytuacji etnografii tamtego okresu brzmi to rraezej jak uspokojenie. Etnografia nie mogła zagraŻ-lĆMarksizmowi z dwu ,powodów. MaŻ/na sądzić, iż żaden etnograf (a
przynajmniej zdecydowanie 'niewielu) nie wyz.lllawał marksizmu w sensie
dynamicznym, cokolwiek by to oznaczało. Po drugie z,aś :zakres zainteresowań ówczes:nej etnografii polskiej daleki był tematom i pro:blemom
mogącym poruszać czy :podważać tezy marksi!Strowskiej teorii f'OZ\voju.
Przegląd.publikarej'i, który Iprzede wszystkim jest dla mnie podstav,rą dla
sformuło'wanira tych, uwag, świadczy zarówno o br1aku szczególne?,o entuzjazmu dla światopoglądu marksistowskiego, jak i wykazuje absolutny
brak deklar'O'wania włas.negoS'tanowiska ,teoretycznego :przez autorów.
Co :najwyżej wyrażamy jest, zwykle zwięźle, stosunek do marksistowskiej
interrptre1ta'cjiprocesów spolecznych. Przegląd pulbliikacji wskazuje także
St. Os sowsiki, Dok.tryna marksistowska
na tle dzisiejs.zej epoki, "My~l Współ19"17,lub Dzieła, t. VI, Wa:rsz.awa 1970, S, 19·5.
15 St. Ossowski,
Teoretyczne
zadania marksizmu,
"MY'ś,j Współczesna"
19-tS,]ub
Dzieła, t. VI, Warszawa
1970, s. 20"1.
14

czesna"

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na zakres tematyczny ówcze:snych badań. Powtórzę tu, iż w wykształeonym wtedy pewnym kanonie dominowały prace monograficzne.
Przyjęcie stanowiska 'charakVeryzują'Oeg,o &gt;się PowyższJ1mi cechami
stwarzało etnografii jako dys1cyplinie pew:ien azyl i pozwoliło, w odróżnieniuod
innych Inauk społecznych (szczególnie slOcjlologii),zachować
ciągłość badań i nauczania. Stworzenie ,tego az;ylu odbyŁo 'Się kosz bem
pewnych decyzji określających zarówno merytOifyczny zares działań
badawczych jak i teoretyczno - metodolog&gt;kzny charakt,e,r rprac. Ówczesny wybór etmografii jako nauik uprawiają'cej przede wszystkim badania monograficzne, lIllie dbającej o dela'f'a1cje teQITetyczne, mi,ał swoje
konsekwencje. T'alka wizja etnografiti wywarła dominiujący, ogmmny
wpływ na późniejszy kształt dys1cyphny. Zwrócenie się ku monografii
utrwaliło bowiem slposób badań etnograficznych, w któ'rym bada się
kulturę po'pTzez rzeczy. Odsunięcie natomiast świadomości teoretycznej
na rp:a!ndalszy spowodowało szc:zególną w etnogrrafii polsbej niedba_,ość
o uzasadnienia 'teoretyc'ZIDlo-metodrologiiczlne.
Miało t,o wlS'zystk,o 'także,
prócz utrwalenia określonego modelu 'etnogrrafii, beZlpośredni, moim
zdaniem, wlpływ n'a stosunkowo pózną peroepcję stanowisk teoretycznych
etnologii światowej nawet wtedy, gdy dostęp do literatury obcej ,i wszelkieobiektywl1ie hariery ową percepcję hamująee ustąpiły.
Uwarunkowania 'te tłumaczą w :pewnym stopniu los zainter'eSlo'wań
ewolucjonizmem w powoj'ennej etmog,r'afiiw Polsce.
Pisząc 'O ewolucjonizmie w ,etnologii IPolsk!iej nie sposób oczywd.śde
pominąć konc€pcji K. Mo:szyńskiego, nazwanej zgodnie z sug'estią sIamego autora ewolucjonizmem krytycznym. ISltnieje .jednak, w moim pr!~ekonaniu, 0'0 Inajmniej kilka powodów, dIa których lokowanie poglądów
Moszyńs'bego w tradycji ewolucjonistycznej myśli etnologicznej stawia
teCllrieteglo 'autora w błędnym świetle. Chcę tu podkreślić pewne cechy
charaM€rystJ'lczne poglądów Moszyńskiego, a także te, na któr€ IPOWOłują się komentatorzy jego prac, uznając owe cechy za wystarczające
do określenia etnologii Mos:zyńskiego ewolucjonistyczną czy nawet neoewolucjomizmem 16. Nie sposób przeprowadzić w tym md.ejs1cupełiniejsz,ej
ana:izy poglądów K. Moszyńskie,go. Należy jednak zaznaczyć, iż sposób
pojmo'wania kultury przez Moszyńskiego, a przede wszystkim metody
analizy kultury, wykraczają znacznie poza sposoby interpreta'cji kultury
przyjęte 'P['zez etnologię ewolucjonistyczną. K:mcepcja Moszyńskiego łączy elem~nty ewolucjonizmu z dyfuzjonizmem i funcjonalizmem, jest
więc próbą łączenia wielu różnych perspektyw badawczych. Metodę ewolucjond.zmu krytycznego charakteryzował sam au1Jor następująco:
lG

Czyni tak Zb. Biały w analizie twórf'zości K. Moszyńskiego:
w polskiej
etnologii,
"Lud" 1980, t. 64, Si. 67 - 103.

wolucjonizm

Zb. Biały, Neo-

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KANlOWSKA

"met-odę tę (... ) &lt;:harak'teryzuje wystąpienie na samo czoło kombinacji metod prostych: ana1i1yczno-iPOCÓWI1iawcrej,
geograficznej i antropologicznej, z uzUipełJnienti.em
ich, IQ ile tylko ma'ter·iał na to Ipozwala, metodą p.mstą język'Ową. Do tego dochodzą jia;J~opodrzędne, ale mimo to bardzo waŻine, metoda pSYJChologiezmra
na pierwszym i siOcjologiezna (, .. ) na
osta,1Jruimmiejscu (co oczywiście nie znaczy, by funkcja wytworów nic
miaŁa byść uwzględniana na miejslcuczoławym)" 17. Warto zwrócić uwagę na fakt, iż w międzywojen[llej i powojennej etnognafii polskiej łączenie Wlielu różnych {liPcjiif;eore1YCZllo-metodol,ogkzmych
występuje wyraźnie u wielu autorów, któ['zy stawi'ają sobie za oeI SltwOTizenieteorii kultury wykraczającej poza wymiar konkretnych badań, a więc teorii
o większym stopniu ogólnoś{:d18. Być może, właśnie ta ·cecha powoduje
&amp;w brak "czystości" kOll'c~pcji kultury w etnografii polskiej oma'\'iia.nego
okresu.
Ta Isama cecha wyklucz,a, moiJm 'Zdaniem,~aklasyfiJkawarni,e teorii
Moszyńskiego do neoewolucjonizmu. Sugesif;ia Zb. Bialegio, :iż Moszyński
wY:P'T'zedzakoncelpcje I1dasyków tego kierunku - L. A. White'a i J. H.
Stew,arcia, wydiaje .się niesłuszna, gdyż mimo niewą'~pldwego, pewnego
elektyzmu teorii -obydwu amerykańskichaJI1tT'OIp'Ol'ogówsą oni w swych
poglądach bardziej metl()d'Ol'ogiczrnde
:zdecydowani. Neoewolucjonizm am'2ryk,ańSlki nie zakłada tak szel"Oikiegokorzystania z różnych metod analizy
kultury; :pojmowanie kultury jest tam hardziej konsekwentne połącz.Jne
z określo,nymi pflOlpo'Zycjamimetodologieznymi, niż ma roomiejsce li Moszyńskiego.
O tym, że ewolucjonizm krytyczny K. Moszyńskiego n~e w,pwwadził,
a tym barciz'iej - nie utrwalił w polskiej etnologii wątków ewolucjonistycznej myśli niech śWiiiad!czyznamienny f'akt, iż uczniowie M!oszyńskiego podejmowali dlnne niż ewolucjonistycZlne wątki jego ikonoelPcji.
Badani'e rozwoju ezyzmiany
nie jest bowiem tożsame z perspektywą
ewolucj,onistyczną. P.otwierdza się tu, j,ak sądzę, przypuszczenll'e, że powody n1ejak,o :zewnętrzne wyn~k'ająee z sytu·alCji nauk społecznych mieszają się w powojennej etnografii polskiej 'z "wewrnętrznymi", a więc
char,akterystyczmymi rysami etnograf1i jako dyscy,phny. Niektón~ z nich
warte wydają się ;podkreśl'en:ia.
Ewolucj.oni:zm na Zaehodzie stanowił zawlsze co,ś więcej niżem określoną teorię etnologiczną. Był dla wielu tym typem nauki, której akcepta'cja ~ależy od wyznawanego świa.topoglądu. Od momentu iP0j-awiielIlia
się kroncepcji ewolucjonistycznej towarzyszą jej, szczególruie na giTunde
17 K. Moszyński, Człowiek.
Wstęp do etnografii
powszechnej
i etnologii,
cław-Kraików-Warszawa
1958, s. 114.
18 Podobne dyrektywy
łączenia metod wysuwał K. Dobrowolslki.

Wro-

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amerykańskim, dy;skusje światopoglądowe, które dziś, mimo istotnych
zmian jlaki.e niesie współczesny ewolucj,cmi7lmdo klasy;cznych jego w.ersji, bynajmniej lIllie !Osłabły. W potocznej świadomości ewolucjonizm
uznawruny jest .za podstawę światQp&lt;oglądu świecki.egloi jaJko !ta-kiiipIf'Z'eciwstawiany jest wszeLkim ,interpret'acjom nie-świeckim. Znane są sprzeciwy, na jakie na'trafiały aa'gum€lI1ityfmIDulowane plrzez rkllasyków ewolu,cjon:iz:rnu,ale i znacZin:ie później ów świ-atQp&lt;oglądlQlWy
kontekst :teorii
ewolucji stwarzał różnorakie op::&gt;ry. O żywotności p:roobJ,emówzwiązanych z przyjęciem ewolucj'O'11IiSltycznejteIQTiikultury może świ'ad!czyć
fakt, iż od lat 20-tych naszeg'O wieku teol'iia ta n:ClItrafi.ałana ~ektakuIarny ni.eraz, silny Slprzeciw ze s'ur'ony 'Ołpozycjonistów j,ako niezgodna
z lit,erą Iprrekazu biblijlne:go. Niewi'eleplQlood dwa Jatla temu ,niP.w stanie
ArkalIllSasweszła w ży;cie ustawa (akt 590 z marca 1981 lr'Oku),!l1Jazwana
Ustawą o Wyważonym Tiraktowaniu Nauk Kreacyjnych i Nauk Ewolucyjnych. Ustawa ta nakazuje, aby (w gralIlioach stanu) w S'zk,olaeh publiczny;ch wykładano jaklo równouprawnilonie teorię ewolucji :i ,teorie rimterpretujące [f-O
zwój ezło\wieka w oparciu o Biblię. Ak,t ten IrlIa1potkał
żywy sprzeciw 5 styezmda 1982 Taku wyrok wydany przez Sąd Oklręgowy ;przyniósł p.erną satysfakcję O'brIQńeJllllteorii ewolucja. Umiał on, że
akt 590 jest sprz,eczny z Konstytucją USA, gdyż :tzw. nauki kreacyjne
nie mają char~kteru teorii rn'aukowej, :ale są poglądem reHgijnym, a jakotakie
nie mO'gą być wykładane w sz'kołach państwowy;ch.
W Bolooe IPIQlWlojennej,
choć ewolU'cj'011!i:znn
j:ruko "świecki" mógł być
nauk'Dwym podparciem Iprefe.f'owrunej postawy światopoglądowej, n~e
spełnił t€j funkcji. W dYSlkusjach świ0.bopoglądowych używano w tamtym dkresi'e ;innego język'a, języka, któr-ego powierzchowność i OIgólrnikowaść nie stwofJzyły nigdy płaszczyzny do peł.nej argumenta-cj!i do poparcia bądź 'odrzucenia któiI"egośz j-asno sprecyzo-wanych stanowisk: Unikanie t,a:kich światopoglądowych kOin£rontacji spowodowane było zapewne racj-ami spałeczno-politycmymi {sto\Sunkiz Kościołem), bądź :racJami
uWZiględniającymi dość slahe tradycje świeCibego poglądu na św'iat
w POllooe.Ale wpłynęła na to także dość pobieżna wiedza o ewolucjoniżmie jako sposo.bie inteT,pretacji Ikultury, spowodowane ezynnikami
o jrukich już wspomniałam. Szer'ok'ie dyskusje śWiat'opoglądowe na .gruncie powojennej etnografii nie miały racj,i bytu także i dl'atego, że zaloŻOtrlosztywny podZ!iał nauki i wyznania, świlatopogląd naUlkawy i religijny stały się płaszczyznami nie mającymi ze sobą nic współnego, niezaleźnymi od siehie. S. Ossowski szukał dla tego podzialu uzasoonień w
sferze ,odmienności stosunku do -autorytetu jaki stanowią naudm
wyznrume. Pisał:
"Jest dziś przepaść pomiędzy zwolennikiem toorii n_auklQlWej wyzn&gt;awcądoktryny religijnej. Darwinista nie może się powoływać w wy-

�64

KATARZYNA

KANlOWSKA

padkach spormych na autorytet Darwilna i nie czuje się w obowiązku
uznać .ZiaIpr:awdę wszystkiego, 00 gŁosił Darwin. Nat'omi'ast dla mahometalnina twórca Koranu jest najwyższym i nienaruszalnym aut,orytetem
we wszystkich spmwach, w których ,się tam wY'Powiedział. Prawdziwy
mahometanin jest mahometaninem integra.nym, jak iintegralnym katolikiem jesrt prawdz,jwy katOlik, a integralnym kalwinis'tą prawdziwy
kalwlinista.
W sporach międ:zy darwinistami i lamarckisltaJm'iod l'a1 kilkudziesięeiu
nie rna na pewno ani jednego integralnego lamaroilsty, ani jednego integ:ralnego darwinisty" 19.
Jeśli by nawet uznać, że zasadniej byłoby mówić o autorytecie, jaki
stanowli dl'a przyjmującelgo dok&lt;trynę iIliauk'O'wączy religijną nie jej twórca, ale zbiólf twierdzeń tę doktrynę sta,Drowiących- kryterium talkie teoretyczinie urtrzymujie podział Hau'ki i religii. O ile bJwiem pr1awdziwy wyznawca doktryny religijnej, to akceptujący wszdkie jej dogmaty
li 'wrkazy (choć Ziilliieniającesię wraz z nowymi, oficjalrnymi inte'Tlpretacjami dOlktryny), ,o tyle w nauce kryterium to ma rac~ej wolicjonalne zaba,rwieni'e. S.orowaci:zając rz,eez na grUlnt nauk s.połec~nych czy ina gil"unt
eimologii można wątpić, czy możliwe jest w ,ogóle bycie "Iintegralnym"
ewolucj,onistą, funkcjonalistą czy sbruktura~listą. Wśród tych, któtfzy j1asno deklarują swą 'teorety'c:ono-mertiQIdolog.iezną
lQTientację (a jest takich
pT:Zlecieżbardz:o niewielu) nie znam nikolgo (poza twóreami dany oh
cepcji), ktlO mógłby zWla,ćslię ilntegra~nym, w sensie jaki nedał temu
określeniu Ossowski. U niektórych autoIrów ZinaleźćmoŻ!naniekonsekwencje względem formułowanych :założeń 'pr:oponowalIlych Iprzezeń teorii
kultury, które mJIgłyby budzić wąbp1iwość odnośnie integralności poglądów, gdyby zere:hciećstosować to kryterium nader ostro. Taki zarzut
możnaby nip. podnieść w s'trolsiUI1Jku
dro L. A. Whi,'tre'a,twórcy w:spomnianego tu nowego ew'olucj'onizmu.
Sądzę, iż praktycznie w ebUlo}ogHmamy częśdej do ezynienia z integralnym e,kkIEJktyzmem, 00 n'ie wawsze musi b.'zmieć jak zarzut, jeśli
uświadamiamy sobie źródła i konsekwencje takiego stanowiska. Sądzę
także, że można wyrazJić tu szerrs'Ząwą,tpjW0'ŚĆ,la mianowicie, 'Czy owa
integralnoś,: w nowoc'Zesnej nauce, !s:z'Czególnienauce o kultu['ze, jest
w o~óle mOlżliwai pożądana.
Świato:::oglądowe uwikłarnia ewolucjonizmu dotyczyły nie tylkoQlpozycji wobec kre'acjonistycznych interpretacji świata. Ewoluc.i'Ornizmw latach 40-tych i 50-t)"ch zmuszał także do zf'ewidowani,a markslistowski&gt;ej
teorii rozwoju 's]}ołeczrnego.Był to niewątpliwi·e jeden z powodów, dla
których zainteresowanie ewolucjonizmem w Polsc·e nie zail'&gt;tUliało.We
19

st.

Ossowski, Doktryna

marksistowska

.. "

s. 195.

�Tradycja

metodologiczna

powojennej

wSJpomn:~anym tu 'okresie ewolucjonistyczna

etnografii

teoria

65

polskiej

kultury

w wersji
r'ozwoju
marksizmu.

L. A. Whitc'a weryfiikowaba enge,sow:sko-morgenowskJi schemat

kultury. W artykule zatytułowanym
Teoretyczne
zadania
S. Ossowskizwracał
uwagę na potrzebę takiej weryfikacji:
... "dz'i'e-dz:1n&lt;'1,
w 'któJ'ej unowolc7;eśnienie marksizmu wydaje s'ię konieczone, jest etnJlogia. P'odczas, gdy w sprawa·ch ksztaltowania się typów osobowych marksiści wykazują tendencjeantYll'.'lturalistyczne
(antYl'asizm, anLynatywizm) ;i skłonni są wyzyskiwać w pełni 'll(lWOCZ,2sną
s0cjolog,ię w uwyc.atnieniu roli cZY'u,illkóws:I='ołecznych i ku1'tur'owych,
to w poglądach na ewolucję społ-ecz·eństw ludzkich resp2ktują w dalszym ci'lgu dziewiętnaS't'owieczny morganawski naturalizm zakładający,
ż·e dr'oga rozwoju :'&gt;;Jołeczeństw jest jednJrodn3 z ba,rdz,o wąskimi gr'anicami odchyleń; że i'&gt;połeczeństwo ludzkie 'przechodzić musi kolejne stadia f'ozwoju wokr.eślonym
,polfządku, podobnie jak pTzechJdzi je
w określonym p'ol;'ządku każdy organizm zwierzęcy oichwili
poczęcia.
Materiały zdobyte prz€z nowoczesną etnologię wykazują ••że €wolucja społeczeńS'tw ludzJ\:iIcndok'Juuje się w s,oosob daleko bl.rdziej sikomplikJwwny. Fakty te ma1rksiz.m ml1:S'iW'chłolnąć. Nie mJżn.a dziś rpoważll1lie
dyskut'Jwać 'llladprawami 1"ozwoju nie znając wyników badań 'pr'owadzonych w ciąguQlstatnich 6 1-at,nie mając argumenta'cji, którą na ;początku
bieżą,e2g.o 'stuleci'a wytoczyła przeciw dawnEmu €W'olucjlQnizmJwi tzw.
szkoła histolryczma i argum2ntacji, którą później "funkcjonaliści" przeciws{awili ohu tamtym kierunkom" 20.
Wskaz'aJn.ie k'olniecznoś-ci :reintenpreta'cjimarksi·stoW'skiej
teor1'i r'ozwoju społecznego łączy się w wypowi'edzi OSS1owskiegoze wskazaniem
źródeł ·alfgumentów d_'a tego zabiegu. ZaS'adniczym źródł-em owych argumentów mają być etnologiczne konC'Clp-cjelf'ozWOju kultury. Fakt, że
stwierdzenia te ;p:yz,Qlst'a!ypratycZlnie w sferze :pQlS'tul,atów,tłumaczyć
może wspomniana już sytuacja ówczesnej etnografii polskiej stwarzająca
zarówno niechęć ku ingel'encji w problem3.tykę wykracz·ającą ,poza \przyjęty kanon dziedz.ilny maz 'nieznaj&gt;omość teorii kUltUTY. Warto przypomnieć, :iż tezy now.egoewolucj:onizmu przedst.cl.'wkme wstały ipO razpierwszy w polski'ch pubhkacjach w latach 51 - 56, podobnie jak inne kLieetnol:Jgii.
Najbardziej ~nteresująoa jest kwesti.a ni'Clprzyjęci,a się .ewolucjonizmu
jako kierunku w etnografii po1sk'i'ej, gdy isięgnąć do Ipóźniejsz.eg'O'Okre!Su
r,ozwoju dyscypliny, tj. -od drugiej .połowy la,t 50-tyoh. UW21f1mkO'wa'l'lia
jakie kształtowały profil etnografii do 1.8&lt;:&lt;0 dkr-esu uległy zasadniczej
zmi,onie. Dostęp do literatury O'iazosła.bn:ęcie :presji o char'2kt'2T'Zeideologicznym umJ'żliwiały p'rzyswojenie obcych dotąd t€oTii. Brak prak20

l

Lud.

st. Ossow~ki,
t. LXVIII

Teoretyczne

zadania

... , s. 214.

�66

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KANlOWSKA

tycznego, poza teoretycznym, z'a'interesowania ewolucjonizmem należy,
moim?Jda'l1iem, u:patrywać w czymś, 00 nazwałabym tradycją polskiej
etnografii. Pominąwszy bowiem uwaJ'unk'O'Walnia,jakie niosły ze sobą
laba 40-te i 50-te, trzeba tu wziąć !pod uwagę charakter polskiej etnografii, który wykształoił się przez ,całe lata badań etnogra£i.cznych. Przedwojenna etnogr'afia stała się w Polsce oSlobnądyscyphną dopiero na przelomi'e lat 20-tych. Jakkolwiek nawet wtedy, gdy funkcj.onują katedry
etnog!l'afii, sama dyscyplina nosi jeszcze nadal charakter raczej ludozlllJa'Wczy.
Charakter ten od!powiadał z resztą okreśLonym potrzebom społecznym, na które niej'ako od swych początków etnografia w Pio!sce odpowi1adał,a. Nie jest moim zlamiarem allllaliza początków polsk!i,ej etnografii, choć ipr,oblem sam w sobie wymaga sz.erszegoopracowalni,a tym
bardziej, ż.e dysponujemy literaturą omawiającą fragmentarycznie
to
zagad!nieni'e. Chcj,alabym jednak zwrócić uwagę na spuściznę t-eore&lt;tyczno-metodologi-C:cnątego O'kresu, która W:T·a.z
z nawarstwieniami powojennego piętnastolecia ukształtowała, w moim odczu'colu,pewien szczególny
obraz lloaslzejdyscypliny; ()Ibraz, który dOlpie:row koń,cu Jat 70-,tych zaczynał być zmieniany.
Wspomniałam, że do połowy lat 50-tych w powojennej etnografii polskiej dommował pewien kanon 'analiz badawczych sprowadzający się do
monografii :róż.neg'otypu oraz odznaczający się, mającą różne źródła,
niechęcią do deklaracji teoretyczno-metodologicznych. Otóż jestem zdania, iż oałaprz€'szłość, tak przed jak i tuż powojenna polskiej etnografii,
wyksztakiła i utrwaliła pewien szc:uególny sposób patrzen~a na kulturę.
Kultura badana joest poprzez rzeozy. Jest faktem dość paradolksalnym,
że etnografia tego okresu spełniała niemal eabkowicie postulaty durrkheiffi'ow:Slbe.Wyrażając je, dokonawszy naturalnie UpI'oszczenia w najkrótszej f'armie, można joesprawadzićdo czterech tez: a) fakty spoleczme należy traJktować j'ak rzeczy, b) wszystkie fa'kty społeczne są element,ami
syst'emu, po:z;ostają'cze sobą we wzajemnych związkach, c) bada,nie faktów Sipołecmyeh win:no być badaniem obiektywnym, wo,lnym od wa:rtośściawania, d) badaniuwmno
,podlegać 1:0, 00 opowta.rzalne,a llIi-ejedn,ostlmwe 21. Wlsp:ymniany jednak ,paradoks polega na tym, ż.e uwz;ględnia'llo prrede wszystkim dwie pierwsze dyrektywy. Ba,danie f'aJktówkultur'owych jak rzeezy oraz śledzenie ich uwikłań ikont.e1kstowych stanowić mogboby ,obiecującą metodę badań etnografi.cz:nych. W rZ€czywisto'wi etnografia tamtego okresu interpretuje tezy w specyficzny sposób. Fakty kulturowe wybrane do badania poddane są selekcji {np. w etnografii tuż ipowojennej przeważ,a zdecydowruniezainteresowa:n:ie kultu21

J. Szacki,

Histo'1'ia myśli

socjo'!ogicznej,

Warszawa

198;1, cz. I, s. 413 - 442.

�Tradycja metodologiczna powojenne) etnografii polskiej

61

rą rnateriaIną), zaś kootekst ich występowania czy wzajemne 7)wiązki
- śledwI1e są w wielu, a nie we wszelkich aspektach.
Para.doksalną sytuację nasz.ej etrKlgrafii charaktyryzuje także li to, że
powyższe dyrektywy reaHZIOwanesą także tam, gdzie deklaracje mniej
lub bardziej Wlpr-OSt
składa:ne odnoszą się do zgoła innych niż durkheimowskie mienta'cji Wydaje się, iż ws&gt;pomni'ane tezy Durkheima przyjętooza oczywiste, za t,a'kie, z któryn1i wszyscy się zgodzą. Daje to
w efekcie sZJCZególnepodejście do przedmiotu badań. Stwarza bowiem
sytuację "urzecwwnieniia" obiektu zainteresowań niezależnie od tego.
czym ów obiekt jest, w ramach jakiej rzeczywistości materialnej czy
społecznej funkcjonuje. Oczywiście, słabość tego 'ootat1;niego!podziału
płynącego z tJ.~adycyjnegow etmografii 'rlozró:żmieniakultury materialnej,
społecznej ti duchowej nie tłumaczy dokładnie specyfiki wspomnianego
wyżej zwbicgu. Chc(; jednak zwrócić uwagę na falkt jednakowego trakbwani:a przedmiotu badań jakie przyjęto w ,praca'ch etnograficznych.
Kanon badań monograficznych stworzył pewien schemat anahz w etnografii, schemat, który wykazuje wyjątk.ową trwałość. Trakt'Owanie zjawcisk jak rzeczy sprawiło, iż tak samo traktuje się obiekty maieri,alne,
j-ak im,tytucje (rodzinę, pomoc wzajemną), obrzędy. Wykształciła się
pewna log:ika analizy, która nakazuje Iprzedstawić genezę, staJn wSipółczesnyi kontekst występowania badanego zjawiska, czyli tzw. sposób
funkcjoonow~l1ia.
Tak porządek :P(Jsitępowania badawczego dominuje w powojennych
pubiikacja-eh etnogra£'i-ezmych i nie -popełnię błę-du stwierdziwszy, że
utrzymuje się z całą :mocą i dzisiaj. Co więcej, tak:i sposób analizy nie
zmienia się bynajmniej w ,zależności od teoretyczno-metodoIogiczmej
orientacji autora, orientacji, 'która od lat 70-tychnieco
wyrażniej się
różniouje. Naturalni'e, zadać :sobie można pytanie, czy badania etnografic1J!lew ,ogóle mogą być podporządkowane innej logice? Rozważenie takiego IPytania dotykać musi zarówno kwestii przedmiotu !badań, jak i ich
metody. Jedno i drugie bowiem może modyfikować tryb postępowania
b3dawczeg-o. W ·ostatecznoŚCi jednak 'Pytanie to sprowadza się do wizji
etnografii, do rozsądzenia celu jej uprawiania.
Przyjęło się twierdzić, iż etnografiapo'lska tkwi w tradycji nauk historycznych. Taka ;pozycja etnograHi prz.esądza nie tyle o metodzie {ta
może być różna, bez narusz.eniazasac1niczeg·o charakteru dyscypliny),
ile o ·zacloamiu
jakie ma do spełnienia. Etnografia w Polsce przyjęła perspektywę reonstrukcji i dokumentacji kultury za wiodącą. W języku etnografii operuje się często zwrotem "obro'z kultury". Określenie to wyraża, najpełniej w moim przekonaniu, przyjęty u nas sens dyscypliny.
Badania et.no:grafi.czne mają ibyć dokumentalną fotografią przeszŁości

�68

KA T ARZYN A KANIOWSKA.

'i ws.pólczesnośoi 'kultury;

iot::&gt;grafią, której dokładność i o'Stmść pozwala
przyjrzeć się szcz-egółom i związ.k,om między nimi. Na pyt::l'l1ie UJ, czym
jest kultura, etnografia odpowiada, jeśli można dal·ej trzymać się ,powyższej metafory - a_bumem fotografii. Taka wizja dyscypliny tłumaczy za,pewne w etnogr,afii p::::lsk-~·ej
pewne koncepcje, jak n,J. fU:1kcj'J.nalizm czy .strukturalizm, choć pOl9iadają swois,ty "lokalny koloryt",
przyjęto
wiele chęt,niej .niż -ewolucjonizm, :S:ZJczególnie
z,aś nowy ewolucjo:nti:zm22.
U źródleł ewolucj'olUizmu leży bJwiem c:ałkawicie()dmienne pojmJwanie nauki o()'kulturze. Wizja dyscyphny wiąże się w nim bardzo ściśle
z wizją kultury. Wspókz·esny ewo,Uocj&lt;miZlmjeSlt r·efj'eksją o kulturz.e
ludzkiej, opozycj&lt;i ,czlJwieka wobec kultury, o zależności'ach kultury od
&amp;'Wi,ataprzYtfody. Prz,ede wszystkim jedna·k, to 00 najist.otni'ejsze - ewolucj,onizm jest spojrzeniem na kulturę pop'rzez Jej procesy anie rzeczy,
jej elem&gt;€iI1tyskładowe. Wa:rto t:akże z'aJzn.aezyć,ż,e dzisiejszy ewolucj-onizm -odszedł już dość d-aleko od iP'ootulatu badań faz r'Jzwoj&lt;Jwych, ;postulatu, który jak się o tym pr,z,21lmnalam,naj-czę5ciej .kJjarwny jest
w pa_skiej etnogr:ahi z :iJnter'e:sują.cąmnie tutaj k&lt;mcepcją kultmy. Jeśli
wyczempywała by się 'o:n'a główn:i,e właśnie w dyrektywioe śledz€'11iakolejnych focrm I'O'zwoj-owych, nie byłaby niewątpliwie odrzuoona iPfZ2Z
polskich et.rngrafów, bowiem mieś:ciłaby :się ZlIl.'Cllk:mlioie
w przyjQtej ;perspektywie r'ekolD&lt;s'trukcjii dlQlkumell'tta'cj.i
kultury. Trzeba z resztą wQP,omnieć, iż w szeregu por,actaki sposób badań uwzględniono zarówno w molD.agrafia,chja,ki badarrriCiJch
innegio typu, n(l. ,atlasJwych. Zdać S:Jbie należy jednak sprawę z faktu, iż klasyczny i wspólczesny ewolucjomizm tJ ni,emal dwa różne ikieru:nlki, wywodząc'e się ,owsz'em z jednego pnia,
:zywać,iż fakt badanb rozwojuczegoko;wi-ek
świadczy o eWJlucjonia~e reptI"ezentują-e.eilnną refleksję o kulturze. Błędem bylJby zatem wskastycznej orientacji badacza.
Biorą1c pod uwagę Ip'Jwyższe stwierdzenia, zilllstr'O'wanie różni'c, jakie
za'chodzą między przyjętym
modelem etnografii polski'ej a e1:n'oloogią
ewolucj-onistycz:ną, 'pn.edstawić można zwięźle wyliczając cechy obu perspektyw wi-dzenia ku:tury. Oczywiście, zabieg tak i -kryje w S'obie prżewrotność, z której zdaję sobię całkowicie sprawę; .przewrotność polegającą nl prz·e'Ciwstawieniu ew::&gt;~ucj::m'zmu"reszcie teoretyczD!J-metxlo.J.Jgiczn-e,?o św;iata emJl'ogii",al€ ukazuje zapewne d&lt;Jbi'tn~ejróżnioeowych
wizji dyscyplimy:

°

°

22 Mów:ąc
o lokalnym
kolorysie .mam tu na myśli te różnice, jakie wyrazme
zaznacza5ą s.ię w anGlizach klasyków - s'trukturaliSJt6w f.r.ancus:kich czy tartuskich
i pracach naszych etnografów
deklarujących
tę orientację
metodologiczną.

�Tradycja

metodologiczna

kultury
poprzez
rzeczy
synchwniczne ujęcie kultury
skala mi/kro
sp&lt;JłecznGśćlookalna, etniczna,
naif{)dowa
cechy kultury

powojennej

etnografii

polskiej

69

kultura
poprzez
p~ocesy
diachfiOnlCZneujęcie kultury
skala makro
kultura ludzk,a
ptr'awa kultury

Zakres wymienionych kolejno cech a:nalizy, j'akiecharakt,eryzują każde z 'Podejść badawczych, częściowo IIlI8 :siebie zachodzą, .rup.dwie iPi€['wsze cechy w każdej z kolwmn nie są r,o:Złączne(badanie !kultury poprzez re:eczy i obraz 'kultury oraz badanie kultury :poprzez procesy i ,diachroniczne ujęcie). Chodzi mi jednak o wsk8JZanie chaTia'kteru zaintetresowani'a kulturą w obu przypadkach, ·azatem ,o wykaz,a!nie, :iż w każdym z tych dwu sposobów wp.rawiania nawki o kulturze inny wybiera
się 'Przedmiot zainteresowań ,i inną interprebację, powstając przecież
w tych samy'ch gralnicach, w granicach refleksji ,o kulturze. Odmi'en.no:ść
tej refleksji w ewolucj'auiźmie współczesnym stanowi, w moJej O!pini:i,
dodatkowy i szczególny argument, by dokonać .głębszej anahzy d~~S'iejszych wersji ewolucjonistycznej te,orii kultury.

Katanyna

Kaniowska

IVIETHODOLOGICAL

TRADITiON OF THE POST-WAR
AND EVOLUTIONISM

POLISH

ETHNOGRAPHY

(Summary)
The article is a paT·t of a more comprehensive'1ext
on evolutionisti(; aOld so(;iobiological concepts of (;u!tu ~'e. Both trends are sit'uatcd within a different {)oncepton' ni culture then tho.,e common for Polish ethnography.
Anglo-Saxon
ethnolDgy. e'pe(;ially .!\nwriC&lt;lI! anthropology,
places interpretations
of culture also within
the ;;('rspecli \'c uf the achievemenls
of natural s(;ienC'es. Such references
have not
bee:1 macie ill PoJi,h elhno,(raphy
so far, but altho';ligh the lack of interests in ;-;0ciobiology i:i uilderstand,lble,
cvolutionism
has not been known and commented
upon since the turn of the 19th (;entury, for it has not found favourable
conditions
in Polic;h eth:lO~raphy.
There are various reasons for this phenomenon,
mainly
poliUc.al (;onditions of the dev(;lopment of social s(;ionccs i·n the posit-war Poland
i.ud certain traditions
of Polish ethnology which resulted
in the lack of interest
in evolutionism.
The article attempt., at pre,enting
(;onditioll.s which caused the above-mentioned Ijck of i:1tcrest in evolutionnistic
cthnology
within the domain of Palish
ethnography.

�</text>
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                <text>„Etnografia Polska", t. X V I I , z. 2

RYSZARD TOMICKI

T R A D Y C J A I JEJ Z N A C Z E N I E W K U L T U R Z E C H Ł O P S K I E J
W polskiej literaturze etnograficznej p o j ę c i e tradycja i pochodne od n i e ­
go p r z y m i o t n i k i u ż y w a n e s ą bardzo często, n a w e t p r z y d e f i n i o w a n i u i n ­
n y c h p o j ę ć (na p r z y k ł a d — k u l t u r a ludowa). W y n i k a to z r o l i , j a k ą o d ­
g r y w a ono w badaniach k u l t u r y bez w z g l ę d u na jej czasoprzestrzenne
usytuowanie. Bardzo rzadko j e d n a k spotyka się w y r a ź n e o k r e ś l e n i e zna­
czenia, w j a k i m p o j ę c i e to jest stosowane, co powoduje, że nie posiada
ono, ani definicje konstruowane p r z y jego pomocy, zbyt w i e l k i e j mocy
wyjaśniającej.
1

Jak dotychczas j e d y n i e Jerzy S z a c k i d o k o n a ł p r z e g l ą d u bogatej p r o ­
b l e m a t y k i t r a d y c j i , ale praca jego — ś l e d z ą c a losy pojęcia z a r ó w n o w m y ­
śli naukowej, j a k i s p o ł e c z n o - p o l i t y c z n e j — z z a ł o ż e n i a nie pretenduje
do zaproponowania d e f i n i c j i , a t y m bardziej do s f o r m u ł o w a n i a t e o r i i
t r a d y c j i . B r a k takiej t e o r i i u t r u d n i a badanie nie t y l k o p r o b l e m ó w z w i ą ­
zanych z d a w n ą k u l t u r ą c h ł o p s k ą , lecz t a k ż e ś l e d z e n i e zmian z a c h o d z ą ­
cych w n i e j w X I X i X X

wieku.

Racje te z a d e c y d o w a ł y o poruszeniu p r o b l e m u t r a d y c j i , c h o c i a ż b y
w bardzo w ą s k i m zakresie. A r t y k u ł niniejszy jest j e d y n i e p r ó b ą ustale­
nia pewnego sposobu rozumienia p o j ę c i a t r a d y c j a i scharakteryzowania
znaczenia zjawisk n i m o k r e ś l a n y c h w k u l t u r z e c h ł o p s k i e j . P r z y p o m n i j ­
my, że b y ł a t o k u l t u r a społeczności, k t ó r e jeszcze w p o c z ą t k a c h X X w i e ­
k u c e c h o w a ł znaczny s t o p i e ń analfabetyzmu, co p o w o d o w a ł o nie t y l k o
b r a k w ł a s n e j l i t e r a t u r y pisanej, ale r ó w n i e ż n i e m o ż n o ś ć b e z p o ś r e d n i e g o
do niej d o s t ę p u . I n n y m i cechami w a ż n y m i z p u n k t u widzenia problema­
t y k i t r a d y c j i s ą : stosunkowo m a ł a r u c h l i w o ś ć pionowa oraz istnienie ś c i s ­
ł y c h w i ę z ó w s p o ł e c z n y c h w o b r ę b i e g r u p y lokalnej.
W etnografii polskiej j e d y n i e Kazimierz D o b r o w o l s k i p o ś w i ę c i ł w i ę ­
cej miejsca t r a d y c j i jako osobnemu zagadnieniu. Jego prace z a w i e r a j ą
t a k ż e wiele t r a f n y c h s p o s t r z e ż e ń , nie zawsze b e z p o ś r e d n i o w i ą z a n y c h
przez autora z p r o b l e m a t y k ą t r a d y c j i , ale n i e w ą t p l i w i e w z w i ą z k u z n i ą
1

J. S z a c k i ,

Tradycja.

Przegląd

problematyki,

Warszawa

1971.

�42

RYSZARD

TOMICKI

p o z o s t a j ą c y c h . Dlatego t e ż w i e l o k r o t n i e wspominane t u b ę d z i e nazwisko
tego uczonego. O d jego definicji, j a k o j e d y n e j explicite
sformułowanej
w e w s p ó ł c z e s n e j e t n o g r a f i i polskiej, p r a g n i e m y r o z p o c z ą ć nasze r o z w a ­
żania.
K . D o b r o w o l s k i o k r e ś l a t r a d y c j ę w s p o s ó b bardzo szeroki. Pisze m i a ­
n o w i c i e : „ P r z e z t r a d y c j ę r o z u m i e m y w zasadzie w s z e l k ą s p u ś c i z n ę , k t ó r ą
u s t ę p u j ą c e generacje p r z e k a z u j ą pokoleniom w c h o d z ą c y m w ż y c i e " .
Przekaz o d b y w a się b e z p o ś r e d n i o , c z y l i poprzez t r a n s m i s j ę u s t n ą i po­
kaz, co powoduje — w e d ł u g cytowanego autora — ograniczenie m o ż l i ­
w o ś c i przenoszenia k u l t u r y w czasie, a t a k ż e t r w a ł o ś c i i d o k ł a d n o ś c i prze­
kazu. O c z y w i s t y m w a r u n k i e m uznania t r e ś c i k u l t u r o w y c h za dziedzictwo
jest i c h o b i e k t y w i z a c j a .
2

3

O k r e ś l a j ą c t r a d y c j ę j a k o całe dziedzictwo s p o ł e c z n e , stwarza się w r a ­
ż e n i e , j a k o b y całość ta przekazywana b y ł a i p r z y j m o w a n a przez c z ł o n k ó w
s p o ł e c z n o ś c i w j e d n a k o w y s p o s ó b . W y d a j e się, że definicja t a k a uprasz­
cza nieco obraz r z e c z y w i s t o ś c i i powoduje m a ł ą o p e r a t y w n o ś ć p o j ę c i a
t r a d y c j a j a k o n a r z ę d z i a badawczego. Definicja K . Dobrowolskiego, oparta
o t e o r i ę p o d ł o ż a historycznego, n i e zdaje r ó w n i e ż s p r a w y z r ó ż n i c y istnie­
j ą c e j m i ę d z y t r e ś c i a m i k u l t u r o w y m i p r z e k a z y w a n y m i m n i e j l u b bardziej
ś w i a d o m i e a t r e ś c i a m i t r w a j ą c y m i bez w o l i c z ł o n k ó w społeczności, j a k t o
m a miejsce w p r z y p a d k u w i e l u e l e m e n t ó w t a k zwanego p o d ł o ż a histo­
rycznego. R o z r ó ż n i e n i e t o p r z y j m u j e m y za p u n k t w y j ś c i a dla dalszych
rozważań.
PRZEKAZ

Dziedzictwo s p o ł e c z n e przekazywane jest z pokolenia na pokolenie
w t r o j a k i s p o s ó b . Po pierwsze — przez wpojenie w procesie w y c h o w a ­
nia (socjalizacji) j ę z y k a i o k r e ś l o n y c h dyspozycji psychicznych w ł a ś c i ­
w y c h dla danej g r u p y s p o ł e c z n e j , w a r u n k u j ą c y c h s t r u k t u r ę u m y s ł o w ą
4

5

2

K . D o b r o w o l s k i , Chłopska
kultura tradycyjna. (Próba zarysu na pod­
stawie materiałów
źródłowych
XIX i XX w. z południowej
Małopolski),
[w:] t e n ż e, Studia nad życiem
społecznym
i kulturą.
Wrocław-Warszawa-Kraków 1966,
s. 35.
D o b r o w o l s k i , Chłopska kultura..., s. 81-82.
Por. z cytowanym przez J . Szackiego podziałem dziedzictwa społecznego we­
dług J . Goody'ego i I . Watta, którzy wyróżniają: 1 — wyposażenie materialne
i zasoby naturalne, 2 — standaryzowane sposoby działania przekazywane tylko
częściowo słownie, 3 — światopogląd (Weltanschauung) przekazywany całkowicie
ustnie; S z a c k i , op. cit., s. 105, przypis 23.
Por. stanowisko Ossowskiego, który uważał kulturę za zespół „dyspozycji psy­
chicznych przekazywanych w łonie danej zbiorowości przez kontakt społeczny i uza­
leżniony od całego systemu stosunków międzyludzkich"; S. O s s o w s k i , Z zaa

4

5

�TRADYCJA I J E J ZNACZENIE

43

j e d n o s t k i oraz podstawowych w z o r ó w z a c h o w a ń p r z e j a w i a j ą c y c h s i ę na­
s t ę p n i e jako n a w y k i nie p o t r z e b u j ą c e uzasadnienia. Po drugie — przez
przekazanie ś w i a d o m i e i celowo d r o g ą t r a n s m i s j i ustnej i pokazu ca­
ł e g o z e s p o ł u t r e ś c i k u l t u r o w y c h , t a k i c h j a k n o r m y i w z o r y d z i a ł a ń , spo­
soby gospodarowania, podania, m i t y , wierzenia i o b r z ę d y i t d . Po trzecie —
n a s t ę p u j ą c e pokolenie przejmuje c a ł y b a g a ż m a t e r i a l n y w postaci n a r z ę ­
dzi, z a b u d o w a ń , p r z e d m i o t ó w u ż y t k u codziennego i t d .
I n t e r e s o w a ć nas b ę d ą przede w s z y s t k i m d w a pierwsze sposoby prze­
k a z y w a n i a dziedzictwa, g d y ż w y p o s a ż e n i e materialne przejmowane b y w a
zazwyczaj bez u d z i a ł u w o l i c z ł o n k ó w pokolenia w c h o d z ą c e g o w ż y c i e
(często po prostu t r w a ) .
Pierwszy i d r u g i s p o s ó b przekazu s ą w r z e c z y w i s t o ś c i nierozdzielne
l u b t r u d n o rozdzielne, z t y m że w p o c z ą t k o w e j fazie ż y c i a j e d n o s t k i do­
m i n u j e przekaz t y p u pierwszego. Przekaz ten m a charakter p o z a ś w i a d o m y i w z w i ą z k u z t y m t r e ś c i b ę d ą c e jego przedmiotem n i e s ą dostrze­
gane przez c z ł o n k ó w s p o ł e c z n o ś c i jako dziedzictwo. A b s t r a h u j e m y w t y m
miejscu od r o l i ciągłości p e w n y c h e l e m e n t ó w neurofizjologicznych w m e ­
chanizmie dziedziczenia k u l t u r y ze w z g l ę d u na b r a k k o m p e t e n c j i w tej
dziedzinie, c h o c i a ż n i e w ą t p l i w i e c z y n n i k i te p o s i a d a j ą d u ż e znaczenie
w i n t e r e s u j ą c y m nas zagadnieniu i w y m a g a j ą u w z g l ę d n i e n i a w znacz­
nie w i ę k s z y m stopniu.
1

Określona struktura umysłowa uwarunkowana społecznie i k u l t u ­
r o w o determinuje w j a k i m ś stopniu ś w i a d o m o ś ć j e d n o s t k i i j e j osobo­
w o ś ć . N a bazie tej s t r u k t u r y przejmowane s ą t r e ś c i przekazywane d r o g ą
t r a n s m i s j i ustnej, komplementarne w z g l ę d e m niej i s t a n o w i ą c e j e d n o ­
c z e ś n i e j e j t r e ś ć . Modelowanie ś w i a d o m o ś c i poprzez przejmowanie dys­
pozycji psychicznych i systemu j ę z y k o w e g o d o k o n y w a ł o się w d a w n y c h
s p o ł e c z n o ś c i a c h c h ł o p s k i c h w k r ę g u r o d z i n y i g r u p y lokalnej. Powodowa­
ł o to m i ę d z y i n n y m i powstawanie e f e k t ó w takich, j a k i e z a u w a ż y ł K a z i ­
m i e r z M o s z y ń s k i w trakcie b a d a ń nad d e m o n o l o g i ą l u d o w ą . P i s a ł o n :
6

Schemat, przeżywany odtwórczo, nieskończenie przeważa nad nowymi wątkami.
Jest on zresztą zwykle tak przemożny, że przeżycia jednostek spośród ludu w ro-

gadnień psychologii społecznej,
[w:] Dzieła, t. I I I , Warszawa 1967, s. 163. Definicję
t ę u w a ż a m y za zbyt psychologizującą.
Por. rozważania Anisimowa na temat procesu kształtowania się umysłowości;
A. F . A n i s i m o w , Istoriczeskije
osobiennosti pierwobytnogo myszlenija, Lenin­
grad 1971, s. 131. Uczeni radzieccy stoją na stanowisku rozróżnienia dwóch pod­
stawowych struktur: struktury myślenia iluzorycznego i struktury myślenia racjo­
nalnego. Podział ten ma na celu oddzielenie racjonalnego stosunku do rzeczywi­
stości (postrzeganie rzeczywistych faktów i relacji) od nieracjonalnego będącego
funkcją religii. Wydaje się jednak, że nie można traktować tej dychotomii jako
dyrektywy badawczej bez jej krytycznej analizy.
6

�44

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TOMICKI

dzaju iluzji, halucynacji itp. z miejsca wykoleja podporządkowując je sobie. Dość
często możemy słyszeć po wsiach o rozlicznych indywidualnych przygodach w i e ś ­
niaków, polegających na spotkaniu się jakoby z demonem, widzeniu demona itp.;
ale opowiadające nam o nich i święcie nieraz wierzące w nie jednostki, ulegając
sugestii tradycji, oddają je najczęściej w formach odwiecznych, schematycznych,
co najwyżej uzupełniając jakimiś nieistotnymi szczegółami" .
7

Z j a w i s k o opisane przez K . M o s z y ń s k i e g o nie jest w a r u n k o w a n e j e d y ­
nie dziedziczeniem o k r e ś l o n e j s t r u k t u r y u m y s ł o w e j , lecz t a k ż e s p e c y f i k ą
przekazu t r e ś c i k u l t u r o w y c h d r o g ą t r a n s m i s j i ustnej. T a część k u l t u r y
postrzegana jest przez s p o ł e c z n o ś ć j a k o dziedzictwo. Istnieje ś w i a d o m o ś ć
nie t y l k o przejmowania, ale r ó w n i e ż pochodzenia t r e ś c i od poprzednich
p o k o l e ń . Jak j u ż w s p o m n i e l i ś m y , dziedziczenie s t r u k t u r y u m y s ł o w e j do­
konuje się w p e w n y m okresie ż y c i a r ó w n o c z e ś n i e ze ś w i a d o m y m p r z e j ­
m o w a n i e m t r e ś c i k u l t u r o w y c h ( d r o g ą przekazu ustnego). Dokonuje się
to d z i ę k i t r a n s m i s j i p o d s y s t e m ó w k u l t u r y w postaci m o d e l i m y ś l o w y c h
o charakterze s y m b o l i c z n y m . O c z y w i ś c i e modele te nie s ą przekazywane
j a k o o p o w i e ś c i o k u l t u r z e , lecz k s z t a ł t u j ą się w w y n i k u przyswajania
przez j e d n o s t k i kolejnych, f a k t ó w k u l t u r o w y c h czy i c h mniejszych zespo­
ł ó w ( w i e r z e ń , p i e ś n i , p o d a ń ) w postaci s t r u k t u r a l n e j . U t r w a l a j ą c się na
formalnej s t r u k t u r z e u m y s ł o w o ś c i , nabytej j u ż w c z e ś n i e j , k s z t a ł t u j ą osta­
tecznie ś w i a d o m o ś ć i p o w o d u j ą w p e w n y m momencie c y k l u ż y c i o w e g o
z i n t e m a l i z o w a n i e zasad k u l t u r y i t y m s a m y m uczynienie z j e d n o s t k i p e ł ­
noprawnego c z ł o n k a s p o ł e c z n o ś c i i nosiciela k u l t u r y . Modele podsyste­
m ó w k u l t u r y p r z e j ę t e przez n a s t ę p u j ą c e pokolenie s ą realizowane w o k r e ­
ś l o n y c h w a r u n k a c h egzystencjalnych i j e d n o c z e ś n i e przekazywane p o k o ­
leniu n a s t ę p n e m u .
T e n t r y b dziedziczenia k u l t u r y p r z e j a w i a ł się w p r a k t y c e w operowa­
n i u „ p e w n y m i schematami". Z a p r z y k ł a d m o ż n a p o d a ć b u d o w n i c t w o ,
formy współdziałania, rzemiosło, obrzędy i t d . K . Dobrowolski słusznie
z a u w a ż y ł , w jednej ze s w y c h prac, że u t r w a l o n e schematy, k t ó r e n a z y w a
r ó w n i e ż w z o r a m i , „ s t a j ą się j a k b y f u n d a m e n t a m i k u l t u r y " . T o spostrze­
ż e n i e staje się j a ś n i e j s z e w k o n t e k ś c i e o m ó w i o n y c h s p o s o b ó w dziedzicze­
n i a k u l t u r y . W y d a j e się, że f a k t ten stanowi i s t o t n ą c e c h ę k u l t u r y spo­
łeczności c h ł o p s k i c h .
8

P r z y j ę c i e proponowanego sposobu rozumienia przekazu k u l t u r y w y ­
j a ś n i a t e ż k w e s t i ę o b i e k t y w i z a c j i t r e ś c i k u l t u r o w y c h , k t ó r a u w a ż a n a jest
za w a r u n e k t r a k t o w a n i a f a k t u j a k o elementu danej k u l t u r y . Polega ona
(obiektywizacja) na w ł ą c z e n i u f a k t u czy z e s p o ł u f a k t ó w w system (pod7

K . M o s z y ń s k i , Kultura
ludowa Słowian,
t. I I , cz. 1, Warszawa
1967,
s. 600-601.
K . D o b r o w o l s k i , Trzy studia z teorii kultury ludowej, [w:]
tenże,
Studia nad życiem społecznym
i kulturą, s. 132.
8

�TRADYCJA I ZNACZENIE

45

system), k t ó r e g o m o d e l istnieje w ś w i a d o m o ś c i s p o ł e c z n e j i podlega trans­
misji międzypokoleniowej.
P o w y ż s z e ustalenia p o z w a l a j ą r ó w n i e ż na postawienie w
nowym
ś w i e t l e szeregu i n n y c h p r o b l e m ó w , j a k na p r z y k ł a d powstawanie w a r i a n ­
t ó w t r e ś c i k u l t u r o w y c h , przenikanie obcych w p ł y w ó w i t p . W r ó c i m y do
n i c h nieco p ó ź n i e j po ustaleniu p o d s t a w o w y c h cech p r z y n a l e ż n y c h des y g n a t o w i p o j ę c i a tradycja.

S T O S U N E K G R U P Y SPOŁECZNEJ DO P R Z E K A Z Y W A N Y C H TREŚCI

Postawy c z ł o n k ó w s p o ł e c z n o ś c i wobec t r e ś c i p r z e k a z y w a n y c h z poko­
lenia na pokolenie nie s ą u z a l e ż n i o n e j e d y n i e od ś w i a d o m e g o b ą d ź n i e ­
ś w i a d o m e g o sposobu i c h przejmowania. W grupie t r e ś c i
kulturowych
t r a n s m i t o w a n y c h ustnie daje się w y d z i e l i ć część, k t ó r a nie b u d z i w o d ­
biorcach i nosicielach dziedzictwa reakcji emocjonalnego p r z y w i ą z a n i a .
D o t a k i c h n a l e ż ą na p r z y k ł a d b a j k i , facecje, h u m o r e s k i itp., a w i ę c znacz­
na część tak zwanej l i t e r a t u r y ludowej. D r u g ą część stanowi grupa t r e ś ­
ci, do k t ó r y c h p r z y w i ą z a n i e s p o ł e c z n o ś c i jest tak d u ż e , że K . D o b r o w o l ­
ski u p a t r y w a ł w n i m i s t o t n ą p r z y c z y n ę o p o r ó w g r u p y lokalnej przeciw­
k o i c h u s u w a n i u . P r z y w i ą z a n i e emocjonalne do p e w n y c h t r e ś c i m o t y ­
w o w a n e jest n a j c z ę ś c i e j i c h d a w n y m pochodzeniem (starością). Jest to
zjawisko t y p o w e nie t y l k o dla s p o ł e c z n o ś c i c h ł o p s k i c h ; c z ę s t o w t y c h
przypadkach badacze m ó w i ą o t r a k t o w a n i u t r e ś c i k u l t u r o w y c h jako sa­
crum .
9

10

Pochodzenie z przeszłości jako c z y n n i k d e c y d u j ą c y o a f i r m a c j i o k r e ś ­
lonych t r e ś c i z a s ł u g u j e na b a c z n ą u w a g ę , c h o c i a ż b y ze w z g l ę d u na to,
że n i e k t ó r z y badacze u w a ż a j ą je za w y s t a r c z a j ą c e w y t ł u m a c z e n i e p r z y ­
w i ą z a n i a s p o ł e c z n o ś c i do odziedziczonych w y t w o r ó w k u l t u r o w y c h .
Przekonanie o s t a r o ś c i jest n i e w ą t p l i w i e w a ż n y m c z y n n i k i e m k s z t a ł ­
t o w a n i a się postawy emocjonalnej w stosunku do pewnej g r u p y w y t w o ­
r ó w , ale nie j e d y n y m i co w a ż n i e j s z e dopiero w p o w i ą z a n i u z i n n y m i
c z y n n i k a m i f a k t ten uzyskuje p e ł n e znaczenie. K . D o b r o w o l s k i o m a w i a ­
j ą c p r o b l e m t r w a n i a p e w n y c h e l e m e n t ó w k u l t u r y , p i s a ł : „ U z n a n i e auto­
r y t e t u [ w y t w o r ó w k u l t u r o w y c h — p r z y p . R. Т.] b y ł o uznaniem o k r e ś l o ­
nego w y t w o r u pozbawione w zasadzie k r y t y c z n e j analizy, p o ł ą c z o n e na­
tomiast z s i l n ą w i a r ą w jego w a r t o ś ć , a n i e k i e d y w p r o s t z p r z e j a w a m i
9

K.
Dobrowolski,
Teoria podłoża
historycznego, [w:] t e n ż e ,
Studia
Z pogranicza historii i socjologii, Wrocław-Warszawa-Kraków 1967, s. 40.
Na przykład B. M a l i n o w s k i (Szkice z teorii kultury, Warszawa 1958,
s. 414) pisze o uważaniu tradycji za „rzecz świętą"; por. też E . S h i l s ,
Tradition
and Liberty: Antinomy and Interdependence,
„Ethics", vol. X V I I I : 1958 nr 3,
s. 155, podaję za: S z a c k i , op. cit., s. 154.
1 0

�46

RYSZARD TOMICKI

u

czci [...]" . N i e w d a j ą c się na razie w dyskusje nad s ł u s z n o ś c i ą s t w i e r ­
dzenia b r a k u k r y t y c z n e j analizy, z a u w a ż m y , że w g r ę w c h o d z i dodatko­
wo przekonanie o w a r t o ś c i w y t w o r ó w k u l t u r o w y c h .
K o l e j n y m c z y n n i k i e m , w p ł y w a j ą c y m w y r a ź n i e na istnienie przeko­
nania o t r w a ł o ś c i czy w r ę c z o d w i e c z n o ś c i t r e ś c i k u l t u r o w y c h , b y ł auto­
r y t e t l u d z i starych, „ k t ó r z y p r z e c h o w u j ą t r o s k l i w i e dziedzictwo poprzed­
n i c h p o k o l e ń " '. Na z a l e ż n o ś ć t ę z w r ó c i ł u w a g ę K . D o b r o w o l s k i p i s z ą c :
„ w n a j ś c i ś l e j s z y m z w i ą z k u z a u t o r y t e t e m u r z ą d z e ń k s z t a ł t o w a ł się
autorytet
l u d z i " . Samo ustalenie tej z a l e ż n o ś c i nie w y j a ś n i a
istoty z w i ą z k u t y c h e l e m e n t ó w . Powstaje b o w i e m pytanie, na j a k i c h p o d ­
stawach u k s z t a ł t o w a ł się a u t o r y t e t l u d z i starych. O d p o w i e d ź nasuwa się
w momencie, gdy u ś w i a d o m i m y sobie, że p o s t a w ą o b o w i ą z u j ą c ą wobec
przeszłości i dziedziczonych t r e ś c i b y ł a w i a r a . Przekonanie o d a w n y m
pochodzeniu i p r a w d z i w o ś c i w sytuacji b r a k u pisma i n a u k i m o g ł o
i s t n i e ć w y ł ą c z n i e w oparciu o w i a r ę . W t y c h w a r u n k a c h ludzie starzy p e ł ­
n i l i nie t y l k o r o l ę przekazicieli dziedzictwa, ale r ó w n i e ż — a m o ż e prze­
de w s z y s t k i m — b y l i g w a r a n t a m i a u t e n t y c z n o ś c i t r e ś c i k u l t u r o w y c h . P o d ­
s t a w ą i c h a u t o r y t e t u b y ł fakt, że t y l k o o n i b y l i ś w i a d k a m i u ż y t k o w a n i a
w z o r ó w w przeszłości i i c h s k u t e c z n o ś c i . T a k i m sposobem n a s t ę p o w a ł o
Avzmocnienie a u t o r y t e t u w y t w o r ó w d z i ę k i przekonaniu o i c h d a w n o ś c i .
K a ż d a b o w i e m akceptacja na zasadzie w i a r y m u s i p o s i a d a ć oparcie
w autorytecie, k t ó r e g o ś w i a d e c t w o nie m u s i b y ć i najczęściej nie jest
w e r y f i k o w a n e . Wydaje się, że w ł a ś n i e ta funkcja s p o ł e c z n a d e c y d o w a ł a
o p o w a ż a n i u , j a k i m cieszyli się w s p o ł e c z n o ś c i a c h c h ł o p s k i c h ludzie starzy.
Pozostaje jeszcze do o m ó w i e n i a przekonanie o w a r t o ś c i w y t w o r ó w
k u l t u r o w y c h . W t y m celu do z b i o r u c z y n n i k ó w d e c y d u j ą c y c h naszym
zdaniem o i s t n i e n i u przekonania o n i e z m i e n n o ś c i t r e ś c i n a l e ż y d o d a ć p o d ­
niesione j u ż przez K . Dobrowolskiego, niestety marginesowo, p r z e ś w i a d ­
czenie o sankcjach „ m i s t y c z n y c h " g r o ż ą c y c h za naruszenie u ś w i ę c o n y c h
w z o r ó w d z i a ł a n i a . W s p o m n i a n y autor ogranicza te sankcje do e w e n t u ­
a l n y c h i n t e r w e n c j i d u c h ó w p r z o d k ó w , podczas gdy w r z e c z y w i s t o ś c i m a j ą
one znacznie szerszy zakres. Często m o t y w o w a n i e z a c h o w a ń sankcjami
„ n a d p r z y r o d z o n y m i " jest przez badaczy pomijane l u b o k r e ś l a n e j a k o „ i r r a ­
cjonalne p r z y w i ą z a n i e " i t p . P r z y t o c z m y k i l k a p r z y k ł a d ó w , b y w y k a z a ć
b e z z a s a d n o ś ć takiego stanowiska. O g ó l n i e wiadomo, że n a j w i ę k s z ą t r o s k ą
otaczane b y ł y wierzenia i o b r z ę d y magiczno-religijne, n a j c z ę ś c i e j z w i ą z a n e
12

1 3

u

1 5

11

D o b r o w o l s k i , Chłopska kultura..., s. 89.
J . S. В у s t r o ń, Etnografia Polski, Warszawa 1947, s. 7.
D o b r o w o l s k i , Chłopska kultura..., s. 89.
Por. interesujące studium К. P o m i a n a, Przeszłość
jako przedmiot
Historia i filozofia w myśli średniowiecza,
Warszawa 1968.
D o b r o w o l s k i , Trzy studia..., s. 157.
1 2

1 3

14

1 5

wiary.

�47

TRADYCJA I J E J ZNACZENIE

z gospodarką, życiem rodzinnym itp. Takie w y t w o r y kulturowe, j a k for­
m u ł y magiczne, p i e ś n i o b r z ę d o w e i i m podobne t e k s t y sakralne t r a n s m i ­
towane b y ł y z w y r a ź n y m przekonaniem o n i e m o ż n o ś c i i c h z m i a n y (przy
czym nie chodzi nawet o i c h z a s t ą p i e n i e i n n y m i , lecz o z m i a n y w tekście),
n a w e t w ó w c z a s gdy uczestnicy o b r z ę d u n i e z n a l i i c h p e ł n e g o znaczenia
czy f u n k c j i . P r z y c z y n ą takiej postawy b y ł o przekonanie, że zmiana t e k s t u
s p o w o d o w a ł a b y b r a k zamierzonego efektu, a n a w e t sankcje sił n a d p r z y r o ­
dzonych . Nieraz u w a ż a s i ę podobny fakt za p r z e ż y t e k m y ś l e n i a magicz­
nego. W y d a j e się jednak, iż m o ż n a w s k a z a ć r ó w n i e ż i n n y , racjonalny aspekt
omawianego zagadnienia.
1 6

Za p r z y k ł a d w e ź m y jeden z e l e m e n t ó w o b r z ę d o w o ś c i wiosennej ( w i e l ­
kanocnej), a m i a n o w i c i e zwyczaj „ p i s a n i a " j a j . Jeszcze w k o ń c u X I X w i e ­
k u zanotowano w p e w n y c h okolicach P o l s k i w y r a ź n ą i s e n s o w n ą m o t y ­
w a c j ę t r w a n i a tego zwyczaju. M a l o w a n i e jej b y ł o w a r u n k i e m t r w a n i a
świata
T a z pozoru nic nie z n a c z ą c a w y p o w i e d ź nabiera sensu w k o n ­
t e k ś c i e s y m b o l i k i j a j a b ę d ą c e g o w wierzeniach l u d o w y c h symbolem c i ą ­
g ł e g o o d r o d z e n i a . C a ł a o b r z ę d o w o ś ć wiosenna tego okresu ma
na celu odrodzenie ż y c i a na w s z y s t k i c h p ł a s z c z y z n a c h r z e c z y w i s t o ś c i , po­
c z ą w s z y od antropologicznej a s k o ń c z y w s z y na kosmicznej. Ś w i a t o p o g l ą d
c h ł o p s k i p r z y p i s y w a ł c z ł o w i e k o w i w t a k i c h k r y z y s o w y c h momentach
s z c z e g ó l n ą r o l ę . M i a ł on, w y k o n u j ą c szereg c z y n n o ś c i o charakterze s y m ­
bolicznym, s t a ć się t w ó r c ą nowego odcinka czasu. T a k i jest o g ó l n y sens
wszelkich k o m p l e k s ó w o b r z ę d o w o ś c i p r z y p a d a j ą c y c h w p r z e ł o m o w y c h
momentach c y k l u rocznego. K r e a c y j n a f u n k c j a c z ł o w i e k a p o l e g a ł a w i ę c
w y ł ą c z n i e na p o w t a r z a n i u w z o r ó w d z i a ł a ń odziedziczonych po m i n i o n y c h
pokoleniach. Z r o z u m i a ł a staje się troska o n i e z m i e n n o ś ć t r e ś c i k u l t u r o ­
w y c h m a j ą c y c h o l b r z y m i e znaczenie egzystencjalne. Samowola m o g ł a spo­
w o d o w a ć t y l k o n i e s z c z ę ś c i e — w p r z y p a d k u f o r m u ł i c z y n n o ś c i magicz­
n y c h na p r z y k ł a d ś m i e r ć pacjenta, w p r z y p a d k u zaniechania m a l o w a n i a
jaj — koniec ś w i a t a .
P r z y k ł a d y tego t y p u m o ż n a b y m n o ż y ć . W a r t o p r z y t o c z y ć jeszcze j e ­
den. Chodzi n a m o k o l ę d y gospodarcze ( w o d r ó ż n i e n i u od k o l ę d c h r z e ś c i ­
j a ń s k i c h czy p o w s t a ł y c h z inspiracji i na m o t y w a c h r e l i g i i c h r z e ś c i j a ń ­
skiej), k t ó r e z a c h o w a ł y archaiczny charakter d z i ę k i temu, że p e ł n i ł y
w k u l t u r z e c h ł o p s k i e j funkcje t e k s t ó w sakralnych . Ś p i e w a n e w czasie
1 8

1 S

Por. D o b r o w o l s k i ,
Chłopska
kultura..., s. 91-92, oraz B y s t r o ń , op.
s, 72.
F . K r č e k , Pisanki w Galicji. Zestawienie materiału
zebranego w r. 1897
staraniem Towarz. Ludoznawczego,
„Lud", t. I V : 1898, s. 219. Co ciekawe, za drugi
warunek trwania świata u w a ż a n e są kolędy („koladka"), o których piszemy niżej.
Por. J . W i e r u s z - K o w a l s k i , Semantyczne i pozasemantyczne
funkcje
jązyka
sakralnego, [w:] Studia z historii semiotyki, Wrocław-Warszawa-Kraków
1971, s. 157-180.
cit.,

1 7

18

�48

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TOMICKI

„ Ś w i ą t G o d o w y c h " m i a ł y nie t y l k o r e p r e z e n t o w a ć
pewną inną
r z e c z y w i s t o ś ć , lecz t a k ż e k o n s t y t u o w a ć j ą . W p r z y p a d k u k o l ę d
r z e c z y w i s t o ś c i ą t ą b y ł a m i t y c z n a k r a i n a bogactwa i szczęśliwości u s y ­
tuowana nieraz w ś r o d k u ś w i a t a . S t ą d t e ż w y s t ę p u j ą c e w n i c h m n i e j l u b
bardziej w y r a ź n e opisy c e n t r u m ś w i a t a oraz u ż y w a n i e . f o r m y dokonanej
i czasu t e r a ź n i e j s z e g o .
O c z y w i ś c i e , podobnie j a k w p r z y p a d k u m a l o w a n i a j a j , k o l ę d y b y ł y
t y l k o j e d n y m z w i e l u e l e m e n t ó w obrzędowości zimowej, będącej w ogól­
n o ś c i — j a k s i ę w y d a j e — s y m b o l i c z n ą k r e a c j ą nowego c y k l u rocznego.
Przekonanie o w a r t o ś c i t r e ś c i k u l t u r o w y c h tego t y p u w y n i k a ł o w i ę c prze­
de w s z y s t k i m z a k t u a l n e j
ważności
społecznej
funkcji
przez nie p e ł n i o n y c h . W y n i k a z tego, że z m i a n y z a c h o d z ą c e w X I X
w i e k u i p r o w a d z ą c e nieuchronnie do dezorganizacji k u l t u r y c h ł o p s k i e j
nie s p o w o d o w a ł y jeszcze z m i a n w sferze ś w i a d o m o ś c i . D z i ę k i t e m u d a w ­
ne w a r t o ś c i b y ł y nadal cenione i p e ł n i ł y swe funkcje.
1 9

A f i r m a c j a i emocjonalne p r z y w i ą z a n i e oparte na ś w i a d o m y m prze­
konaniu o efektywności dawnych w z o r ó w o d g r y w a ł y również dużą rolę
w n i e c h ę c i do z m i a n m e t o d gospodarowania, u p r a w y r o l i i t p . , co z r e s z t ą
b u d z i ł o n a j w i ę k s z e zdziwienie badaczy. J. S. B y s t r o ń p i s a ł n a marginesie
r o z w a ż a ń o a u t o r y t e t a c h : „[...] l u d odrzuca c z ę s t o najbardziej rozumowo
uzasadnione innowacje, a u p o r c z y w i e p o d t r z y m u j e stare p r a k t y k i , po p r o ­
stu t y l k o dlatego, że s ą stare" . Postawa ta nie w y n i k a ł a j e d n a k z i r r a ­
cjonalnego stosunku do' w y t w o r ó w k u l t u r o w y c h , b r a k u „ k r y t y c z n e j ana­
l i z y " czy — j a k c h c i a ł L . K r z y w i c k i — b r a k u racjonalnego uzasadnienia
d z i a ł a ń . N i e m o ż n a t e ż w p e ł n i zgodzić s i ę ze stanowiskiem J. Szackiego,
k t ó r y twierdzi: „ W niezróżnicowanych społecznościach przedpiśmiennych
m o ż l i w a jest sytuacja, w k t ó r e j ludzie p r z e c i w s t a w i a j ą s i ę zmianie, k i e ­
r o w a n i j e d y n i e p o d ś w i a d o m y m czy p ó ł ś w i a d o m y m odczuciem, że n a r u ­
sza ona ustalony z dawna p o r z ą d e k ż y c i a " . P o w o ł y w a n i e s i ę na dawne
pochodzenie w z o r ó w d z i a ł a ń zawiera b o w i e m implicite w y r a ż o n e t w i e r ­
dzenie o i c h s k u t e c z n o ś c i , gwarantowanej dodatkowo ś w i a d e c t w e m l u d z i
starych . Rozumowanie takie jest, w b r e w pozorom, oparte na p r z e s ł a n ­
kach racjonalnych.
2 0

2 1

2 2

2 3

19

Por. stanowisko Blocha, który podkreślał konieczność podawania „racji trwa­
nia" tradycji, czego niestety nie czyni się zazwyczaj w przeciwieństwie do racji
zmian; M. B l o c h , Pochwala historii czyli o zawodzie historyka, Warszawa 1960,
s. 57. Por. także: C. L é v i - S t r a u s s ,
Antropologia
strukturalna,
Warszawa
1970, s. 344.
B y s t r o ń , op. cit., s. 7.
L . K r z y w i c k i , Studia socjologiczne, Warszawa 1951, s. 134.
S z а с к i, op. cit., s. 167.
Stanowisko takie jest wyrazem koncepcji wyjaśniającej trwanie pewnych
treści kulturowych w kategoriach marksistowskich, będącej w jakimś stopniu alter20

21

2 2

23

�TRADYCJA I J E J ZNACZENIE

49

O m a w i a j ą c p r o b l e m negatywnego stosunku do zmian, n i e m o ż n a po­
m i n ą ć i i n n y c h c z y n n i k ó w d e c y d u j ą c y c h o n i m , j a k na p r z y k ł a d obrona
przed pogarszaniem się sytuacji ż y c i o w e j w p e w n y c h okresach historycz­
n y c h na skutek r ó ż n o r o d n y c h ingerencji z e w n ę t r z n y c h . Wydaje się j e d ­
nak, że sytuacje takie n i e m i a ł y w i ę k s z e g o znaczenia w i n t e r e s u j ą c e j nas
kwestii.
M o ż n a w t y m miejscu, k o r z y s t a j ą c z poprzednich u s t a l e ń , d o k o n a ć
p r ó b y zdefiniowania p o j ę c i a tradycja. T r a d y c j ą danej g r u p y s p o ł e c z n e j
jest ta część dziedzictwa przekazywanego d r o g ą t r a n s m i s j i ustnej i po­
kazu, k t ó r e j p r z e j m o w a n i u towarzyszy ś w i a d o m o ś ć pochodzenia
jej
z przeszłości, k t ó r a jest przez g r u p ę a f i r m o w a n a i s t a n o w i o b i e k t emo­
cjonalnego p r z y w i ą z a n i a w y r a ż a j ą c e g o się w przekonaniu o j e j w a r t o ś c i
i n i e m o ż n o ś c i zmiany bez i s t o t n y c h konsekwencji n e g a t y w n y c h dla g r u ­
p y b ą d ź jednostek.
T a k rozumiana t r a d y c j a pozwala na ostrzejsze n i ż dotychczas sprecy­
zowanie p o j ę c i a k u l t u r a t r a d y c y j n a i i n n y c h u ż y w a n y c h z b y t dowolnie.
N a z w ą t r a d y c y j n a k u l t u r a c h ł o p s k a o k r e ś l a ł o b y się k u l t u r ę s p o ł e c z n o ś c i
chłopskich, w k t ó r y c h tradycja była czynnikiem s t e r u j ą c y m w większo­
ści dziedzin ż y c i a s p o ł e c z e ń s t w a i za t a k i b y ł a u w a ż a n a . D o k o n u j e m y
o c z y w i ś c i e w t e n s p o s ó b skonstruowania pewnego modelu, ale nie jest on,
naszym zdaniem, z b y t d a l e k i od r z e c z y w i s t o ś c i k u l t u r o w e j i s t n i e j ą c e j na
w s i jeszcze w X I X w i e k u . U ż y w a j ą c t a k rozumianego p o j ę c i a „ t r a d y c y j ­
na k u l t u r a c h ł o p s k a " , m o ż n a w y e l i m i n o w a ć bardzo n i e p r e c y z y j n y t e r m i n
„ k u l t u r a ludowa".
P o w r ó ć m y jeszcze do p r o b l e m ó w z w i ą z a n y c h ze znaczeniem t r a d y c j i
w s p o ł e c z n o ś c i a c h c h ł o p s k i c h . Przekonanie o n i e z m i e n n o ś c i
tradycji
i powtarzaniu jedynie dawnych w z o r ó w i treści miało r ó w n i e ż swój sku­
t e k psychologiczny. N i e z m i e n n o ś ć r y t m u kosmicznego,
niezmienność
o b r z ę d ó w dorocznych, w y k o n y w a n i e w s z y s t k i c h c z y n n o ś c i w e d ł u g odzie­
dziczonych r e g u ł , p r a k t y k o w a n y c h przez wszystkie m i n i o n e pokolenia
p o w o d o w a ł y odczucie c i ą g ł e g o o d t w a r z a n i a
wzorów zaistniałych
„ongiś". Przeszłość b y ł a — jak to określił Bronisław Malinowski — „ p s y ­
c h o l o g i c z n ą r z e c z y w i s t o ś c i ą dnia dzisiejszego" . Z j a w i s k o t o zaobserwo­
wane j u ż d a w n o w s p o ł e c z n o ś c i a c h p l e m i e n n y c h w y s t ę p u j e r ó w n i e ż
w s p o ł e c z n o ś c i a c h c h ł o p s k i c h . Stefan Czarnowski p i s z ą c „ o b y c z a j jest
w r o z u m i e n i u c h ł o p s k i m poza czasem"
d o s t r z e g ł ten specyficzny t y p
2 4

2 5

natywą wobec koncepcji neurofizjologicznych, por.: J . K m i t a , Z metodologicz­
nych problemów
interpretacji humanistycznej, Warszawa 1971, s. 159.
M a l i n o w s k i , op. cit., s. 146.
S . C z a r n o w s k i , Podłoże ruchu chłopskiego,
[w:] Dzieło, t. I I , Warszawa
1956, s. 168.
2 4

2 5

4 — Etnograťia Polska, XVII'2

�50

R Y S Z A R D TOMICKI

r e a k c j i na f a k t t r w a n i a w czasie, r e a k c j i m a j ą c e j na celu d e h i s t o r y z a c j ę
c z a s u . S t a n i s ł a w Ossowski u w a ż a ł , że d ą ż e n i e do „ p r z e o b r a ż e n i a czasu
w w i e c z n o ś ć p o z b a w i o n ą h i s t o r i i " , p r z e j a w i a j ą c e się zazwyczaj w p r a g ­
n i e n i u j e d n o s t a j n o ś c i przemian na w z ó r c y k l u kosmicznego, jest c e c h ą
n a t u r y l u d z k i e j . W w i e l u s p o ł e c z n o ś c i a c h s t a ł a s i ę ona c e c h ą k u l t u r o w ą .
W k u l t u r z e c h ł o p s k i e j uwidocznia się r ó w n i e ż w p o j m o w a n i u prze­
szłości jako w i z j i s y n c h r o n i c z n e j ,
skonstruowanej w e d ł u g zasad
n i e w i e l e m a j ą c y c h w s p ó l n e g o z r z e c z y w i s t o ś c i ą . T r u i z m e m jest t w i e r ­
dzenie, że s p o ł e c z n o ś c i c h ł o p s k i e d o s t r z e g a ł y t r w a n i e w czasie. Poszcze­
g ó l n e pokolenia r e j e s t r o w a ł y przebieg w y d a r z e ń w czasie historycz­
n y m — l i n e a r n y m . J e d n a k ż e chronologia z a c i e r a ł a się w ś w i a d o m o ś c i
dość s z y b k o , u s t ę p u j ą c miejsca zobiektywizowanej, a w i ę c dziedziczo­
nej s p o ł e c z n i e w i z j i nie o k r e ś l o n e g o bliżej „ d a w n i e j " , gdzie m i e s z a ł y s i ę
w y p a d k i rzeczywiste i urojone. J. S. B y s t r o ń , o k r e ś l a j ą c podania j a k o
„ w e r s j e d o t y c z ą c e o k r e ś l o n y c h miejsc czy t e ż l u d z i " , p i s a ł dalej: „ W y ­
p a d k i te p o m y ś l a n e s ą jako faktycznie dokonane w przeszłości. Jest t o
w i ę c j a k g d y b y wiedza historyczna l u d u " . W istocie, podania s ą zare­
j e s t r o w a n ą i z o b i e k t y w i z o w a n ą h i s t o r i ą społeczności, h i s t o r i ą l o k a l n ą
i najczęściej ściśle o k r e ś l o n ą topograficznie. Jest t o historia zawarta
w przestrzeni. Topografia sprzyja u t r z y m y w a n i u p a m i ę c i przez j e j o g n i ­
skowanie i u z m y s ł a w i a n i e w y d a r z e ń , b ę d ą c j e d n o c z e ś n i e
dowodem
zaistnienia p o d a n i o w y c h f a k t ó w . Wiedza historyczna przekazywana b y ­
ł a z pokolenia na pokolenie jako c z ę ś ć t r a d y c j i (z w y r a ź n y m p o d k r e ś l e ­
n i e m p r a w d z i w o ś c i o p i s y w a n y c h w y p a d k ó w ) . T a k w i ę c n i c z y m nie jest
uzasadnione twierdzenie o b r a k u zainteresowania p r z e s z ł o ś c i ą w s p o ł e c z ­
n o ś c i a c h c h ł o p s k i c h , j a k t o — m i m o przytoczonych w c z e ś n i e j spostrze­
ż e ń — p i s a ł B y s t r o ń . W i e l u badaczy m ó w i ą c y c h o ahistoryzmie l u d ­
n o ś c i c h ł o p s k i e j w y p r o w a d z i ł a „ w pole" o w a specyficzna reakcja na
t r w a n i e w czasie, j a k r ó w n i e ż swoisty s p o s ó b rejestracji w y d a r z e ń m i ­
n i o n y c h nie m a j ą c y nic w s p ó l n e g o z w s p ó ł c z e s n y m dziejopisarstwem,
ale w p e ł n i z r o z u m i a ł y w sytuacji b r a k u l i t e r a t u r y pisanej. Czas l i n e a r ­
n y — chronologiczny bieg w y p a d k ó w — nie b y ł dla społeczności c h ł o p ­
skich n a j w a ż n i e j s z y . P r z e s z ł o ś ć pojmowana jako m i t y c z n y n i e m a l s t a n
2e

2 7

28

2 9

3 0

3 1

2 0

Por.: C. L é v i - S t r a u s s , Myśl nieoswojona, Warszawa 1969, s. 352.
- O s s o w s k i , op. cit., s. 65.
Por.: S. F 1 i z a k, Materiały
etnograficzne z okolic Mszany Dolnej, Prace
i Materiały Etnograficzne, t. V I I , 1948/11949, s. 387.
B y s t r o ń , op. cit., s. 93-94.
O roli d o w o d ó w w społeczeństwach nie posiadających pisma patrz: L é v i - S t r a u s s , Myśl nieoswojona, Warszawa 1969, oraz M. E l i a de, Traktat o hi­
storii religii, Warszawa 1966, s. 423-424.
B y s t r o ń , op. cit., s. 93.
7

2 8

2 9

130

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�TRADYCJA I J E J ZNACZENIE

51

p o p r z e d n i , o w o „ d a w n i e j " , b y ł a stanem w z o r c o w y m . W ż y c i u spo­
ł e c z n y m i gospodarczym o b o w i ą z y w a ł a koncepcja czasu cyklicznego ( c y k l
roczny) skorelowanego z r y t m e m k o s m i c z n y m u j a w n i a n y m przez c y k l
k s i ę ż y c o w y . K a ż d y c y k l czasu (rok) b y ł w zasadzie o d t w o r z e n i e m
c y k l u w z o r c o w e g o z a i s t n i a ł e g o w z a m i e r z c h ł e j przeszłości. Ś c i ­
słe t r z y m a n i e się w z o r c o w y c h d z i a ł a ń g w a r a n t o w a ł o n a s t ą p i e n i e nowego
c y k l u , a t y m s a m y m t r w a n i e ś w i a t a i czasu.
Tak w i ę c zespół t r e ś c i k u l t u r o w y c h o k r e ś l o n y przez nas j a k o t r a d y ­
cja b y ł s y m b o l i c z n y m zapisem w ś w i a d o m o ś c i s p o ł e c z n e j w i e l o w i e k o w e ­
go d o ś w i a d c z e n i a s p o ł e c z n e g o . Stosunek s p o ł e c z e ń s t w a do t r a d y c j i
u j a w n i a n a m j e d n o c z e ś n i e istotne cechy k u l t u r y c h ł o p s k i e j s t a n o w i ą c e
integralne elementy systemu k u l t u r o w e g o i p o z o s t a j ą c e w w i d o c z n y c h
z w i ą z k a c h z t a k i m i z j a w i s k a m i k u l t u r o w y m i , j a k koncepcja czasu i sto­
sunek do t r w a n i a w czasie.
P o w y ż s z e r o z w a ż a n i a p o ś w i ę c o n e b y ł y przede w s z y s t k i m odczuciom
t o w a r z y s z ą c y m t r a d y c j i w s p o ł e c z n o ś c i a c h c h ł o p s k i c h . Przekonanie o n i e ­
z m i e n n o ś c i t r a d y c j i nie znaczy, że b y ł a ona r z e c z y w i ś c i e niezmienna.
3 2

STABILNOŚĆ I Z M I A N A

S. Czarnowski p i s a ł swego czasu o tradycjonalizmie c h ł o p s k i m : ,,[...]
nie na t y m o n polega, b y wszystko, co jest w k u l t u r z e ludowej, odzie­
dziczone z o s t a ł o od p r a w i e k ó w , ale na t y m , że wszystkie elementy tej
k u l t u r y [...] p r e z e n t u j ą się w jednej p ł a s z c z y ź n i e jako to, co » z a w s z e b y ło«, jako to, »co s i ę zawsze r o b i ł o « , j a k o dobro przekazane, rzekomo o d ­
wieczne" .
3 3

R o z r ó ż n i e n i e m i ę d z y przekonaniem nosicieli k u l t u r y o jej n i e z m i e n ­
n o ś c i a r z e c z y w i s t y m stopniem t r w a ł o ś c i ( b r a k u zmian) jest w a ż n y m
p r o b l e m e m metodologicznym. J a k k o l w i e k oba te zjawiska p o w i n n y s t a ć
się p r z e d m i o t e m b a d a ń , t o jednak uznanie stanowiska reprezentowanego
przez S. Czarnowskiego często w y d a j e się z w a l n i a ć badaczy od zajmowa­
n i a się p r o b l e m e m rzeczywistej t r w a ł o ś c i p o d s y s t e m ó w k u l t u r y . B y ć m o ­
że z a w a ż y ł a na t y m reakcja na rozpowszechnione, z w ł a s z c z a w p o c z ą t k o ­
w e j fazie istnienia etnografii,
przekonanie o „ p o g a ń s k o ś c i "
kultury
c h ł o p s k i e j . Reakcja ta u w i d o c z n i ł a się w b y s t r o n i o w s k i m m o d e l u k u l -

,32

Warto w tym miejscu przypomnieć s ł o w a Lenina, który pisał: „[...] praktyka
ludzka, dzięki miliardom powtórzeń, utrwala się w świadomości ludzkiej w postaci
figur logicznych. Figury owe mają trwałość przesądów, charakter aksjomatyczny
w ł a ś n i e (i tylko) z racji tych miliardów powtórzeń", W. I. L e n i n, Zeszyty filo­
zoficzne, Warszawa 1956, s. 189. Por.: K m i t a , op. cit., s. 159.
C z a r n o w s k i , op. cit., s. 168.
a !

�52

RYSZARD

TOMICKI

t u r y ludowej, u k t ó r e g o podstaw l e ż y teza o c i ą g ł e j z m i e n n o ś c i elemen­
t ó w u k ł a d u . K ł a d z e n i e silnego nacisku na p r o b l e m a t y k ę zmian w y n i k a
t e ż , j a k się wydaje, z arbitralnego stosowania w y j a ś n i e ń t y p u genetyczno-przyczynowego, o czym z a d e c y d o w a ł y w d u ż y m stopniu tradycje n a u ­
k o w e (ewolucjonizm i s z k o ł a k u l t u r o w o - h i s t o r y c z n a ) oraz w u l g a r n e p o j ­
m o w a n i e metodologii marksistowskiej. W p r z y p a d k u e t n o g r a f i i j a k o n a u ­
k i o k u l t u r z e takie stawianie s p r a w y ogranicza niezmiernie zakres b a d a ń
i p r o w a d z i do opacznego t r a k t o w a n i a etnografii jako n a u k i historycznej.
Co w i ę c e j , nie odpowiada to r z e c z y w i s t y m tendencjom p a n u j ą c y m w tej
nauce. M ó w i ą c b o w i e m o h i s t o r i i ( w k o n t e k ś c i e etnografii) n a l e ż y pa­
m i ę t a ć o r o z r ó ż n i e n i u h i s t o r i i — biegu w y p a d k ó w w czasie, oraz h i ­
storii — n a u k i o przeszłości. Etnografia, z a j m u j ą c się m i ę d z y i n n y m i
k u l t u r a m i s p o ł e c z e ń s t w j u ż dziś nie i s t n i e j ą c y c h b ą d ź k u l t u r a m i o d u ­
ż y m stopniu s t a b i l n o ś c i , d ą ż y przede w s z y s t k i m do w y j a ś n i a n i a s t r u k t u ­
r y u k ł a d u k u l t u r o w e g o i jego funkcjonowania. N i e oznacza t o b y n a j ­
m n i e j rezygnacji z historycznego u j m o w a n i a zjawisk k u l t u r o w y c h . N a ­
l e ż y jednak p a m i ę t a ć , że n a u k a ta nie jest r ó w n o c z e ś n i e h i s t o r i ą k u l t u r y .
T r w a n i e k u l t u r y w czasie nie zawsze p r o w a d z i do z m i a n systemu. B a ­
danie s t a b i l n o ś c i jest nie m n i e j i n t e r e s u j ą c e i konieczne n i ż zajmowanie
się procesami przemian, lecz aby j ą w y j a ś n i ć n a l e ż y b a d a ć przede w s z y ­
s t k i m cechy s t r u k t u r a l n e u k ł a d u , a nie o d w o ł y w a ć się do c z y n n i k ó w ze­
w n ę t r z n y c h . F a k t istnienia tak z w a n y c h s t r u k t u r o d ł u g i m t r w a n i u , p o d ­
noszony w i e l o k r o t n i e przez h i s t o r y k ó w , nie zawsze b r a n y jest pod u w a ­
g ę przez samych e t n o g r a f ó w .
U w a g i nasze nie z m i e r z a j ą do stwierdzenia, że k u l t u r a c h ł o p s k a b y ł a
na przestrzeni w i e k ó w u k ł a d e m n i e z m i e n n y m . Nie ulega j e d n a k w ą t p l i ­
w o ś c i , że nie wszystkie podsystemy k u l t u r y w j e d n a k o w y m s t o p n i u p o d ­
l e g a ł y zmianom. Niestety, obecny stan b a d a ń nie pozwala na d o k ł a d n i e j ­
sze ustalenie zakresu i s t o t n y c h zmian, jakie n a s t ę p o w a ł y od k o ń c a ś r e d ­
niowiecza (chodzi o c z y w i ś c i e o z m i a n y systemu k u l t u r o w e g o a nie t y l k o
zmiany u k ł a d ó w rolnych, t y p ó w w s i i t p . b ę d ą c y c h d o m e n ą h i s t o r i i go­
spodarczej). C z ę s t o w r ó ż n y c h publikacjach etnograficznych s p o t k a ć m o ż ­
na sugestie, że pewne elementy czy dziedziny k u l t u r y w y k a z u j ą d u ż ą
z a c h o w a w c z o ś ć . Odnosi się to zazwyczaj do systemu religijno-magicznego
i ś w i a t o p o g l ą d o w e g o , k t ó r e — nawiasem m ó w i ą c — nie z o s t a ł y jeszcze
dostatecznie nawet zbadane. Przedstawione w c z e ś n i e j p r z y k ł a d y , j a k
i analiza w i e r z e ń i o b r z ę d ó w z w i ą z a n y c h ze ś m i e r c i ą dokonana przez
a u t o r a w y d a j ą się p o t w i e r d z a ć te przypuszczenia. T r w a ł o ś ć w y m i e n i o ­
nych p o d s y s t e m ó w k u l t u r y znajdowałaby w y t ł u m a c z e n i e w ich olbrzy3 4

3 i

ności

R. T o m i с к i, Wierzenia i obrzędy związane
ze śmiercią w tradycji
społecz­
wiejskich, praca magisterska napisana w 1972 r. w Katedrze Etnografii UW.

�53

TRADYCJA I J E J ZNACZENIE

m i m znaczeniu egzystencjalnym. W i a d o m o r ó w n i e ż , iż sfera ś w i a d o m o ­
ś c i o w a ulega znacznie w o l n i e j s z y m z m i a n o m n i ż sfera s p o ł e c z n o - g o s p o darcza.
W s p o ł e c z n o ś c i a c h c h ł o p s k i c h w X I X w i e k u i s t n i a ł system r e l i g i j n y
p o w s t a ł y w w y n i k u procesu s y n k r e t y z a c j i r e l i g i i c h r z e ś c i j a ń s k i e j . N a ­
s t ą p i ł a ona z a r ó w n o na skutek p r o c e s ó w o b i e k t y w n y c h , j a k r ó w n i e ż
w znacznym s t o p n i u w w y n i k u ś w i a d o m y c h i n i e ś w i a d o m y c h d z i a ł a ń
adaptacyjnych ze strony k l e r u oraz pewnej o d p o w i e d n i o ś c i systemu
c h r z e ś c i j a ń s k i e g o i „ p o g a ń s k i e g o " . Synkretyzacja s p r z y j a ł a p r z e t r w a n i u
do w i e k u co n a j m n i e j X I X w i e l u archaicznych t r e ś c i k u l t u r o w y c h . M a ­
m y tego p r z y k ł a d y p o ś w i a d c z o n e ź r ó d ł a m i h i s t o r y c z n y m i , j a k n p . bez­
skutecznie w y k o r z e n i a n y o b r z ę d topienia M a r z a n n y . T r w a n i u archaicz­
n y c h t r e ś c i s p r z y j a ł o r ó w n i e ż istnienie i c h w stanie „ u t a j o n y m " d z i ę k i
p r z e j ę c i u pewnego z e s p o ł u cech c h r z e ś c i j a ń s k i c h p o s i a d a j ą c y c h drugo­
r z ę d n e znaczenie dla s t r u k t u r y elementu k u l t u r o w e g o . C z ę s t o spotykane
w czasie b a d a ń n a ł o ż e n i e s i ę na dany f a k t obcej jego istocie i n t e r p r e t a c j i
jest t a k ż e c z y n n i k i e m u m o ż l i w i a j ą c y m m u t r w a n i e i n i e p o w o d u j ą c y m
zmiany s t r u k t u r y a n i autentycznego sensu w y t w o r u . D o s k o n a ł y m p r z y ­
k ł a d e m tego t y p u s y n k r e t y z a c j i jest zanotowana w X I X w i e k u i n t e r p r e ­
tacja zwyczaju m a l o w a n i a j a j . W e d ł u g ó w c z e s n e g o i n f o r m a t o r a m a l o w a ­
nie jaj o d b y w a ł o s i ę na t ę p a m i ą t k ę , że Chrystus z m a r t w y c h w s t a ł t a k
j a k k u r c z ę z j a j a . M a m y w t y m p r z y p a d k u do czynienia z n a ł o ż e n i e m
się na siebie d w ó c h f a k t ó w o t y m s a m y m znaczeniu, p o n i e w a ż z a r ó w n o
jajo, j a k i Chrystus s ą s y m b o l a m i wiecznego odrodzenia.
3 5

3 6

C h r z e ś c i j a ń s t w o p o s i a d a ł o jeszcze inne cechy u ł a t w i a j ą c e przetrwanie
archaicznych s ł o w i a ń s k i c h t r e ś c i k u l t u r o w y c h . B y ł a t o r e l i g i a u n i w e r s a listyczna, a w i ę c pozbawiona e l e m e n t ó w m o g ą c y c h z a s t ą p i ć dawne w i e ­
rzenia i o b r z ę d y z w i ą z a n e z g o s p o d a r k ą czy ż y c i e m s p o ł e c z n y m . D o ­
p r o w a d z i ł o t o m i ę d z y i n n y m i do r o z w o j u k u l t u ś w i ę t y c h , ale j e d n o c z e ś ­
nie s p r z y j a ł o t r w a n i u d a w n y c h t r e ś c i . K a m u f l a ż c h r z e ś c i j a ń s k i w i d o c z n y
jest w y r a ź n i e w m i t a c h kosmogonicznyeh i k o s m o l o g i c z n y c h .
3 7

38

nia,

Te l u ź n e s p o s t r z e ż e n i a w y m a g a j ą o c z y w i ś c i e kompleksowego bada­
k t ó r e m o ż e p r z y n i e ś ć nieoczekiwane r e z u l t a t y . R o z w a ż a j ą c m o ż l i -

3 5

Por.: J . S o b i e s к a, Wielkopolski obrzęd topienia „Smiercichy",
„Etnografia
Polska", t. V I I I : 1964, s. 215-250.
F . K r č e k , op. cit., s. 218.
Por. uwagi poczynione na ten temat przez S. P i e k a r c z y k a , O
społeczeń­
stwie i religii w Skandynawii
VII1-XI
w., Warszawa 1963, s. 241, a także: B y ­
s t r o ń , op. cit, s. 11-12.
Niestety nie doczekały się one dotychczas całościowej analizy. W literaturze
polskiej zestawienia wierzeń i wiedzy o świecie dokonał K . M o s z y ń s k i w pracy
Kultura budowa Słowian, tom I I , cz. 1.
3 6

3 7

3 8

�54

RYSZARD

TOMICKI

w o ś c i t r w a n i a w stanie zasadniczo n i e z m i e n i o n y m t r e ś c i k u l t u r o w y c h ,
n a l e ż y z w r ó c i ć u w a g ę na w y n i k i b a d a ń polskich f o l k l o r y s t ó w uporczy­
w i e p o s z u k u j ą c y c h w k u l t u r z e c h ł o p s k i e j z a p o ż y c z e ń i w p ł y w ó w . Nie
ulega w ą t p l i w o ś c i , że społeczności c h ł o p s k i e p r z e j m o w a ł y w y t w o r y k u l ­
t u r o w e od klas w y ż s z y c h , czemu d a ł w y r a z K . D o b r o w o l s k i f o r m u ł u j ą c
t e o r i ę opadania w y t w o r ó w k u l t u r o w y c h . Istota p r o b l e m u polega j e d n a k
na c z y m i n n y m . Chodzi b o w i e m o ustalenie, jakiego t y p u w y t w o r y b y ł y
przejmowane, a jakie nie i z j a k i c h przyczyn. Przedmiot z a i n t e r e s o w a ń
f o l k l o r y s t ó w stanowi s p e c y f i c z n ą s f e r ę k u l t u r y . W y t w o r y s k ł a d a j ą c e się
na n i ą p e ł n i ł y w k u l t u r z e c h ł o p s k i e j funkcje rekreacyjno-ludyczne. M i ­
mo tego, że b y ł y one przekazywane z pokolenia na pokolenie, nie stano­
w i ł y , w e d ł u g p r z y j ę t e j d e f i n i c j i t r a d y c j i , jej części. T ą d z i e d z i n ą k u l t u r y
r z ą d z i przede w s z y s t k i m moda. S t ą d t e ż jej dość d u ż a z m i e n n o ś ć , c h o c i a ż
i t u , w ą t k i p r z y j ę t e za p o ś r e d n i c t w e m d w o r u czy kościoła b y ł y prze­
k s z t a ł c a n e i dopasowywane do „ s t y l u k u l t u r y " . W y t w o r y p e ł n i ą c e
funkcje rekreacyjno-ludyczne s t a n o w i ł y p e r y f e r y c z n ą s f e r ę k u l t u r y , n a j ­
bardziej p o d a t n ą na zmiany, k t ó r y c h s z y b k o ś ć z a l e ż a ł a przede w s z y s t k i m
o d ilości i c h a r a k t e r u k o n t a k t ó w społeczności ze ś w i a t e m z e w n ę t r z n y m .
Z tego w z g l ę d u z jej obserwacji nie m o ż n a w y s n u w a ć w n i o s k ó w odno­
s z ą c y c h się do całości k u l t u r y , b o w i e m j u ż na p r z y k ł a d p i e ś n i o b r z ę d o w e
w y k a z u j ą z a d z i w i a j ą c ą t r w a ł o ś ć i n i e z m i e n n o ś ć . Podobnie rzecz m a się
z k o l ę d a m i gospodarczymi, ż e b y p o z o s t a ć t y l k o p r z y p r z y k ł a d a c h z tzw.
t w ó r c z o ś c i ustnej.
3 9

Kazimierz. Dobrowolski
omawiając czynniki
zmian
kulturowych
stwierdza, że i c h przejawem jest m i ę d z y i n n y m i powstawanie w a r i a n ­
t ó w t r e ś c i k u l t u r o w y c h . F a k t istnienia w a r i a n t ó w niekoniecznie jest
ś w i a d e c t w e m z m i e n n o ś c i . Tworzenie się i c h jest z j a w i s k i e m w y n i k a j ą ­
c y m z samej specyfiki przekazu m i ę d z y p o k o l e n i o w e g o , w trakcie k t ó ­
rego — j a k p o w i e d z i e l i ś m y — t r a n s m i s j i p o d l e g a j ą modele podsyste­
m ó w k u l t u r y . Modele, p r z e j ę t e przez w c h o d z ą c e w ż y c i e pokolenie, s ą
realizowane i p r z y b i e r a j ą s w ą o s t a t e c z n ą p o s t a ć w o k r e ś l o n e j czasowo
oraz przestrzennie sytuacji. Oczywiste jest tedy, że z a r ó w n o w skali d i a chronicznej, j a k i synchronicznej i s t n i e j ą i t w o r z ą się coraz t o nowe w a ­
r i a n t y t y c h samych t r e ś c i , p r z y c z y m nie m u s i u l e g a ć zmianie ani s t r u k ­
tura, ani sens w y t w o r u . P r z y k ł a d e m takiego zjawiska jest i s t n i e j ą c e po4 0

3 9

D o b r o w o l s k i , Trzy studia..., s. 132, a także: S. C z a r n o w s k i , Powsta­
nie i społeczna
funkcja historii, [w:] Dzieła, t. V, Warszawa 1956, s. 102. Autorzy
ci wyraźnie podkreślali, że przejmowaniu obcych treści kulturowych towarzyszyły
zabiegi modelujące mające na celu dostosowanie wytworu do schematu danej kul­
tury. Nie znaczy to jednak, iż każdy w y t w ó r mógł na tej zasadzie przeniknąć do
kultury chłopskiej.
D o b r o w o l s k i , Chłopska kultura..., s. 87-88.
4 0

�55

TRADYCJA I J E J ZNACZENIE

wszechnie jeszcze w X I X w i e k u wierzenie w demony zwane w zależności
od okolic Polski b o g i n k a m i , sibielami, p ł a c z k a m i , m a r u d a m i i t d . M i m o
w y s t ę p o w a n i a i c h w opowiadaniach c h ł o p ó w w r ó ż n y c h k o n k r e t n y c h
„ ż y c i o w y c h " sytuacjach i m i m o r ó ż n y c h nazw, w s z ę d z i e p r z y p i s y w a n o
i m o k r e ś l o n y z b i ó r cech w s p ó l n y c h d e c y d u j ą c y o i c h znaczeniu w syste­
mie w i e r z e ń religijno-magicznych. W s z ę d z i e t e ż relacje m i ę d z y t y m i de­
m o n a m i i t a k i m i elementami kosmosu, j a k woda, ziemia czy k s i ę ż y c b y ł y
i d e n t y c z n e . Wszystkie w y o b r a ż e n i a i n d y w i d u a l n e ( w a r i a n t y ) oparte
b y ł y na takiej samej s t r u k t u r z e podstawowej, zdeterminowane w zasad­
niczy s p o s ó b „ u w a r u n k o w a n i a m i k u l t u r y " .
41

4 2

C z ę s t o w podobnych sytuacjach twierdzenia o zmianie j a k i e j ś t r e ś c i
w y n i k a j ą z f a k t u , że analiza dokonywana jest na poziomie s z c z e g ó ł ó w
z e w n ę t r z n y c h a nie na poziomie s t r u k t u r y z n a c z ą c e j , co w w y p a d k u t r e ­
ści w c h o d z ą c y c h w zakres i n f o r m a c y j n e j sfery k u l t u r y jest niedo­
puszczalne .
4 3

Twierdzenie o m a ł e j z m i e n n o ś c i k u l t u r y c h ł o p s k i e j spotyka się nieraz
z o d p o w i e d z i ą , że nie m o ż n a j e j t r a k t o w a ć tak, j a k k u l t u r y społeczności
plemiennych. Istotnie, m i m o b r a k u pisma i b e z p o ś r e d n i e g o przekazu t r a ­
d y c j i , istnieje m i ę d z y n i m i zasadnicza r ó ż n i c a . S p o ł e c z n o ś c i c h ł o p s k i e o d
momentu wyodrębnienia się w osobną w a r s t w ę społeczną posiadającą
s w o i s t ą k u l t u r ę p o z o s t a w a ł y w b e z p o ś r e d n i e j bliskości i n n y c h w a r s t w
s p o ł e c z n y c h i i c h k u l t u r y . Stan t a k i p o w o d o w a ł nie t y l k o m o ż l i w o ś ć o d ­
d z i a ł y w a n i a na społeczności c h ł o p s k i e , ale t a k ż e m o ż l i w o ś ć (chociażby
potencjalną) wyboru między akceptacją własnej tradycji i przejęciem
t r a d y c j i (bądź j e j części) g r u p y w y ż e j s t o j ą c e j w h i e r a r c h i i s p o ł e c z n e j .
W m i n i o n y c h w i e k a c h o w i e l e w i ę k s z e znaczenie w zmianach k u l t u r y
c h ł o p s k i e j m i a ł y d z i a ł a n i a z e w n ę t r z n e w y n i k a j ą c e z feudalnego stosun­
k u zależności i k o n c e n t r u j ą c e się w sferze ekonomicznej i m a t e r i a l n y m
substracie k u l t u r y ( n a r z ę d z i a , s p r z ę t d o m o w y , s t r ó j , itp.) . N i e p o s i a d a ł y
4 4

4 1

Por.: T o m i c k i , op. cit, s. 72-117.
Między innymi ta determinacja powodowała „oczywistość" społecznej sytuacji
jednostki, o której piszą D. R i e s m a n , N. G l a z e r i R. D o n n é y ,
Samotny
tłum, Warszawa 1971, s. 14.
Por. uwagi Cezarii Baudouin de Courtenay o strukturze obrzędu weselnego,
które można przenieść na inne elementy kultury. Pisze ona między innymi: „Nie
wszystkie oczywiście elementy mają jednakowe znaczenie dla struktury dramatu
weselnego, gdyż jedne z nich są nieodzowne jako ogniwa akcji, inne mają zna­
czenie raczej intermedialne, inne wreszcie — czysto dekoracyjne" (C. B a u d o u i n
de C o u r t e n a y E h r e n k r e u t z ,
Obrzędy
weselne ludu polskiego jako forma
dramatyczna, (Wilno 1927); I I Zjazd Słowiańskich Geografów i Etnografów
w Pol­
sce 1927, Sekcja VI, (odb.), s. 2 nlb.
Wspomnieć tu trzeba mniej znane ingerencje w inne dziedziny kultury, patrz:
J . G o l d b e r g , Restrykcje władz
pruskich w końcu X V I I I w. wobec polskich
obyczajów
ludowych związanych
z pomocą
wzajemną,
„Łódzkie Studia Etnogra4 2

4 3

4 4

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one jednak mocy m o g ą c e j s p o w o d o w a ć p r z e o b r a ż e n i a w c a ł y m systemie
kulturowym i transformację układu.
Teoretycznie rzecz b i o r ą c k i l k u w i e k o w a konfrontacja z k u l t u r a m i i n ­
n y c h w a r s t w s p o ł e c z n y c h m o g ł a p r o w a d z i ć do p r ó b zarzucenia w ł a s n e j
t r a d y c j i . T a k istotnie b y ł o , czego p r z y k ł a d e m awans c h ł o p ó w do w a r s t w
w y ż s z y c h . J e d n a k ż e zmiana statusu s p o ł e c z n e g o w i ą z a ł a s i ę najczęściej
z k o n i e c z n o ś c i ą opuszczenia rodzimego ś r o d o w i s k a . W t e n s p o s ó b jedno­
s t k i a s p i r u j ą c e do c z ł o n k o s t w a innej w a r s t w y nie m i a ł y b e z p o ś r e d n i e g o
w p ł y w u na ż y c i e i t r a d y c j ę g r u p y lokalnej, z k t ó r e j s i ę w y w o d z i ł y .
Akceptacja obcych w z o r ó w bez w y p e ł n i e n i a t y c h w a r u n k ó w b y ł a p r a k ­
tycznie n i e m o ż l i w a ze w z g l ę d u na d z i a ł a j ą c y w społeczności system r e g u l a c y j n o - k o n t r o l n y o p e r u j ą c y r o z l i c z n y m i sankcjami s p o ł e c z n y m i i nie
d o p u s z c z a j ą c y do zachwiania homeostazy . O c z y w i ś c i e w p r z y p a d k u ak­
t ó w i n t e r w e n c j i administracyjnej system t e n m ó g ł d z i a ł a ć j e d y n i e po­
ś r e d n i o . P r z y k ł a d ó w dostarcza t u analizowany przez J ó z e f a C h a ł a s i ń s k i e go proces w p r o w a d z a n i a s z k ó ł na w i e ś w X I X w i e k u . S p o ł e c z n o ś c i l o ­
kalne, nie m o g ą c p r z e c i w d z i a ł a ć t e m u f a k t o w i b e z p o ś r e d n i o , z a s t o s o w a ł y
specyficzny zabieg obronny. Wiedza zdobyta przez m ł o d z i e ż b y ł a akcep­
towana j e d y n i e j a k o i n s t r u m e n t u ł a t w i a j ą c y ż y c i e poza w ł a s n ą g r u p ą .
W ż a d n y m w y p a d k u nie m o g ł a b y ć stosowana do k o r y g o w a n i a n o r m ,
w a r t o ś c i i w z o r ó w w tej grupie o b o w i ą z u j ą c y c h .
4 S

4 6

Wszystkie przytoczone p r z y k ł a d y , m a j ą c e na celu wskazanie c z y n n i ­
k ó w u m o ż l i w i a j ą c y c h t r w a n i e p e w n y c h dziedzin k u l t u r y c h ł o p s k i e j w sta­
n i e n i e z m i e n i o n y m przez znaczny okres, nie p o z w a l a j ą ze w z g l ę d u na
f r a g m e n t a r y c z n o ś ć i p r z y p a d k o w o ś ć doboru s f o r m u ł o w a ć k o n k r e t n y c h
t w i e r d z e ń o g ó l n y c h . Z d a n i e m autora uzasadniona jest taka hipoteza w o d ­
niesieniu do systemu religijno-magicznego i ś w i a t o p o g l ą d o w e g o s t a n o w i ą ­
cych z n a c z n ą część t r a d y c j i i d e c y d u j ą c y c h (szczególnie w p r z y p a d k u
ś w i a t o p o g l ą d u rozumianego jako u k ł a d o b e j m u j ą c y z b i ó r z d a ń opisowych,
n o r m a t y w n y c h i w a r t o ś c i u j ą c y c h ) o jej sile sterowniczej. Uznanie t r a d y ­
c j i za podstawowy a u t o r y t e t w k u l t u r z e c h ł o p s k i e j nie p r o w a d z i do za­
kwestionowania d z i a ł a n i a i r o l i i n n y c h a u t o r y t e t ó w , p o s i a d a j ą c y c h m n i e j ­
szy l u b w i ę k s z y zasięg. W h i s t o r i i społeczności c h ł o p s k i c h t r a d y c j a n i e ­
j e d n o k r o t n i e w s p ó ł i s t n i a ł a ż a u t o r y t e t a m i u z u p e ł n i a j ą c y m i j ą w realizacji

ficzne", t. I V : 1962, ,s. 15-20; B. B a r a n o w s k i , Sprawy obyczajowe w
sądow­
nictwie wiejskim w Polsce w wieku XVII i XVIII, bódź 1955.
Por. na przykład prace M. W i e r u s z e w s k i e j , Sankcja opinii publicznej
w polskich obrzędach
i zwyczajach ludowych, „Etnografia Polska", t. X I I I : 1969,
z. 1, s. 63-72; t e n ż e : Kontrola społeczna prokreatywnej funkcji rodziny w
świetle
badań wsi bełchatowskiej,
„Łódzkie Studia Etnograficzne", t. X I I : 1970, s. 45-55.
J . С h a ł a s i ń s к i, Rewolucja młodości.
Studia o awansie młodego
pokole­
nia wsi i integracji narodu polskiego, Wanszawa 1969, s. 206.
4 5

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�TRADYCJA I J E J ZNACZENIE

57

k u l t u r y danej g r u p y lokalnej w k o n k r e t n y c h w a r u n k a c h historycznych.
Z ł o ż o n o ś ć systemu k u l t u r o w e g o d o p u s z c z a ł a funkcjonowanie w i e l u auto­
r y t e t ó w ; na p r z y k ł a d d u c h o w i e ń s t w o b y ł o i jest — w r ó ż n y m zapewne
stopniu na r ó ż n y c h terenach i w r ó ż n y c h okresach — a u t o r y t e t e m w k w e ­
stiach zinstytucjonalizowanej k u l t u r y r e l i g i j n e j , ale nie b y ł o n i m w dzie­
dzinie d z i a ł a ń r e l i g i j n o - m a g i c z n y c h o charakterze r o l n i c z y m . Podobnie
w y g l ą d a p r o b l e m d w o r u i t d . Wydaje się, że historia k u l t u r y społeczności
c h ł o p s k i c h b y ł a c i ą g i e m z m i e n i a j ą c y c h się u k ł a d ó w a u t o r y t e t ó w o d n o s z ą ­
c y c h się do r ó ż n y c h dziedzin życia, ale z d o m i n u j ą c y m miejscem t r a d y c j i .
U p r a s z c z a j ą c nieco s y t u a c j ę , okres przed u w ł a s z c z e n i e m m o ż n a u z n a ć
za okres przewagi t r a d y c j i j a k o a u t o r y t e t u o k r e ś l a j ą c e g o w i ę k s z o ś ć w z o ­
r ó w , n o r m i w a r t o ś c i o b o w i ą z u j ą c y c h w s p o ł e c z n o ś c i a c h c h ł o p s k i c h , za­
k ł a d a j ą c o c z y w i ś c i e , że zakres p r z e d m i o t o w y t r a d y c j i m ó g ł u l e g a ć z m i a ­
nom. W i e k X I X przynosi s y t u a c j ę bardzo złożoną. U w ł a s z c z e n i e d o p r o w a ­
dza do r o z k w i t u k u l t u r y c h ł o p s k i e j , ale r ó w n o c z e ś n i e z a c z y n a j ą d z i a ł a ć
mechanizmy d e z o r g a n i z u j ą c e , k t ó r e w y n i k ł y z n o w y c h w a r u n k ó w ekonom i c z n o - s p o ł e c z n y c h . Posiadanie ziemi, poczucie s i ł y i o d r ę b n o ś c i wzmac­
niane z r e s z t ą o d k o ń c a stulecia przez r o z w ó j r u c h ó w s p o ł e c z n o - p o l i t y c z ­
nych, t y l k o pozornie w p ł y n ę ł y p o z y t y w n i e na r o z k w i t k u l t u r y . Jest t o po­
c z ą t e k p r z y b i e r a j ą c e g o z czasem na sile procesu odchodzenia od t r a d y c j i
j a k o w z o r u ż y c i a jednostkowego i s p o ł e c z n e g o . P o s t ę p u j ą c a zmiana sto­
s u n k u do t r a d y c j i z w i ą z a n a jest przyczynowo z r o z w o j e m ś w i a d o m o ś c i
klasowej (przynajmniej na n i e k t ó r y c h terenach) oraz powstawaniem coraz
g ę s t s z e j sieci szkół r ó ż n e g o t y p u , u m o ż l i w i e n i e m r u c h l i w o ś c i pionowej
i t d . Z m i a n y te p r o w a d z i ł y nieuchronnie do z a w ę ż e n i a przedmiotowego
zakresu t r a d y c j i . Odchodzenie od t r a d y c j i j a k o a u t o r y t e t u k u l t u r o w e g o
p r z y b r a ł o znaczne r o z m i a r y j u ż w okresie p r z e d w o j e n n y m . Po r o k u 1945
dokonane z o s t a ł o oficjalne zanegowanie t r a d y c j i j a k o z b i o r u p r z e s ą d ó w
i z a b o b o n ó w . M i a ł o to p o w a ż n y skutek w sytuacji praktycznego odizolo­
w a n i a w s i od i n n y c h w a r s t w s p o ł e c z n y c h i propagowania p e w n y c h w z o ­
r ó w życia, k t ó r y c h p r z y j ę c i e p o w o d o w a ł o szereg k o r z y ś c i . W z w i ą z k u
z rozwojem p r z e m y s ł u i w z m o ż o n ą urbanizacją zawód rolnika stracił
d a w n y p r e s t i ż s p o ł e c z n y . Wszystkie te c z y n n i k i s p o w o d o w a ł y , że stopnio­
w o a u t o r y t e t e m w i e j s k i m s t a w a ł y się j e d n o s t k i „ ś w i a t o w e " oraz pokolenie
m ł o d s z e , w y k s z t a ł c o n e i z n a j ą c e w z o r y miejskie. O d e j ś c i e od t r a d y c j i w i e j ­
skiej s t a ł o się w a r u n k i e m realizacji p o ż ą d a n y c h w z o r ó w i o s i ą g n i ę c i a no­
w y c h w a r t o ś c i . Do dziś jeszcze m o ż n a s p o t k a ć w t r a k c i e b a d a ń ludzi, k t ó ­
r z y m i m o p r z e j ę c i a w z o r ó w ż y c i a quasi-miejskich i ś w i a d o m o ś c i istnienia
a u t o r y t e t ó w pozawioskowych n o r m u j ą c y c h i c h życie, w dziedzinie w i e r z e ń
religijno-magicznych nadal k o n t y n u u j ą w z o r y t r a d y c y j n e . S ą t o j u ż sto­
sunkowo nieliczne jednostki, ale istnienie i c h ś w i a d c z y o t y m , że tradycja
w o k r e ś l o n y m przez nas sensie nie z a g i n ę ł a jeszcze ostatecznie. Jest k u l -

�58

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t y w o w a n a , ale zakres jej u l e g ł bardzo znacznemu z a w ę ż e n i u i obejmuje
obecnie t y l k o te t r e ś c i , k t ó r e s ą znacznie m n i e j podatne na d z i a ł a n i a argumentacyjne i dla k t ó r y c h społeczności c h ł o p s k i e n i e o t r z y m a ł y k o n t r auto­
r y t e t u . Proces odchodzenia od t r a d y c j i prowadzi, j a k s i ę wydaje, do z u ­
p e ł n e g o zmienienia j e j znaczenia w k u l t u r z e . Stopniowe urbanizowanie
społeczności c h ł o p s k i c h , zanik k u l t u r y t r a d y c y j n e j a j e d n o c z e ś n i e p r z e j ­
m o w a n i e jej n i e k t ó r y c h e l e m e n t ó w w zakres tak zwanej k u l t u r y narodo­
w e j p o w o d u j ą przyswajanie przez s p o ł e c z n o ś c i c h ł o p s k i e k u l t u r y m i e j ­
skiej, umasowionej i w o l n e tworzenie się selektywnego m o d e l u t r a d y c j i
w s p ó l n e g o dla całego narodu. T r a d y c j a taka s k ł a d a ć s i ę b ę d z i e przede
w s z y s t k i m z f o l k l o r u muzycznego, tanecznego, sztuki ludowej i t p .
K o ń c z ą c te r o z w a ż a n i a o t r a d y c j i trzeba s t w i e r d z i ć , że istnieje koniecz­
n o ś ć b a d a ń s z c z e g ó ł o w y c h nad j e j r ó ż n o r o d n ą p r o b l e m a t y k ą . Wydaje się,
że p r z y n i e ś ć one m o g ą w i e l e i n t e r e s u j ą c y c h r e z u l t a t ó w p r z y c z y n i a j ą c y c h
s i ę do zrozumienia funkcjonowania k u l t u r y z a r ó w n o w j e j z m i e n n o ś c i , j a k
i niezmienności.

�</text>
              </elementText>
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  <item itemId="9720" public="1" featured="0">
    <fileContainer>
      <file fileId="9698">
        <src>https://zbiory.etnologia.uw.edu.pl/files/original/db5284f334d0ae3ad79b9cce63a80f8f.pdf</src>
        <authentication>3f9d89fde5ead6dd58342d9c4523e373</authentication>
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          <elementContainer>
            <element elementId="50">
              <name>Title</name>
              <description>A name given to the resource</description>
              <elementTextContainer>
                <elementText elementTextId="25236">
                  <text>Lud</text>
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            </element>
            <element elementId="45">
              <name>Publisher</name>
              <description>An entity responsible for making the resource available</description>
              <elementTextContainer>
                <elementText elementTextId="154689">
                  <text>Polskie Towarzystwo Ludoznawcze</text>
                </elementText>
              </elementTextContainer>
            </element>
            <element elementId="47">
              <name>Rights</name>
              <description>Information about rights held in and over the resource</description>
              <elementTextContainer>
                <elementText elementTextId="154690">
                  <text>Licencja PTL</text>
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              <name>Format</name>
              <description>The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource</description>
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              <description>A language of the resource</description>
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            <element elementId="51">
              <name>Type</name>
              <description>The nature or genre of the resource</description>
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                  <text>czasopismo</text>
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    <itemType itemTypeId="1">
      <name>Text</name>
      <description>A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.</description>
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            <name>Relation</name>
            <description>A related resource</description>
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                <text>oai:cyfrowaetnografia.pl:publication:4146</text>
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            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="47">
            <name>Rights</name>
            <description>Information about rights held in and over the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="115619">
                <text>Licencja PIA</text>
              </elementText>
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          <element elementId="40">
            <name>Date</name>
            <description>A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource</description>
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                <text>1958</text>
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                <text>twórczość ludowa</text>
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                <text>Śląsk - folklor tradycyjny</text>
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            </elementTextContainer>
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            <name>Identifier</name>
            <description>An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context</description>
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                <text>oai:cyfrowaetnografia.pl:3867</text>
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          <element elementId="50">
            <name>Title</name>
            <description>A name given to the resource</description>
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                <text>Tradycja i współczesna twórczość woj.katowickiego / Polska Sztuka Ludowa - Konteksty 1958 t.12 z.2</text>
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            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="41">
            <name>Description</name>
            <description>An account of the resource</description>
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              <elementText elementTextId="115625">
                <text>Polska Sztuka Ludowa 1958 t.12,z.2; s.115-121</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
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          <element elementId="39">
            <name>Creator</name>
            <description>An entity primarily responsible for making the resource</description>
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              <elementText elementTextId="115626">
                <text>Bazielichówna, Barbara</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="44">
            <name>Language</name>
            <description>A language of the resource</description>
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              <elementText elementTextId="115627">
                <text>pol</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="45">
            <name>Publisher</name>
            <description>An entity responsible for making the resource available</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="115628">
                <text>Państwowy Instytut Sztuki</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="42">
            <name>Format</name>
            <description>The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="115629">
                <text>application/pdf</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
        </elementContainer>
      </elementSet>
      <elementSet elementSetId="4">
        <name>PDF Text</name>
        <description>Text capture metadata for PDF documents</description>
        <elementContainer>
          <element elementId="52">
            <name>Text</name>
            <description/>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="115630">
                <text>Barbara

Bazielickówna

TRADYCYJNA I WSPÓŁCZESNA
T W Ó R C Z O Ś Ć LUDOWA WOJEWÓDZTWA

W o j e w ó d z t w o katowickie ma na swoim koncie na
ogół n i e w i e l k ą ilość u r z ą d z o n y c h w y s t a w sztuki l u ­
dowej, aczkolwiek w latach powojennych b y ł a ten­
dencja otwierania ich co r o k u . Organizacyjnie w y ­
g l ą d a ł o to w ten sposób, że w y s t a w ę na szczeblu
w o j e w ó d z k i m p o p r z e d z a ł y najpierw powiatowe, z k t ó ­
rych
dopiero wybierano najciekawsze
eksponaty.
W ten sposób doszło do w y s t a w y w 1955 r . oraz do
trzech w y s t a w w latach poprzednich. Od wymienionej
ostatniej daty o d b y ł y się jednak jeszcze t y l k o w y ­
stawy w n i e k t ó r y c h powiatach w 1956 r., ogólna na­
tomiast, w o j e w ó d z k a , nie o d b y ł a się. T a k i stan rze­
czy, j a k n a l e ż y p r z y p u s z c z a ć , nie b y ł w y n i k i e m b r a ­
k u dostatecznych m a t e r i a ł ó w , albowiem Ś l ą s k w sto­
sunku do i n n y c h r e g i o n ó w Polski nie jest uboższy ani
mniej ciekawy. S k r o m n ą d z i a ł a l n o ś ć na odcinku po­
pularyzacji sztuki ludowej n a l e ż y p r z y p i s a ć raczej
niedociągnięciom organizacyjnym, b r a k i e m dostatecz­
nego zainteresowania s p r a w ą , nade wszystko jednak
s ł a b e m u rozeznaniu terenu. Dlatego t e ż p o d e j m u j ą c
w k o ń c u 1957 r . u r z ą d z e n i e w y s t a w y „ T r a d y c y j n e j
i w s p ó ł c z e s n e j twórczości ludowej w o j e w ó d z t w a k a ­
towickiego" j e j organizatorzy, tzn. W y d z i a ł K u l t u r y
W R N w Katowicach i Muzeum G ó r n o ś l ą s k i e w B y ­
tomiu, oparli się o dość d o k ł a d n e penetracje tere­
nowe, k t ó r e przeprowadzono niemal we wszystkich
powiatach w o j e w ó d z t w a . Penetracje te m i a ł y w y ł ą c z ­
nie na celu zebranie a d r e s ó w odpowiednich t w ó r c ó w ,
do k t ó r y c h n a s t ę p n i e zwracano się imiennie o nad­
syłanie prac na w y s t a w ę . T ą d r o g ą uzyskano jednak

KATOWICKIEGO

nie t y l k o z n a c z n ą ilość nazwisk i a d r e s ó w , ale t a k ż e
wielką różnorodność eksponatów. Wykryto przy t y m
p a r ę o ś r o d k ó w t w ó r c z y c h , o k t ó r y c h istnieniu do­
tychczas nie wiedziano. Wszystko to pozwoliło zre­
a l i z o w a ć w y t k n i ę t y cel: t j . p r z e d s t a w i ć na w y s t a ­
wie — obok tradycyjnej — ż y w ą jeszcze t w ó r c z o ś ć
l u d o w ą t u d z i e ż z a p o z n a ć i z a i n t e r e s o w a ć nią szerszy
ogół.
W o j e w ó d z t w o katowickie, zwane w okresie m i ę d z y ­
w o j e n n y m ś l ą s k i m , obejmuje obecnie poza Ś l ą s k i e m
C i e s z y ń s k i m i G ó r n y m ( w y ł ą c z a j ą c Opolski) t a k ż e
Z a g ł ę b i e i C z ę s t o c h o w s k i e . Granice administracyjne
nie p o k r y w a j ą się t u t a j z etnicznymi, toteż m a t e r i a ­
ły na omawianej wystawie o b r a z o w a ł y t w ó r c z o ś ć
i tych t e r e n ó w , k t ó r e n i e g d y ś leżały poza historycz-,
n y m i granicami G ó r n e g o Ś l ą s k a . M a t e r i a ł y te u w z g l ę ­
dniono z d w u zasadniczych p o w o d ó w : po pierwsze
dlatego, aby w y k a z a ć t w ó r c z o ś ć i ewentualne r ó ż ­
nice poszczególnych r e g i o n ó w w o j e w ó d z t w a , a po
drugie, aby p o d k r e ś l i ć p o w i ą z a n i a k u l t u r o w e Ś l ą ­
ska z p o z o s t a ł y m i regionami Polski poprzez Z a g ł ę b i e
i C z ę s t o c h o w s k i e . W konsekwencji też, przy przed­
stawieniu t w ó r c z o ś c i poszczególnych r e g i o n ó w , t r z y ­
mano się raczej p o d z i a ł u administracyjnego, a nie
etnicznego, k t ó r y z b r a k u dostatecznych m a t e r i a ł ó w
naukowych m ó g ł b y o k a z a ć się b ł ę d n y .
W y s t a w ę , k t ó r a t r w a ł a od k o ń c a grudnia 1957 r.
do p o ł o w y marca 1958 r „ pomieszczono w d u ż e j sali
Muzeum w B y t o m i u . Jak z p o w y ż s z e g o w y n i k a , po­
dzielono j ą na d w i e zasadnicze części — t r a d y c y j n ą

115

�!
JM

li i

i w s p ó ł c z e s n ą , przy czym starano sią w y k o r z y s t a ć
przede wszystkim eksponaty dostarczone z terenu,
a nie muzealne.
Część tradycyjna w y s t a w y , bardzo niewielka, obra­
z o w a ł a rodzaje twórczości w e d ł u g s u r o w c ó w — za­
stosowano t u w i ę c podział rzeczowy. Poza o g ó l n y m
wprowadzeniem pokazano na niej t w ó r c z o ś ć i zdob­
nictwo w drewnie, t j . budownictwo, meble i przed­
mioty codziennego u ż y t k u oraz rzeźbę, nadto s t r ó j
i jego zdobnictwo, instrumenty muzyczne tudzież zdo­
bnictwo o b r z ę d o w e . Część tę zilustrowano przede
wszystkim planszami i fotografiami, a w ś r ó d eks­
ponatów uwagę zwracały przykłady dwu typów
s k r z y ń wianowych, t j . „ t r u w ł a " malowana — po­
wszechna na c a ł y m Ś l ą s k u — i „ t r u w ł a " rzeźbiona,
charakterystyczna dla k u l t u r y G ó r a l i Eeskidowych.
Jako t r a d y c y j n y instrument muzyczny eksponowano
gajdy, bogato zdobione, z b i a ł ą kozą, z a ś z budow­
nictwa fragment r z e ź b i o n e j i datowanej b e l k i stro­
powej z 1801 r. T r a d y c y j n ą część w y s t a w y potrakto­
wano fragmentarycznie: z w r ó c o n o u w a g ę na okazy
najdawniejsze, dziś już raczej wcale lub rzadko w y ­
twarzane i u ż y w a n e . T a k i m okazem np. był r ó w n i e ż
brokatowy w i e r z c h e ń ze stroju G ó r z a n , przez t r a d y ­
cję przechowany w swej formie, lecz w późniejszych
czasach szyty już z innego m a t e r i a ł u .
Jak obecnie w y g l ą d a s t r ó j G ó r z a n , t j . grupy l u d ­
ności m i e s z k a j ą c e j w o k r ę g u t a r n o g ó r s k i m , m o ż n a
było obejrzeć w drugiej części w y s t a w y , k t ó r a obra­
zowała t w ó r c z o ś ć w s p ó ł c z e s n ą . T u t a j mianowicie,
gdzie zastosowano podział e k s p o n a t ó w w e d ł u g regio­
n ó w i gdzie obok samych prac przedstawiono t a k ż e
t w ó r c ę i jego warsztat, m o ż n a b y ł o z a p o z n a ć się nie
t y l k o z d a w n y m strojem noszonym jeszcze w s p ó ł ­
cześnie, ale t a k ż e z jego nowszymi f o r m a m i nie po­
zbawionymi jednak t r a d y c j i . Oczywiście w ramach
r e g i o n ó w pokazano poza strojem i inne gałęzie t w ó r ­
czości, s t r ó j bowiem nie s t a n o w i ł n a j w a ż n i e j s z e g o
obiektu w y s t a w y . Przeciwnie, chodziło o pokazanie
jak najszerszego wachlarza odmian, tudzież o w y ­
kazanie specyfiki poszczególnych r e g i o n ó w .
O k r ę g t a r n o g ó r s k i poza t r a d y c y j n y m i
elementami
stroju, j a k wierzchnie, brucleki, kabotki, w y s t a w i ł
jedwabne, malowane r ę c z n i e fartuchy, noszone tutaj
przez k o b i e t y od ś w i ę t a . N i e g d y ś szyto je z jedwab­
nego kolorowego adamaszku, w k t ó r y m
spokojne
b a r w y t ł a i k w i a t ó w h a r m o n i z o w a ł y ze sobą. Dziś,
z b r a k u takiego m a t e r i a ł u na r y n k u , fartuchy te
szyją kobiety z g ł a d k i e g o jednokolorowego jedwabiu
lub jednokolorowego adamaszku, a specjalne w i e j ­
skie m a l a r k i t k a n i n m a l u j ą ręcznie w kolorowe k w i a ­
ty. Za wzory służą i m m o t y w y z fabrycznych t k a ­
n i n albo k o p i u j ą z czegoś ornamenty r o ś l i n n e , a cza­
sem d y k t u j e i m je fantazja. M a l a r k i b o w i e m m a j ą
w t y m j u ż t a k ą w p r a w ę , że bez w i ę k s z e g o t r u d u
i bez uprzedniego r y s u n k u m a l u j ą o d r ę c z n i e wprost
na tkaninie. J e d y n ą t r u d n o ś ć sprawia i m brak odpo­
wiednich p r z y b o r ó w technicznych, t j . farb specjalnie
przystosowanych do malowania t k a n i n . M a l u j ą prze­
to farbami olejnymi. M o t y w y są naturalistyczne o ż y ­
w y c h kolorach — moda dyktuje przede w s z y s t k i m t u ­

116

lipany, róże. J e d n ą z malarek tego o k r ę g u jest Zo­
fia Paruzel z K o z ł o w e j G ó r y , k t ó r a oprócz f a r t u ­
c h ó w i w s t ę g , czyli t z w . przepasek, maluje r ó w n i e ż
i inne rzeczy — obrazy, poduszki, kapy — ale te zde­
cydowanie odbiegają od t r a d y c j i i dlatego nie po­
kazano ich na wystawie.
D r u g i m c i e k a w y m objawem twórczości tego regio­
n u były r z e ź b y Alojzego N i e d b a ł y z B o b r o w n i k Ś l ą ­
skich. Jego prace w glinie i drewnie w y k a z u j ą nie­
w ą t p l i w i e talent i rozmach, a co ciekawsze, tematy­
ka ich jest w i e r n y m odzwierciedleniem ś r o d o w i s k a
samego t w ó r c y . A l o j z y N i e d b a ł a pracuje na kopalni,
co ł a t w o p o z n a ć p r z e g l ą d a j ą c jego rzeźby. Są to:
„ G w a r e k " , „ G w a r k o w a karbownia", ś w . Barbara —
patronka g ó r n i k ó w , głowy kolegów r o b o t n i k ó w r z e ź ­
bione na p r ę d c e w glinie. Nie stroni on t a k ż e od te­
m a t y k i religijnej p r z e d s t a w i a j ą c np. sceny biblijne
w p ł a s k o r z e ź b a c h . Jego p i e r w s z ą p r a c ą , k t ó r ą r ó w ­
nież pokazano na wystawie, b y ł o w i e s z a d ł o z dwoma
ptaszkami. Jako kawaler zrobił je dla swej obecnej
ż o n y ; było to oczywiście dawno — N i e d b a ł a liczy
przeszło czterdzieści lat. Z b r a k u odpowiedniego su­
rowca, t j . w ę g l a tłustego, w w ę g l u nie r z e ź b i . Na
wystawie pokazano t a k ż e prace S t a n i s ł a w a K r y c y
z Mysłowic, Józefa Piechaczka z Pszowa, pow. R y b ­
nik, i Franciszka Jaworka z R y d u ł t ó w , pow R y b n i k .
Rzeźby te, o b r a z u j ą c e g ó r n i k ó w przy pracy oraz sce­
ny zc sportu, m i a ł y mniej p r y m i t y w i z m u w swej for­
mie, r y b n i c k i e nawet z d r a d z a ł y pewne w p ł y w y istnie­
jącego w R y d u ł t o w a c h ogniska k u l t u r y plastycznej.
Malowanie f a r t u c h ó w jest charakterystyczne nie
t y l k o dla o k r ę g u t a r n o g ó r s k i e g o . Ten rodzaj t w ó r ­
czości w y s t ę p u j e t a k ż e w M y s ł o w i c a c h , k t ó r e zresztą
leżą w zasięgu s t r o j u G ó r z a n , oraz w P s z c z y ń s k i e m .
Z przedstawionych na wystawie n a j w y ż s z y poziom
n i e w ą t p l i w i e osiągnęły prace M a r i i Góźdź z M y s ł o ­
wic, k t ó r a odpowiednio dobieranymi m o t y w a m i i k o ­
l o r a m i oraz g r u b o ś c i ą n a k ł a d a n e j farby w y w o ł u j e
sugestię prawdziwego, jedwabnego adamaszku, p r a w ­
dziwej, drukowanej „ p u r p u r k i " , czyli p ł ó c i e n n e j c h u ­
s t k i na g ł o w ę k o l o r u czerwonego. Ten ostatni p r z y ­
k ł a d jest szczególnie ciekawy. Pokazuje bowiem, j a k
potrzeby wsi, dyktowane t r a d y c j ą i m o d ą , z b r a k u
gotowych, r y n k o w y c h p r o d u k t ó w , k t ó r e w strojach
śląskich od dawna m i a ł y zastosowanie, z a s p o k a j a j ą
sami t w ó r c y l u d o w i . M a r i a G w ó ź d ź oprócz f a r t u ­
c h ó w maluje t a k ż e przepaski do f a r t u c h ó w (wstążki
do opasywania dla p r z y k r y c i a t r o k ó w ) , „ p u r p u r k i "
oraz w s t ą ż k i do czepców.
W strojach śląskich, zwłaszcza G ó r z a n i P s z c z y ń ­
skim, prócz f a r t u c h ó w jedwabnych u ż y w a n e są za­
paski p ł ó c i e n n e . N i e g d y ś b y ł y one jednokolorowe, c z ę ­
sto bogato i mozolnie haftowane, dziś są to prze­
w a ż n i e fartuchy z p ł ó t n a w b i a ł o - n i e b i e s k i e paski,
k t ó r y c h dolna k r a w ę d ź ozdobiona jest jednokoloro­
w y m haftem, p r z e w a ż n i e b i a ł y m , o motywach r o ś l i n ­
nych, w y k o n a n y m k o r d o n k i e m . W s p a n i a ł y p r z y k ł a d
takiego dawnego fartucha d o s t a r c z y ł a M a r t a Mrozek
z B y t k o w a k o ł o Siemianowic. W y k o n a ł a go w ł a s n o ­
r ę c z n i e jako szesnastoletnia dziewczyna w 1902 r.
Jest to jedyny tego rodzaju okaz, nie t y l k o na w y -

��J !

4

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r
Kyc. 5. M a l a r k a fartuchów
Zofia Paruzel z
Kozłowej
Góry, pow. Tarnowskie
Góry, ogląda wystawę.
Ryc. 6.
Dwojaki.
Wykonał
Tomasz Maltazar,
Siewierz,
pow.
Zawiercie.
Ryc. 7. Obrus z białym haftem.
Wykonała
Anna Upowczan,
Goleszów,
pow. Cieszyn.
Ryc. 8 9
i 10. Ceramika Karola Wranika, Brzezie, pow.
Rybnik.

118

�1

stawie, ale chyba w terenie; n i e w ą t p l i w i e w i n i e n
przejść do z b i o r ó w muzeum.
Do dawnych r o d z a j ó w twórczości z tego o k r ę g u za­
liczyć należy hafty na t i u l u u ż y w a n e jako k o r o n k i
do obszywania k a b o t k ó w , czyli koszulek kobiecych.
Do dziś w B y t k o w i e żyje kobieta, Maria Szepe, k t ó ­
ra je w y k o n y w a ł a i p a r ę takich e k s p o n a t ó w dostar­
czyła na w y s t a w ę .
Choć w i e ń c e n a g ł o w n e dla druhen i dziewcząt, czyli
tzw. „ g a l a n d y " czy „ g i r l a n d y " dziś j u ż m a ł o są u ż y ­
wane, bo t y l k o podczas w i e l k i c h ś w i ą t i procesji,
w strojach uroczystych, to są jeszcze kobiety, k t ó r e
je w y r a b i a j ą . Obok tych poszczególnych części stroju,
haftów, koronek, przedstawiono t a k ż e i ozdoby w po­
staci k o r a l i , b ł y s k o t e k i spinek.
P s z c z y ń s k i e — oprócz malowanych f a r t u c h ó w , w y ­
konanych przez H e l e n ę Niesyto z W o l i i A g n i e s z k ę
Waliczek z Bojszowych — p o k a z a ł o haft biały, k t ó r e ­
go tradycje są tam jeszcze ż y w e i z a c h o w a ł y się z w ł a ­
szcza na chustach n a g ł o w n y c h , czyli tzw. „ ż u r k a c h " .
Egzemplarz t a k i w y k o n a ł a m . i n . M a r i a Sitko z G i ­
lowic. P s z c z y ń s k i e fartuchy p ł ó c i e n n e są nieco od­
mienne od t a r n o g ó r s k i c h : r ó ż n i ą się przede wszyst­
k i m t y m , że m a j ą hafty kolorowe. Haftami koloro­
w y m i z a j m u j ą się p r z e w a ż n i e kobiety, k t ó r e m a l u j ą
fartuchy. T a k ą jest chociażby Agnieszka Waliczek
z Bojszowych, h a f t u j ą c a na j e d w a b i u k o l o r o w y m i
n i ć m i j e d w a b n y m i ornamenty o motywach r o ś l i n n y c h .
Obok o k r ę g u p s z c z y ń s k i e g o przedstawiono na w y ­
stawie r y b n i c k i . T u t a j , p r ó c z o m ó w i o n y c h już rzeźb
w wijglu i r z e ź b y w drewnie: „ W i e ś n i a k a " , w y k o n a ­
nego przez Gerarda D ę b c z a k a z Czernicy, tudzież w i ­
k l i n o w y c h w y r o b ó w z Olzy, pow. W o d z i s ł a w , u w a g ę
z w r a c a j ą kolorowe maski o b r z ę d o w e , wykonane z k l e ­
jonego papieru i malowane. Maski te, w y o b r a ż a j ą c e
diabły, ś w . M i k o ł a j a i Heroda, u ż y w a n e są w okre­
sie B o ż o n a r o d z e n i o w y m przy obchodach p r z e b i e r a ń ­
ców. Ich pochodzenie z k i l k u w s i , jak Niedobczyce,
Ś w i e r k l a n y , Sumina, Ż o r y wskazuje na zasięg tego
rodzaju z w y c z a j ó w .
Rybnickie z a p r e z e n t o w a ł o się jeszcze jednym o ś r o d ­
kiem t w ó r c z y m , a m i a n o w i c i e nieznanymi dotychczas

w y r o b a m i garncarskimi. P o c h o d z ą one z warsztatu
Karola W r a n i k a z Brzezia, k t ó r y , niestety, w okresie
t r w a n i a wystawy w y j e c h a ł na s t a ł e do Niemiec, za­
r z u c a j ą c i niszcząc jedyny i ostatni na Ś l ą s k u czyn­
ny jeszcze warsztat. W jego naczyniach w i d a ć w y ­
r a ź n i e dwa rodzaje w y r o b ó w . Jedne n a w i ą z u j ą c e do
tradycyjnych form i s p o s o b ó w zdobienia, j a k dzbanek,
drugie — nowsze, o nowych formach i n o w y c h ele­
mentach zdobniczych, j a k np. Syreny warszawskiej
umieszczonej jako ornament na d u ż y m wazonie. Po­
za flakonami i wazonami do tego t y p u w y r o b ó w z a l i ­
czyć należy jeszcze serwisy czarek z flaszami-karafk a m i ; misy natomiast i talerze, choć o m o t y w a c h
nowszych, jednak co do swej formy z d r a d z a j ą cechy
tradycyjne.
Ze zdobnictwa o b r z ę d o w e g o poza r y b n i c k i m i m a ­
skami, t a r n o g ó r s k i m i , g l i w i c k i m i i ś w i ę t o c h ł o w i c k i m i
pisankami oraz t a r n o g ó r s k i m (wieś Wojska) w i e ń c e m
ż n i w n y m ciekawym r ó w n i e ż eksponatem b y ł a drew­
niana szopka, wykonana przez Franciszka Chrobaka
ze Straconki, pow. Bielsko. Szopka ta z kolorowo politurowanymi, drewnianymi i ruchomymi figurkami
stanowi r z a d k i już okaz. O k a z a ł o się jednak, że j e j
t w ó r c a n i e j e d n ą t a k ą sporządził w swoim życiu.
O k r ę g bielski wraz z c i e s z y ń s k i m niewiele r ó ż n i ą
się między sobą rodzajami twórczości. Pewne podo­
b i e ń s t w a widoczne są zwłaszcza w zdobnictwie stro­
j u , t j , w hafcie i koronkach, z k t ó r y c h w y m i e n i ć na­
leży kobiece „ ż y w o t k i " i koszulki, k o r o n k i do czep­
ców, czyli tzw. czółka, s z y d e ł k o w e i i g i e ł k o w e k o ­
r o n k i i serwetki, pasy do s t r o j u w a ł a s k i e g o . Na tere­
nach tych na dzień ś w . M i k o ł a j a wypieka się spe­
cjalne ciasta plecione na k s z t a ł t postaci ludzkiej, czyli
l a l k i , rozmaitej w i e l k o ś c i . Można je n a b y ć niemal
w k a ż d o j piekarni. Szczególnie ł a d n y okaz na w y ­
stawie był dziełem Alojzego Pszczółki ze Straconki,
pow. Bielsko.
W ś r ó d rzeźb".arzy tych r e g i o n ó w , oprócz j u ż w y ­
mienionych, nie można t a k ż e p o m i n ą ć Józefa B r y c h czego z Rudzicy, pow. Bielsko, k t ó r y w twórczości
swej ogranicza się raczej do t e m a t y k i religijnej, r z e ź ­
biąc skrzynkowate kapliczki z figurami ś w i ę t y c h , oraz

i

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119

�Ryc. 11. Sw. Mikołaj
Pszczółka,
Straconka,

P a w ł a Jaworskiego z Brennej, pow. Cieszyn. Ten
ostatni p r z e j ę t y jest realizmem dnia
codziennego,
dlatego odtwarza przede w s z y s t k i m sceny z życia
i pracy G ó r a l i Beskidowych, a t a k ż e z pieśni czy
o p o w i a d a ń . Jego pięć r z e ź b umieszczonych na w y s t a ­
wie d a ł o tego najlepszy dowód. B y ł y to mianowicie:
,Góral z owcami", „ D a r c i e szczyp", „ B e d n a r z " , „ S i e c z ­
k a r n i a " i „ K a n n y ż o ł n i e r z " jako ilustracja do pieśni
0 żołnierzu-tułaczu.
T w ó r c z o ś ć kobiet z regionu cieszyńskiego nie b y ł a
t y m razem prezentowana przez koniakowskie k o r o n k a r k i , aczkolwiek i c h serwetki b y ł y t a k ż e pokazane.
Nie d o m i n o w a ł jednak ponad wszystkim ośrodek M a ­
r i i Gwarkowej, bo ten dostatecznie j u ż jest znany
1 nie potrzebuje reklamy. Pokazane serwetki były
pracami nieznanych dotychczas t w ó r c z y ń . Obok nich
zamieszczono t a k ż e i inne w y r o b y ludowe, k t ó r y c h
pewne tradycyjne w ą t k i p r z e j ę t o do nowych form
u ż y t k o w y c h . Jako p r z y k ł a d w y m i e n i ć tutaj n a l e ż y :
koronkowe letnie, b ą d ź w e ł n i a n e zimowe r ę k a w i c z k i ,
kierpce, kwadratowe
serwetki i g i e ł k o w e l u b b i a ł e
hafty z dawnych chust n a g ł o w n y c h czy l e m t e c z k ó w

120

z ciasta. Wykonał
pow.
Bielsko.

Alojzy

koszulek kobiecych, wykonane przez A n n ę i Emilię
Lipowczan z Goleszowa na serwetach l u b obrusach
s t o ł o w y c h . D o d a ć przy t y m należy, że kobiety te p r o ­
w a d z ą dla m ł o d s z e g o pokolenia specjalne „ k u r s y " , na
k t ó r y c h uczą tradycyjnego haftu b ą d ź wzorowania się
na n i m .
Kiedy o g l ą d a ł o się o s t a t n i ą część wystawy, na k t ó ­
r e j przedstawiono t w ó r c z o ś ć o k r ę g u z a w i e r c i a ń s k o częstochowskiego, od razu r z u c a ł a się w oczy jego od­
r ę b n o ś ć . W y r a ż a ł a się ona przede w s z y s t k i m w y r o ­
b a m i t k a c k i m i i plecionkarskimi, j a k i m i , niestety,
sam Śląsk, poza C i e s z y ń s k i m , nie m o ż e się w y k a z a ć ,
Zresztą t k a n i n y cieszyńskie, j a k wiadomo, w y j ą w s z y
z w y k ł e p ł ó t n o lniane, cechuje s a m o d z i a ł o w y ćwilich,
u ż y w a n y na koszule m ę s k i e , i sukno na gunie i spo­
dnie g ó r a l s k i e . T u t a j natomiast oprócz lnianego płó­
tna d o m i n o w a ł y kolorowe pasiaki w e ł n i a n e , u ż y t k o ­
wane jako kobiece zapaski, w e ł n i a k i (suknie) ora?
j a k o d y w a n y . N i e m a l w k a ż d e j w s i tego o k r ę g u znaj­
duje s i ę po k i l k a w a r s z t a t ó w tkackich, a w y r ó ż n i a n i e
k t ó r e j k o l w i e k z tkaczek b y ł o b y z k r z y w d ą dla po­
zostałych.

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D r u g i m rodzajem twórczości, ale j u ż o znacznie
w ę ż s z y m zasięgu, ten. o g r a n i c z a j ą c y m się tylko do
Kozichgłów, pow. M y s z k ó w , b y ł y kolorowe plecionki
w i ó r k o w e w postaci mat, sercowatych i p r o s t o k ą t ­
nych grzebieniarek, ozdób na c h o i n k ę oraz przeciw­
słonecznych kapeluszy, a t a k ż e plecionki ze słomy,
głównie kapelusze, koszyczki i ozdoby k a r n a w a ł o w e ,
wykonane przez K a z i m i e r ę Daniel.
Ostatnim wreszcie o ś r o d k i e m twórczości, k t ó r e g o
nie m o ż n a tutaj p o m i n ą ć , b y ł y w y r o b y garncarskie
z Siewierza, pow. Zawiercie. Niestety, dopisał t y l k o
jeden reprezentant, Tomasz Maltazar, choć pracow­
nie s p o c z y w a j ą w r ę k a c h d w ó c h rodzin. Ceramika siewierska n a l e ż y jednak do r z ę d u słabszych, na co
wskazuje ciężka i masywna j e j forma, u b ó s t w o zdob­
nicze i niewielka ilość odmian.
Z a m k n i ę c i e w s t a w y s t a n o w i ł a mapa w o j e w ó d z t w a
katowickiego, na k t ó r e j odpowiednimi sygnaturami
zaznaczono w y m a r ł e i ż y w e jeszcze o ś r o d k i t w ó r c z e .
Jak z powyższego p r z e g l ą d u w y n i k a , w w o j e w ó d z ­
t w i e k a t o w i c k i m nie ma w ł a ś c i w i e rejonu, k t ó r y by
po bliższym rozeznaniu nie z a s ł u g i w a ł na u w a g ę i nie

m i a ł swej specyfiki t w ó r c z e j . Okazuje się t e ż , że
poza c i e s z y ń s k i m i bielskim do dziś czynne są jesz­
cze pewne o ś r o d k i w rejonach: p s z c z y ń s k i m , r y b n i c ­
k i m i t a r n o g ó r s k i m i jeśli same nie działają t w ó r ­
czo, to w k a ż d y m razie k u l t y w u j ą dawne tradycje.
O swym zaś p r z y w i ą z a n i u do p r z e k a z ó w dziedziczo­
nych po minionych pokoleniach ś w i a d c z ą nie t y l k o
same w y r o b y pomieszczone na wystawie i wiele i n ­
nych, k t ó r e na n i ą nie d o t a r ł y , ale r ó w n i e ż w y p o ­
wiedzi t w ó r c ó w . W czasie bowiem t r w a n i a n i n i e j ­
szej w y s t a w y
organizatorzy
urządzili
spotkanie
z t w ó r c a m i l u d o w y m i , k t ó r e nadspodziewanie się uda­
ło i s t w o r z y ł o s e r d e c z n ą a t m o s f e r ę dyskusji i w y ­
miany myśli. Zuzanna Marekwica z Istebnej, pow.
Cieszyn, tak oto m i ę d z y i n n y m i p o w i e d z i a ł a : „ojciec
rni o p o w i a d o ł jeszcze w młodości, że j a k sieł gdzie
w guni i kiyrypcach, to sie z niego śmiali, a ja dziś
sama c h ę t n i e odziywam sie po g ó r a l s k u , bo niech
wszyscy w i d z ą , jako to jest u nas i niech sie d z i wają".
Fotografował

Stefan

Deptuszewski
121

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                <text>Michera, Wojciech</text>
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                <text>Wojciech Michera • TRADYCJA I WSPÓŁCZESNOŚĆ. AKTOR

W

Prologu Ajschylosowego Agamemnona, na
nocnym niebie, nad pałacem Atrydów, po¬
jawią się dziwny blask. T o od dawna wycze­
kiwany znak, przeznaczony dla Klitajmestry: Troja
upadła. Radosną nowiną (euangelos) królowa dzieli się
nazajutrz z Przodownikiem Chóru: „Niechże dzień ten
z nocy-matki narodzony / wierny będzie tej wieści, któ­
rą noc przyniosła!". Rozmówca jednak niedowierza:
„Maszli jasne dowody, pani, że to prawda?"; „Czy to
senne marzenie dało ci tę wiarę?". Usłyszawszy zaś, że
gród Priama wzięto ostatniej nocy, pyta: „Jakiż goniec
tak szybki wieść tę przynieść zdołał?". Klitajmestra
więc odpowiada:
Hefajst, pan ognia! Znak nam śłe ze szczytów Idy
płomienny. Znak ten chwyta i podaje dalej
ognisko za ogniskiem... Ida Hermesowej
na Lemnos go przesyła skale; zapaloną
na wyspie wielką żagiew przejmuje Atosu
Zeusowy szczyt. Wysoko - aż się poprzez morze
wesołym blask przerzucił mostem [...]
[291n., tł. Stefan Srebrny]
Dalej następuje szczegółowy opis trasy, wzdłuż któ­
rej rozpięty został ten ogniowy telegraf. Kończąc, K l i ­
tajmestra mówi:

WOJCIECH

MICHERA

Tradycja
i współczesność.
Aktor*
Podobnie tradycja - chociaż jej najgłębszym sensem
jest wierne trwanie, zawsze niesie w sobie też zalążek
zdrady. W modelu wziętym z tragedii Ajschylosa jej f i guracją wydaje się Klitajmestra - ostatnie, najważniej­
sze ogniwo ogniowego łańcucha. Gdy więc na koniec
pierwszego epeisodionu schodzi ona ze sceny (zapewne
po to, by w pałacu szykować się na ptzybycie męża) chór
komentuje dotychczasowe jej grzeszne poczynania:
Zwycięża szept zgubnej, złej pokusy [peitho],
opętań, złud, ciemnych pragnień córy...
Na wszelki lek - za późno! Darmo kryjesz
występek! Widzą! Strasznym płonie światłem grzech!
Wytarty, niby pieniądz zły
w wędrówce długiej z rąk do rąk,
fałszywy jużeś stracił blask,
już otoś cały czarny - patrz!

Taki to był ów wyścig, tak z ręki do ręki
wędrowała pochodnia - jeno że w tym biegu
i pierwszy, i ostatni jednako zwycięża.
Przywołuję tę scenę nie po to, by poddawać ją filolo­
gicznej albo historycznej interpretacji. Przedstawiony
w niej opis niezwykłej i z rozmachem pomyślanej tech­
niki komunikacyjnej wydaje m i się znakomitą ilustra­
cją, poglądowym modelem pojęcia „tradycji", rozumia­
nej jako proces dziedziczenia kultury (lub też proces,
który z kulwrą można utożsamić). „Z ręki do ręki" po­
dawać - chwytać i przekazywać dalej - taki sens zawie­
ra się w łacińskim słowie traditio, pochodzącym od cza­
sownika trado, będącego złożeniem trans („za", „po
tamtej stronie") i do („daję"). Tak właśnie, jak to jest
u Ajschylosa (nawet jeśli, trzeba przyznać, zbieżność
sformułowań zwiększa się nieco w wykorzystanym tu
tłumaczeniu Stefana Srebrnego).
Zarazem, w tej obrazowej metaforze, nie bez zna­
czenia jest ponury kontekst całej tragedii. Przecież
początkiem sztafety niosącej ogniową wieść jest - nie­
jako na drugim poziomie metaforyzacji - łuna płoną­
cej Troi. Przede wszystkim zaś, zauważmy, biegnąca
chyżo spod murów Ilionu „radosna nowina" na ko­
niec sama rozpala zbrodnię (miasma): nie tylko zwia­
stuje rychły powrót króla Agamemnona, ale i przygo­
towuje jego śmierć.

413

Tradycja to złożony w depozycie skarb, ale także (dzi­
siaj!) strzegący go i czuwający nad n i m strażnik, conse­
rvator, custos, wierny piastun i miłośnik, choć z koniecz­
ności również interpres: tłumacz i pośrednik. Tymczasem
w Klitajmestrze wierność właśnie się sprzeniewierza,
prawda zamienia w złudzenie, a skarb (do którego prze­
cież ona sama należy, jest jego częścią) marnieje tracąc
blask. Czy jednak straszliwa interpretacja, jakiej Klitaj­
mestra poddała otrzymaną wieść, ma zupełnie jedno¬
znaczną
wymowę? Czyż w zbrodni tej, będącej przecież
zemstą (za śmierć córki, Ifigenii, złożonej przez Agamemnona w ofierze, gdy z wojskiem płynął pod Troję),
nie należy widzieć też świadectwa innej wierności?
Ta niebezpieczna ambiwalencja jest wpisana w sa­
mo pojęcie tradycji. Traditor po łacinie to zarazem
mistrz, nauczyciel, ale i zdrajca, wróg; powiedzieliby­
śmy - „Judasz".
•

•

•

* Wcześniejsza wersja tekstu została wygłoszona w ramach festi­
walu teatralnego Kontakt 2001 w T o r u n i u .

�Wojciech Michera * TRADYCJA I WSPÓŁCZESNOŚĆ. AKTOR

A może (glos mają raz jeszcze ci pierwsi) właśnie nie­
rozumne reformy są przyczyną nieszczęścia i należy
uczynić wszystko, by je cofnąć, przywracając stan
sprzed ich wprowadzenia? O k i m zatem można powie­
dzieć, że jest strażnikiem tradycji?
fc

Reformy podejmowane w imię „poprawiania", „przy­
wracania", „odnawiania", „odświeżania" (kalendarza,
ksiąg liturgicznych, samej liturgii, sztuki) - wzbudzają­
ce oczywiście natychmiastową, niekiedy gwałtowną,
niekiedy długotrwałą re-akcję - składają się też na tra­
dycję chrześcijańską. Skutki zresztą takich reform są
trudne do przewidzenia, a nawet post factum nie tak
wcale łatwo ocenić konsekwencje, jakie przyniosły. Po- i
stanowienia, na przykład, Soboru Watykańskiego II,
w wielu kwestiach teologicznych odwołujące się do na­
u k i starożytnych Ojców Kościoła, spowodowały przy
okazji nieodwracalne szkody w sferze kościelnej muzy''
ki (estetyka piosenek festiwalowo-tutystycznych wy- i
pierająca tradycję chorałową).

Gusła. Fot. Krzysztof Furmanek

To, co minione, w praktyce artystycznej będącej dla
nas współczesnością, uobecnia się na różne sposoby.
Zazwyczaj mówi się o dwóch pozostających w sporze
postawach twórczych: zachowawczym tradycjonali­
zmie, wierzącym w sens pielęgnowania uznanej spo­
łecznie normy, i nowatorstwie, skłonnym by indywidu­
alnie, w poszukiwaniu prawdy, poza tę notmę wykra­
czać. W istocie problem jest bardziej skomplikowany,
choćby z tego powodu, że rewolucje wybuchają często
właśnie w imię wierności wobec ttadycji - tyle, że tej
„prawdziwej", ostatnio zaś „zapomnianej", „zagubio­
nej" lub „przekłamanej".
Klasyczna postać tego zagadnienia ujawnia się naj­
wyraźniej w historii religii. Przyczyną sporów w tej dzie­
dzinie dość często bywały zresztą nie tylko kwestie ści­
śle doktrynalne, ale i liturgiczne, a zatem - także arty­
styczne. Dzieje każdej niemal religii to gwałtowny
splot, niekończące się walki „tradycjonalistów" z „re­
formatorami": spory o to, kto lepiej strzeże depozytu
wiary; lub też: komu w istocie został on powietzony.
Czy jest tak - o czym zapewniają pierwsi - że owa
„prawda" ma się dobrze, gdyż dzięki pilności i czujności
udało się nam ją przechować? Czy też - zgodnie z opi­
nią drugich - przeciwnie: gnuśni i zurzędniczali kusto­
sze skarbu zamknęli go w pustych formułach, ukryli
przed ludźmi, sprawiając, że nikt już (łącznie z n i m i sa­
mymi) nie pamięta jego ptawdziwych barw i blasku?

Zarazem jednak wiele wątpliwości budzi dzisiaj wśród
fachowców także dzieło, jakie w X I X wieku podjęli!
mnisi z opactwa w Solesmes, polegające mianowicie na
„odświeżeniu" (w najlepszej wierze i zgodnie z najlepszą
ówczesną wiedzą) chorału gregoriańskiego. Jak pisze
Marcin Bornus-Szczyciński: „Bezgraniczna wiara końca i|
X I X wieku w doskonałość notacji muzycznej kazała
wielkiemu reformatorowi chorału, francuskiemu bene­
dyktynowi D o m Moąuerau z opactwa w Solesmes od¬
rzucić istniejącą wówczas żywą tradycję, jako ponoć
skażoną, i zastąpić ją interpretacyjnymi spekulacjami,;
dokonanymi na podstawie analizy najstatszych manu-1
skryptów muzycznych z X - X I I I w. W efekcie powstał;
nowy nigdy przedtem nie istniejący chorał, który I
w 1903 r., po burzliwej dyskusji, został uznany przez p3'
pieża Piusa X za powszechnie obowiązujący w Kościele
rzymskim" Zdaniem Marcela Peresa' Mnisi solesmeńscy widzieli śpiew liturgiczny tylko w dwu aspek­
tach melodii i tekstu Zapomnieli o najważniejszym'
o sDOSobie śpiewania
iaka
przybierać śpiewak i jak powinien się zachowywać
1

-

Warto zauważyć, że i Peres, i Bornus-Szczycińskiobaj znakomici znawcy i wykonawcy muzyki dawnej sami podejmują wysiłki rekonstruowania zerwanej mu­
zycznej tradycji liturgicznej. W miarę możliwości od­
wołują się do tradycji „żywej" (Peres na przykład do tej,
która przetrwała na Korsyce albo w Grecji). Korzystają]
jednak także - a może przede wszystkim - z rękopi­
śmiennych zabytków (Szczyciński w tegoroczną Nie-f
dzielę Palmową przygotował dla Braci Mniejszych:
w Bratysławie liturgię, opierając się na najstarszym pol­
skim graduale franciszkańskim, z 1257 roku, przecho¬
wywanym przez ss Klaryski w Krakowie).
Podobnie robi Schola T e a t m Wiejskiego Węgajty
Wolfganga Niklausa: poszukując „utraconego kontak-

414

�Wojciech Michera • TRADYCJA I WSPÓŁCZESNOŚĆ. AKTOR

tu z archetypicznym, sakralnym językiem ruchu i ge­
stu" wystawia (rekonstruuje) średniowieczne dramaty
liturgiczne w sposób możliwie najwierniejszy, co jednak
znaczy: zgodny z tym, co da się wydobyć ze średnio­
wiecznych materiałów ikonograficznych, co wiedzą na
ten temat filologowie, a także - w sferze muzyki współpracujący z Węgajtami Szczyciński, Peres lub Damien Poisblaud.
3

Takie odtwarzanie pierwotnej maniery wykonaw­
czej - muzycznej albo teatralnej - przypomina prace
konserwatorskie nad starym, sczerniałym obrazem. Ta­
ki zabieg - gdy obraz całkiem już zniknął, zniszczony
lub przykryty warstwą brudu - jest niezbędny. Zarazem
jednak odnowa „zagubionej tradycji" niesie zawsze nie­
bezpieczeństwo (przed którym przestrzegają wspomnia­
ni twórcy) zatarcia tego, co mimo trudności, i nie za­
wsze w poprawnej postaci, jednak przetrwało; albo co
- niczym rysy na starym filmie - stało się (już) częścią
obtazu. Gdy w państwie Karola Wielkiego, dzięki filo­
logicznej pracy mnichów irlandzkich, przywrócono
w szkołach klasztornych klasyczną postać języka łaciń­
skiego, podniósł się wprawdzie poziom nauczania, stracii jednak swoją przydatność, używany na co dzień dia­
lekt łacińsko-galijski.
(Niebezpieczeństwo rekonstrukcji artystycznej,
zwłaszcza teatralnej, wiąże się też z pokusą „historycz­
nego iluzjonizmu" - złudnym pragnieniem prostego
ptzeniesienia się w czasie - „tam". Ta sprawa jednak,
ze względu na złożoność, wymagałaby osobnego omó­
wienia.)
Z innej jeszcze strony, warto dodać, gdy rzecz doty­
czy sztuki, owo sięgnięcie w przeszłość, „ponad głowa­
mi" żyjących, przynosi niekiedy zupełnie niespodziewa­
ne pożytki. Procedura ta jest bowiem także po prostu
figurą pewnego typu artystycznych poszukiwań, wpisa­
ną w mit „powrotu do źródeł". W X V I w. na przykład:
„Około roku 1600 dokonał się jeden z najbardziej radykalnycbf przewrotów w historii muzyki. Uświęcony
tradycją porządek muzyki europejskiej został nagle za­
kwestionowany przez osobliwy krąg wpływowych bada­
czy starożytności czy - ściślej mówiąc - rzekomych jej
wskrzesicieli." - pisze Nikolaus Harnoncourt . Wpraw­
dzie sztuka, której ścisłe reguły z dogmatyczną precyzją
wówczas określono, niewiele miała wspólnego z an­
tycznym dramatem greckim (choć o tym właśnie prze­
konani byli jej twórcy) to dzięki błyskotliwemu talen­
towi Claudio Monteverdiego rozpoczęła się w ten spo¬
sób historia teatru operowego
4

Czy warto zatem w ogóle przywoływać takie pojęcia
jak „tradycja", „wierność", „depozyt"? Otóż - tak.
W istocie ów nieunikniony moment „zdrady" określa
sytuację człowieka (artysty, także odbiorcy) jako hermeneutyczną. Wypatmjemy znaku, by go - jak Klitajmestra - na własną odpowiedzialność zinterpretować.

415

A l e też (tym razem wzorując się na Orestesie) - swoje
powołanie możemy rozpoznać w zemście, zaleconej
przez wyrocznię i mającej przywrócić ład, zakłócony
przez matczyną zbrodnię („Tej pomsty żąda bóstwa
głos! / Tej pomsty moja pragnie dłoń / Zabiję ją!...");
pamiętając wszakże, że i ten nasz straszliwy czyn wyma­
gać będzie od nas później oczyszczenia.
Tradycja to paradoksalny wysiłek rozpoznawania.
„Wysiłek" - bowiem tożsamość tego, kogo spotykamy,
nie jest oczywista. (Częsty temat antycznych opowieści
- trudne po latach spotkanie bliskiej osoby, które ptzebiega w trzech kolejnych podejściach: (i) wątpienie
0 tożsamości spotkanego; (ii) podejrzliwe badanie;
wreszcie (iii) rozpoznanie - anagnorismos. Tak było
z Penelopą i Odyseuszem, tak było również z Elektra
1 Orestesem w Ofiamicach Ajschylosa.) Wysiłek to
„paradoksalny", bo przecież „roz-poznanie" dotyczy te­
go, kogo/co już przecież znamy (jak pisze Gadamer:
„Rozpoznanie, tak jak rozumie je Arystoteles, zakłada
istnienie wiążącej tradycji, w której ramach wszyscy się
rozumieją i spotykają sami ze sobą" ).
5

W praktyce kluczową sptawą jest obecność tzw. „ży­
wej tradycji". Gdy jej brak - nikt nie potwierdzi na­
szych przypuszczeń. Jesteśmy tym razem trochę jak Kasandra, branka przywiedziona z T r o i - „obca" w Argos,
i wprawdzie wiele widząca (Przodownik Chóru: „Psi
węch ma ta niewiasta: już-ci jest na tropie"), ale też po­
zostająca w odrębnym, niezrozumiałym dla innych
świecie ("Biegłego, widzę, trzeba tej obcej tłuma­
cza..."). A jednak, nawet jeśli nie sposób zweryfikować
podjętego przez nas wysiłku „rozpoznania", wysiłek ten
nie traci sensu. Nie jest dla nas sprawą obojętną, co
i jak rozumiemy, na przykład ze sztuki Ajschylosa. To,
co minione (tradycja, choć już „martwa") nie jest zale­
dwie pretekstem dla naszych niezależnych działań
twórczych. Nasze działania - nie są prostą rekonstruk­
cją tego co minione Zawsze chodzi o spotkanie" —
w n i m potwierdza się tożsamość każdej ze stron Ale
potwierdza się między innymi w zawieszeniu własnej
pewności w poszukiwaniu możliwości wyjścia poza go£ Q ^ y uwewnętrzniony wzorzec naszego myślenia
(uwewnętrzniony na przykład w języku)
W pewnym sensie - na tym polega zadanie aktora
w teatrze, zawsze stojącego wobec obcości gtanej ptzez
siebie postaci. W nieco szerszym znaczeniu - na tym po­
lega każde działanie twórcze. W ujęciu najszerszym - tak
można rozumieć sens wszelkiego ludzkiego działania.
•

•

•

„Działać, w najogólniejszym sensie, znaczy przedsię­
brać coś nowego, rozpoczynać (jak wskazuje greckie
słowo archein, «rozpoczynać», «prowadzić», wreszcie
rządzić), wprawiać coś w ruch (co jest pierwotnym zna-

�Wojciech Michera • TRADYCJA I WSPÓŁCZESNOŚĆ. AKTOR

czeniem łacińskiego agere). Ludzie są initium, nowymi
przybyszami, którzy dają czemuś początek na mocy sa­
mych swoich narodzin, dlatego podejmują się czegoś
nowego i skłonni są do działania" - pisze Hannah
Arendt w Kondycji Ludzkiej .

pretację zaproponowaną przez A r e n d t (która z kolei
odwołuje się do słów Dantego z De monarchia) można
chyba uznać za niejawną próbę nadania pojęciu „aktu¬
alizacji" - niejako wbrew niemu - greckiego raczej niż j|
łacińskiego sensu.

Nie miejsce t u , by szczegółowo rozważać podobień­
stwa i - zwłaszcza - różnice między greckim archein
i łacińskim agere. Zatrzymajmy się chwilę przy tym
ostatnim, ze względu na rolę, jaką odegrało w kształto­
waniu się europejskiej wyobraźni. Czasownik - któtego
podstawowe formy słownikowe brzmią ago, agere, egi,
actum - rzeczywiście znaczy „wprawiać coś w ruch".
Pierwotnie jednak stosowany był w bardzo konkretnej
sytuacji, chodziło mianowicie o „wprawianie w r u c h "
stada bydła, poganianego przez pasterzy. Okoliczność
ta pozostawiła istotny ślad na wszystkich pojęciach wy­
wiedzionych z tego słowa - ślad nadający i m specyficz­
ny odcień przymusu, a przez to czyniący z nich swoisty
„ekran", modyfikujący każdy oglądany przezeń obraz.
' Pojęć tych (opartych zwłaszcza na gtamatycznej for­
mie supinum: actum) jest wiele: agent, akt, akcja, ak­
tywność, aktualność, wreszcie też -aktor. Co najważ­
niejsze, tak szeroko rozumiane.agere w niezwykły spo­
sób zbliżyło się znaczeniem do czasownika esse, być.
W tradycji języka łacińskiego realnie wydaje się istnieć
tylko to, co nie ustaje w działaniu (jest actualis). I to
w działaniu skutecznym - jest skuteczną przyczyną do­
konujących się zmian (causa efficiens). Jak pisał To­
masz: Esse est actualitas omnis formae . Dlatego też an­
gielskie actuality, lub francuskie actualité, tłumaczy się
po prostu jako „rzeczywistość".

Łacińskie ago ma ścisły odpowiednik etymologiczny
w greckim czasowniku ago. Jednak w klasycznych tłumaczeniach z greki na łacinę jako actus oddaje się inne
greckie słowo - energeia . Wielowiekowa tradycja
translatorska mogłaby świadczyć, że przekład ten jest
właściwy: jak przecież o energeia pisał w Metafizyce
Arystoteles - z niej właśnie bierze się ruch, kinesis. Co
to jednak znaczy? Jak się wydaje stajemy tu właśnie
wobec przykładu niezrozumienia, wynikającego z „ze­
rwania tradycji", jakie dokonało się na granicy między
światem języka greckiego i łaciny. O t o - pisze Jean
Beaufret - usiłując zrozumieć sens słowa źródłowego
(energeia), czytamy Arystotelesa, „wychodząc nie od
greki, takiej, jaką mówił, lecz greki zromanizowanej" .1
Greckie znaczenie energeia nie ma bowiem - zdaniem
francuskiego filozofa, podążającego t u śladem Heideg­
gera - nic wspólnego z jakimkolwiek „popychaniem"
i skutecznością" M a sens raczej epifaniczny"' ujaw¬
nia — ukryte możliwości Dzięki swojej energeia ogień
na przykład' oświetla grzeje a później pozwala też ugo­
tować na n i m zupę

6

1

Rzeczywistość taka - utożsamiona z „aktualnością",
określona przez działanie pojmowane jako „przyczyna"
i „bodziec" - jest przede wszystkim otwarta na to, co
nowe (initium). Trudniej jednak w niej dostrzec goto­
wość na „spotkanie" z tym, co nas poprzedza, i co nam
zostało przekazane (chyba, że jako spotkanie potraktu­
jemy imperialne narzucenie własnej pax romand).
Próbę wykroczenia poza taki „skuteczno-sprawczy"
sens „aktualności" podejmuje w swojej książce Arendt,
pisząc między innymi: „Ludzkie poczucie rzeczywistości
wymaga, by ludzie aktualizowali czysty dar własnego
bycia, nie po to, aby je zmieniać, ale by wyartykułować
i powołać do pełnego istnienia to, co w przeciwnym ra­
zie musieliby, tak czy owak, biernie znosić" [s. 228]. T o
ważne słowa: „nie po to, aby zmieniać, ale by wyarty­
kułować i powołać do pełnego istnienia...". Wydaje się
jednak, że podstawową przeszkodą dla myśli zawartej
w tych słowach jest, przede wszystkim, źródłowy sens
wpisany w samo słowo agere - actus. Hannah Arendt
wielokrotnie w swojej książce podkreśla istnienie
ru, jaki pojawia się przy próbie tłumaczenia niektórych
pojęć gteckich na łacińskie. Sądzę, że również w tym
wypadku podobny opór należy wziąć pod uwagę. Inter­

!

8

9

T e n problem przekładu (powiedziałbym: nie tyle
traduttore - tradittore, ile: traditio - traductio [transductío], przy przetłumaczeniu tego ostatniego słowa jako
„przeprowadzka") ma ogromne znaczenie także dla to-1
zumienia istoty praktyki artystycznej i dzieła sztuki. I
Otóż w rozumieniu „łacińskim" tworzenie jest zawsze!
sprawą siły i władzy (vis atąue potestas), skutecznego!
(efficiens, od efficere - ex + faceré) oddziaływania za pol
mocą narzędzi, w którego efekcie (effectum, też odejj-i
cere) artysta z kamienia na przykład robi (faceré) rzeźl
bę. Tymczasem greckie poiein - tłumaczone zazwyczaj |
właśnie jako robić, wytwarzać, sporządzać - nie mai
z taką skutecznością wiele wspólnego. Należy je raczej
rozumieć w znaczeniu: „sprawić, pozwolić, by się uka­
zało", co znajduje świetny wyraz we francuskiej formu­
le: laisser apparaître .
10

W t y m sensie również pojęcie ludzkiego „działa¬
nia", w najszerszym znaczeniu - jeśli uwolnić je od
przymusu „aktywnego" i skutecznego od-działywania
- nabiera owego sensu hermeneutycznego, który
wcześniej skojarzyłem z wysiłkiem „spotkania" i „roz­
poznania". Rozpoznania tego, co minione, co przeka- I
zane jako tradycja, i co zawiera w sobie z konieczno­
ści moment obcości.

416

T e n spór w szczególny sposób kondensuje się na sce­
nie teatralnej. W pojęciu „aktora" bowiem zbierają się
te wszystkie znaczenia, które w szerszym wymiarze
ludzkiego działania rozsiewa cała rodzina słów wywo-

�Wojciech Michera » TRADYCJA I WSPÓŁCZESNOŚĆ. AKTOR

dzących się od agere. Dość podobnie jak w wypadku
greckiego poiein, słowa, którego sens w szczególny spo­
sób skupia się w działaniu poety. W ścisłym znaczeniu
„aktot" jest tym, który inicjuje, działanie - inicjuje dys­
ponując odpowiednią (skuteczną) siłą i władzą, które
pozwalają mu stworzyć (facere) graną postać.
Hannah Arendt problem „aktora" - jako tego, któi ry działa (agere) - łączy jednak z zagadnieniem mowy.
Pisze: „Działanie i mowa są tak ściśle ze sobą związane,
! ponieważ początkowy i specyficznie ludzki akt musi
jednocześnie zawierać odpowiedź na pytanie zadawane
każdemu nowemu przybyszowi: «Kim jesteś?». O w o
odsłonięcie tego, k i m ktoś jest, kryje się tak w jego sło­
wach, jak i czynach; oczywiście nadal mowa i ujawnia­
nie siebie są ze sobą spokrewnione o wiele bliżej niż
działanie i ujawnianie, tak samo jak między działaniem
i rozpoczynaniem istnieje bliższe pokrewieństwo niż
I między mową i rozpoczynaniem".
:

„Działanie" (jako agere) łączy się zatem blisko - co
już ztesztą wiemy - z „rozpoczynaniem". „Ujawnianie"
zaś raczej z „mową". K i m więc jest „aktor"? W ścisłym
znaczeniu tego słowa: tym, który przede wszystkim „działa" i „rozpoczyna". Lecz przecież dobrze wiemy, że
nie tylko. Niejako wbrew swej nazwie - „aktor"
(zwłaszcza w teatrze) także „ujawnia", „odsłania" toż­
samość owego „nowego przybysza", który przecież przy­
bywa być może z przeszłości, na przykład jako grana na
scenie postać z tragedii Ajschylosa, albo średniowiecz­
nego dramatu liturgicznego.
Jak już mówiłem, zadanie aktorskie zawiera się
w wysiłku „rozpoznania" (anagnońsmos). I taki też sens
dosttzec można w słowie hupokrites, jakim w Atenach
okteślano teatralnego aktora: jest on tym, który (mó-

I wiąc) tłumaczy, objaśnia, interpretuje (krinein) to, co
| „spod spodu", co „ukryte".
i Posłuchajmy, raz jeszcze, fragmentu z Kondycji ludzUej: „bez towarzyszącej m u mowy działanie nie tylko

utraciłoby swój charakter ujawniający, ale też, odpo­
wiednio, utraciłoby jak gdyby swój przedmiot; to nie
działający ludzie, lecz wykonujące roboty dokonywały­
by czegoś, co, ujmując rzecz po ludzku, pozostawałoby
niepojmowalne. Działanie pozbawione mowy nie było­
by już działaniem, ponieważ nie byłoby już tego, kto
działa, aktora, a ten, kto działa, sprawca czynów, jest
możliwy tylko wtedy, gdy jest jednocześnie mówcą wy­
powiadającym słowa".
Jeśli nawet Hannah Arendt nie wspiera się tu grec­
k i m słowem hupokrites (słowo „aktor" w cytowanym
tekście użyte jest w szerokim, nie tylko teatralnym zna­
czeniu), to jednak i tu widać wyraźnie jej staranie, by
poszerzyć ścisłe znaczenie łacińskiego terminu. I to po­
szerzyć - nawet wbrew niemu - na sposób niejako
„grecki". Można rzec, że w ten sposób autorka ta sama
„działa" jak aktor-hupokrites, albo jak Klitajmestra:
zdradza - w podwójnym znaczeniu tego słowa. Zaprze­
cza temu, co wydaje się oczywiste, ujawniając przez to
tradycję, o której już mało kto pamięta.

Przypisy
1

M a r c i n Bornus-Szczyciński, Dlaczego Kościół przestaje

śpiewać,

„Więź" 3/1999, s. 20
2

Piwo z mistrzem, z Marcelem Peresem rozmawia Jacek Kowal­

3

Misterium

ski, „Czas K u l t u r y " 6/1998, s. 60
Wcielenia.

Z Wolfgangiem Niklausem rozmawia Ja­

cek Borkowicz, W i ę ź " 3/1999, s. 50
4

Nikolaus H a r n o n c o u r t , Dialog muzyczny. Rozważania
verdim, Bachu i Mozarcie,

5

o Monte-

t l . M . Czajka, Warszawa 1999, s. 28

H . G . Gadamer, Sztuka i naśladownictwo,

t l . M . Łukasiewicz, w:

Rozum, słowo, dzieje, Warszawa 2000, s. 152
6

H . A r e n d t , Kondycja

Ludzka,

t l . A n n a Łagodzka, Warszawa

2000, s. 195
7

Summa. Cytuję za: J. Beaufret, E N E R G E I A et A C T U S , w te­
goż: Diałogue avec Heidegger. Philosophie grecque, Paris 1975, s.
134

8

Por. A r e n d t , s. 225

9

Beaufret, s. 128

1 0

Tamże, s. 125

417

T
v

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          <description>The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.</description>
          <elementContainer>
            <element elementId="50">
              <name>Title</name>
              <description>A name given to the resource</description>
              <elementTextContainer>
                <elementText elementTextId="25235">
                  <text>Polska Sztuka Ludowa - Konteksty</text>
                </elementText>
              </elementTextContainer>
            </element>
          </elementContainer>
        </elementSet>
      </elementSetContainer>
    </collection>
    <itemType itemTypeId="1">
      <name>Text</name>
      <description>A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.</description>
    </itemType>
    <elementSetContainer>
      <elementSet elementSetId="1">
        <name>Dublin Core</name>
        <description>The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.</description>
        <elementContainer>
          <element elementId="46">
            <name>Relation</name>
            <description>A related resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="79496">
                <text>oai:cyfrowaetnografia.pl:publication:3467</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="40">
            <name>Date</name>
            <description>A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="79497">
                <text>1980</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="43">
            <name>Identifier</name>
            <description>An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="79498">
                <text>oai:cyfrowaetnografia.pl:3250</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="50">
            <name>Title</name>
            <description>A name given to the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="79499">
                <text>Tradycja i współczesność. Uwagi po biennale kowalstwa / Polska Sztuka Ludowa - Konteksty 1980 t.34 z.1</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="41">
            <name>Description</name>
            <description>An account of the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="79500">
                <text>Polska Sztuka Ludowa - Konteksty 1980 t.34 z.1, s.39-46</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="39">
            <name>Creator</name>
            <description>An entity primarily responsible for making the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="79501">
                <text>Jackowski, Aleksander</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="44">
            <name>Language</name>
            <description>A language of the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="79502">
                <text>pol.</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="45">
            <name>Publisher</name>
            <description>An entity responsible for making the resource available</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="79503">
                <text>Instytut Sztuki PAN</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="42">
            <name>Format</name>
            <description>The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="79504">
                <text>application/pdf</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
        </elementContainer>
      </elementSet>
      <elementSet elementSetId="4">
        <name>PDF Text</name>
        <description>Text capture metadata for PDF documents</description>
        <elementContainer>
          <element elementId="52">
            <name>Text</name>
            <description/>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="79505">
                <text>Aleksander Jackowski
TRADYCJA I WSPÓŁCZESNOŚĆ
UWAGI PO BIENNALE

KOWALSTWA

Wszystkie konkursy sztuki ludowej, zwłaszcza ogól­
n o p o l s k i e , m a j ą d w a , w y r a ź n i e d o s t r z e g a l n e , cele. J e d ­
n y m jest s t y m u l a c j a d a n e j d z i e d z i n y t w ó r c z o ś c i , d r u g i m
rozeznanie w procesach, k t ó r e w tej t w ó r c z o ś c i zacho­
d z ą . O b a cele s ą ze s o b ą p o w i ą z a n e , s k o r o s i ę b o w i e m
chce p r o w a d z i ć p o l i t y k ę o p i e k i , trzeba w i e d z i e ć , j a k i
jest s t a n r z e c z y w i s t y z j a w i s k a , w j a k i m k i e r u n k u z m i e ­
r z a , co j e s t w n i m w a r t e p o p a r c i a , co z a ś n i s z c z y n a j ­
cenniejsze jego w a r t o ś c i .

c h a r a k t e r y s t y c z n ą d l a naszej s z t u k i l u d o w e j z a s a d ą e k o ­
n o m i i sił i ś r o d k ó w , z a s a d ą — n a z w i j m y j ą t a k — o p ­
tymalizacji (maksimum wyrazu przy m i n i m a l n y m
wkła­
dzie pracy). M o ż n a przy t y m z a u w a ż y ć , że i m bardziej
p r z e d m i o t jest z w y c z a j n y i f u n k c j o n a l n y , t y m silniejsze
są związki f o r m y z t e c h n i k ą , z t r a d y c j ą . D o ś w i a d c z e n i e
i p a m i ę ć wiążą się w ó w c z a s z n a w y k a m i estetycznymi,
k t ó r e b a z u j ą na w z o r a c h w y n i e s i o n y c h z p r z e s z ł o ś c i ,
odziedziczonych po w c z e ś n i e j s z y c h pokoleniach.

Biennale kowalstwa ludowego, k t ó r e zorganizowano
p o d k o n i e c 1979 r . w R a d o m i u , m i m o ż e n i e o b j ę ł o
w s z y s t k i c h c z y n n y c h jeszcze w k r a j u w a r s z t a t ó w , b y ł o
i m p r e z ą w a ż n ą . Przede w s z y s t k i m dlatego, ż e w y j ą t k o w o
w y r a ź n i e p o k a z a ł o j a k i e j e s t d z i s i a j k o w a l s t w o , co j e s t
j e g o s i ł ą , co z a ś s ł a b o ś c i ą . B y ł a to n i e t y l e k o n f r o n t a c j a
o ś r o d k ó w , co p o s t a w t w ó r c z y c h , s p o s o b ó w r o z w i ą z y w a ­
nia starej i n o w e j t e m a t y k i . S p r z y j a ł o t e m u zoriento­
wanie r e g u l a m i n u k o n k u r s u j e d n o c z e ś n i e na f o r m y t r a ­
dycyjne i nowe. Dzięki temu, oglądając w y s t a w ę m o ż n a
b y ł o o b s e r w o w a ć relacje m i ę d z y t r a d y c j ą a w s p ó ł ­
c z e s n o ś c i ą , m i ę d z y zasadami m y ś l e n i a , w ł a ś c i w y m i
d a w n e j sztuce l u d o w e j a t e n d e n c j a m i e s t e t y c z n y m i , k t ó ­
re dostrzec m o ż n a obecnie w ś r ó d w i ę k s z o ś c i
twórców
l u d o w y c h . Chodzi t u o jednoczesne w y s t ę p o w a n i e d w ó c h
estetyk, d w ó c h k o d ó w estetycznych,
z których
jeden
w i ą ż e się z zasadami d a w n e j sztuki l u d o w e j , d r u g i z a ś
z obecnymi upodobaniami
twórców
oraz
środowiska,
w którym przebywają.

N a t o m i a s t t a m , gdzie p o j a w i a s i ę n o w a f u n k c j a , no­
w y p r z e d m i o t — dochodzi do g ł o s u w s p ó ł c z e s n a ś w i a ­
d o m o ś ć e s t e t y c z n a t w ó r c y , u p o d o b a n i a , k t ó r e o n (a t a k ­
że jego ś r o d o w i s k o ) przejawia
w zdobieniu
wnętrza,
w o c e n i e tego, co p i ę k n e czy b r z y d k i e . S ą d z ę n a w e t , ż e
d a ł o b y się t u s f o r m u ł o w a ć t a k ą p r a w i d ł o w o ś ć : i m bar­
d z i e j t w ó r c a d ą ż y do tego, a b y j e g o d z i e ł o b y ł o „ p i ę k n e " ,
t y m silniej podlega p r e s j i obecnych u p o d o b a ń estetycz­
n y c h , t y m bardziej o d r y w a się od d a w n y c h r e g u ł k s z t a ł ­
towania formy. (Dawne formy, k t ó r e m y percepujemy w
kategoriach piękna, t w ó r c y l u d o w i oceniają w kategor­
iach r z e m i o s ł a , rzeczy
„starodawnych";
natomiast
za
„ p i ę k n e " u w a ż a j ą t o , co o d p o w i a d a i c h o b e c n y m u p o d o ­
b a n i o m e s t e t y c z n y m , co z a w i e r a n a d w y ż k ę d e k o r a c j i n a d
formą funkcjonalną).

1

2

3

Nie t r u d n o z a u w a ż y ć , że ta „ d a w n a " estetyka w i ­
doczna jest przede w s z y s t k i m w w y t w o r a c h
tradycyj­
n y c h , z w ł a s z c z a u ż y t k o w y c h , t a m gdzie prostota i k l a ­
r o w n o ś ć f o r m y w y n i k a j ą z p o s z a n o w a n i a cech m a t e r i a ł u
i t e c h n i k i jego o b r ó b k i ; gdzie k s z t a ł t , k o m p o z y c j a , o r n a ­
m e n t zgodne są z p o d s t a w o w ą f u n k c j ą p r z e d m i o t u oraz

Interferencja
dawnej
i nowej
estetyki
występuje
z r e s z t ą n i e t y l k o p r z y p o d j ę c i u n o w e j t e m a t y k i . Jest
ona
zauważalna
również
w
wykonawstwie
dawnych
p r z e d m i o t ó w . P r z e j a w i a s i ę w ó w c z a s w d ą ż e n i u do o b fitszego z d o b i e n i a p o w i e r z c h n i , do k o m p l i k o w a n i a s y l ­
w e t y ( n p . z a w i a s u czy w y k ł a d k i ) , do z a s t ę p o w a n i a o r n a ­
m e n t y k i geometrycznej — roślinną. Na schemat t r a d y ­
cyjnego w z o r u nasuwa się w ó w c z a s w a r s t w a
nowsza,
k t ó r e j c e c h ą p o d s t a w o w ą jest w ł a ś n i e dekoracja, roz­
budowanie m o t y w ó w floralnych,
d ą ż e n i e do w p r o w a -

�k l i e n t ó w , k t ó r z y w o l ą od a u t e n t y k u l u d o w e g o ( z b y t w
ich m n i e m a n i u „ z g r z e b n e g o " ) f o r m y bogato dekorowane,
g r a w i t u j ą c e k u w z o r o m nie-ludowego k o w a l s t w a . (Oto
paradoks współczesnej twórczości „ l u d o w e j " — kierunek
jej przemian wiedzie od szlachetnej prostoty f o r m d a w ­
nych, chłopskich, k u wzorom dworskim, mieszczańskim,
h i s t o r y c z n y m czy p s e u d o - n o w o c z e s n y m . Jest t o w i ę c p r o ­
ces a k u r a t o d w r o t n y o d tego, k t ó r y w y s t ę p o w a ł w p r z e ­
s z ł o ś c i , k i e d y to l u d w z o r y d w o r s k i e , k o ś c i e l n e
czy
m i e s z c z a ń s k i e a d a p t o w a ł do s w o i c h w a r u n k ó w i u p o ­
d o b a ń estetycznych).
Z d o b i e n i u , gdzie t y l k o to m o ż l i w e , s p r z y j a j ą
rów­
nież upodobania p r a c o w n i k ó w skupu w r ó ż n y c h insty­
tucjach, a zwłaszcza wycena p r z e d m i o t ó w . Niemal w s z ę ­
d z i e ( d o t y c z y t o n i e t y l k o s z t u k i l u d o w e j ) za rzecz z d o ­
b i o n ą p ł a c i s i ę z n a c z n i e w i ę c e j , n i ż za p r z e d m i o t s z l a ­
c h e t n y , lecz p r o s t y . P o d s t a w ą w y c e n y n i e j e s t b o w i e m
d o s k o n a ł o ś ć p r z e d m i o t u , lecz w k ł a d
pracy
potrzebnej
do j e g o w y k o n a n i a .

2

d z e n i a , g d z i e t y l k o s i ę da, l i n i i f a l i s t y c h ,
esowato-flores o w a t y c h . W y s t ę p u j e to w s t o p n i u n i e w i e l k i m p r z y p o ­
d e j m o w a n i u t e m a t y k i u ż y t k o w e j (okucia w o z ó w , n a r z ę ­
dzia gospodarskie), ale w znacznie silniejszym p r z y w y ­
robie p r z e d m i o t ó w , k t ó r e obok swej f u n k c j i
użytkowej
p e ł n i ą r ó w n i e ż (a o b e c n i e p r z e d e w s z y s t k i m ) f u n k c j e
zdobnicze, reprezentacyjne.
P r z y k ł a d e m m o g ą być np.
zawiasy pasowe i esowe W ł a d y s ł a w a , A n d r z e j a i Jana
G ą s i e n i c ó w —• M a k o w s k i c h , w y k o n y w a n e n a z a m ó w i e ­
nie właścicieli i budowniczych nowo p o w s t a j ą c y c h w i l l i
w s t y l u „ z a k o p i a ń s k i m " ( i l . 10—12). U p o d o b a n i a i a m b i c j e
k o w a l i z n a j d u j ą w ó w c z a s uzasadnienie w w y r a ź n i e zdob­
n i c z e j f u n k c j i t a k i c h z a w i a s ó w , o k u ć czy k l a m e k . Z g o d ­
ne s ą z r e s z t ą z o c z e k i w a n i a m i z d e c y d o w a n e j
większości

II.
93

40

1. M i e c z y s ł a w H u l e w i c z , k r z y ż , w y s . 50
i 96 c m . I I . 3. E u g e n i u s z C h o ł u j , kopos,

Trzecim czynnikiem sprzyjającym rozwojowi
deko­
racji p r z e d m i o t ó w u ż y t k o w y c h są konkursy.
Pozornie
m a m y w ó w c z a s do c z y n i e n i a z p o w i e l a n i e m d a w n y c h
w z o r ó w , w r z e c z y w i s t o ś c i j e d n a k są to j u ż p r z e d m i o t y
inne. A t r a p y , k t ó r e — o czym w y k o n a w c a dobrze w i e
— n i g d y nie b ę d ą s p e ł n i a ł y swej w ł a ś c i w e j r o l i . Z a w i a s
pasowy b ę d z i e l e ż a ł w sali w y s t a w o w e j na kostce l u b
w i s i a ł na planszy — nie b ę d z i e j e d n a k d ź w i g a ł przez
d ł u g i e lata c i ę ż k i c h d r z w i . K o w a l stara się w i ę c , aby
był on piękniejszy od pięćdziesięciu innych z a w i a s ó w
jego r y w a l i . Z m y ś l e n i a funkcjonalnego przechodzi na
e s t e t y c z n e . C z ę s t o zEipomina n a w e t , j a k i m p o w i n i e n b y ć
„ p r a w d z i w y " zawias. R o z c z ł o n k o w u j e jego k s z t a ł t , roz­
w i j a , m i m o iż t y m s a m y m o s ł a b i a m a t e r i a ł ( n p . r e p r .
w katalogu zawiasy pasowe S t a n i s ł a w a
Chołuja
czy
Z y g m u n t a L o r k a ) . L u d z i e z n a j ą c y się na rzeczy w y t y ­
k a j ą k o w a l o m t a k i e u c h y b i e n i a . C z y k o w a l e s a m i tego
nie r o z u m i e j ą ? O c z y w i ś c i e r o z u m i e j ą i g d y b y p r a c o w a l i
d l a siebie, czy r o b i l i z a w i a s y do d r z w i k o ś c i e l n y c h l u b
w r ó t s t o d o ł y przede w s z y s t k i m m y ś l e l i b y o t y m , j a k i
ciężaT m u s z ą one w y t r z y m a ć , j a k w z m o c n i ć
miejsca,
k t ó r e najbardziej „ p r a c u j ą " . A l e k u j ą c na k o n k u r s nie
z a s t a n a w i a j ą się nad t y m , z a p o m i n a j ą , że to ma b y ć
autentyk „na niby"; widzą zresztą reprodukcje w kata­
l o g a c h , i n s p i r u j ą c e i c h w ł a ś n i e do t a k i c h
estetyzujących r o z w i ą z a ń (np. katalog omawianego Biennale). Wie­
d z ą t e ż , ż e w y k ł a d k a , w r z e c i ą d z czy z a w i a s z o s t a n ą p o ­
k a z a n e na
wystawie niczym bransoletki
u jubilera.
A w i ę c je zdobią. Przede w s z y s t k i m z d o b i ą ! I często

c m . I I . 2. A n d r z e j i J a n u s z G ą s i e n i c e M a k o w s c y , w i d e ł k i ,
d ł . 40 c m . I I . 4.
Mieczysław
Hulewicz,
trójnóg-denarek,
14 c m .

wys.
wys.

�6
П.

5.

Antoni

Moćko,

ś w i e c z n i k , w y s . 48,5 c m . I I . 6. B r o n i s ł a w P i e t r a k , Świecznik
I I . 7. M i e c z y s ł a w H u l e w i c z , ś w i e c z n i k , w y s . 6,5 c m .

na t y m w y g r y w a j ą , j a k o ż e p r z e d m i o t y t a k i e (nawet
nieudane) zyskują
niejednokrotnie
najwyższe
oceny'.
P a t r z ą c na o b f i t ą o r n a m e n t y k ę w i e l u e k s p o n a t ó w
—
z t y m w i ę k s z y m szacunkiem i wręcz zachwytem podzi­
w i a ł e m na B i e n n a l e f o r m y p i ę k n e — w ł a ś n i e p r z e z s w ą
prostotę, proporcje, oszczędne wprowadzenie
elementu
zdobniczego
(np.
zawiasy
pasowe
Antoniego
Moćki,
Edwarda
Chołuja,
Dominika
Ustaszewskiego,
widełki
A . i J. G ą s i e n i c ó w - M a k o w s k i c h ( i l . 2), w s z y s t k i e n a d e ­
s ł a n e p r a c e M i e c z y s ł a w a H u l e w i c z a — ( i l . 1, 4, 7).
O ile jednak przy w y r o b a c h u ż y t k o w y c h i w y k o n y ­
w a n y c h od d a w n a , z a s a d n i c z y s c h e m a t k o m p o z y c j i
nie

7

na

trzy

świece,

wys.

36

cm.

u l e g a ł w i ę k s z y m zmianom, a p u n k t e m odniesienia b y ł a
p a m i ę ć d a w n e j f o r m y , to p r z y p o d e j m o w a n i u n o w y c h te­
m a t ó w (o c e c h a c h n i e z a w s z e z n a n y c h z d o ś w i a d c z e n i a ) ,
do g ł o s u d o c h o d z i ł o i n d y w i d u a l n e p o c z u c i e f o r m y ,
po­
m y s ł o w o ś ć , i n w e n c j a ; a co za t y m i d z i e — k s z t a ł t u j ą c e
się w s p ó ł c z e ś n i e u p o d o b a n i a estetyczne. R z u t u j e to
w
s p o s ó b oczywisty na p r z e c i ę t n y poziom artystyczny tych
prac, n i ż s z y od p o z i o m u w y r o b ó w t r a d y c y j n y c h ; nieraz
nawet ocierający się o granice kiczu. Z w ł a s z c z a widocz­
ne j e s t to t a m , g d z i e w z o r e m i n s p i r u j ą c y m k o w a l a b y ł
p r z e d m i o t m a j ą c y s ł u ż y ć przede w s z y s t k i m ozdobie.
C i sami ludzie, k u j ą c dobre, t r a d y c y j n e przedmioty
użytkowe, proponowali niedobrą amatorszczyznę, wyko­
n u j ą c przedmioty t y l k o dekoracyjne — k o g u t k i , pieski,
smoki, f i g u r k i z ż e l a z a , „ p a m i ą t k i " . W tej d z i e d z i n i e spo­
ro n a d e s ł a n y c h e k s p o n a t ó w n a d a w a ł o s i ę b a r d z i e j
na
w y s t a w ę kiczu niż sztuki ludowej (przykłady m.in. w
katalogu Biennale).
Charakterystyczne jest w takich p r z y k ł a d a c h odejście
o d w z o r c ó w t r a d y c y j n e g o k o w a l s t w a (od j e g o g r a m a t y k i
form), a szukanie inspiracji w przedmiotach nie-ludowej
proweniencji,
w
świecznikach
z mosiądzu,
tralkach
d r e w n i a n y c h , w y r a b i a n y c h na t o k a r s k i m warsztacie, b i ­
b e l o t a c h s t a w i a n y c h n a s t o l i k a c h czy n a b i u r k u , w s p ó ł ­
c z e s n y c h p a m i ą t k a c h ( i l . 9).
Z a r ó w n o wśród adaptacji jak i dzieł o charakterze
dekoracyjnym, inspirowanych rozwiązaniami techniczny­
m i i artystycznymi dawnego kowalstwa, wyróżnić można
d w i e postawy, d w a t y p y n a w i ą z a ń do t r a d y c j i . Jeden,
częściej spotykany w ś r ó d n a d e s ł a n y c h e k s p o n a t ó w i , j a k
s i ę zdaje, s z c z e g ó l n i e p o ż ą d a n y p r z e z m i ł o ś n i k ó w i o p i e ­
k u n ó w s z t u k i l u d o w e j , to n a w i ą z a n i e do k o n k r e t n y c h

41

�8

w z o r ó w (jak np. k r a t y , zawiasy, spinki), d r u g i , rzad­
szy, a l e z n a c z n i e c i e k a w s z y — t o w y c h o d z e n i e o d g r am a t y k i l u d o w y c h f o r m , r e g u ł artystycznego m y ś ­
l e n i a , e l e m e n t a r n y c h zasad k o m p o z y c j i . P i e r w s z y p o l e g a
na ż o n g l e r е е e l e m e n t a m i z n a n y m i , d r u g i n a p r z e m y ś l e ­
n i u sensu p o d e j m o w a n e g o z a d a n i a , z g o d n i e z c h a r a k t e ­
rem t w o r z y w a i t r a d y c y j n ą technologią. Jedno o c z y w i ś ­
cie nie przeczy d r u g i e m u , l o g i k a k o n s t r u k c j i nie w y k l u ­
cza s i ę g n i ę c i a
po r o z w i ą z a n i e f o r m a l n e ,
występujące
w d a w n y m przedmiocie. M o t y w k r a t y z okienka spich­
rza m o ż e b y ć z a s t o s o w a n y i w e w s p ó ł c z e s n y m p r z e d ­
m i o c i e , a l e t y l k o w t e d y , g d y m a to s w o j e u z a s a d n i e n i e
logiczne, z a r ó w n o u ż y t k o w e j a k i k o m p o z y c y j n e . Z re­
g u ł y j e d n a k nastawienie na t a k i t y p adaptacji p r o w a d z i
do p s e u d o - l u d o w e g o e k l e k t y z m u , do s t y l i z a c j i , p o d c z a s
gdy m y ś l e n i e formą, r o z w i ą z a n i a m i w y n i k a j ą c y m i z tech­
n i k i kowalstwa, sprzyja autentycznej twórczości.
Dla­
tego z p e w n ą n i e u f n o ś c i ą p a t r z ę n a p r a c e , k t ó r e z g o d ­
nie z oczekiwaniami z a m a w i a j ą c y c h ,
mają
być tylko
a d a p t a c j ą d a w n y c h form. Rzadko kiedy b y w a j ą dobre,
i j a k s ą d z ę w ł a ś n i e dlatego, że sama idea adaptacji k i e ­
r u j e u w a g ę l u d o w y c h t w ó r c ó w na z e w n ę t r z n e
podo­
b i e ń s t w o , na wykorzystanie schematu dawnego
przed­
m i o t u w n o w y m zastosowaniu. W d o b r y m p r z y p a d k u
b ę d z i e to np. wieszak na p ł a s z c z e w k s z t a ł c i e zawiasu
p a s o w e g o (z d o d a n y m i k o ł e c z k a m i ) , z a p r o p o n o w a n y p r z e z
B r o n i s ł a w a Pietraka, p r z y n a j m n i e j d o w c i p n y w tej z m i a ­
n i e r ó l , w z ł y m : k r a t a — d r z w i c z k i do k o m i n k a .
O ile ciekawsze b y ł y na Biennale prace w y w o d z ą c e
się z m y ś l e n i a o f u n k c j i p r z e d m i o t u , o jego k o n t e k ś c i e

42

9

przestrzennym i p r z e d m i o t o w y m . Pokazali je m.in. M i e ­
c z y s ł a w H u l e w i c z i A n t o n i M o ć k o , obaj d o s k o n a l i , a za­
razem w y r a ź n i e r ó ż n i od siebie.
W t y m m i e j s c u p r z e j d ź m y do n a s t ę p n e j
refleksji,
j a k ą n a s u n ę ł a wystawa. Otóż w sytuacji, gdy
kowal
w y k o n u j e p r z e d m i o t y n a w y s t a w ę , a do tego
formy,
k t ó r e n i e są a n i ściśle u ż y t k o w e , a n i osadzone w t r a ­
d y c j i r e g i o n u (czy o ś r o d k a ) , w y r a ź n i e j z a r y s o w u j e s i ę
j e g o o s o b o w o ś ć t w ó r c z a . N i e znaczy t o , ż e b y ł j e j p o ­
zbawiony dawny kowal, pracujący w bliskim kontakcie
z i n n y m i k o w a l a m i , a l e n i e m i a ł on t e j szansy i n d y w i ­
d u a l n e j w y p o w i e d z i , co w s p ó ł c z e s n y . Z r e s z t ą w y o s t r z o ­
n e m u s p o j r z e n i u n a cechy i n d y w i d u a l n e s p r z y j a
za­
r ó w n o forma konfrontacji,
j a k ą jest k o n k u r s , j a k t e ż
i n i e m o ż n o ś ć o c e n i e n i a n a j e g o p o d s t a w i e , co j e s t d o ­
b r e m w s p ó l n y m j a k i e g o ś o ś r o d k a , co z a ś c e c h ą o d r ę b n ą .
W
s y t u a c j i , k i e d y w B i e n n a l e u c z e s t n i c z y 45 o s ó b ,
a w i ę c m n i e j n i ż jest w k r a j u w o j e w ó d z t w , odpada m o ż ­
ność porównania w k ł a d u indywidualnego z tradycją lo­
k a l n ą . Jedynie kowale radomscy wystąpili jako zespół.
O g l ą d a j ą c i c h w y r o b y , z a s t a n a w i a m s i ę t y l k o c z y to,
co w y d a j e s i ę w i d z o w i p o d o b n e w i c h p r a c a c h , w i ą ż e
się z d a w n i e j s z ą t r a d y c j ą , czy t e ż jest j u ż r e z u l t a t e m
sporej ilości k o n k u r s ó w , p r z e p r o w a d z a n y c h po w o j n i e
na t e r e n i e o b e c n y c h w o j . r a d o m s k i e g o i k i e l e c k i e g o .
M y ś l ę o t e n d e n c j i do obfitego zdobienia k a ż d e g o p r z e d ­
m i o t u u ż y t k o w e g o , swoistego h o r r o r v a c u i , k a ż ą c e g o k o ­
walowi podziabać każdy centymetr kwadratowy powierz­
chni, j a k b y w o b a w i e , że sam „ c z y s t y " k s z t a ł t pozba­
w i o n y jest w a l o r ó w a r t y s t y c z n y c h .

�Cechy w s p ó l n e m o ż n a
wali

zakopiańskich,

ale

Gąsieniców-Makowskich.
Cukier
kolegów
w
Jan

jak

Mieczysław

spod

było również
dotyczą

one

Zarówno
Biernacik

Gubałówki.

bowiem
różnią

Niestety,

Biennale. (Jednak i oni, i biorący
Schrainer

prostych

do

z

Brzeźna

bogato

również

dekorowanych,

zauważyć
jedynie

nie

u

Bronisław

się

od

wzięli

udział

ko­

rodziny

w

ewoluują

swych
udziału

Biennale
od

form

„naturalistycznych").

G ą s i e n i с e-M а к o w s с у reprezentują
kowalstwo
bardzo dobre warsztatowo, a k c e n t u j ą c e rolę zdobnictwa.
Na ich p r z y k ł a d z i e doskonale w i d a ć kierunek przemian
w estetyce w y r o b ó w k o w a l s k i c h , z w i ą z a n y z c z y n n i k a m i .
0 k t ó r y c h pisałem już uprzednio. P i ę k n e ,
szlachetne
w s w y c h p r o p o r c j a c h „ w i d e ł k i " ( i l . 2) r e p r e z e n t u j ą d a w ­
n y p u n k t o d n i e s i e n i a , z a w i a s y esowe, a z w ł a s z c z a k l a m k i
— s ą j u ż p r z y k ł a d e m t e n d e n c j i „ b a r o k i z u j ą c y c h " ( i l . 10—
12). N i e n e g u j ą c s p r a w n o ś c i w a r s z t a t o w e j M a k o w s k i c h
m o ż n a i m z a r z u c i ć , ż e w d ą ż e n i u do e f e k t u w i r t u o z o w ­
s k i e g o z a t r a c j ą c z a s e m s z l a c h e t n o ś ć f o r m y , czego p r z y ­
k ł a d e m mogą być reprodukowane w katalogu klamka
1 smok

(Janusza) oraz p e l i k a n

(Władysława).

Niejednorodność poszczególnych elementów
całości,
z a k ł ó c e n i e „ s t y l i s t y k " m o ż n a też dostrzec w
pracach
M i e c z y s ł a w a Z a n i e w s k i e g o z Lubijewa (woj. ostro­
łęckie). Obok ł a d n i e w y w a ż o n e g o w proporcjach zawia­
su p o k a z a ł o n w i e l e p r a c ś w i a d c z ą c y c h o i n w e n c j i , c h o ć
niejednolitych, niespójnych. Są w nich udane fragmen­
t y , j a k np. o r z e ł w ś w i e c z n i k u z m a p ą Polski, ale b r a k
c a ł o ś c i o w e g o u j ę c i a p r z e d m i o t u . Z a n i e w s k i n a d e s ł a ł na
B i e n n a l e n a j w i ę c e j , b o a ż 36 p r a c , j e g o t e m p e r a m e n t
t w ó r c z y i w y s i ł e k m o g ą z a i m p o n o w a ć , ale k i e r u n e k roz­
w o j u niepokoi. Odchodzi b o w i e m od u m o w n o ś c i ludo­
w e g o k o w a l s t w a d ą ż ą c do e f e k t ó w r a c z e j i l u s t r a c y j n y c h .
W i d a ć to z a r ó w n o w k o n i k u , w i e ń c z ą c y m okucie dyszla
wozu, jak też w świecznikach i figurkach z żelaza (il.
17). W c h o d z ą c w i n n ą k o n w e n c j ę a r t y s t y c z n ą n i e z a w s z e
u m i e jej s p r o s t a ć , toteż wiele jego prac sprawia w r a ż e ­
n i e a m a t o r s t w a n i e osadzonego j u ż w r y g o r a c h l u d o w e j
twórczości.
Podobne u w a g i b u d z ą prace S t a n i s ł a w a T o m с z ук a z T a r n o w a . M i e s z c z ą się one w szerokiej skali —
między tradycją a współczesnością, między
znakomitą
a d a p t a c j ą dawnych form (funkcjonalne i p i ę k n e przybo­
ry kominkowe), a zupełnie już „nie — ludowymi" kon­
cepcjami o b r a z ó w z żelaza i krat tematycznych. T o m ­
czyk jest d u ż ą i n d y w i d u a l n o ś c i ą i nie m o ż e d z i w i ć , że
p r z y s w y c h z a i n t e r e s o w a n i a c h a r t y s t y c z n y c h oraz k o n s t r u k c y j n o - m e c h a n i c z n y c h w y k r a c z a poza f o r m y l u d o w e ­
go k o w a l s t w a . C h o d z i t y l k o o to, j a k to r o b i , do czego
z m i e r z a , co o s i ą g a . J e g o k o ł a t k i s t a n o w i ą p r z y k ł a d n i e
t y l k o dobrego r z e m i o s ł a k o w a l s k i e g o , ale i ś l u s a r s t w a .
D o w o d z ą d u ż e j p o m y s ł o w o ś c i i w y o b r a ź n i (np. k o ł a t k i
w k s z t a ł c i e m ł y n a , d z w o n ó w ( i l . 16), p a w i a ) , k t ó r e t o ce­
chy z n a j d u j e m y r ó w n i e ż w jego d e k o r a c y j n y c h k r a t a c h
i s c e n a c h h i s t o r y c z n y c h . A l e p r a c e te n i e s t a n o w i ą j u ż
przedłużenia
ludowego kowalstwa, w y r a s t a j ą
bowiem
z g r u n t u innego m y ś l e n i a , i n n y c h w z o r ó w estetycznych.
I s t o t n e staje się w n i c h przekroczenie o g r a n i c z e ń , k t ó r e
— z d a w a ł o b y się — d e t e r m i n u j ą charakter kowalskiego
d z i e ł a . W j e d n e j ze scen „ H i s t o r i i O r ę ż a
Polskiego"
t w o r z y j a k b y w y c i n a n k o w y fresk, ale m i m o p r ó b u p o ­
rządkowania
kompozycji
przez r y t m i z a c j ę
podobnych
e l e m e n t ó w , c a ł o ś ć n a l e ż y j u ż n i e do k r ę g u i n s p i r a c j i l u ­
d o w y c h , ale do p o s z u k i w a ń , c h a r a k t e r y s t y c z n y c h dla n u r ­
t u p l a s t y k i a m a t o r ó w . N a j c i e k a w s z a z tej serii d z i e ł jest
k r a t a p r z e d s t a w i a j ą c a K o p e r n i k a na t l e k r ę g ó w n i e b i e s ­
k i c h ( i l . 14), c e l n a w s y m b o l i c z n y m u j ę c i u , z w a r t a w
k o m p o z y c j i , o p a r t e j n a w y r a ź n i e a k c e n t o w a n e j osi sy­
metrii i r y t m i e t o r ó w planet.

1Я

I I . 8. K a z i m i e r z M a r k i e w i c z , Świecznik
na osiem
świec,
w y s . 99 c m . I I . 9. P a w e ł W i n i a r s k i , ś w i e c z n i k ,
wys.
156 c m . Z a w i a s y : A n d r z e j G ą s i e n i c a M a k o w s k i , i l . 10,
d ł . 30 c m ; W ł a d y s ł a w G ą s i e n i c a M a k o w s k i , i l . 11, d ł .
33,5 c m ; i l . 12, d ł . 39,5 c m .

43

I

�Zupełnie inny typ osobowości twórczej przedstawia
sobą A n t o n i M o ć k o z O b l ę g o r k a (woj. kieleckie). I n ­
w e n c j a j e g o , c h o ć n i e m n i e j s z a n i ż T o m c z y k a czy
Za­
niewskiego w y r a ż a się w o b r ę b i e r o z w i ą z a ń k o m p o z y ­
cyjnych, charakterystycznych dla ludowej o r n a m e n t y k i .
Dla każdego tematu umie znaleźć w ł a s n e , konsekwentne
rozwiązanie. Najbliższy wzorom rzemiosła
kowalskiego
j e s t w ż y r a n d o l u ( i l . 15). P r o s t o t a i p i ę k n o t e g o d z i e ł a
s p r a w i a j ą , że z n a k o m i c i e h a r m o n i z o w a ł o b y z a r ó w n o те
ś r e d n i o w i e c z n y m jak i nowoczesnym w n ę t r z e m . W ś r ó d
ś w i e c z n i k ó w , z k t ó r y c h k a ż d y jest i n n y , s z c z e g ó l n i e cie­
k a w e s ą d w a , o p a r t e o t y p o r n a m e n t y k i , z b l i ż o n y do
kompozycji
w y c i n a n e k . D o w o d z ą one d o b r e g o p o c z u c i a
formy i proporcji, k t ó r e zresztą przejawia artysta
we
wszystkich s w y c h pracach. W i d a ć je w i ę c z a r ó w n o w t y c h
„ k a n d e l a b r a c h " ( i l . 5) j a k i w m o n u m e n t a l n y m ś w i e c z n i ­
k u „z o r ł e m " ( i l . 13). Z n a k o m i c i e z e s t a w i a w n i m p ł a s z ­
czyznę p i ę k n i e stylizowanego orła z d r o b n y m ornamen­
tem, b i e g n ą c y m w z d ł u ż całej kompozycji. Ś w i e c z n i k ten
po k i l k u r e t u s z a c h ( p o d s t a w a , t a l e r z y k i p o d ś w i e c e , „ b l a s z a n o ś ć " orła) m ó g ł b y być j e d n y m z najlepszych dziei
„ r e p r e z e n t a c y j n e j " sztuki kowalskiej.

•: .
IJ.

13. A n t o n i

Moćko,

świecznik,

wys.

.

.. • is

123

cm.

Dzieła
Moćki
oraz
Mieczysława
H u l e w i c z a
z Czarnej Wsi Kościelnej (woj. białostockie) zdecydowa­
n i e w y r ó ż n i a ł y s i ę na B i e n n a l e s w ą k l a s ą a r t y s t y c z n ą
i więzią z ludową tradycją. Ale kiedy Moćko nawiązu­
j e w s w y c h f o r m a c h do r ó ż n y c h , n i e k o n i e c z n i e k o w a l ­
skich w z o r ó w , Hulewicz
w y p o w i a d a się c a ł k o w i c i e w
granicach f o r m
prostych, funkcjonalnych,
kowalskich.
Rozłożysty świecznik M o ć k i w i d z i m y z pewnego odda­
lenia jak f o r m ę p ł a s k ą , u Hulewicza natomiast k a ż d y
przedmiot
ma swą przestrzenność, k a ż d y element swą
g r u b o ś ć . P u n k t e m w y j ś c i a j e s t sztaba ż e l a z a , k u t e g o ,
zginanego, k s z t a ł t o w a n e g o
w sposób najbardziej
pro­
sty i — c h c i a ł o b y s i ę p o w i e d z i e ć — r z e c z o w y . T r ó j n ó g
- d e n a r e k ( i l . 4) a z w ł a s z c z a ś w i e c z n i k ( i l . 7) m o g ą b y ć
d e m o n s t r o w a n e na- w y k ł a d a c h s z t u k i j a k o w z ó r
formy
f u n k c j o n a l n e j , n i c z e g o n i e n a ś l a d u j ą c e j , lecz w y p r o w a ­
dzonej z samej istoty t w o r z y w a i t e c h n i k i jego o b r ó b k i .
Konkurs ujawnił zarówno możliwości uczestniczących
w n i m kowali, jak też problemy związane z przejściem
od f o r m u ż y t k o w y c h d o a d a p t a c j i , od t r a d y c y j n e g o r z e ­
m i o s ł a do w s p ó ł c z e s n e g o r ę k o d z i e ł a a r t y s t y c z n e g o . O d
tej strony rolę s w ą spełnił. P o k a z a ł d w a n i e b e z p i e c z e ń ­
s t w a , k t ó r e g r o ż ą t e j d z i e d z i n i e l u d o w e j s z t u k i . Jedn-o
polega na l i k w i d a c j i jego t r a d y c y j n y c h w a r t o ś c i
„od
ś r o d k a " , d r u g i e na l i k w i d a c j i k o w a l s t w a „od z e w n ą t r z " ,
przez b r a k d o p ł y w u n o w y c h k a d r , z e r w a n i e c i ą g u po­
k o l e n i o w e g o p r z e k a z u u m i e j ę t n o ś c i i zasad a r t y s t y c z n e ­
go m y ś l e n i a . W o b u p r z y p a d k a c h d e c y d u j ą c ą s t a j e s i ę
rola o p i e k u n ó w sztuki ludowej.

II.
14. S t a n i s ł a w
T o m c z y k , Kopernik,
wym.
76 X 62,5 c m . I I . 15. A n t o n i M o ć k o ,
Żyrandol,
76 X 76 c m . I I . 16. S t a n i s ł a w T o m c z y k ,
Ko­
łatka
w kształcie
dzwonków,
w y s . 52 c m .

K o n k u r s y nie zastąpią p r z e m y ś l a n e j , konsekwentnej
d z i a ł a l n o ś c i . P o w i e d z m y w i ę c e j — k o n k u r s y bez t e j d a l ­
szej d z i a ł a l n o ś c i s t a j ą s i ę p o z o r e m o p i e k i , z a s ł o n ą d y m ­
n ą p r z e s ł a n i a j ą c ą f a k t , ż e w i s t o c i e n i c s i ę n i e r o b i od
l a t , a b y p o w s t r z y m a ć z a n i k l u d o w e g o k o w a l s t w a . Czy
u d z i a ł w j u r y (jako p r z e w o d n i c z ą c e g o ) przedstawiciela
C e p e l i i oznacza, ż e c o ś s i ę z m i e n i ? N i e u m i e m z d o b y ć
s i ę na o p t y m i z m , s k o r o i n s t y t u c j a t a , coraz s i l n i e j p o d ­
dana naciskom „ p l a n u " , „zysku", „ p r o d u k c j i " , nie uczy­
n i ł a d o t ą d niczego istotnego dla zachowania k o w a l s t w a
czy g a r n c a r s t w a . T r u d n o m i u w i e r z y ć a b y w i l k ( n a w e t
najbardziej sympatyczny) m ó g ł być d o b r y m pasterzem
owiec. Opieka nad k o w a l s t w e m w y m a g a d z i a ł a ń gospo­
darczo n i e e f e k t y w n y c h , t r o s k i mecenasa, t r o s k i w r ę c z i n ­
d y w i d u a l n e j o c z ł o w i e k a , s p o s ó b r o z w i ą z a n i a jego t r u d ­
n o ś c i ż y c i o w y c h i t d . O c z y m t u z r e s z t ą m ó w i ć , s k o r o od
k i l k u l a t n i k t ze s t a t u t o w y c h o p i e k u n ó w t w ó r c ó w l u ­
d o w y c h n i e u m i a ł z a p e w n i ć i m p r a w a do p o s i a d a n i a
u c z n i ó w (przekazu umiejętności) s p o w o d o w a ć w y ł ą c z e n i e

�ich z gestii ustawy o z a t r u d n i a n i u i zarobkach emery­
t ó w . A k o w a l i j e s t coraz m n i e j . S t a r z y w y m i e r a j ą , p o ­
r z u c a j ą k u ź n i e , m ł o d y c h jest n i e w i e l u .
5

S p r a w y są trudne, w y m a g a j ą kompleksowego roz­
w i ą z a n i a , bo p r z e c i e ż p r z y s z ł o ś ć k o w a l s t w a ( j a k t e ż
i g a r n c a r s t w a ) , z a l e ż y p r z e d e w s z y s t k i m o d t e g o , czy
się stworzy odpowiednio skuteczny i t r w a ł y system b o d ź ­
ców, zachęcających młodych, zdrowych i silnych ludzi
do p o d j ę c i a p r a c y w t y c h d z i e d z i n a c h ; czy z n a j d z i e s i ę
i n s t y t u c j a g o t o w a n i e t y l k o t e m u p a t r o n o w a ć , ale i r e a l ­
n i e p o m ó c ( S T L ? ) . D o p i e r o o d p o d j ę t y c h (czy n i e p o d j ę t y c h ! ) d e c y z j i b ę d z i e z a l e ż a ł o , czy B i e n n a l e r a d o m s k i e
stanie się p o c z ą t k i e m rzeczywistej opieki nad l u d o w y m
k o w a l s t w e m , czy t e ż p o z o s t a n i e
w pamięci
widzów
i uczestników tylko jako piękne rekwiem, podzwonne
r z e m i o s ł u , k t ó r e tak jest obecnie potrzebne s p o ł e c z n i e .
N i e z a l e ż n i e j e d n a k o d r o z w i ą z a ń z a s a d n i c z y c h , na
charakter współczesnego kowalstwa w p ł y w a j ą
wnioski,
jakie w y c i ą g a j ą uczestnicy k o n k u r s ó w i p u b l i c z n o ś ć z t a ­
kich imprez jak Biennale. Sądzę nawet, że rola dydak­
tyczna k o n k u r s ó w t w ó r c z o ś c i l u d o w e j znacznie jest w i ę k ­
sza n i ż p o d o b n y c h i m p r e z p r o f e s j o n a l i s t ó w ; t w ó r c y l u ­
d o w i b a r d z i e j s i ę b o w i e m l i c z ą z o p i n i ą f a c h o w c ó w , od
k t ó r y c h n b . z a l e ż y i c h sukces i z a r o b e k . O b s e r w u j ą w i ę c
co s i ę z n a l a z ł o n a w y s t a w i e , co w y b r a n o d o k a t a l o g u ,
k o g o i .za co n a g r o d z o n o . D l a t e g o j e s t t a k w a ż n e , a b y
w y k o r z y s t a ć szansę d y d a k t y c z n ą , k t ó r ą stwarza konkurs.
Czy u c z y n i o n o t o w R a d o m i u ?
niej,

1

Zacznijmy od nagród, a więc w s k a z ó w k i bezpośred­
co z n a l a z ł o u z n a n i e w o c z a c h j u r y . P r z y z n a n o sie-

�dem n a g r ó d pierwszych, d w i e drugie, siedem trzecich.
Proporcje z a s k a k u j ą c e . K i e s ł y s z a ł e m d o t ą d o t a k i e j licz­
bie p i e r w s z y c h n a g r ó d w k o n k u r s i e na j e d n ą d z i e d z i n ę
t w ó r c z o ś c i . O c e n i a j ą c tak samo W i n i a r s k i e g o , Z a n i e w ­
s k i e g o , W . i J. G ą s i e n i c ó w - M a k o w s k i c h , T o m c z y k a , H u ­
lewicza i M o ć k ę traci się szansę wskazania, j a k i e w a r t o ś ­
c i c e n i s i ę n a j w i ę c e j . Co m a m y ś l e ć w i d z , o g l ą d a j ą c p r z y
niezbyt u d a n y m eksponacie k a r t k ę — I nagroda? T r u d ­
no u w i e r z y ć , a b y j u r y n i e d o s t r z e g ł o i s t o t n y c h r ó ż n i c
w poziomie artystycznym nagrodzonych kowali. Bardziej
prawdopodobne
w y d a j e s i ę , iż k i e r o w a ł o s i ę r ó w n i e ż
i n n y m i , n i e t y l k o a r t y s t y c z n y m i p r z e s ł a n k a m i . M o ż e na­
g r o d z i ł o i k s a za t o , ż e r e p r e z e n t u j e w o j e w ó d z t w o , w k t ó ­
r y m z o r g a n i z o w a n o k o n k u r s , y g r e k a za w k ł a d
pracy
i p o n i e s i o n e k o s z t y , zeta za w i e r n o ś ć t r a d y c j i a o m e g ę
w r ę c z p r z e c i w n i e , za ś m i a ł e o d e j ś c i e o d t r a d y c j i ? . . . A l e
wtedy należało o t y m wyraźnie powiedzieć.
Jawność
motywacji jury winna być zasadą i trudno zrozumieć,
dlaczego p o s t u l a t t e n , t a k p r z e k o n y w a j ą c o
sformułowa­
n y przez A l e k s a n d r a B ł a c h o w s k i e g o , nie jest r e a l i z o w a ­
n y . S ą d z ę t e ż , ż e n a l e ż a ł o b y d ą ż y ć do tego, a b y w e r n i ­
saż k o n k u r s u s t a ł się o k a z j ą do spotkania jego uczestni­
k ó w ze z n a j ą c y m z a g a d n i e n i e p l a s t y k i e m . J e s t t o j e d n a
z n i e l i c z n y c h szans t a k i e j f a c h o w e j k o n s u l t a c j i , k t ó r a
na p e w n o m o g ł a b y bardzo p o m ó c n i e j e d n e m u t w ó r c y ,
z w ł a s z c z a gdy p o d e j m u j e o n nowe zadania.
W ł a ś n i e na t a k i m „ s e m i n a r i u m " w i d z i a ł b y m
sens
pokazania p r z e d m i o t ó w nieudanych, nawet kiczów. A l e
pozostawienie i c h na w y s t a w i e ( z w ł a s z c z a tak
ładnie
i starannie z a a r a n ż o w a n e j j a k w R a d o m i u ) na pewno nie
u ł a t w i a s t a r a ń o w y c h o w a n i e estetyczne s p o ł e c z e ń s t w a .
A p r z e c i e ż tego zagadnienia n i e m o ż n a t r a c i ć z oczu,
organizując wystawę.
O b a w i a m s i ę , iż ź r ó d ł e m p o d o b n e g o
lesseferyzmu
m o ż e b y ć p r z e ś w i a d c z e n i e , ż e w s z y s t k o co c h ł o p z r o b i ł
było p i ę k n e . R z e c z y w i ś c i e , bardzo często było. A l e dzi­
siaj w c a l e n i e m u s i b y ć . I n n a j e s t b o w i e m s y t u a c j a l u ­
dowego t w ó r c y , z a k ł ó c o n y ś w i a t jego w a r t o ś c i estetycz­
nych, inne relacje z otoczeniem.
P o d o b n i e j a k w y s t a w a , i s t o t n e j e s t , co s i ę p o k a z u j e
w katalogu. D o b ó r ten, z a l e ż n y t y l k o od organizatora,
najlepiej u j a w n i a jego upodobania. K a t a l o g r a d o m s k i ,
d o b o r e m z d j ę ć o r i e n t u j e na te cechy, przed k t ó r y m i n a ­
l e ż a ł o b y w ł a ś n i e przestrzec k o w a l i , pokazuje w i e l e p r z e d ­
m i o t ó w , k t ó r e w ogóle nie p o w i n n y się b y ł y z n a l e ź ć n.i

II.

17.

Mieczysław
Zaniewski,
przy pracy,
w y s . 21 c m .

Kowal

w y s t a w i e . N i e z a w i e r a t e ż , co j u ż t r u d n o z r o z u m i e ć , p o d ­
stawowych informacji o Biennale. Ile osób wzięło w n i m
u d z i a ł , i l e prac n a d e s ł a n o , i l e zaś odrzucono, k t o i gdzie
zamieszkały wziął udział w konkursie. Rozumiem t r u d ­
n o ś c i w y d a w n i c z e , ale s k o r o m o ż n a b y ł o w y d r u k o w a ć
k a r t k ę z n a z w i s k a m i nagrodzonych, nie r o b i ł o j u ż w i ę k ­
szej t r u d n o ś c i d o d a n i e t y c h n i e w i e l u , a w a ż n y c h i n f o r ­
m a c j i . W s y t u a c j i , g d y n i k t n i e chce p o ś r e d n i c z y ć m i ę ­
dzy p o t e n c j a l n y m o d b i o r c ą a k o w a l a m i n a w e t adres w y ­
starczyłby zainteresowanym.
B i e n n a l e r a d o m s k i e b y ł o pierwsze, p o c z ą t k i zawsze
są t r u d n e , teraz chodzi o to, aby w y k o r z y s t a ć jego do­
ś w i a d c z e n i a i — rzecz n a j w a ż n i e j s z a — a b y p o d j ą ć d z i a ­
ł a n i a o r g a n i z a c y j n e , zdolne p o w s t r z y m a ć z a n i k tego p i ę k ­
nego r z e m i o s ł a .

P R Z Y P I S Y
1

Ogólnopolskie Biennale K o w a l s t w a Ludowego, Ra­
d o m , l i s t o p a d — g r u d z i e ń 1979. O r g a n i z a t o r z y : M i n i s t e r ­
stwo K u l t u r y i Sztuki, Departament Bibliotek, D o m ó w
Kultury i Działalności Społ.-Kult., „Cepelia",
Związek
Sp. R ę k o d z i e ł a L u d . i A r t . w W a r s z a w i e , W y d z . K u l t .
i Szt. U r z ę d u W o j e w ó d z k i e g o w R a d o m i u , M u z e u m W s i
R a d o m s k i e j w R a d o m i u . K o m i s a r z e w y s t a w y : d r . S. R o ­
s i ń s k i i m g r M . Jurecka, ekspozycja: art. p l . Z. K a r b a r z .
W Biennale wzięli udział kowale z w o j e w ó d z t w :
r a d o m s k i e g o ( o k . 18), n o w o s ą d e c k i e g o (9), t a r n o w s k i e ­
go (3), ł o m ż y ń s k i e g o (4), b i a ł o s t o c k i e g o (2), p ł o c k i e g o (2),
c h e ł m s k i e g o (2), l u b e l s k i e g o (2), z a m o j s k i e g o (1), k i e l e c ­
2

k i e g o (2). D a n e m o g ą n i e b y ć ś c i s ł e , z a c z e r p n i ę t e s ą
z protokołu nagród, sformułowanego niezbyt dokładnie.
Jako ośrodek m o ż n a p o t r a k t o w a ć jedynie g r u p ę
k o w a l i z w o j . radomskiego.
P o r . A . J a c k o w s k i , K o n k u r s y , „ P o l . Szt. L u d . " ,
R. 32, 1978, n r 3—4, s. 166.
J a k w y n i k a n p . ze s p i s u c z ł o n k ó w S T L o r a z d a ­
n y c h 11 k o w a l i , b i o r ą c y c h u d z i a ł w B i e n n a l e , k t ó r y c n
d a t y u r o d z e n i a s ą m i z n a n e , n a 50 o s ó b : w w i e k u p o n i ­
żej 30 l a t j e s t 1, w p r z e d z i a l e w i e k u 30—50 l a t j e s t 19
o s ó b , w p r z e d z i a l e 51—60 l a t j e s t 8 o s ó b , p o w y ż e j 60 l a t
— 22 o s o b y , w t y m 10 l i c z y p o n a d 70 l a t .
3

4

5

Fot.: J . Swiderski

46

�</text>
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                <text>A

R

T

Y

K

U

Ł

Y

„Etnografia Polska", t. X X V I I , z. 2
P L I S S N 0071-1861

WANDA

PAPROCKA

TRADYCJA LUDOWA A KULTURA
PO и

WOJNIE

NARODOWA

ŚWIATOWEJ

Proces kształtowania się nowej rzeczywistości społeczno-kulturowej
w okresie po I I wojnie światowej, dokonujące się zmiany struktury
społecznej wywołały (jak w każdym okresie przełomowym) potrzebę
nowego spojrzenia na zagadnienie tradycji, zgodnego z aktualnie two­
rzącym się systemem wartości *. Zachodzące zmiany społeczne określały
nowy do niej stosunek w ramach ogólnego programu rozrachunku z ca­
łością dziedzictwa kulturowego poprzednich okresów. Szczególnie ostro
zjawisko to wystąpiło w stosunku do tradycji tych warstw społecznych,
które programowo, w sposób formalny i deklaratywny, uzyskiwały nowy
status w strukturze społecznej państwa. Powszechnie stwierdza się istnie­
nie ścisłej zależności między intensywnością przemian społecznych a siłą
emocjonalnego zaangażowania w stosunku do problematyki tradycji.
W tym przypadku poczucie związku z tradycją utożsamiane było często
z postawą konserwatywną. Podejmowane były nawet próby totalnego
odrzucania tradycji lub przeprowadzania selekcji treści dziedzictwa kul­
turowego różnych grup społecznych na podstawie określonych kryteriów
wyboru, stymulowanych potrzebą chwali. Ingerując w proces formowania
się tradycji, który dokonuje się w sposób naturalny, zgodny z okre­
ślonym przebiegiem procesów społecznych i kulturowych zachodzących
w poszczególnych grupach, narzucano często pewne formy tradycji,
które miały służyć doraźnym lub przyszłym celom. W większości przy­
padków tak konstruowana tradycja nie mogła znaleźć trwałego miejsca
w świadomości społecznej i stać się stałym ogniwem w łańcuchu ciągło­
ści kulturowej grup społecznych.
Można stwierdzić z perspektywy czasu, że zarówno podejmowana
w różnych okresach walka z tradycją, jak i próby tworzenia określonych
jej modeli mogły występować tylko w okresach stanów przejściowych, nie
sprzyjały one bowiem integracji, identyfikacji oraz poczuciu własnej
1

Por. W. P a p r o c k a , Tradycja
ludowa w myśli
humanistycznej
narodu XIX w., „Etnografia Polska", t. 26: 1982, z. 2, s. 34-35.

i

idei

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WANDA P A P R O C K A

wartości — podstawowym elementom konstytuującym i stabilizującym
życie społeczne grupy. Należy jednak zwrócić uwagę na fakt, że zarówno
w przypadku ograniczenia roli, jak i walki z tradycją nie można mówić
0 całkowitym z nią zerwaniu. Walka bowiem jest zawsze pewną formą
kontaktu. Zwalczając tradycję przyczyniano się w określonej mierze do
jej utrwalenia, choć czyniono to z pozycji przeciwnika.
Mniej spektakularna, choć bardziej doniosła w swych skutkach nega­
tywnych, była forma społecznego zerwania z tradycją, utrata świado­
mości jej istnienia i posiadania. Prowadziło to do naruszenia ciągłości
kulturowej w grupach, zaniku poczucia więzi z przeszłością i w kon­
sekwencji utraty świadomości swej własnej genealogii.
W okresie powojennym mamy w Polsce do czynienia z różnym sto­
sunkiem do tradycji rozumianej zarówno bardzo szeroko jako tradycji
narodowej, jak i tradycji w pojęciu węższym odnoszącej się do po­
szczególnych warstw i grup społecznych, lokalnych, zawodowych, do
tego, co określane jest w koncepcji Redfielda jako tradycji małej .
Kontynuując zawarte w poprzednich częściach pracy rozważania*
pragnę obecnie zastanowić się nad stosunkiem do tradycji ludowej,
który kształtował się w okresie powojennym w warunkach przemian
współczesnych, zdając sobie równocześnie sprawę z trudności w ocenie
tych zjawisk rozpatrywanych z tak krótkiej perspektywy czasu.
Zarówno ocena roli i znaczenia tradycji ludowej w życiu społecznym
1 kulturze, jak charakter i zakres treści, które w tym pojęciu zawierano,
nie były jednolite w całym powojennym okresie. Spory o jej kształt
ideowy narastały, zgodnie z obserwowaną prawidłowością, w okresach
pewnych napięć społecznych. W znacznej mierze było to uzależnione od
różnic występujących w poglądach na znaczenie całego dziedzictwa kul­
turowego w rozwoju społecznym. Poddając krytycznej analizie okre­
ślone zjawiska szukano w tradycji nie tylko pewnych wskazówek, wzo­
rów czy analogii ułatwiających zrozumienie ich i przezwyciężenie, ale
również niejednokrotnie widziano w niej negatywne źródło występu­
jących faktów.
Nie podejmując próby określenia cezur czasowych odpowiadających
prezentowanym w tym zakresie poglądom, pragnę jedynie zasygnali­
zować w porządku chronologicznym pewne zasadnicze kierunki w po­
dejściu do tych zagadnień.
Okres wojny i okupacji hitlerowskiej zahamował, ale nie wyelimi­
nował z rozwijającej się w warunkach konspiracyjnych myśli społecz­
nej, dyskusji nad nowym kształtem kultury narodowej, nad wartościami
2

2

R. R e d f i e 1 d, Peasant
and Peasant Society and Culture,
Por. P a p r o c k a , op. cit,
społeczna
warstwy chłopskiej
w
t. 27: 1983, z. 1.
8

Society and Culture,
[w:] The little
Comunity
Chicago 1961.
s. 31-67; t e j ż e , Tradycja ludowa a
świadomość
okresie II Rzeczypospolitej,
„Etnografia Polska",

�T R A D Y C J A L U D O W A A K U L T U R A NARODOWA

13

twórczymi tradycji ludowej w procesie tworzenia tej kultury. Odzyska­
nie niepodległości oraz dokonujące się w warunkach nowego ustroju
polityczno-społecznego zmiany struktury społecznej stawiały te zagad­
nienia w rzędzie priorytetowych problemów, których rozwiązanie da­
wało podstawy narodowej odnowie i stabilizacji.
Tworzenie się nowej struktury społecznej w wyniku dokonywanych
reform ustrojowych, gwarantowanie w głoszonych programach wysokiej
społecznie pozycji warstwy chłopskiej, o którą (szczególnie w radykal­
nych odłamach ruehu chłopskiego) walczono przez cały okres między­
wojenny, pozwalały nawiązać do głoszonych dawniej poglądów i da­
wały nadzieję na realizację przygotowywanych od wielu lat programów
działania. Dodatkowo umacniało wiarę w możliwość realizacji tych ce­
lów reaktywowanie bezpośrednio po wojnie szeregu organizacji chłop­
skich oraz czasopism i wydawnictw ludowych.
Kierowane niejednokrotnie przez tych samych ludzi, nawiązywały
do podstawowych idei głoszonych w okresie międzywojennym, a doty­
czących roli i znaczenia warstwy chłopskiej w procesie tworzenia się
kultury narodowej oraz eksponujących podstawowe cechy odrębności
kulturowej tej warstwy, które winny stać się podstawą odrodzenia na­
rodowego.
W deklaracji ideowo-programowej Związku Młodzieży Wiejskiej Rze­
czypospolitej Polskiej Wici uchwalonej 18 X I I 1945 r. czytamy m. in.:
„Celem wszelkich przemian społecznych winien b y ć człowiek; należy dążyć
do przewagi sił duchowych i moralnych w stosunkach międzyludzkich, z czego
wynika zdecydowane przeciwstawianie się ruchu młodzieży wiejskiej kierunkom
oraz prądom totalistycznym; należy dążyć do takiego porządku w świecie, by
człowiek wszystko mógł zawdzięczać własnej pracy, nikogo nie w y z y s k i w a ł i nie
był wyzyskiwany.
W obliczu zachodzących przeobrażeń w świecie ruch młodzieży wiejskiej wy­
raża głębokie przeświadczenie, że nie można gruntownie polepszyć w a r u n k ó w
ludzkiego współżycia, jeżeli nie zmieni się zasad moralności społecznej.
[...] Zmierzając do Polski Ludowej na naczelnym miejscu wszystkich prac
swoich stawiamy sprawy kształtowania i podnoszenia w e w n ę t r z n y c h wartości czło­
wieka oraz podnoszenia poczucia godności i wiary we w ł a s n e siły. Kształtowanie
uczuć w y p ł y w a j ą c y c h z głębokiego przywiązania chłopa do ziemi i przyrody, z k t ó ­
rymi współpracuje w tworzeniu chleba, uważany za najważniejszy czynnik w roz­
budzaniu źródeł rodzimej kultury ludowej będącej istotną i trwałą wartością
cementującą całość narodową i p a ń s t w o w ą " .
4

Świadomość kontynuacji rozpoczętego przed ponad wiekiem „uobywatelniania" warstwy chłopskiej, jeśli powołać się na brzemienne w swych
skutkach społecznych określenie Stanisława Staszica, nadzieje na reali­
zację szerokiego programu równouprawnienia społecznego i kultural­
nego znajdują swój wyraz w szerokich dyskusjach i publicystyce tego
okresu. Już w sierpniu 1945 r. odbył się zjazd ludowych pisarzy, dzien4

„Wici", nr 2-3: 1947.

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WANDA P A P R O C K A

nikarzy i działaczy kulturalnych. Była to pierwsza w odrodzonej PoLscepubliczna dyskusja nad sprawą obecnej i przyszłej kultury chłopskiej .
Tym samym problemom poświęconych było wiele artykułów. W artykule
redakcyjnym reaktywowanego w 1946 r. pisma „Chłopski Świat" czy­
tamy:
5

„W lutym minęło siedem lat od ukazania się pierwszego numeru «Chlopskiego
Swiata». Zapowiedź pierwsza otwierająca w lutym 1939 r. wydawanie naszego
miesięcznika tak określała najdalszy cel naszych zamierzeń: «Bedziemy w a l c z y ć
o polską syntezę, o zjednoczenie polskiego ducha, o narodową formę dla ż y w e j ,
przecież rozsypanej polskiej tresci». Odbudowa domaga się planu, budulca, wy­
k o n a w c ó w . Ale u nas odbudowę trzeba pojmować w szczególny sposób. Odbudo­
wujemy coś, co już przedtem istniało. W Polsce nie «odbudowujemy» tylko: wzno­
simy także nowe budowle, przerabiamy stare. Dotyczy to przede wszystkim wsi~
«Chlopski Swiat» rozpoczął w a l k ę o «polska s y n t e ^ » , o zjednoczenie polskiego
ducha, o narodową formę dla ż y w e j przecież rozsypanej treści — tuż przed w i ­
churą w o j e n n ą . Stwierdzenie, «że z chłopa ma b y ć Polska, jeżeli chce mieć znamię
wielkiej i trwałej budowy», dało ogólny tylko rzut planu, w e d ł u g którego winno
rozpocząć się nowe budowanie. Zatem ponowny start «Chlopskiego Swiata» od­
bywa się z płaszczyzny podniesionej o ten dorobek ideowy, te umiejętności i spraw­
ności, te reformy, te doświadczenia i przeżycia, jakie przyrosły w Ruchu L u d o w y m
od 1939 r. do dzisiaj" .
8

s

Zjazd pisarzy ludowych w Warszawie, „Chłopi", nr 20: 1945, s. 3; Pisarze
ludowi w służbie wsi, „Chłopi", nr 21: 1945, s. 1-2.
• I dalej: „Wzbogacił się chłopski świat. Uwyraźniło się jeszcze bardziej
oblicze wsi, pogłębiło się poczucie chłopskiego pradawnego dobytku i ś w i a d o m o ś ć
własnej odrębności. Kto zapatrzony jest w Polskę jutra, w odrodzenie jej kultury
przez skierowanie się w jedno ogólnonarodowe łożysko godnego dziedzictwa prze­
szłości oraz przede wszystkim p i e r w i a s t k ó w ludowych tak wybitnie kulturotwór­
czych, ten pojmie ł a t w o znaczenie wydobywania na jaw tych poglądów, tych
postaw i tego kształtu, jaki znamionuje w i e ś i ze wsi się rodzi. Ze wsi jako
warsztatu pracy, ze wsi — jako światopoglądu tworzącego się pod w p ł y w e m ziemi
i słońca, ze wsi jako społeczności o żywiołowej sile idei społecznych i politycz­
nych. Kto w Polsce umiłował samodzielne drogi, kto chce się oprzeć na w ł a s n y m
dorobku i własnej wielkości w każdej dziedzinie życia, kto zrozumiał potrzebęumiaru, rozwagi, trwania, sprawiedliwości i wydźwignięcia ponad wszystko czło­
wieka — ten z utęsknieniem będzie zwracał swe oczy i kroki k u o ż y w c z y m zdro­
jom wiejsko-chłopskim. Polska odradza się z ludu, z pracy chłopa, robotnika,
inteligenta. Każda grupa społeczna ambitnie podkreśla tu — i słusznie — s w ó j
wkład w całość tworzywa narodowego. Wieś wywiera swój potężny w p ł y w n a
stosunki w Polsce za pośrednictwem krociowych szeregów Ruchu Ludowego: politycznege, spółdzielczego, o ś w i a t o w o - w y c h o w a w c z e g o . To Ruch Ludowy odgrywa
rolę tysiąckrotnie przewodów, którymi krążą wzajemnie oddziaływujące na siebie
różne światy, chłopski, ogólnonarodowy i ogólnoludzki.
Ruch ludowy z natury rzeczy pochłonięty działaniem, zajęty w a l k ą z przeciw­
nościami, przejęty chwilą — musi mieć na podorędziu te w ł a ś c i w e treści i ten
wartościowy materiał, którego dostarczyć może spokojna zaduma nad przeszłością!
wsi, nad czynnikami kształtującymi odrębny światopogląd chłopski i nad jego
znaczeniem dla kultury narodu. S ł o w e m — nad ziarnem, które w y ł u s k a ć należy
z przeogromnego zbiorowiska chłopskich zjawisk i obsiać nim pole od granic do
granic", J . N i e c k o , Zapowiedź
druga, „Chłopski Swiat", nr 1: 1946.

�T R A D Y C J A L U D O W A A K U L T U R A NARODOWA

15

Podobne treści zawierał artykuł „Od redakcji" zamieszczony w pierw­
szym numerze „Wsi Tworzącej" w tym samym roku .
Dominacja liczebna warstwy chłopskiej w ogólnej strukturze
społeczno-zawodowej państwa, zmiana sytuacji gospodarczej wsi wyni­
kająca z likwidacji wielkiej własności ziemskiej i przeprowadzenia re­
formy rolnej pozwalały widzieć w warstwie chłopskiej s i ł ę
spo­
ł e c z n ą zdolną odegrać znaczną rolę w budowie nowego państwa —
Polski Ludowej. Osiągnięcie tej pozycji byłoby urzeczywistnieniem ce­
lów, jakie stawiał sobie ruch ludowy już w okresie powstania I I Rzeczy­
pospolitej . W myśl tych idei formują swoje poglądy bezpośrednio po
I I wojnie światowej w 1946 r. działacze ludowi i publicyści pisząc
m. in.:
7

8

„Przyszłość Polski widzę zbudowaną na ładzie pracy, wspartą w r ó w n y m
stopniu jak o rozwój techniki o ziemię — ten najbardziej słowiański dogmat
życia w rezultacie o człowieka ziemi, o chłopa. Rozwijamy przemysł, budujemy
miasta, ale równorzędnie i równocześnie brońmy pięknej postawy psychicznej
człowieka ziemi, brońmy kultury rdzennie polskiej, która w ludzie tkwi, b r o ń m y
uczciwości ludzkiej i myśli zdrowej — tego chłopskiego rozumu, który jest intuicją
i rozwagą zarazem, przerastającego niejednokrotnie systemy filozoficzne. Wreszcie
brońmy i obyczajowości, obrzędów, pieśni i melodii ludowych" *.

Nie poprzestając na werbalnych stwierdzeniach podejmowano szereg
akcji dla realizacji stawianych sobie celów. W 1946 r. powołany został
do życia Ludowy Instytut Kultury, którego celem było „pełne wyzwo­
lenie twórczych możliwości kulturalnych warstwy chłopskiej i wprowa­
dzenie jej dorobku kulturalnego do kultury ogólnonarodowej" .
10

7

„Pismo ma stać się trybuną, z której będziemy w y m i e n i a ć swe osiągnięcia
z zakresu poezji i sztuki, i myśli chłopskiej. Na tej drodze będziemy u j a w n i a ć
i w y z w a l a ć szczere i oryginalne talenty chłopskie — będziemy otwierać im drogę
na szeroki gościniec kultury narodowej i ogólnoludzkiej.
Pismo to służyć ma
również sprawie wypracowania zbiorowym w y s i ł k i e m koncepcji kulturalnej, która
wyrazi możliwie najlepiej pełną treść życia ludowego. Będzie ona jednym z czyn­
n i k ó w — kształtującym typ człowieka twórczego i w y z w a l a j ą c y c h instynkt t w ó r ­
czy klasy chłopskiej. Podejmiemy w nim nieugiętą w a l k ę z wszelkimi objawami
nicości i bezwładu kulturalnego chłopa polskiego. Pismo nasze będzie wyrazem
chłopskiego kierunku kulturalnego, wymodelowanego poza wszelkim patronatem
ideowym elitarnych grupek intelektualistów. [...] Gotujemy się do nowego i osta­
tecznego ataku. Walka idzie tym razem o myśl, o treść własną, o wyrwanie
się z ciemnoty, o epokowy przełom kulturalny Ludu i Polski. Na nim dopiero
można zacząć b u d o w ę nowych kształtów polityczno-społecznych. W n i m bowiem
istnieje prawda Polski Ludowej", „Wieś Tworząca", nr 1: 1946, s. 1.
8

Tak formułował tę myśl Wincenty Witos: „W chłopie żyje i odradza s i ę
naród, z niego czerpie swoją siłę państwo, on jest czynnikiem porządku i spokoju.
Najwięcej daje i najmniej wymaga. Bez niego nie ma i nie może b y ć zdrowego
narodu i silnego państwa", W. W i t o s , Wybór pism i mów, L w ó w 1939, s. 213.
» S. J u c h t a , Kultura
wsi drogą do wielkości
narodu, „Wieś Tworząca",
nr 1: 1946, s. 11.
Z. G a r s t e c k i ,
Ludowy Instytut Kultury, „Wieś Tworząca", nr 1: 1946,
s. 4: „Do realizacji postawionych sobie celów Instytut dążyć miał n a s t ę p u j ą c y m i
1 0

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WANDA PAPROCKA

Ponownie powraca w szeregu rozważaniach troska, która niepokoiła
od ponad wieku wiele umysłów i stymulowała określone działania, tro­
ska o n a r o d o w y c h a r a k t e r
kultury o przeciwstawienie sią
obcym wpływom określanym w różnych okresach jako kosmopolityczne,
internacjonalne, a nawet urbanistyczno-industrialne .
Dążenie do ratowania ocalałych od zniszczeń wojennych zasobów
kultury narodowej, w tym także ludowej, skłaniało nieraz do wystąpień
dramatycznych, ale i pełnych idealistycznej wiary w możliwości zacho­
wania tych elementów kultury, których zanik był procesem nieodwra­
calnym i rozpoczął się już znacznie wcześniej .
u

12

drogami: 1. Przez wszczęcie prac badawczo-naukowych nad kulturą
ludową,
2. Przez rozwinięcie konkretnych akcji kulturalno-oświatowych. Pierwsza dzie­
dzina obejmie następujące najważniejsze działy pracy: a) gromadzenie materiałów
do badań nad kulturą ludową, b) opracowanie naukowe zgromadzonych materia­
łów, c) wszczęcie akcji wydawnictw naukowych o kulturze ludowej, d) rozpra­
cowanie koncepcji nowoczesnej kultury ludowej w oparciu o obecną strukturę
społeczno-gospodarczą wsi. [...] Drugi odcinek działalności Ludowego Instytutu
Kultury obejmie praktyczne akcje kulturalno-oświatowe, a m. in. 1. A k c j ę wy­
dawniczą: czasopisma, utwory literackie, muzyczne, teatralne i inne z zakresu
twórczości ludowej; 2. Organizowanie zespołów pracy kulturalno-literackiej, mu­
zyczne, teatralne i inne z zakresu twórczości ludowej; 3. Organizowanie zespołów
pracy kulturalno-literackiej pod n a z w ą «Wieś Tworząca*; 4. Organizowanie u n i ­
w e r s y t e t ó w ludowych, d o m ó w kultury i świetlic; 5. Rozbudowa twórczości w dzie­
dzinie sztuki ludowej przez urządzanie wystaw, szkolenie instruktorów i w y t w ó r ­
ców, organizowanie kursów i wzorcowni itp.; 6. Zakładanie bibliotek; 7. Szkolenie
przodowników i działaczy kulturalno-oświatowych; 8. Organizowanie imprez arty­
stycznych; 9. Opieka dla studiującej młodzieży chłopskiej.
Ponadto przeprowadzenie wielu innych akcji i prac zmierzających do wszech­
stronnego rozwoju kultury ludowej. Na tej drodze będzie dążyć Instytut do
osiągnięcia jedności kulturalnej narodu polskiego i do zapewnienia chłopu p e ł ­
nego i rzeczywistego uczestnictwa w kształtowaniu tej kultury. W działalności
swej Instytut
nawiąże najściślejszą współpracę ze wszystkimi twórcami i dzia­
łaczami kulturalnymi wsi lub ze w s i ą związanymi", t a m ż e , s. 5.
„Nie w d o r ó w n y w a n i u internacjonalnej kulturze tkwi sens historii — lecz
w tym, co dany naród nowego i odrębnego dokłada do niej. Swoistości regionalne
składają się tak na obraz całego narodu, jak indywidualność kultur poszczegól­
nych narodów składa się na wielką syntezę ludzkości", J u с h t a, op. cit., s. 12.
M. C z c i b o r - C h o l e w a pisze: „Czas jeszcze do podtrzymania, utrwale­
nia, gdzieniegdzie do sumiennego odtworzenia swoistej kultury. Wspólnymi dąże­
niami prowadźmy dalej dzieło naszych ojców ku świetlanej przyszłości narodu.
Z gruzów i zgliszcz, krwi, trudów i poświęcenia wyrosła Polska. Trzeba teraz
wszelkimi siłami i na każdym polu umacniać jej patriotyzm. Ten patriotyzm, dla
którego ginęły tysiące bohaterów. Umacniajmy w i ę c kulturę regionalną wsi pol­
skiej, która jest p e w n ą drogą do silnego związania z polskością. Nauczmy się
żyć tak, jak żyli nasi ojcowie. Urządźmy sobie nowe życie przy starej tradycji.
Szanujmy strój ludowy, nie gardźmy starym rzeźbionym czy malowanym sprzę­
tem domowym, wchłaniajmy w siebie melodie ludowej muzyki oraz słowa pieśni
prostej chwytającej za serce, pielęgnujmy stary nasz styl"; Kultura
ludowa,
„Wici", nr 21: 1946; por. B r z e c h w a - B e r n a ś , Na marginesie zagadnień
kul1 1

1 2

�T R A D Y C J A L U D O W A A K U L T U R A NARODOWA

11

Bardziej realistyczne spojrzenie na kulturę ludową kazało szukać
innych sposobów, które pozwoliłyby zachować te nieprzemijające war­
tości duchowe i materialne społeczności chłopskiej.
„[...] unowocześnienie wsi nie powinno dopuścić do zatarcia ś w i a d e c t w tej
odwiecznej walki w y z w o l e ń c z e j ducha chłopskiego, musi je odnowić i podkreślić
jej znaczenie. W tym celu należy stworzyć Muzeum Kultury Chłopskiej, w k t ó ­
rym skupione zostaną wszystkie pomniki stwierdzające prężność i w y d a j n o ś ć
energii duchowej zespołów wiejskich we wszystkich dziedzinach ich ż y c i a " .
w

Ten stosunek do wsi wolny był jeszcze od tendencji, które w latach
następnych coraz silniej ujawniały się w podejściu do środowiska wiej­
skiego, eksponujących z r ó ż n i c o w a n i e jego pod względem gospo­
darczym, społecznym i kulturowym. Ten proces dezintegracji prowa­
dzący często do antagonistycznych układów społecznych wywoływał nie
tylko negatywne skutki gospodarczo-społeczne, ale i kulturowe. Zna­
lazły one odbicie również w podejściu do dziedzictwa kulturowego
o g r a n i c z a j ą c pojęcie tradycji ludowej do tych treści, które były
odbiciem walki klasowej na wsi, które zawierały idee postępowe i re­
wolucyjne. Narzucając takie kryteria wyboru zawężano się tylko do
tradycji części ludności chłopskiej — małorolnych i proletariatu wiej­
skiego. Przeciwstawiając się takiemu spojrzeniu na kulturę wsi K. Maj
pisał:
„Ruch młodzieży wiejskiej to ruch, który ma za sobą 40 lat istnienia. Jego
to dorobkiem nowy pogląd na kulturę polską, pogląd, że kulturę polską trzeba
przewartościować, trzeba usunąć wszystkie przerosty, trzeba odrodzoną kulturę
narodową oprzeć o te wartości nieprzemijające, jakie posiada środowisko chłop­
skie, środowisko wiejskie. Te rzeczy już przed w o j n ą zostały podniesione do za­
sady ideologii programowej ruchu nie tylko chłopskiego, ale i społecznego, i k u l ­
turalnego istniejącego w innych środowiskach społecznych. Między innymi w śro­
dowisku robotniczo-socjalistycznym.
Jeżeli dziś zajrzymy do pism, to zobaczymy w y w i ą z a n i e się nowego sporu
0 kulturę ludową, o chłopa. Nie wiem w imię czego idzie się do środowiska
chłopskiego i powiada się, że jest ono ze względu na swoją kulturę podzielone na
chłopów zamożnych i biedaków. C i pierwsi stoją na gruncie kultury ludowej,
a. biedacy podpisują się pod ewangielią ruchu robotniczego"

Stosunek do kultury i tradycji ludowej staje się przedmiotem coraz
ostrzejszych polemik i dyskusji. Są one wyrazem wyraźnie zarysowują­
cej się l i n i i p o d z i a ł u pomiędzy prezentowanymi na łamach wy­
chodzących bezpośrednio po wojnie czasopism i periodyków stanowiska­
mi nawiązującymi do poglądów przedstawicieli ruchu ludowego w okre­
sie międzywojennym , w tym przede wszystkim do teorii agraryzmu
15

tury ludowej, „Wieś Tworząca", nr 1: 1946, s. 9-10; J . S t e l m a s z c z y k ,
„Wieś
Tworząca" w terenie, „Wieś Tworząca", nr 3: 1947, s. 22.
F . S a r n e k, Muzeum Kultury Chłopskiej,
„Wici", nr 8: 1946.
Wspólne są nasze idee, wspólna
jest nasza walka, „Wici", nr 2: 1946.
M. in. „Wici" ukazujące się do 1948 г., „Wieś Tworząca" do 1946 г., „Wieś
1 Państwo" do 1947 г., „Chłopi i Państwo" do 1949 r.
M

14

1 5

J — Etnografia Polska, XXVH/2

�18

WANDA PAPROCKA

i ideologii propagowanej przez uniwersytety ludowe, a oficjalnie gło­
szonymi zasadami socjalistycznej przebudowy wsi postulującymi wpro­
wadzenie gospodarki kolektywnej, walkę z elementami kapitalistycznymi
na wsi, laicyzację życia społecznego, obrzędowości itp. W podejściu do
kultury ludowej wsi oba te stanowiska znalazły wyraźne odbicie. Pierw­
sze z nich uznawały j e d n o ś ć k u l t u r y l u d o w e j niezależnie
od stratyfikacji społecznej. Dążyły do rozwoju procesu samowiedzy
i świadomości społeczno-grupowej, do wychowania chłopa poprzez war­
tościowe treści kultury ludowej. W myśl tych idei na pojęcie tradycji
ludowej składały się te dziedziny kultury materialnej, społecznej i du­
chowej, które podlegając ocenie i akceptacji przez samo środowisko,
tworzyły określoną wewnętrzną organizację zespołów treści kulturowych.
Te wartościowane treści winny wejść do kultury narodowej jako dzie­
dzictwo klasy chłopskiej, która zyskała właściwą pozycję w wyniku do­
konanej rewolucji społecznej . Drugie stanowisko eksponujące
jed­
n o ś ć k u l t u r y mas p r a c u j ą c y c h miast i wsi uwzględniało
część dorobku kultury wsi związanego przede wszystkim z walką kla­
sową. Postulowano jedność kultury narodowej poprzez niwelacje różnic
poszczególnych klas w procesie tworzenia społeczeństwa bezklasowego.
W jednym z artykułów poświęconych temu zagadnieniu czytamy:
16

„Dla nas naród to związek mas pracujących. Dla nas naród to nie tylko
wspólnota językowa, ale wspólnota przede wszystkim kulturowa. Nie elita stanowi
i decyduje o narodzie, ale w państwie demokracji ludowej decydują o nim pra­
cujące masy. Nie chcemy dlatego tworzyć jakiejś o d r ę b n e j
kultury
lu­
dowej
[podkr. — W.P.]. Nie chcemy podtrzymywać zaraniarskiego hasła «sami
sobie». Chcemy w i e ś dźwigać nie tylko w ł a s n y m i siłami, ale i siłami miasta tak,
jak w miarę sił podejmujemy się pomagać w rozwoju miast. Chcemy w tym
działaniu powyrzucać wszelkie szufladki kulturalne i przegródki społeczne, tak
jak wszystkie warstwy społeczne tworzyć powinny jednolity naród.
{...] W takim społeczeństwie nie ma klasy chłopskiej, robotniczej i innych,
i nie ma między nimi walki, zgrzytów, wrogich interesów. Ludzie zamieszkujący
wsie i miasta tworzą zgodny zespół. To jest istotnie społeczeństwo bezklasowe.
Zgadzamy się w tej sprawie z marksistami"
1 6

Por. F . B u j a k , Kilka uwag o zamiłowaniu
do tradycji ludowej i jej
za­
bytków,
„Wieś i Państwo", nr 5: 1946; K . M a j , Sprawa kultury ludowej, „Chło­
pi i Państwo", nr 20: 1947.
D. G a ł a j , U progu nowego 25-lecia. Sprawa kultury narodowej, „Wici",
nr 77: 1948; w Deklaracji Ideowo-Programowej ZMW R P Wici
uchwalonej
w 1948 r. czytamy: „Zasadnicze zmiany, jakie zaszły w Polsce w dziedzinie ustroju
politycznego, gospodarczego, dają nam podstawy do tworzenia kultury narodowej.
Tworzyć się ona będzie w związku z kulturą ogólnoeuropejską, a w oparciu o te
elementy kultury ludowej oraz kultury miejskiej, które nie mają obciążeń ustroju
opartych na wyzysku społeczno-gospodarczym. Podstawą jej rozwoju będzie praca
chłopów, robotników i związanej z nimi inteligencji. Należy zatem upowszechniać
stare i tworzyć nowe dobra kulturalne. Stawać się to będzie przez uczestnictwo
młodzieży chłopskiej w pracach prowadzonych w organizacjach, instytucjach, za­
kładach oraz przez realizację zadań stawianych ze strony państwa", „Młoda Myśl
Ludowa", nr 5: 1948, s. 22-23.
1 7

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T R A D Y C J A L U D O W A A K U L T U R A NARODOWA

Takie stwierdzenie było z jednej strony wyrazem oficjalnych po­
glądów i programem działania, z drugiej otwierało pole dla krytyki do­
tychczasowych postaw w stosunku do kultury wsi. W nawiązaniu do
tego kierunku krytycznego analizę poglądów na kulturę ludową formuło­
wanych w okresie międzywojennym i bezpośrednio po I I wojnie świato­
wej przeprowadził A. J. Król w pracy Drogowskazy na manowcach
kultury ludowej . Przeciwstawiając się zasadniczej tezie o odrębności
kultury ludowej uznawał autor za błędne i wręcz szkodliwe dla rozwoju
społeczno-gospodarczego i kulturowego warstwy chłopskiej powoływa­
nie się na jej tradycje odkrywane bądź w słowiańskiej przeszłości, bądź
związane z idealistyczną koncepcją „ducha narodu", bądź wywodzące
się z poznawczych teorii Taine'a o odrębności rasowej i etnicznej ludu.
W generalnej negacji tych stanowisk nie uwzględnia jednak Król
całego kontekstu zjawisk kulturowych związanych z prądami społeczno-kulturamymi, jak również określonymi sytuacjami politycznymi, które
składając się na aktualną rzeczywistość warunkowały w każdym okre­
sie historycznym inne podejście do tych zagadnień. Emocjonalny stosu­
nek autora do analizowanych faktów pozbawił uzyskiwane wnioski nau­
kowej obiektywności, podporządkowując je obowiązującym w tym cza­
sie sposobom widzenia spraw wsi. Autor zajmował stanowisko negatyw­
ne wobec dotychczasowego dorobku myśli chłopskiej reprezentowanej
zarówno przez działające w środowisku wiejskim organizacje, jak Zwią­
zek Młodzieży Wiejskiej, uniwersytety ludowe oraz przedstawicieli inte­
ligencji związanych ze sprawami wsi. Szczególnie krytycznie oceniał
działalność wybitnych reprezentantów inteligencji chłopskiej, m. in.
W. Orkana, S. Pigonia, F. Bujaka, upatrując w ich twórczości naukowej
i literackiej działanie na rzecz separatyzmu chłopskiego. Rozwijanie po­
czucia wartości i odrębności kultury wiejskiej przez ukazanie jej spe­
cyfiki stało w s p r z e c z n o ś c i z obowiązującym w tym okresie pro­
gramem budowy społeczeństwa bezklasowego. W prądach artystycznych
czy literackich (T. Chałubiński, S. Witkiewicz, W. Tetmajer i in.) wią­
żących kulturę ludową z kulturą narodową widział Król wyłącznie pro­
test przeciwko kapitalizmowi i cywilizacji przemysłowej, inteligencki
paternalizm w stosunku do wsi, a nawet elementy pewnej ekspiacji
w geście — jak określał — „kajającego się szlachcica".
Przyjmując obowiązujący w tym czasie punkt widzenia nie do­
strzegał związku tych poglądów z dorobkiem myśli społecznej okresów
wcześniejszych ani wpływu, posiadających szeroki zasięg europejski,
prądów artystyczno-estetycznych epoki neoromantyzmu.
Przeciwstawiając uniwersytety ludowe szkołom rolniczym i gimna­
zjom chłopskim te ostatnie określał jako „dobrodziejstwo dla wsi". Na­
tomiast w „wytworach samej wsi", jak nazywał koła młodzieży, uni­
wersytety i teatry ludowe, widział „pierwsze samorodne instytucje, jakie
18

1 8

J . A. K r ó l , Drogowskazy

na manowcach

kultury

ludowej,

Warszawa

1947.

�20

WANDA P A P R O C K A

zluzowały karczmę, targowisko i kościół w ich od średniowiecza utrwa­
lonych funkcjach kulturalnych" .
Przeciwstawiał się agraryzmowi, który w budowie nowego ustroju
społeczno-gospodarczego propagował zachowawczy w ocenie Króla, ufor­
mowany przez przeszłe stulecia system oparty na rodzinie, traktujący
wszelką inną rzeczywistość społeczną jako pochodną od niej lub z niej
się składającą. W rodzinie i jej związku z gospodarstwem indywidual­
nym dostrzegał wszelkie formy zależności i wewnętrznej struktury przed­
siębiorstwa kapitalistycznego. Pozostawienie rodziny i samodzielnego go­
spodarstwa wiejskiego w ich dotychczasowych funkcjach uniemożliwiło
zdaniem Króla przebudowę struktury i postępowy rozwój wsi.
Można stwierdzić w odniesieniu do tej pracy, że pewna j e d n o ­
s t r o n n o ś ć w ocenie dorobku myśli społecznej poświęconej zagad­
nieniom wsi spowodowała, iż interpretacja szeregu faktów przedstawio­
nych przez autora, charakteryzujących warunki rozwoju środowiska
wiejskiego, pozbawiona została właściwego naukowym opracowaniom,
obiektywizmu.
Idea budowania wspólnej kultury obejmującej, jak określano, „masy
pracujące miast i wsi" znalazła swój wyraz w ocenie dziedzictwa kul­
turowego środowiska wiejskiego. Przeciwstawiając się separatyzmowi
kulturowemu wsi odrzucano lub pomijano te treści, które świadczyły
o jej odrębności kulturowej i które ze względu na ścisły związek ze
specyficznymi warunkami życia i pracy na roli nie mogły tworzyć spój­
nej całości z kulturą miejską i robotniczą. Rygory realizowanego pro­
gramu gospodarczo-społecznej przebudowy wsi n i e
p o z w a l a ł y '&gt;
sięgać do tradycji zawartej w kulturze społecznej czy duchowej, ogra- •
niczając zainteresowania naukowe i popularyzatorskie przede wszystkim \
do kultury materialnej, sztuki ludowej, folkloru muzycznego i tanecz- \
negó.
\
Poglądy na kulturę ludową, na zagadnienia tradycji ludowej znalazły j
odbicie w programach i działalności powstających w tym czasie insty- )
tucji. W 1946 r. powołany został do życia Państwowy Instytut Badania
Sztuki Ludowej w dalszych latach przekształcony w Państwowy Instytut
Sztuki, a następnie Instytut Sztuki PAN. Utworzenie tej placówki, jak
stwierdzono w artykule programowym, wynikało zarówno
\
19

„z roli, jaką sztuka ludowa może i winna odgrywać w formowaniu się nowej
naszej sztuki ogólnonarodowej — jak też z konieczności zachowania dla potom­
ności ginącej w naszych oczach odrębnej kultury ludowej. {...] To bowiem, co
o sztuce ludowej pisali etnografowie, jest tylko cennym materiałem do określenia
w a r u n k ó w , wśród których ona powstała i b y t o w a ł a " .
20

Na łamach powołanego przez Instytut w 1947 r. wydawnictwa „Pol­
ska Sztuka Ludowa" szczególnie w pierwszych latach powojennych pre" T a m ż e , s. 142.
Powstanie, organizacja i charakter Państwowego
Ludowej, „Polska Sztuka Ludowa", nr 1-2: 1947, s. 60-61.
20

Instytutu

Badania

Sztuki

�T R A D Y C J A L U D O W A A K U L T U R A NARODOWA

21

zentowane były poglądy na rolę i znaczenie kultury ludowej w nowej
polskiej rzeczywistości. Można wyraźnie prześledzić na podstawie uka­
zujących się w kolejnych latach artykułach z m i a n y w sposobie okre­
ślania z a k r e s u i t r e ś c i tych pojęć. Stosunek do kultury ludowej
był odbiciem poglądów na całość zagadnień kultury i realizowanej w tym
zakresie polityki państwa. Już w pierwszym numerze „Polskiej Sztuki
Ludowej" prezentowane są stanowiska bliskie poglądom wyrażanym
w publicystyce tego okresu, a równocześnie często nawiązującym do
formułowanych już dawniej koncepcji oceniających wartości, jakie do
kultury narodowej wnosiła kultura ludowa. S. Dybowski stwierdza
w swej wypowiedzi, która stanowi motto dla nowego wydawnictwa, że
„wszystko to, co stanowi wartość w kulturze ludowej, w kulturze chłop­
skiej musi być przetworzone przez wielkich artystów i wejść do kultury
narodowej. Gdy to się stanie, sztuka polska nabierze cech i żywszych
rumieńców polskości — wniesiemy do skarbca sztuki ogólnoludzkiej
nowe wartości i wzbudzimy w innych szacunek dla narodu polskiego" .
To stwierdzenie określa podstawowy kierunek w podejściu do trady­
cyjnych treści zawartych przede wszystkim w sztuce ludowej i folklorze.
W myśl tych poglądów tradycja ludowa p r z e s t a j ą c być orężem
w walce o równouprawnienie społeczne warstwy chłopskiej, dowodem
i reprezentantem jej wartości winna s t a ć s i ę tworzywem, źródłem
inspiracji w budowaniu nowej kultury „socjalistycznej w treści, naro­
dowej w formie". W następnych latach ten stosunek do twórczości lu­
dowej staje się p r o g r a m e m działania i zasadą oceny jej wartości.
Zaostrzone przy tym zostają kryteria określające wartość poszczególnych
jej dziedzin w zależności od k l a s o w e g o charakteru ich twórców
i nosicieli. Festiwal Sztuki Ludowej zorganizowany w 1949 r. staje się
forum dla przedstawienia tych poglądów. W kulturze chłopskiej poza
głęboko narodowym charakterem widziano przede wszystkim n u r t
s p o ł e c z n y . Uznając klasowy charakter sztuki ludowej, który po­
wstał i ukształtował się jako antyteza szlacheckiej i dworskiej kultury,
sięgając swymi korzeniami okresu pańszczyźnianego, za tradycyjne uzna­
no te treści, które w tej lub innej postaci były odpowiednikami prze­
mian społecznych lub wręcz buntów czy rewolucji chłopskich. Postę­
pujące w miarę rozwoju stosunków kapitalistycznych na wsi zróżnico­
wanie gospodarczo-społeczne ludności powodowało, w myśl tych poglą­
dów, o d e r w a n i e kultury chłopskiej od podłoża klasowego wsi pań­
szczyźnianej czy biedniackiej i tworzenie się bogatej w swej formie ze­
wnętrznej obrzędowości, obyczajowości i sztuki reprezentatywnej dla
jej zamożnej części ^ Tę tradycję związaną z określoną formacją spo­
łeczną należało odrzucić jako obcą klasowo.
21

2 1

„Polska Sztuka Ludowa", nr 1-2: 1947, s. 3.
W. S о к o r s к i, O właściwy
stosunek do sztuki ludowej, „Polska Sztuka
Ludowa", nr 5: 1949, s. 131-134. W rozwinięciu i uzasadnieniu tych poglądów autor
pisze: „Nurt ten, tracąc coraz bardziej kontakt z realnym ż y c i e m olbrzymiej w i ę 2 2

�22

WANDA P A P R O C K A

Szczególnie ważne znaczenie w kształtowaniu się stosunku do tra­
dycji ludowej miało nowe rozumienie pojęcia „ludowość". Analizując za
uczonymi radzieckimi na przykładzie sztuki ludowej zakres tego okre­
ślenia odnoszono je w formacjach społecznie rozwarstwionych, antagonistycznych do treści o c h a r a k t e r z e k l a s o w y m , a sztukę lu­
dową do wytwórczości artystycznej warstw ekonomicznie i społecznie
uciśnionych. Tak pojmowana sztuka ludowa obejmowała nie tylko doro­
bek artystyczny wsi, ale również uboższego mieszczaństwa, prowincjo­
nalnego rzemiosła i ludności robotniczej. W społeczeństwie nieantagonistycznym, w którym w myśl tych stwierdzeń pojęcie lud pokrywa się
г narodem, przez ludowość należało rozumieć przede wszystkim p os t ę p o w e i s o c j a l i s t y c z n e treści zawarte w dziedzictwie kul­
turowym przeszłości. W tym rozumieniu sztuka ludowa była „twórczo­
ścią artystyczną wyrażającą postępowe dążenia, myśli i uczucia mas
ludowych" .
Poglądy te znajdują odbicie w formułowanych w latach pięćdziesią­
tych z a ł o ż e n i a c h t e o r e t y c z n y c h badań nad sztuką ludową
i folklorem w Polsce oraz w programach poszukiwań terenowych .
W tym okresie obserwuje się zarówno odkrywanie w kulturze ludowej
23

24

kszości wsi, ulegał charakterystycznej deformacji poprzez w c h ł a n i a n i e e l e m e n t ó w
kultury drobnomieszczańskiej, rozkładowej kultury kapitalistycznego świata". O ro­
li, jaką spełniać ma kultura ludowa, pisze następująco: „problem stoi w pła­
szczyźnie wydobycia z kultury ludowej ż y w e g o nurtu zarówno w treści, jak i for­
mie, żywego nurtu przewartościowującego się co dzień i co godzina w t w ó r c z y m
marszu wsi polskiej do socjalizmu. S i ę g a m y w kulturze ludowej po te bezcenne
skarby, które były wyrazem jej społecznej odrębności i społecznego protestu
w stosunku do kosmopolitycznej sztuki drobnomieszczańskiej i chcemy wtopić ten
ż y w y potężny nurt mas ludowych w n o w ą narodową kulturę epoki socjalizmu,
kulturę której drogę w przeszłości otworzyła walka i z w y c i ę s t w o klasy robotni­
czej. Odrzucamy fałszywą stylizację, głosimy natomiast ś w i a d o m e kształtowanie
w treści i formie tworzywa sztuki ludowej. Odrzucamy sprowadzanie sztuki l u ­
dowej do formalistycznej obrzędowości i mechanicznego przenoszenia jej w z o r ó w
na obce jej tła, zarówno w treści, jak i w formie. Natomiast głosimy hasło czer­
pania przez twórców, pisarzy, kompozytorów pełnymi garściami z jej bogactw,
celem przetopienia jej treściowego i formalnego układu w nowe codzienne two­
rzywo dnia dzisiejszego".
2 8

G . N i e d o s z i w i n , O zagadnieniu ludowości
w sztuce radzieckiej, „Pol­
ska Sztuka Ludowa", nr 3: 1951, s. 82-97.
P o w o ł u j ą się na poglądy G . Niedosziwina w swoich artykułach m. in.
R. R e i n f u s s , Z zagadnień
sztuki ludowej, „Polska Sztuka Ludowa", nr 2: 1952,
s. 65 п., i A. J a c k o w s k i , Problem folkloru i ludowości
w sztuce, „Materiały
do Studiów i Dyskusji z Zakresu Teorii i Historii Sztuki, K r y t y k i Artystycznej
oraz Metodologii Badań nad Sztuką", nr 1: 1953, s. 166-209; por. też Od redakcji,
tamże, nr 1: 1950, s. 5-6; E . F r a n k o w s k i , Zagadnienia metodologii badań nad
sztuką ludową, tamże, nr 5: 1951, s. 363-382; W. S o k o r s k i , tamże, nr 1: 1952,
s. 144-156; S. P i o t r o w s k i , O twórczości
ludowej, Fragment referatu
wygłoszo­
nego na I Ogólnopolskiej
Konferencji
Twórców
Ludowych w Warszawie, „Polska
Sztuka Ludowa", nr 2: 1953, s. 67-72.
2 4

�T R A D Y C J A L U D O W A A K U L T U R A NARODOWA

23

tych treści, które uznane zostają za tradycyjne ze względu na swój kla­
sowy charakter ukształtowany przez określone warunki historyczne
w poprzednich formacjach społecznych, jak również współcześnie two­
rzonych odpowiadających nowej socjalistycznej rzeczywistości .
25

es Przedstawia tak sformułowany program badań A. Jackowski w artykule
Na marginesie prac Państwowego
Instytutu Sztuki w zakresie badań nad
sztuką
ludową
i folklorem:
„Byłoby błędem niewybaczalnym, g d y b y ś m y powodowani
chęcią odtworzenia tego, co było przed stu laty, tracili z oczu nowe formy po­
wstające obecnie. Dotyczy to prac szczególnie w zakresie zbierania folkloru, gdzie
szukając za wszelką cenę tego, co ginie, co obumiera, łatwo traci się z oczu nowy
folklor, który dopiero kiełkuje. [...] Nowy folklor wyraża bowiem n o w ą świadomość
naszej wsi, wyraża procesy zachodzące w niej przemiany. Nowy folklor jest przy
tym potężną siłą aktywną, siłą przyśpieszającą te procesy. '[...] Przestawienie się
na problemowe widzenie pracy połączone jest z uaktywnieniem się samej postawy
badacza. Coraz rzadziej spotykamy się ze zjawiskiem takim jak p s e u d o b e z stronny
«obiektywizm»
[podkr. — W.P.] polegający na tym, że notuje
się wszystko — uważając, że folklor jest twórczością ludu pojmowanego jako coś
jednolitego. Oczywiście taka postawa prowadzi niechybnie na manowce i zacie­
rając różnice klasowe zaciera podstawowe zagadnienie dla rozwoju naszej wsi.
Postawa taka prowadzi do przyznania jednakowej wartości zarówno głęboko ideo­
logicznym wysoce artystycznym okazom twórczości naszego ludu, co i pieśniom,
w których dźwięczy dawna
ideologia
dworów
czy
mentalności
k u ł a k a [podkr. — W.P.]. W rezultacie otrzymujemy fałszywy, zakłamany obraz
naszego ludu, stłoczenie się na reakcyjne pozycje w folklorystyce.
[...] Wieś szczególnie obecnie w okresie narastających przeciwieństw klasowych
stanowi niewątpliwie dynamiczne zjawisko, w którym wyraźnie o b s e r w o w a ć można
walkę między elementami kułackimi a biedniackimi czy średniakiem. W tym
procesie zachodzących przemian, w tej codziennej walce o duszę średniaka, o so­
cjalistyczną świadomość wsi, sztuka ludowa, a zwłaszcza folklor, odgrywają r ó w ­
nież rolę. Pieśń ludowa może pełnić rolę czynnika hamującego pewne procesy lub
rozwijającego go. Pieśń ludowa, zwłaszcza ta aktualna, przyśpiewkowa, przeważ­
nie układana na nutę krakowiaka agituje i mobilizuje nie mniej niż prasa czy
«muzyka i aktualnosci». [...] Jasnym się staje, że w stosunku do takiego skompli­
kowanego zjawiska pełnego w e w n ę t r z n y c h napięć i sprzeczności nie można pod­
chodzić «obiektywnie». Nie ma zresztą «obiektywnego zbieractwa*. Każde zbiera­
nie jest zarazem procesem selekcji. [...] Postawmy sprawę jasno. Nie m o ż e m y ogra­
niczać się jedynie do postaw biernych obserwatorów. Jeśli nie chcemy wlec się
w ogonie przemian, jeśli chcemy nie tylko iść noga w nogę ze wsią, ale pomagać
jej w rozwoju, aktywnie przyśpieszać zachodzące zmiany — ograniczać się do po­
staw biernych obserwatorów. Od charakteru zebranego materiału i naszej umie­
jętności spopularyzowania najcenniejszych osiągnięć za pomocą radia, prasy, wy­
dawnictwa, bezpośrednio w terenie przez «podrzucanie» najciekawszych pieśni
zespołom ś w i e t l i c o w y m i szkolnym zależeć będzie w znacznym stopniu efekt na­
szej pracy. Dlatego należy podkreślić szczególnie metody pracy olsztyńskiej ekipy
zbierania folkloru, która pod przewodnictwem dr W. Gębika znajduje różne formy
wiązania swej pracy z terenem organizując spotkania połączone z prelekcjami
ilustrowanymi tekstami i pieśniami ludowymi, prowadzi wspólną akcję razem
z Towarzystwem Wiedzy Powszechnej itp. Osiągnięcia, które ekipa notuje na
tym trudnym terenie, są zasługą tych wszystkich pracowników terenowych, któ­
rzy nie boją się b y ć agitatorami, propagatorami prawdziwego patriotyzmu i po­
stępu społecznego. „Polska Sztuka Ludowa", nr 3: 1952, s. 124.

�2i

WANDA P A P R O C K A

W procesie kształtowania wzoru kultury narodowej te określone
z a s a d a m i i d e o l o g i c z n y m i treści tradycyjne miały służyć jego
wzbogaceniu i nadać mu określony charakter. Zgodnie z założeniami
socrealizmu zawarte w sztuce ludowej i folklorze elementy tradycyjne
ulec winny „przekuciu" na wspólne masowe wartości kulturowe i w tej
nowej formie dotrzeć do odbiorców, w tym także i społeczności wiej­
skiej . Poglądy te były referowane i stawały się przedmiotem dyskusji
zarówno na I Kongresie Nauki Polskiej w 1951 r . , jak i na konfe­
rencjach poświęconych zagadnieniom sztuki oraz naradach i spotkaniach
twórców ludowych organizowanych wspólnie z placówkami naukowy­
mi . Dla praktycznej realizacji niektórych przyjętych zasad w ocenie
roli i udziału kultury ludowej w życiu narodu powoływane były m. in.
takie instytucje, jak Instytut Wzornictwa Przemysłowego, CPLiA .
Okres metodologicznego n a c i s k u wywarł również wpływ na kie­
runek /badań prowadzonych w ramach Polskiego Towarzystwa Ludo­
znawczego i katedr etnograficznych oraz powołanego działu etnografii
w Instytucie Historii Kultury Materialnej PAN. Nie rozwijając szeroko
opracowanej w wielu publikacjach oceny powojennej historii etno­
grafii należy jedynie stwierdzić, że od pierwszej konferencji zwołanej
przez Polskie Towarzystwo Ludoznawcze w 1951 r. kierunek badań
etnograficznych podporządkowany został ogólnym tendencjom metodolo­
gicznym. Konsekwencją tego stanu rzeczy było podejmowanie prac nad
tradycyjną kulturą ludu pracującego, uwzględnienia w badaniach kul­
tury wsi jej zróżnicowań klasowych, poszukiwanie w kulturze ludowej
w jej klasowych treściach wartości, które winny wzbogacić kulturę na­
rodową.
W realizacji tych kierunków badań jak i towarzyszącym im „roz­
liczeniom z przeszłością" placówki te nie reprezentowały tak r a d y26

27

28

29

30

2 8

Frankowski,
op. cit;
R. R e i n f u s s , Aktualne zagadnienia
ludowej
plastyki, „Polska Sztuka Ludowa", nr 2: 1953, s. 89-94; K . P i e t k i e w i c z , Spo­
łeczna
rola artysty ludowego, „Polska Sztuka Ludowa", nr 2: 1952, s. 68-76;
K . P i e t k i e w i c z , Z aktualnych zagadnień
współczesnej
twórczości
ludowej,
„Materiały do Studiów...", nr 3: 1955, s. 438.
K . P i w o c k i , Głos w dyskusji na temat problematyki w obradach I Kon­
gresu Nauki Polskiej, „Materiały do Studiów...", nr 7-8: 1951, s. 367-368.
Rezolucje I Ogólnopolskiej
Konferencji
Naukowej w sprawie badań
nad
sztuką,
„Materiały do Studiów...", nr 5: 1951, s. V I I I - I X ; Dokumentacja
narady
w sprawie twórczości
artystycznej, tamże, nr 1: 1952.
W. T e l a k o w s k a , Próby
włączenia
twórczości
ludowej do
wzornictwa
przemysłowego,
„Polska Sztuka Ludowa", nr 3: 1953, s. 135-137.
A. K u t r z e b a - P o j n a r o w a , Organizacja pracy etnograficznej w Polsce.
Instytucje
i wydawnictwa
naukowe, „Etnografia Polska", t. 2: 1959, s. 19-56;
Historia etnografii polskiej, pod red. M. Terleckiej, Wrocław 1973; A. K u t r z e b a - P o j n a r o w a, Kultura ludowa w dotychczasowych
polskich pracach
etnogra­
ficznych, [w:] Etnografia Polski. Przemiany kultury ludowej, t. 1, Wrocław 1976,
s. 19-58; J . B u r s z t a , B. K o p c z y ń s k a - J a w o r s k a , Polska etnografia (etno­
logia) po II wojnie, „Lud", t. 66: 1982, s. 3-18.
2 7

28

2 9

8 0

�T R A D Y C J A L U D O W A A K U L T U R A NARODOWA

26

k a l n e g o p r o g r a m u , jak miało to miejsce w dziedzinie sztuki
ludowej i folkloru. Szeroki zakres problematyki badawczej wyznaczała
do pewnego stopnia nadal tradycja dawnych prac etnograficznych. Rów­
nocześnie zapotrzebowanie na wyniki badań określonych działów, priory­
tetowe ich znaczenie w tworzeniu kultury narodowej dawało większe
możliwości rozwoju niektórym z nich. W konsekwencji prowadziło to
do rozparcelowania zakresu tematycznego etnografii między inne współ­
działające z nią dyscypliny. Jak pisze A. Kutrzeba-Pojnarowa: „Pod­
stawą otrzymania właściwego miejsca w nowej strukturze organizacyjnej
był stopień przebudowy ideologicznej w obrębie zainteresowanej dyscy­
pliny. Mierzyło się go m. in. miarą krytycyzmu w stosunku do wcze­
śniejszych prac" .
Okres następny po 1956 r. przynosi nowe s z e r s z e spojrzenie na
zagadnienie kultury ludowej. Odchodząc od poszukiwań treści klaso­
wych wspólnych kulturze całego ludu pracującego zaczęto traktować ją
jako kulturę o k r e ś l o n e j grupy społecznej stanowiącą integralną
całość historycznie uwarunkowaną, którą należy badać w określonych
granicach przestrzeni i czasu. Spojrzenie na wieś jako na
spójny
s y s t e m społeczno-gospodarczy i kulturowy pozwalało widzieć jej od­
rębność kulturową, szukać historyczno-genetycznych przyczyn tego zja­
wiska, jak i śledzić proces zmian, jakim ona podlegała w poszczególnych
okresach. To dążenie do wykrycia i zbadania specyficznych cech kultu­
rowych wsi w ich zróżnicowaniu przestrzennym stymulowało zaintere­
sowanie kulturą ludową różnych regionów i próby budowania na pod­
stawie zgromadzonych materiałów modelu kultury tradycyjnej. To h i storyczno-genetyczne podejście do zjawisk kulturowych występuje rów­
nież (lub wraca ponownie) w analizie poszczególnych dziedzin kultury
ludowej (m. in. również w sztuce ludowej i folklorze).
Nawrót do zainteresowań przeszłością jako p o d ł o ż e m
histo­
r y c z n y m współczesności, do rozważań nad historyczną trwałością
elementów kulturowych, sposobów ich przekazywania i mechanizmów
funkcjonowania wyznaczał w dużym stopniu kierunek prowadzonych
w następnych latach prac etnograficznych i stanowił pole do rozważań
teoretycznych dotyczących prawidłowości procesów przemian gospodar­
czo-społecznych i z nimi związanych wzorów zachowań.
W etnografii polskiej problem tradycji stał się szczególnie ważny
z chwilą rozpoczęcia studiów nad z m i a n ą k u l t u r o w ą . Podej­
mowane prace nie ograniczały się już jedynie do opisu inwentarza kul­
turowego badanych wsi w określonym momencie historycznym, ale po­
dejmowały próbę wyjaśnienia przyczyn sprawczych zachodzących prze­
mian. Na gruncie tych badań stała się aktualna potrzeba wyróżnienia
i określenia tych treści kulturowych, które uznawano za
tradycyjS1

3 1

K u t r z e b a - P o j n a r o w a , Organizacja

pracy..., s. 42.

�:26

WANDA P A P R O C K A

л e, jak i treści a k t u a l n i e t w o r z o n y c h i współcześnie obiek­
tywizujących się na gruncie danej kultury. Z tymi dwoma pozornie prze­
ciwstawnymi sobie pojęciami tradycji i innowacji czy tradycji i nowo­
czesności wiązało się zagadnienie ciągłości kulturowej. W opracowaniach
monograficznych poświęconych przeobrażeniom kulturowo-społecznym
wsi występowały dwa rodzaje prac. Liczniejszą grupę stanowiły te, któ­
re były próbą weryfikacji ogólnie znanych prawidłowości historycz­
nych. Potwierdzały one z jednej strony bezpośrednie zależności proce­
sów przemian kulturowych od czynników zewnętrznych, stopnia rozwo­
ju społeczno-ekonomicznego, od zmian warunków bytowych, organizacji
produkcji i in., z drugiej zaś od występujących w ramach wyodrębnio­
nej jednostki badawczej — społeczności określonego terytorium —
współzależności strukturalno-funkcjonalnych. Równocześnie pokazywały
złożony charakter tych procesów, nierównomierne tempo zmian różnych
dziedzin kultury, różnicujących się przestrzeni.
Druga grupa prac, mniej liczna, koncentrowała uwagę badaczy na
samym mechanizmie przejmowania lub odrzucania innowacji.
W pierwszej grupie szczególne zastosowanie znalazła rozwinięta przez
K. Dobrowolskiego teoria podłoża historycznego, a podstawę w bada­
niach empirycznych — jego model kultury tradycyjnej . Na podstawie
teorii podłoża historycznego Dobrowolski konsekwentnie formułował de­
finicję tradycji w sposób bardzo szeroki jako wszelką spuściznę, którą
ustępujące generacje przekazują pokoleniom wchodzącym w życie . To
stwierdzenie nawiązujące do p r z e d m i o t o w e g o rozumienia tra­
dycji było punktem wyjścia do rozważań nad kulturą tradycyjną wsi
we wspomnianych badaniach monograficznych, jakkolwiek większość
badaczy nie precyzowała podstawowej kategorii „tradycji" przy posługi­
waniu się terminami „kultura tradycyjna", „społeczność tradycyjna".
Określano je poprzez wyznaczanie zespołu cech charakteryzujących spo­
łeczność wiejską w danym okresie , jak i poprzez wykrywanie tych
zjawisk, które były zakorzenione w kulturze badanej społeczności i sta­
nowiły stały trzon kultury zastanej. Tak określonej tradycji przeciw­
stawiano aktualnie tworzone i obowiązujące nowe treści i zachowania
społeczne traktując je jako innowacje na gruncie danej kultury.
зг

3S

34

8 !

K . D o b r o w o l s k i , Chłopska
kultura tradycyjna.
Próba teoretycznego za­
rysu na podstawie materiałów
źródłowych
XIX i XX w. z płd. Małopolski,
„Etno­
grafia Polska", t. 1: 1958, s. 19-53; t e n ż e , Studia nad życiem
społecznym
i kul­
turą, Wrocław 1966.
D o b r o w o l s k i , Studia nad życiem..., s. 81-82.
J. T u r o w s k i ,
Przemiany
tradycyjnej
wiejskiej
społeczności
lokalnej
w Polsce, „Roczniki Socjologii Wsi", t. 4: 1966, s. 17-40; K . Z a w i s t o w i c z - A d a m s k a , Przemiany więzi w społeczności
lokalnej, t a m ż e , s. 41-51; A. K u ­
t r z e b a - P o j n a r o w a , Tradycyjna
społeczność
wiejska
w procesie
przemian
współczesnych,
Wrocław 1968; J . B u r s z t a , Kultura ludowa — kultura
naro­
dowa, Warszawa 1974.
5 3

, 4

�T R A D Y C J A LUDOWA A K U L T U R A NARODOWA

27

Pomimo że rozważaniom nad kulturą tradycyjną nie towarzyszyła
refleksja teoretyczna nad samym pojęciem tradycji, to dokonana analiza
najbardziej istotnych cech, właściwości i funkcji zbliżała do odkrycia
pewnych elementów jej natury. Można stwierdzić, że procesy włączania
przeszłości do teraźniejszości i zakres objętych tym włączaniem treści
zależny jest od różnorodnych warunków i sytuacji społeczno-kulturo­
wych grup, które są ich twórcami i nosicielami. Wydaje się, że ten stan
rzeczy utrudniał i utrudnia badaczom rozwiązanie pewnych problemów
teoretycznych związanych z zagadnieniem tradycji. Ten brak teorii tra­
dycji ma również swoje źródło w nierealizowanych dotąd, a niezbędnych
dla rozwiązania tego problemu badaniach interdyscyplinarnych. W chwili
obecnej tematy owej teorii stają się coraz częściej w nauce ziemią ni­
czyją . Szczególnie brak ten odczuwany jest w antropologii społecznej,
kulturowej, etnologii, a więc w tych dyscyplinach, w których pojęcie
t r a d y c y j n y jest punktem wyjścia do analizy Większości zjawisk
kulturowych. Również i na gruncie innych nauk humanistycznych nara­
stała ta potrzeba zrodzona niejednokrotnie z poczucia o p o z y c y j n o ś с i pojęć tradycji i nowatorstwa, postępu i tradycji, opozycyjności
wynikającej z pojmowania tradycji jako zjawiska reliktowego, statycz­
nego lub nieznanego.
Dużą zasługą pracy J. Szackiego Tradycja. Przegląd problematyki,
a którą autor skromnie określa jako „nieśmiałą próbę penetracji proble­
matyki tradycji, problematyki wielorakich stylów teraźniejszości z prze­
szłością", była wyczerpująca analiza dotychczasowych poglądów na treść
i zakres pojęcia tradycji w historii i myśli humanistycznej X X w. Autor
dokonał rzeczy bardzo ważnej z punktu widzenia postępowania badaw­
czego, przeprowadzając analizę najważniejszych kierunków w podejściu
do problemów dotyczących związków teraźniejszości z przeszłością. Po­
zwoliło mu to na wyodrębnienie trzech podstawowych, komplementar­
nych w stosunku do siebie pojęć tradycji. Nie omawiając wprowadzo­
nych przez Szackiego powszechnie obecnie znanych i stosowanych przez
badaczy pojęć czynnościowej, przedmiotowej i podmiotowej tradycji moż­
na jedynie stwierdzić, że stały się one punktem odniesienia do dalszych
rozważań nad tradycją, do szczegółowej analizy tego pojęcia w dorobku
naukowym poszczególnych dyscyplin. Dla badań etnograficznych ten
typ opracowania był szczególnie cenny, odpowiadał bowiem aktualnym
potrzebom badawczym. Dokonana w podejmowanych ostatnio opraco­
waniach syntetycznych analiza przemian kultury ludowej ujawniła przy
próbie konstruowania modelu kultury tradycyjnej brak badań, które
pozwoliłyby rozpatrywać tradycje w sferze procesów psychospołecznych
i w kategorii postaw wobec przeszłości. Opierając się na dotychczaso­
wych badaniach uwzględniano w konstruowaniu tych modeli powszech3S

8 5

s. 16.

J . S z a c k i , Tradycja.

Przegląd

problematyki

badawczej,

Warszawa 1971,

�28

WANDA P A P R O C K A

nie przyjęte, określone zespoły cech charakteryzujące społeczność trady­
cyjną. P zy czym okresem, w którym żywotne były jeszcze treści uzna­
ne za tradycyjne, przyjmowano okres pouwłaszczeniowy.
Wprowadzenie przez Szackiego trzech podstawowych sposobów ro­
zumienia tradycji ujawniło potrzebę pewnej refleksji w stosunku do
stosowanych w etnografii polskiej pojęć i zainspirowało dalsze rozwa­
żania nad ich uściśleniem .
Pomimo że słusznie podkreśla się brak całościowej teorii tradycji to
wydaje się śledząc w latach ostatnich rozważania przedstawicieli róż­
nych dyscyplin humanistycznych, że można mówić o próbach formuło­
wania stwierdzeń ogólniejszych, często ze sobą zbieżnych, pozwalających
na wyciągnięcie wniosków co do pewnej prawidłowości niektórych pro­
cesów dokonujących się w ramach tego zjawiska. Niewątpliwie po­
wszechnie przyjęte stanowiące podstawowy trzon każdej próby definio­
wania jest określanie tradycji jako części dziedzictwa kulturowego wy­
różnianego ha z a s a d z i e w a r t o ś c i o w a n i a , któremu towarzy­
szy świadomość p o c h o d z e n i a z p r z e s z ł o ś c i . Pewne różnice,
jakie zarysowują się w zakresie tych sformułowań, odnoszą się przede
wszystkim do zasad wartościowania oraz zakresów i mechanizmów se­
lekcji zjawisk i wytworów kulturowych w procesie transmisji.
W badaniach literaturoznawczych poczynając od klasycznej pracy
F. S. Eliota, problem rozróżnienia między dziedzictwem a tradycją jest
przedmiotem wielu rozważań. W swoim słynnym eseju Eliot stwierdza,
że odziedziczyć tradycji po prostu nie można; jeśli chce się ją posiąść,
można to zrobić z dużym wysiłkiem. Warunkiem jej jest zmysł histo­
ryczny, który wymaga zrozumienia przeszłości istniejącej nie tylko
w przeszłości, lecz i teraźniejszości. Zmysł historyczny wymaga od auto­
ra nie tylko rozumienia współczesności, ale całości literatury europej­
skiej od Homera począwszy . Wydaje się, że nawiązanie do tej myśli
spotykamy w innych rozwijanych na gruncie literatury stwierdzeniach,
że zmysł historyczny pozwala dzielić wytwory odziedziczone z przeszłości
na zabytki kultury narodowej (wartości historyczne) i na takie prze­
kazy, które są źródłem duchowym, podnietą umysłową i moralną nowej
r

36

37

3 6

R. T o m i c k i , Tradycja i jej znaczenie w kulturze chłopskiej,
„Etnografia ;
Polska", t. 17: 1973, z. 2, s. 41-58; J . B u r s z t a , Kultura ludowa — kultura narodowa, Warszawa 1974, s. 341-346; B . K o p c z y ń s k a - J a w o r s k a , Przedmiot i za- I
kres opracowania dotyczącego
kultury wsi Polski środkowej,
Prace i Materiały
Muzeum Archeologicznego i Etnograficznego w Łodzi, nr 19, Łódź 1976, s. 17-37;
B. J a r n u s z k i e w i c z , Tradycja
jako kategoria etnograficzna, [w:] Tradycja ;
i przemiany, Poznań 1978, s. 51-71; E . P i e t r a s z e k , Tradycja a dziedzictwo kul­
turowe, [w:] Přeměny
ludových
tradycii v sucasnosti, Bratislava 1978, t. 2, s. 59-69; ;
R. T o m i c k i , Kultura — dziedzictwo — tradycja, [w:] Etnografia Polski.
Prze­
miany kultury ludowej, t. 2, Wrocław 1981, s. 349-365.
T. S. E l i o t , Tradycja i talent indywidualny, [w:] Szkice literackie, War­
szawa 1963.
4

8 7

�29

T R A D Y C J A L U D O W A A K U L T U R A NARODOWA

38

działalności, nowej twórczości (wartości aktualne) . Wartościowanie te­
go typu jest szczególnego rodzaju. Postawa wobec przeszłości określo­
na jako „zmysł historyczny" nie może mieć wyłącznie emocjonalnego
charakteru, ale oparta musi być na szczególnym zasobie wiedzy, doty­
czyć więc będzie określonej części grupy społecznej czy społeczeństwa.
Koncepcja ta wydaje się nawiązywać do tradycjonalno-intelektualnej
doktryny kultury kształtującej w końcu XIX i początku XX w. stosunek
do przeszłości. Przeciwstawiała ona życie bieżące, w którym ostawały się
(często nieświadomie) elementy przeszłości — wartościom i faktom wy­
łączonym z uczestnictwa w życiu, a ocalonym z przeszłości przez wie­
dzę. Świat wartości pamiętanych lub dzięki rekonstrukcji przypomnia­
nych, jest w myśl tych poglądów istotnym skarbem dorobku kultural­
nego wieków. W innych próbach wartościowania dziedzictwa literackie­
go podkreśla się jedynie, że przetrwały próbę czasu tylko te elementy
(i do tradycji można je zaliczyć), które aktywnie kształtują współczesną
praktykę pisarską .
Bardziej arbitralne stanowisko zajmuje w swoich rozważaniach o ro­
li tradycji w literaturze R. Zimand. Tradycja to według niego zja­
wiska kulturowe, wyróżnione przez ludzi w sytuacjach konfliktowych
na podstawie hierarchii wartości. Posługując się metaforą określa tra­
dycję jako wyspy świadomości w bezrefleksyjnie płynącej rzece dzie­
dzictwa, przy czym przeszkodą tworzącą te wyspy są konflikty, któ­
rych charakter może być zarówno społeczny, ekonomiczny, jak i mieć
swoje źródło w wyczerpaniu się możliwości tkwiących w jakimś typie
ekspresji artystycznej. Określając tradycję w jej podmiotowym rozu­
mieniu uważa ją za określony rodzaj ludzkiej działalności, w której
stroną czynną jest ten, kto aktualnie tradycje zwalcza lub podejmuje,
a nie ten kto przekazuje *°.
Wydaje się, że stwierdzenie Zimanda można odnieść nie tylko do
tradycji rozpatrywanej na gruncie literatury, ale do szeregu innych
dziedzin kultury.
W analizie roli tradycji w muzyce polskiej Z. Lissa formułuje
szereg bardzo ciekawych stwierdzeń, które dotyczą spraw najtrudniej­
szych w rozważaniach nad tradycją — zasad, według których wyróżnia­
my tradycję. Związane są one z pytaniem, jakiego rodzaju refleksja
tworzy tradycję. Wprowadzając rozróżnienia w pojęciach kultury i tra­
dycji, tę ostatnią określa jako „wybrane elementy kultury, t j . te, które
39

41

8 8

K . G ó r s k i , Ocena kultury narodowej i zagadnienie jej ciągłości,
„Kultu­
ra i Społeczeństwo", nr 4: 1968, s. 21-26.
M. G ł o w i ń s k i , Poetyka Tuwima a polska tradycja literacka, Warszawa
1962, s. 9-43.
R. Z i m a n d , Problem tradycji, [w:] Proces historyczny w literaturze i sztu­
ce, Warszawa 1967, s. 360-378.
Z. L i s s a , Rola tradycji w muzyce polskiej, [w:] Tradycja i
współczesność,
Warszawa 1970, s. 47-86.
3 8

4 0

41

�30

WANDA P A P R O C K A

w danej fazie historii zostały zaaprobowane, uznane za wartość", weszły
do świadomości społecznej i wytworzyły własny stereotyp. Aprobata
tych elementów może mieć dość różny charakter, może być aproba­
tą z konieczności, braku możliwości wyboru, aprobatą z pietyzmu, apro­
batą świadomą, co jest rezultatem znajomości wielorakich elementów
i wyboru niektórych z nich. Wydaje się, że wymienione kryteria wy­
różniające tradycje z całości dziedzictwa kulturowego uwzględniają
w szerokim zakresie różnorodne sytuacje społeczne i kulturowe kształ­
tujące określone postawy wartościujące. Nasuwa się jednak w tym przy­
padku pytanie, w jakim stopniu można traktować niektóre formy apro­
baty np. z konieczności, z braku możliwości jako świadomą refleksję
w procesie transmisji dziedzictwa przeszłości.
Wartościowanie jak i świadomość pochodzenia z przeszłości są rów­
nież we w s p ó ł c z e s n y c h
badaniach etnograficznych podstawo­
wymi kryteriami wyróżniającymi tradycję z całości dziedzictwa społecz­
nego. W większym może jednak stopniu niż w innych naukach, w pol­
skiej literaturze etnograficznej odczuwało się brak, mimo tak powszech­
nego stosowania pojęcia tradycji i jej pochodnych (wieś tradycyjna,
kultura tradycyjna), głębszej refleksji i szerszej analizy tego pojęcia.
Stąd w ukazujących się obecnie artykułach omawiających to zagadnie­
nie, w których dokonywane są próby wyjaśnienia i uściślenia tych po­
jęć, występują pewne różnice. Wydaje się jednak, że są one w więk­
szym stopniu natury terminologicznej niż merytorycznej i mogą być
wyjaśnione w szerszej dyskusji. J. Burszta określając tradycję jako
wszelkie dziedzictwo przeszłości, materialne i niematerialne, podkreśla
równocześnie znaczenie systemu wartości obowiązującego każdą grupę
ludzką, etniczną, społeczeństwo, który do transmisji kulturowej włącza
mechanizm selekcji. On to powoduje, że niektóre odziedziczone dobra
kulturowe przestały być wartościami sensu stricto, przestały pełnić swą
funkcję instrumentalną stając się reliktami czy przeżytkami lub zni­
kając całkowicie .
W podjętej przez Tomickiego próbie definicji tradycji podkreśla­
ny jest szczególnie czynnik emocjonalny w procesie jej wartościowania.
Można to określić jako aprobatę z pietyzmu (rola autorytetów), aproba­
tę z konieczności wobec groźby sankcji religijnych dla jednostki lub
grupy dokonującej zmiany .
Odniesienie pojęcia tradycji do kultury chłopskiej, w której domi­
nowały formy transmisji ustnej i pokazu, czyniło przydatnym w apa­
raturze pojęciowej dla pewnego typu analizy określenie tradycji w zna­
czeniu c z y n n o ś c i o w y m
i przedmiotowym.
Kierunek
zainteresowań tradycją kultury chłopskiej w sensie podmiotowym dąży
do wytłumaczenia istnienia struktur kulturowych o długim trwaniu.
42

4S

4 2

4 8

Burszta,
Tomicki,

op. cit., s. 342-344.
Tradycja i jej znaczenie..., s. 49.

�T R A D Y C J A L U D O W A A K U L T U R A NARODOWA

31

Mając na celu ustalenie przyczyny wielowiekowej stabilności kultury
chłopskiej bada mechanizmy tworzenia się wariantów tych samych treś­
ci, bez zmiany jej struktury i funkcji wytworu. Pozwala to sformuło­
wać tezę, że historia społeczności chłopskich przez długi czas (do uwłasz­
czenia) była okresem przewagi tradycji jako autorytetu określającego
większość wzorów, norm i wartości obowiązujących w społeczności wiej­
skiej. Tradycja rozumiana jako p o s t a w a p r z e s z ł o ś c i jest ka­
tegorią badawczą, która ma szczególne znaczenie w analizie tych dzie­
dzin kultury, które dotyczą zachowania norm i wartości. W zastoso­
waniu do problematyki badań historycznych szczególnie przydatna w ba­
daniach świadomości klasowej i narodowej wsi. Jak słusznie jednak
zastrzega B. Jaworska, dla okresów starszych dysponujących nader
nikłą ilością źródeł bezpośrednich dotyczących postaw wnioskowanie
siłą rzeczy musi oprzeć się na analizie p r z e d m i o t o w e j zjawisk.
Upoważnia to do wniosku, że w każdym przypadku badając konkretną
rzeczywistość społeczno-kulturową określonych wsi mamy do czynie­
nia tylko ze względną przewagą występowania zjawisk w jednym
z trzech wyróżnionych przez Szackiego pojęć tradycji .
W wielu rozważaniach dotyczących tradycji przedmiotem analizy
jest sprawa p r a w d z i w o ś c i przekazywanych treści. W większości
podkreśla się, że nie jest istotne dla określenia jakiegoś zespołu zjawisk,
mianem tradycji czy miały one de facto miejsce w przeszłości. Ważny
jest zatem nie stan faktyczny, lecz społecznie ważne domniemanie, że
dane zjawisko występowało w przeszłości . W odniesieniu do historii
N. Assorodobraj stwierdza, że z naszego punktu widzenia nie jest waż­
na prawdziwość faktów i uogólnień zawartych w wymienionych wytwo­
rach kulturowych czy wyobrażeń z nimi związanych, lecz ich organicz­
ne włączenie w całość teorii, które tworzą społeczeństwa o sobie, oraz
zasięg społecznego rezonansu i społecznych emocji z nimi związanych .
Mówiąc w swoich rozważaniach historycznych o „dowodzie z dawności". W. Kula przypisuje mu moc dowodową w społeczeństwie przez,
tysiąclecia. Stwarzało to dla każdej zmiany potrzebę udowadniania, że
nie jest przeszłości obca. Stąd wszystko, co nowe, stosowało mimikrę,.
maskowało swą nowość .
W kulturze chłopskiej, w jej specyficznym stosunku do chronologii
wydarzeń do czasu linearnego, uwidacznia się to zjawisko w pojmowa­
niu przeszłości jako specyficznej wizji nie określonego „dawniej", w któ­
rym mieszały się wydarzenia rzeczywiste, legendarne i mitologiczne.
u

iS

46

47

4 4

K o p c z y ń s k a - J a w o r s k a , op. cit.
Z i m a n d , op. cit, s. 365-370.
N. A s s o r o d o b r a j , Żywa
historia. Świadomość
historyczna:
symptomy
i propozycje badawcze, „Studia Socjologiczne", nr 2: 1963, s. 5-47.
W. K u l a ,
Problemy i metody historii gospodarczej,
Warszawa 1963,
s. 12.
4 5

4 6

4 7

�32

WANDA P A P R O C K A

„Główną cechą społecznie utrwalonej wizji przeszłości — jak pisze R. To­
micki — był etiologizm, w którym właśnie przejawiał się ścisły zwią­
zek między wydarzeniami «bardzo dawno» a aktualną rzeczywistością".
Podstawowym bowiem pytaniem, jakie stawiano aktualnemu porządko­
wi, było pytanie o początek jego elementów . Stopień zainteresowania
przeszłością zależny był więc od tego, na ile wiedza o niej była wiedzą
0 teraźniejszości.
W tym stosunku do tradycji zawiera się istotna kwestia potrze­
by rozpatrywania tradycji z punktu widzenia t e r a ź n i e j s z o ś c i
1 p r z y s z ł o ś c i . Zbliża to do odpowiedzi na pytanie, czemu służy
tradycja, pytanie o kryteria selekcjonowania zjawisk. J. Szacki określa
to jako władzę żywych nad umarłymi i w takim rozumieniu tradycji
widzi właściwy przedmiot badań. W d y n a m i c e t r a d y c j i , w fak­
cie, że jest ona układem otwartym, że istnieje zawsze współcześnie
i właśnie w syndromu odgrywa tak wielką rolę, widzą wszyscy zaj­
mujący się problemem tradycji jej,podstawową cechą.
Trwałość wartości artystycznych w dorobku kulturalnym wyraża się
między innymi w ich nieustannym ruchu i przemienności, co sprawia,
że zachowując swoją istotę, samą zasadę trwałości — w swym życiu
utajonym i w historycznych nawrotach, przybierają one postać wielora­
ką i wielokształtną niekiedy nawet trudną do rozpoznania. Zgodnie
z tą myślą czynny związek z tradycją może wyrażać się nie tylko w jej
akceptacji, lecz także w jej faktycznym lub pozornym zaprzeczeniu .
W badaniach literackich tradycja traktowana jest jako przeszłość
aktywnie konstruowana i przekształcana, a nie odwzorowana z jej daw­
nych kształtów. Nie egzystuje sama w sobie, lecz jest zsynchronizowa­
na z aktem twórczego wyboru dając łącznie strukturalną całość.
Tę dynamiczną rolę tradycji w akcie tworzenia widzą badacze in­
nych dziedzin kultury. W muzyce do podstawowych cech tradycji zalicza
się te, które pozwalają im współgrać z nowo powstającym aktualnym
nawarstwieniem kulturowym. A więc o samym kryterium wyboru
i wejściu do tradycji części dziedzictwa kulturowego decyduje współ­
czesność. Ona asymiluje ją do nowych zjawisk kulturowych, które z ko­
lei same mają szanse stać się tradycją w przyszłości. W wypowiedziach
tych zawarte jest bardzo ważne stwierdzenie, że siła nowatorska, o ile
nie jest faktem arbitralnym, musi tkwić immanentnie w przeszłości. Tra­
dycja dając pewne wzory, formy i treści działania na różnych odcin­
kach życia zbiorowego i jednostkowego, równocześnie zezwala na pew­
ną dowolną ich interpretację. Tradycja jest z jednej strony siłą w y z ­
naczającą
z a k r e s k u l t u r o w e g o i n w e n t a r z a , z dru48

49

4 8

T o m i c k i , Kultura — dziedzictwo..., s. 360.
J . S t a r z y ń s k i , O nowych i trwałych
wartościach
sztuki polskiej ostat­
niego ćwierćwiecza,
[w:] Tradycja i współczesność.
O kulturze artystycznej
Polski,
Warszawa 1970, s. 134-150.
4 8

�T R A D Y C J A L U D O W A A K U L T U R A NARODOWA

33

giej zaś siłą d y n a m i z u j ą c ą
rozwój kultury. Świadomość posia­
dania tradycji normowana i ożywiona własną wizją przyszłości składa
się na określoną harmonię a raczej dialektykę. Nowatorstwo i tradycja
przedstawia się nie jako starcie antagonizmów zewnętrznych, ale jako
istotne wewnętrzne źródło ruchu.
Należy jednak pamiętać w analizie procesu tworzenia się tradycji,
jak słusznie zwracają uwagę historycy, o potrzebach jej sztucznego od­
twarzania, które mogły powodować w pewnych przypadkach głębokie
i względnie trwałe modyfikacje w społecznej świadomości. Mogły być
one częścią wspomnianej przez Kulę „mimikry" pozwalającej uzasadniać
byt określonym zjawiskom społecznym czy kulturowym. Mogą przeja­
wiać się w próbie narzucenia kontynuacji czy nawiązania do tradycji,
w tym także ludowej, w formie zinstytucjonalizowanej nadając jej cha­
rakter reprezentacyjny i symboliczny.
W kulturze chłopskiej proces zmiany kulturowej jest wyrazem dy­
namiki przeobrażeń samej tradycji. Jest to jednak proces bardziej zło­
żony niż u innych wspomnianych działaczy kultury.
Oddziaływanie czynników egzo- i endogennych będzie nie tylko róż­
ne w każdym określonym czasie, ale różne w odniesieniu do poszcze­
gólnych tak bogatych zjawisk kulturowych, które składają się na poję­
cie kultury ludowej.
Złożoność pojęcia tradycji jak i mechanizmów jej kształtowania się
w procesie selekcji dziedzictwa kulturowego wsi każe dochodzić do
wykrycia jej natury zarówno przez badanie tradycji lokalnej, określa­
nej jako integralna, w procesie tworzenia której sterującą rolę odgry­
wa przeszłość, jak i tradycji, którą można by określić jako świadomą,
tworzonej na podstawie wykraczajcego poza społeczność lokalną systemu
wartości. Posiadając szerszy niż tradycja integralna punkt odniesienia,
musiała odpowiadać ona hierarchii wartości wspólnej całej warstwie
chłopskiej, ujmowanej w kontekście narodu. Wymagało to włączenia
w zakres tego pojęcia treści, które byłyby pomostem łączącym nie tyl­
ko przeszłość z teraźniejszością, ale i przyszłością. Każde próby usyste­
matyzowania zagadnienia tradycji są niewątpliwie dalszym krokiem
w opracowaniu tego tak złożonego problemu, ale równocześnie odsła­
niają nowe pola badawcze wymagające dalszych pogłębionych studiów
teoretycznych i empirycznych.

» — Etnogralia Polska, X X V I I / 2

�34

WANDA P A P R O C K A

Ванда Папроцка

НАРОДНАЯ ТРАДИЦИЯ И НАЦИОНАЛЬНАЯ КУЛЬТУРА
ПОСЛЕ ВТОРОЙ МИРОВОЙ ВОЙНЫ

Резюме

В статье говорится о том, как формировалось отношение к народной традиции в период
после второй мировой войны. Происходящие социальные перемены определяли новое от­
ношение к ней, отвечающее актуально возникающей системе ценностей в рамках общей
программы расчета со всем культурным наследием предудущих периодов. Как оценка роли
и значения народной традиции в общественной жизни и культуре, так и характер и объем
содержания, заключавшегося в этом понятии, не были однородными на протяжении всего
послевоенного периода. Споры за ее идейное содержание усиливались согласно наблю­
дающейся закономерности в периоды известной социальной напряженности. Это в зна­
чительной мере зависело не только от различий во взглядах на значение всего культурного
наследия в общественном развитии. В первый послевоенный период взгляды на народную
традицию представляли собой известное продолжение взглядов, распространяемых в меж­
дувоенный период, и программы деятельности. Этому способствовало восстановление сразу
же после войны ряда крестьядских организаций и народных журналов и издательств. Пред­
ставляемые в этот период взгляды признавали единство народной культуры независимо
от социальной стратификации внутри этой прослойки. Они стремились к развитию социаль­
но-группового самосознания этой прослойки и к воспитанию крестьян, опираясь на ценности
народной культуры.
В следующий период во взглядах на народную традицию начинает преобладать пози­
ция, выдвигающая на первый план единство культуры трудящихся городов и сел, учиты­
вающая лишь часть культурного достояния деревни —то, что связано в первую очередь
с классовой борьбой. Постулировалось единство национальной культуры путем нивелиро­
вания классовых различий в процессе формирования бесклассового общества. Такая пози­
ция являлась с одной стороны выражением официальных взглядов и программ деятель­
ности, с другой же она открывала простор для критики позиций при подходе к культуре
деревни, существовавших до сих пор. Идея строительства общей культуры „трудящихся
городов и сел" нашла свое выражение в оценке культурного наследия сельской среды. Выс­
тупая против культурного сепаратизма деревни, отвергались и обходились те элементы,
которые свидетельствовали о культурном отличии и которые в виду тесной связи с осо­
быми условиями жизни и труда в деревне не могли образовать единого целого с городской
и рабочей культурой. Это сводило научные и понуляризаторские интересы прежде всего
к материальной культуре, народному искусству и фольклору. Эти взгляды нашли свое отра­
жение в формировавшихся в пятидесятые годы теоретических положениях для исследований
по народному искусству и фольклору в Польше, а также в программах поисков на местах.
Следующий период, начиная с конца 1956 г., приносит более широкий подход к вопро­
сам о народной культуре. Отходя от поисков классового содержания, общего для культуры
всех трудящихся, стали понимать ее как культуру определенной общественной группы,
представляющую собой исторически создавшееся нерасторжимое целое, которое следует
изучать в определенных пределах пространства и времени.
Далее в статье автор рассматривает на примере этнографических исследований и других
гуманитарных наук формирование взглядов на традицию, принципов и критериев о п р е д е ­
ления ценности культурного наследия, механизмов отбора культурных явлений и произ­
ведений в процессе передачи.

�</text>
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        <src>https://zbiory.etnologia.uw.edu.pl/files/original/8ebaf4a1162acf0995cc2262466368b7.pdf</src>
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              <name>Subject</name>
              <description>The topic of the resource</description>
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      <description>A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.</description>
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                <text>Tradycja ludowa a świadomość społeczna warstwy chłopskiej w okresie II Rzeczypospolitej / ETNOGRAFIA POLSKA 1983 t.27 z.1</text>
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                <text>„Etnografia Polska", t.
I S S N 0071-1861

XXVII,

z. 1

WANDA P A P R O C K A

TRADYCJA LUDOWA
A ŚWIADOMOŚĆ SPOŁECZNA WARSTWY CHŁOPSKIEJ
W OKRESIE I I RZECZYPOSPOLITEJ
Powstanie I I Rzeczypospolitej nie tylko przywróciło niepodległy byt
narodowi polskiemu, ale było także aktem narodowej i społecznej kon­
solidacji. Nowa sytuacja polityczna kraju dała podstawy do rozwoju no­
wych kierunków działania w wielu dziedzinach życia społecznego, go­
spodarczego i kulturalnego. Zrealizowanie leżącego u podstaw i określa­
jącego charakter wielu działań, podstawowego celu, jakim było odzyska­
nie niepodległości, uwalniało znaczny potencjał energii społecznej kie­
rując go k u innym zadaniom.
Istniejąca dotąd stała potrzeba udowadniania prawa do samodziel­
nego bytu narodowego i wysiłek, jaki był potrzebny dla spełnienia te­
go zadania, mogły zostać wykorzystane w aktywnym i twórczym działa­
niu zorientowanych już nie na badanie przeszłości, w której szukano
dowodu tożsamości narodu, ale na teraźniejszość i przyszłość. Dążenie
do integracji narodowej w okresie zaborów realizowane m. in. na bazie
wspólnego dziedzictwa kulturowego, którego korzenie odkrywano w k u l - ,
turze ludowej w jej rodzimym, słowiańskim źródle w nowych warun­
kach niepodległego państwa polskiego, zastąpione zostało dążeniem do
i n t e g r a c j i s p o ł e c z n e j . Proces konsolidacji społeczeństwa pol­
skiego wymagał określenia roli w nowo powstałym państwie każdej
z warstw i klas społecznych.
Jednym z elementów określających ich pozycję w nowo formującej
się strukturze społecznej państwa był rozmiar i charakter
dziedzic­
twa
k u l t u r o w e g o wnoszonego niejako w posagu do narodowe­
go skarbca. T y m wkładem warstwy chłopskiej do kultury narodowej
były m. in. tradycyjne treści i wartości zawarte w kulturze ludowej.
W tej określonej nowymi warunkami sytuacji tradycyjne treści k u l ­
tury ludowej stają się wyłącznie dziedzictwem kulturowym warstwy
chłopskiej i jej orężem w walce o prawo do udziału we współtworzeniu
kultury ogólnonarodowej.
Złożoność procesów, które kształtowały społeczno-polityczną i k u l t u -

�30

WANDA

PAPROCKA

r a m ą rzeczywistość tego okresu, uniemożliwia objęcie wszystkich płasz­
czyzn, na których rozpatrywać należałoby zagadnienia tradycji ludo­
wej, stosunku do niej, treści które ona zawierała.
Przyjmując tak jak w poprzedniej części opracowania i nadrzęd­
ność zagadnienia stosunku kultury ludowej do kultury narodowej skon­
centrowano się na omówieniu poglądów na tradycję ludową ukazując,
do jakich elementów tradycji ludowej odwoływano się, pozytywnie lub
negatywnie je wartościując, jakie elementy świadomie lub nieświadomie
adaptowano. Jest to konsekwencją przyjętej p o d m i o t o w e j
ana­
l i z y pojęcia tradycji, która akcentuje rolę jednostki lub grupy w akcie
wyboru i wartościowania, a nie rozpatruje elementów tradycji jako war­
tości samych w sobie.
W okresie międzywojennym stosunek do tradycji ludowej formułowa­
ny był przez różne kręgi społeczne. Stawał się on częścią programów
działania określonych grup formalnych i nieformalnych w różnych kon­
cepcjach ideologicznych. Wspierany był autorytetem rozwijających się
badań naukowych nad kulturą ludową i folklorem.
W t y m okresie szczególnie wzrasta rola samego środowiska wiejskie­
go w kształtowaniu poglądów na kulturę ludową i wartości przez nią
reprezentowane. Jest to częścią procesu "samookreślenia" się grup czy
warstw społecznych, który wymagał gromadzenia "wiedzy o sobie" czy
"wyobrażeń o sobie" i łączył się z próbą włączenia przeszłości do aktu­
alnej świadomości społecznej . Dokonywało się to na różnych pozio­
mach i w różny sposób, służąc jednak podstawowemu celowi, jakim było
ukazanie własnej odrębności kulturowej. Posiadanie jej uzasadniało
prawo warstwy chłopskiej do udziału w współtworzeniu kultury naro­
dowej na zasadach partnerstwa.
Jak w każdych badaniach z zakresu świadomości społecznej odno­
szących się do przeszłości, której nie możemy objąć badaniami bezpośred­
nimi, musimy posługiwać się ź r ó d ł a m i p o ś r e d n i m i . Wniosku­
jąc na podstawie analizy przedmiotowej określonych faktów i zjawisk
można podjąć próby odtworzenia tendencji społecznych, a nawet po­
staw ludzkich, które te zjawiska kreowały. Tego typu źródłem jest
m. in. działalność organizacji wiejskich przede wszystkim młodzieżo­
wych, uniwersytetów ludowych, teatrów ludowych. Nie zajmując się
politycznymi aspektami tych działań podjęto próbę zanalizowania ich
roli w procesie wartościowania i selekcjonowania dziedzictwa kulturo­
wego wsi i wyborze treści, którym nadano rangę tradycji.
Wydaje się, że zarówno poglądy przedstawione w programach i rea­
lizowane w działalności tych organizacji i instytucji, jak i formułowa2

1

Por. W . P a p r o c k a , Tradycja ludowa w myśli humanistycznej i idei na­
rodu XIX w., "Etnografia Polska", t. 26: 1982, z. 2, s. 31 - 67.
Por. N. A s s o r o d o b r a j , Żywa historia. Świadomość
historyczna; sympto­
my i propozycje badawcze, "Studia Socjologiczne", nr 2: 1963, s. 5-47.
!

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SPOŁECZNA

ne na gruncie, rozwijającego się coraz silniej ruchu regionalnego, były
niejednokrotnie wspólne z poglądami środowiska naukowego etnogra­
fów, o czym świadczyć może bezpośredni ich udział w tej działalności
oraz szereg wypowiedzi na łamach wydawnictw naukowych.
Szczególnie wyraźnie określane i artykułowane są zagadnienia doty­
czące tradycji ludowej w działalności młodzieży wiejskiej. Jakkolwiek
przyjmuje się, że u podstaw silnie rozwijającego się w okresie między­
wojennym ruchu młodzieżowego był m. in. konflikt międzypokoleniowy,
w treści swej będący opozycją wobec tradycyjnej społeczno-kulturowej
strukturze wsi, to jednak właśnie w środowisku młodzieży najsilniej w y ­
stępowało poczucie wartości kultury reprezentowanej przez wieś. Jak
stwierdza W. I . Thomas i F. Znaniecki "kiedy ... społeczność wchodzi
w kontakt z zewnętrznym światem to rzecz naturalna, że młodzież
pierwsza rozwija nowe postawy i przejmuje nowe wartości" .
W dyskusjach metodologicznych przeważa pogląd, który uznaje gru­
py młodzieżowe za mniej lub bardziej samodzielny czynnik zmian spo­
łecznych *. Nie można jednak traktować całej młodzieży wiejskiej jako
aktywnej społecznie w tym okresie. Stał temu na przeszkodzie m. i n .
niski stan oświaty i pewna istniejąca jeszcze izolacja kulturowa wsi.
Równocześnie jednak rozwijający się w tych warunkach ruch samo­
kształceniowy, który posiadał tradycję sięgającą okresu zaborów, two­
rzył podstawy do organizowania kręgów rówieśników, do tworzenia się
ruchu młodzieżowego. Jest swoistym paradoksem, że okres międzywo­
jenny — nie sprzyjający ze względów ekonomicznych wczesnemu usa­
modzielnianiu się gospodarczemu młodzieży (w kategorii przyjętego przez
środowisko pojęcia samodzielności jako pojęcia odnoszącego się do sta­
nu posiadania lub współrządzenia gospodarstwem rolnym) — dla jej
aktywnej części był bodźcem do działania poza tradycyjną organizacją
życia zbiorowego i tradycyjną hierarchią stanowisk społecznych na wsi.
Proces konsolidacji młodej generacji wsi w ramach organizacji mło­
dzieżowych dokonywał się poprzez budzenie w klasie chłopskiej s am o w i e d z y g r u p o w e j . Jej ważnym elementem była świadomość
posiadania odrębnej kultury, którą oceniano i wartościowanio już wie­
lokrotnie poza środowiskiem wiejskim w różnych okresach historycz­
nych i z różnych pozycji ideologicznych . Należy więc sądzić, że w pro­
cesie uświadamiania sobie przez warstwę chłopską odrębności k u l t u ­
rowej znaczną rolę odegrały idee społeczno-narodowe
powstałe
w X I X w., określające rolę i znaczenie wsi w rozwoju kultury naro3

5

8

Cyt. za I. C h a ł a s i ń s k i , Rewolucjo młodości,
Warszawa 1969, s. 233.
A. L e c h , Tradycyjna kultura ludowa w programach i działalności
polskich
związków
młodzieży
wiejskiej w okresie U Rzeczypospołitej,
Zeszyty Naukowe
Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego, seria 1, nr 39, Łódź 1978.
P a p r o c k a , op. cit.
4

8

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dowej. Do nich nawiązywano i twórczo je rozwijano w ideologii ruchu
chłopskiego, w programach regionalizmu czy idei agraryzmu.
Jako jeden z pierwszych S. Czarnowski zwrócił uwagę na podejmo­
wanie zagadnień tradycji ludowej w ruchu młodowiejskim. W Podłożu
ruchu chłopskiego pisze:
"W ciągu pierwszych kilkudziesięciu lat po zniesieniu pańszczyzny chłop zrzu­
cił z siebie z dość lekkim sercem cały ten balast przeszłości skojarzony w jego
wyobrażeniu z poniżeniem stanu włościańskiego w porównaniu z mieszczańskim
i szlacheckim, a nawet z wolnym robotnikiem fabrycznym. Obecnie zwraca się
on — zwłaszcza pokolenie młodsze — ku całej tej tradycji, by z niej w y d o b y ć to,
co jest jeszcze przydatne, co da się zastosować do nowych warunków, a wzmocnić
może jednocześnie chłopską odrębność. Praca to olbrzymia — kto wie, czy nie
ponad siły jednego pokolenia. Praca sortowania, wartościowania, przetwarzania.
Co w i ę c e j , praca w postępie swoim rozwijająca się pod znakiem sprzeczności za­
sadniczych. Z jednej bowiem strony wszyscy szermierze ruchu chłopskiego, kul­
tury chłopskiej, zmuszeni są zwracać się twarzą ku przeszłości. Z przeszłości wy­
krzesać się starają wskazania na przyszłość... Z drugiej strony ci sami szermierze
okazują się pionierami przyszłości, są tym właśnie w środowisku chłopskim, któ­
rzy usiłują w e ń wprowadzić nowoczesne pojęcia, nowoczesną organizację życia
produkcyjnego i politycznego. Sprzeczność ta zaznacza się na wszystkich polach
i doprowadza zarówno do powstania przedsięwzięć pod hasłami przeciwstawnymi,
np. w dziedzinie literatury, jak również do tragicznych konfliktów, przypomina­
jących te, które cechowały okres romantyzmu mieszczańskiego. W rzeczy samej
ruch ludowy w Polsce, zwłaszcza ruch młodzieży ludowej, przeżywa obecnie swój
okres romantyzmu, rozumianego oczywiście nie jako prąd wyłącznie literacki, ale
w ogóle duchowy" .
6

¡
\
i
:

|
i
!

I
I

Ruchy młodzieży wiejskiej nie były jednolite w swoich programach.,
Zarówno jednak silnie akcentujący swój charakter klasowy i reprezen­
tujący kierunek radykalny Związek Młodzieży Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej
"Wici", jak i równie patriotyczny, ale bliższy tendencjom solidaryzmu
narodowego Centralny Związek Młodzieży Wiejskiej w programach
swoich równie silnie akcentowały sprawę ludowych tradycji kultural­
nych.
Już w wydanym pierwszym piśmie dla młodzieży wiejskiej "Świt —
Młodzi Idą" (wychodzącym od 1911 r. w formie dodatku do "Zarania")
ujawnia się wpływ, jaki na kierunki zainteresowań ruchu młodzieżowego tradycją ludową wywarł okres Młodej Polski, a nawet Romantyzm.
W apelu do młodzieży wybitnego pedagoga i działacza ruchu ludowego I . Kosmowskiej, wydanym jeszcze przed odzyskaniem niepodległości w 1916 г., autorka oceniając wartość dla kultury ogólnonarodowej — kultury szlacheckiej i ludowej o tej ostatniej pisze, że przecho­
w y w a ł a w całej swojej archaicznej prostocie bezcenny skarb odrębności
narodowej zawarty w sztuce zdobniczej, w podaniach i pieśniach, "a dziś
dopiero do szerszego nowożytnego życia budzić się zaczyna". W pro¬
pagowaniu form działania nawiązuje Kosmowska nawet bezpośrednio
'S. Czarnowski,

Podłoże

ruchu

chłopskiego,

Warszawa 1956, t. 2, s. 185.

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33

do romantycznych działań filomatów, do opracowanego przez nich kwe­
stionariusza Opis geograficzny ziem polskich uznając go za wytyczne
do dalszej pracy .
Ten romantyczny i neoromantyczny nurt w podejściu do kultury l u ­
dowej, mimo że spotykał się niejednokrotnie z krytyką
dominował
w rozumieniu pojęcia tradycji i w ocenie jej roli i udziału w tworzeniu
kultury ogólnonarodowej. Tradycja ludowa, w której widziano najstar­
sze rodzime i słowiańskie pierwiastki kultury, była w tych koncepcjach
oomostem łączącym przeszłość, teraźniejszość i przyszłość*. Sformuło­
wania, jakich używano dla wyrażenia tych poglądów, bliskie były ro­
mantycznemu widzeniu rzeczywistości «. Możliwość powoływania się na
genealogie kulturowe sięgające głębiej w przeszłość niż oficjalna orga­
nizacja państwowa, udowadniania ciągłości i niezmienności kulturowej
pozwalało warstwie chłopskiej ubiegać się o prawo do udziału w k u l t u 7

7

Por. R. К о с i o w a, Irena Kosmowska, Warszawa I960.
K . M a j , Ruch młodzieży
wiejskiej jako postępowy
ruch chłopski,
Warszawa
1936; F . B u j a k , Szlachecka czy chłopska kultura, "Wieś i Państwo", nr 7: 1939,
s. 481 - 490; J . A. K r ó l , Drogowskazy na manowcach kultury ludowej, Warszawa
1947.
M a z u r , Obowiązki
młodzieży
wiejskiej wobec zmienionej roli ludu w ży­
ciu narodu, "Drużyna", nr 38: 1919; J . C z a r n e c k i , Bogactwo chłopskiej
duszy,
"Siew", nr 33: 192.7; W. K o j d e r , O duszę wsi, "Wici", nr 45: 1929; Siewiarze
a odrodzenie wsi, "Siew", nr 9: 1934; S. G i e r a t , Rola młodzieży
wiejskiej w du­
chowej przemianie narodu, "Siew", nr 14-15: 1934; W. C a p i g a , Ku
ideałom
słowiańskim,
"Wici", nr 23 - 24: 1936; J . C i e r n i a k , Słowo
o kulturze
chłopa
polskiego, "Praca Oświatowa", nr 7: 1936.
Jeden z g ł ó w n y c h ideologów ruchu ludowego J . Niecko pisał: "chłop przez
cały d ł u g o w i e k o w y okres niewoli pańszczyźnianej, a później trójzaborczej zacho­
w a ł swój w ł a s n y pion słowiański. Zachował język własny, własne zwyczaje, oby­
czaje, wierzenia i wszystkie polańskie uczucia. Mimo iż rozwój tych sprawności
&lt;kultury) został powstrzymany, a ściślej szlacheckim badylem po wierzchu za­
rośnięty i przytłumiony — to jednak pod tym badylem — trwała nieśmiertelna
zaródź duszy prasłowiańskiej polskiej. Chłop obronił polskość i ziemię polską"
(s. 41). "Wiemy bowiem, że lud wiejski jest potomkiem najpierwszych Słowian —
Polan, którzy pracą ciężką i mozolną obronili to, co dzisiaj nazywamy naszą oj­
czyzną" (s. 45). "Wiciowe gromady rozniecają i gruntują w życiu wsi w ł a s n ą inicja­
t y w ę i twórczy rozmach w przyszłości w myśl hasła: odrodzenie życia wsi, siłami
samej wsi" (s. 65). Na wiciowych drogach, Warszawa 1937.
O roli młodzieży wiejskiej tak pisał S. Gierat prezes Centralnego Związku
Młodzieży Wiejskiej: " K o ł a ' M ł o d z i e ż y Wiejskiej zrzeszające dojrzałych charakte­
rem wyzwolonych duchowo chłopów zapoczątkowały Ruch Miodowi ej ski, będący
dalszym ciągiem życia kmiecego z okresu osiedlania się naszych przodków na
ziemiach dorzecza Wisły i Łaby. Podstawy ideowe, przyświecające temu rucho­
wi, posiadają cechy wiecznotrwałe. Umiłowanie ziemi karmicielki, praca nad wy­
dobyciem z niej bogactwa przyrodzonego, współżycie gromadzkie plemion zamiesz­
kujących p a ń s t w o Polskie, dla wydajniejszej pracy naszych praojców, trudniących
się życiem rolniczo-leśnym, które nam również przyświecają... W prastarych cza­
sach klasa rolnicza i pszczelarzy była zupełnie odrębna, nawet od swoich współ­
braci trudniących się rzemiosłem wojennym". Op. cit., s. 170.
8

8

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3 — Etnografia Polska X X V I I / 1

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rze narodowej na równi z innymi klasami społecznymi. Należy sądzić, że
powoływanie się i akceptowanie poglądów na słowiańską genealogię
tradycyjnych treści kultury ludowej było wywołane potrzebą wypełnie­
nia luki, jaką w świadomości chłopów był brak historii ich własnej
klasy.
Słowiańskie korzenie kultury ludowej pełniły więc inne, jak już
wspomniano na wstępie, funkcje niż w okresie niewoli. Nie służyły już
udowadnianiu prawa do samodzielności, niezależności i własnego naro­
dowego bytu wszystkich Polaków, ale uzasadniały odrębność i wartości
społeczno-kulturowe warstwy chłopskiej wspierając w ten sposób jej
dążenia do zajęcia właściwego miejsca w strukturze społecznej państwa.
W okresie międzywojennym poglądy na tradycję ludową kształto­
wały się pod wpływem dwóch podstawowych prądów:
regionaliz­
mu
i agraryzmu".
Regionalizm posiadający swoich ideologów
i działaczy już na przełomie X I X i X X w. ™ stał się programem i prakty­
ką działania związaną po odzyskaniu niepodległości z polityką państwa.
Agraryzm był doktryną przyjmowaną przez cały ruch ludowy niezależ­
nie od pewnych specyfik i odcieni ideowych.
W. Orkan tworząc podstawy regionalizmu polskiego nadał realny
kształt pragnieniom rozbudzonym w społeczeństwie przez neoromantyczne koncepcje witkiewiczowskie dotyczące tworzenia stylu narodowego
na bazie kultury ludowej Podhala . Jako kontynuator poglądów
S. Witkiewicza na zagadnienie rasy góralskiej, destrukcyjną rolę k u l ­
tury miejskiej i genezę sztuki ludowej był przekazicielem idei roman­
tycznych, powstałych w okresie niewoli, pokoleniom następnym, żyją­
cym już w odrodzonym kraju.
Etyczne wartości regionalizmu, o których mówił w swoich przemó­
wieniach już w 1913 г., mogły być — jego zdaniem — rozwijane tylko
przez właściwe poznanie tradycji historycznych swego własnego regio­
nu. Do tych stwierdzeń nawiązywał na Zjeździe Podhalan w 1922 r.
określając zadania podhalańskiego regionalizmu wobec państwa. Zwra­
cając się do młodzieży formułował to następująco:
13

"Odzywam s i ę do Ciebie synu Podhala, młodszy mój Bracie, T y idący i T y
który przyjdziesz. Poznaj — że przede wszystkim przeszłość Twej bliższej Ojczyz­
ny — Podhala. I jej stosunek do przeszłości Rzeczypospolitej... Poznaj życie swych
dziadów — ich pragnienia, działania, ich bunty — stosunki ontoczesne zarówno
ekonomiczne, jak i polityczne — całą barwną bogatą, jakiej żadna z ziem polskich
niema, tradycję Podhala. Tradycja jest Twoją godnością, Twoją dumą, Twoim
" L e c h , op. cit., s. 31-33.
» P a p r o c k a , o } ) . cit.
W. O r k a n , Wskazania, Warszawa 1930, s. 87; J . Z b o r o w s k i ,
Regio­
nalizm podhalański,
"Wierchy", R. 8: 1930, s. 204-209. P o d s t a w ą dla rozwiązań
teoretycznych Orkana zawartych m. in. we Wskazaniach było znakomite studium
Witkiewicza o góralszczyźnie zamieszczone jako przedmowa do drugiego wyda­
nia Na przełęczy,
[w:] W kręgu Tatr, t. 1, Kraków.
1 8

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35

szlachectwem, synu chłopski. Dbaj o zachowanie spuścizny Twych ojców, rodzi­
mej sztuki, rodzimej kultury. Dąż do tego, aby Twoja oczyszczona z nalotów obcych
kultura ludowa poszła w górę, rozwinięta w kwiat wielkiej kultury narodowej,
.godna zająć poczesne miejsce w dorobku wszechludzkim" 4

Głoszone przez Orkana idee konkretyzują się w przedstawionym
w 1926 r. Programie regionalizmu polskiego, jakkolwiek zakresu nakreś­
lonych w nim działań nie uważa Orkan za wystarczający dla zreali­
zowania tak wielkich celów.
W I V części programu zatytułowanego Zycie kulturalne sformuło­
wane zostały następujące punkty dotyczące kultury ludowej i folklo­
ru. Punkt piąty dotyczący regionalizmu w teatrze postuluje dążyć do
"wyzyskania, legend, podań, klechd historii, bajek, gadek, opowieści,
miejsc szczególnych mających w każdej okolicy swe dzieje własne ży­
jące zawsze w ustach ludzf". Na tej podstawie tworzyć się będzie teatr
ludowy w Polsce, a przez teatr ludowy odrodzenie twórczości w ogóle
organizacji zaś kulturalnej w szczególności.
W punkcie szóstym w zakresie sztuk plastycznych i architektury re­
gionalizm wskazuje bogactwo tematów oraz technik, jakimi operuje
miejscowa sztuka ludowa i wyrosła samodzielnie w danym środowisku
sztuka historyczna.
W punkcie siódmym postulowane jest otoczenie przez regionalizm
muzyczny szczególną troską etnografię muzyczną oraz jak najszersze
udostępnienie muzyki ludowej jako podstawy do umuzykalnienia spo­
łeczeństwa w kierunku narodowym.
Program desygnowali m. in. tak wybitni uczeni jak: W. Antonie­
wicz, S. Arnold, F. Bujak, W. Doroszewski, E. Frankowski, A. Janow­
ski, K. Nitsch .
Tak sformułowane zadania, jak słusznie stwierdzał Orkan, nie da­
wały możliwości zrealizowania wizjonerskiej idei witkiewiczowskiej —
nadania nowego kształtu kulturze polskiej, stworzenia stylu narodo­
wego. Ograniczoność zawartych w programie celów wydaje się jeszcze
jednym dowodem zmian, jakie nastąpiły w sposobie widzenia zadań,
które miała do spełnienia tradycja ludowa w "służbie narodu". Roman­
tyczna ocena wartości i twórczych sił zawartych w tradycji ludowej
zdolnych odrodzić kulturę narodową stała się w t y m okresie przede
wszystkim credem ideologicznym działającej na polu kulturalno-społecz­
nym i politycznym inteligencji pochodzenia chłopskiego, niezależnie od
różnic w sposobach realizowania tego zadania przez poszczególne jej
grupy. Program regionalizmu natomiast opracowany i formułowany
przez przedstawicieli różnych kręgów społecznych w t y m znaczną liczbę
naukowców nie tylko w treści, ale i w sposobie formułowania myśli i j ę 15

1 4

W. O r k a n , Wskazania dla synów Podhala wygłoszone
na Zjeździe
Pod­
halan 13 sierpnia 1922 r. w Czarnym Dunajcu, "Siew", nr 12-13: 1931,. s. 187.
« "Ziemia", nr 13-14: 1926, s. 211.

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zyka daleki był od emocjonalnego zaangażowania cechującego m. in.
wystąpienia Orkana. Konsekwentny jednak w realizowaniu swej idei
zwrócił się on ponownie na X jubileuszowym Zjeździe Podhalan
w 1926 r. z apelem do przedstawicieli innych ziem polskich. Apel ten
brzmiał następująco:
"My zebrani na Zjeździe dziesiątym naszym zorganizowani w Związek syno­
wie chłopscy Podhala, zwracamy się z apelem do s y n ó w wszystkich Ziem na ob­
szarze Polski, które jeszcze w niwelacyjnym procesie nie zgasły, aby wespół z na­
mi jęli się odnowy i utrwalenia Rzeczypospolitej, budząc dumę odrębności swych
ziem i dźwigając je pracą ku górze..." «.
1

Wydaje się, że w t y m apelu zawarte są także pozytywistyczne idee
pracy organicznej, kierowane jednak już bezpośrednio do społeczności
wiejskiej. Traktowanie warstwy chłopskiej nie jako przedmiotu, ale
jako podmiotu działania uwolniło głoszone hasła od paternalistycznego
charakteru, jaki cechował poczynania ХГХ-wiecznych pozytywistów.
Regionalizm w koncepcji Orkana był niewątpliwie jedną z form
obrony rodzimości życia wiejskiego w jego tradycyjnej formie. Według
tych poglądów kultura" ludowa stając się świadoma siebie zwarta i bo­
gata musi przeciwstawić się wpływom miasta, emigracji zarobkowej,
a nawet s z k o ł y " . Wywierane przez nie presje nie tylko niwelują tra­
dycyjną kulturę ludową, ale i zacierają zróżnicowanie ziem polskich
wyrażające się w odmiennej dla każdej z nich "fizjonomii" kulturowej.
Z podstawowego założenia, że " i m większe owo zróżnicowanie, t y m bo­
gatsze oblicze kulturalne narodu" zrodził się orkanowski
Memoriał
w sprawie utworzenia "Ogniska Ziem" złożony w 1929 r. do Minister­
stwa Wyznań Religijnych i Oświaty
Wiara w wartość tradycji ludowej i jej rolę w procesie budowania
kultury narodowej, akceptowanie jej w niezmienionej odziedziczonej po
przodkach formie jest charakterystyczne dla ukształtowanych w okresie
niewoli postaw społecznych i narodowych. Tak pisał o t y m S. Pigoń:
"Przez całe lata wypiastował Orkan w duszy swej wymarzoną wizję
nowej Polski opartej jak najściślej na podstawie rodowej o lud, żeby
powiedzieć słowami Norwida »Polski odrodzonych kołodziejów^' *.
1

i ' W. O r k a n , O związkach
ziem. Rzecz wygłoszona
na X
jubileuszowym
Zjeździe
Podhalan w roku 1926 w Szaflarach, "Siew", nr 12-13: 1931. s. 185.
" Por. S. P i g o ń , Na drogach i manowcach kultury ludowej, L w ó w 1939.
J . Z b o r o w s k i pisząc o Memoriale krytykował nadmiar wiary "w zbaw­
cze skutki podhalanizmu w zakresie uczuć etycznych, społecznych, patriotycznych"
i mimo że „dodhalanizm żywo przyczynił się do podniesienia patriotyzmu wśród
Podhalan, jednakże przypisywanie tylko temu jedynie ruchowi rozwoju narodo­
wych, niepodległościowych aspiracji na góralszczyźnie jest przesadą. Podhalanizm
był tylko jednym z wielu czynników narodowego uświadomienia, chronologicznie
n a j m ł o d s z y m z tych czynników przed 1914 rokiem i działał dość krótko". Z b o ­
r o w s k i , op. cit.
" P i g o ń , op. cit, s. 131.
1 8

�T R A D Y C J A LUDOWA A ŚWIADOMOŚĆ

SPOŁECZNA

37

Bardzo ważną rolę w kształtowaniu świadomości chłopskiej odegrała
ideologia
agraryzmu.
Jakkolwiek zasady agraryzmu zosta­
ły sformułowane dopiero w latach trzydziestych, i to głównie przez dzia­
łaczy "Wici", wydaje się, że można uznać je za podstawę działania ca­
łego ruchu ludowego. W 1934 r. ukazała się książka S. Miłkowskiego
Agraryzm jako forma przebudowy ustroju społecznego zawierająca pro­
gram ideologiczny tego kierunku .
Ideologia, która wyrosła na gruncie ruchów społeczno-politycznych
innych krajów, zwłaszcza Danii, Szwajcarii i Czechosłowacji, w swoich
podstawowych założeniach opierała się na twierdzeniu, że ludność chłop­
ska stanowi jednolitą warstwę społeczną i jako najsilniejsza w Polsce
powinna zajmować w politycznym i społecznym życiu narodu i państwa
pozycję odpowiadającą jej liczebności oraz wkładowi w produkcję dóbr
materialnych i duchowych państwa i narodu. Postulowana przez agrarystów konieczność oparcia struktury ekonomicznej wsi na
rodzin­
n y m g o s p o d a r s t w i e chłopskim miała być nie tylko najwłaściw­
szą drogą do realizacji celów gospodarczych, ale również spełniać zada­
nia wychowawcze wobec młodego pokolenia. Rodzinne gospodarstwo
chłopskie stwarzało bowiem zdaniem agrarystów najlepsze warunki
do wychowania pełnowartościowych pod względem moralnym i fizycz­
nym obywateli. Uznanie wysokiej rangi rodziny wiejskiej jako środo­
wiska wychowawczego zawierało w sobie równocześnie akceptację treś­
ci które były przekazywane w rodzinie w procesie transmisji kulturo¬
wej. Miało to bardzo ważne znaczenie dla oceny przez młodzież war­
tości dziedzictwa kulturowego swej warstwy.
Wysokie uznanie dla wartości społeczno-moralnych warstwy chłop­
skiej wynikało w myśl założeń filozoficznych agraryzmu ze związku
jednostki z ziemią w procesie produkcyjnym, ze współżycia z przyrodą
i tworzenia swą pracą najbardziej wartościowej pod względem społeczno-moralnym kultury "twórców chleba".
Właściwy rozwój stosunków społecznych według agrarystów mógł
dokonać się przez indywidualny rozwój jednostek ludzkich. Przezwycię­
żenie w procesie samowychowania cech negatywnych człowieka, rozwi­
janie szlachetnych uczuć stanowiło podstawowe punkty postulowanej
20

2 0

Zasady teoretyczne agraryzmu opierały się na trzech podstawowych zało­
żeniach: 1) element grupy w tym przypadku rodzina "najniższa komórka gospodar­
cza" wyznacza system społeczno-gospodarczy całej grupy; 2) nowy układ społecz­
ny należy budować przy niezmienionej funkcji tego elementu stanowiącego rze­
czywistość wiejską, co więcej należy oprzeć go na tej jego tradycyjnej funkcji;
3) cechy elementu powstałego w pewnym okresie historycznym powinny stanowić
podstawowy zespół wartości społecznych nowego ustroju. Wszystkie cechy zmierza­
ły do uwypuklenia zasadniczej niezależności chłopa. Jak pisał I . Solarz "Jedną
z nieocenionych wartości duchowych, jakie dać może posiadanie własności chłop­
skiego gospodarstwa jest poczucie i fakt niezależności osobistej czy wobec prze­
mocy kapitału czy władzy politycznej".

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przebudowy społeczeństwa. Było to nawiązanie w znacznym stopniu do
programu Polskiego Związku, Ludowego, który został sformułowany
w 1904 r. przez W. Abramowskiego głoszącego, że rewolucja społeczna
musi być poprzedzona rewolucją moralną społeczeństwa, w której znacz­
n ą rolę odegra kultura i wartości społeczne chłopów. Odrodzenie się
narodu winno iść od ludzi związanych z pracą na roli, ludzi żyjących
w koegzystencji z przyrodą, z gromadzkich form współżycia społecz­
nego.
Stąd program agrarystów znaczną wagę przypisywał
rozwojowi
oświaty powszechnej i różnych instytucji kultury. W programach w y ­
chowawczych dążono do rozwijania w młodzieży wiejskiej pracowitości,
gospodarności, miłości do przyrody, dumę z pochodzenia chłopskiego
oraz miłość do człowieka, wiarę w jego wartość i dobroć.
Największą rolę w procesie wychowawczym i ksztłtowaniu świato­
poglądu młodzieży wiejskiej w t y m tak ważnego dla naszych rozważań
stosunku do własnej kultury i tradycji, odegrały
uniwersytety
l u d o w e . Niewątpliwie na profil ideologiczny programów uniwersy­
teckich poza ogólnymi założeniami agraryzmu wpływ miała indywidu­
alność ich twórców. Przykładem tego jest założyciel uniwersytetu
w Gaci i Szycach I . Solarz. Świadomie przyjmując wpływy Gandhiego
i jego "niesprzeciwianie się złu jako metodzie pomnażania dobra" rea­
lizował nowy w warunkach polskich system wychowania. Przedstawił
go następująco:
"Naczelnym zadaniem wychowawczym naszym będzie obudzić we wsi już nie
poczucie sily liczbowej czy organizacyjno-politycznej dla zdobycia lepszych w a ­
runków życia, ale -poczucie szlachetnej honorności chłopskiej i ambicji wniesienia do nowej Ludowej Polski wszystkiego tego najlepszego, najpiękniejszego, co dusza chłopska serce i głowa posiada. Żeby to uczynić, musimy wzmocnić w sobie
samych grunt, musimy sami uwierzyć i ukochać to, co w nas najmądrzejsi lu¬
dzie w i d z ą " . "Honorność — pisał Solarz — idzie z nowości duszy, zindywidualności nie z wyszkolenia, ale z przyrodzonego jej wrośnięcia. Honorność wnieść win¬
na tak wieś do nowego gazdostwa Polski, jako nowy jej dziedzic... Chłop ma po¬
czuć w sobie kulturalne, duchowe w tradycji oparcie, winien odważyć się samo­
dzielnie myśleć i sądzić, wyprowadzić sobie świadomość, wielkość i odpowiedzial­
ność swej roli w narodzie, a potem troskliwą w tym honorność" .
S1

г2

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Tym stwierdzeniem nawiązywał Solarz do upowszechnionych już
w społeczeństwie poglądów na wartości kulturowo-społeczne reprezentowane przez warstwę chłopską. Swój system wychowawczy pragnął
oprzeć na wydobytych ze wsi wartościach "czysto plemiennych, sło­
wiańskich, które przekazywane dzisiejszym czasom przez najdawniejsze
dają możność przez chłopa narodowi — zasilenia go i odświeżenia k u l -

2 1

и

Z. S o l a r z o w a , Mój pamiętnik,
Warszawa 1973, s. 139-140.
I . S o l a r z , Szyce w ruchu ludowym, "Siew", nr 20: 1929, s. 3.

�T R A D Y C J A LUDOWA A ŚWIADOMOŚĆ

39

SPOŁECZNA

turalnego, pozwalają nam — jak pisał — dziś w kosmopolityzującej nas
atmosferze wnieść do ogólnej kultury świeże polskie oryginalne war­
tości" » . Koncepcje te to zarówno kontynuacja i rozwijanie stale obec­
nych w polskiej humanistyce poglądów o słowiańskiej rodzimości k u l ­
t u r y ludowej, jak i nawiązanie do założeń ruchu nordyckiego, na podło­
żu którego rozwinął się uniwersytet ludowy w Danii, a który zmierzał
do oparcia całego życia narodów skandynawskich na elementach rodzi­
mej tradycji. Podstawową rolę odegrało w kształtowaniu się tych po­
glądów dzieło M . F. S. Grundtviga Mitologia północy wydane w 1832 г.,
w którym dokonał on rekonstrukcji mitów i wierzeń skandynawskich
i zawarł w n i m wiele rozważań wychowawczych. Wypowiadał się za
ideą powołania do życia zakładu naukowego o charakterze ogólnonordyckim, w którym w przeciwieństwie do obowiązującego w t y m okre­
sie programu szkoły klasycznej podstawą wykształcenia byłaby kultura
staroskandynawska. Mitologia północy (jak i przełożona na język duński
kronika norweska Snorrego i z języka łacińskiego kronika duńska Saxa)
stanowiły ewangielię skandynawskich uniwersytetów ludowych . Pierw­
szy z nich według projektów Grundviga założony został w 1844 r. nio­
sąc wiarę w posłannictwo ludu. Kontynuatorem i realizatorem idei
Grundviga był K . Kold, twórca i kierownik Uniwersytetu w Ryslingen
założonego w 1851 r. Zasady programowe głoszone przez obu tych pre­
kursorów ideii uniwersytetów ludowych (które osiągnęły ogromny roz­
wój w samej Danii i w krajach skandynawskich) miały stanowić podsta­
w y do rozbudzenia świadomości narodowej, uświadomienia warstwie
chłopskiej jej roli społecznej i narodowej. Temu miała służyć m. in.
szeroko rozbudowana w programach uniwersytetów nauka historii.
Rolę bliską zadaniom uniwersytetów ludowych w Polsce spełniały
powstające od 1900 r. szkoły rolnicze, m. in. w Pszczelinie, Gołotczyźnie,
Bratnem, których organizatorom, np. Jadwidze Dziubińskiej znane były
już założenia ideologiczne uniwersytetów grundvigowskich.
Dopiero jednak w I I Rzeczypospolitej w 80 lat od powstania pierw­
szego uniwersytetu ludowego w Danii powołana została w 1924 r.
w Szycach pod Krakowem placówka tego typu kierowana przez Sola­
rza, która podejmuje ambitne zadania stania się ośrodkiem ruchu k u l ­
turalnego mas chłopskich. Daje temu wyraz Solarz pisząc:
2 i

"Najważniejszym jednak zadaniem wiejskich uniwersytetów było dotąd i po­
zostanie na zawsze, budzić człowieka, budzić do aktywnego indywidualnego ż y ­
cia duchowego, do szukania sensu własnego życia, prowadzić do zrozumienia łącz-

i S

I . S o l a r z , Czym jest i czym powinna być kultura ludowa, "Polska Oświa­
ta Pozaszkolna", nr 4-5: 1929, s. 210-216.
" P o r . Z. M i e r z w i ń s k a , Programy uniwersytetów
ludowych
w
krajach
skandynawskich,
[w:] Wiejskie
uniwersytety
ludowe w Polsce, Warszawa 1938,
*. 67-78; Ignacy Solarz i jego uniwersytet ludowy 1924-1939, Warszawa 1965.

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ności między życiem jednostki a życiem ludzkiej gromady, do w y w o ł a n i a poczucia wspólności w treści życia człowieka dzisiejszego z zagadnieniami życia czlowieka dawnego i człowieka przyszłego, do zrozumienia czegoś niezmiennego
w historii l u d z k o ś c i " .
25

Określając, na czym polega ludowość wiejskiego uniwersytetu, p i ­
sał: "Nie ino o same urządzenia polityczne nam chodzi, nawet jeszcze
i nie o sam gospodarczy nowy ład, ale także i głównie o odwagę i zdol­
ność mas ludowych do tworzenia kultury ducha" .
Reprezentant warstwy chłopskiej silnie z nią związany w całej swej
działalności, cele społeczne uniwersytetu ludowego łączył Solarz ze sta­
nem i potrzebami polskiej wsi i ruchu ludowego. Zadania wychowawcze
realizowane na przykładzie (za wzorem Kolda) chłopskiej rodziny wiązał
z dążeniem do rozbudzenia w młodzieży świadomości posiadania w ł a s ­
nego ś w i a t a
w a r t o ś c i , emancypacji od obcych, niechłopskich
kryteriów oceny tych wartości.
26

"Siły kulturalnej nigdy nie daje naśladownictwo, ale zdolność do twórczej
w niej roli — stwierdzał Solarz — jeżeli chłop ma być twórcą lub współtwórcą
nowej Polski, musi być mu przywrócona psychiczna równowaga, godność, poczu­
cie wartości, zabezpieczona atmosfera w ł a s n a do tworzenia i ujawniona wartość
jego własnego dorobku kulturalnego. Ma to ułatwić chłopu jego rolę w ducho­
wej gospodarce Polski, w y w o ł a ć postawę aktywną, a własną"
2 7

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Z tego stanowiska oceniał Solarz kulturę ludową, znacznie i rolę tra­
dycji ludowej w procesie krystalizowania się tożsamości kulturowej war¬
stwy chłopskiej. Wydaje się słusznie podkreślał J. Obrębski w 15 lat od
chwili powstania uniwersytetu, że asymilacja wychowanka uniwersytetu
nie jest asymilacją jego do społeczności wiejskiej, ale społeczności w i e j skiej do warstwy chłopskiej. I wrastanie tej społeczności, do której
powrócił w warstwę chłopską, jest równocześnie miernikiem osiągnięć
wychowawczych uniwersytetu. "Ideał kultury chłopskiej, który wyniósł
nie mieści się bowiem w wąskich ramach tradycyjnej społeczności są¬
siedzkiej, choć przez nią się on urzeczywistnia; mieści się on w warstwie
chłopskiej, w roli, jaką ona sobie w społeczeństwie narodowym zaklá­
da" .
28

li
li

Uniwersytet ludowy mając za zadanie uświadomienie i udowodnie­
nie swym słuchaczom integrującą i wartościującą rolę dziedzictwa k u l ­
turowego kształtował określony stosunek do kultury i tradycji ludo­
wej.
,;
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2 5

I . S o 1 a r z, Orkanowe Szyce, uzasadnione prawa do nadawania UL w Szy¬
each nazwy Uniwersytetu Ludowego Orkana, "Wici", nr 20-21: 1931.
I . S o l a r z , Na czym polega "ludowość" wiejskiego uniwersytetu, [w:] Wiej¬
skie uniwersytety..., s. 30.
J w , s. 33-34.
J . O b r ę b s k i , Wychowankowie uniwersytetów
ludowych w życiu wsi, [w:]
Wiejskie uniwersytety ludowe w Polsce, Warszawa 1939. s. 83.
2 6

2 7

2 8

�T R A D Y C J A LUDOWA A ŚWIADOMOŚĆ

41

SPOŁECZNA

0 wykładach z tej dziedziny Solarz pisał:
"Spośród grupy t e m a t ó w wiejskich ta dziedzina w y k ł a d ó w najbardziej d ź w i ­
gała przygniecioną ku ziemi duszę chłopską i w y p r o s t o w y w a ł a ją ku swobodnemu
w ł a s n e m u oddechowi; dawała psychiczne obywatelstwo wśród twórców kultury,
budziła wiarę w siebie i w to, że jest potrzebna bardziej niż myślała — do w s p ó l ­
nego społecznego życia. Uprzytamniała chłopom, że i on jest twórcą nawet w tej
dziedzinie, w której najmniej mu przysądzono prawa — w duchowej kulturze" .
28

Wyrobienie właściwego stosunku do kultury ludowej do jej twórczej
roli służyć więc miało budowaniu własnej osobowości w procesie samookreślenia się indywidualnego jednostki i poprzez nią samookreślenia
się całej warstwy chłopskiej.
. Można stwierdzić śledząc działalność Solarza i jego uniwersytetu l u ­
dowego, że z całą świadomością starał się zachować obowiązujący w spo­
łeczności wiejskiej system wartości (dążąc do jego unifikacji w skali
całej warstwy chłopskiej) jako gwaranta jej i n t e g r a l n o ś c i
przy
różnym wartościowaniu elementów kulturowych konstytuuących i zacho­
wujących tę integralność. Wewnętrzną i w pewnym stopniu intuicyjną po­
trzebę zachowania dziedzictwa kulturowego dla utrzymania zwartości
grupy chciał Solarz uczynić aktem podejmowanym świadomie przez ca­
łą warstwę chłopską. Stworzyć platformę dla właściwego zrozumienia
wartości jego elementów. Budzenie świadomości przynależności do jed­
nej warstwy miało określić wspólne ponadlokalne zasady selekcjonowa­
nia i wartościowania dziedzictwa kulturowego oraz wyboru podstawo­
wego zbioru wartości nadrzędnych.
Dążąc do określenia zespołu elementów, których trwałość i nie­
zmienność pozwoliłaby na z a c h o w a n i e
systemu
kulturo­
w e g o w obrębie całej warstwy chłopskiej podejmował próbę określe­
nia i wyznaczenia stopnia możliwości zmian w t y m zbiorze, czyli —
jak określa R. Tomicki — "bariery zmienności k u l t u r o w e j " , do mo­
mentu przekroczenia której warstwa chłopska zachowałaby swą tożsa­
mość kulturową.
Przeniesienie jednak zasad selekcjonowania i wartościowania dzie­
dzictwa kulturowego, jaki obowiązywał w grupie lokalnej, w której
istniał zawsze pewien partykularyzm kulturowy na całą szeroką i zróż­
nicowaną warstwę chłopską i dokonywanie tego niejako z zewnątrz,
było pewną próbą oddziaływania na wewnętrzne procesy kulturowe za­
chodzące w warstwie chłopskiej metodami wychowaczymi przez formo­
wanie określonych wzorów i postaw.
1 tak jak w stosunku do grupy lokalnej można mówić o tradycji i n ­
tegralnej, proces bowiem wartościowania dotyczył szerokiego zakresu
elementów kulturowych, to w stosunku do całej warstwy chłopskiej po30

2 8

I . S o l a r z , Wiejski Uniwersytet Orkanowy, Warszawa 1937, s. 45-46.
R. T o m i c k i , Kultura — dziedzictwo — tradycja, [w:] Etnografia
Polski.
Przemiany kultury ludowej, t. 2, Wrocław 1981, s. 353.
8 0

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jęcie tradycji ograniczać się musiało do wybranych elementów kulturo­
wych, do symboli grupowych. Znalezienie bowiem wspólnego mianow­
nika, w którym zawarte były wartości nadrzędne, wspólne dla całej
społeczności wiejskiej, było zadaniem trudnym i budzącym sprzeczne
opinie. Przykładem tej różnicy stanowisk mogą być dyskusje nad spra­
w ą zachowania lub odrzucenia pewnych elementów tradycji ludowej,
m. in. stroju ludowego, tak bardzo spektakularnego wyrazu odrębności
warstwy chłopskiej.
W ideologii eksponującej potrzebę realizacji kultury narodowej w i ­
dziano w stroju ludowym produkt artystycznej wytwórczości chłopskiej
łączący się z innymi elementami kulturowymi w harmonijną całość
"zgodną z charakterem ludności, warunkami jej życia, krajobrazem",
niezależnie od faktu niejednokrotnego kwestionowania tradycyjności
pewnych jego e l e m e n t ó w . W opozycji do tego stanowiska uznawano
strój ludowy (jako nie posiadający szans na powszechną adaptację) za
barierę w procesie integracji s p o ł e c z n e j .
Można stwierdzić analizując działalność Solarza, że miał on świado­
mość niebezpieczeństwa paternalizmu kulturowego w podejściu do spraw
wsi. Poczuciu zewnętrzności widzenia i działania, przeciwstawiał silną
więź uniwersytetu ludowego ze społecznością wiejską, umożliwiającą
czerpanie z niej bezpośrednich wzorów. Wyrazem tego było usytuowa­
nie uniwersytetu w środowisku wiejskim, organizowanie życia, nauki
i pracy na zasadach rodziny wiejskiej (używanie charakterystycznej
nazwy chrzesny, chrzesna w stosunku do Solarzów), posługiwanie się
w procesie nauczania głównie słowem żywym, ograniczanie się do w ł a s ­
nego środowiska wiejskiego w zakresie rekrutacji studentów, jak i w y ­
borze wykładowców.
Ten ostatni fakt uzasadniany przez Solarza merytorycznie wiązał
się z określonymi zjawiskami społeczno-kulturowymi
występującymi
31

32

33

11

[

M. K a l i n o w s k a , Stroje ludowe, "Wici", nr 20: 1929, s. 8; Wiejskie uni­
wersytety ludowe w Polsce, Warszawa 1938, s. 45-47; T. S e w e r y n , Roía mło­
dzieży
wiejskiej wobec kultury ludowej, "Młoda Polska", nr 11-12: 1938, s. 9-11;
J . P i e n i ą ż e k , Strój ludowy godową szatą, "Wieś i Państwo", nr 9: 1938, s. 750¬
761; T. B r z e c h w a - B e r n as, Na marginesie zagadnień
kultury ludowej, "Wieś
Tworząca", nr 1: 1946, s. 9-10. Dążenia zmierzające do zachowania tradycyjnego
stroju ludowego znalazły oparcie w Komisji Swojszczyzny wyłonionej przy Związku
Ziem Górskich, której przewodniczącym został wybrany kierownik imprez i po­
pisów ludowych na zjazdach górskich dr T. Seweryn dyrektor Muzeum Etnogra­
ficznego na Wawelu. W tym też Muzeum powstała przy współudziale Związku
Ziem Górskich pod kierunkiem dr. R. Reinfussa pierwsza poradnia dla intere­
sujących się praktycznie sprawą odnowienia stroju ludowego.
W. W os, O strojach ludowych, "Wici", nr 2: 1929, s. 4-5; Leonard z Ja­
nowic, "Wici", nr 23: 1929, s. 9; K. M a j , Ruch młodzieży
wiejskiej jako
postępo­
wy ruch chłopski, Warszawa 1936, s. 16-19.
" I . S o l a r z , JVa czym polega ludowość
wiejskiego uniwersytetu, [w:] Wiej­
skie uniwersytety..., s. 34-35.
M

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43

w społeczności wiejskiej. Istniejący i silnie zakorzeniony w grupie lo­
kalnej pewien układ opozycyjny swój — obcy przeniesiony został na
znacznie szerszą płaszczyznę przeciwstawieństw między wsią a inny­
mi warstwami społecznymi, przede wszystkim miastem. Samoidentyfikacja i samoocena, jaka w grupie lokalnej realizowana była na zasadzie
ujawniania i podkreślania cech często zewnętrznych, wyróżniających ją
od innych grup, w integrującej się warstwie chłopskiej nabrała głęb­
szej samoświadomości wartościującej.
Opozycyjność
ta
wynikała
w znacznej mierze z wzajemnej nieznajomości obu środowisk różnią­
cych się od siebie warunkami bytowania i sferą zainteresowań. Znajdo­
wała swój wyraz zarówno w przypisywaniu psychice chłopa szczegól­
nych cech oraz swoistym mistycyzmie ludowym, jak również w nie­
chętnym stosunku do wszystkiego, co miejskie lub — jak określali nie­
którzy ideolodzy chłopscy — "inteligenckie" . Wydaje się jednak, że
w tym ostatnim przypadku była to w rzeczywistości opozycja w sto­
sunku do najmniej wartościowych elementów kultury miejskiej przeni­
kających na wieś przy równoczesnej słabej znajomości całego dorobku
kulturowego miasta.
Przeciwstawianie się pewnym treściom kulturowym reprezentowa­
nym przez inne warstwy społeczne nie stało jednak w sprzeczności z sze­
roko propagowaną ideą wspólnego tworzenia kultury narodowej. Miało
34

, 4

O ujemnych skutkach tych zjawisk pisał m. in. J . K r z e m i e ń w arty­
kule Granica dwóch kultur: "Jednym z zagadnień niepośledniej wagi jest sprawa
oddziaływania kulturalnego miasta i wsi, wymiana specyficzności kulturalno-obyczajowych ustawicznie się odbywająca i powodująca logiczne następstwa. Na w s t ę ­
pie uprzytomnijmy sobie, że to wzajemne przenikanie odbywało się i odbywa
w sposób żywiołowy, niezorganizowany, bezplanowy. Następstwa spowodowane
archaicznością tego procesu, niedocenianie zjawiska zarówno przez teoretyków, jak
praktyków polskiej myśli socjologicznej i może nieudolnością ujęcia sprawy w pe­
wien ład są wysoce ujemne. Olbrzymią, a godną pożałowania rolę odgrywa tu
wzajemna nieznajomość dwóch odrębnego typu środowisk o innych zgoła warun­
kach bytowania i sferze zainteresowań. Na szczupłym rynku pracy społecznej
u nas hasło «srodowiskowoáei» ostatnio łatwo się przyjęło i jednocześnie często
w praktyce życiowej spłyca się aż do karykaturalnego wyrazu". ("Młoda myśl l u ­
dowa", nr 1: 1932, s. 13-14); I. S o l a r z , Główne czynniki kształtujące
duchowość
człowieka
wsi, tamże, s. 33-42. W artykule tym Solarz stwierdza, że "Duchowość
chłopa — rozumie się
nie może we wszystkim odbiegać od ogólnej psychiki
człowieczej, w wielu jednak rysach zaznacza się odmiennie, zwłaszcza wobec psy­
chiki człowieka miasta. Skład duchowy człowieka zależy przede wszystkim od we­
wnętrznie dziedziczonych po ojcach założeń podstawowych, a następnie dziedzictwa
duchowego jest także wynikiem działania zewnętrznych w a r u n k ó w na życie przod­
ków. Odrębną do pewnego stopnia duchowość człowieka wiejskiego w y c h o w a ł y
odmienne i długotrwałe działające warunki wiejskiego życia. Są nimi: bliskie współ­
życie z przyrodą, specjalny sposób zdobywania środków utrzymania i z obu po­
w y ż s z y c h w a r u n k ó w w y p ł y w a j ą c y odmienny charakter współżycia społecznego
i wreszcie i dzieje, jakie wieś przeszła z zewnętrznego przymusu warstw rządzą­
cych; por. też S G i e r a t , Wieś źródłem kultury społecznej,
"Przodownik wiejski"
5-6: 1936 s 1-7

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tylko przyczynić się do ustalenia właściwych proporcji udziału w niej
kultury chłopskiej, którą oceniano przy pomocy takich kryteriów, jak:
rodzimość wynikająca z słowiańskiej genealogii, wysoki poziom moral­
ny i etyczny wywodzący się z samej istoty związków z ziemią i charak­
teru pracy. W tej opozycji do negatywnych skutków urbanizacji na­
wiązywano do ciągle żywych w polskiej myśli społecznej i nurcie lite­
rackim koncepcji dwu kultur — kosmopolityzującej szlachecko-miejskiej i pierwotnej słowiańsko-rodzimej, c h ł o p s k i e j .
Niewątpliwie wpływ koncepcji Kolda silnie akcentujący rolę rodzi­
ny w procesie przekazu treści kulturowych, jak i znaczny stopień za­
chowawczości w strukturze i funkcjach rodziny wiejskiej w Polsce,
pozwalał widzieć w jej trwałości podstawowy czynnik integrujący nie
tylko grupę lokalną. Kumulując w szerokiej sferze działań gospodar­
czych, społecznych i kulturowych wiele elementów tradycyjnych była
ona dla konsolidującej się warstwy chłopskiej nosicielem treści, z któ­
rych budowano wspólny system wartości.
Usytuowanie uniwersytetu w środowisku wiejskim, nawiązywanie
do zasad organizacji rodziny, kultywowanie obrzędowości rodzinnej i do­
rocznej było świadectwem uznania za najważniejsze tych elementów
kultury, które wartościowane w środowisku wiejskim uzyskały
sta­
t u s t r a d y c j i i mogły stać się siłą konstytutywną i w pewnym stop­
niu konserwacyjną dla warstwy chłopskiej.
Nawiązując do form przekazu ustnego jako podstawowego sposobu
transmisji i utrwalania treści tradycyjnych duże znaczenie przypisywa­
no na uniwersytecie ludowym pieśni ludowej i formom wizualnym o du­
żym ładunku emocjonalnym, jakimi były widowiska-misteria związane
z obrzędowością ludową. Zrozumienie znaczenia tych ostatnich dla ce­
lów wychowawczych oraz dla zachowania "...swojskości rdzennie pol­
skiej, piastowskiej jakby dostojności" , bliskie było rozwijanej przez
J. Cierniaka idei teatru ludowego, tzw. teatru obrzędowego. Insceniza­
cja zwyczajów i tradycji obrzędowych oraz magicznych rytuałów sak­
ralnych miała stworzyć możliwości wypowiedzenia swej odrębności
kulturowej za pośrednictwem oryginalnej twórczości widowiskowo-teatralnej.
Cierniak widział w teatrze ludowym "dział artystycznej wypowiedzi
gromad ludowych". Realizując w odrodzonej Polsce własną koncepcję
artystycznego teatru ludowego uważał jednak swe dzieło za konsek­
wentną kontynuację prac prowadzonych już od dawna w tym zakre­
s i e . Uznawał pionierski charakter powstałych w 1907 r. Związku Teat35

36

37

K Por. P a p r o c k a , op. cit, s. 65-66.
J . C i e r n i a k , Źródła i nurty polskiego teatru ludowego. Opracował i sło­
wem w s t ę p n y m opatrzył A. Olcha, Warszawa 1963, s. 212; M a z u r , op. cit.; С ap i g a , op. cit;
Siewiarze...
A. B i e ń , J . C i e r n i a k , Teatry ludowe w Polsce, Warszawa 1928.
3 8

8 7

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rów i Chórów Włościańskich i w 1919 r. Związku Teatrów Ludowych.
Oceniając działalność tych instytucji, różniących się zasadniczo od jego
własnej wizji teatru, uznawał je za odpowiadające istniejącym w t y m
okresie warunkom społeczno-politycznym. Widział ich rolę w uświada­
mianiu narodowym wsi i w szeroko rozwijanej akcji oświatowej. Teatry
włościańskie były dla tworzonych przez Cierniaka form teatru ludowe­
go sumą doświadczeń pozwalających zarówno na właściwą ocenę moż­
liwości percepcji przychodzących z zewnątrz treści artystycznych, jak
i ocenę potrzeb i możliwości twórczych ludu w tym zakresie. Mimo że
pojęcie teatr ludowy rozumiał Cierniak szeroko jako teatr mas, obejmu­
jąc tym określeniem nie tylko lud wiejski, ale i robotniczy, tworzywem
dla kreowanego przez niego teatru ludowego był przede wszystkim
folklor
wiejski.
Nie idąc śladami swych poprzedników, którzy
tworzyli teatr dla ludu, pragnął z ludu, z ludowej twórczości wyprowa­
dzić nowe treści i nowe formy teatru. Przyjmując- za główne źródło
teatru ludowego w Polsce całe dziedzictwo dotychczasowej kultury l u ­
dowej (włączając do niej również pewne elementy kultury plebejskiej)
dokonywał wyboru tych treści, które w jego pojęciu zawierały najstar­
sze, zachowane elementy tradycji ludowej . W zwyczajach oraz obrzę­
dach ludowych i ich rytualnej postaci i symbolice o charakterze magii
sakralnej dostrzegał wzorem wielu poprzednich badaczy zarówno treści
prasłowiańskiej rodzimej kultury, jak i ścisły, inspirujący związek z si­
łami przyrody. Zrodzona z tej egzystencjalnej zależności od otaczające­
go świata dawna obrzędowość religijna była w istocie swej samorodnym
teatrem w syntetyzującej formie sceniczno-widowiskowej przedstawia­
jącej wewnętrzne i zewnętrzne życie ludu, idee moralno-etyczne i este­
tyczne nurtujące to środowisko. W twórczym udziale uczestników tak
powstającego widowiska widział Cierniak zarówno możliwość rozwoju
osobowości
jednostki
poprzez zrozumienie wartości własnej
kultury, jak i tworzenie się jedności gromadzkiej rodzącej się we wspól­
nym akcie twórczym. Formułując cele teatrów ludowych w Polsce »
bliski był koncepcjom reprezentowanym przez Solarza budzenia w spo­
łeczności wiejskiej poczucia własnej wartości, godności i siły twórczej
zdolnej do aktywnego udziału w budowaniu kultury narodowej. Reali­
zacja tego zadania wymagała zwrócenia uwagi na zagadnienia estetycz­
ne, na wyzwalanie instynktu zbiorowego przeżywania i tworzenia pięk­
na. Korzenie tej kulturotwórczej roli wsi tkwią w przekazywanych z po­
kolenia na pokolenie treściach tradycyjnych wytworzonych w określo­
nych warunkach chłopskiej pracy i zachowań ludycznych.
Należy więc podkreślić, że w tradycji szukał Cierniak nie tylko treś­
ci formalnych, ale duże znaczenie przypisywał przeżyciom i doznaniom
38

3

8

• J . C i e r n i a k , Wiejskie uroczystości
obrzędowe
jako właściwy
teatr
dowy, "Teatr Ludowy", nr Э: 1930.
•» J . C i e r n i a k , Nasz cel, nasze drogi, "Teatr Ludowy", nr 14: 1927.

lu­

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PAPROCKA

w sferze uczuciowej, zarówno estetycznym, jak i religijno-moralnym,
które towarzyszyły wszystkim zachowaniom odświętnym. W nich wi¬
dział nawiązanie zarówno do "praźródeł" przechowywanych w środo­
wisku wiejskim treści artystycznych, jak również uniwersalnych dążeń
ludzkich do wzniosłości w sferze duchowych przeżyć. Zarówno w tych
poglądach, jak i w podejściu do folkloru, o którym pisał, że "ma być
z jednej strony materiałem na ów teatr o charakterze odświętnym (i nie
może być nadużywanym); ale z drugiej strony ma także stać się jakby
punktem wyjścia dla przyszłych autorów i inscenizatorów..." nawiązywał do romantycznego i neoromantycznego pojmowania inspirującej ro­
l i tradycji ludowej w wielu dziedzinach twórczości artystycznej. W myśl
tych poglądów tworzywem artystycznym stać się mogły nie tylko zwy­
czaje, obrzędy, ale i pieśni ludowe, ludowa twórczość ustna, podania le­
gendy, bajki. Treści dramatyczne zawarte w tych dziedzinach twórczoś­
ci ludowej, sceniczna niemal forma ich wyrazu czyniła je teatrem —
uroczystością, teatrem — zabawą czy teatrem — nabożeństwem. W tych
poglądach na wartości dramatyczne zawarte w tradycyjnych treściach
ustnej twórczości ludowej mamy bliskie nawiązanie do ideologii roman­
tycznej do mickiewiczowskiego obrazu duchowej kultury ludu przedsta­
wionego zarówno w jego poetyckiej twórczości dramatycznej, jak i analizowanego w wykładach paryskich poświęconych literaturze słowiańskiej.
Cierniak uznając, jak sam stwierdza, teatr za "sumę środków do
ucieleśnienia wyimaginowanego życia", nie traci z pola widzenia realistycznej wizji postępowej wsi nowoczesnej, czemu daje wyraz w swoich
pracach *». Formułował nawet pewne programy działania w zakresie go¬
spodarczo-społecznym. Propagował spółdzielczość jako rozwiniętą formę gromadnego działania, nawiązując tym samym do tradycyjnych form
współdziałania gospodarczego. W teatrze ludowym widział część programu budowania świadomości społecznej warstwy chłopskiej.
Koncepcje Cierniaka znalezienia właściwej formy dla ujawnienia
i wyrażenia ukrytych w twórczości ludowej artystycznych treści zna­
lazły możliwość realizacji i praktycznego sprawdzenia w działaniach
uniwersytetu ludowego. Wywodzące się ze wspólnego nurtu i zbieżne
z sobą poglądy Solarza i Cierniaka na rolę tradycji ludowej w kształ­
towaniu świadomości społecznej warstwy chłopskiej powołały do życia
nową i oryginalną w swym kształcie artystycznym inscenizację teatral¬
ną określoną później jako "teatr z głowy". Ten samorodny w swej for­
mie teatr spełniał podwójną rolę: budził twórczą inicjatywę i r ó w n o cześnie stanowił jeden z elementów programu wychowawczego. Jak m ó wił o nim Solarz: "Jego cena wychowawcza leży w budzeniu inicjaty­

j

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wo J . C i e r n i a k , Wieś
ta, Warszawa 1956.

j

Zaborów

i Zaborowski Dom

Ludowy.

Zaborowska riu-

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47

SPOŁECZNA

w y i samodzielności twórczej uczestnika zespołu, tak w obmyślaniu treś­
ci jak i w wykonaniu przy wyzwoleniu się od tradycyjnej niewolniczej
formy i techniki" . Tworzywem dla inscenizacji teatralnych głównie
zespołowych rzadko indywidualnych (co było świadomym działaniem
wychowawczym) stawały się pieśni ludowe, opowiadania, legendy. Szcze­
gólnie pieśni od dawna uznawane za najbogatsze i najbardziej wiarogodne źródło tradycyjnych treści stanowiły bardzo istotny element w y ­
chowawczy. Były one zarówno czynnikiem integrującym grupę, co było
nawiązaniem do roli, jaką pieśń spełniała w obyczajowości wiejskiej,
jak i pewnym zabiegiem psychoterapeutycznym budzącym poczucie
wartości własnej grupy i jej siły. Na uniwersytecie ludowym śpiew i za­
jęcia artystyczne stały się integralną częścią życia słuchaczy . W poszu­
kiwaniu materiałów do inscenizacji posunięto się jednak dalej sięgając
do samych źródeł teatru, do tradycyjnych zwyczajów i obrzędów. Stąd
rodził się tzw. teatr obrzędowy najbliższy formie i treści koncepcjom
Cierniaka.
Wydaje się, że w działalności Cierniaka, jak i innych przedstawicieli
twórczej inteligencji pochodzenia chłopskiego, wyodrębniają się w y r a ź ­
nie, w dążeniu do realizacji podstawowego celu, jakim było społeczne
i polityczne równouprawnienie warstwy chłopskiej, dwa podstawowe
nurty. Pierwszy m i s t y c z n y
odkrywający w treściach tradycyj­
nych rodzimość i prasłowiańskość elementów kulturowych oraz nieznisz­
czalne wartości duchowe i społeczne wykształcone w warunkach chłop­
skiego bytu i przechowywane w tej warstwie do współczesności. Ocale­
nie tych najwartościowszych elementów tradycji ludowej od zaniku trak­
towane było nie tylko jako obowiązek wobec własnej warstwy społecz­
nej, ale również uznane za obiektywną konieczność w procesie rozwoju
kultury ogólnonarodowej, zgodnej z istniejącą w Polsce s t r u k t u r ą spo­
łeczną. W tym nurcie zawarte były również tak charakterystyczne dla
okresów wcześniejszych, a szczególnie silnie artykułowane w stwierdze­
niach neoromantyków, poglądy o etnicznie i rasowo polskim typie ludu
wiejskiego.
Drugi nurt posiadał charakter bardziej złożony. Składały się na nie­
go poglądy opozycyjne wobec romantycznego i neoromantycznego" idea­
lizowania wsi, chłopa i pracy na roli widzące w takim podejściu odbi­
cie szlachecko-literackich czy malarskich obrazów kultury ludowej. Apo41

42

4 1

S o l a r z , Na czym polega ludowość...,
s. 65. W innym miejscu pisze: "Jeśli
teatr ma być nie tylko formą rozrywki kulturalnej, ale przede wszystkim środkiem
wychowawczym i to do celów wiejskiego uniwersytetu dostosowanym, musi wno­
sić momenty bardziej twórcze i w g ł ę b n e w uczestnictwo zespołu i osób pojedyn­
czych, aniżeli mógł to uczynić teatr amatorski z jego odtwarzaniem, mechanizowaniem i tresurą", jw., s. 64.
Z. S o 1 a r z o w a, Teatr z pieśni. Jak były odtwarzane w Wiejskim
Uniwer­
sytecie Orkanowym (1926-1933), Warszawa 1933, s. 90.
4 2

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teoza i dążenie do zachowania prymitywnej kultury pozbawiała, jak
stwierdzali przedstawiciele tego stanowiska, kulturę ludową pierwiast­
ka twórczego, sprowadzając wszystkie działania do odwzorowywania
czy rekonstrukcji modelu kulturowego wsi (często hipotetycznego) pow­
stałego w przeszłości w określonych warunkach historycznych. Nie ne­
gując istnienia cennych wartości kulturowych zawartych w tradycyj­
nych treściach uznawano konieczność dokonywania selekcji dziedzictwa
kulturowego wsi. Potrzeba ta wynikała ze świadomości różnej genezy
elementów konstytuujących jego strukturę co potwierdzały badania
naukowe prowadzone w tym zakresie na coraz szerszą skalę Sprzęciwiajac się przedmiotowemu traktowaniu wsi widziano w takim stosun­
ku do iei kulturv kontvnuacie stanowisk charaktervstvcznvch dla okre¬
sów Doorzednich Uznawały one tradycie kulturowe warstwy chłonskiei
za źródło i n s D i r a c i i dla różnego rodzaiu twórczości realizowane! iednak noza środowiskiem wieiskim i nie służące mu bezoośrednio W skra i
nvrh
LZdzüo to nawet do D r ó b tworzenia rezerwatów
E r v S o w p ? ' T a k i Ttosunek do t r a d i c i i czvnił T n i e i zbiór relTktów
on

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ntLrtvm

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i
przemianami, t k w i
bowierr podstawowe zrodio jej związku z teraźniejszością. Tradycja ja­
ko przeszłość aktywnie konstruowana i przekształcana, a me odwzoro­
wywana z jej dawnych kszta
kształtów,
tow, jest z jednej strony siłą wyznaczają­
kulturowego inwentarza, z drugiej zas siłą dynamizującą rozcą zakres ku.
woj kultury.
Te koncepcje eksponujące twórczy charakter tradycji ludowej w pro­
cesie kształtowania kultury ogólnonarodowej (niezależnie od różnego
sposobu spojrzenia na zakres jej udziału w t y m procesie) odegrały
w omawianym nurcie znaczną rolę.
Należy również podkreślić, że duży udział przedstawicieli warstwy
chłopskiej w kształtowaniu się profilu tego nurtu wpłynął na rozsze­
rzenie zakresu treści, które uznano za tradycyjne ze względu na swoje
dawne i trwałe wartości. Dotyczyły one przede wszystkim elementów
kultury społecznej wsi. Podnoszono szczególnie znaczenie rodziny wiej­
skiej jako nosiciela tych pozytywnych cech, które warstwa chłopska
winna wnieść do kultury ogólnonarodowej.
Dla pełnego obrazu omawianego nurtu należy także wspomnieć
o wpływie, jaki na stosunek do kultury ludowej, a szczególnie sztuki
ludowej, miały ogólnoeuropejskie prądy artystyczne . Znajdują one
43

« Por. M. D r o z d - P i a s e c k a , Społeczne
funkcje
sztuki ludowej.
Sztuka
ludowa w życiu społeczeństwa I I Rzeczypospolitej. Artykuł zamieszczony w niniej­
szym zeszycie.

�T R A D Y C J A LUDOWA A ŚWIADOMOŚĆ

SPOŁECZNA

49

odbicie m. in. w dziedzinie teatru ludowego, na który oddziaływały no­
watorskie koncepcje teatru realistycznego związanego zarówno z dzia­
łalnością Reduty, jak i reżyserami i aktorami tej miary, co J. Osterwa
i L.. Schiller.
Reasumując należy stwierdzić, że w okresie międzywojennym,
w okresie stabilizacji państwowości polskiej, następuje przesunięcie
punktu ciężkości w zainteresowaniach tradycją ludową z jej wartości
i treści narodowych na zagadnienie jej wartości twórczych w procesie
kształtowania kultury ogólnonarodowej. Właśnie w koncepcjach teatru
ludowego, jak i sztuce ludowej, przejawia się ta tendencja szczególnie
wyraziście pozwalając widzieć w ludzie nie tylko biernego w pewnym
stopniu nosiciela cech narodowych, ale skumulowany potencjał twórczej
energii ludzkiej. Te twórcze działanie wielu pokoleń wtopione w r y t m
codziennego życia i pracy, często doskonałe artystycznie, należy wyz­
wolić i wyodrębnić tworząc z nich osobne dziedziny sztuki. Teatr miał
być jedną z form wyrazu tych potencjalnych sił, kanałem umożliwiają­
cym właściwe ich wyzwolenie.

Ванда Папроцка
НАРОДНАЯ ТРАДИЦИЯ И ОБЩЕСТВЕННОЕ СОЗНАНИЕ
КРЕСТЬЯНСКОЙ ПРОСЛОЙКИ В ПЕРИОД II РЕЧИ ПОСПОЛИТОЙ
Резюме
В работе обсуждаются роль и значение народной традиции в формировании обществен­
ного сознания после восстановления независимой Полыни в 1918 г. Объединение разделен­
ного тремя захватчиками народа в один государственный организм создало основы нацио­
нальной общности. Требовалось притом определить роль в нововозникшем государстве
каждого из классов и социальных прослоек. Одним из элементов, определяющих их место
в новоформирующейся общественной структуре были размеры и характер культурного
наследия, вносимого в общенародную культуру. Таким вкладом крестьянской прослойки
были м. пр. традиционное содержание и ценности, содержащиеся в народной культуре.
В междувоенный период особенно растет роль сельской среды в формировании взгля­
дов на народную культуру и ценности, ею представляемые. В статье предпринята попытка
представить взгляды на народную традицию, находящиеся в программах организаций
сельской молодежи, деятельность народных университетов и народных театров.
С особенной четкостью определяется позиция по отношению к народной традиции
в деятельности сельской молодежи. Процесс консолидации молодого поколения деревни
в рамках молодежных организаций осуществлялся путем пробуждения в крестьянском
классе крестьянского группового самосознания. Важным элементом его являлось сознание
обладания отдельной культурой, в которой усматривались отечественные и славянские
черты. Этот способ видеть народную культуру продолжал взгляды X I X в. романтиков и нео­
романтиков перелома X I X и X X вв. В междувоенный период взгляды на народную культу­
ру образовались под влияниемдвух течений: регионализма и аграризма. Регионализм, имев­
ший своих иделогов и деятелей уже на переломе X I X и X X вв. стал программой для деятель­
ности, связанной после восстановления независимости с политикой государства. Созда­
тель основ регионализма В. Оркан в созданной собой идеологии регионализма продолжал
4

Etnografia Polska X X V I I / 1

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неоромантические теории С. Виткевича. В 1926 г. была создана программа польского регио­
нализма, определявшая м. пр. роль и значение народных традиций в национальной культуре.
Регионализм Оркана представлял собой одну из форм защиты отечественного характера
сельской жизни в ее традиционной форме. Согласно этим взглядам народная культура,
приобретая самосознание своей собственной ценности, должна противопоставлять себя
влияниям города, трудовой эмиграции и даже школы. Оказываемое ими давление не только
уничтожает традиционную народную культуру, но и стирает дифференциацию польских
регионов. Весьма важную роль при формировании крестьянского сознания сыграла идеоло­
гия аграризма, который можно признать основой деятельности всего народного движения
в рассматриваемый период. Идеология, выросшая на почве социально-политических дви­
жений таких стран, как Дания, Швейцария и Чехословакия, в своих основных положениях
опиралась на утверждения, что крестьянское население представляет собой единый социаль­
ный слой, и как самый сильный в Польше, он должен занимать в политической и обществен­
ной жизни народа и государства позицию, соответствующую его численности и вкладу
в производство материальных благ государства и народа Аграризм, постулировал необхо**
димость опереть социально-экономическую структуру на отечественное крестьянское хозяй
ство одобрял и стремился оаспоостоанять традиционное солегзжание передаваемое в холе
культурного наследованиял в семействе и в местном обществе.

¬

S i
i i

Народная традиция вызывает интерес к себе со стороны народных университетов. От­
ношение к народной традиции в программах университетов (в частности народного универ­
ситета в местности Шице и Гач, руководимого И. Соляжем) формировалось через посред­
ство постоянно появляющихся в польской гуманитарной мысли взглядов, касающихся
славянского происхождения народной культуры. Оно ссылалось вместе с тем на положения
народического движения, создатели которых М. Ф. Грунвиг и К. Колд стремились опереть
всю жизнь скандинавских народов на элементы отечественной традиции.
Большое значение для упрочения традиционного содержания имел и народный театр,
получивший развитие благодяря деятельности Я. Церняка, использующего для инсцени­
ровок традиционные народные песни, обряды, народные обычаи, легенды и предания. Церняк искал в традиции не только формальные черты, большая роль приписывалась им пере­
живаниям и ощущениям в эмоциональной сфере как в области эстетического, так и рели­
гиозно-нравственного, сопутствующим всем формам праздничного поведения. В поисках
материала для инсценировок он обратился к самим источникам театра, к традиционным
обычаям и обрядам. Отсюда родился т. наз. „обрядовый театр", по форме и содержанию
наиболее близкий концепциям Церняка.

1

�</text>
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        <src>https://zbiory.etnologia.uw.edu.pl/files/original/ce80547ea9050a64410d99f25ee8015f.pdf</src>
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    <itemType itemTypeId="1">
      <name>Text</name>
      <description>A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.</description>
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                <text>Paprocka, Wanda</text>
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            <description>A language of the resource</description>
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      <elementSet elementSetId="4">
        <name>PDF Text</name>
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                <text>„Etnografia Polska", t. X X V I , z. 2
P L I S S N 0071-1861

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TRADYCJA LUDOWA W MYŚLI HUMANISTYCZNEJ
I I D E I NARODU X I X W I E K U
Powszechne jest twierdzenie o szerokości zakresu problematyki zwią­
zanej z zagadnieniem tradycji, o niebezpieczeństwie kryjącym się już
w samej etymologii tego wyrazu lub wynikającym, jak stwierdza Geor­
ge Boas, z emanującego z niego metafizycznego patosu . Do problema­
t y k i tradycji można zastosować twierdzenie Freda Eggana, że ostatnią
rzeczą, do odkrycia w każdej nauce, jest to, czym ta nauka jest .
Posłużenie się t y m zdaniem usprawiedliwia fakt, że poniżej przedstawio­
ne rozważania są kolejną próbą przybliżenia i zrozumienia pojęcia trady­
cji. Stanowią więc przyczynek na drodze prowadzącej do sformułowania
ogólnej jej teorii zadania, którego nie dokonała dotąd żadna z dyscyplin
humanistycznych.
Artykuł jest częścią pracy poświęconej roli i znaczeniu tradycji l u ­
dowej w procesie krystalizacji tożsamości społecznej i kulturowej war­
stwy chłopskiej. Przedmiotem analizy jest kształtowanie się poglądów
na tradycję ludową w wieku X I X , w którym w specyficznych warun­
kach polskiej rzeczywistości formowało się pojęcie narodu jako jedności
wszystkich jego warstw społecznych. Jedności, u której historycznych
źródeł odkrywano wartości społeczne i kulturowe tworzone przez lud
oraz zachowane w tej warstwie do X I X w.
W ostatnio ukazujących się pracach etnograficznych mamy do czy­
nienia z szeregiem interesujących rozważań teoretycznych na temat
kształtowania się tradycji w warunkach wiejskiej społeczności lokalnej.
Przedmiotem analizy jest w nich tradycja w sensie podmiotowym okre­
ślana jako postawa wobec przeszłości, jako główny czynnik konstytu­
ujący i konserwujący system wartości danej grupy oraz zasadniczy
składnik jej więzi społecznej, utrzymujący równowagę określonej stru1

2

1

G. B o a s , La tradition, „Diogene", nr 31: 1960, s. 76.
F . E g g a n, Social Anthropology and the Method of Controled
[w:] Cultural and Social Anthropology, New York 1964, s. 480.
г

Comparison,

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3

k t u r y k u l t u r o w e j . Ten rodzaj analizy płodny poznawczo prowadzący
do wyjaśnienia niewątpliwie jednej z najistotniejszych kwestii — me­
chanizmu tworzenia się i funkcjonowania tradycji — pozwala określić
pewną modelową wersję tradycji integralnej występującej w warunkach
względnie izolowanej społeczności wiejskiej. Równocześnie jednak świa­
domość umowności pojęcia izolacji kulturowej wsi każe zwrócić uwagę
na wyraźnie zaznaczający się, jak można stwierdzić na podstawie źró­
deł bezpośrednich, w p ł y w poglądów na znaczenie i wartość treści k u l ­
turowych i społecznych zawartych w tradycji ludowej ukształtowanych
poza środowiskiem wiejskim w różnych okresach i silnie na wieś oddzia­
łujących już od końca X I X w.
Przyjęcie tradycji ludowej za przedmiot analizy jest konsekwencją
sformułowanego w pracy podstawowego pytania badawczego, dotyczą­
cego kształtowania się postaw wartościujących w stosunku do treści za­
wartych w kulturze ludowej, pytania o kryteria wyboru z całości dziedzi­
ctwa kulturowego tych elementów i zjawisk, które selekcjonowane
i wartościowane złożyły się na pojęcie tradycji. W obecnym opracowa­
niu skoncentrowano się na zagadrieniu wartościowania dziedzictwa k u l ­
turowego społeczności chłopskiej dokonywanego nie przez nią samą
na podstawie obowiązującego w grupie systemu wartości, ale niejako po­
za nią. Zewnętrzność ta nie jest jednak równoznaczna z pewnym pater­
nalizmem kulturowym charakterystycznym dla stosunku do kultury l u ­
dowej w późniejszych okresach . Jest ona w t y m przypadku pozorna
wobec powszechnego uznania (szczególnie w I poł. X I X w.) kultury ludo­
wej za integralną część kultury narodowej, a nawet za podstawowy
jej rdzeń. Uprawomocniało to proces wartościowania dziedzictwa k u l ­
turowego warstwy chłopskiej jako dziedzictwa ogólnonarodowego.
Przyjmuje się powszechnie, że stosunek do własnej kultury, do wła­
snego dziedzictwa kulturowego, próby jego wartościowania kształtują
się równolegle z rozwojem świadomości społecznej danej g r u p y . Sto4

5

3

R. T o m i c k i , Tradycja i jej znaczenie w kulturze chłopskiej,
„Etnografia
Polska", t. 17: 1973, z. 2, s. 41-58; J . B u r s z t a , Kultura ludowa — kultura na­
rodowa, Warszawa 1974, s. 341-346; B. K o p c z y ń s k a - J a w o r s k a ,
Przedmiot
i zakres opracowania dotyczącego
kultury wsi Polski środkowej,
Prace i Mate­
riały Muzeum Archeologicznego i Etnograficznego w Łodzi, nr 19, Łódź 1976,
s. 17-37; B. J a n u s z k i e w i c z , Tradycja jako kategoria etnograficzna, [w:] Tra­
dycja i przemiany, Poznań 1978, s. 57-71; E . P i e t r a s z e k , Tradycja a dziedzictwo
kulturowe,
[w:] Přeměny
ludových
tradycíí
v Súčasnosti,
Bratislava 1978, t. 2,
s. 59-69; Cz. R o b o t y c k i , Tradycja i obyczaj w środowisku
wiejskim,
Wrocław
1980; R. T o m i c k i , Kultura — dziedzictwo — tradycja, [w:] Etnografia
Polski.
Przemiany kultury ludowej, t. 2, Wrocław 1981, s. 349-365.
Por. Wieś w tradycji
i współczesności
literackiej,
stenogram sympozjum,
Warszawa 1980, s. 27-93.
N. A s s o r o d o b r a j , Żywa
historia. Świadomość
historyczna:
symptomy
i propozycje badawcze, „Studia Socjologiczne", nr 2: 1963, s. 5.
4

6

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HUMANISTYCZNEJ

33

sunek do kultury ludowej rodził się i rozwijał wraz ze wzrostem poczu­
cia odrębności społecznej i kulturowej chłopów. Na jego charakter
w p ł y w miał zarówno obowiązujący w społeczności wiejskiej system
wartości determinujący ocenę i selekcję elementów kulturowych, jak
również będące w społecznym obiegu opinie i oceny dotyczące wartości
kulturowych wsi, formułowane w innych pozawiejskich kręgach k u l t u ­
rowych. Skutki zderzenia się tych dwóch postaw — jednej wynikającej
ze stale realizowanej potrzeby samoidentyfikacji i samooceny społeczności
chłopskich w opozycji do układów zewnętrznych i drugiej powstającej
poza systemem kulturowym grup lokalnych, niejednokrotnie jednak
uwierzytelnionej udziałem w jej kreowaniu ludzi pochodzących ze śro­
dowiska wiejskiego — dają się zaobserwować szczególnie wyraźnie w I I
poŁ X I X w. Są one ogromnie ważne dla zrozumienia procesu formowa­
nia się stosunku do tradycji ludowej także w okresach następnych aż do
współczesności.
Zwrócenie uwagi na proces wartościowania dziedzictwa kulturowego
poza środowiskiem wiejskim, jego złożoność i wpływ na treść pojęcia
tradycji ludowej wywołało potrzebę rozpatrywania tego zjawiska nie
tylko w układzie synchronicznym, ale także w diachronii, szukania ge­
nezy pewnych postaw i poglądów w okresach wcześniejszych, w okresie
Oświecenia i Romantyzmu.
Trudno bowiem podjąć próbę wyjaśnienia poglądów na kulturę l u ­
dową, na zagadnienie tradycji ludowej przedstawionych m.in. w słowie
'wstępnym w tomie I „Ludu" z 1895 r. w myśl idei pozytywistycznej
czy formułowanych na Walnym Zgromadzeniu PTL w 1908 r. bez po­
znania roli, jaką w kształtowaniu się głoszonych poglądów na kulturo­
twórczą rolę chłopów wniosło do myśli humanistycznej polskie Oświe­
cenie.
Tak jak niemożliwe jest wyjaśnienie poglądów twórcy stylu zakopiań­
skiego Stanisława Witkiewicza na „plemienność" czy „rodzimość" sztu­
k i podhalańskiej w kategoriach racjonalizmu Hipolita Taine'a, do którego
w swoich teoriach nawiązywał, jeżeli nie dostrzega się w tym również
związku z romantyczną koncepcją „ducha narodu", „ducha ludu" czy
X I X w. poglądami słowianofilów.
Również trudno, analizując tak ważne dla formowania się stosunku
do tradycji ludowej poglądy ideologa regionalizmu polskiego Władysła­
wa Orkana, nie dostrzec w jego realistycznej ocenie sytuacji chłopa —•
ostrości widzenia tych spraw przez twórców Kuźnicy Kołłątajowskiej,
ale i równocześnie norwidowskiej wiary w potrzebę „podnoszenia ludo­
wego do ludzkości".
Nie można pominąć także faktu, że w tak charakterystycznej dla
polskiej myśli humanistycznej końca X I X w. konfrontacji dwu wzorów
kultury tradycyjnego, ziemiańsko-wiejskiego i mieszczańsko-urbanistycznego, zawarte są nie tylko reminiscencje myśli Jean Jacquea Rou3 — E t n o g r a f i a P o l s k a , t.

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sseau, ale również poglądów Zoriana Dołęgi-Chodakowskiego i Kazimie­
rza Brodzińskiego, w których przeciwstawiano kosmopolityzmowi k u l t u ­
r y szlacheckiej i mieszczańskiej tradycyjną kulturą wiejską nie skażoną
wpływami obcymi.
Uświadomienie sobie tych związków wymagało przy podjętej próbie
określenia stosunku do tradycji ludowej uwzględnienia dorobku polskiej
myśli humanistycznej i badań ludoznawczych całego X I X w. Do nich
bowiem nawiązywano i z nich czerpano w okresach późniejszych aż do
współczesności, formułując poglądy na kulturę i tradycję ludową.
TRADYCJA„LUDOWA W POGLĄDACH
" I POŁOWY X I X W I E K U

BADACZY

Powszechnie przyjmowana teza, że w okresach przełomowych, w k t ó ­
rych dokonują się podstawowe zmiany polityczne, społeczne czy k u l t u ­
rowe, szczególną rolę w kształtowaniu się nowych postaw światopoglą­
dowych odgrywa tradycja, znajduje potwierdzenie w okresie porozbiorowym. Nie można jednak uważać rozbiorów za jedyny czynnik stymu­
lujący wzrost zainteresowań historią i dziedzictwem przeszłości. W myśli
społecznej końca X V I I I i początku X I X w. niemal we wszystkich krajach
europejskich uświadomienie sobie przełomowego charakteru tej epoki
(którą otworzyła Rewolucja Francuska) znajduje wyraz w uznaniu do­
niosłej roli historii w kształtowaniu się świadomości społecznej.
Może się wydać swoistym paradoksem, że w okresie formowania się
nowego układu społecznego w opozycji do przeszłości właśnie historia
jako proces tworzenia się ludzkiego świata stawała się niezbędna w świa­
domości społecznej i po raz pierwszy w takiej skali była przedmiotem
powszechnego działania i potocznego myślenia ludzi. Ten zwrot ku h i ­
storii określany mianem historyzmu zrewolucjonizował stosunek do prze­
szłości. Zaczęto tworzyć nowe kryteria oceny i wartościowania prze­
szłości zarówno w odniesieniu do wielkiej historiozofii, jak przede wszy­
stkim w stosunku do odkrywanych indywidualności narodowych.
Historycyzm przybierał rozmaite formy, związany był z różnymi
ideologiami i systemami wartości, odmienne wersje historyzmu pełniły
odmienne funkcje społeczne w zależności od aktualnej rzeczywistości
danego państwa czy narodu.
Będąc w zgodności z ogólnym kierunkiem europejskich prądów umy­
słowych i społecznych w Polsce, ze względu na określone warunki przy­
pisano historii znacznie szerszą rolę wychowawczo-narodową niż w i n ­
nych krajach. Powszechnie przyjmuje się, że pełen afirmacji stosunek
do przeszłości, dążenie do poznania konkretnych szczegółów i swoistego
charakteru epok, szukanie sposobów określenia indywidualności narodo­
wych „ducha narodowego" miało szczególne warunki rozwoju w kraju
pozbawionym bytu państwowego, walczącego o wyzwolenie narodowe.

�T R A D Y C J A L U D O W A W MYŚLI

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35

Racjonalistyczna myśl oświeceniowa, mimo że zdolna wzbogacić za­
sadnicze idee moralno-polityczne ze względu na swój uniwersalizm,
w płaszczyźnie emocjonalnej nie stanowiła tak podatnego gruntu dla
rozwoju idei narodowej, idei budzenia się narodowości, jak ideologia
Romantyzmu.
Rozważania o przeszłości, która miała dostarczyć argumentów dla
aktualnie przeżywanej historyczności i dla przyszłości, musiały w y w o ­
ływać znacznie większe zaangażowanie niż pozwalała na to posiadająca
uniwersalistyczny charakter oświeceniowa idea narodu. „Pojmowanie
ojczyzny jest pamiętanie przeszłości" — stwierdza jeden z historyków
i publicystów okresu Romantyzmu; „Jak religia z niebem, tak historia
jest przymierzem człowieka z ziemią; kto pierwszy dom zbudował, n i ­
wę uprawił, sad zasadził i kości swe tam, gdzie mieszkał złożył, ten
w dzieci swoje wyobrażenie ojczyzny zaszczepił..."
Dla rozważań nad stosunkiem do tradycji szczególnie istotny wyda­
je się nurt historyzmu, w którym, jak pisze Szacki, historia występuje
jako „podstawowa koncepcja postępu społecznego" . Treścią pojęcia na­
rodowość jest w t y m nurcie całokształt kul-tury narodowej w jej we­
wnętrznej spoistości i w jej historycznej zmienności, a co ważniejsze
„integralnie związanej z historyczną treścią życia społeczno-politycznego
narodu" . Takie podejście kierowało uwagę ku stosunkom społecznym
i wydarzeniom angażującym cały naród. Kształtując pojęcie o narodo­
wości, o tradycji, o więzach wewnętrznych łączących społeczności naro­
dowe poza instytucją państwa pozwalało skutecznie przeciwstawiać się
rzeczywistości, przeciwstawiać się fatalnemu w warunkach polskich
utożsamianiu narodu z państwem. W tak pojmowanym stosunku do h i ­
storii — tradycji przypisywano szczególne znaczenie. Miała być tworzy­
wem do budowania teraźniejszości, do formowania się kultury narodo­
wej w obronie narodu i jego najcenniejszych wartości duchowych. A m ­
bicjom odnalezienia metryki własnego narodu musiało towarzyszyć za­
interesowanie ludem jako podstawowym jego składnikiem. Hasło zacho­
wania tradycji, badanie jej pierwocin jako odruchu samoobrony narodo­
wej obejmowało więc nie tylko kulturę szlachecką, ale także ludową,
odkrywając uniwersalne wartości w świecie autentycznej twórczości tej
warstwy traktowanej jako rdzeń kultury narodowej i jako baza dla
rekonstrukcji najdalszej historii naszych ziem.
6

7

8

W ostatnich latach miały miejsce pewne próby łączenia faktu sięga6

H . S i e n k i e w i c z , Przedmowa do skarbca historii polskiej, [w:] Historycy
o historii, pod red. M. H . Serejskiego, t. 1, Warszawa 1839, s. 91-95.
J . S z a c k i , Ojczyzna, naród, rewolucja — problematyka narodowa
polskiej
myśli szlacheckorewolucyjnej,
Warszawa 1962, s. 121.
N. A s s o r o d o b r a j , Kształtowanie
się założeń teoretycznych
historiografii
J . Lelewela, [w:] Z dziejów
polskiej myśli filozoficznej i społecznej,
t. 3, Warsza­
wa 1957, s. 182.
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nia w daleką przeszłość słowiańską nie tylko w poszukiwaniu narodowej
genealogii, ale także dla obrony przed czasem historycznym, opozycji
wobec myślenia historycznego , każącej sięgać ku innym miarom czasu,
odwoływać się do symboliki narodzin, do źródeł sacrum, do „wiecznego
teraz m i t u " . Zwrócenie się ku przeszłości, ku tradycji, jest jednak
przede wszystkim w programach badawczych tego okresu wynikiem roz­
wijającej się świadomości przynależności do wspólnoty językowo-etnicznej, na której tle wytwarza się więź narodowa jako kategoria ideologicz­
na. Wydobycie z dziejów indywidualności narodu to jedno z zadań,
jakie stawiał sobie jeden z czołowych historyków tej epoki: Joachim Le­
lewel. Jego wizja przeszłości odniesiona do pierwotnej Słowiańszczyzny
nie pomijała rzesz chłopskich, ukazując jako trzon kształtującego się
narodu, żyjący w warunkach wolności lud rolniczy. We wstępie do Uwag
v.ad dziejami Polski i ludu jej pisał: „Chybia powołaniu swemu dziejarz
wszechstronnie dzieje państwa i narodu przepatrywać obowiązany, kie­
dy lud jego z oka traci i zaniedbuje..."
9

10

1 1

W podejściu do przeszłości tkwiło przekonanie o swoistych właści­
wościach odróżniających naród Polski od innych narodów i było w y r a ­
zem postawy indywidualizującej w stosunku do zjawisk historycznych,
w szczególności do dziejów narodu. Pisze o t y m Lelewel: „Rozważając
sprawy i rzeczy Polski, usiłowałem rozpoznać różnicę onych od spraw
innych ludów, aby wydobyć własny narodowy żywioł odróżniający go
od cudzoziemskiego" . I tak, jak Stanisław Staszic, swego programu
„uobywatelnienia" nieszlacheckich części narodu •— mieszczaństwa
i chłopstwa — nie uważał za zaprzeczenie tradycji, ale za kontynuację
tej, od której odstąpiono.
Lelewelowska idea gminowładztwa słowiańskiego realizowała zasady
wolności, równości, ludowładztwa, które będąc źródłem siły i wielkości
narodu polskiego w jego rozwoju dziejowym miały stać się oparciem dla
teraźniejszości i podstawą dla przyszłości. Ten ideał społeczny przedsta­
wiony przez Lelewela ma motywację historyczną w duchu romantyczne­
go historyzmu, mimo że naród rozpatrywany był w dalszym ciągu zgod­
nie z myślą oświeceniową w „postępie powszechnym ludów i mocarstw
europejskich".
Przeszłość odgrywa jednak zasadniczą rolę w każdych koncepcjach h i ­
storycznych tego okresu zarówno powstałych z negacji .teraźniejszości
12

' A . W i t k o w s k a , Romantyczny naród: klęska i triumf, [w:] Problemy pol­
skiego romantyzmu, Wrocław 1971; t e n ż e , Słowianie,
my lubim sielanki, War­
szawa 1972.
M. Ż m i g r o d z k a , Mit, podanie, historia, [w:] Problemy polskiego roman­
tyzmu, Wrocław 1971.
Cyt. za M. H . S e r e j s к i, Przeszłość
a teraźniejszość.
Szkice i studia historiograficzne, Warszawa 1965, s. 96.
J . L e l e w e l , Dzieła, t. 1, Warszawa 1957, s. 51.
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HUMANISTYCZNEJ

i przeciwstawienia jej wartości czerpanych z historii, w której życie
historyczne ludu, jak stwierdzał to Maurycy Mochnacki, jest ciągłym
nigdy nie przerwanym procesem „uobecniania się samego siebie", a świa­
domość narodu jest danym raz na zawsze „duchem narodu", którego
najpełniejszym siedliskiem jest przeszłość — tradycja narodowa , czy
rozwijających się w myśl pojęcia postępu włączających do tych wzorów
przeszłości — współczesność jako ogniwo procesu dziejowego. Ten stosu­
nek do przeszłości zamyka się niejako w stwierdzeniu jednego z histo­
ryków epoki Romantyzmu: „duch narodów odpowiada najlepiej na za­
pytanie nasze z odległości jak echo. Dlatego najwyraźniej przemawia
przeszłość" .
13

u

Rozwój myśli historycznej prowadził do podejmowania
opraco­
w a ń s y n t e t y c z n y c h i z a r y s ó w h i s t o r y c z n y c h , do któ­
rych włączono wnioski wysuwane z analizy materiałów archaicznych za­
chowanych w kulturze ludowej. Równocześnie mamy do czynienia (w I poł.
X I X w.) z tendencjami gromadzenia własnych źródeł etnograficznych na
podstawie zakrojonych na szeroką skalę programów badań szczegółowych
obejmujących tereny uznane za ważne ze względu na zachowane tradycje
kulturowe. Na gruncie rozwijającego się w dobie porozbiorowej nurtu ko­
lekcjonerstwa i zbieractwa starożytności oraz wszelkiego rodzaju pamią­
tek czasów dawnych, poddawanych wraz z rozwojem myśli historycznej
i historycznego programu badań naukowej ocenie i popularyzacji, w y ­
rosła idea Towarzystwa Przyjaciół Nauk. Ono koncentruje badaczy, któ­
rych programy i założenia badawcze wyznaczają kierunek, w jakim będą
rozwijały się zainteresowania ludoznawcze. W t y m okresie mamy już do
czynienia z postawami w a r t o ś c i u j ą c y m i
kulturę
ludową.
Negatywna niejednokrotnie z pozycji oświeceniowych ocena jej poziomu
i potrzeba jej podniesienia nie zmieniają jednak wspomnianego już fak­
tu traktowania kultury ludowej jako pełnowartościowego źródła histo­
rycznego do odtwarzania kultury narodowej. Zgodna jest opinia badaczy,
że te szeroko zakrojone poszukiwania rodzimej historii, próba określenia
narodowego charakteru wiodąca do ludu w dużej mierze inspirowana by­
ła podobnymi działaniami w innych krajach europejskich. Począwszy od
preromantycznych stwierdzeń Jean Jacquea Rousseau o „duchu dawnych
urządzeń" jako najtrwalszej spójni narodowej do romantycznego, ideali­
zowanego, ale zgodnego z potrzebą chwili widzenia ludu słowiańskiego
przez Johanna G. Herdera przedstawionego w jego Myśli o filozofii dzie­
jów, splatają się potrzeby zachowania narodowej tradycji — świadka
przeszłości w warunkach niewoli z ogólnymi prądami „uobecniania się"
bytów narodowych w społeczeństwach europejskich.
1 3

J . S z a c k i , Maurycy Mochnacki, Rewolucja i tradycja, [w:] Filozofia pol­
ska, Warszawa 1967, s. 199.
M. G r a b o w s k i , Literatura
romansu w Polsce, [w:] Literatura г kryty­
ka, t. 1, Wilno 1840, s. 39.
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Projekty i instrukcje gromadzenia materiałów wychodzące ze środo­
wisk nie tylko naukowych w pierwszych latach X I X w. z najbardziej
znanym listem Hugo Kołłątaja do księgarza J. Maja posiadają bogatą
ilość opracowań. Pozwala to odwołać się do literatury przedmiotu zaj­
mując się jedynie szerzej t y m i badaczami, których postawy wobec dzie­
dzictwa przeszłości i tradycji są najbardziej charakterystyczne dla tej
epoki .
Należy podkreślić, że kształtowanie się poglądów na znaczenie i rolę
tradycji ludowej w procesie formowania się kultury narodowej następu­
je równolegle ze wzrostem zainteresowań ludem (w jego dalszej lub
bliższej perspektywie historycznej), a zatem niejako u źródeł powstania
etnografii i folklorystyki. Rozszerzenie programu badań na wszystkie
klasy i instytucje społeczne, gospodarcze i kulturalne obejmujące cało­
kształt życia .narodowego, „kryzys" ustroju pańszczyźnianego, nawiązu­
jące do ideałów Oświecenia walki o pozycję chłopa w nowym państwie,
wywoływały konieczność uwzględnienia we wszystkich rozważaniach
dotyczących dziedzictwa narodowego tradycji warstwy chłopskiej i jej
dorobku społecznego i kulturalnego.
Jakich elementów poszukiwano w kulturze ludowej, jak kształtował
się stosunek do tradycji ludowej i co za taką uważano, zależne było
w swoim zasadniczym kierunku od kształtujących poglądy umysłowe tej
epoki prądów oświeceniowego czy romantycznego, od różnych tak cha­
rakterystycznych dla tego okresu funkcji społecznych pracy historycznej
oraz indywidualności naukowej i osobowości badacza.
W ideologii
oświeceniowej
sprawa chłopska zajmowała
poważną pozycję, a programy społeczne i polityczne kształtowały stosu­
nek do kultury tej warstwy. Było to w znacznym stopniu konsekwencją
faktu, że refleksje nad ojczyzną, rozwijające się w Polsce w odmiennych
warunkach dziejowych niż w innych krajach europejskich, skupiały uwa­
gę na dziejach narodu, a nie historycznej przeszłości państwa. Opierając
się na klasycznej doktrynie fizjokratów dotyczącej praw naturalnych
człowieka, szczególnie silnie broniono praw chłopów.
Rozwijając tezę o nadwartości, jaką zapewnia ziemia, gospodarstwo
rolne, Kołłątaj do wartości naturalnej ziemi dołączył wartość pracy
chłopów, o których Konstytucja Majowa w ślad za autorem Listów Ano­
nima stwierdzała, „iż spod ich ręki płynie najobfitsze bogactw krajowych
źródło" . Postulując w swoim słynnym liście do księgarza Maja potrzebę
1S

16

1 5

Por. Dzieje folklorystyki polskiej 1800-1863 pod red. H . Kapełuś i J . K r z y ­
żanowskiego, Wrocław 1970; Historia etnografii polskiej pod red. M. Terleckiej,
Wrocław 1973; A. K u t r z e b a - P o j n a r o w a , Kultura ludowa w
dotychczaso­
wych pracach etnograficznych,
[w:] Etnografia Polski. Przemiany kultury
ludoviej, t. 1. Wroclaw 1976, s. 19-58.
H. K o ł ł ą t a j , Oddajmy chłopu wolność. Wyjątek
z listów Anonima, cz. 2,
list drugi z 11 października 1788, [w:] Kuźnica
Kołłątajowska,
w y b ó r źródeł opr.
В. Leśnodorski, Warszawa 1949; t e n ż e , Wybór pism politycznych, opr. В. L e ś n o dorski, W r o c ł a w 1951, s. L I
1 6

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39

dzieła De Moribus Polonorum był konsekwentny głoszonym poglądom
0 roli ludu w dziejach kultury narodowej, nawiązując równocześnie do
wywodów Franciszka S. Jezierskiego, który już w 1791 r. pisał:
„... Część największą ludzi ubogich i pracowitych zowiemy pospólstwem,
u Francuzów pospólstwo jest trzecim stanem, w e d ł u g mnie pospólstwo powinnoby
s i ę nazywać pierwszym stanem narodu. Bogactwo i moc p a ń s t w pospólstwo składa
1 pospólstwo utrzymuje charakter narodów. Szlachta w całej Europie po wszyst­
kich narodach jest podobna do siebie... P o s p ó l s t w o zaś rozróżnia narody i utrzy­
muje rodowitość języka ojczystego, zachowuje zwyczaje i trzyma się jednostaj­
nego sposobu życia. Wieśniak nie w y m y ś l i ł mody ani odzieży, ani w sprzętach,
ani w wyrazach mowy" .
17

Równolegle z wysuwanymi żądaniami upełnoprawnienia obywatel­
skiego ludności chłopskiej stawiane są postulaty oświaty dla ludu, co
w praktyce nie ograniczało się do szerzenia jej wśród ludności wiejskiej,
ale również obejmowało gromadzenie i weryfikowanie tego, co stanowiło
p o w s z e c h n ą w i e d z ę g m i n u . Szeroko pojęte procesy edukacji
narodowej nie mogły pominąć tych treści kulturowych, które przekazy­
wane w procesie wychowawczym z pokolenia na pokolenie drogą prze­
kazu ustnego i naśladownictwa były sumą wiedzy i doświadczeń tak du­
żej części społeczeństwa. Nie zawsze mogła jednak ta część wiedzy
i wierzeń ludu wejść do dziedzictwa kulturowego narodu. Poddawana
krytyce z pozycji oświeceniowych nie przeszła niejednokrotnie próby na­
ukowego uwierzytelnienia, i to było w wielu przypadkach powodem, że
znaczny trud badawczy interesujących się tą dziedziną ludzi nie znalazł
właściwej oceny. Natomiast budzi się zainteresowanie w stosunku do
twórczości artystycznej ludu przede wszystkim poezji i pieśni i mimo, że
okres całkowitej apoteozy i kultu folkloru nastąpił dopiero w dobie
romantycznej, już w tym czasie zaczęto stawiać pytania badawcze doty­
czące wartości tej dziedziny twórczości artystycznej jako nosiciela tra­
dycji pierwotnych. Przede- wszystkim dotyczyło to p i e ś n i , które jako
gatunek twórczości ludowej znany i akceptowany powszechnie w innych
kulturach, odznaczających się bogactwem rodzajów, powszechnością i naj­
ważniejszą zaletą —.dawnością, miał szanse nobilitacji jako źródło prze­
kazu tradycji narodowych .
18

O ile pierwsze próby gromadzenia tego typu źródeł do upowszechnie­
nia i utrwalenia tradycji narodu przypisuje się Janowi Woroniczowi i je­
go projektowi Pieśnioksięgu,
to za sprawą Bogumiła Lindego i Słownika
polskiego zostaje podniesiona sprawa rodzimości języka, którym mówi
lud, jakkolwiek idea potrzeby szukania narodowej tradycji w narodowym
1 7

F . S. J e z i e r s k i , Niektóre
wyrazy porządkiem
abecadła
zebrane i stoso­
wanymi do rzeczy uwagami objaśnione,
[w:] Kuźnica
Kołłątajowska,
wybór źró­
deł opr. В. Leśnodorski, Warszawa 1949, s. 20.
А. К r a u s h a r, Towarzystwo
Warszawskie
Przyjaciół
Nauki 1800-1832,
t. 1 (Myśli ks. Albertrandiego z roku 1805 o sposobach wydoskonalenia i zbogacenia ojczystego języka), Warszawa 1902, s. 365-374.
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języku, wspaniałym świadku najdawniejszej przeszłości, była już od
dawna powszechnie akceptowana .
Gromadzone materiały, niezależnie od ich bardziej lub mniej krytycz­
nej oceny ze strony współczesnych, miały spełniać — jak już mówiono
poprzednio — źródłową rolę dla rekonstrukcji stanu „sprzed
procesu
zmiany" oraz odkryć w kulturze ludowej istotne i trwałe treści kultury
narodu. Fakt, że niejako za pośrednictwem kultury ludowej dokonywano
tak ważnego, szczególnie dla tego momentu historycznego, dzieła odtwo­
rzenia najstarszych dziejów narodowych miało ogromny wpływ na po­
zytywną ocenę społeczeństwa wiejskiego — nosiciela tych treści.
Różnorodność wpływów i kierunków, jakie kształtowały postawy ba­
daczy tej epoki, zarówno oddziałujących z zewnątrz, jak i mająjących swoje źródło w sytuacji wewnętrznej kraju, musiały znaleźć w y ­
raz w różnym podejściu do kultury ludowej i interesującej nas kwestii
tradycji. Nagromadzony z biegiem lat materiał źródłowy dotyczący pew­
nych zagadnień związanych ze sprawami światopoglądowymi, kategory­
zacją postaw i zachowań czy systemami wartości pozwala dokonywać
znacznych uogólnień i wyciągać wnioski oceniające dany okres bardziej
całościowo. Również i w stosunku do I poł. X I X w. istniejąca ilość opra­
cowań daje nam znakomity obraz podsumowujący i oceniający tę epokę.
Jeśli jednak zastanowić się pragniemy nad pewnymi bardziej szczegóło­
w y m i kwestiami, ponownie powrócić musimy do opracowań źródłowych.
Wydaje się słuszne — przyjmując poprzednie stwierdzenia o przeło­
mowym charakterze pierwszych lat X I X w., okresu, w k t ó r y m myśl ba­
dawcza nie wyszła spod wpływu idei oświeceniowej równocześnie nie
ulegając jeszcze całkowicie prądom romantycznym — zwrócić uwagę na
jedną z bardziej reprezentatywnych dla tej epoki postaci: Wawrzyńca
Surowieckiego, historyka, słowianoznawcy, ekonomisty. Słusznie zwraca
się obecnie uwagę na prekursorski charakter jego działalności w zakresie
etnografii i archeologii, która zbiega się w czasie z wystąpieniem Kołłą­
taja z jego słynnym programem badań ludoznawczych. Szeroki zakres
zainteresowań oparty na racjonalistycznym światopoglądzie każe mu za­
jąć się sprawami najbardziej istotnymi dla aktualnej rzeczywistości.
Szukając, zgodnie z duchem epoki i swoimi zainteresowaniami histo­
rycznymi, genealogii słowiańskiej nie tracił z oczu współczesnej sytuacji
ekonomicznej kraju. W swoich rozważaniach ekonomicznych zajmuje się
zarówno sprawą chłopską (Uwagi względem poddanych i projekt do ich
uwolnienia, Warszawa 1807), jak i zagadnieniem rozwoju
przemysłu
i miast (O upadku przemysłu i miast w dawnej Polsce, Warszawa 1810).
Surowiecki pierwszy wystąpił z projektem zniesienia poddaństwa i stwo­
rzenia warunków prawnie zabezpieczających proces stopniowego uwła19

Kutrzeba-Pojnarowa,

op. cit., s. 25.

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HUMANISTYCZNEJ

szczenią chłopów (w 1807 r.) jeszcze przed ogłoszeniem Konstytucji
Księstwa Warszawskiego.
Historyk nawołujący do podejmowania badań historycznych, archeolo­
gicznych i etnograficznych, twórca tezy głoszącej rodzimość kultury sło­
wiańskiej, pochłonięty odszukiwaniem zamierzchłej przeszłości Słowian,
badał równolegle z całą energią współczesne procesy gospodarcze, prawa
i zasady oraz przeszkody i hamulce rozwoju ekonomicznego kraju .
W interesujących nas pracach historycznych starał się realizować no­
we metody badań, roszerzając zakres źródeł pisanych, z których do­
tychczas korzystano, na wszelkie ślady kultury materialnej, relikty po­
gańskiej przeszłości zachowane w obyczajowości i zabobonach, przesą­
dach i podaniach ludu, gdzie można odnaleźć „niejeden szacowny szczą­
tek, który mu ukazuje dawny zwyczaj i mniemanie narodu" .
Należy sądzić, że dla Surowieckiego program odnowy kraju, niewąt­
pliwie leżący u podstaw jego działalności naukowej, miał zgodnie z ra­
cjonalistycznym światopoglądem obejmować w sposób integralny w mia­
rę możliwości wszystkie dziedziny życia narodu, nie wyłączając proble­
mów wychowawczych.
Postulując rozszerzenie warsztatu badawczego o nowe metody po­
znawcze, do których zaliczał przede wszystkim bezpośredni kontakt z ba­
danym ludem, poznanie z autopsji jego życia duchowego, społecznego
i materialnego, był prekursorem niejako późniejszych koncepcji i dzia­
łań Zoriana Dołęgi-Chodakowskiego. Również dla Surowieckiego, jak
i późniejszych badaczy, jedną z dróg prowadzących do rekonstrukcji naj­
dawniejszej historii Słowian było poznanie kultury ludowej, szukając
„wśród zabobonów i baśni grubego ludu" tradycji kulturowej narodu.
Program badań historycznych zawierał więc w sobie badania etnograficz­
ne. W swoim szerokim programie odnowy narodowej zwracał również
uwagę na gwarę ludową i dialekty słowiańskie jako na obfite źródło ro­
dzimości języka.
Jakkolwiek przyjmujemy niejednokrotnie, że zajęcie się słowiańską
przeszłością było ucieczką przed współczesnością, czy nawet, jak stwier­
dzają niektórzy badacze inspirowani koncepcjami Mircea Eliadego, uciecz­
ką od czasu historycznego do czasu świętego, do źródeł sacrum — w przy­
padku Surowieckiego to przypuszczenie nie wydaje się uzasadnione.
W całej jego działalności naukowej możemy dostrzec wspólną koncepcję
badawczą, niezależnie od faktu stosowania przez niego w pracach metody
historycznej, która pozwoliła mu wykryć historyczne uwarunkowania i n ­
stytucji i stosunków ludzkich. Łączyła te prace o różnej problematyce
wspólna cecha — były one projekcją przyszłości opartą na analizie prze­
szłości i to zbliżało je do problemu tradycji. Wydaje się, że znalazłoby
20

21

2 0

2 1

s. 511.

A. G e 11 a, W awrzyniec Surowiecki, Warszawa 1956.
Dzieła Wawrzyńca
Surowieckiego,
wyd. K . J . Turowskiego, K r a k ó w 1861,

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tu zastosowanie znakomite stwierdzenie Thomasa S. Eliota, że tradycji
odziedziczyć po prostu nie można, jeśli zaś chce się ją posiąść, można
to zrobić tylko z dużym wysiłkiem. Warunkiem jej jest zmysł historycz­
ny, który wymaga rozumienia przeszłości istniejącej nie tylko w prze­
szłości, lecz i teraźniejszości . Zarówno w odniesieniu do zagadnień społeczno-ekonomicznych dotyczących kwestii chłopskiej, rozwoju
miast
i przemysłu czy historii Słowiańszczyzny, dokonywana przez Surowieckiego analiza historyczna była próbą włączenia przeszłości do aktualnej
świadomości społecznej. Niezależnie czy zawierała ona krytyczne spoj­
rzenie na istniejące w przeszłości systemy, czy dokonywała pewnej mitologizacji przeszłości, była gromadzeniem wiedzy „o sobie", czy „wyobra­
żeń o sobie" w procesie samookreślenia się narodowego. Stosunek do
przeszłości, zgoda na dziedziczenie lub protest przeciwko niemu, opatry­
wanie takich lub innych elmentów dziedzictwa określonymi wartościami
ujawniały podmiotowe pojmowanie tradycji, która w t y m ujęciu miała
spełniać również bardzo istotną rolę wychowawczą.
22

Z analizy działalności naukowej Surowieckiego wynika jeszcze jedno
bardzo ważne zagadnienie, któremu poświęcono w -literaturze dość dużo
miejsca — o p o z y c j i m i ę d z y t r a d y c j ą
a h i s t o r i ą . Po­
wszechnie przyjmuje się tę antynomię jako opozycję przeszłości „prze­
ż y w a n e j " przez członków społeczeństwa i przeszłości
rekonstruowanej
przez specjalistów, a więc to, co Bohdan Suchodolski określa jako prze­
ciwieństwo między zjawiskiem „żyć czymś" a „widzieć i pamiętać
0 czymś", między tradycją żywą a światem wartości pamiętanych lub
dzięki rekonstrukcji przypomnianych. Zadaniem historyzmu, jaki był
udziałem badaczy tego przełomowego okresu, było niewątpliwie znale­
zienie i przywrócenie ciągłości kulturalnej i utrzymanie tradycji, a więc
zlikwidowanie przepaści dzielącej te dwa pojęcia. Wprawdzie niektórzy
badacze widzą w historyzmie, w jego tendencjach do wywyższania pa­
mięciowych form ostawania się przeszłości, w pozbawieniu jej hierarchii
1 selekcji, niebezpieczeństwo dla tradycji, do istoty której należy pojęcie
wartości i zobowiązania do życiowej realizacji. Wydaje się jednak, że
nie odnosi się to do analizowanych prac Surowieckiego.
Uzasadnić to można następującymi faktami. Rekonstrukcja historycz­
na służyła Surowieckiemu pogłębieniu s a m o w i e d z y
narodo­
w e j , dostarczając zespołu faktów i wyobrażeń, które pozwalały znaleźć
miejsce w świecie narodowi pozbawionemu państwa, a więc odnosiła się
2 3

2 2

T. S. E l i o t , Tradycja i talent indywidualny, [w:] Szkice literackie, W a r ­
szawa 1963, s. 2.
B. S u c h o d o l s k i , Uspołecznienie
kultury, Warszawa 1947; B. L e ś n o d o r s к i, Historia i współczesność,
Warszawa 1967; N. A s s o r o d o b r a j ,
Żywa
historia. Świadomość
historyczna:
symptomy i propozycje
badawcze, „Studia So­
cjologiczne", nr 2; 1963, s. 5-47; J . S z a c k i , Tradycja.
Przegląd
problematyki,
Warszawa 1971.
,
2 3

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&lt;do współczesności. Równocześnie czyniąc masy narodu (jako jeden z pier­
wszych w historiografii polskiej) przedmiotem swoich badań, co by­
ło konsekwencją zainteresowania problemami społeczno-gospodarczymi,
ustrojowymi i kulturalnymi, przyjmował naród za pojęcie historyczno-etniczne, znajdując t y m samym wspólny mianownik dla swoich rozwa­
żań o przeszłości i przyszłości. Szukając, zgodnie ze swoim warsztatem
badawczym, śladów pierwotnej kultury słowiańskiej, m. i n . w warstwie
chłopskiej, nawiązywał w rekonstrukcji przeszłości do tradycji żywej,
do tego, czym żyła jeszcze warstwa chłopska.
Tradycja w ujęciu Surowieckiego nie nobilituje całej
przeszłości
i wszystkiego, co w niej dokonano. Przeszłość negatywna czy pozytywna
w analizie Surowieckiego aktualizuje się w teraźniejszości, nie pozostając
martwym faktem historycznym. Jeżeli nawet następuje idealizacja prze­
szłości, np. w ocenach gminowładztwa, nie służy to jej gloryfikacji, ale
zrozumieniu teraźniejszości oraz stworzeniu ewentualnych wzorów dla
przyszłości.
Niejednokrotnie łączy się osobę Surowieckiego, jego koncepcje i po­
glądy z działalnością Dołęgi-Chodakowskiego i traktuje jako inspiratora
jego poczynań, co wynika m. in. z faktu dokonania przez Surowieckiego
pierwszej k r y t y k i pracy Dołęgi-Chodakowskiego O
Słowiańszczyźnie
przedchrześcijańskiej
oraz istnienia pewnych zbieżności w ocenie kultury
prasłowiańskiej, a zwłaszcza zagadnień wpływu chrześcijaństwa na tę
kulturę. O ile jednak Surowiecki obraz Słowiańszczyzny dostosował do
oświeconego ideału cywilizacyjnego, aby w nim odszukać się mogli współ­
cześni Polacy i utwierdzić dzięki niej poczucie swej tożsamości narodo­
wej, dla Dołęgi-Chodakowskiego kultura Słowian samoistna i samowy­
starczalna, doskonała i pełna, była całkowicie odmienna i odzyskanie
dzięki niej tożsamości narodowej mogło dokonać się tylko przez o c z y ­
s z c z e n i e ze s k a ż e ń h i s t o r i i , przez powrót do stanu daw­
nego .
Takie podejście do badanej przeszłości określa stanowisko Chodakow­
skiego wobec tradycji. W przeciwieństwie do swoich poprzedników zwią­
zanych jeszcze w mniejszym lub większym stopniu z ideologią Oświece­
nia, nie dążył on do ustalenia ciągu zależności między przeszłością a przy­
szłością, nie interesowało go włączanie przeszłości, do teraźniejszości.
W swoich pracach nad Słowiańszczyzną przyjął wyłączność perspektywy
żyjącego poza historią słowiańskiego ludu. Rozważania te bliższe były
filozoficznej analizie i poszukiwaniu „ducha narodu", niż problemom w y ­
chowania narodowego. Wynikało to z tak charakterystycznej dla postawy
Dołęgi-Chodakowskiego s a k r a l i z a c j i S ł o w i a ń s z c z y z n y
nie
pozwalającej łączyć kultury słowiańskiej z aktualną rzeczywistością.
Przyjęte już powszechnie przekonanie o wartości tradycji ludowej
24

2 4

Żmigrodzka,

op. cit., s. 315.

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jako źródła do badania przeszłości słowiańskiej nabiera w ten sposób
akcentu tak charakterystycznego dla romantycznej idei ludowości, który
każe uznać lud za nieskażony fundament rodzimości.
W ten sposób rozwijająca się pod przemożnym wpływem herderyzmu
myśl ludoznawcza tego okresu w krajach słowiańskich, w t y m i w Pol­
sce, stawała się i d e o l o g i ą s y n k r e t y c z n ą , która w ludowej
twórczości szukała źródła do zrozumienia ludów słowiańskich, ich cech
i idei ludowo-narodowych „ducha ludu". Z tej postawy logicznie w y n i ­
kała potrzeba konkretu, poprzez który uzewnętrzniać się miał „duch
miejscowy". W t y m odkryciu kolorytu lokalnego, fizjonomii miejsc i l u ­
dzi sięgano przede wszystkim do ludu. Szukanie reliktów języka (zgod­
nie ze zdaniem Herdera traktującego rodzimą mowę jako podstawową
przesłankę społecznego i kulturalnego rozwoju społeczeństwa) i odkry­
wanie ludowej twórczości artystycznej staje się podstawowym zadaniem
ludoznawstwa w okresie rozwijającego się Romantyzmu .
2S

Jakkolwiek, co stwierdza wielu badaczy, okres Romantyzmu zahamo­
wał rozwój etnografii, formułującej się w myśl idei Oświecenia jako „nau­
k i o ludzie" to stając się okresem narodzin dominacji folklorystyki wiązał
się również silnie z tradycją ludową, w pewnym opozycyjnym stosunku
do oświeceniowego racjonalizmu.
Urastając do naczelnej wartości w dobie Romantyzmu, p o e t y c k a
t w ó r c z o ś ć l u d o w a miała odzwierciedlać nastroje ludu, jego indy­
widualność, jego cechy ludowo-narodowe, zawierające ślady dawnej prze­
szłości nie zawarte w dokumentach pisanych. Czyniąc tradycję obowiąz­
kową okres Romantyzmu przyczynił się do powstania zjawiska, które
określamy obecnie mianem folkloryzmu, a które, jak stwierdza Józef
Burszta, miało ogromny wpływ na zachowania tradycji ludowych i były
efektywnym środkiem wychowania narodowopatriotycznego .
W sensie ideologicznym takie spojrzenie na kulturę ludową miało
wywołać poczucie wspólnoty językowo-etnicznej i więzi społecznej, świa­
domości historycznej i w dalszym rozwoju myśli romantycznej poczucia
posłannictwa historycznego.
W ścisłym związku z tak pojmowaną ludowością pozostaje bardzo roz­
powszechniona w dobie Romantyzmu i d e a n a r o d o w o ś c i , w k t ó ­
rej powstaniu i rozwinięciu odegrał rolę Dołęga-Chodakowski. L u d jest
w t y m rozumieniu nosicielem t r a d y c j i
rodzimej
kultury
zachowując jej pierwiastki w obyczajach, obrzędach, języku i tych wszyst­
kich elementach przede wszystkim kultury duchowej, które przekazy­
wane są na drodze tradycji ustnej z pokolenia na pokolenie. Prowadziło
to do uznania ludu za wyłącznego nosiciela narodowości, a kultury ludo26

2 5

Por. J . B a c h ó r z , O polskim egzotyźmie
polskiego romantyzmu, Wrocław 1971. s. 263-267.
B u r s z t a , op. cit., s. 269-270.
2 6

romantycznym,

[w:]

Problemy

�TRADYCJA LUDOWA W MYSLI

45

HUMANISTYCZNEJ

wej za jedynie narodową. Pierwiastek ludowy w wytworach kulturo­
wych staje się wyznacznikiem określającym ich narodowy lub nie naro­
dowych charakter. Kultura ludowa, a przede wszystkim pieśni ludowe
traktowane jako źródło narodowości, w koncepcjach romantyków spełniać
miały dwie funkcje — stać się tworzywem dla poezji lub awansować do
roli literatury narodowej jako twórczość samoistna, będąca kontynuacją
rodzimej poezji sprzed wieków, źródłem do poznania przeszłości narodu.
Bardziej odosobniony w swojej skrajnej postawie mitologizacji Sło­
wiańszczyzny łączył się Chodakowski w swych poglądach na zagadnie­
nia narodowości z całym romantycznym nurtem w historiozofii i litera­
turze tego okresu. O unarodowieniu literatury polskiej poprzez zwrot ku
t r a d y c j i l u d o w e j pisał jeden z badaczy pieśni ludowych i poeta
Krystyn Lech Szyrma:
„Jeśli nie chcemy być w naukach nadobnych tylko naśladowcami, lecz i ory­
ginalne, a do tego czysto narodowe posiadać dzieła, uratujemy te starocie, te
zabytki, na które czas coraz ostrzej nastawa i grozi zatratą. Są one szczątkami
gmachu niegdyś okazałego, który runął w zwaliskach, ale może nam jeszcze do
wzniesienia Ś w i ą t y n i Narodowej za w ę g i e l n y posłużyć kamień. Zniżmy się w i ę c
pod niskie strzechy, tam gości Sędziwa Narodowość" .
27

Wiejskie strzechy, pod którymi odgrzebuje się zagubioną przeszłość,
są bezpośrednią reminiscencją stwierdzeń Dołęgi-Chodakowskiego: „Mię­
dzy ludem cnota mieszka, między ludem poezja mieszka" . Również
Mochnacki jakkolwiek daleko wykracza w swoich rozważaniach o istocie
narodowości poza domenę literatury, a tradycję określa szeroko „jako nić
wewnętrznego przypomnienia", którą stanowi ogół zjawisk przeszłości,
z którymi człowiek jest w stanie nawiązać duchowy kontakt, za źródło
polskiej poezji romantycznej uważa tradycję rodzimą, nadając tym sa­
mym współczesny wymiar historycznej przeszłości .
Szczególnie wyraźne nawiązanie do jedności między czasem teraź­
niejszym a czasem historycznym dostrzec możemy w działalności Kazi­
mierza Brodzińskiego. Jest rzeczą wymagającą podkreślenia, że bezpo­
średni związek między pojęciem t r a d y c j i
a pojęciem n a r o d o ­
w o ś c i wynika z roli tradycji jako siły organicznej w procesie krysta­
lizacji t o ż s a m o ś c i n a r o d o w e j . „Naród bez pamięci historycz­
nej nie jest narodem i jeśli ta przestanie dla niego być świętą i on prze­
stanie zasługiwać na imię od ojców odziedziczone" . Świadomość histo28

29

30

2 7

K. L . S z y r m a ,

List do redaktoru,

„Dziennik Wileński", t. 1: 1818, s.

486-

489.
2 8

Z. D o ł ę g a - C h o d a k o w s k i , Sprawy słowiańskie
pod strzechą
wiejską
zebrane, Warszawa 1973, s. 23.
M. M o c h n a c k i , O duchu i źródłach
poezji w Polszczę,
[w:] Pisma po
raz pierwszy edycją książkową
objęte, wyd. A. Śliwiński, L w ó w 1910, s. 13.
K . B r o d z i ń s k i , Mowy i pisma patriotyczne, opr. I. Chrzanowski, „Bi­
blioteka Narodowa", nr 94: 192 . s. 07.
2 9

3 0

4

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rycznej zmienności form życia i wyobrażeń zmuszała do dokonywania
pewnej selekcji bagażu dziedzictwa kulturowego, równocześnie jednak
reprezentując istotę narodowości tradycja nie mogła ulec skażeniu. Ta
antynomia między potrzebą rozwijania tradycji a utrzymaniem jej w nie­
skażonej formie, między trwałością a zmianą, jest charakterystyczna dla
postawy Brodzińskiego. „Doskonalić narodowość, ale jej nie zmieniać" —
stwierdza w Listach o polskiej literaturze . Wychodząc (jak większość
badaczy tego okresu) od zainteresowania pieśniami ludowymi, widział je
nie tylko jako źródło pomocnicze do poznania dziejów i obyczajów k a ż ­
dego ludu, ale niezbędne do utrzymania charakteru i ducha narodowego.
Pojęcie narodowe znaczyło dla Brodzińskiego — ludowe. Literaturę uwa­
żał Brodziński za zjawisko historyczne, za produkt życia narodu i zara­
zem jeden z czynników to życie modelujących. Teza o literaturze jako
dokumencie życia narodowego dawała możliwości odtworzenia wpisanej
w tę literaturę s a m o w i e d z y n a r o d o w e j i zrekonstrułowania
portretu zbiorowości polskiej. Zarys dziejów literatury dawał w t y m uję­
ciu pewną ogólną koncepcję narodu odnoszącą się nie tylko do prze­
szłości, ale rzutującą także na przyszłość. Uznając s i e l a n k ę za naj­
bardziej swojski, rodzimy gatunek literacki, w którym najdoskonalej od­
biły się cechy ducha i charakteru narodowego, nawiązywał przede wszyst­
k i m do kultury ziemiańskiej. Jego pojęcie indywidualności narodowej
wywodzące się ze związków z ziemią i rolnictwem, odwoływanie się do
przeszłości, w której dominował wzór kultury rolniczej, kazało mu jed­
nak szeroko pojmować określenie ludu rolniczego i nawiązywać w idea­
łach pracy i obyczaju do współczesnego życia wiejskiego. „Rolnictwo jest
jedno zajęcie człowieka, które sam Bóg wskazał, przetrwa wszystkieprzemysły ludzkie, ocali w robotniku przyrodzony rozum i od ostatecz­
nego zepsucia lud uchowa" — pisał. W uwspółcześnieniu sielankowości
obrazu przeszłości Brodziński dążył nie tylko do literackiej nobilitacji
chłopa i tematów z życia ludu, ale również do stworzenia obrazu społe­
czeństwa, w którym idealizowane cechy narodowości polskiej będą stano­
wiły o s w o i s t o ś c i k u l t u r y
współczesnej.
31

Niezależnie od charakteru wyobrażeń o istocie narodowości, rozważa­
nia Brodzińskiego wiązały literaturę z życiem w sposób historyczny i so­
cjologiczny traktując ją za produkt życia narodu. Ucieleśniając niejako
swoją ideę zachowania tradycji, tego duchowego continuum narodu, Bro­
dziński był projektodawcą Dykcjonarza obyczajów i zwyczajów
polskich,,
którego późniejsza realizacja związana była z osobą Łukasza Gołębiow­
skiego i jego Ludem polskim.
Wydaje się, że można — powołując się na szeroko w literaturze omó­
wioną i analizowaną działalność naukową i literacką m. in. S. Witwickie8 1

s. 310.

Tenże,

Listy

o polskiej

literaturze,

„Pamiętnik Warszawski", t. 16:

1820,

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47

HUMANISTYCZNEJ

go, R. Zmorskiego, K . W. Wójcickiego i J. L . Żukowskiego, Wacława
z Oleska i innych — stwierdzić, iż postawy Surowieckiego, Chodakow­
skiego, Szyrmy i Brodzińskiego były zarówno reprezentatywne dla poglą­
dów wcześniej wypowiadanych, jak i stanowiły punkt wyjścia do dalsze­
go rozwoju badań ludoznawczych. Jeśli zastanowić się nad osiągnięciami
tego okresu realizowanymi zarówno indywidualnie, jak i przez Warszaw­
skie Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Nauk to wydaje się, że większe znaczenie
od konkretnie zgromadzonych w t y m czasie materiałów miało przeła­
manie w i e l o w i e k o w e j o b o j ę t n o ś c i
na nurt tradycji żywej
zawarty w kulturze warstwy chłopskiej, tradycji, która do tego czasu
była na marginesie wszelkich rozważań, zarówno w kategoriach ideo­
wych i patriotycznych, jak i estetyczno-artystycznych. Nie w realizacji
więc programów zamierzonych na szerszą skalę niż to było możliwe do
wykonania, poczynając od programu Kołłątaja, projektów Woronicza,
akcji zbierackiej Surowieckiego, Rakowieckiego i innych do konkursów
organizowanych przez Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Nauk, ale w u g r u n t o ­
waniu
świadomości
potrzeb zainteresowania folklorem należy
widzieć wkład tych prac do badań ludoznawczych. Jest to konsekwencją
faktu, że podstawowe zadania tego okresu wiązały się z: 1) potrzebą za­
chowania przeszłości dla przyszłości, 2) obroną ciągłości tradycji jako
gwaranta przyszłego narodowego bytu, 3) apoteozą słowiańskiej przeszło­
ści i samorodnej twórczości ludowej jako nosiciela narodowych składni­
ków kultury. Jest jednak rzeczą charakterystyczną, że niezależnie od te­
go, czy rozpatrywano tradycję w myśl idei Oświecenia, czy z pozycji
Romantyków n o b i l i t o w a n o i do rangi tradycji podnoszono tę tylko
część dziedzictwa kulturowego narodu, która zgodna była z potrzebami
chwili. W poszukiwaniu wzorów działań, które w danym momencie h i ­
storycznym uchodziły za szczególnie ważne, odwoływano się więc do tra­
dycji, a nie historii. Laboratoryjnie można w t y m okresie obserwować
proces wyboru z przeszłości pewnych faktów pod kątem potrzeby ucze­
stnictwa w wartościach, które dawały możliwość zachowania p r e s t i ż u
n a r o d u w zmienionych warunkach. Odwoływanie się do tradycji, a nie
historii, wybiórcze traktowanie przeszłości otwierało możliwości fanta­
stycznej nierzadko spekulacji myślowej prowadzącej nawet do falsyfikacji historycznej. „Wszystkie narody — pisał Świętochowski — mają
mniej lub więcej podrobioną historię utkaną z prawd, legend, domnie­
mań, zmyśleń i zwyczajnych kłamstw. Jest ona jak gdyby barwnym
obrazem wykaligrafowanym przez wyobraźnię na kanwie rzeczywisto­
ści" . Przyjęcie powszechnej zasady, że kryterium wyróżniające trady­
cję pochodzi zawsze ze świata wartości, nie musi oznaczać prawdziwości
treściowej faktów i uogólnień zawartych w wymienionych wytworach
kulturowych czy wyobrażeń związanych z nimi, ale musi opierać się na
32

A.

Świętochowski,

Genealogia

rzeczywistości,

Warszawa

1936.

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„społecznie ważnym domniemaniu", że pochodzą z przeszłości, z którą łą­
czą się na zasadzie ciągłości i więzi i posiadają szeroki zasięg społecznego
rezonansu i społecznych emocji.
Ze zrodzonej w konkretnym momencie historycznym potrzeby rekon­
struowania wiedzy społeczeństwa o sobie samym powstał „model uświa­
damiany", należący do tej samej kategorii zjawisk, jak stwierdza Claude
Levi-Strauss, formułując to określenie, co mity i religia. Jest to szcze­
gólnie widoczne w okresie Romantyzmu. O ile bowiem w ideologii oświe­
ceniowej tradycję traktowano przede wszystkim jako p r o g r a m d z i a ­
ł a n i a , Romantycy widzieli ją jako i d e a ł d u c h o w y , mit ojczyz­
ny, spirytualizowali wyobrażenia o ciągłości dziejów opierając je na toż­
samości duchowej narodu.
Z jakich motywów zrodziła się potrzeba konstruowania „modeli uświa­
damianych" będących teorią społeczeństwa o samym sobie, można pró­
bować wyjaśnić powołując się na stwierdzenie Suchodolskiego, ,,że roz­
k w i t badań historycznych w X I X w., pietyzm wobec pamiątek przeszło­
ści dziejowej, ochrona ruin i zabytków, zwycięstwo historycznej meto­
dy myślenia w wielu dziedzinach nie są owocem szczególnego wzrostu
roli przeszłości w życiu bieżącym, ale są raczej wynikiem utraty żywej
łączności z dawnością" . Pamięciowa forma ostawania się przeszłości nie
mogła wystarczająco świadczyć o ciągłości. Szczególne warunki polskiej
rzeczywistości wymagały „dowodów z dawności" podbudowujących świa­
domość więzi kulturowej z przeszłością. Zmuszało to do poszukiwania tra­
dycji żywej i wskrzeszania „pamięci zbiorowej" jak określa ją Maurice
Halbwach, której podstawową cechą jest ciągłość i która w przeciwień­
stwie do pamięci historycznej zwraca uwagę nie na zmiany i różnice,
ale na podobieństwa, spoglądając na minione wydarzenia przez pryzmat
teraźniejszości . I ta konieczność przejścia od tradycji pamiętanej do
tradycji żywej mogła się odbyć tylko za p o ś r e d n i c t w e m l u d u ,
w którym widziano nosiciela najstarszych wybranych z całości dziedzic­
twa kulturowego narodu treści zawartych w tradycji ludowej.
33

34

Reasumując więc przedstawione powyżej postawy badaczy w stosunku
do przeszłości można wyraźnie stwierdzić, że mamy tu do czynienia
z procesem tworzenia tradycji na zasadzie świadomego
selekcjono­
w a n i a i w a r t o ś c i o w a n i a zjawisk dotyczących przeszłości. W y ­
daje się, że nie budzi też wątpliwości charakter kryteriów wyboru i war­
tościowania, czy — jak to określa Assorodobrej — charakter „aprobaty"
wyróżniającej pewne elementy przeszłości z całości dziedzictwa kulturo­
wego. Są one bowiem w t y m przypadku narzucone przede wszystkim
potrzebami chwili. Ta motywacja wyboru i wartościowania mająca pod­
stawowe znaczenie w podmiotowym rozumieniu tradycji mogła
mieć
3 3

8 4

S u c h o d o l s k i , op. cit., s. 73 n.
M. H a 1 w b а с h, Społeczne
ramy pamięci,

Warszawa 1969, s. X V I I I n.

�T R A D Y C J A L U D O W A W MYŠLI

HUMANISTYCZNEJ

49

u podstaw swoich k o n f l i k t (o roli którego mówi w swoich rozwa­
żaniach o tradycji Roman Zimand ) , który nie tylko stanowił punkt w y j ­
ścia do rozważań nad zagadnieniem tradycji, ale odgrywał znaczną rolę
w procesie wyboru treści kulturowej. W tym przypadku sytuacja kon­
fliktowa wynika zarówno z warunków politycznych kraju, jak i zmie­
niającego się wewnętrznego układu sił społecznych, przede wszystkim
zwiększającego się znaczenia warstwy chłopskiej.
Przyjęcie konfliktu jako bodźca wywołującego zainteresowanie tra­
dycją nie stoi w sprzeczności z uznaniem istnienia
świadomej
a p r o b a t y w wyborze elementów kultury, które w t y m okresie histo­
rycznym zostały zaaprobowane i uznane za wartości. Taka motywacja
wyboru pewnych treści czy zjawisk kulturowych pochodzących z prze­
szłości i podnoszenie ich do rangi tradycji w szczególnie wyraźny sposób
wyraża istotną dla pojęcia tradycji, podkreślaną przez wszystkich ba­
daczy sprawę jej z w i ą z k u z t e r a ź n i e j s z o ś c i ą , związku, k t ó ­
ry tak znakomicie określa Stefan Czarnowski: „Albowiem dawność trwa
wyłącznie jako teraźniejszość. Teraźniejszość zaś jest przekształconą, zak­
tualizowaną dawnością oraz rodzącą się przyszłością" .
Zasada spojrzenia na przeszłość oczyma teraźniejszości była ideą prze­
wodnią w całej historiografii tego okresu, była więc także punktem od­
niesienia dla rozważań nad kulturą ludową stanowiącą integralną i nie­
jako dowodową część najstarszej historii narodu. Dawność rodowodu k u l ­
tury ludowej, elementu tak ważnego dla pojęcia tradycji, gwarantował
natomiast wywodzący się w t y m czasie z założeń historyzmu kierunek
badań ludoznawczych.
3 5

36

TRADYCJA LUDOWA W IDEOLOGII POZYTYWIZMU
I NEOROMANTYZMU

Zmiana w poglądach na zagadnienie kultury ludowej, powszechnie
owiązana z osobą Ryszarda Wincentego Berwińskiego i jego krytyką ro­
mantycznej, szeroko rozpowszechnionej teorii o starożytności kultury l u ­
dowej, musiała znaleźć odbicie w podejściu do zagadnienia tradycji ludo­
wej i ocenie zawartych w tym pojęciu treści. Zanim jednak Berwiński
przeszedł do krytycznej oceny dotychczasowych sądów w sprawie litera­
tury ludowej jako bezpośredniego źródła historycznego, które przedsta­
wił w dwóch wydanych w 1854 r. tomach Studiów o literaturze ludowej...
niejednokrotnie podkreślał rolę ludu — chłopstwa w t r a d y c j i
kul­
turalnej
narodu.
W swoich rozważaniach o narodowości pisał
w „Przyjacielu Ludu": „Narodowość zaś nie może być reprezentowana
3 5

R. Z i m a n d , Problem tradycji, [w:] Proces
historyczny
w
literaturze
i sztuce, Warszawa 1967, s. 360-378.
S. C z a r n o w s k i , Dawność
a teraźniejszość
w kulturze, [w:] Dzieła, t. 1,
Warszawa 1956, s. 121.
3 6

4 — E t n o g r a f i a P o l s k a , t. 26/2

�50

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przez jedną klasę wyłącznie, ale przez ogół, masę. Chcąc poznać narodo­
wość, trzeba poznać ten ogół, w którym się ona objawia, trzeba zatem
poznać i l u d ' " . W Powieściach wielkopolskich wydanych w 1840 r. w y ­
raża pogląd,
że nadszedł czas, gdzie rozdwojone siły moralne narodu
złączyć się mają, gdzie nić myśli rodzimej snuć trzeba z rodzimego włók­
na — gdzie nasza literatura ustna przejść powinna w literaturę piśmien­
ną...", a twórczość ludową „zmienić w krew i życie całego narodu".
Zrodzona pod wpływem wypadków politycznych i społecznych niepo­
koi poł. X I X w. myśl krytyczna w stosunku do genezy kultury chłop­
skiej, rozpoczyna okres krytyczno-naukowy w dziejach badań ludoznaw­
czych. Należy jednak podkreślić, że zmiana poglądów nie dokonała się
nagle, a krystalizowanie się nowego spojrzenia na kulturę ludową n a w i ą ­
zującego do utylitaryzmu doby Oświecenia następowało stopniowo —
pełną aprobatę znajdując dopiero w okresie rozwoju Pozytywizmu.
O odwrocie od pewnego irracjonalnego zapatrzenia w przeszłość, ro­
mantycznego „chłopomaństwa" może świadczyć formułowany przez W i n ­
centego Pola pogląd: „Kto nie chce postępu, nieprzyjacielem jest trady­
cji narodowej, kto nie chce tradycji, nieprzyjacielem jest p o s t ę p u " .
Narastające krytyczne oceny dotychczasowego stosunku do kultury
ludowej wychodziły nie tylko z kręgów jej badaczy, ale również history­
ków i literatów. Charakterystyczna jest dla tego okresu m. i n . postawa
Ignacego Kraszewskiego, który widząc tak jak i inni rolę twórczości l u ­
dowej w kreowaniu prawdziwie narodowej literatury, postulował ko­
nieczność ścisłości i dokładności zapisu folklorystycznego, potrzebę gro­
madzenia i wydawania w pierwszym rzędzie autentycznych, a nie prze­
tworzonych literacko materiałów, potrzebę odróżnienia elementów swoj­
skich i obcych .
37

38

39

Powoli więc formułują się n o w e s t a n o w i s k a
badawcze,
które każą widzieć w tradycji ludowej jedno ze źródeł narodowej k u l ­
tury, nie identyfikując jej jednak z całością tej kultury.
Rewizji poglądów na wartości historyczne treści zawartych w k u l ­
turze ludowej (głównie w folklorze) sprzyjały podejmowane w t y m cza­
sie studia porównawcze m. in. nad pieśniami słowiańskimi. Dały one pod­
stawę wielu badaczom, jak np. Wacławowi Maciejowskiemu, do stwier­
dzeń, że wątek historyczny poezji gminnej, który zawsze ulegał prze­
istoczeniu, „oprócz narodowych uczuć nie miewa w sobie nic dawnego".
Stąd poezja gminna dla dziejów nie może „dostarczyć zasobów pewnych,
a przynajmniej takich, które za pomnik historyczny uważać można bez3 7

R. W,. В e r w i ń s к i, Listy z narodowej
pielgrzymki, „Przyjaciel Ludu",
R. 5: 1838, s. 148-149.
Cyt. za: K . Z a w i s t o w i c z - A d a m s k ą , Wincenty Pol — badacz kul­
tury ludowej, Warszawa 1966, s. 96.
J . C h a ł a s i ń s k i , Z zagadnień
historii kultury polskiej pierwszej
polo­
wy XIX w. „Nauka Polska", R. 2: 1954, nr 1, s. 119-121.
3 8

3 9

�TRADYCJA LUDOWA W MYSLI

51

HUMANISTYCZNEJ

40

piecznie" . Zbliżone do poglądów Maciejowskiego byly sądy Edwarda
Dembowskiego czy Jana Majorkiewicza, których entuzjazm dla twórczo­
ści ludu nie przysłaniał krytycznego stosunku do folkloru jako najstar­
szego zabytku narodowej kultury.
Jakkolwiek powszechnie łączy się okresy przełomowe, jakie zachodzą
w dziejach każdej dyscypliny naukowej z konkretnymi osobami, nie mo­
że jednak pozostać nie doceniana suma wysiłków indywidualnych i kolek­
tywnych wszystkich poprzednich badaczy. Przygotowują oni
bowiem
grunt pod nowe szersze spojrzenie na badaną rzeczywistość, stwarzając
potrzebę nowych jakościowo rodzajów badań. Tę nową jakość wyników
badań, postępującą równolegle z 'rozwojem warsztatu naukowego, wiąże
się powszechnie z Oskarem Kolbergiem. Nie można jednak nie widzieć
już w pierwszych jego pracach poświęconych pieśni ludu polskiego na­
wiązania do tez swoich poprzedników o cechach zmienności, tkwiących
immanentnie w badanych przez nich dziedzinach kultury ludowej . Sze­
rokość kontekstu widzianych zjawisk, jaka coraz wyraźniej zaznacza się
w warsztacie naukowym Kolberga, jest więc nie tyle przez swoje nowa­
torstwo tak istotna dla rozwoju polskiego ludoznawstwa, ale przez szero­
k i z a k r e s r e a l i z a c j i , który doprowadził do powstania tak monu­
mentalnego dzieła. Sposób widzenia faktów kulturowych w ich pełnym
kontekście uwzględniającym konieczność genetycznego i historycznego
interpretowania zjawisk oraz ich zmienności w czasie i przestrzeni ma
podstawowe znaczenie dla kształtowania się nowego z a k r e s u p o j ę ­
cia
tradycji
ludowej.
Charakter dokumentacyjny gromadzo­
nej wiedzy o faktach etnograficznych miał służyć utrwaleniu wobec do­
strzegalnych zmian kulturowych tych wartości, które do kultury naro­
dowej wnosiła wieś nie tylko przez folklor, ale całokształt swego życia
społecznego, materialnego i duchowego.
41

W przeciwieństwie do okresu poprzedniego zmienia się podejście do
zagadnienia tradycji ludowych jako odbicia indywidualnych cech ludu
odniesionych wyłącznie do pojęcia ducha ludu na rzecz widzenia tych
zjawisk w ścisłym powiązaniu z konkretnymi w a r u n k a m i
kultur a l n o - h i s t o r y c z n y m i . W liście do T. Lenartowicza w 1857 r.
Kolberg pisze, określając cel i charakter gromadzonych materiałów etno­
graficznych:
„Są i będą skarbnicą ciekawą dla gramatyków, lingwistów, historyków, dla
ludzi kreślić mających nie tylko duchowość narodu, nie tylko moralne lub nie­
moralne usposobienie, jego obyczajowość ale i zewnętrzną skorupę, wszystkie
przypadłości słowa i dźwięku, przez jakie przechodził... Takimi, jakimi są, zbieracz
je ma przedstawić, nie wolno mu w nich nic dodać ani ująć, jeżeli chce być
wiernym swemu zadaniu i uzyskać zaufanie" .
42

4 0

W. A. M a c i e j o w s k i , Wzgląd
historyczny na klechdy i gminne
piosenki najdawniejsze, „Orędownik Naukowy", nr 10: 1840, s. 78.
Dzieje folklorystyki polskiej..., s. 164-165.
O. K o l b e r g , Dzieła wszystkie, t. 64, Warszawa 1965, s. 70-71.
41

4 2

polskie

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W kształtowaniu się poglądów Kolberga na zagadnienie kultury ludo­
wej, które włączyły go ostatecznie w krąg myślenia pozytywistycznego,
wyraźnie zaznacza się przejście od statycznego ujmowania kultury do
prób określenia p r z e m i a n zachodzących na wsi w szerokim, na mia­
r ę jego warsztatu naukowego, kontekście zjawisk kulturowych.
Nie przestając widzieć w badaniu tradycji kulturowej ludu zadania
tak ważnego, jak wykrycie c e c h s p e c y f i c z n y c h kultury naro­
dowej, zdawał sobie sprawę z różnorodności czynników kształtujących
k u l t u r ę ludową, uwzględniając zarówno wpływ czynników z e w n ę t r z ­
n y c h — zapożyczeń, jak warunków
w e w n ę t r z n y c h — gospo­
darczych, politycznych i geograficznych.
Poza celami naukowymi, których realizacja stawiała Kolberga w rzę­
dzie najwybitniejszych badaczy kultury ludowej X I X w., niemniej waż­
ne funkcje spełniały jego dzieła w kształtowaniu poglądów na znaczenie
tradycji ludowej w procesie tworzenia się ś w i a d o ś c i
narodo­
w e j . Zwracanie uwagi na zróżnicowanie regionalne, określenie indywi­
dualnych cech poszczególnych grup etnicznych, miało budzić poczucie
świadomości środowiskowej i poprzez nią narodowej. Zdając sobie spra­
wę z tak szeroko pojętej roli tradycji, dokumentował Kolberg rozmaite
jej formy widząc w nich jednak zawsze jedynie regionalne warianty
„prajedności kulturowej" .
W swym stosunku do przeszłości, którą uważał za główny składnik
świadomości narodowej, w podkreśleniu ciągłości historycznej narodu kie­
rował się t y m i samymi celami społeczno-patriotycznymi, jakie przyświe­
cały badaczom folkloru od chwili utraty niepodległości.
Będąc na pograniczu dwóch kolejnych okresów w dziejach kultury
(romantycznego i pozytywistycznego) czerpał z pierwszego wiarę w war­
tości tkwiące w tradycji ludowej, które winny stać się składnikiem nie
tylko ogólnonarodowej kultury ale także i słowiańskiej; jako Pozytywista
starał się badać tradycje we wszystkich przejawach życia wsi w całej
jego, jak sam określał, „zewnętrznej skorupie".
Wyrazem tej postawy Kolberga wyrosłej z dwóch tak ważnych ideo­
logicznie n u r t ó w może być m. in. jego stosunek do poglądów wyraża­
nych przez Berwińskiego, o którym pisze:
43

„Zaprzeczając bowiem u m y s ł o w i naszego ludu twórczości i na bierne, naśla­
dowcze jedynie skazując go ducha stanowisko, ubliżałby on naturze ludzkiej
w ogóle, która jakkolwiek uległa być może prądom w y p a d k ó w czy to g w a ł t o w ­
nie, czy mniej nagle z zewnątrz na nią napływających, nie zrywa przecież od
razu wszystkich ogniw wiążących ją z przeszłością, nie wyrzeka się jej bezwarun­
kowo, chociaż nie zawsze czuje w a g ę i pojmuje znaczenie przechowanych w swym
łonie tradycji" .
41

4 3

rodową
s. 225.
4 4

M. T a r k o , Tradycja
ludowa jako czynnik kształtujący
świadomość
w pracach Oskara Kolberga, [w:] Tradycja i przemiana, P o z n a ń
О. К o 1 b e r g, Dzieła

wszystkie, t. 7, Warszawa 1962, s. I I I .

na­
1978,

�TRADYCJA

L U D O W A W MYŠLI

53

HUMANISTYCZNEJ

Jakkolwiek stosunek do tradycji, formułowany przez orędownika Po­
zytywizmu Aleksandra Świętochowskiego, cechowała tak charaktery­
styczna dla każdego okresu tworzenia się nowych idei filozoficznych
i społecznych kategoryczność ocen, p r z e c i w s t a w i a j ą c a
tra­
dycję
postępowi,
to w rozumieniu treści tego pojęcia nie był
on dostatecznie konsekwentny. Przyjęcie twierdzenia, że z tradycją ma­
my do czynienia wtedy i tylko wtedy, gdy teraźniejszość jest przykrojona na miarę przeszłości lub przynajmniej nosi na sobie ślady prze­
szłości, wiązało się z negacją jej wartości. Świętochowski tradycję trak­
towaną jako bezwzględną zasadę życia określa jako „polip toczący ludz­
kie mózgi". Tradycja jako „duch", jako „mgła", „ m a r a " jest dla niego
pustym dźwiękiem, pojęciem bez treści, zasadą bez stosowania. Tradycja
natomiast pojęta w znaczeniu dziejów jest przygotowawczą szkołą życia,
jest podstawą działania. W stosunku do postępu, który jest procesem
wytwarzającym, tradycja w tym ostatnim znaczeniu jest stosunkiem sił
wzajemnie się w s p i e r a j ą c y c h . W powszechnym jednak odczuciu spo­
łecznym, jak stwierdza Świętochowski, „pojęcie tradycji jest dla wielu
pojęciem niewyraźnym, nie oznaczonym ściślej, raczej błędnym ognikiem
latającym po głowie, aniżeli prawdą realną, odnalezioną w faktach" .
4S

46

Niezależnie od zawartych w t y m stwierdzeniu racji, ideologia Pozy­
tywizmu (w przeciwieństwie do okresu poprzedniego) zmienia podejście
do zagadnienia tradycji ludowych jako odbicia indywidualnych cech ludu
odniesionych wyłącznie do pojęcia „ducha ludu" analizowanego niezależ­
nie od określonego kontekstu historycznego, na rzecz widzenia tych zja­
wisk w ścisłym powiązaniu ż k o n k r e t n y m i w a r u n k a m i к u 1turowo-historycznymi.
Ten punkt widzenia reprezentowany
m. in. przez Ludwika Krzywickiego był charakterystyczny dla postaw
badaczy tego okresu, którzy łączyli postępowość poglądów naukowych
z pewnym radykalizmem społecznym.
Ideologia Pozytywizmu wnosząca zasadnicze przewartościowanie
w ocenie ludu i jego kultury przyczynia się równocześnie do w z r o s t u
z a i n t e r e s o w a ń kulturą ludową w ramach usamodzielniających się
w tych warunkach etnografii i folklorystyki. Mimo że dominowało w na­
ukach tych podejście idiograficzne, a konkretne badania obejmowały
przede wszystkim poszczególne dziedziny kultury lub określone regiony,
istniała świadomość potrzeby syntetycznych ujęć w skali całej Polski.
Etnografia będąc w płaszczyźnie teoretycznej związana ściśle z kierun­
kiem ewolucyjnym, w praktycznym opisowym działaniu zwłaszcza doty­
czącym badań regionalnych, miała ważny aspekt narodowy. Gromadzony
materiał dotyczący kultury ludowej był stwierdzeniem polskości terenów

4 5

A. Ś w i ę t o c h o w s k i ,
godniowy", nr 19: 1872.
« Tamże.

Tradycja

i historia

wobec postępu,

„Przegląd

Ty­

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szczególnie poddanych akcjom wynaradawiania w świetle funkcjonują­
cych w dalszym ciągu powszechnych idei przyjmujących l u d za n o s i ­
ciela i przekaziciela
czystych treści narodowych. Przekona­
nie to było, jak stwierdza Burszta, „podstawą powstania w ciągu X I X
wieku ruchu społeczno-kulturalnego o charakterze regionalnym, mają­
cego na celu pielęgnowanie polskości poprzez wydobywanie i utrwalanie
tradycji kulturalnych, w t y m zwłaszcza właśnie ludowych danego re­
gionu" .
Druga połowa X I X w. jest niewątpliwie okresem, kiedy zaintereso­
wanie k u l t u r ą ludową — jako ważną częścią dziedzictwa kulturowego na­
rodu — uzyskuje wysoką w społeczeństwie rangę osiągając pewne formy
zinstytucjonalizowane. W procesie usamodzielniania się etnografii dużą
rolę odegrały tworzące się i n s t y t u c j e i o r g a n i z a c j e
nau­
k o w e . Reprezentowane przez nie założenia teoretyczne i kierunki dzia­
łania stawały się programem badawczym obowiązującym ludoznawców
skupionych w ich kręgu. Założone w 1895 roku Towarzystwo Ludoznaw­
cze przedstawiło następujące swoje zadania w słowie wstępnym zamie­
szczonym w pierwszym numerze czasopisma „Lud":
1 1

„U nas jest to pierwsze Towarzystwo, które się jęło pracy na niwie m a ł o
dotychczas uprawianej liczącej na poparcie życzliwych i chętnych, którzy rozu­
mieją znaczenie takiej pracy. Dziś, kiedy powszechnym jest hasło lud, oświata
jego, polepszenie jego bytu materialnego p o w i n n i ś m y zacząć od fundamentów,
a tym jest poznanie tego ludu, jego życia i charakteru. Jeśli tego nie zrobimy,
nasza praca dla ludu będzie bezskuteczna. T e n w z g l ą d praktyczny nie jest jedy­
nym, który powinien zwrócić uwagę. Ważniejszym o wiele jest to, co stanowi nie­
spożytą siłę ludu i zarazem tak ważny czynnik w życiu każdego narodu. To jest
owa rodzimość i odporność ludu, z których pierwsza jest źródłem o ż y w i a j ą c y m
ducha narodowego i u t r z y m u j ą c y m go w jego czystości i nieskazitelności, druga
twierdzą i stróżem jego życia i tradycji. Historia poucza nas, że naród nie zginie,
jak długo lud jego żyje, który zdolen jest ożywić obumarłe członki życia narodo­
wego i w l a ć nowe życie w dzieła jego u m y s ł o w e j pracy, kiedy kosmopolityczne
prawdy biją w tę twierdzę narodowości, niech będzie ś w i ę t e m staraniem każdego
otoczyć opieką t ę twierdzę i wzmocnić ją".

Program ten zawiera sformułowania, w których znajdują odbicia za­
równo echa i d e i p o z y t y w i s t y c z n y c h „pracy dla ludu" i „nad
ludem", jak i oddziaływanie p o s t a w r o m a n t y c z n y c h odradza­
jących się w neoromantycznym_ ruchu Młodej Polski. Ruch, w k t ó r y m
„idea narodu", „idea ducha" wiązała się z wysoką oceną roli ludu w k u l ­
turze narodowej, wysokim wartościowaniem kultury ludowej, a nawet
wręcz odkryciem jej nowych dotąd nie zauważonych dziedzin.
Podnoszenie kultury ludowej do rangi w s p ó ł t w ó r c y
kultury
narodowej,
wyraźnie zaznaczające się w myśli społecznej i poli­
tycznej w literaturze i sztuce w I I poł. X I X w., w ostatnich latach tego
stulecia znajduje wyraz w bardziej s p e k t a k u l a r n y c h f o r m a c h .
"Burszta,

op. cit., s. 273-274.

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55

Były to m. in. coraz powszechniej organizowane wystawy. Ich zasługą
było zaznajomienie szerszego grona społeczeństwa z osiągnięciami sztuki
i wytwórczości ludowej i odnajdywaniem w nich wartości artystycznych.
Organizowane w Polsce dość wcześnie, bo już w 1821 г., wystawy przemysłowo-rolnicze początkowo w Warszawie, następnie i w innych mia­
stach Królestwa Kongresowego, prezentowały m. in. wiele dziedzin arty­
stycznej i rzemieślniczej wytwórczości ludowej. Dopiero jednak w I I po­
łowie X I X w. w związku z określonymi tendencjami w podejściu do
kwestii chłopskiej, ranga prezentowanego dorobku produkcyjnego i arty­
stycznego wsi staje się bardzo wysoka. Temu kierunkowi działania sprzy­
ja powstawanie muzeów przemysłu i rolnictwa w Krakowie (1868), L w o ­
wie (1875) i Warszawie (1875), w których są stałe ekspozycje etnogra­
ficzne. Znajduje on też oparcie i wzory w innych krajach. Zorganizowa­
na w 1895 r. wystawa etnograficzna w Pradze była manifestacją stosun­
ków do wartości i znaczenia, jakie reprezentowała dla narodu warstwa
chłopska. Wystawa poświęcona wyłącznie zobrazowaniu życia wsi cze­
skiej w trzech działach: I . Człowiek, I I . Siedziby, życie i praca, I I I . Udział
ludu w życiu publicznym, znalazła szeroki odbiór i oddźwięk w społe­
czeństwie czeskim, unaoczniając znaczenie dla kultury narodowej dorob­
ku kulturowego ludności wiejskiej i potrzebę zachowania go dla przy­
szłości. W Polsce za jedną z pierwszych wystaw poświęconych wyłącz­
nie wsi należy uważać zorganizowaną w 1880 r. w Kołomyi wystawę
sztuki ludowej. Poza określonymi celami gospodarczymi stała się ona w i ­
domym świadectwem regionalnego zróżnicowania kraju, bogactwa jego
treści i formy. Tego typu akcje popularyzujące znaczenie i rolę wsi w ży­
ciu narodowym stwarzały sprzyjający klimat dla działalności szeregu po­
wstających w t y m czasie instytucji ludoznawczych lub mających w swo­
i m programie badania poszczególnych dziedzin życia wiejskiego oraz roz­
wijającego się bardzo szeroko ruchu regionalnego.
Działalność instytucjonalna w zakresie kultury ludowej inspirowana
była różnymi celami i zadaniami, jakie stawały przed t y m i instytucjami.
Można jednak określić generalnie, że szły one d w o m a
kierunkam i . Jeden kierunek związany był z działalnością gospodarczą, której
przedmiotem zainteresowań była twórczość ludowa i jej rozwój jako czyn­
nik ekonomicznego podniesienia wsi przy równoczesnym wykorzystaniu
wartości artystycznych i pewnego potencjału twórczego
drzemiącego
w warstwach ludowych. Drugi kierunek, w mniejszym stopniu niż po­
przedni oparty na działaniu praktycznym, związany był z prądami umy­
słowymi i społeczno-politycznymi końca X I X i pocz. X X w. Były to
z jednej strony tendencje o charakterze społeczno-gospodarczym, wyraź­
nie dążące do oparcia całej struktury gospodarczej na rolnictwie i ogra­
niczeniu wzrostu przemysłu krajowego. Wiązało się to z w y s o k ą p o ­
zycją
c h ł o p a i reprezentowanej przez niego tradycyjnej kultury.
W propagowaniu „swojskości" i „rodzimości" jako przeciwstawienia ko-

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smopolityzmowi, nawiązywano do dawnych koncepcji o niezmienności
i starożytności kultury ludowej, w której przetrwały wartości narodowe
i która była ich przekazicielem. Ten awans kultury ludowej, jak stwier­
dza J. Krzyżanowski, był niewątpliwie związany z awansem społecznym
i politycznym chłopa polskiego we wszystkich trzech zaborach i stanowił
rezultat pozytywistycznej pracy u podstaw . Znalazło to odbicie w roz­
wijającej się p r a s i e i l i t e r a t u r z e c h ł o p s k i e j . Do tego na­
wiązywał rozwijający się kierunek neoromantyczny, w k t ó r y m kultura
ludowa wystąpiła w postaci bardzo bogatej i niemal przysłoniła kultury
mnych klas. O t y m pisał Kasprowicz w wierszu Oni i my: „Jest w l u ­
dzie siła niespożyta, zbawienie leży pod siermięgą".
Te tendencje ludomańskie, jakie obserwuje się w szerokich kręgach
społecznych w Polsce w t y m okresie, wiążą się niewątpliwie z falą ogól­
nych przeobrażeń, które dokonują się w strukturach społecznych w wielu
krajach Europy. W Polsce znajdują odbicie poglądy zarówno szeroko ko­
mentowanego w czasopiśmiennictwie społeczno-kulturalnym tego okresu
Johna Ruskina i Williama Morrisa, jak i poglądy Lwa Tołstoja, wystąpie­
nia narodników usiłujących przeciwstawić cywilizacji kapitalistycznej —
pierwiastki kultury ludowej. Przewidywana i postulowana przebudowa
struktury społecznej, wzmagająca zainteresowanie wsią i jej kulturą,
musiała wiązać się z potrzebą postawienia sobie pytania o t r w a ł o ś ć
tradycji,
o j e j w a r t o ś ć i ź r ó d ł a . Charakterystyczna dla
warunków polskich potrzeba szukania rozwiązań między koniecznością
utrzymania poczucia narodowego (w warunkach zaborów) a koniecznością
przebudowy kultury narodowej, pomiędzy potrzebą potwierdzenia naszej
trwałości i ciągłości kulturalnej a potrzebą zmian w związku z określo­
nymi układami społecznymi i gospodarczymi, nadawała określony kie­
runek zainteresowaniom ludoznawczym.
Poza więc propagowaniem sztuki ludowej ze względu na jej funkcje
ekonomiczne z pola widzenia wielu badaczy nie znika jej walor arty­
styczny, związany z jej swojskością i rodzimością, na której zbudować
można by nowy s t y l n a r o d o w y . Poszukiwanie stylu narodowego,
a właściwie kreowanie go na podstawie dawnych wzorów, jest jednym
z głównych zadań artystycznej działalności prawie we wszystkich dzie­
dzinach twórczości. Podobnie jak w okresie Romantyzmu, kiedy folklor
stał się źródłem i tworzywem dla działalności poetyckiej, tak obecnie
na przełomie X I X i X X w. w okresie N e o r o m a n t y z m u zaintere­
sowanie sztuką ludową wiązało się ściśle z całą problematyką tworzenia
narodowej sztuki, z dążeniem do stworzenia narodowego polskiego stylu.
Ideologiem tego kierunku .był przede wszystkim Stanisław Witkiewicz,
który na podstawie sztuki ludowej i za jej pośrednictwem dążył do stwo­
rzenia ponadklasowej syntezy artystycznej obejmującej wszystkie war­
stwy narodu.
48

4 8

J. K r z y ż a n o w s k i ,

Szkice

folklorystyczne,

t. 1, Warszawa 1980, s. 322.

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HUMANISTYCZNEJ

To posłannictwo sztuki realizowane za pośrednictwem s t y l u
za­
kopiańskiego
miało przeważnie charakter mistyczny. Witkiewicz
widział w nim dorobek i syntezę ducha i energii narodowej. Tak pisał
0 tym: „Wyraz styl stał się jakimś symbolem czegoś wyższego ponad bie­
żące współczesne życie, czegoś tajemniczego, nadzwyczajnego, jakiejś
świętości nad świętościami artyzmu" . Dokonywał sakralizacji tej sztuki
poprzez przypisywanie jej prapolskiego lechickiego rodowodu. W stylu
t y m widział odrodzenie kultury narodowej, rdzennego stylu polskiego
„idealne bogactwo naszego społeczeństwa". Jakkolwiek naukowe bada­
nia w rejonie Tatr wywodziły się z programu pozytywistycznego, za­
warte w nich były również koncepcje Chodakowskiego, Surowieckiego
czy Kolberga, a nawet Mickiewiczowskiego mesjanizmu.
Po okresie pewnego kryzysu kultury pod koniec X I X w. posłannictwo
sztuki tworzonej zbiorową pracą, ogólnie symbolizowanej przez styl za­
kopiański, nabrało charakteru mistycznego. Witkiewicz swój racjonalizm
nawiązujący niejednokrotnie do poglądów wybitnego teoretyka kultury
Hipolita Taine'a
znacznie rozszerza, wnosząc m. in. do stosowanego
przez siebie pojęcia rasy p i e r w i a s t e k s o c j o l o g i c z n o - k u l t u r a l n y i d u c h o w y . W ten sposób do przyjętego przez Taine'a po­
jęcia okoliczności nadrzędnych czy czynników zewnętrznych wpływa­
jących na proces dziejowy włącza Witkiewicz kulturowy dorobek, jaki
wytworzył* ,naród polski od prawieków w określonych warunkach i na
zajmowanych przez siebie obszarach, który określa jako „plemienność".
Zbliża to jego koncepcje do znanej doktryny „ducha narodu" albo „du­
cha wieku". W wyborze regionu, którego sztuka awansować by mogła
do rangi narodowej niepoślednią rolę odegrała literatura piękna, która
w kulturze regionu Podhalańskiego widziała zachowaną w pierwotnym
kształcie starodawną sztukę narodu polskiego. Pisze o t y m m. in. Kazi­
mierz Przerwa-Tetmajer: „We wsiach polskich po ciemnych chałupach
mieszkają jeszcze ludzie, co z piastowskich jeszcze czasów nie biorąc
udziału w dziejach wnieśli oni w X X stuleciu odrębne własne polskie
poczucie zdobnicze" .
49

50

51

Mitologizacja wybranych z przeszłości elementów dziedzictwa k u l t u ­
rowego, jak np. odwoływanie się do t r a d y c j i z b ó j n i c t w a , była
czynnikiem nobilitacji górali, której ukoronowaniem było porównanie ich
do herosów epopei homerowskich. W wielu czynnościach górali, tak jak
1 w ich sztuce, widział Witkiewicz s a k r a l n y
r y t u a ł , który był
pomostem łączącym ich nie tylko z kulturą plemienną, którą uważa za
zasadniczy rdzeń kultury narodowej, ale również z siłami transcenden­
tnymi. W koncepcjach Witkiewicza o znaczeniu tradycji ludowych ro4 9

S. W i t k i e w i c z , Tatry w śniegu,

[w:] W kręgu

Tatr,

t. 1, K r a k ó w 1970,

s. 351.
5 0

51

H. T a i n e, O metodzie, Warszawa 1890.
K . P r z e r w a - T e t m a j e r , Bajeczny

świat

Tatr,

Warszawa

1906.

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dzinnych czy plemiennych nawiązujących do idei romantycznych do­
strzec można również wpływ XIX-wiecznych poglądów słowianofilów,
którzy szukając rodowodu Słowian właśnie w architekturze widzieli
oryginalność i rodzimość kultury słowiańskiej .
Nie bez wpływu na podniesienie znaczenia tej ważnej dziedziny k u l ­
tury ludowej miało opublikowanie w 1884 r. przez J. Karłowicza Chaty
polskiej.
Wydaje się, że na takiej interpretacji odrębności kulturowej regionu
podhalańskiego jako najstarszego ogniwa w ciągu rozwojowym polskiej
sztuki ludowej zaważyły koncepcje ewolucjonistyczne. Już w roku 1886
Witkiewicz napisał znamienne zdanie: „Dziś, kiedy bardziej niż kiedy­
kolwiek chodzić by nam powinno o wydobycie i rozwinięcie wszystkich
możliwych, naturalnie dodatnich cech plemiennych, trzeba się i z t y m
zwrócić do ludu, który jeszcze przechował ślady jakichś odrębnych form
piękna" . Plemienność, którą rozumie jako rodzimość czy narodowość,
czyni Witkiewicz k r y t e r i u m
wartościowania
dziedzictwa
kulturowego narodu, widząc w tak wybranej tradycji źródło duchowe,
podnietę dla nowej twórczości. W dorobku artystycznym górali odnajduje
kulturowe znaki rodzime, które mogą doprowadzić do odrodzenia pol­
skiego stylu w kulturze ogólnej.
W myśl tych stwierdzeń sztuka podhalańska nie awansuje do sztuki
narodowej, ale powraca na należne jej miejsce jako nosicielka najstar­
szych tradycji narodowych. Również g w a r ę traktował Witkiewicz ja­
ko jeden ze znaków plemiennej kultury i duchowego życia uznając ją za
wyraz jakiejś „szczególno-magiczno-sakralnej ekspresji". Widział zawar­
tą w niej świadomość plemienną i „zbiorowy znak etniczny, w którym
skrystalizował się duży obszar duszy narodu" . Pisał o niej: „Lud pod­
halański miał jeszcze'jeden skarb, jeszcze jeden środek uzewnętrzniania
duszy, który ma również znamienne cechy starej polskiej kultury i te
same przymioty wielkiego artyzmu — to jest g w a r a " . I dalej: „Mowa
podhalańska nie przeszkadzając literaturze może być dla niej źródłem
ożywczym, kopalnią form świeżych i najczystszych plemiennych pier­
wiastków języka" .
52

53

54

55

56

Z romantycznym nurtem wiązały się jednak koncepcje Witkiewiczow­
skie przede wszystkim przez wspólny cel, jakim było szukanie sposobów
zabezpieczenia p o d s t a w o w y c h
składników
narodowego
b y t u , w tym rzeczywistych wartości kultury ludowej, zachowania bo5 2

Z. K l a r n e r ó w n a , Słowianofilstwo
Warszawa 1926, s. 37.
W i t k i e w i c z , op. cit, s. 11.
Cyt. za J . M a j d a , Góralszczyzna
W r o c ł a w 1979, s. 43, 59.
W i t k i e w i c z , op. cit., s. 91-92.
T a m ż e , s. 94.

w

literaturze

polskiej

lat 1800—1848,

Stanisława

Witkiewicza,

5 3

5 4

5 5

5 6

w

twórczości

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HUMANISTYCZNEJ

59

gactwa swej rdzennej tożsamości i potwierdzenie żywotności narodu bez
państwa. Określona sytuacja polityczna wymagała wprowadzenia
do
wszystkich niemal dziedzin życia społecznego narodowych treści. Witkie­
wicz głosząc, że „trzeba przebudować kraj własny, trzeba nadać wszyst­
k i m formom życia narodowe piętno" nawoływał Polaków do jedności.
Również u podstaw jego pionierskiej działalności w zakresie tworze­
nia polskiej sztuki stosowanej tkwiło przeświadczenie, że rodzimy cha­
rakter sztuki użytkowej będzie c z y n n i k i e m s p a j a j ą c y m
spo­
ł e c z e ń s t w o , pozwoli na „wytworzenie idealnych łączników między
duszami ponad przepaściami strasznych materialnych nierówności i prze­
ciwieństw . Wydobycie więc wszystkich ludowych i rodzimych pier­
wiastków kultury, nobilitowanie ich i upowszechnienie miało służyć kon­
solidacji narodu i uodpornieniu go na wynaradawiającą politykę zabor­
ców. To powodowało, że sprawa narodowa stała się osią
regional­
nych zainteresowań.
Rozwijający się ruch regionalny na t y m
terenie był oparciem dla badań nad k u l t u r ą podhalańską, a założone
w 1873 r. Towarzystwo Tatrzańskie program swój w zakresie etnografii
realizowało w myśl idei Witkiewiczowskich. Koncepcje o narodowym cha­
rakterze stylu zakopiańskiego prowadziły niektórych badaczy do poszu­
kiwań jego śladów na innych terenach Polski przede wszystkim w ar­
chitekturze ludowej i małomiasteczkowej (m. in. В. Kondr ato wieżowa,
E. Radzikowski, K . Mokłowski, M . Brensztein).
Tradycja, której nosicielem jest lud, traktowana była jednak nie
w kontekście całokształtu jego kultury, ale jako wieczne, niezmienne pier­
wiastki, „czysta" dusza chłopa. Prowadziło to do dość swobodnego trak­
towania przede wszystkim głównego przedmiotu zainteresowań — sztuki
ludowej (głównie zdobnictwa i architektury) w procesie jej przetwarza­
nia i adaptacji do stylu narodowego.
Neoromantyzm w swojej warstwie ideologicznej i patriotycznej zna­
lazł wyraźne odbicie w kształtowaniu podstawowych celów i zadań ludo­
znawczych. Poza wspomnianym już Słowem wstępnym
zamieszczonym
w 1895 r. w pierwszym numerze „Ludu", podobne treści zawarte zostały
w referacie wygłoszonym na Walnym Zgromadzeniu Towarzystwa w dniu
30 marca 1908 r. W zajmowaniu się ludoznawstwem autor widzi misję
dziejową głosząc, że:
5 7

5 8

„...tradycja ludowa i pieśń ludowa jest cząstką tradycji i poezji narodowej,
jednym ze skarbów «narodowego pamiątek kościoła», jedną ze świętości w «arce
przymierza między dawnymi i młodszymi laty». I oto pierwsza przyczyna, dla
której zajmiemy się ludoznawstwem. Im lepiej poznamy lud nasz, tym w i ę c e j
przekonamy się, że to wszystko, co w nim jest, to kość z kości naszych, to krew
6 7

S. W i t k i e w i c z , Listy o stylu zakopiańskim
1892-1913, w s t ę p i opr. M. J a ­
giełło, K r a k ó w 1979, s. 17.
S. M a t u s i a k , Dlaczego zajmujemy się ludoznawstwem, „Lud", t. 14: 1908,
s. 1-5.
5 8

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z krwi naszej, że w y r o ś l i ś m y z jednego ojca i z jednej matki, że my wszyscy
jedna rodzina, że my wszyscy jedno".

W artykule Od Redakcji
tomu „Ludu" czytamy:

w dwunastą rocznicę wydania pierwszego

„Chcielibyśmy około «Ludu» skupić sporo szczerych wielbicieli rodzimej myśli
wszystkich tych, którzy w ludzie polskim widzą rękojmię naszej narodowej od­
porności i zaranie lepszej doli Ojczyzny" ... „Niech się rozpocznie mrówcza praca
po siołach w zaściankach i zapadłych kątach i niech nam wszystkim promienieje
i przyświeca hasło «Z ludu przez lud do Polski»".

Równolegle do istniejącego, omówionego powyżej, nurtu intelektual­
nego (w kręgu oddziaływania którego znalazło się także ludoznawstwo)
kształtującego określone postawy wobec tradycji, rozwijały się w t y m
okresie poglądy na kulturę ludową i zawarte w t y m pojęciu treści, u pod­
staw których leżało zrozumienie s i ł y s p o ł e c z n e j i p o l i t y c z ­
n e j , jaką reprezentowali twórcy i nosiciele tej kultury — chłopi. Wzrost
świadomości społecznej i politycznej stymulowany rozwojem oświaty
i czytelnictwa na wsi oraz rodzący się ruch ludowy znajdują odbicie
w postawach reprezentatywnych dla n a r o d o w o - p a t r i o t y c z n e ­
g o n u r t u p u b l i c y s t y c z n e g o przełomu X I X i X X w. Konfron­
tuje on fikcyjne bądź rzeczywiste wartości gwarantujące trwałość bytu
narodowego z programem przyszłej restytucji państwowości polskiej.
Obraz przyszłego odrodzenia Polski drogą adaptacji i upowszechnienia
chłopskich postaw narodowych wymagał odwoływania się do tradycji.
Już nie w walce o zachowanie narodu w warunkach niewoli, ale o włą­
czenie potencjału polityczno-społecznego i kulturowego reprezentowanego
przez chłopów do zintegrowanych dążeń niepodległościowych. Jan Mo­
lenda pisząc o kształtowaniu się nowoczesnej
świadomości narodowej
chłopów wyróżnia dwa podstawowe etapy:
„Pierwszy —. to uświadomienie sobie związków z ojczystym językiem, zwy­
czajami i obyczajami, z polską kulturą i narodem. Drugi zaś •— to uświadomienie
sobie potrzeby istnienia w warunkach niewoli czy odzyskania w ł a s n e g o państwa.
Pierwszemu etapowi odpowiada walka z uciskiem narodowym o zachowanie
i utrzymanie odrębności narodowej, drugiemu — dążenie i walka o odbudowę
niepodległego państwa polskiego. W konkretnej historycznej rzeczywistości etapy
te [zwłaszcza w drugim stadium] wzajemnie na siebie zachodzą dopełniając
się" .
E9

Znajduje to odbicie w ostatnim dwudziestoleciu X I X w. w czaso­
pismach zarówno przeznaczonych dla wsi, jak „Przyjaciel Ludu", „Zo­
rza" (wychodząca od 1866 г.), „Gazeta Świąteczna" (od 1881 г.), „Wie­
niec", „Pszczółka", „Chłopska Sprawa" i in., czy jak „Głos" lub „Kryty-

5 9

J . M o l e n d a , Chłopski
ruch polityczny cd przełomu
XIX i XX w. do
listopada 1918 г., [w:] Historia chłopów
polskich, Warszawa 1972, s. 463-567.

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ka" przeznaczonych dla inteligencji, reprezentujących nurt postępowej
publicystyki, która właściwie oceniała doniosły dla rzeczywistości wiej­
skiej przełomu X I X i X X w. fakt tworzenia się ruchu ludowego. Rola
prasy w warunkach polskich była szczególnie ważna, bo — jak pisze
M. Szulczewski — poza zadaniem łącznika między ludźmi mówiącymi
i czującymi po polsku pełniła ona funkcje sprawowane normalnie przez
organa władzy, czynnie szerząc idee polskie, troszcząc się o sprawy
oświaty, literatury i kultury. Znajdowały w prasie tej wyraz założenia
ideowe i programowe powstających partii i organizacji chłopskich, jak
Związku Stronnictwa Chłopskiego, Stronnictwa Ludowego, Związku
Młodej Polski Ludowej i innych. Była ona zresztą w wielu przypadkach
przez te partie .powoływana.
60

Nie zajmując się w obecnym opracowaniu charakterem ideowym pra­
cy politycznej, której poświęcono szereg omówień (m. in. J. Molenda,
H . Brodowska, L . Tatarowski), pragnę zwrócić uwagę na znaczenie tej
publicystyki w rozwoju narodowej i społeczno-kulturowej samowiedzy
chłopów, która pozwoliła im na ustosunkowanie się do własnej kultury
i zawartych w niej wartości. Równocześnie celem tej publicystyki było
kształtowanie w świadomości innych warstw społecznych wyobrażeń o po­
siadanych przez lud wartościach, które pozwalają mu odegrać decy­
dującą rolę w strukturze nowoczesnego narodu. Jak pisze Lesław Tata­
rowski „...kojarzenie przez publicystykę inteligencką przełomu X I X
i X X w, wzorca cnót obywatelskich chłopa z ideą narodu stanowiło [też]
nieodłączny składnik ówczesnej teorii historycznej misji włościaństwa" .
Towarzyszyła temu walka z zaborcą o świadomość narodową chłopa pro­
wadzona przez towarzystwa oświatowe, pisma ludowe, politycznych dzia­
łaczy ludowych.
61

Niewątpliwie oddziaływanie ruchu młodopolskiego na publicystykę
tego okresu znajduje wyraz w wystąpieniach
gloryfikujących
w a r s t w ę c h ł o p s k ą kosztem innych warstw społecznych. Wystę­
pują też w nich reminiscencje X I X w. twierdzeń o wartościach reprezen­
towanych przez chłopa i potrzebie czerpania z tego samego źródła, z któ­
rego z początkiem X I X w. odrodziła się polska poezja. W t y m okresie nie
odnosi się to jednak wyłącznie do treści kulturowych zawartych w ich
, rodzimości", ale przede wszystkim do w a r t o ś c i
patriotyczno-obywatelskich.
;

„...wyższe klasy, podległe ustawicznym w p ł y w o m obcym, mieszające s w ą krew
z krwią obcych, każące swego ducha pierwiastkami obcej kultury, zasklepiające
się w klasowych swych interesach... posiadają najmniej tradycyjnego poczucia,
najsłabszą tradycję narodową, lud z konieczności ma jej najwięcej i w stopniu

8 9

M. S z u l c z e w s k i , Prasa i społeczeństwo,
Warszawa 1964, s. 21.
L . T a t a r o w s k i , Poglądy
na ludowość
w czasopiśmiennictwie
młodopol­
skim, Warszawa — Wrocław 1У79, s. 33.
8 1

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najwyższym"; i dalej: „Lud jest wyrazicielem prawdziwie narodowych
bieg życia umacnia je w nim i pogłębia" .

tradycji...

62

Bliskie rozwiniętym w kilkanaście lat później i d e o m
agraryzm u było podkreślenie wpływu pracy fizycznej na roli, kontaktów z przy­
rodą, stosunków i związków istniejących w ramach społeczności wiejskiej,
na wysoką moralno-etyczną postawę ludności chłopskiej.
Tak jak dawniej tradycyjnych wartości narodowych szukano w du­
chowej sferze życia wiejskiego, przy czym dla zachowania „nieskażo­
nych" wartości rodzimych proces transmisji nie wymagał świadomego,
twórczego udziału ludu, tak obecnie niezbędna była ś w i a d o m a
po­
s t a w a c h ł o p a w stosunku do przypisywanych mu ról i zadań spo­
łecznych czy politycznych.
O ile p u b l i c y s t y k a
inteligencka
związana z ideologią
ludowo-narodową miała za zadanie konstruowanie pewnego modelu k u l ­
tury ludowej ze względu na doraźne działanie i potrzeby inteligencji po­
dyktowane jej racjami narodowymi, a w przypadku sztuki ludowej i am­
bicjami artystycznymi, to p r a s a c h ł o p s k a dążyła do rozwoju samowiedzy historycznej, społecznej i politycznej chłopów.
Ponieważ zainteresowania publicystyczne społeczeństwem chłopskim
koncentrowały się na zagadnieniach społecznych i politycznych, w n a w i ą ­
zaniu do tradycji tej warstwy oceniano i wartościowano te jej elementy,
które przyjęte i wprowadzone do" kultury ogólnonarodowej służyłyby
umocnieniu i wzbogaceniu tych sfer życia narodu. Nawiązywano do t r a ­
d y c j i p r a c y występującej na wsi „w formie najpierwszej, przyro­
dzonej niejako, pracy około ziemi", z w i ą z k ó w
międzyludz­
k i c h wykształconych w ramach społeczności wiejskiej znajdujących
wyraz również i we wspólnej pracy, t r a d y c j i w s p ó l n o t y w za­
kresie wiary i obyczaju uodporniających tak skutecznie na politykę w y ­
naradawiającą zaborców. Odwoływano się nawet do „kmiecej gospodar­
ności" ostatniego Piasta, po którym lud wiejski te tradycje przejął .
63

Znaczną rolę w uwierzytelnieniu apriorycznie przejmowanego faktu
dojrzewania narodowego i kulturalnego chłopa stała się pisana l i t e r a ­
t u r a l u d o w a . Pomimo że bezpośrednie uczestnictwo warstwy chłop­
skiej w życiu kulturalnym narodu było udziałem tylko jednostek, ich
autentyzm dawał im znaczną moc oddziaływania.
Do grona tych ludzi, których udział w kształtowaniu poglądów na k u l ­
turę ludową i tradycję był szczególnie znaczny, należał Władysław Or­
kan. Zarówno w swojej działalności literackiej, jak przede wszystkim
publicystycznej nawiązywał do idei Witkiewiczowskich wychodząc jednak
poza zagadnienia sztuki ludowej w szeroką sferę problematyki społecz6 2

6 3

s. 233.

J a n St., Zycie i lud, „Głos", nr 21: 1897, s. 505; nr 22: 1897, s. 529-530.
W. G o s t o m s к i, Problemat pracy polskiej, „Sfinks", t. 14: 1911, z. 5»

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nej. Widział kulturotwórczą rolą ludu i w myśl zachowania reprezento­
wanych przez lud wartości rozwijał koncepcje r e g i o n a l i z m u p o d ­
h a l a ń s k i e g o . Szczególnie ważne są jego poglądy na rozbudzenie
świadomości narodowej wśród ludności góralskiej i poczucia więzi z ca­
łym narodem jako jedną wspólnotą, a także na obowiązki, jakie z tej
wspólnoty wynikały. W braku poczucia własnej wartości, która wiązała
się z odrębnością nie tylko w zakresie kultury materialnej, społecznej
czy duchowej, ale także psychicznej, w braku poczucia godności i dumy
stanowej widział Orkan przyczyny tak negatywnego zjawiska, jakim by­
ło odchodzenie inteligencji pochodzenia chłopskiego od środowiska wiej­
skiego. Przyczynę tego stanu rzeczy widział w nikłości tradycji histo­
rycznej ludu. W analogii do tradycji szlacheckiej, która wyrosła z pamięci
o przodkach, ich zasługach w życiu publicznym, w odniesieniu do t r a ­
dycji chłopskiej uznawał potrzebę skonkretyzowania pamięci ,,o jego
rodowej pradawności", o wiekowym związku z uprawianym, potem dzia­
dów, pradziadów przesiąkłym, skrawkiem ziemi". Żywy związek z prze­
szłością bytowania wiejskiego niesie dla potomnych — zdaniem Orka­
na — siłę odrodczą, pozwala i n i na poczucie „odrębnej istotności swojej
wzięta w siebie tradycja ojców" .
64

W nawiązaniu do młodopolskich koncepcji głosi o d r o d z e n i e k u l ­
tury narodowej
p r z e z l u d . Realizm spojrzenia na rzeczywi­
stość wiejską każe jednak Orkanowi przyjąć, że dopiero kultura ludowa
oczyszczona z nalotów, reprezentowana przez tych, którzy — jak sam
określa — utrzymali w sobie duszę rasową, a w niej wysokie pierwiastki
cywilizacyjnego rozwoju, może „pójść w górę, rozwinąć się w kwiat
wielkiej kultury narodowej, godnej zająć miejsce w dorobku wszechludzkim". Stwierdzenie to wyraźnie nawiązuje do myśli romantycznej.
To właśnie Cyprian Kamil Norwid w Promethidionie pisał: „Podnosze­
nie ludowych natchnień do potęgi przenikającej i ogarniającej ludzkość
całą, podnoszenie ludowego do ludzkości..."
W tych wszystkich słowach Orkana uwidacznia się tak charaktery­
styczny dla pisarzy pochodzenia chłopskiego s y n k r e t y z m ś w i a ­
t o p o g l ą d o w y kształtowany w określonej atmosferze intelektualnej,,
ale pozostający równocześnie pod silnym wpływem realiów życia wła­
snego środowiska. A Strug pisze o tym: „Ten rzadki dar łączenia poe­
tycznego światopoglądu z realizmem w przedstawianiu samej rzeczy,
nigdy nie zawodzi Orkana. Jego to dziedzictwo. Orkan niesie je w swo­
jej k r w i chłopskiej" .
To silne związanie ze środowiskiem wiejskim określa drogę Orkana
do realizacji jego idei. Staje się nią ruch regionalny. Orkanowi zawdzię­
cza Podhale utworzenie r e g i o n a l n e j i d e o l o g i i , która jednak
6 5

66

6 4

6 5

6 6

W. O r k a n , Listy ze wsi, Warszawa 1946, s. 185.
С. K . N o r w i d, Promethidion, K r a k ó w 1934, s. 522.
T. G a ł e c k i , W. Orkan: W roztokach, „Ogniwo", nr 14: 1903, s. 350.

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związana była silnie z przyjętą ówcześnie koncepcją narodowości jako
sumą owych wspólnych znamion fizycznych i duchowych, wyrosłych na
podstawie jedności struktur i służących im urządzeń, jedności tradycji
w mniejszym lub większym stopniu obecnej w świadomości. Suma zna­
mion wspólnych, a więc c z y n n i k ś w i a d o m o ś c i , musiał w tak
pojmowanym ruchu regionalnym odgrywać podstawową rolę.
Pierwszym krokiem w rozwoju tego ruchu było powołanie w 1904 r.
Związku Górali. Cele, jakie stawiał sobie Związek, świadczyły o pew­
nym zainteresowaniu środowiska górali własną kulturą. Wzywały one
członków nie tylko do szerzenia oświaty, ale także postulowały rozwój
stylu zakopiańskiego oraz materialnego i duchowego dorobku kultury
regionalnej. Szerszego zasięgu ruch ten nabrał w związku z organizo­
wanymi Zjazdami Podhalan, z których pierwszy odbył się w Zakopa­
nem w 1911 r. oraz ukazaniem się pierwszego numeru „Gazety Podha­
lańskiej" pod redakcją Feliksa Gwiżdżą. W Słowie wstępnym
do pierw­
szego numeru pisał Orkan:
„Jest nas górali wszystkich co się w Polsce rachujemy okolo pół miliona...
Jest nas narodu mnogo, aleśmy nieświadomi swych sił, zatraceni, jak te owce
po uboczach — i nie wiedzący gdzie, jak, ku jakiej stronie się miarkować. Nie
wiemy nawet nic o sobie, o swej niedawnej przeszłości... Ten wszystek naród
skupić, pod jednym hasłem Podhalan zjednoczyć, iżby się ocknął ze spania, iżby
się odgiął w swej dumie, wyprościł, iżby wyszedł na jaw Polsce odrębny a w s p ó ł ­
tworzący — to jest pierwszym zadaniem «Gazety»".

Dla Witkiewicza rozstrzygającym czynnikiem życia zbiorowego nie
były formy urządzeń, instytucje, „tylko stan dusz ludzkich danego spo­
łeczeństwa". Ten stan dusz ludzkich ukryty w tradycji i historii danej
zbiorowości należy, jak rozwijał tę myśl Orkan, wydobyć, jak „ten ton
odrębny przeszłości rzucić go na ekran przyszłości jako hasło..."
To pozwoliłoby jego zdaniem społeczności chłopskiej przezwyciężyć
poczucie braku udziału we współtworzeniu historii narodowej. Budzenie
a k t y w n e g o jak również s e l e k t y w n e g o i w a r t o ś c i u j ą c eg o stosunku do dziedzictwa kulturowego własnej grupy leżało u pod­
staw rozwijanego przez Orkana regionalizmu w pierwszych latach
X X w.
Kryterium wartościowania było w znacznym stopniu natury etycz­
nej. Pisał o tym: „Charakter, prawość i duma rodowa pozwala ci utrzy­
mać w sobie rasową odrębność i cnoty chłopskie: tężyznę, gospodarność
obywatelską, staranność o dobro gromadzkie, o ład i rodzimy styl
w wielkim domostwie Rzeczypospolitej" .
Ta zawarta w słowach Orkana wiara w twórcze wartości ludu wiej­
skiego bliska była ideologii rozwijającego się r u c h u l u d o w e g o ,
który dążył do wyzwolenia tych wartości odśrodkowo, siłami samej wsi.
67

6 7

Cyt. za S. P i g o n i e m ,
1939, s. 129.

Na drogach i manowcach

kultury

ludowej,

Lwów

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Zapis docenionych już przejawów chłopskiej kultury znajduje się w i n ­
nych też dziełach twórców młodopolskich. Dlatego główni działacze i pu­
blicyści „Zarania", inspiratorzy programów związków młodzieży wiej­
skiej, częstokroć powoływali się na Kasprowicza, Reymonta, Żeromskie­
go, czyniąc ich patronami swych organizacji. Z dorobku dramaturgicz­
nego L . Rydla korzystały jeszcze przed odrodzeniem Polski pierwsze
koła młodzieży wiejskiej próbując w swojej pracy teatralnej nawiązać
do wątków ludowych .
Nie można pominąć również roli, jaką w kształtowaniu się stosunku
do kultury ludowej odegrały organizowane na wzór uniwersytetów l u ­
dowych typu grundtvigowskiego szkoły rolnicze. Nazwę taką przyjmuje
ze względu na sytuację polityczną kraju zorganizowana w 1900 r. przez
J. Dziubińską szkoła w Pszczelinie, w 1905 r. w Kruszynku, w 1909 r.
w Gołotczyźnie. Już w pierwszych ich programach widać wyraźnie na­
wiązywanie do i d e i n e o r o m a n t y c z n y c h w płaszczyźnie teore­
tycznej i równocześnie do p r a k t y k i s p o ł e c z n e j rozwijanej przez
ruch ludowy, w sferze obyczajowej do tradycyjnych form obrzędowych
i zwyczajowych rodziny chłopskiej, do form organizacji samorządowych
kształtujących postawy społeczne. W działaniu zawodowym dążono do
rozwoju rzemiosła i sztuki ludowej współpracując z Towarzystwem Po­
pierania Przemysłu Ludowego .
Wydaje się, że przedstawiony materiał pozwala stwierdzić, że w tym
okresie w stosunku do kultury ludowej mamy do czynienia zarówno ze
wzrostem ideowej aktywności środowisk inteligenckich, które z trady­
cji ludowej budowały m i t o l o g i ę s p o ł e c z n o - n a r o d o w ą , jak
i z przeciwnymi tym teoriom mesjanizmu chłopskiego — działaniami
radykalizujących odłamów ruchu ludowego. Obok dążeń do pełnego
uczestnictwa warstw ludowych w życiu kulturalnym narodu pojawiały
się u t o p i e r u s t y k a l n e , idealizujące wybrane tylko regiony tra­
dycji społeczności wiejskiej i twórczości folklorystycznej. Niezależnie
jednak od charakteru ideologii eksponującej chłopski potencjał politycz­
ny, społeczny i kulturowy, cechą wyróżniającą ludowość była potrzeba
znalezienia skutecznych metod i sił do reaktywowania a u t o n o m i c z ­
n e g o b y t u n a r o d o w e g o . Ta nadrzędna funkcja ludowości, z któ­
rą mamy do czynienia przez cały wiek X I X , w tym okresie realizuje się
wielopłaszczyznowo, wychodząc poza tak charakterystyczną dla I po­
łowy X I X w. sferę rozważań historyczno-literackich w sferę konkretnych
działań politycznych, społecznych i kulturalnych, wspartych szeroką
działalnością publicystyczną i rozwijającymi się studiami naukowymi.
68

69

r 8

A. L e c h , Tradycyjna kultura ludowa w programach i działalności
polskich
związków
młodzieży
wiejskiej w okresie II Rzeczypospolitej,
„Acta Universitatis
Lodziensis", nr 39: 1978, s. 45.
T. W i e c z o r e k , Zarys dziejów
szkolnictwa rolniczego w Polsce do 1939 г.,
Warszawa 1968.
6 9

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PAPROCKA

Angażując znacznie szersze kręgi społeczne zaczyna obejmować przede
wszystkim samo ś r o d o w i s k o w i e j s k i e , które z przedmiotu do­
ciekań badawczych staje się siłą dążącą do samookreślenia, które pozwo­
liłoby na świadome współuczestniczenie w procesach kulturotwórczych.
Dla kształtującego się w tym okresie stosunku do kultury ludowej
ważny jest również fakt, że koniec X I X w. stanowił w polskiej myśli
kulturowej okres szczytowy nasilenia procesu konfrontacji dwu wzorów
kultury: t r a d y c y j n e g o , z i e m i a ń s k o - w i e j s k i e g o i m i es z c z a ń s k o - u r b a n i s t y c z n e g o . Antyurbanizm występuje w ca­
łej ideologii ruchu młodopolskiego, co siłą rzeczy kieruje jego uwagę
ku wartościom i treściom reprezentowanym przez tradycyjną kulturę
ludową. W ideologii tej zawarte są nie tylko reminiscencje teorii Rous­
seau, ale przede wszystkim francuskich socjologów Gabriela Tarde'a
i Luisa Proala, do których nawiązuje w swoich poglądach m.in. Krzy­
wicki.
Opozycja wobec kultury miejskiej powstaje nie tylko w środowiskach
inteligenckich, ale również w społeczności wiejskiej; istniejące przez
długi okres proste dychotomiczne mniemanie o strukturze społecznej
rozszerzone zostaje o konflikty wynikające z opozycji między miastem
a wsią.
W negatywnej ocenie kultury miejskiej zawierał się protest prze­
ciwko ujemnym skutkom urbanizacji i industrializacji, a więc protest
przeciwko szeroko pojętym zmianom. W tej sytuacji za wzór stawiano
tradycjonalizm wiejski reprezentujący wartości trwałe, niejako sterylne
w swoich treściach narodowo-etnicznych, które (jak widział to Witkie­
wicz) kształtowały naszą odrębność wśród plemion słowiańskich. W po­
szukiwaniu tych nieskazitelnych elementów dziedzictwa kulturowego
wsi dojrzeć można nawiązanie do teorii dwu kultur występującej w po­
glądach Dołęgi-Chodakowskiego i Brodzińskiego, w których przeciwsta­
wiano kosmopolityzmowi kultury szlacheckiej i mieszczańskiej trady­
cyjną kulturę wiejską nie skażoną wpływami obcymi.

Ванда Папроцка

НАРОДНАЯ ТРАДИЦИЯ В ГУМАНИТАРНОЙ МЫСЛИ И ИДЕЕ НАРОДА

X I X ВЕКА

Резюме
В статье рассматривается процесс образования взглядов на народную традицию в X I X
веке в период, когда создавалось понятие народа как единства всех его общественных слоев.
Основной исследовательский вопрос, выдвинутый в статье, касается критериев отбора из
совокупности культурного наследия народа тех элементов и явлений, которые, подвергаясь
отбору и оценке, составили понятие народной традиции. В статье сосредоточено внимание
на вопросе оценки культурного наследия крестьянства, производившейся другими общест-

�TRADYCJA LUDOWA W MYSLI

HUMANISTYCZNEJ

67

венными прослойками вовне сельской среды. В поисках генезиса взглядов на народную
традицию автор следит за процессом образования народной традиции, начиная с периода
Просвещения и Романтизма.
В первой части статьи рассматривается отношение к народной традиции в гуманитар­
ной мысли первой половины X I X века. Автор отмечает в нем отражение как общеевропей­
ских идеологических течений Просвещения и Романтизма, так и определенных политичес­
ких и общественных условий, существующих в стране, лишенной независимости. Автор
рассматривает взгляды ведущих историков этой эпохи, равно как и исследователей народ­
ной культуры на роль и значение крестьянства в образовании народной культуры. Обра­
щают на себя внимание три основных фактора, образующие отношение к народной тради­
ции: ]) необходимость сохранить прошлое ради будущего, 2) защиту преемственности тра­
диции как гаранта будущего народного существования, 3) апофеоз славянского прошлого
и самобытного творчества как носителя национальных элементов.
Во второй части работы исследованы взгляды на народную традицию в период Пози­
тивизма и Неоромантизма. Указано влияние этих течений на отношение к народной тради­
ции, причем отмечается факт заметной связи в трактовке народной культуры с гуманитар­
ной мыслью эпохи Возрождения и Романтизма. Далее анализу подвергаются взгляды на
народную традицию главных представителей позитивистского и неоромантического те­
чений, а также программы народоведческих исследований, выполнявшиеся О. Колбергом
и исследователями, состредоточившимися вокруг созданного в то время Польского Наро­
доведческого общества.
Было обращено внимание на роль крестьянских организаций и публицистику этого
периода в формировании взглядов на народную традицию. Отмечен рост идейной активнос­
ти интеллигентских кругов, создававших из народной традиции общественно-национальную
мифологию, и противоположные этим теориям крестьянского мессианства действия ради­
кальных групп народного движения.
Подобным образом как в I половине X I X века, так и в этот период в народной традиции
искали действенные методы и силы для автономного восстановления существования нации.
Во I I половине X I X века эта идея осуществлялась в многоплановом порядке, с выходом
за столь характерные для I половины X I X века пределы историко-литературных рассужде­
ний в область конкретных политических, общественных и культурных действий, поддержан­
ных широкой публицистической деятельностью и развивающимися научными исследо­
ваниями. В эту деятельность вовлекается уже и сама сельская среда, которая из предмета
исследований становится силой, стремящейся к общественному и национальному само­
определению. Это позволяет крестьянству сознательно соучаствовать в процессе развития
национальной культуры.

�</text>
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PL ISSN 0071-1861

ANNA

MALEWSKA-SZAŁYGIN

Instytut E t n o l o g i i i A n t r o p o l o g i i K u l t u r o w e j U W , Warszawa

TRADYCJA STOSOWANIA POJĘCIA DYSKURS
I JEGO PRZYDATNOŚĆ W ANTROPOLOGII WSPÓŁCZESNOŚCI
The ethnographer
he writes

'inscribes

' social

discourse,

it down (Geertz 1973, s. 19)

Słowo dyskurs pojawia się obecnie w najróżniejszych możliwych znaczeniach,
niekiedy tak odmiennych, że pole znaczeniowe tego terminu wydaje się zupełnie
rozmyte. W tej sytuacji warto prześledzić różne stosowane wykładnie i zastano­
wić się, na ile to pojęcie może być przydatne w badaniach etnologicznych.
Discursus
Wychodząc od łacińskiego źródłosłowu należy przypomnieć, że łacińskie
discursus oznaczało wielokierunkowy ruch, „rozbiegnięcie się" i często było
używane przenośnie w znaczeniu rozmowa (zwykle z udziałem wielu osób),
dyskusja, a także rozprawa lub rozumowanie (Dyskurs 1996, s. 38). W języku
filozofów od późnej starożytności dyskurs oznaczał wieloetapowy, uporządko­
wany logicznie, metodyczny proces poznawczy, polegający na wnioskowaniu
z przyjętych przesłanek, przeciwstawiany poznaniu intuicyjnemu, gdy przedmiot
pojmowany jest w jednym akcie, bezpośrednio i w całości. W tej tradycji mieści
się użycie tego terminu w tytule rozprawy R. Descartes: Discours de la methode
(1637) i w pismach G.W. Leibnitza, który opisuje ruch myśli przechodzącej od
jednego twierdzenia do drugiego w określonym porządku. Bliższe współczesnym
konotacjom pojęcia dyskurs jest ujęcie Emanuela Kanta, zainteresowanego
warunkami zaistnienia faktów i możliwości poznania. Z tej fundamentalnej dla
teorii dyskursu refleksji filozoficznej wyrastają dwa nurty namysłu: struktu­
ralny i fenomenologiczny, realizowane przez filozofów, językoznawców, histo­
ryków, socjologów i antropologów (Kurcz 1987; Grabias 1994; Labocha 1996;
Grzegorczyk 1998; Duszak 1998 i inni oraz autorzy, których poglądy charakte­
ryzuję w tym tekście). Dyskurs staje się pojęciem istotnym dla wszystkich tych
dyscyplin i łączącym je. Funkcjonując na pograniczach sprzyja powstaniu subdyscyplin, takich jak: socjolingwistyka, etnografia mówienia, historia idei itp.

PERSPEKTYWA STRUKTURALNA W JĘZYKOZNAWSTWIE

Fundamentalne dla strukturalnego podejścia do dyskursu są prace Fernanda
de Saussura, który definiuje język jako system znaków. Znak stanowi połączenie

�82

ANNA MALEWSKA-SZAŁYGIN

akustycznego lub wizualnego obrazu i oznaczanego przez nie pojęcia lub wy­
obrażenia. Język może być badany dwupłaszczyznowo na poziomie systemo­
wym - ¡cingue i na poziomie wykonania - parole. Podejście systemowe zakłada,
że językiem rządzą ścisłe reguły, których ujawnienie jest celem badacza. Owe
zasady dotyczą łączenia i wzajemnego podstawiania elementów, a nie substancji.
Natomiast dyskurs należy do płaszczyzny parole i jest nim - zdaniem autora
Kursu językoznawstwa ogólnego (1991) - każdy ciąg wyrażeń językowych dłuż­
szy niż zdanie. Zważywszy, że de Saussure uważa następstwo zdań za zależne
jedynie od woli nadawcy, trudno dopatrywać się na gruncie jego teorii jakichś
reguł rządzących sferą dyskursu. Widoczna jest natomiast dominująca rola pod­
miotu. Ta szczególna pozycja podmiotu, wokół, którego ogniskuje się dyskurs
omawiana jest także w podejściu Emile'a Benveniste (1971), który twierdził, że
dyskurs jest takim sposobem komunikowania się, dla którego zarówno obecność
podmiotu, jak i sytuacja komunikacji są wewnętrzne.
Kontynuacją badań realizowanych w płaszczyźnie parole była w latach
70-tych socjolingwistyka Della Hymesa. Hymes podkreśla regularność i zwy­
czajowy charakter przyjętych sposobów mówienia oraz nierozerwalne powiąza­
nie ich z sytuacją, w jakiej są praktykowane i zachowaniami, jakie im towarzy­
szą. Badanie ich nazywa etnografią mówienia. Etnografia mówienia - jego
zdaniem - jest opisem, który jest teorią - teorią mowy jako systemu zachowań
kulturowych. Nie musi to być system egzotyczny, musi natomiast organizować
różnorodność form mowy (Hymes 1980, s. 41). Inną ważną dla etnologa pro­
pozycją metodologiczną Hymesa jest kategoria speech-community - wspólnota
rozmawiających czy raczej wspólnota rozmawiająca. Termin ten określa ludzi
uznających pewne łączące ich reguły dotyczące prowadzenia rozmowy i inter­
pretowania wypowiedzi. Odwołując się do teorii Noama Chomsky'ego, Hymes
mówi o specyficznej kompetencji rozmawiających, umożliwiającej im wzajemne
porozumienie. Pisze też o różnych stylach mówienia (speech styles), zależnych
od sytuacji mówienia (speech situation) takich jak ceremonie, posiłki, polowania,
walki i in. Połączenie składnika mowy i sytuacji daje nam wydarzenia mówienia
(speech events), na które składają się poszczególne akty mówienia (speech acts).
Hymes przez analizę dyskursu rozumie badanie struktur językowych usytuowa­
nych w kontekście kulturowym - co byłoby ujęciem lingwistycznym, jednakże
dalsze dyrektywy: badanie kanałów przekazu treści, jego nadawców, adresatów
i słuchaczy, osiągnięć i rezultatów, historii i systemowych powiązań z resztą
struktury społecznej grupy, są charakterystyczne dla podejścia socjologicznego.
Do klasyków badania dyskursu w kontekście interakcji społecznej należy John
J. Gumperz (1982). Analiza konwersacyjna (conversational analysis), którą
stosował do badania strategii dyskursywnych (discourse strategies) wyrosła
z połączenia badań lingwistycznych i socjologicznych. Gumperz rozważa pro­
blem: jak możliwe jest porozumienie w czasie językowej interakcji, przygląda
się strategiom stosowanym w różnych sytuacjach i analizuje sposoby możliwego
odbioru informacji, odwołując się do zasobu wiedzy posiadanego przez uczestni­
ków spotkania i umożliwiającej im wzajemne zrozumienie.

�TRADYCJA STOSOWANIA POJĘCIA

DYSKURS

83

Podejście systemowe de Saussura (langue) kontynułował strukturalizm gło­
szący „śmierć podmiotu" i skupiający się na formalnych regułach rządzących
łączeniem elementów systemu językowego (m.in. Lévi-Strauss 1970). Sys­
tem uważano wówczas za całość spójną i zamkniętą. Jednym z kontynuatorów
myśli strukturalnej rozważającym problemy dyskursu jest Roland Barth. W pracy
Systems of Semiology (1968) pisał, że jeśli zespół reguł rządzących systemem
nie wiąże się w konieczny sposób z żadną substancją to za pomocą tych reguł
można opisywać każdy system kultury. W efekcie można mówić o perspek­
tywie dyskursywnej, która staje się pewnym szczególnym punktem widzenia
zarówno dzieł literackich, jak i spraw życia społecznego czy kultury. Kontynua­
cją tej refleksji są szkice Umberto Eco zebrane w zbiorze Semiología życia
codziennego (1996).
W miarę rozwoju namysłu nad językiem poddano w wątpliwość pojęcie sys­
temu rozumianego jako zamknięta całość. Z tej fundamentalnej wątpliwości wy­
rosły kierunki post-strukturalne. Do tego nurtu należą późniejsze prace Bartha
(1999), w których wprowadza pojęcie „pluralistycznego tekstu". Składające się
na ów tekst wypowiedzi nie mają na stałe przyporządkowanych znaczeń. To
ujęcie unika statyczności podejścia strukturalnego i lepiej zdaje sprawę z dyna­
micznej zmienności znaczeń. Barth dostrzega, że w dziele literackim może
wyrażać się wiele dyskursów. Stara sieje wyłonić i opisać, w ten sposób prze­
prowadzając interpretację tekstów literackich (Barth 2000).
Dyskurs nadal jest kategorią niezwykle popularną w językoznawstwie. Jedną
z aktualnych i często przywoływanych teorii jest koncepcja Teuna van Dijka,
niderlandzkiego lingwisty. Van Dijk wskazuje trzy wymiary dyskursu wytycza­
jące kierunki badań: pierwszym jest użycie języka, drugim - przekazywanie idei,
trzecim - interakcja. Dla badacza podążającego tropem pierwszym, przedmio­
tem analizy jest wypowiedź lub tekst zawsze ukazywany w kontekście. Analiza
polega na zestawianiu wypowiedzi lub tekstów, a następnie wyodrębnieniu
charakterystycznych wyrażeń oraz opisaniu układu słów i wyrażeń w zdaniu.
Badacz musi określić styl wypowiedzi, retorykę (w tym narzędzia perswazyjne
takie jak metafora, hiperbola, ironia), schemat formalnej struktury tekstu, zasto­
sowane strategie. Tak gruntowna charakterystyka wypowiedzi lub tekstu umoż­
liwia dalszy etap - interpretację, czyli odczytanie przekazywanych idei, które
opiera się na założeniu, że użytkownicy języka podzielają wspólny repertuar
społeczno-kulturowych
przekonań. Rozumiejąc odtwarzają modele mentalne,
które stanowią schematyczne reprezentacje naszych subiektywnych wyobrażeń
o danym zdarzeniu (Van Dijk 2001, s. 26-28). Autor podkreśla, że porozumie­
wanie się to dynamiczny i otwarty proces, z czego tworzone przez interpretatora
modele powinny zdawać sprawę. Tak rozumiane badania dyskursu uzupełnia ana­
liza przebiegu interakcji, odwołująca się do kontekstu sytuacyjnego, społecznego
czy kulturowego. Istotne są dla niej kategorie uczestników - ich społeczne
usytuowanie i związane z nimi światopoglądowe odmiany dyskursu (orders
of discourse). W całym procesie badawczym Van Dijk podkreśla rolę kontekstu
politycznego, społecznego i gospodarczego.

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B A D A N I E GENEZY I ZMIENNOŚCI DYSKURSÓW

Najsłynniejszym badaczem dyskursów jest Michel Foucault - historyk idei,
którego teoria mieści się w nurcie fenomenologicznym, rozwijającym się na prze­
łomie lat 60-tych i 70-tych, równolegle do kierunku strukturalnego. Akceptując
podstawowe założenia fenomenologii Michel Foucault tworzy fenomenologię
wyższego rzędu. Podczas, gdy klasyczna myśl fenomenologiczna brała w nawias
zewnętrzną rzeczywistość skupiając się na sądach o niej, Foucault otwiera nowy
nawias mieszczący owe sądy. Tym, co dla niego interesujące są warunki ich
wytwarzania stanowiące nową warstwę dociekań - sferę dyskursu. Tym, co j ą
organizuje jest episteme objaśniana w Les Mots et les Choses (1966) jako system
myślenia charakterystyczny dla danej epoki. Można mówić o episteme epok
i dziedzin, odkrywanie ich Foucault nazywał archeologią wiedzy (1977). Archeo­
logia wiedzy pyta: w jaki sposób jednostki dyskursu istnieją, dlaczego się ujaw­
niły, czemu właśnie te a nie inne wypowiedzi (zdarzenia dyskursywne) zaist­
niały, czemu wtedy i tam.
Foucault, prowadząc badania nad dyskursami wykluczenia, zwątpił w istnie­
nie jednej zasady organizującej, jaką była episteme i zaproponował termin regu­
larność rozproszenia odnoszący się do zewnętrznych relacji między elemen­
tami, nie organizowanych przez żadną systemową zasadę. Badaczom dyskursu
Foucault zaleca by: nie podążać w kierunku wewnętrznego i zakrytego jądra dys­
kursu, nie dążyć do serca myśli ani znaczenia, które się w nim ujawniają, lecz
wychodząc od samego dyskursu, od jego zjawiania się i jego regularności, iść
w kierunku jego zewnętrznych warunków możliwości, w kierunku tego co prowa­
dzi do przypadkowej serii jego zdarzeń i ustala dla nich granice (Foucault 2002,
s. 38). Jeśli tym co jest źródłem widocznych regularności dyskursu jest jakaś
zewnętrzna siła , to nie można mówić o archeologii wiedzy poszukującej pra­
widłowości wewnątrz wiedzy poprzez zgłębianie kolejnych warstw, ale o genea­
logii, rozumianej jako poszukiwanie splątanych korzeni wiedzy. Genealogia wie­
dzy to sposób formowania się dyskursu, jego rozrzedzanie, przegrupowywanie,
unifikacja. Genealogia wiedzy nie szuka źródła w sensie historycznym, ale po­
chodzenia. Zakłada, że coś może powstać stopniowo z form zupełnie mu obcych,
wobec niego zewnętrznych. Ważny jest moment wyłonienia nowych prawd, idei,
pojęć, wartości, będący zwykle efektem walk i konfliktu, a więc aktem przemo­
cy, pokonania innych pojęć czy interpretacji. Najistotniejszą z sił oddziałujących
z zewnątrz jest władza, jej elementy są wszechobecne i zgodnie z teorią mają
postać nieciągłych okruchów. Historia nieustannie dowodzi, że dyskurs jest nie
tylko czymś, co tłumaczy walki i systemy panowania, lecz również tym, dla czego
i przez co walczymy - jest władzą, która usiłujemy zdobyć (Foucault 2002, s. 8).
1

1

D o s t r z e ż e n i e r o l i z e w n ę t r z n e j siły, k t ó r a o d d z i a ł u j e na dyskurs b y ł o r ó w n i e ż u d z i a ł e m

Ernesto L a c l a u ' a (1998). Laclau opisuje s y t u a c j ę k o n f l i k t u p o m i ę d z y r ó ż n y m i znaczeniami, od­
m a l o w u j ą c j ą j a k o rodzaj w a l k i o ugruntowanie jednej z w y k ł a d n i . P r z y j ę c i e jednej j a k o o b o w i ą ­
zującej odbywa się przy pomocy z e w n ę t r z n e j siły nazywanej przez niego hegemonią.
do sfery p o l i t y k i i w ł a d z y .

N a l e ż y ona

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85

„Genealogiczny" opis dyskursu powinien dążyć do uchwycenia form wyklucze­
nia, ograniczenia, przystosowania [...]; pokazania jak się kształtują, na jakie
potrzeby odpowiadają, w jaki sposób się zmodyfikowały i przesunęły, z jakiego
przymusu skorzystały i do jakiego stopnia zostały odwrócone (Foucault 2002,
s. 43). Zastosowanie w praktyce wytycznych Foucaulta wymaga ogromnej wie­
dzy historycznej i znajomości warsztatu historyka.

Z A S A D Y INTERPRETACJI DYSKURSU

Pisząc o fenomenologicznym nurcie badań dyskursu należy przywołać kon­
cepcję Paula Ricoeura - filozofa, który w latach 70-tych definiował dyskurs jako
pojęcie przeciwstawne wobec kodu lingwistycznego i uważał, że analiza struk­
turalna, semiotyka, semiologia są odmiennym sposobem namysłu nad językiem
(langue) niż płaszczyzna dyskursu (parole). Uważał, że o ile systemy semiotyczne są zamknięte wobec rzeczywistości zewnętrznej, dyskurs pośredniczy
między umysłami i rzeczami: jeżeli wszelki dyskurs aktualizuje się jako zdarze­
nie, to wszelki dyskurs jest rozumiany jako znaczenie. [...] To, co chcemy rozu­
mieć, nie jest zdarzeniem, tzn. nie jest czymś przemijającym, lecz jest znacze­
niem, czymś trwałym. [...] Dyskurs to zdarzenie plus sens (Ricoeur 1989, s. 85).
Dialog to zdarzenie mówienia i słuchania. Tekst jest odmianą dyskursu, w której
sytuacja dialogiczna zostaje zburzona, gubi się kontekst. Na tekst składają się
zdania i to właśnie zdanie jest podstawową jednostką dyskursu, jest bowiem
połączeniem podmiotu i orzeczenia, które rodzi więź orzekania, konstytutywną
dla dyskursu. Interpretacja tekstu to domyślanie się jego znaczenia. Zdaniem
Ricoeura nie ma reguł trafnego domyślania się, są jedynie metody uprawomoc­
niania domysłów. Autor w pracy Język, tekst, interpretacja wskazuje drogę:
po pierwsze należy skonstruować słowne znaczenie tekstu, ujmując je w sposób
całościowy. Należy przy tym pamiętać, że interpretacja ma charakter pers­
pektywiczny, zawsze jest jednostronna, mimo to nie jest prawdą, że wszystkie
interpretacje są sobie równe, bowiem niektóre są bardziej prawdopodobne. Upra­
womocnienie nie jest weryfikacją, ani falsyfikacją, lecz wyborem najbardziej
prawdopodobnej interpretacji. W sytuacji wyboru stosujemy metodę zbieżnych
poszlak, przy czym zgodnie z zasadą hermeneutyki domysł i uprawomocnienie
są do siebie odniesione kołowo. Sens nie kryje się za tekstem, lecz stoi przed nim.
Sens nie jest czymś ukrytym, lecz czymś odsłoniętym. Przedmiotem rozumienia
jest nie sytuacja w jakiej tekst powstał, lecz jego odniesienia do świata możli­
wego, dzięki nieostensywnej referencji tekstu. Rozumienie nie dotyczy w żadnej
mierze autora i jego sytuacji. Jest ono nakierowane na obraz świata odsłonięty
przez referencję tekstu. Rozumieć tekst to podążać za jego ruchem od sensu do
referencji: od tego co zostało powiedziane, do tego o czym się mówi (Ricoeur
1989, s. 178). Tym, co dyscyplinuje interpretacje jest kontekst. Słowa są bowiem
polisemiczne i kontekst przesiewa ich znaczenia ograniczając ilość możliwych
interpretacji i niejasność dyskursu.

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O znaczeniu kontekstu w procesie interpretacji pisze literaturoznawca Stanley
Fish: zdania pojawiają się tylko w sytuacjach, a w obrębie tych sytuacji norma­
tywne znaczenie jakiegoś wyrażenia będzie zawsze oczywiste lub przynajmniej
dostępne, chociaż w obrębie innej sytuacji to samo wyrażenie, już nie takie samo,
będzie miało inne normatywne znaczenie, nie mniej oczywiste i dostępne (Fish
2002, s. 64).To co zdaje się być literalnym znaczeniem słów pojawia się w obrę­
bie kontekstu tak głęboko przyjętego, że go sobie nie uświadamiamy. Znaczenia
są zarówno subiektywne, jak i obiektywne: są subiektywne ponieważ stanowią
część partykularnego punktu widzenia, a przez to nie są uniwersalne. Są one
jednak także obiektywne, ponieważ punkt widzenia, dzięki któremu powstają,
jest publiczny i skonwencjonalizowany, nie zaś indywidualny i unikalny. Twier­
dzenie odrzućmy wszelkie interpretacje wróćmy do tekstu jest obłudne i nie­
możliwe do realizacji, jest interpretacją w innym przebraniu. Może zaistnieć wiele
możliwych interpretacji, jednak nie nieskończenie wiele. Anything goes jest
limitowane, tyle że nie przez dzieło (tekst), ale przez kontekst. Pewne interpre­
tacje są wykluczone jako nieuprawomocnione, ale źródłem wykluczeń także nie
jest tekst. Odkrycie „tego o co naprawdę chodzi" jest zawsze tym, co się sobie
rości, kiedykolwiek proponuje się jakąś nową interpretację, jednakże roszczenie
to ma sens jedynie w relacji do wcześniejszego ustalenia. Oznacza to, że prze­
strzeń, w której pracuje krytyk, została wyznaczona dlań przez jego poprzedni­
ków, aczkolwiek jest on zobowiązany do zwalczania ich przez konwencje instytu­
cjonalne (s. 96-7). Niczyje indywidualne akty interpretacji nie należą wyłącznie
do tego kogoś, ale są mu dane ze względu na jego pozycję w społecznie zorgani­
zowanym środowisku, a stąd zawsze podzielane i publiczne (s. 95). Interpretacja
nie jest sztuką objaśniania (constuing), lecz konstruowania (constructing) (s. 86).
Wszystkie modele interpretacyjne są tworzone, a nie odkrywane, tworzone są
poprzez strategie interpretacyjne, które wprawiamy w ruch. Nie popycha to jed­
nak wcale w stronę subiektywizmu, ponieważ środki do ich tworzenia mają cha­
rakter społeczny i skonwencjonalizowany (s. 91). Nowa strategia interpretacyjna
zawsze toruje sobie drogę w pewnym związku opozycji do strategii starej (s. 112).
W efekcie nowa interpretacja musi nie tylko rościć sobie powiedzenie prawdy
o jakimś dziele [...] lecz musi także utrzymywać, że wykonuje swa robotę lepiej
(s. 114) od poprzedniej. Rozważania o możliwych do przyjęcia interpretacjach,
lepiej uprawomocnionych, środowiskowo przyjętych i przez to zobiektywizowa­
nych prowadzą Fisha do ogólnego wniosku, że relatywizm jest stanowiskiem,
którego istnienie może cieszyć, ale którego nie można zajmować. Nikt nie może
być relatywistą, ponieważ nikt nie może zdobyć się na dystans wobec swoich
własnych przekonań i założeń (s. 77). Nie można być sceptykiem, [...] ponieważ
nie można zdystansować się od własnych przekonań i założeń tak, aby w rezul­
tacie stały się one dla nas nie bardziej autorytatywne niż przekonania i założe­
nia posiadane przez innych lub te, które sami kiedyś żywiliśmy. Konkluzja jest
tautologiczna, acz nieunikniona: wierzy się w to w co się wierzy i czyni się to bez
zastrzeżeń [...]. Nie tylko wierzy się w to w co się wierzy, ale i naucza się tego
w co się wierzy (s. 127).

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87

DYSKURS

POLITYCZNY

Specyficznym rodzajem dyskursu, szczególnie interesującym dla nauk społecz­
nych, jest dyskurs polityczny. Często służy on manipulacji, kreowaniu pożądanej
rzeczywistości. Metody, sposoby, strategie propagandy i innych politycznych
sposobów użycia języka zostały szeroko opisane przez językoznawców i socjo­
logów (Paine 1968 ; Język.. Л979; Stern 1980 ; Reboul 1980 ; Bralczyk 1986;
Głowiński 1991; Kamińska-Szmaj 1994 i innych).
W tym nurcie mieszczą się także badania Marii Frankowskiej (1994), analizu­
jącej metafory używane w dyskursie politycznym. Omawia ona porównania poli­
tyki do: teatru (poprzez użycie w tekstach prasowych i TVP słów takich jak: scena,
kurtyna, aktorzy, teatr); gry (przegrana walka, przedwyborcza gra, wskaźniki,
„bierze pulę", ma „asy", atuty, stawka, karty, poker, szachownica, pionki i figury,
pat, roszada, loteria); sportu (wyścig, cios poniżej pasa, boksowanie się, ring,
czarny koń, koń ze stajni X, przebijać piłeczkę); wojny (manewr, taktyka, uzbroje­
nie, ofensywa). Autorka rozważa też porównania państwa do: okrętu (ster, dryfo­
wanie, tonięcie); auta (kolizja, zderzenie); budowli. Jest to studium porządkujące
terminy funkcjonujące w języku polityki, nie podejmujące próby interpretacji.
Kontynuacją rozważań dotyczących dyskursu politycznego w latach 90, jest
książka Rytualny chaos. Jej autorzy dokonują fundamentalnego rozróżnienia
i doprecyzowania dziedzin badania dyskursów związanych ze sferą polityki.
Według ich taksonomii dyskurs publiczny to wszelkie przekazy dostępne publicz­
nie (Rytualny... 1997, s. 11). Dyskursem polityki jest ta część dyskursu pub­
licznego, która obejmuje wypowiedzi polityków w ramach ról przypisanych im
w obrębie instytucji politycznych (s. 15). Natomiast przez dyskurs polityczny
rozumieją, dyskurs elit symbolicznych na tematy polityczne (s. 18) przy czym elita
symboliczna - według Pierre'a Bourdieu - to ludzie sprawujący kontrolę nad
publicznie dostępną wiedzą, określają hierarchię spraw i wartości. Wreszcie dys­
kurs o polityce na który składają się potoczne rozmowy o polityce. Ten właśnie
rodzaj dyskursu interesuje mnie najbardziej, podczas gdy większość badaczy spo­
łecznych skupia się na badaniu dyskursu politycznego lub dyskurs polityki.
W Rytualnym chaosie pojęcie dyskurs definiowane jest jako całokształt prze­
kazów znajdujących się w społecznym obiegu (s. 10). Analiza tych przekazów
polega na opisaniu zastosowanych przez użytkowników strategii i rodzajów
argumentacji, stylów językowych. Autorzy zalecają zdiagnozowanie retoryki
(strachu, wstydu, winy) i określenie modelu (wielogłosowy, binarny). Proponują
nazwanie przyjętych perspektyw (światłego obywatela, rzecznika, pośrednika)
i zastosowanych sposobów opanowywania sytuacji konfliktowej. Wymienione
2

2

3

4

Robert Paine (1968) zaleca, by b a d a j ą c j ę z y k p o l i t y k i t r a k t o w a ć go j a k o rodzaj d z i a ł a n i a

s p o ł e c z n e g o saying

is doing, j a k o rodzaj instrumentu w walce o elektorat i kontrolowanie nastro­

j ó w społecznych.
3

Stern (1980) pisze o m a n i p u l a c j i za p o m o c ą stosowania tzw. cliche

rozumianego j a k o

uproszczenie, fałszujące faktyczny stan rzeczy
4

Reboul (1980) charakteryzuje takie środki j ę z y k o w e j a k h a s ł o , czy slogan.

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powyżej taktyki dyskursywne są kontynuacją opisanych we wcześniejszej książ­
ce pod redakcją Dunin, Czyżewskiego i Piotrowskiego technik sepizacji czyli
unieważniania, przemilczania i nie pamiętania. Samo słowo pochodzi od skrótu
SEP streszczającego anglojęzyczne określenie somebody else 's problem (Cudze...
1991). Obie książki proponują retoryczną analizę dyskursu publicznego.
W tym nurcie mieści się także teoria analizy argumentatywnej (Argumentative
Discourse Analisys ), opierająca się na foucaultowskim założeniu, że tym, co
kształtuje episteme jest zewnętrzna siła - władza, która kontroluje i kształtuje
dyskurs. Nie jest to jednak oddziaływanie jednokierunkowe płynące z jednego
punktu, ale wieloogniskowe z centrum usytuowanym tam gdzie napotyka na
opór. W efekcie często mamy walkę dyskursów wewnątrz episteme. Koncepcję
Maartena Hajera (1995) podkreśla pluralizm dyskursów, kształtujących się
i zmieniających w czasie nieustannych starć. Tym, co decyduje o przewadze
którejś ze stron jest wygrana w walce, która toczy się na argumenty. Ten punkt
widzenia pozwala badaczowi lepiej powiązać dyskurs z konkretną opcją poli­
tyczną czy partykularnym interesem. Pojęcie speech situation odnosi się właśnie
do takiego partykularnego punktu widzenia. Polityczny kontekst określa argu­
menty możliwe do użycia, rodzaj zbiorowej pamięci i historycznych odniesień.
Dyskurs wciąż zmienia się, kształtuje poprzez wprowadzanie nowych argumen­
tów i usuwanie poprzednich. Ta perspektywa podkreśla rolę, jaką w kształto­
waniu dyskursu odgrywają świadome jednostki. Dana grupa ludzi, osadzonych
w określonej speech situation, generuje story line - rodzaj narracji o rzeczywi­
stości społecznej, gospodarczej, politycznej dostarczający jednostce zestawu
symbolicznych odniesień, które organizują jej wiedzę potoczną i umożliwiją
rozumienie rzeczywistości widzianej z określonej perspektywy. Story line po­
rządkuje dyskurs. Składają się na nią idee i pojęcia połączone systemowo. Każdy
nowy element automatycznie odnosi do całości, więcej, znaczenia nowych pojęć
będą określane w odniesieniu do niej. Główne założenia story line są chronione.
Walka pomiędzy różnymi interpretacjami rzeczywistości społecznej to walka
między story line. To one organizują argumentację, przy czym często konkuren­
cyjne story lines mają wiele wspólnego, choć budowane sana zasadzie antytezy
przeciwników. Tak powstają między innymi tożsamości polityczne ugrupowań
i partii. Tego rodzaju tożsamość jest budowana dyskursywnie i zmienna histo­
rycznie, kształtuje się poprzez walkę konkurencyjnych story Unes, z których
najbardziej wpływowa zostaje uznawana przez elity polityczne. Omawiane
stanowisko, z jego koncepcją ścierania się story Unes i dynamicznym kształto­
waniem dyskursu wydaje się być ujęciem unowocześniającym teorię Foucaulta
i wyposażającym j ą w narzędzia pojęciowe umożliwiające opis współczesnego
dyskursu politycznego. Jest ono szczególnie pomocne w analizowaniu wypowie5

5

O teorii Argumentative

Discourse

Analisys

d o w i e d z i a ł a m s i ę z n i e p u b l i k o w a n y c h fragmen­

t ó w pracy Richarda Szostaka z 2003 r. Zawarte w jego t e k ś c i e p o j ę c i a takie j a k speech

situation

czy story line s ą bardzo przydatne dla badacza dyskursu politycznego lub dyskursu o p o l i t y c e .
D z i ę k u j ę za u d o s t ę p n i e n i e ich przed o p u b l i k o w a n i e m k s i ą ż k i .

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dzi o sferze polityki, wyraźnie ukształtowane w różne opcje przez story lines
jakie poszczególne partie generują na użytek swoich wyborców.
Inną propozycją, bliższą etnografowi, jest krytyczna analiza dyskursu CD A
(Critical Discourse Analisys) scharakteryzowana w książce Chrisa Barkera
i Dariusza Galasińskiego (2003). Jest to metoda analizy i interpretacji badanych
wypowiedzi. Dyskurs dotyczący problemu etniczności (Galasiński) podobnie jak
płci (Barker) jest rozważany w kontekście historycznym. Ukazane są różne opcje
jakie ścierają się wewnątrz, kształtując się wzajemnie. Opisane są funkcje kultu­
rowe i społeczne oraz ideologiczny aspekt dyskursu. Zalecana jest analiza intertekstualna, dostrzegająca wzajemne wpływanie na siebie różnych tekstów kształ­
tujących dyskurs. Krytyczna analiza dotyczy także aspektu lingwistycznego.
Nakazuje charakterystykę słownictwa jakie pojawia się w wypowiedziach, stylu
mówienia, charakterystycznych odmian, omawianych tematów itp. Galasiński
pokazuje zastosowanie CD A do badań dotyczących tożsamości etnicznej, które
prowadził w 1999 we wsi Korzeniec, koło Przemyśla.

ANTROPOLOGICZNE

WYKORZYSTANIE POJĘCIA DYSKURS

Omówione powyżej sposoby analizy dyskursu publicznego uzupełnia antro­
pologiczna praca Piotra Kędziorka (1996), częściowo poświęcona „ludowej"
odmianie dyskursu o polityce. Autor wymienia wątki pojawiające się w nim
takie jak: zła sytuacja ekonomiczna rolnictwa, cechy narodowe Polaków, nie­
korzystne zmiany w obyczajowości i mroczne wizje przyszłości. Opierając się
na materiałach zgromadzonych w latach 1990-1993 w czasie badań prowadzo­
nych we wsiach nad Biebrzą twierdzi, że dla jego rozmówców najważniejszą,
jedynie prawdziwą jest wiedza oparta na doświadczeniu. Owa potoczna wiedza
utwierdza ich w przekonaniu, że ekonomia jest ściśle związana z polityką oraz
że chłopi - rolnicy są upośledzoną warstwą polskiego społeczeństwa. Z tego
nastawienia wynika ich stosunek do państwa: z jednej strony oczekują opieki
i wsparcia (co autor nazywa postawą infantylną), z drugiej postrzegają państwo
jako obce, a nawet wrogie i żywią doń uczucia będące mieszaniną strachu i nie­
nawiści: państwo jawi się (...) jako instytucja obca, nie posiadającą społecznego
zakorzenienia. (...) utożsamiane jest z rządem, partiami politycznymi i biuro­
kracją. Jako takie jest wrogie człowiekowi. Najważniejsze wydaje się jednak
to, że obywatel, zwłaszcza mieszkaniec wsi nie ma, w swoim odczuciu wpływu
na działania władz i urzędników (Kędziorek 1996, s. 120). W efekcie, jak twier­
dzi autor, jego rozmówcy traktują życie jako ciągłą walkę o byt. Życie w za­
grożeniu. Wiąże się to z ich fata listyczną koncepcją człowieka i oceną swobody
wyboru dróg życiowych (s. 122).
Sięgając do antropologicznych rozważań nad dyskursem, trzeba koniecznie
nawiązać do pism Bronisława Malinowskiego, którego spostrzeżenia dotyczące
funkcjonowania języka w kulturze są fundamentalne dla namysłu nad tym
problemem. Niektóre z jego wniosków ważne w latach 30-tych dziś brzmią jak

�90

ANNA MALEWSKA-SZAŁYGIN

truizmy пр.: język musi być ujmowany w powiązaniu ze wszystkimi innymi aspek­
tami kultury. Języka nie można badać niezależnie od rzeczywistości kulturowej
(Malinowski 1987, s. 20). Kolejne twierdzenia zwracają uwagę na podstawowe
dla dyskursu powiązanie mówienia i działania, wypowiedzi i interakcji zasadniczą
funkcją języka nie jest wyrażanie myśli lub powielanie procesów intelektualnych,
ale raczej odgrywanie aktywnej, pragmatycznej roli w zakresie ludzkich zachowań.
(...) Język sam w sobie jest zjawiskiem kulturowym, pewnym typem zachowań
ludzkich, który nie spełnia jakiejś funkcji uzupełniającej, ale odgrywa sobie tylko
właściwą, unikalną i nie dającą się niczym zastąpić rolę (s. 39). Malinowski,
podobnie jak współcześni badacze dyskursu, podkreśla jego konwencjonalność
pisząc: słowa którymi [tubylcy] posługują się przy opisie aktu spania, jedzenia,
kopania lub zaostrzania kija, oparte są na specyficznej konwencji, której w każdej
kulturze trzeba się nauczyć (s. 39). Dostrzega też kontekstowość dyskursu, twier­
dząc: rzeczywistym faktem lingwistycznym jest tylko pełna wypowiedź w kontekście
określonej sytuacji, (s. 41) (...) jest [ona] zrozumiała dzięki temu, że zawarte w niej
zdania odnoszą się do osobistych minionych doświadczeń, podczas których słowa
były bezpośrednio wtopione w kontekst sytuacji (s. 91). Malinowski wyróżnia
kilka odmian kontekstu, do którego należy odnieść badaną wypowiedź: kontekst
socjologiczny, kontekst rytualny, kontekst dogmatyczny. Uważa za istotny opis
struktury wypowiedzi i sposobu jej wykonania czyli recytacji. Należy podkreślić,
że słowo kontekst jest tu niewystarczające, chodzi o odniesienie słów do całości
wyobrażeń o świecie (i wszechświecie), do tego co antropolog nazywa obrazem
świata: słownictwo stosowane w nich wiąże się ściśle z bardzo złożonym systemem
dogmatów, z założeniami teoretycznymi odnoszącymi się do pierwotnej siły zawar­
tej w słowach, do mitów, niewidocznego współdziałania duchów przodków, a co
ważniejsze do oddziaływania na zasadzie sympatycznego powinowactwa zwierząt,
sił przyrody i przedmiotów (s. 359). Sądzę, że w tym zdaniu zawiera się program
badań nad dyskursem obowiązujący antropologów do dziś.
Przeglądając antropologiczne definicje słowa dyskurs zamieszczone w słow­
nikach i leksykonach z lat 90-ych warto wyróżnić wykładnię J. Hartleya (1995),
która odwołuje się do wielu wcześniej scharakteryzowanych ujęć filozoficznych.
Hartley powtarza za Ricoeurem, że dyskurs łączy w sobie element znaczenia
i zdarzenia. Pisze o społecznym kontekście, który należy brać pod uwagę, przy­
wołuje twierdzenie Foucaulta, że dyskursy są stosunkami władzy. Podobnie jak
Foucault i Laclau pisze o konflikcie i walce o dominację. Dołącza też spostrzeże­
nie, że jakkolwiek dyskursy są dostępne badaczowi poprzez teksty, same w sobie
nie mają natury tekstu, nie sątekstualne (o czym pisał Clifford w 1996).
Bliższa praktyce etnologicznych badań terenowych wydaje mi się słowniko­
wa definicja Nigela Rapporta. Według Rapporta, dyskurs to potocznie praktyko­
wane sposoby mówienia, sytuowane w społecznym otoczeniu (ways of speaking
which are commonly practised and specifically situated in a social environement) (Discourse 2000, s. 117). Dyskurs charakteryzuje regularność, konwencjo­
nalność, sensowność, celowość, a także różnorodność i kontekstowość. Próbując
odnieść swoje rozważania do najbliższego mu ujęcia filozoficznego autor przy-

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wołuje pojęcie „gry językowej" zaproponowane przez Ludwiga Wittgenstema
(1972) oznaczające różne zwyczajowo przyjęte sposoby mówienia (speech-ma­
king) uzupełnione przez zwyczajowe działania. Tym, co łączy pojęcia dyskursu
i gry językowej jest przekonanie o tym, że mowa, czy raczej mówienie jest zako­
rzenione w zachowaniach i relacjach społecznych.
Poczuwając się do bliskości z myślą Wittgensteina, Rapport polemizuje z Foucaultem. Ukazuje anty-humanizm foucaultowskiej wizji dyskursu i podkreśla, że
staje się on rodzajem wszechobejmującej konwencji podporządkowującej sobie
jednostki. Pozbawia je roli podmiotu i usuwa indywidualnego mówcę z analizy.
Obowiązująca konwencja dyskursywna episteme jest powszechna i narzuca się
przemocą, kształtuje umysły i ciała, wyraża się w słowach i zachowaniach. Staje
się nieuświadomionym, bezwarunkowym kodem myślowym i komunikacyjnym
prowadzącym do nieuprawnionych uogólnień i uproszczeń. Tymczasem, jak
z mocą podkreśla Rapport, badacz dyskursu powinien pamiętać, że konwencja
nigdy nie jest w równym stopniu przyswajana i może przybierać bardzo indy­
widualną postać w poszczególnych przypadkach. Nade wszystko zaś powinien
zdawać sobie sprawę, że dyskurs nigdy nie jest jedynie wymianą konwencjo­
nalnych słów i zachowań. Pod powierzchnią konwencjonalnych form wyrazu
kryją się przekonania i wyobrażenia niezwykle indywidualne (George Steiner
nazywa je osobistymi znaczeniami, jakimi wypełniamy pewne formy czy for­
muły). Dyskurs wprawdzie dostarcza form wyrazu, ale to jednostki wypełniają
je treścią. Kiedy przydawane im znaczenia są podobne lub identyczne, to dzieje
się tak na skutek rozmaitych powiązań między jednostkami, a nie na skutek od­
działywania jakiejś przemożnej siły zagarniającej wszystkich i zmuszającej do
myślenia właśnie w ten sposób. Nawiązując do Wittgensteina można powiedzieć,
że choć każdy gracz zna zasady gry, każdy posługuje się nimi inaczej (sprawniej
lub mniej udolnie), każdy trochę inaczej je rozumie, inaczej angażuje się w grę
i inaczej j ą odbiera. Ta różnorodność graczy i ich indywidualnych strategii czyni
grę żywą i interesującą. Gdyby wszyscy wiernie i biernie trwali przy konwencji,
gra straciłaby wszelki urok.
Teoretyczne rozważania Rapporta streszczone w haśle dyskurs, były konklu­
zją jego doświadczeń z badań terenowych, między innymi tych, które prowadził
w końcu lat 80-ych w mieście Mitzpe Ramon (Rapport 1997). Problemem
badawczym były ustne, językowe sposoby zmieniania Mitzpe Ramon w dom
(making into home). Autor zgromadził zbiór wypowiedzi „powitalnych" - słów,
jakie wypowiadali anglojęzyczni mieszkańcy, kiedy wynajął mieszkanie w jednym
z domów wybudowanych przez agencję rządową. Porządkując je wyróżnił kilka­
naście słownych strategii „udomowiania" tego miejsca пр.: związane ze wspól­
notą języka angielskiego, dzieleniem trudów codzienności, zwłaszcza urzędo­
wej. Dostrzegł wiele możliwości uporządkowania tych strategii według różnych
kluczy: upływu czasu, wieku, płci, wykształcenia, statusu osoby mówiącej itp.
6

6

M i t z p e Ramon - z a ł o ż o n e z o s t a ł o w p o ł o w i e 1. 50. na pustyni Negev, przez i z r a e l s k ą a g e n c j ą
r z ą d o w ą . Planowane b y ł o na 6 000 m i e s z k a ń c ó w , w czasie pobytu Rapporta liczyło mniej n i ż 2 000.

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ANNA MALEWSKA-SZAŁYGIN

Zaproponował też typologię przyjmowanych strategii takich jak indywidualistycz­
ne (versus kolektywistyczne), czy afektywne (versus mateřialistyczne). Wielość
możliwych ujęć konwersacyjnego zmieniania przestrzeni objaśnia odnosząc do
terminu Rorty'ego transfiguracja podkreślając, że możliwych ujęć interpretacyj­
nych jest bardzo wiele i tak rozumiana antropologia jest nieustanną i nigdy nie
zakończoną konwersacją różnych sposobów bycia w świecie i oswajania go.
Innym przykładem analizy dyskursu są badania Rapporta (1993) prowadzone
w miasteczku Wanet w Pn.-zach. Anglii we wczesnych latach 80-ych Pojęciem
organizującym interpretację danych jest termin narracja. Narracja to historia,
którą ludzie opowiadają o sobie i swoim świecie, która z przypadkowego strumie­
nia zdarzeń tworzy całość celową i sensowną. Na wzór mitemów Levi-Straussa
Rapport (2000) w narracji, która jest indywidualnym mitem, wyróżnia narthemy i con-themy (convesational themes). Są one konwencjonalne, powtarzal­
ne. Badacz analizując opowieści wyróżnia kolejne tematy (themes), śledzi ich
współwystępowanie, ich zależność od miejsca i czasu w jakim są opowiadane.
W ten sposób próbuje odkryć strategie za pomocą których tworzy się narrację.
W antropologicznych szkicach, które złożyły się na zbiór Writing Culture
pojęcie dyskurs pojawia w liczbie mnogiej. Asad Talal (1986) pisze, że kultury
nie są koherentnymi tekstami czy językami, składają się na nie różne dyskursy
często pozostające w konflikcie. Podobny pluralizm dyskursów widoczny jest
w dziesięć lat późniejszym zbiorze After Writing Culture, gdzie Lisette Josephides
(1997) powołując się na pracę Tsing omawia wielość dyskursów w miasteczku
Meratus na Borneo. Rozróżnia też dyskurs i metadyskurs, gdy mowa o tubylczej
refleksji nad kulturą własnej społeczności (opowieści Umy Adang z Meratus).
James Clifford, jak zwykle przenikliwie, dostrzega zasadniczą różnicę po­
między dyskursem jako dzianiem się a tekstem będącym jego petryfikacją. Tekst,
w przeciwieństwie do dyskursu, może podróżować - pisze - Etnograf zawsze
w końcu wyjeżdża zabierając ze sobą teksty do późniejszej interpretacji. Infor­
macje ukonstytuowane w dyskursywnych, dialogicznych okolicznościach
są
przyswajane tylko w formie stekstualizowanej (Clifford 2000, s. 48). Clifford
wymienia monografie etnograficzne próbujące uratować indywidualność, dyna­
mikę i kontekstowość rozmowy prowadzonej w terenie. Zalicza do nich Paula
Rabinowa Reflections on Fieldwork in Morocco (1977); Jeanne Favret-Saady,
Deadly Words (1980). Przytacza też kilka innych, które jak książka Marjorie
Shostak Nisa: The Lije and Words of alKung Woman (1981) są przykładami
pisania etnografii w formie dialogu z jednym z tybylców - postacią konkretną,
zindywidualizowaną, acz w domyśle reprezentującą cechy charakterystyczne
dla badanej społeczności. Clifford uważa, że jakkolwiek autorzy tych prac sta­
rają się w ten sposób podkreślać partnerską relację badacz - tubylec w procesie
tworzenia monografii, to jest to kolejna forma ustanawiania autorytetu etno­
graficznego: dyskursywna lub dialogiczna.
Do kategorii monografii dyskursywnych można bez wątpienia zaliczyć pracę
Perle M0hl, opisującą wiejską społeczność - mieszkańców La Brumaire - wsi
położonej w centralnej Francji w regionie Le Berry. Autorka prowadziła tam

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badania w latach 1990-1993. Wiejską społeczność określa słowami „palpable"
unit (M0hl 1997, s. 36). Wieśniacy z La Brumaire interesują ją jako grupa ludzi
mówiących o wspólnych sprawach. Zarówno tematy jak i same opowieści są
tym, co ich jednoczy i czyni z nich społeczność. Jest to społeczność dyskursu.
Na nim autorka się skupia, gromadząc i prezentując opowieści, opowiadających,
techniki i strategie retoryczne takie jak przemilczanie, kłamstwo, ironia, mówie­
nie nie wprost i inne. Przygląda się różnym wersjom narracji, widzi ich zmien­
ność w zależności od okoliczności. Jednakże interesuje ją nie tylko organizacja
dyskursu, ważne są także jego społeczne funkcje: w jaki sposób spaja i hierarchizuje społeczność, jak wyznacza każdemu jego miejsce, jak kreuje tożsamości,
jak wytycza granicę „swój" - „obcy" i dostarcza narzędzi do błyskawicznej iden­
tyfikacji jednych i drugich.
M0hl twierdzi, że sfera dyskursu jest autonomiczną i nie powinna być redu­
kowana do innych sfer społecznej aktywności. Wiele aspektów życia społeczne­
go może być dostrzeżonych tylko poprzez dyskurs, a niektóre z nich istnieją
tylko w tej sferze. Działania, choć wydarzają się częściowo poza dyskursem,
dopiero w nim zyskują znaczenie i w tej części, w której uznano je za znaczące,
zostają włączone w przekaz, a więc i w życie społeczne. Wydarzenie, które nie
zyskało znaczenia w lokalnym dyskursie wypada poza krąg zjawisk ważnych,
a wręcz po prostu zjawisk zaistniałych - rzeczywistych. There is no community,
no social, outside discourse - pisze M0hl - Discourse in the broad sense of the
term not only reflect society, it creates and encompasses society; it is society.
(1997, s. 26-7). Stosując kategorię, która każdemu czytelnikowi kojarzy się
z Foucault autorka Village voices zastrzega, że interesuje ją dyskurs zindywidu­
alizowany, którego uczestnicy zachowują swoją tożsamość, a opowieści swoją
specyfikę. Oczywiście i ona typizuje narracje i retoryczne strategie, ale czyni to
na poziomie lokalnej społeczności w określonym, dość krótkim czasie, przez co
udaje jej się uratować barwność różnorodności i zmienności lokalnego dyskursu.
Podobnie bliska etnograficznemu doświadczeniu jest Kirsten Hastrup. Używa
ona rozważanej tu kategorii w rozumieniu znacznie szerszym, pisząc o the
Icelander's discourse upon their world (s. 55). Tak usytuowany w zdaniu
termin dyskurs staje się pojęciem bardzo szerokim, związanym z równie nie­
ostrym określeniem obraz świata. Dyskurs Islandczyków jest zatem wielogło­
sową, rozciągniętą w czasie i przestrzeni, zróżnicowaną i zmienną opowieścią,
w której ujawnia się ich obraz świata.

O ZASTOSOWANIU KATEGORII DYSKURS
DO A N A L I Z Y I INTERPRETACJI L O K A L N Y C H R O Z M Ó W O POLITYCE

Kończąc ten przegląd różnych sposobów rozumienia i stosowania pojęcia
dyskurs warto zastanowić się, które z nich mogą dostarczyć narzędzi ułatwiają­
cych zmierzenie się z problemem wiejskich rozmów o polityce, będącym moim
aktualnym tematem badawczym.

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ANNA MALEWSKA-SZAŁYGIN

Sądzę, że ze względu na rozmach punktem wyjścia powinien być Malinowski
i jego sugestia powtórzona z mocą przez Hastrup, że dla etnologa najbardziej
interesujące są dociekania dotyczące obrazu świata, jaki ujawnia się w dys­
kursie. Odtworzenie modelu wyobrażeń dotyczących władzy byłoby najbardziej
pożądanym celem, choć najtrudniejszym w realizacji. Oczywiście, owe modele
nie mogą rościć sobie pretensji do wyłączności i ostateczności, a jednak po­
winny być - jak zalecał Ricoeur - na tyle uprawomocnione, żeby były przeko­
nywujące dla czytelnika.
Nie sposób jednak odpowiedzieć na pytanie o obraz świata poprzestając na
lingwistycznej czy socjologicznej analizie zapisów rozmów. Konieczne jest
zatem uwzględnienie kontekstu, w jakim powstają. Jak pisał Fish, to właśnie
kontekst pozwala nam zrozumieć słowa. Interpretowanie rozmów trzeba więc
zacząć od opisania kontekstu sytuacyjnego, po to, by potem nakreślić szer­
szy kontekst gospodarczo-polityczno-kulturowo-społeczny, w którym tkwią
korzenie wypowiadanych słów i ubranych w nie przekonań, o czym był prze­
konany Foucault.
Scharakteryzowawszy grunt, na jakim wyrosły zdarzenia dyskursywne należy
przejść do opisu ich samych. Pierwszym krokiem analizy, zgodnie z sugestią
Rapporta, powinno być wyłonienie powtarzających się tematów rozmów, dostrze­
żenie ich naturalnego następstwa i regularności współwystępowania. Potem,
za radą Van Dijka, należy wyłowić często powtarzane wyrażenia i sformułowa­
nia, przyjrzeć się sytuacji, w jakiej padają i próbować ustalić ich znaczenie.
Szczególną uwagę należy zwrócić na pojawiające się w rozmowach metafory,
które - jak twierdził Lakoff - mogą stanowić syntetyczne ujęcie szerszego obra­
zu „zwiniętego" w metaforę. Rozwinięcie go może być niezwykle pomocne
w dziele odtwarzania obrazu świata, jak to pokazała Emiko Ohnuki-Thierney
(1991) na przykładzie metafory małpy, streszczającej wyobrażenia Japończyków
o własnej tożsamości.
W rozmowach o polityce, w większości silnie skonwencjonalizowanych,
widać znaczne różnice pomiędzy rozmówcami o odmiennej opcji politycznej.
Konieczne jest zatem scharakteryzowanie odmiennych story lines - jak je na­
zywał Szostak - typowych dla nich argumentów, a także epitetów, opinii i ostro
wyrażanych sądów wartościujących.
Analizę tekstów powinna uzupełniać refleksja nad społeczną funkcją dyskur­
su. Jak widać to w pracy M0hl, dyskurs może łączyć i dzielić, jest sposobem
rozpoznawania swoich i obcych. Tożsamości budowane są wewnątrz dyskursu,
zatem społeczne znaczenie dyskursu jest nie do przecenienia. Warto pamiętać,
że lokalne rozmowy o polityce są także po prostu sposobem spędzenia czasu
poprzez przerzucanie się powszechnie przyjętymi formułami słownymi, są za­
tem rodzajem współbycia, o którego roli w kulturze pisał Ong (1992).
Tak przeprowadzona analiza zapisów rozmów powinna doprowadzić do odpo­
wiedzi na kluczowe dla antropologii pytanie - dlaczego? Dlaczego ludzie formu­
łują takie właśnie wypowiedzi? Czemu w opisanym kontekście padają właśnie
takie zdania? Czemu tak połączone? Jaki obraz władzy się nich ujawnia?

�TRADYCJA STOSOWANIA POJĘCIA

95

DYSKURS

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ANNA MALEWSKA-SZAŁYGIN
T R A D I T I O N OF T H E U S A G E OF T H E N O T I O N
OF DISCOURSE
A N D ITS U S E F U L N E S S I N T H E S T U D I E S
I N A N T H R O P O L O G Y OF T H E P R E S E N T T I M E
Summary
The tradition o f die studies o f discourse derives from the famous de Saussure's d i s t i n c t i o n
discerning t w o levels o f linguistic description: langue
o f signs and parole

where language is treated as a system

i n w h i c h language is the subject o f study as the speech-act,

performance,

the socio-cultural event.
The concept o f discourse has defined the subject o f interest for linguists (e.g. B a r t h ) , philoso­
phers (e.g. Ricoeur), historians (Foucault) and sociologists (e.g. H y m e s ) . I n ethnology the first
attempts to study speech-acts (parole) reach back as far as B r o n i s ł a w M a l i n o w s k i w h o was inter­
ested i n the cultural function o f incantations as w e l l as the problem o f constructing social rela­
tionships through speech-making.

�TRADYCJA STOSOWANIA POJĘCIA

97

DYSKURS

C u r r e n t l y the most popular meaning o f the concept o f discourse applied i n ethnology is that
suggested b y Rapport w h o defines it as ways of speaking
specifically

situated

in a social

environment

which are commonly

practiced

supplemented b y the statement o f M o h l p o i n t i n g out the social functions o f discourse:
in the broad sense of the term, not only reflects society, it creates and encompasses
is no society,

no social

outside discourse

and

(2000, p. 117). This dictionary definition can be
discourse

society.

There

(1997, pp. 2 6 - 2 7 ) .

The local discourse on politics, w h i c h is m y research subject, consists o f everyday conversa­
tions about authority and persons i n power. A c c o r d i n g to the assumptions o f discursive analysis,
notions and concepts should be distinguished, those around w h i c h conversations are organized as
w e l l as typical terms, phrases and frequently used comparisons. Strategies and lines o f reasoning
should be described. A s the next step particular terms, phrases and expressions should be related
to the historical, p o l i t i c a l economic and socio-cultural context w i t h i n w h i c h they function and
w i t h i n w h i c h they have been coined. A s a result o f such analysis the mental model o f authority
w i l l be constructed, the one w h i c h emerges i n the local discourse on politics.
Translated

by Anna

Kuczyńska

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294

Barbara Pabian

THE T R A D I T I O N OF „ H E R B " (ZIELE)
I N ŚLĘZANY (CZĘSTOCHOWA
REGION)
(Summary)
The Częstochowa Region is an eclectic region with respect to culture. The cult
of St. Mary, connected with the shrine on Jasna Górna, affects the cultural specificity of
the region. It also affects the customs and tradition. Studies conducted by the author in
the region of Częstochowa have confirmed the hypothesis about the existence of the „folk
type culture". One of its manifestations is the custom of „herb elevation" practiced in the
village of Ślęzany. Although very interesting, the custom is little known. It is based in
the folk religious tradition, however it can be related to the cult of St. Mary.
Every year, on August 14, on the eve of the Mother of God of Herbs celebrations, the
inhabitants of the village gather in the afternoon at a designated place. Together, they put
up a spruce pole, several metres high. Atop the pole there is a special wooden structure
with field crops - the so-called „herb". The height of the pole and the abundance of the
„herb" are indications that the harvest was very good. It is an expression of gratitude and
a tribute paid to the Mother of God. This articles not only describes the „herb" tradition
in the cultural context of the region, but also interprets and describes the transformations
of this custom.
Key words: Częstochowa region, folk type culture, folk religious tradition, the cult of
St. Mary, the Mother of God of Herbs celebrations

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                <elementText elementTextId="154690">
                  <text>Licencja PTL</text>
                </elementText>
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              <description>The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource</description>
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          <element elementId="46">
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                <text>budownictwo ludowe, Małopolska</text>
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          <element elementId="41">
            <name>Description</name>
            <description>An account of the resource</description>
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              <elementText elementTextId="76776">
                <text>LUD 1954 t.41 s.699-702</text>
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            <description/>
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              <elementText elementTextId="76782">
                <text>698
73. C o h e n M., Documents ethnographiques d' Abyssinie, R. E. S., 1913 r.,
t. 4, s. 136, ryc. 11-12.
74. C h r o n G. M., Les Minianka (Nigeria), R. E. S., 1913 r., s. 183-184,
9. 183-184,
ryc. 10.
75. G r i a u l e M., Masques Dogon.s, 1938 11., s. 23.
76. P a r i e l, La maison fi Figui.g, R. E. S., 1913 r., t. 4, s. 138, -tab!. IV,
ryc. 11-12.
77. H e y e r d a h l T h o r, American Indians in the Pacific (The Theory
behind the Kon-Tiki Expedition), 1952.

e

S k r ó t y:

Z. f. E. = Zeitschrift fUr Ethnologie
R. E. S. = Revue d'Ethnographie et de la Sociologie
S. E. = Sowietskaja Etnografija
M.p. E. = Matieriały po Etnografii

ROMAN REIiNFUSS

TRADYCJE OTWARTEGO OGNLSKA W MAŁOPOLSKIM
BUDOWNICTWIE LUDOWYM
_ Jak można wnosić z materiałów wykopaliskowych odnoszących się
do czasów wczesnośredniowiecznych, piec w budownictwie polskim pojawia się stosunkowo późno. Podczas, gdy na terenach ruskich w półziemiankach, pochodzących z wieku VIII i IX, czy w ziemiankach z IX
i X wieku spotyka sięchara'kterystyczne
piece kQPulaste z otworem
w sklepieniu \ u nas w tym samym czasie występują jeszcze z reguły
otwarte ogniska ułożone z kamieni na środku izby (Gniezno 2) czy
w rogu (Opole 3) czy wreszcie jalk w Santoku kwadratowe, zbudowane
z bali dębowych, umieszczone w pobliżu środka jednej ze ścian 4. Dopiero w czasach późniejszych, w wieku XI pojawiają się piece piekarskie ustawione w jednym z rogów izby (Opole 6, Gniezno połowa
XII w.6).
Począwszy więc od XI wzgl. XII wieku zaczyna się u nas pojawiać
piec, wypierający z wnętrza chałupy otwarte ognisko. Proces teD:,
trwający
kilka stuleci, zakończył się ostatecznie wyrugowaniem
ogniska otwartego, ale tylko z wnętrza stale zamieszkiwanego; W szałasach i innych pomieszczeniach czasowo użytkowanych do dnia dzi-:siejszego spotyka się umieszczane w kącie otwarte ogniska nieraz bardzo prymitywnie skonstruowane. Przykładem tego mogą być chociażby
koliby pasterskie w Karpatach, czy zimowe szałasy robotników leśnych. Zachodzi pytanie, jak długo ogniska otwarte zachowały się
u nas w pomieszczenia.ch stale zamieszkiwanych.
Na podstawie materiałów odnoszących się do krajów sąsiadujących
z polskim terytorium etnicznym od północy, wschodu i południa możemy wnioskować, że ogniska otwarte w chałupach włościańskich
mogły zachować się stosunkowo długo. Jeszcze w bieżącym stuleciu
1
2
3
4
5
6

Istoria kultury drewniej Rusi, t. L s. 127.
J. K o s t r z e w s k i, Kultura prapolska, s. 128.
A. N a s z, Opole, s. Ga.
J. K o s t r z e w s k i, op. cit., s. 132.
A. N a s z, op. cit., s. 37.
J. K o s t r z e w s k i, op. cit., s. 127.

�701

700
ogniska takie zachowały się bowiem Siporadycznie na terenie Łotwy
i Litwy (Pelenie, pow. SzawIe) 7 i Białorusi, np. w zaścianku Hurbie
na pograniczu powiatu borysowskiego i siennieńskiego, gdzie znajdowały się chałupy bez pieców z dużym ogniskiem pośrodku izby, wyłożonym 'kamieniami i wylepionym gliną 8. Otwarte ogniska z wielkich
kamiennych płyt analogiczne do tych, jakie znamy z południowej Słowiańszczyzny, występują wg M o s z Yń s k i e g o również w Karpatach na pograniczu słowacko-małopolskim ł.
Zacytowane wzmianki odnoszące 'się do czasów stosunkowo niedawnych pozwalają przypuszczać, że i u nas mogły dosyć długo przetrwać tradycje otwartego ogniska. Wiadomość o tym w polskiej literaturze etnograficznej zawdzięczamy B. G u s t a w i c z o w i. W czasie wycieczki odbytej w okolice Babiej Góry spotkał on mianowicie
w Pcimiu koło Myślenic cha·łupę, gdzie "w południowo z.achodnim
rogu znajdowało się ognisko rów n o z p o d ł o g ą (podkreślenie
moje), na którym tliło się kilka kawałków grubych korzeni drzew" 10.
Odosobniona ta notatka znalazła szereg lat później potwierdzenie
w materiale zebranym w czasie badań etnograficznych prówadzonych
w okolicy Bochni, Dąbrowy Tarnowskiej, Staszowa i w widłach Wisły
i Sanu.
Pierwsza tego rodzaj u wiadomość zanotowana została dwukrotnie
przez Czesława B l a j d ę, studenta UJ, w Ostrowie Szlacheckim koło
_Bochni w czasie etnograficznego obozu szkoleniowego zorganizowanego
na tym terenie w roku 1939 przez prof. Kaz. D o b r o w o l s k i e g o
dla uczestników seminarium socjologicznego i etnograficznego UJ. Od
starych informatorów dowiedział się Blajda, że w drugiej połowie
ubiegłego wieku istniały jeszcze na terenie Ostrowa Szlacheckiego
chałupy, w których zamiast pieca znajdowało się na środku izby
otwarte ognisko. Jeden z informatorów podał ponadto, że ognisko to
znajdowało się na podwyższeniu w postaci drewnianej skrzyni wypełnionej do wierzchu ubitą gliną.
Dalsze informacje odnoszące się do ognisk otwartych w obrębie
chałup mieszkalnych zebrane zostały w czasie badań terenowych podejmowanych w różnych stronach Polski przez Zakład Badania Plastyki, Architektury i Zdobnictwa Ludowego P. L S. I tak w roku 1948
w czasie badań prowadzonych w Zalipiu (pow. Dąbrowa Tarnowska)
zanotowałem opowiadanie Apolonii Wojtyło, urodzonej w roku 1865,
osoby odznaczającej się znakomitą pomięcią i dużą inteligencją· Za
~

7

8
ł

10

K. M o s z y ń s k i, Kultura ludowa Słowian, t. I, s. 516.
J. w., t. I, s. 515.
J. w., t. I, s. 516.
B. G u s t a w i c z, O góraiach podbabiogórskich, "Lud" XII, s. 7.

cz~ów je~ mło~ości znajdowała się w Zalipiu jeszcze jedna chałupa,
ktora zamIast pIeca posiadała otwarte ognisko rozłożone pośrodku izby
na warstwie kamieni osadzonych w glinianej podłodze. Chałupa ta,
a rac~ej szczegóły jej wnętrza, utkwiły informatorce w pamięci
w zWiązku z drobnym wydarzeniem, sięgającym czasów jej dziecińst~a. Mianowicie gdy była kilkuletnią dziewczyką odbywało się w pob.hzu wesele,. n~ którym zgromadzili się starsi i młodzież z całego sąsIedztwa. DZIecI przeganiane przez starszych z miejsca na miejsce znalazły sobie schronienie w ubogiej chałupie, której mieszkańcy również
poszli przyglądać się weselu.
,
W izbie. był niep?rząde.k i brud. Na środku izby na glinianej podłodze znaJ~owało SIę ułozone z kamieni ognisko, na którym w wygasłym popIele stały garnki gliniane z resztkami strawy. W czasie
kie?y dzieci. (a wśród nich i informatorka) bawiły się koło ogniska,
wbIegło do Izby przez uchylone drzwi kilka psów, które pyskami powywracały garnki stojące w popiele, szukając jadła.
Przytoczyłem powyższe opowiadanie dlatego, że w kontekście z całością informacja o chałupie z ogniskiem otwartym nabiera większego
prawdopodobieństwa, niż gdyby była ona prostym -potwierdzeniem
postawionego pytania.
W roku 1950 w czasie obozowych badań prowadzonych w widłach
Wisły i Sanu z niezbyt pewną tradycją, chałupy zaopatrzonej w otwarte
ognisko ·spotkała się Zofia Kur k o w a. W rok później podczas badań
.prowadzonych w Kielecczyźnie i Sandomierszczyźnie przesilo 75-letni
informator indagowany w Skadlach (pow. Busko) podał, że w tej
miejscowości nie widział chałupy z otwartym ogniskiem, ale jako
młody chłopiec był z ojcem w takim domu w Tuczępach koło Staszowa. Badania przeprowadzone w kilka dni później przez Zofię
R e i n f u s s o w ą we wskazanej miejscowości potwierdziły tę wiadomość. gO-letni informator Kazimierz Pawelec, urodzony i zamieszkały
w Tuczępach, pamiętał, że za jego młodości istniały w tej wsi chałupy, w których nie było pieca tylko n a -1 e p a na środku i7Jby, na
której na otwartym ognisku gotowano strawę. Dym z ogniska uchodził
otworem umieszczonym pośrodku powały.
W tym samym roku dwie informacje o chałupach z otwartymi
ogniskami na środku izby zapisał PrzelTłysław B u r c h ar d. Jedna
z ~ich odnosiła się do wsi Budzów w powiecie wadowickim, druga
WSIPrzegini w powiecie oLkuskim. W Budzowie 53-letnia informatorka
Wiktoria Baca podała, iż w domu jej matki palenisko znajdowało się
na środku izby. Nad paleniskiem na łańcuchu zawieszonym u tragarza
wisiał kocioł.
W Przegini, gdzie do czasów ostatnich zachowały się stare formy
ludowej architektury (np. dachy budowane na sochę i ślemię) starzy

�702
informatorzy pamiętali z młodości opowiadania rodziców o chałupach,
w których na środku izby palił się ogień. Właścicielem takiego domu
miał być niejaki Rogoż.
W roku 1952 zanotował Burchard w Relowej (pow. Brzesko) informację podaną przez Bartłomieja Wojcieszka ( ur. 1898 r.) i jego brata
Macieja (ur. 1894), którzy słyszeli od swego ojca, że jako chłopiec
widział u biedniejszych "wielkie izby bez pieców z ogniskiem na
środku. Dym szedł po całym mieszkaniu i przez szpary na górę. Krowy
i kury - to wszystko było razem (w izbie)".
W Faściszowej koło Zakliczyna nad Dunajcem 75-letni informator
opówiadał Burchardowi o chałupach dymnych, istniejących jeszcze
ponoć przed 60-cioma laty, w których ogień palił się na nalepie wysokości 50-60 cm, umieszczonej w rogu izby, bądź poś'rodku tak
że można było chodzić dokoła nalepy. Otwór w powale przeznaczony
do odprowadzania dymu w obu wypadkach znajdował się w środku
powały.
Garść zebranych tu 'wiadomości zanotowanych w terenie, łącznie
z notatką Gustawicza wskaZ/uje na to, że jeszcze pod k,oniec ubiegłego
stulecia na terenie Małopolski zachowały się tu i ówdzie chałupy
urządzeniach ogniowych, stojących na poziomie znanym z wykopalisk wczesnośredniowiecznych. Jak można wnosić z przechowanej do
dziś tradycji, otwarte ogniska występowały w dwóch zasadniczych odmianach: jedną stanowiły ogniska ułożone z kamieni polepionych gliną
(Zalipie, Tuczępy, Relowa, Budzów, Przeginia, i być może !Pcim), drugą
zaś, rzadszą, polepy podniesione na wysokość około pół metra zanotowane w Ostrowie Szlacheckim i Faściszowej. Ogniska częściej znajdowały się pośrodku izby, rzadziej w rogu (Pcim, F.aściszowa).
Sądząc z opowiadań informatorów chałupy z otwartymi ogniskami
należały już wówczas do rzadkości. Utrzymywały się jeszcze wyjątkowo tu i ówdzie wśród biedniejszych, lub tam, gdzie jakiś specjalny
układ stosunków domowych hamował natuł'a1ną dążność do osiągnięcia
lepszych warunków mieszkaniowych.
.
Była to sytuacja w dużej mierze podobna do tej, jaką obserwujemy
dziś na odcinku tzw. chałupy kurnej, kurnicy, czy dymnicy, tj. chałupy
zaopatrzonej w piec chlebowy, ustawiony w izbie, ale nie posiadający
pr~ewodów odprowadzających
dym. Chałupy takie bardzo liczne
jeszcze przed I wojną światową dziś zachowały się wyjątkowo i to
w takich wypadkach, gdzie podeszły wiek właścicieli, brak potomstwa,
choroba czy poprostu starcza bierność stoją na przeszkodzie przy
wprowadzeniu w gospodarstwie i mieszkaniu bardziej nowoczesnych
urządzeń.

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WANDA JOSTOWA

TRADYCYJNE

POZYWJlENIE LUDNOŚCI

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Materiał do artykułu o tradycyjnym pożywieniu ludności Podhala
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Podhala oraz dla celów porównaw,czych na Orawie. Poza wiadomościami' publikowanymi w wydawnictwach, co uwidoczniłam w przypisach, pozostałe spostrzeżenia są wynikiem moich wędrówek po Pod.../

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DANE Z LITERATlIRY

Rys. 1. Mapka ,powiatu Nowy Targ.

halu. Załączona mapka przedstawia miejscowości, z których czerpałam
dane do pracy.
Zagadnienie ujęte przestrzennie nie wykazuje zasadniczych różnic,
jednak pożywienie ludności Orawy i doliny Nowotarskiej wykazuje
pewne odchylenia od sposobu odżywiania się ludu "Skalnego Pod-

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              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
        </elementContainer>
      </elementSet>
    </elementSetContainer>
  </item>
  <item itemId="6785" public="1" featured="0">
    <fileContainer>
      <file fileId="6765">
        <src>https://zbiory.etnologia.uw.edu.pl/files/original/2775bb93f08cb7a0182f313be96afa83.pdf</src>
        <authentication>3b5e69b3774ae1504d761602aa8e7b78</authentication>
      </file>
    </fileContainer>
    <collection collectionId="4">
      <elementSetContainer>
        <elementSet elementSetId="1">
          <name>Dublin Core</name>
          <description>The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.</description>
          <elementContainer>
            <element elementId="50">
              <name>Title</name>
              <description>A name given to the resource</description>
              <elementTextContainer>
                <elementText elementTextId="25236">
                  <text>Lud</text>
                </elementText>
              </elementTextContainer>
            </element>
            <element elementId="45">
              <name>Publisher</name>
              <description>An entity responsible for making the resource available</description>
              <elementTextContainer>
                <elementText elementTextId="154689">
                  <text>Polskie Towarzystwo Ludoznawcze</text>
                </elementText>
              </elementTextContainer>
            </element>
            <element elementId="47">
              <name>Rights</name>
              <description>Information about rights held in and over the resource</description>
              <elementTextContainer>
                <elementText elementTextId="154690">
                  <text>Licencja PTL</text>
                </elementText>
              </elementTextContainer>
            </element>
            <element elementId="42">
              <name>Format</name>
              <description>The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource</description>
              <elementTextContainer>
                <elementText elementTextId="154691">
                  <text>pdf</text>
                </elementText>
              </elementTextContainer>
            </element>
            <element elementId="44">
              <name>Language</name>
              <description>A language of the resource</description>
              <elementTextContainer>
                <elementText elementTextId="154692">
                  <text>pol</text>
                </elementText>
              </elementTextContainer>
            </element>
            <element elementId="51">
              <name>Type</name>
              <description>The nature or genre of the resource</description>
              <elementTextContainer>
                <elementText elementTextId="154693">
                  <text>czasopismo</text>
                </elementText>
              </elementTextContainer>
            </element>
          </elementContainer>
        </elementSet>
      </elementSetContainer>
    </collection>
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                <text>oai:cyfrowaetnografia.pl:publication:2216</text>
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                <text>pasterstwo - zwyczaje</text>
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                <text>Tradycje pasterskie i współczesność górali Gaddi ze stanu Himachal Pradesh ( Indie) / LUD 1998 t.82</text>
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                <text>Hinca, Przemysław</text>
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                <text>Lud. t. 82. 1998

PRZEMYSLAW IIINeA
Instytut Etnologii i Antropologii Kulturowej
Uniwersytet im. A. Mickiewicza
Pozmlń

TRADYCJE PASTERSKIE I WSPÓŁCZESNOŚĆ GÓRALI GADDI
ZE STANU HIMACHAL PRADESH (INDIE)!
W północno-indyjskim stanie Himachal Pradesh2 większość obszarów położonych powyżej 2000 m n.p.m. objętych jest granicami tzw. ,.pasa plemiennego" (ang. Iribal helI'), w którego skład wchodzą dystrykty Chamba, Lahaul
i Spiti oraz Kinnaur~. Rejon ten zamieszkały jest przez wiele małych grup
etnicznych, które są określane w nomenklaturze administracyjnej jako plemionas. Jednym z największych plemion stanu Himachal Pradesh jest społeczność
pół-osiadłych pa~terzy Gaddi(~ Są oni zarazem grupą najlepiej do tej pory
poznaną. W odróżnieniu od pozostałych społeczności plemiennych, które
w przeszłości zamieszkiwały obszary trudno dostępne i znacznie oddalone
od ośrodków władzy, Gaddi sezonowo wypasali swoje stada na terenach przyległych do siedzib rządowych. Ta sytuacja nie uległa zmianie do dzisiaj. BezI Materiały wykorzystane w niniejszym artykule zostały przeze mnie zebrane podczas Ekspedycji Etnologiclllej ..Toward Asia" przeprowadzon~i II okresie od listopada 1996 do maja 1997
roku.
2 W wi.;kslOśei prac z.ajmujących si.; zagadnieniami
z obszaru Indii. autorzy horykąją się
z prohlemem zapisu naz.w geograficznych i własnych. Ze 117gl.;du na ogromne zróżnicowanie
j.;zykowe ohszaru. na którym przeprowadzone zostaly hadania oraz brak źródcl polskich opisujących ów region. lIil;kslOŚĆ nazw podaj l; w transkrypcji angielskiej. Taka forma zapisu jest
pO\\szechnie używana przez administracjI; stantmą w Ilimachal Pradesh. Spolszczoną pisownię
stosujl; jedynie dla nazll geograficznych upowszechnionych
w naszym j.;zyku tj. Gudżarat.
Kaszmir. Pend/ah. Nazlly lI'łasne przedmiotów pochodz&lt;lee z j.;zyków miejscowych zapisuję
kursywą w transkrypcji angielskiej.
) Angielskie określenie jest powszechnie stoSO\\£1I1ew literaturze przedmiotu. także przez naukowców indyjskich. Zasil;g "pasa plemiennego" ilustrujl; na I)'cinic 2 ukazującej mapę stanu
Ilimachal Pradesh.
4 Jest to najcz.l;ściej stosowany. schematyczny
sposób wyznaczania granic obszaru ..pasa plemiennego". zaw.;/ąj'lcy jego zasil;g do terytorium \vymienionych dystryktów. W rzeczywistości.
społeczności plemiennc zamieszkują także dystrykty Kangra. Mandi. l3ilaspur i Sirmaur.
, Dotychczas nie ustalono kryteriów. na których podstallie można sklasyfikować określoną
grupę jako plemi~. Mimo tego. iż termin ów jest cz.;stokroć stosowany przez przedstawicieli
rządowych nic \\)jaśnia się jego znaczenia w żadn~j z rządowych ustaw (Ahluwalia. 1993. S.

223).
" Z powodu hraku żródd niemożliwe jest nawet szacunkowe podanie wielkości populacji poszczególnych plemion. Jcdnakż&lt;:: wielu autorów opisujących problematykę etniczną stanu Himachal Pradesh jako największą grupę plemienną w regionie uznaje Gaddich.

�254
pośrednie kontakty Gaddich z lokalnymi decydentami
lub ich przedstawicielami dały władzom możliwość sprawowania
kontroli i czerpania zysków z gospodarki pasterzy. Obecnie rząd stanowy czyni wszelkie starania. aby doprowadzić do całkowitego
osiedlenia
Gaddich i zmiany ich tradycyjnego
stylu
życia.
Geneza etnonimu "Gaddi" wskazuje na tradycje pasterskie grupy. Jak podaje S. S. Shashi (1977, s. 4), nazwa może się wywodzić z terminów:
Gahar - określającego w języku hindi jesienne pastwiska wysokogórskie,
Godar - w języku hindi oznaczającego pasterza lub owcę (maciorkę),
Godar - określenia owcy Uako rodzaju zwierząt7) pochodzącego
z prakrytus.
Trudno dokładnie wskazać, które pojęcie dało początek nazwie Gaddich.
Najstarszą
formą jest ostatnia z podanych definicji i ona też wydaje się być
źródłem etnonimu.
Podczas badall terenowych
przeprowadzonych
w ramach
projektu "Toward Asia" udało się ustalić, że miano gaddi (lub K[Id/) funkcjonuje w języku pahari nie tylko jako nazwa omawianej
grupy, lecz jest także
ogólnym terminem określającym
pasterzy, bez względu na ich etniczne pochodzenie.
Region, który zamieszkują
pasterze, jest przez nich określany jako gadaren
(kraina Oll'iec- a więc nawiązanie do terminu z prakrytu).
PoslLlkuj'lc korzeni etnonimu Gaddi nie można pominąć wyjaśnienia
za\\&lt;artcg.o \\. podaniach ludowych i mitach samych pasterzy. Według nich nazwa
społeczności
ma związek z regionem Brahmaur, który zamieszkują.
Obszar ten
jest uważany za krainę boga Sziwy. Brahmaur jest często opisywany
przez
pasterzy jako Gódi (lub Kailash), tron SZiwylO. W związku ze szczególnym
kultem, jakim pasterze obdarzają Sziwę, nazwę jego "tronu" przyjęli jako swój
etnonim (Balokhra, 1995, s. 24).

Tu .•rodzaj" jako jednostka taksonomiczna stosowana w zoologii.
Ogólna nazwa języków indoaryjskich. którymi posługiwano siC;w okrcsic średnioindoaryjskim od okola IV wieku p.n.e. do okola X wieku n.e. (Stasik. 1994, s. 4).
ą Mimo. że zapis w postaci ..gaddi·· pochodzi z języka hindi. bard/O często jest stosowany
także w języku pahari. W nawiasie podaję pisownię \\cdlug Tika Ram Joshi'ego (19X9. s. 43).
10 .lest to odwołanie się do świętej góry Kailash. która znajduje sio,:na północ od jeziora ManasanlVar (Manasa) w Tybecie, będącej celem pielgrzymek wyznawców hinduizmu oraz buddyzmu. W tradycji hinduistycznej Kailash jest górą boga Sziw)" (I)owson. ł96X. s. ł39). W stanic
Himachal Pradesh zm1jduje się kilka gór lokalnie nazywanych mianem Kailash. W słowniku
języka pahari opracowanym przez T. R. .Joshi (1989. s. 43) jako pierwsze znaczenie terminu RĆldi
autor podaje ,.tron": drugim jest ..pasterz".
7

8

�255
Zarys historyczny

i organizacja

społeczna grupy

Do tej pory nic opracowano zwartego opisu dziejów Gaddich. Dla każdej
z klasii, na jnkie podzielona jest ich społeczność, historia przedstawiana jest
osobno. Przed krótkim omówieniem każdej z nich przedstawię obecny podział
Gaddich na warny i kasty (patrz tabela l). Wszystkie te struktury społeczne
można sklasyfikować według ogólnej kategorii "czystości rytualnej". Do kast
"czystych" należą Braminowie, Radżputowie, Khatri - noszący świętą nićl2
oraz Thakur i Rathi, którzy nie posiadają symbolu powtórnych narodzin
(świętej nici).
Tabela I. Klas)' i kasty plemienia Gaddi*

Podział wg rytualnej
czystości
Czyste
Nieczyste
*Wcdług S. S. Shashl ( 11)77. s.

Klasy
(warny)
Bramini
Radżputowie wYżsi
Radżputowie niżsi
Służący

-

Grupy kast'J
Bramini
Radżputowie, Khatri
Rathi, Thakur
Sipi, Rehra
Koli, Lohar, Badhi, Hali

4)).

Kasty "nicczyste", których codzienne życie obwarowane jest szeregiem tabu, nie mają statusu "niedotykalnych" w takim wymiarze, jak ma to miejsce
wśród społeczności zamieszkujących obszary nizinne. Szczególne miejsce
w klasie sIużących zajmują kasty Sipi i Rehra, których członkowie w przeciwieństwie do pozostałych "nieczystych" mogą odwiedzać świątynie, a ich
dotyk nie wiąże się z koniecznością dokonania obrzędów oczyszczających
(Shashi, 1977, s. 46). Klasa służących nie jest uważana przez kasty "czyste"

II Klas)' (Iuh \1'(//'11.\'harwa. rasa. klasa) są podstawo\\ymi warstwami struktury społecznej
wieksIości indyjskich grup clnicznych. Tradycyjny pod/iał obejmo\\a! Cztery Wielkie Klasy:
I. Bramini .. klasa najwyis/a. elila kulturowa (kaplani. mędrc)'): 2. Kszatrijowie - elita polityczna
i militarna: J. Wajśjollie - rolnicy. hodowcy. r/cmicślnicy i kupcy: 4. Sudrowie - służący
pozostałym. Po/a systemem klasowym była grupa ..nieezystych" (pariasów), składająca się
z rze/ników. granarl)'. myśliw)'ch. spr/ątac/Y itp. W litcratuw: kasty (ja/h) ezęsto mylone z klasami. w)'odr.,:hnily si.,: w ramach poszczcgólnych warn jako endogamie/ne
grupy tworzące
wspólnot.,: terytorialną zall'odow&lt;\ luhli kultową połączone tradycją genealogiczną.
12 Swi.,:ta nić (określana
takie jako święly sznur) jest zellnętrzną oznaką przejścia obrzędu
inicjacji-- /lflw/(/jw/(/
- najwai.nicjszej ceremonii IV życiu hinduislów (mężczyzn) klas wyższych,
podc/as której d/iecko rod/j si.,: powtórnie (stąd cz~sto spotykana nazwa ..podwójnie urodzonych") i jest pr/.~j1l1ll\\ane do spo!cezności dorosłych. Święta nić noszona jest przez cale życie
IV postaci luinej p.,:t Ii pr/elliesl.Oncj
przel tulów od lewego ramienia do prawego boku (Herrmann i in.. 1')'.12. s. 120).
13 (irupy kast
podzielone na szereg kast (ja/h). a Ie 1_ kolei na podkusty.

s,,

�256
za część społeczności Gaddi. Według nich nazwa plemienia obejmuje tylko
Braminów, Radżputów, Khatri, Thakurów i Rathi (Balokhra, 1995, s. 24).
Podczas krótkiego omówienia historii poszczególnych grup kastowych postaram się przedstawić ich obecną pozycję społeczną. W wielu opracowaniach
system kastowy traktowany jest jako tradycyjny porządek społeczny, który
od wieków trwa w niezmienionej formie aż po dzid, dzisiejszy. Jednakże
z biegiem czasu wiele praw kastowych uległo zmianie. Szereg przywilejów,
nakazów i zakazów, które w pewien sposób rozgraniczały ludzi należących
do różnych kast złagodzono bądź zniesiono (w rzeczywistości tylko częściowo)
na mocy konstytucji z 1947 roku. Niegdyś członków poszczególnych kast
można było rozpoznać po ubiorze lub codziennych zajęciach. Obecnie w każdej
z grup znajdują się osoby zarówno o wysokim, jak i niskim statusie majątkowym. W społecznościach, które nadal przestrzegają prawa kastowego naj istotniejszym elementem jest zachowanie czystości rytualnej.
Bramini
Bramini Gaddi, według swojej tradycji, pojawili się na obszarze Brahmaur
za panowania Radży Ajia Varmana w latach 7S0 - sao n.e. (Balokhra, 1995,
s. 24). Fakt ten wpłynął prawdopodobnie na dalsze losy tego władcy. Jego syn
Lakszmi Varman zaraz po osiągnięciu pełnoletności został przysposobiony
do sprawowania rządów i osadzony na książęcym tronie. Po przekazaniu władzy następcy Aija Varman opuścił Brahmaur i udal się na odosobnienie.
U zbiegu rzek Ravi i Budhil spędził resztę życia na adoracji Sziwy. Według
podal1, jako jedyny spośród władców księstwa Gaddich przeszedł po śmierci
do kręgu Istniet'l Najwyższych (Shashi, 1977, s. IS).
Bramini zajmowali, i formalnie zajmują do dzisiaj, najwyższą pozycję
w społeczet'lstwie. W okresie rządów książęcych otrzymywali od władcy ziemię
i byli zwolnieni od danin. Ich pola były uprawiane przez służących najmowanych z niższych kast. Bramini zajmowali się zazwyczaj odprawianiem modłów,
prowadzeniem ceremonii religijnych. Wierzono, iż są obdarzeni ponadnaturalną
mocą. Konsultowano się z nimi przy ustalaniu np. daty zawarcia związku
małżel1skiego, dnia, w którym można wyruszyć w podróż czy rozpocząć budowę domu. Obecnie nadal pełnią istotne funkcje społeczne, lecz nie posiadają
tak wielu praw i przywilejów jak w przeszłości. Biedniejsze rodziny bramiłlskie
uprawiają pola własnymi siłami, bez pomocy służby, wielu z nich zatrudnia się
przy pracach budowlanych górskich szlaków komunikacyjnych, niektórzy
najmują się nawet do służby li bogatszych Radżputów czy Khatri (Shashi, 1977,
s.44).

�257

Radżputowie

i Khatri

Według J. M. Balokhra (1995, s. 24) wielu Radżputów to potomkowie
najeźdźców z obszarów nizinnych, lecz trudno jednoznacznie
określić ich pochodzenie. Inne źródła wiążą ich historię z dziejami Braminów z okresu panowania
Radży Ajia Varmana (Ahluwalia,
1993, s. 228). Całkiem odmienny rodowód
mają Khatri, którzy według podarl przybyli do Brahmaur z miasta Lahorel4.
Okresu, w jakim miała miejsce ich wędrówka, nie ustalono do dzisiaj. Podczas
gdy jedni historycy podają daty zawarte w przedziale od VIII do XVI wieku,
inni twierdzą, że migracja Khatri była długim procesem trwającym kilkaset lat
(Balokhra, 1995, s. 24).
Obie wspomniane
grupy łączył rodzaj służby jaką pełnili dla lokalnych
władców. Byli klasą wojowników formujących armię radżów. Podczas wypraw
wojennych,
przed i po przeniesieniu
stolicy księstwa Gaddich z Brahmaur
do Chamby (ok. 920 rok za panowania
Sahila Varmana),
stanowili jedną
z potężniejszych
armii w regionie, opisywaną w kronikach księstw sąsiednich
(Kangra, Kulu)jako Armia Gaddi (Shashi, 1977, s. 44).
Współcześnie
nazwy Radżput i Khatri odnoszą się do tej samej grupy społecznej. Z biegiem czasu zatarte zostały wszystkie elementy rozróżniające
ich
w przeszłości.
Członkowie
rodzin radżpuckich
określają siebie używając zamiennie obu nazw, lecz określenie
Khatri wspominane
jest coraz rzadziej
(Shashi, 1977. s. 44). Ich codziennym
zajęciem jest uprawa ziemi połączona
z hodowlą bydła oraz wypas stad owiec i kóz. Z tej grupy wywodzi się większość pasterzy prowadzących
obecnie półosiadły tryb życia.

Rathi i Thakur
Nie zachowały się żadne źródła opisujące historię tych kast. Można jedynie
domniemywać,
że ich przodkowie należeli w przeszłości do kast omówionych
powyżej, lecz złamali określone
prawa zachowując
jednak status czystości
rytualnej. W przypadku
Rathi przypuszczenia
tego rodzaju potwierdza
ich
nazwa. Termin Rathi pochodzi z pojęcia rakhehi oznaczającego
"poślubianie
wdów,·I'. Ludzie należący do tej kasty starają się nie używać tej nazwy. Częściej określają siebie jako Radżputowie
niższej klasy. Tak też są traktowani
przez Braminów, Radżputów i Khatri. Głównym zajęciem Rathi jest obecnie
uprawa ZiemI.

I~ Obecnie jedno z wi&lt;;kszyeh miast pakistańskiego
stanu Punjab położone około 20 km
od granicy z Indiami.
~I; W iradyeyjnym syslemie kasLOwym wdowa nie mogła być poślubiona ponownie.

�258
Sipi, Rehra i inne kasty służących
Spośród wszystkich
kast "nieczystych",
Sipi i Rehra posiadają
wyższy
od pozostałych
status w hierarchii
społecznej.
Kasta Sipi obejmuje
rodziny
kowali, rolników i pasterzy (często najmowanych
przez Radżputów). Uczestniczą jako muzykanci
w ceremoniach
ślubnych
i świętach
kast ,.czystych".
Jakjuż wspomniałem,
mogą odwiedzać świątynie. Mimo tego, iż Sipi i Rehra
znajdują się w grupie "nieczystych",
to ich dotknięcie nic wymaga "zmycia"
poprzez obrzęd oczyszczający.
Mogą pić wodę oraz prać w strumieniach
zarezerwowanych
dla kast "czystych".
Od Braminów otrzymują błogosławicllstwo
podczas ślubu. Lecz tak jak pozostałe kasty służących nic mają prawa wstępu
do domostw klasy Braminów
i Radżputów
oraz nie mogą z nimi spożywać
posiłków. Nawet gdy jako muzykanci są zapraszani na uroczystości, organizuje
się dla nich osobne miejsce na podwórzu przed domostwem
(Shashi. 1977,

s.46).
Po wstępnym omówieniu systemu kastowego w powyższym zarysie historycznym należy opisać równie istotną w kulturze Gaddich strukturę grup pokrewiellstwa.
W większości
,.plemion"
stanu Himachał
Pradesh nadal powszechnie
spotykany jest tradycyjny
model rodziny rozszcrzonej
(wielkiej)
jako podstawowej
jednostki
organizacji
społecznej.
Lecz obecnie u Gaddich
coraz większego
znaczenia
zaczynają
nabierać
rodziny
nuklearne
(małe)
(Shashi, 1977, s. 27)16.
Pomimo zmian w organizacji rodzin wciąż zachowywany
jest ich charakter
patriarchalny
i patrylinearny.
W podejmowaniu
decyzji dotyczących
przebicgu
prac, planowania
zajęć, wydatków itp .• ostatnie słowo należy do naj starszego
mężczyzny
w rodzinie rozszerzonej.
Podczas jego nieobecności
(sezonowy
wypas) lub śmierci prawo to przypada naj starszemu synowi. Lineaż określany
17
jest przez Gaddich terminem Khandw1 (patrz rycina 1). W przeszłości często
się zdarzało,
iż Khandan dzielił się na mniejsze jednostki
zwane Khind.
Od momentu podziału lineażu (np. w wyniku międzyrodzinnych
waśni). rodziny należące do danego Khind przyjmowały
nazwisko bąd:l. imię przodka. który
odłączył się od Khandanu. Po rozlamie. członkowie
obu części lincażu nadal
zachowywali
świadomość
przynależności
do określonego
Khandal1lf oraz
x
kultywowali
tradycje wspólnego przodka. Każdy Khind
składa się z pewnej
liczby rodzin rozszerzonych
nazywanych
Tal. Jeżeli żyjący członkowie danej
16 Już. na początku
lat 70 .. w trakcie badaJ] tcrenowych pr/qml\\ad/Onych
pr/cz S. S. Shashi·ego. na 300 objętych badaniami rod/in 249 stanowily rodziny nuklearne (tj. X3(~/()).
17 Język Gaddich jest dialektem powszechnćgo
w Ilimaehal Pradesh ję/.yka Iwhari.
który należy do północnej grupy (Zachodnie Pahari) int!oeuropejskićj rodziny ję;yko\\ć.i.
18 .leżeli \II przeszłości lineażu nic było wewnętrznego
rozłamu lo lakże A"//(/I/(Iall

�259
rodziny nie zamicszkują
w jednym gospodarstwie,
wówczas
Tal składa się
ze wszystkich
blisko ze sobą spokrewnionych
rodzin nuklearnych
(Bhasin,
1988, s. 121). Zatem To/ spełnia istotną rolę w integracji i podtrzymywaniu
więzi mi~dzy rodzinami podstawowymi.
Organizacja
społeczna jest u Gaddich
ściśle powiązana 7. systemem kastowym. Przykładem może być Shariki, termin
określający ród złożony z kilku lineaży (Khandon). Shariki obejmuje wszystkich ludzi z osady należących do tej samej kasty (Bhasin, 1988, s. 121). Rody
zaś wchodzą w skład nadrzędnego
szczebla organizacji
społecznej jakim jest
Golra. W terminologii antropologicznej
można ją określić mianem fratrii.
Rody (Shllriki równe kastom z danej osady) są zazwyczaj egzogamiczne,
podczas gdy w ramach (jolly przestrzega się zasady endogamii (Shashi, ł 977,
s. 36). Odpowiada to endogamicznemu
charakterowi
poszczególnych
kast.
Tradycyjny strój. jaki Gaddi noszą po dziell dzisiejszy, pozwala na ich łatwą
identył1kację. Mężczyźni wkładają bawełnianą koszulę (kurIa), na którą narzucają luźny plaszcz (cho/a) sięgający poniżej kolan, wykonany z wełnianego
samodzialu.
Luźnc. do kolan, wełniane spodnie (slItthan), w dolnej części
ciasno opasują łydki i kostki. Lecz Gaddi, szczególnie poza okresem zimowym,
wolą chodzić bez spodni. Wówczas ich nogi są osłonięte przez stosunkowo
długie poly płaszcza cho/a. Charakterystyczny
jest sposób wkładania
tego
okrycia wierzchniego.
Płaszcz posiada szeroki kołnierz przechodzący
w duże
klapy. Przewiązywany
jcst w pasie długą liną (dora) z owczej wełny, w taki
sposób, aby na wysokości klatki piersiowej było dużo wolnej przestrzeni między ciałem a klapami płaszcza. Wolne miejsce wykorzystywane
jest przez
pasterzy do noszenia naczyń, pożywienia,
a także dzieci i nowo narodzonych
jagniąt (Shashi, 1977, s. 157).
Najważniejszym
elementem
ubioru Gaddich jest wspomniana
dora (lina
z owczej wełny). Jest ona noszona zarówno przez mężczyzn,
kobiety, jak
i dzicci. Zwoje tej mocno splecionej liny podtrzymują
płaszcz chola na wysokości pasa. Imponująca jest jej długość, różna w zależności od płci i wieku jej
właściciela.
Dora dorosłego mężczyzny może osiągać długość do około 60
metrów. Noszona przez kobiety dochodzi do 50 metrów, natomiast
dzieci
opasują się liną o długości od 10 do 25 metrów (Balokhra,
1995, s. 29). Łatwo
sobie wyobrazić
wielkość tego wełnianego
"pasa", który u mężczyzn waży
około 2 do 2,5 kilograma. Dora jest wykorzystywana
w wielu sytuacjach.
Z jej pomocą przenosi się ładunki i bagaże, w razie potrzeby służy do związania kilku sztuk owiec i kózl'), zatyka się za nią niezbędne podczas podróży
przedmioty (np. sierp, fajkę wodną, zapałki, pieniądze
itp.), w czasie wypol" Gdy podczas
soono\\ ych przepo;dów stad pasterze nic mają do dyspozycji koszarów
ahy zapo;d/.ić z\\'icrzo;ta na noc. kozy i owce wiązanc sq razem za pomocą liny. Taka konieczność
powstaje także w trakcie wo;dró\\ki po niehezpiecznyeh stokach górskich.

�260

GOTRA

- obejmuje rody należące
do jednej kasty

(FRATRIA)

SHARI KI

~SHARIKI
(RÓD)
obejmujqcy członków lineaży
określonej kasty zjednej osady

(RÓD)

Khandan

Khandan

(LINEAŻ)

(LlNEAŻ)

Khind

Khind

/\

Tol

Tol

To)

Tol
Tol

°

00

i
O

Tol

00

Rodziny nuklearne

Rodziny rozszerzone
Ryc. I. Struktura

~

.~OOO

grup pokrcwicIlslwa

picmienia

(iaudi

�261
czynku jest używana jako poduszka. Dora ma także znaczenie religijne. Gaddi
wierzą, że jest ona symbolem Sziwy (Shiva-ri Seli) i nosząc ją w imię boga
zapewniają sobie zdrowie oraz łaskę pozostałych bóstw (Shashi, 1977, s. 158).
Kobiety noszą rodzaj bawełnianej
sukmany (Iua/1chari) szytej na wzór męskiej cho/a, z tą różnicą, że sięga do kostek. Jako okrycie wierzchnie
przywdziewają weln iany płaszcz cho/a i przewiązują
go wełan ianą Iiną (dora).
Żellskim nakryciem glowy jest chach'u (lub chadaru) będący luźno narzuconym, długim na 2 metry pasem bawełnianej tkaniny (Balokhra, 1995, s. 29).
Tradycyjne obuwie Gaddich było wykonywane
w całości ze skóry owczej
(ju/a), bądź skórzana podeszwa łączona była z wierzchem uplecionym z koziej
sierści (jare/u\"). Drugi typ obuwia noszony był zazwyczaj w czasie wędrówek
po ośnieżonych
zboczach (Shashi, 1977, s. 159). Obecnie skórzane, gumowe
i plastikowe buty sprowadzane z nizin wypierają wzory tradycyjne.

Pasterstwo w kulturze Gaddich
Ze względu na brak źródeł historycznych
trudno dokładnie
podać okres,
od którego pasterstwo
stało się domeną Gaddich oraz jaki to miało wpływ
na tryb ich życia. Można jedynie przypuszczać,
iż w czasach rządów radżów
oraz w okrcsie angielskiego
kolonializmu
system kastowy regulował
życie
społeczne w większej micrze niż obecnie. Niegdyś Bramini i Radżputowie
najmowal i do wypasu swoich stad pasterzy z n iższych kast "czystych"
i kast
służących. Obccnie wypasem zwierząt zajmują się członkowie wszystkich kast,
lecz coraz większe utrudnienia,
z jakimi spotykają się pasterze podczas sezonowych wędrówek sprawiają,
iż muszą się najmować do niskopłatnych
prac
organ izowanych przez stanową adm in istrację.
Przed omówieniem
praw własności Gaddich warto wspomnieć o tradycyjnym systcmie opIat za dzierżawę ziemi nazywanym Bachh Dasri/. Wszystkie
pola i lasy księstwa (radżostwa) Brahmaur należały do radży. Rolnicy i pasterze
byli tylko jej użytkownikami.
Bachh Dasri/ nakładany był na wszystkich Gaddich bcz względu na to czy ich rodziny zamieszkiwały
teren Brahmaur od kilku
pokolell, czy też byli nowymi osadnikami.
Podatek pobierany był w postaci
zbol.a, ghcc, miodu, welny, przędzy oraz utkanego samodziału.
Zapłaty wełną
i przędzą wymagano nawet od rolników nie mających zwierząt (Bhasin, 1988,
s. 88). Sytuacja taka zmuszała
ich do prowadzenia
wymiany
barterowej
z pasterzami.
Rolnikom
regularnie
płacącym
Bachh Dasri/ radża nadawał
prawa dziedziczne do użytkowania ziemi o określonej powierzchni.
Takie same
prawa przyznawal
pasterzom,
którzy podejmowali
się wypasu stad władcy.
W dowód uznania
opiekunowie
zwierząt
otrzymywali
dziedziczne
prawo
wypasu na wybranym obszarze. W roku 189 ł, kiedy wysokość pobieranego
podatku została ustalona przez władze kolonialne,
Bachh DC/sri/ mogli także
pobierać drobni właścicicle ziemscy, którzy wcześniej uzyskali prawa od radży.

�262
Niedługo potem (źródła nie podają dokładnej daty) podatki tego rodzaju zostały
zniesione całkowicie (Bhasin, 1988, s. 89). Obecnie gospodarze zobowiązani są
do uiszczania opłat sezonowych,
ustalanych przez rząd stanowy.
Prawem własności Gaddich objęte są zagrody (budynki mieszkalne i gospodarcze), ziemia uprawna, zwierzęta hodowlane i pastwiska. W wypasie zwierząt
bierze udział tylko męska część rodzin/O.
Pozostałe osoby (najczęściej
osoby
starsze, kobiety i dzieci) pozostają w domostwach
zamieszkałych
przez wielką
rodzinę. Tradycyjnie
była to dwupiętrowa.
szeroko frontowa chata z wyżką~'
oraz małym podwórzem. Jako materiał budowlany wykorzystywano
drewniane
bale, z których stawiano konstrukcję
szkieletową
budynku wypełnianą kamieniami uszczelnianymi
gliną bądź mieszanką gliny, nawozu i słomy. 00 dzisiaj
można spotkać także chaty o kamiennej
konstrukcji
ścian uszczelnionych
na sposób podany powyżej. Pomieszczenia
\V parterowej
czyści domu służą
jako składy drewna opałowego oraz spełniają funkcję obór dla zwierząt. Izby
na dwóch piętrach są pomieszczeniami
mieszkalnymi.
Wyżki znajdujące
się
na pierwszym i drugim piętrze stanowią miejsce, w którym wykonuje si&lt;; większość prac domowych, ponieważ izby zazwyczaj nie mają okien. W przeszłości
teren zajęty pod budowę chaty należał do radży, lecz nie wi,vało się to z uiszczaniem
wysokich
podatków.
Władca pobierał symboliczną
opłatę roczną
o wał10ści jednej rupii. Obecnie właściciele domów zobowiązani
s'\ do zapłaty
podatku na poczet miejscowego pOJ7czayalu (Bhasin. 1988, s. 90).
Opłaty związane z użytkowaniem
ziemi i pastwisk w znacznej mierze zależą
od charakteru ich własności.
Z i e m i a u p r a w n a. Po uzyskaniu przez Indie niepodległości,
ziemia została rozdzielona między rolników według Księgi Nadania (Palla) pochodzącej
z okresu rządów książęcych.
Były w niej wyszczególnione
tereny uprawne,
nazwiska rodzin mających dziedziczne prawa, opłaty itp.n .
N i e u ż y t k i i P r z y I e g ł e d o w s i p a s t w i s k a (j li h ) . Ten typ
ziemi miał charakter
własności
wspólnotowej
mieszkailców
danej osady.
Nie był wymieniany w dowodzie nadania Palla, ale podlegał odrębnemu prawu
użytkowania
zwanenul
Bar/aJ/. Zgodnie
z jego regulami gospodarze
mogli
wypasać owce, kozy i bydło, ścinać na paszę trawę i liście pewnych gatunków
drzew, zbierać i obłamywać
suche drewno na opal, obcinać sosnowe lub cedrowe gałęzie z przeznaczeniem
na pochodnie, gromadzić suche i obalone pnie
20 Ubogie rodziny pasterzy. najmujących
sit; do wypasu cudzych stad. prowadZi\ koczowniczy
tryb życia przenosząc sil,: na sezonowe pastwiska wraz 7. calą rodziną i dobytkiem. Jednakże
stanowią bardzo małą grupt; IV społeczności Gaddich.
21 PrzykladO\\'c wymiary jednej z chat: dług. 10 m. SIeI'. 8 m. "ys. 6 Ill. Ohccnie sl,mia się
curaz większe budynki o nieco odmiennej konstrukcji.
22 Podczas badań nic mogkm ustalić aktualnych opiat za użytkowanie poszczególnych
typów
ziemi.

�263
drzew, ścinać drzewa podrzędnych
gatunków na uroczystości
ślubne i pogrzebowe. Po uzyskaniu pisemnej zgody z wyższych urzędów przysługiwała
dodatkowo pewna ilość drewna z przeznaczeniem
na cele budowlane.
Rolnikom
nie zezwalano ścinać zdrowych drzew nawet na obszarze ich ziemi uprawnej
(Bhasin, 1988, s. 89).
P o 1a n y (g h a I i). Wszystkie przyległe do wsi polany stanowiły własność wspólnoty wiejskiej. Każdemu należącemu
do niej gospodarzowi
przysługiwała część polany o określonej
powierzchni,
przyznawana
podczas spotkall wszystkich czlonków.
Poprzez otrzymanie
praw do użytkowania
części
wspólnotowego
terenu nabierał on charakteru własności prywatnej. Obszar ten
był źródłem produkcji siana, którego zapasy gromadzono
na okres zimowy jako
paszę dla zwierząt. Mimo tego, iż rolnicy otrzymywali
stałe prawo do parceli
ghali, za jej użytkowanie
nie płacili podatków. Przyległe do wsi polany były
i są nadal przez wladze lokalne traktowane jako nieużytki.
Z i e m i a k s i ą ż ę c a. W okolicach osad znajdowały się także tereny książęce (radży), które nie były objęte prawem własności tamtejszych
mieszkatlców. Ziemie tego rodzaju były wolne od jakichkolwiek
opłat i mogły być
użytkowane
przez wszystkich
mieszkatlców
księstwa Brahmaur.
Tradycyjnie
były to obszary pastwiskowe
(Bhasin,
1988, s. 90). Obecnie tereny książęce
są własnością
rządu stanowego,
który wydaje oficjalne
zezwolenia
na ich
użytkovvan ic.
T rak a r i K (/ f o h ar. Oprócz pastwisk znajdujących
się w pobl iżu osad,
zamożniejsi
gospodarze
posiadali tereny gospodarcze
i zagrody w znacznej
odległości od miejsca ich zamieszkania.
"Dodatkowe"
pola i budynki były
określane mianem kafohar. Obszar pastwiskowy okalający katohar nazywał się
frakar. Ze względu na znaczną odległość i niejednokrotnie
bardzo trudną drogę,
którą trzeba było przepędzać zwierzęta, na pastwiskach
larkar wypasano
wyłącznie stada owiec i kóz. Wiele rodzin Gaddich zamieszkujących
tehsil Brahmaur w dystrykcie Chamba do dzisiaj posiada pastwiska i pola uprawne znajdujące się w granicach dystryktu Kangra położonego około 1000 metrów niżej.
Dzięki temu latem mogą zbierać plony w Brahmaur, zimą natomiast uprawiać
pola kafohar (Bahadur, 1978, s. ł 6).
r a s t Vi i s k a \V y S o k o gór s k i e (d h ar). Pastwiska te wykorzystywane są wyłącznic w sczonie letnim do wypasu owiec i kóz. Wszystkie obszary
położonc w wysokich górach znajdują się pod kontrolą Wydziału Leśnictwa,
w którym (po oplacen iu podatku wypasowego)
można otrzymać pozwolenie
na sezonowy wypas zwierząt (Shashi,
1977. s. 115). Swobodne
korzystanie
z wyżej wymienionych
terenów uzależnione
było od opłacenia
stosownych
podatków, którc były nakładane na pasterzy zarówno w przeszłości, jak i dzisiaj. W latach 1863-1864 radża Sri Singh wprowadził
aukcyjny system przyznawania praw wypasu na określonych obszarach (Bhasin, 1988, s. 91). Pasterze Iicytowal i ccnl; za prawo do całorocznego
korzystania
z poszczególnych

�264
hal23. W pozwoleniu dokładnie wyznaczano trakty, którymi mogły być przepędzane stada zwierząt z miejsca zamieszkania
gospodarza na pastwisko. Dzięki
temu ograniczano
niekontrolowane
spasanie
obszarów
leśnych.
Według
V. Saberwala (1996, s. 7) wydzielone hale wraz z prowadzącymi
do nich traktami przeznaczone
były na wypas około 1000 - l 200 zwierząt. Lecz rzadko
się zdarzało, aby jeden właściciel
posiadał tak liczne stado. Rodzina miała
zwykle około 300 - 400 owiec i kóz. Dlatego, aby zrekompensować
sobie część
zapłaty za prawa wypasowe,
gospodarze
podnajmowali
nie wykorzystywane
partie pastwisk innym pasterzom (Saberwal,
1996, s. 8).
Pastwiska
były podzielone
na dwie kategorie: zimowe (han - położone
w niższych partiach księstwa) oraz letnie (dhar - pastwiska wysokogórskie).
Najbardziej
powszechnymi
formami wypasu były transhumancje:
zstępująca
i wahadłowa.
W związku z niewielką ilością pastwisk han na obszarze księstwa, pasterze częstokroć
wędrowali
na odległe tereny obecnie
położone
w granicach stanów Pendżab czy Uttar Pradesh. Od polowy XIX wieku gospodarka pasterska
Gaddich
była stopniowo
ograniczana
przez kolonizatorów
brytyjskich. Ze względu na wzrastające zapotrzebowanie
na drewno Brytyjczycy zdecydowali
się na wprowadzenie
szeregu obostrzeó dotyczących
użytkowania obszarów
leśnych. Aby ograniczyć
wypas zwierząt w lasach Wydział
Leśnictwa wymagał od Gaddich zapłaty trzech podatków w ciągu roku. Poza
tym, w trakcie sezonowych przepędów stad, pasterze byli zobowiązani do przebycia minimum pięciu kilometrów dziennie, aby nie doprowadzić
do spasania
terenów położonych
na ich szlaku. Oprócz powyższych
ograniczeó
Gaddi
nie zostali zwolnieni z opłat ustalonych
wcześniej przez radżę. Tym samym
pasterze
zostali zmuszeni
do respektowania
obu systemów
podatkowych.
Gospodarze
byli szczególnie
zniechęcani
do hodowli kóz, które ze względu
na mniejsze jakościowo
wymagania
paszowe mogły być wypasane w lasach
(Saberwal, 1996, s. 8).
Przechodząc przez granice poszczególnych
księstw (radżostw) pasterze winni byli płacić "podatek graniczny"
(rahdari). Niegdyś była to forma zapłaty
symbolicznej,
mającej
raczej status religijny
niż finansowe
zobowiązanie
wobec radży. Granice przekraczano
na wysoko położonych przełęczach.
Pasterze w dziękczynnym
geście za pomyślne przebycie niebezpiecznych,
górskich
szlaków składali bogom w ofierze kilka zwierząt. Zwyczaj ten praktykowany
jest do chwili obecnej na obszarach
wysokogórskich
(Bhasin,
1988, s. 92).
Po reformie administracyjnej
w 1971 roku, kiedy na mapie Indii Himachal
Pradesh zaistniał jako odrębny stan, rahdari jest opłacany przez pasterzy podc3 Stosuj.; l~rll1in używany pr7~Z górali podhalańskich,
wadzone.i przez pasterzy Gaddi hyły prawa do wypasu
nie zawsze położonych w lej samej dolinie.

poniewai.
na kilku

przedmiotem
pastwiskach

licytacji projednoczcśnie.

�265
czas przekraczania jego granic. W roku J 997 pobierany przez Wydział Leśnictwa podatek wynosił 50 pajs(/~ zajedno zwierzę na cały sezon.
Zwierzęta hodowane w wiejskich zagrodach (najczęściej krowy, byki, konie,
osły i muły), których nie łączono ze stadami owiec i kóz pędzonych na sezonowe pastwiska, nazywane były terminem ghareri. Ich właściciel musiał płacić
dodatkowy podatek przedstawicielowi radży (Bhasin, 1988, s. 91). Dzisiaj
opłata za ghareri włączona jest w stały podatek za ziemię, na której wybudowana została chata i budynki gospodarcze.
Podstawową jednostką produkcyjną u Gaddich jest rodzina rozszerzona25.
Nie ma w nich wyraźnie zarysowanego podziału prac domowych i gospodarczych w zależności od płci i wieku. Członkowie rodziny pomagają sobie nawzajem w codziennych czynnościach. Można jednak wyodrębnić pewne grupy
zajęć, zwykle wykonywanych przez poszczególne osoby. Mężczyźni zajmują
się zazwyczaj wypasem stad owiec i kóz, przędzeniem wełny, tkaniem, wyplataniem lin i narzut z koziej sierści oraz pracami polowymi (siew, orka, bronowanie, zbiory plonów itp.), gdy nie uczestniczą w wypasie sezonowym. Kobiety, które biorą udział w przepędach stad, pomagają w pilnowaniu zwierząt
oraz przygotowują posiłki. Pozostając w domostwie wykonują większość prac
w obejściu gospodarskim, gotują pożywienie, opiekują się bydłem oraz pomagają w pracach polowych. W zajęciach domowych i lżejszych czynnościach
przy uprawie pól kobietom towarzyszą dzieci. Osoby starsze podejmują się
obróbki owczego runa i koziej sierści oraz asystują na roli, a także wykonują
codzienne zajęcia domowe (posiłki, drobne naprawy itp.).
Większość rodzin Gaddich posiada choćby małe stado owiec i kóz. Według
V. Bhasin (1988, s. 157) w przeszłości pasterstwo było ich tradycyjnym zajęciem, a wielkość stad świadczyła o statusie majątkowym właściciela. Stada
owiec i kóz do dzisiaj określa się terminem dhan, który w języku pahari oznacza "bogactwo" (Shashi, 1977, s. 115).
Niemal każdy mężczyzna z plemienia Gaddi doświadcza w ciągu swego życia pracy przy wypasie zwierząt. Liczba pasterzy opiekujących się zwierzętami
zależy od wielkości stada. Okolo 400 do I 500 owiec i kóz tworzy stado nazywane khandah (Shashi, 1977, s. 114). Na podstawie wywiadów przeprowadzonych podczas badar'] ,.Toward Asia" można stwierdzić, iż pięcioosobowa grupa
pasterzy wystarcza do opieki nad stadem obejmującym około 500 sztuk zwie-

e4 Podstawow,! j.:dnostka mont:tanH\ w Indiach jt:st rupia indyjska (1 rupia = 100 pajsa).
Wczcśniej rupia dzieliła si~ na 16 anna. Prza długi czas po uzyskaniu przez Indie niepodległości
na targowiskach pol!allano c.::ny wannach. Iccz współcześnie monety o tym nominale nie funkcjonuj,) \\ obiegu picni~;f.nym.
e; Pomimo proc.:ntollcj prz.:wagi rodzin nuklearnych (patr/. ..Organizacja społeczna"). wiele
ząi~ć gospol!arClych lIykony\\'anych jest w ramach rodzin rozszerzonych (tof).

�266
rząt. W zachowaniu bezpieczel1stwa takiej liczby owiec i kóz pomaga około
5 do 8 psów pasterskich. Jednakże powyższe proporcje (l pasterz + I pies / 100
sztuk zwierząt) nie stanowią reguły w przypadku stad większych. Przykładowo,
I 200 owiec i kóz jest zazwyczaj pilnowane przez 7 lub 8 pasterzy i 8 do 1a
psów.
Właściciele około 20 do 100 sztuk owiec i k.óz zazwyczaj nie uczestniczą
w wypasie sezonowym. Powierzają wówczas zwierzęta posiadaczom dużych
stad (około 150 do 300 sztuk). Są to najczęściej zaufane osoby należące do tego
samego lineażu (Shashi, 1977, s. 159). W przypadku, gdy z kręgu rodziny
rozszerzonej, posiadającej duże stado (khandah), nie można zebrać odpowiednio licznej grupy pasterzy, najmuje się dodatkowych pomocników zwanych
puhal (wynajęty pasterz). Często stosowaną praktyką jest także łączenie małych
stad kilku rodzin w większe (około 400 do 500 sztuk). Daje to możliwość
stworzenia grupy pasterzy, w której skład wchodzą sami właściciele zwierząt.
Rozwiązanie takie, szczególnie w okresie letniego nasilenia zajęć rolnych,
pozwala pozostałym w gospodarstwie mężczyznom na prace przy zbiorach
plonów oraz przygotowaniu pól pod kolejne uprawy.
Gospodarka wypasowa Gaddich opiera się głównie o owce rasy Gaddi oraz
kozy rasy Gaddi26. Liczba zwierząt przez nich hodowana obejmuje 41,9%
owiec i 63,3% pogłowia kóz z obszaru pasa plemiennego (patrz tab. 2). Do tej
pory nie przeprowadzono dokładnych badal1 naukowych nad wydajnością obu
ras. Natomiast dane uzyskiwane od hodowców różnią się do tego stopnia,
że nie sposób opisać walorów hodowlanych tych zwierząt.
Tabela 2. Pogłowie O\\'iec i kóz na obszarze plemiennym Ciaddich
. zWIerząt
.
W sezonowo wypasanyc ł1 stat Ił'
ac l
oraz roporc.le
Proporcje owiec i
Pogłowie
Pogłowie na obszaPogłowie na obszakóz w wypasanych
rze pasa plemienrze zamieszkałym
w stanie
neQo
przez Gaddich
stadach [%J
Himachal

Owce

1 090328

183583

76963

49,0

Kozy

1 058868

98484

61 402

50,027

'Na podstawIe danych z pracy R. Slllgh'a (1992).

26 Termin Gaddi określający
rast,: owiec i kóz jest tradycyjm\ nazwą zwierząt wypasanych
przez pasterzy Gaddi. Obecnie w publikacjach naukowych autorzy starają siC;zamienić nazwc; kóz
Gaddi na nieprecyzyjny termin koza himalajska (Negi. 1988. s. 24).
27 Mimo tego. że pogłowie kóz na obszarzc plemiennym Gaddich jest niższe od owczego. stanowią one okolo p%wę wypasanych sezonowo stad. Powodem jest większa odporność kóz
na trudne warunki otoczenia. Kozy mogą rodzić mlode nawet \\ trakcie przcpc;du siad. Dlatego
przez ealy rok mogą uczestniczyć w wypasie. podczas gdy owce na okres porodu i odchowania
jagniąt pozostają w zagrodach gospodarskich.

�267
Roczny cykl pasterski oraz rozkład prac polowych Gaddi uzależniają od warunków klimatycznych
w poszczególnych
sezonach. Zimowe opady śniegu oraz
niskie temperatury zmuszają pasterzy do prowadzenia
transhumancyjnej
formy
wypasu. Umożliwia to zwierzętom ciągły dostęp do świeżej paszy.
Całoroczny rozkład zajęć pasterzy można podzielić na sześć omówionych
poniżej okresów.
p o ł o w a p a ź d z i e r n i k a d o k o J1c a I i s t o p a d a (początek zimy)
Początek m igracj i stad na obszary
pastwiskowe
położone
w dolinach
(transhumancja
zstępująca).
Jeżeli ro~
"'
dzina posiada ziemie uprawne i pa~
stwiska po południowej
stronieł3llcucha Dhauladhar
(w dolinie Kangra)
zwierzęta przegania się na pola. Przez kilkanaście dni wypasane są na pastwiskach i koszarowane
w nocy na obszarze pól. Jest to często spotykana forma
naturalnego nawożenia terenów uprawnych.
Przełom
listopad/grudzieJ1
do kOl1ca
lutego
(sezon zimowy)
Stada przepędzane
są na pastwiska
położone na obszarze niskich łal1cuchów górskich
(Shiwalik,
Shimla).
Właściciel
stada musi dysponować
otrzymanym
z Wydziału
Leśn ictwa
pozwoleniem
na wypas
sezonowy.
Zwierzęta pozostają tu przez okres około 3 miesięcy. Na przełomie
łutego
i marca rozpoczyna się wędrówka powrotna do Brahmaur.
Początek
marca
do połowy
kwietnia
(okres wiosenny)
Pasterze docierają
do pól położonych po południowej
stronie Dhauladhar. Podobnie jak w czasie zimowego
przepędu
zwierząt
pozostają
przez
Kangra
okolo 2 tygodnie, nawożąc pola świeżo
zaorane po zbiorach. W marcu dokonuje się strzyżenia owiec i kóz.

. ...

Przełom
kwieciel1
/ maj
do połowy
czerwca
(sezon letni)
Stada powracają
do stałych osad właściciel i. Zwierzęta
są wypasane
na przyległych do wsi pastwiskach
(wypas dzienny). W nocy koszarowane
są
na polach uprawnych
(nawożenie).
W ciągu dnia owce i kozy prowadzi
się na położone w górach pastwiska,
lecz znajdujące
się na tyle blisko,
aby na noc zwierzęta
powróciły

�268
lipca odbywa się drugie w roku strzyżenie
do osady. Na przełomie czerwca
owiec i kóz.
Przełom
czerwiec/lipiec
do pierwszych
dni września
(lato)
Pasterze przepędzają stada owiec
i kóz na pastwiska wysokogórskie dhar
(transhumancja
wstępująca).
Zwierzęta wypasane są na obszarze
dystryktu Lahaul i Sp iti (Dorje, 1974,
s. I) oraz w wyższych partiach dystryktu Chamba.
P o ł o w a w r z e ś n i a d o p o ł o w y p a ź d z i e r n i k a (sezon jesienny)
Powrót pasterzy i zwierząt z pastwisk dhar do stałych osad właścicieli.
Przez okres około miesiąca owce i
kozy wypasane są na pastwiskach
przyległych do wsi. W tym okresie
mężczyźni, pozostający przez większą
część roku poza gospodarstwem, pomagają w pracach polowych (nawożenie pól przez zwierzęta, orka i przygotowania pod siew jęczmienia) i gromadzeniu zimowych zapasów siana28 z okolicznych polan (ghali). Pod koniec
września odbywa się trzecie strzyżenie owiec i kóz. W połowie października,
wraz z pierwszymi opadami deszczu i śniegu, pasterze ponownie rozpoczynają
cały roczny cykl transhumancją zstępującą.
W rzeczywistości stada odbywają wędrówki, które można zakwalifikować
jako transhumancję wahadłową. Przez cały rok wypasane są poza miejscem
zamieszkania właścicieli. Podczas wędrówki z pastwisk zimowych (pogórze
himalajskie) na letnie - wysokogórskie (i z powrotem) zwierzęta zatrzymują się
tylko na krótki okres czasu w osadzie, gdzie wykorzystywane są do nawożenia
pól.
Główne miejsca będące celem wędrówek pasterzy oraz prowadzące do nich
szlaki zostały oznaczone na rycinie 2. Większość Gaddich posiadających duże
stada zwierząt wykupuje prawa wypasowe do terenów położonych w granicach
stanu Himachal Pradesh. Wraz z wynajętymi pasterzami prowadzą owce i kozy
na tereny wypasowe w dystryktach Una, Bilaspur, Sirmaur (w Himachal Pradesh) oraz Gurdaspur (Pendżab) i Dehra Dun (Uttar Pradesh) (Singh, 1992,
s. 105). Dotarcie do najdalej położonych pastwisk w stanie Uttar Pradesh
zajmuje pasterzom około 4-5 tygodni. Dziennie mogą pokonać odcinek około
28 Zapasy siana gromadzone na okres zimowy wykorzystywane
są do karmienia krów pozostąjących w zagrodzie przez cały rok oraz owiec (maciorek), które po narodzinach jagniąt
nic uczestniczą w sezonowym wypasie.

�269

Uttar
Pradesh
Legenda:
_ •._ •._._._.
------

Granice państwowe
Granice stanowe
Granice dystryktów

, ..~~. Obszar "plemienny"
~

SKALA

o

20
!

"

20

40 km

• I

Szlaki sezonowych wędrówek Gaddich

Ryc. 2. Szlaki sczonowych przcp&lt;;:dów stad owicc i kóz nąjczęściej wykorzystywane
pastcrzy z plemicnia Gaddi (map&lt;;:opracowano na podstawie Singh. 1992. s. 106)

przez

12-17 kilometrów w zależności od ukształtowania terenu, po którym się poruszają. Przebycie takiego dystansu trwa niemal cały dziell. Co trzy, cztery dni
pasterze zatrzymują się na całodzienny odpoczynek lub pokonują znacznie
krótszą drogę (do 5 kilometrów). Obecnie Gaddi napotykają na coraz większe
trudności związane z uzyskaniem pozwolenia na wypas poza granicami stanu.
Dodatkowym utrudnieniem jest konieczność opłacenia podatku granicznego,
który zwiększa koszty wypasu.

�270
Właściciele
mniejszych
stad w okresie
zimowym
prowadzą
zwierzęta
na niedaleko
położone
pastwiska
w niższych
partiach dystryktów
Chamba
i Kangra.
Zwierzęta pasą się dziennie około 7 do 8 godzin. Trasy wypasu dziennego
oraz szlaki migracyjne muszą być planowane w taki sposób aby przynajmniej
dwukrotnie w ciągu dnia stado mogło być pojone. Podczas pobytu na pastwiskach zimowych pasterze powinni zapewnić zwierzętom dost9P do soli, która
uzupełnia w ich organizmie braki jodu, mikroelementów
oraz soli mineralnych
(Singh, )992, s. 107). Sól podawana jest zwierzętom
w postaci dużych brył
nabywanych na lokalnych targowiskach.
Aby utrzymać zwierzęta w lepszej kondycji, ogranicza się im dostęp do wodopoju przez 2-3 dni po podaniu soli. Pasterze twierdzą, iż owce i kozy jedzą
wówczas więcej zielonej paszy i ziół, co poprawia ich zdrowie. Na pastwiskach
wysokogórskich
zwierzęta często wylizują skały zawierające sól kamienną oraz
wapno. Dodatkowa porcja soli jest im podawana raz w tygodniu (Singh, 1992,
s. 108).
Pasterze (puhal) wynajęci
do pomocy w wypasie zwierząt są opłacani
w różny sposób. Tradycyjnie,
za sezon wypasowy
właściciel
zapewniał
im
darmowe wyżywienie
(ok. l kg kukurydzy na dziel1, sól i warzywa), owcze
i kozie mleko w dowolnej ilości, odzież (para obuwia, plaszcz - dmla , wełniany koc), dwie owce lub kozy na każde sto sztuk znajdujące
się pod opieką
puhala, wynagrodzenie
pieniężne w wysokości 4 rupii indyjskich miesięcznie
(Bhasin,
) 988, s. 162). Obecnie wynajmowani
pasterze rezygnują z wielu
powyższych
świadczet1.
Preferują
zapłatę w postaci zwierząt
i pieniędzy.
Po około 3-4 latach stają się posiadaczami
niewielkiego
własnego stada2'!, które
mogą wypasać razem ze zwierzętami
obcymi. Tym samym nabywają praktyki
i podnosi się ich status w zawodzie, ponieważ zostają mahlundi (przywódcą
grupy pasterzy, bacą) i mogą samodzielnie
organizować
wypas zwierząt powierzonych im przez kilka rodzin.
Produkty pasterskie, takie jak wełna, kozia sierść, mleko kozic, baranina,
koźlina, skóry i nawóz, Gaddi wykorzystują
na własne potrzeby oraz do sprzedaży na lokalnych rynkach. W warunkach górskich jednym z bardziej istotnych
produktów w życiu górali jest owcza wełna. W przeszłości Gaddi wykonywali
z niej odzież dla całej rodziny oraz różnego rodzaju koce i narzuty. Współcześnie wełna służy jako podstawowy
surowiec do tkania materiału, z którego
szyte są płaszcze - chola i koce. Runo ciemnego koloru (brązowe, czarne)

29 Na przykład. jeżeli co roku pasterz otrzymuje IV ramach I.aplaty dwie s/luki owiec łub kóz.
to po 6 latach przy małej śmiertelności młodych może mieć około 120 zwierz'lt (n)fpoczynając
od stanu zerowego).

�271
wykorzystywanc jest przez Gaddich do wyplatania liny - dora wcześniej opisanego elemcntu ubioru.
Wełna pozyskiwana jest w trakcie strzyży dokonywanej trzy razy w roku
(marzec, czerwiec, wrzesiellio. Do dzisiaj strzyżenie odbywa się za pomocą
ręcznych no:i.yc zwanych kat. Do tej czynności zatrudniani są zazwyczaj górale
z kasty Sipi. Otrzymują zaplatę w wysokości do 2,5 kilograma surowego runa
za ostrzyżenie 25 owiec. Wprawny pracownik w ciągu jednego dnia może
ostrzyc około 80 do 85 owiec (Bhasin, 1988, s. 163).
Welna jcst następnie myta (często stosowaną praktyką jest mycie wełny
przed strzyżą) i rozczesywana za pomocą grępli ręcznych. Przędzenie jest
czynnością wykonywaną zarówno przez mężczyzn, jak i kobiety. Częstym
widokiem jest grupka rozmawiających ze sobą górali, którzy nieprzerwanie
wysnuwają cienką nić z kądzieli noszonej za połami płaszcza cha/a. Wykonywane jest to na dwa sposoby. Kobiety używają kołowrotka z napędem ręcznym
(charkha), mężczyźni zaś wrzeciona (takli). Użycie wrzeciona daje możliwość
nieprzerwanego wykonywania pracy podczas wędrówki ze stadem czy w chwilach odpoczynku. W razie potrzeby cienka przędza powtórnie jest skręcana
na wrzecionie w nić podwójną.
Tkanina wełniana jest wykonywana przy pomocy krosien poziomych. Tkaniem zajmują siy głównie mężczyźni, choć kobiety także uznaje się za dobre
wykonawczynie tego rzemiosła. Praktycznie w każdym domostwie jest przynajmniej jeden warsztat tkacki. Tkanie jest uważane przez Gaddich za rzemiosło związane ze sferą sacrul11 (Shashi, 1977, s. 117). Dlatego w całym plemieniu jest tylko kilka rodzin znanych z wyrobów wysokiej jakości.
Rodziny posiadające dużą liczbę owiec otrzymują rocznie wystarczającą
ilość wełny, aby znaczną jej część sprzedać w postaci runa lub gotowych wyrobów. Dla przykładu: właściciel posiadający stado około 200 owiec pozyskuje
w ciągu raku okolo 90 kilogramów runa (Singh, 1992, s. ł 83). Po przerobieniu
całości na tkaniny11 jej wartość wynosi około ł 5 rupii za metr (półmetrowej
szerokości). Sprzedaży produktów wełnianych dokonuje się podczas grudniowego i kwietniowego pobytu na pastwiskach położonych po południowej
stronie gór Dhauladhar w dolinie Kangra (Bhasin, 1988, s. 168).
Kozia sierść wykorzystywana jest przez właścicieli zwierząt do wyplatania
lin oraz grubo plecionych narzut i toreb. Tradycyjnie wykonywano z niej
wierzchy obuwia (jare/w'), lecz obecnie umiejętność ta zanika. Aby pozyskać
długą,latwiejszą
w obróbce sierść, kozy są strzyżone co trzy lata. Po tym
okresie, od jednego zwierzęcia można pozyskać do około 0,5 kilograma surowOd jednej owcy rasy Gaddi średnio otrzymuje się w marcu ok. 150 g. w czerwcu ok. 350 g,
wc wrześniu ok. 50() g runa (Bhasin. 1988. s. 163).
-'I Na wykollanić l1lćlra tkaniny welnianej pulrzeba okolo pól kilograma przydzy.
3(1

�272
ca (Singh, 1992, s. 199). Sierść skręcana jest ręcznie w mocną i grubą nić.
Ciasno zwinięta w kłębki jest odkładana na okres około dwóch miesięcy,
w którym to czasie przyjmuje nadany kształt i dzięki temu nie rozkręca się
w trakcie wyplatania. Produkty z niej wykonane oraz nadwyżki sierści nieobrobiOllej wraz z tkaninami wełnianymi są sprzedawane na targowiskach. Podczas
badal1 terenowych w roku 1997 cena surowej sierści na targowiskach wynosiła
około 30 rupii za kilogram.
Owcze i kozie skóry rzadko są sprzedawane na lokalnych rynkach. Jeżeli
gospodarz posiada jakiekolwiek nadwyżki, zazwyczaj wymienia je na inne
towary (do chwili obecnej są obiektem wymiany barterowej). Jest to związane
z niewielką ich produkcją i dużym zapotrzebowaniem w gospodarstwie domowym. Skóry owcze wykorzystuje się na przykrycia posłal1, siedziska oraz jako
okrycie wierzchnie w sezonie zimowym. Skóry kozie z okrywą włosową także
są używane jako element odzieży, natom iast wygarbowane i wysuszone
na słońcu są stosowane do przechowywania zbóż i pożywienia.
Gaddi nie opierają swojej diety na produktach zwierzęcych. Większość
ich posiłków składa się z ryżu, roślin strączkowych, warzyw oraz chapali
(rodzaj chleba wypiekanego w postaci cienkich placków z mąki pszennej
wymieszanej z ryżową lub kukurydzianą).
Mleko służy głównie jako dodatek do herbaty, wypijanej w dużych ilościach. Pozyskuje się je od krów hodowanych w przydomowych zagrodach.
Dojenie owiec i kóz praktykowane jest (w ograniczonej formie'") jedynie przez
pasterzy, którzy bardzo często piją mleko (szczególnie kozic) zamiast herbaty.
Spożywa się je w postaci świeżej. Nie gromadzi się jego zapasów w celu przerobu na inne produkty spożywcze. N ie jest także sprzedawane na targowiskach.
Mięso nie stanowi częstego posiłku Gaddich. Górale nie praktykują uboju
owiec i kóz wyłącznie w celu pozyskania mięsa. Zwierzęta, które zginą podczas
wypadków na sezonowych pastwiskach spożywane są przez pasterzy. Okazyjnie, właściciele stad przeznaczają kilka sztuk na ofiary skladane podczas obrzędów religijnych. Wówczas mięso ofiarowanych zwierząt dzielone jest między
wszystkich uczestników ceremonii.
Gaddi w znacznym stopniu zasilają rynek mięsny w stanic Himachal Pradesh. Dzieje się to za sprawą pośredników, którzy skupują od pasterzy zwierzęta
i sprzedają miejscowym rzeźnikom. Trudno ocenić. jak duży jest przyrost liczbowy stada w ciągu roku, ponieważ zależy to od warunków panujących
w danym sezonie. Szacunkowo można przyjąć, że właściciel 200 owiec i 200
kóz sprzedaje co roku około 20 owiec i 35 kóz, przy zachowaniu wyjściowej
wielkości stada (Bhasin, 1988, s. 163).

32

Pasterze doją tylko tyle mleka. ile sami mogą spożyć.

�273
Ostatnim produktem
zwierzęcym,
na który należy zwroclc uwagę przy
omawian iu dróg dystrybucj i i konsumpcj i w społecznościach
pasterskich, jest
nawóz. Jak już wspomniałem
podczas omawiania rocznego cyklu życia pasterzy, CZysto stosuje się koszarowanie
zwierząt w ciągu nocy na polach uprawnych. W len sposób gospodarze oszczędzają wiele godzin pracy, które musieliby poświęcić na gromadzenie nawozu, jego transport oraz rozrzucenie na polu.
Podczas przepędu sIad na pastwiska letnie i zimowe pasterze często skracają
dystans kierując zwierzęta drogami przebiegającymi
przez prywatne tereny
uprawne. Oczywiście,
wcześniej trasa jest uzgadniana
z właścicielami
pól,
którzy pozwalają na ich przcjście pod warunkiem,
że zwierzęta przez krótki
czas (dwa, trzy dni) pozostaną na wyznaczonych
ziemiach w celu ich użyźnienIa.
Nawóz krowi jest wykorzystywany
tylko w gospodarstwie
domowym. Miesza się go z dodatkiem słomy, formuje w placki golu (wielkość i kształt gotu
zależą od rodzaju pieca w jakim mają być spalone) i suszy na SłOllcU. Wysuszone golu jest używane w kuchennym piecu codziennie podczas gotowania posiłków.

Pozagospodarcze

znaczenie zwierząt hodowlanych

Gaddi są w znacznej większości hinduistami.
Szczególną czcią darzą boga
Sziwę - Pana narodzin i zniszczenia.
Wiąże się to z przekonaniem
górali
o świętości krainy, którą zamieszkują.
Obszar Brahnaur traktowany jest przez
nich jako świyta góra Kailash. Pozostałe postaci z panteonu hinduistycznego
także pozostają w ogromnym poszanowaniu.
Na całym terenia pasa plemiennego
do dnia dzisiejszego
pozostało wiele
śvViątYll związanych z kultem Nagów (Naga = snskr. 'wąż'). Pochodzenie tego
kultu wciąż pełne jest nie wyjaśnionych
tajemnic. Ich historia przeplata się
z legendą i jest podawana w innej wersji przez mieszkańców
różnych osad.
Gaddi także są wierni tej tradycji i podczas świąt odprawiają modły w świątyni
lokalnie czczonego Naga. Na co dzier'l noszą przy sobie zatknięty za wełniany
,.pas" - dora rodzaj sierpaka nazywanego dat (lub dral). Symbolizuje on boga
Kailunga - ojca wszystkich Nagów (Bahadur, 1978, s. 108). Szczególnie pasterze prowadzący stada na pastwiska sezonowe wierzą w moc Nagów. Za "pasem" mają zatknięty zwykły sierp do ścinania paszy oraz dal noszony wyłącznie jako symbol Naga.
Podczas każdego obm;du rei igijnego Gaddi ofiarowują kozy lub owce. Płeć
zwierząt zależy od rangi święta lub rodzaju prośby kierowanej
do bogów.
Nie sposób wymienić wszystkich
świąt i sytuacji, kiedy składane są ofiary.
Dlatego ograniczę siy do podania kilku przykładów:
- owce i kozy ofiarowywane
są na przełęczach górskich, po pomyślnym ich
przebyciu,

�274
- aby uzyskać błogosławieJlstwo duchów skał (Jogini) pasterze poświęcają
im kozę,
- rolnicy oczekujący na pomyślne plony ofiarowują przed świątynią dorosłego kozła. Lecz podczas wyraźnego zahamowania wzrostu roślin darem
dla bogów jest koza.
Podczas wszystkich obrzędów rodzinnych (takich jak narodziny dziecka,
ślub, śmierć itp.) poświęcany jest dorosły kozioł. Zwierzę jest przygotowywane
do obrzędu przez cały dzień. Najpierw dokładnie jest myte oraz obsypywane
kwiatami i ryżem. Karmi się je trawą i wodą. Ofiary dokonuje mężczyzna
wybrany z rodziny lub wioski. Głowa kozła powinna spaść po jednokrotnym
cięciu dużym, obrzędowym nożem. Drganie ciała po ścięciu głowy uważane
jest za przyjęcie ofiary przez boga (Bahadur, 1978, s. l 10). W ceremoniach
tego rodzaju zazwyczaj uczestniczy bramin odmawiający i śpiewający mantry.
Po zakończeniu ofiarowania dostaje on skórę zwierzęcia, jego głowę i nogi.
Reszta dzielona jest pomiędzy wszystkich uczestników modłów. Jako zabezpieczenie przed złem, Gaddi noszą przy sobie amulet w postaci małego kawałka
skóry koziej.
Od czasu, kiedy Gaddi zaczęli hodować krowy, cztery razy w roku składają
ofiary bogu Gunga. Ofiarowuje się mu obrzędowe pieczywo i kozła (Bahadur,
1978, s. 109).
Wśród wielu tabu obowiązujących w systemie kastowym Gaddich znajdują
się też zakazy dotyczące krów. Nie zezwalają one na zabijanie krów, spożywanie wołowiny oraz używanie krowich skór (Shashi, 1977, s. 109). Naruszenie
któregoś z nich jest równoznaczne z popełnieniem wykroczenia przeciw tradycJI.
Zwierzęta i życie pasterzy są także tematem większości pieśni i podań ludowych. Opisywane w nich wątki miłosne, czy odległe krainy zwykle są przedstawiane na tle stad wypasanych na górskich polanach.
Trudności Gaddich związane z wypasem sezonowym
Niemal wszystkie społeczności "plemienne" stanu Himachal Pradesh, które
do dzisiaj kultywują tradycje pasterskie, napotykają na coraz większe trudności
ze strony administracji stanowej. Gaddi twierdzą, że przedstawiciele lokalnych
władz nie traktują ich poważnie. Ograniczony dostęp do osad położonych
w trudno dostępnych dolinach zachodniej części dystryktu Chamba nie sprzyja
nawiązywaniu i podtrzymywaniu kontaktów między urzędnikami i góralami.
Największym problemem dla właścicieli stad jest zdobycie pozwolenia
na wypas i przepędzanie zwierząt przez określone tereny. W poprzednim rozdziale wspomniałem o szeregu podatków, jakie Gaddi musieli płacić w przeszłości i jakie płacą do dzisiaj. Pozwolenia wypasowe wydawane są przez
lokalne przedstawicielstwa Wydziału Leśnictwa. Lecz nie wszyscy gospodarze

�275
mają równą szansę w otrzymaniu tego dokumentu. Zwykle otrzymują go pasterze, którzy od kilkunastu sezonów korzystają z tych samych pastwisk sezonowych. Właścicielom małych stad proponuje się oddanie zwierząt pod opiekę
gospodarzy, którzy pozwolenie już otrzymali. W ten sposób urzędnicy znacznie
upraszczają sobie pracę, ponieważ nie muszą opuszczać swoich miejsc pracy,
aby w odległych wioskach kontrolować rzeczywistą wielkość stada. Natomiast
"stali" petenci Wydziału Leśnego mogą liczyć na dodatkowy zarobek, który
zrekompensuje wszelkie opłaty administracyjne.
Bardzo często pastwiska, na które wydano pozwolenia, nie spełniają podstawowych kryteriów wydajności terenu wypasowego. Są to obszary ubogie
w roślinność (Singh, 1992, s. Ill). Zdarza się także, że miejscowa ludność
nie respektuje postanowień urzędowych i nie pozwala przybyłym pasterzom
na korzystanie z pastwisk przyległych do wsi. Rada wioskowa (panchayat)
wymaga uiszczenia dodatkowych opłat na rzecz osady. Poza tym utrudnia się
opiekunom zwierząt codzienne życie, poprzez podnoszenie cen podstawowych
produktów żywnościowych (mąka, warzywa, herbata). Wpływa to znacznie
na wielkość kosztów poniesionych podczas wypasu. Owce i kozy, które pasterze wymieniają w zamian za pożywienie lub oddają jako zapłatę za dodatkowe,
pal1chaya/owe pozwolenie, znacznie tracą na swej wartości.
Właściciele stad wypasający zwierzęta poza granicami stanu Himachal Pradesh o zezwolenia wypasowe muszą się starać w urzędach, którym dane pastwiska podlegają. Nie jest to łatwe, bowiem wydziały leśnictwa w każdym
stanie starają się ograniczyć dostęp obcych pasterzy do pastwisk, które są wykorzystywane przez miejscową ludność. Podczas sezonowego wypasu Gaddi
czę~to są kontrolowani przez miejscowe służby leśne, które nielegalnie pobierają od nich dodatkowe opłaty, a nawet wymuszają łapówki (Singh, 1992,
s. 111). Jak podaje R. Singh (1992, s. 112), podczas zimowego przepędu stad
w 1991 roku, na granicy stanów Himachal i Uttar Pradesh, zwierzęta przez
kilka dni były pozbawionc pożywienia, ponieważ zatrzymano je na posterunku
z powodu... nieobecności urzędnika. Pasterze byli zmuszeni do czekania
na powrót inkasenta, który zgodnie z przepisami pobrał od nich podatek graniczny. Jak widać, opieszałość pracowników administracji naraża opiekunów
zwierząt na duże straty.
N ie sposób omówić wszystkie problemy bytowe Gaddich, a jeszcze trudniej
znaleźć ich rozwiązanie. Kolejnym jest brak pomocy weterynaryjnej nad wypasanymi zwierzętami. W styczniu 1997 roku (podczas badań terenowych
"Toward Asia") lokalna prasa donosiła o szybko rozprzestrzeniającej się wśród
owiec i kóz tajemniczej chorobie, która powodowała masowy pomór zwierząt.
Relacje pochodziły z pastwisk w dystrykcie Sirmaur. Infekcja w ciągu czterech

�276
dni od wystąpienia
pierwszych
objawów
doprowadzała
bydło do śmierci.
Szacuje się, że pasterze stracili około 180 stad (!) w ciągu 1996 rokułł (Jerath,
1997). Pasterze przypuszczają,
że na obszarach
wypasowych
rozpylane są
trujące chemikalia. Mimo tego, iż o pierwszych symptomach choroby mówiono
już 6 lat temu, służby weterynaryjne
ze stanowego szczebla ministerstwa
rolnictwa nie poczyniły żadnych kroków w celu zbadania zjawiska i ograniczenia
śmiertelności
zwierząt. Cóż w takim razie mają robić pasterze, dla których
owce i kozy stanowią jedyne źródło utrzymania?
Tak to skomentował jeden
z czytelników
dziennika
"The Indian Express"
(Janardhan,
1997): "Kilka
ostatnich lat, aż po dzieJl dzisiejszy, wielu gaddich ("pasterzy" - P.H.) chodzi
z miejsca na miejsce w poszukiwaniu
rekompensaty
za szkody, które boleśnie
przeżyl i".
Przedstawiona
powyżej sytuacja Gaddich, a szczególnie tradycyjnie
uprawianego przez nich pasterstwa, nie pozwala na optymistyczne
myślenie o ich
przyszłości. Można mieć jedynie nadzieję, że restrykcje stosowane przez administrację
stanową zostaną częściowo
zniesione.
Działania
lokalnego rządu
powinny
się skupić
na reałizacji
programu
pomocy
społecznościom
"plemiennym",
które coraz częściej
są traktowane
jako "niecywilizowane
zabytki" jakiejś tam kultury z odległych gór. Ograniczenia
wypasu wprowadzane przez Wydział Leśnictwa mają rzekomo uchronić obszary leśne przed deforestacją, zwiększyć areał ziemi uprawnej, z której będą mogli korzystać rolnicy
nie posiadający własnych pól, oraz umożliwić wykonywanie
różnych przedsięwzięć administracyjnych
(Negi, 1988, s. 18). Tymczasem nie przeprowadzono
żadnych
rzetelnych
badaJl potwierdzających
zniszczenia
środowiska
przez
działalność
pasterską. Natomiast
ludziom, którzy od wielu pokoleJl wędrują
ze stadami, proponuje się pracę w labour camps (już sama nazwa wywołuje
nieprzyjemne
skojarzenia)
przy budowie górskich dróg. Warunki oferowane
przez pracodawców
(głównie stanowy zarząd dróg) są gorsze od tych (niecywilizowanych),
w jakich pasterze żyją podczas sezonowych
migracji ze zwierzętami (osobiście widziałem pracujących
przy budowie mostów i dróg Gaddich,
którzy nawet przy swoich blaszanych
barakach
pracowniczych
starają się
hodować kilka owiec i kóz). Jak widać, ich tradycje nadal są obecne w świadomości i ciężko jest im przestawić się na całkowicie odmienny slyl życia.

33 Nieslely. au lor nie podaje dokładni~jszych
danych liczhOlI)'ch. lecz z oSlrożnością przrimując. iż były to małe stada (do 40 sztuk. ch00 zazwyczaj S'l to stada o wielkości okolo 120-150
sztuk), można powiedzie0. iż wciąż nierozpoznana choroha pochlollyla jUl. ponad 7 tysi~cy owiec
i kóz.

�277
I3II3L10GRAFIA
Ahluwalia

M. S.
/lisIon' o(/limocltoll'radesh.
Intellectual Publishing House. New Delhi.
8ahadur K. 1'.
1978
Casle, hihes &amp; Cllllllre o( India, /Iwyano, /Iimachal Pradesh, Punjab. Jammu
&amp; Aosltlllir and Sikkilll. vol. 4. Ess Ess Publications, New Delhi.
l3alokhra J. M.
1995
nie II'ondl!rlond llilllachal Pradesh. Ncw Delhi.
I3hasin V.
/limalayon I:'cology, hanshllmance and Social Organisa/ion. Kamla-Raj Enterpri1988
scs. 1)Clhi.
Dorjc T.
1974
UllIIographic S//ldies on BllOds or ilho/s and SwclI1glas Tribes o/Lahalll and Spili
!Jis/ricl o(/lilllaclwl Pradesh. maszynopis.
Dowson J.
1968
('IlISsicol !Jiclionwy (i( llindll My/hology and Religion. Geography. His/ory .
. /nd !.i/em/llre, Routlcdgc &amp; Kcgan Paul Ltd" London.
Ilcrnnann '1.. Jurcwicz L Koc B. L Lugowski A.
1992
,Hall' sl0l1'l1ikkla.lyc::nej lIly/.1iindyjskiej. Semper, Warszawa.
Janardhan
1997
Saw 0111' sheep'. "The Indian Express", January 121h• s. 2.
Jerath S. P.
1997
/I-Il's/('/'iolls!Jisease Kills 18n Herds a/Goal, Sheep. "The Indian Express", January
1993

5th• s. 2.

Joshi T. R.

1989

:1 !Jiclionill:v of /he Pa har i [Jialec/s as .5J)()ken in Ihe Pllnjab Himalayas,
z 1911. Ilimachal Acadcmy or Arts Culture and Languagcs, Shimla.

reprint

I.il·estock !Jl!wlo{Jmenl in /liIIlachal Pmdesh,
Vidyalaya. Palamrur.

Vishva

Negi G. C.

1988
Sabawal

Himachal

Pradesh

Krishi

V.

1996

ibl' I'olilici::a/ioll of (jaddi Access /0 Gra::ing Resollrces in Kangra, Himachal
I'mdl!sh. 1960 lo 199-1... llimalayan Research 8ulletin" vol. 16, s. 7-11.

Shashi S. S.

1977
Singh R.
1992
Stasik D.
1994

ibl! (jaddi hihe o(/lilllachall'radesh.
I'rodlluioll and .\larke/in,!!
I'radl!sh). MiHal Publications.
JI(::ykhil/{Ii. Wydawnicl\\'O

Sterling Publishers

Pvl. Ltd., New Delhi.

Wool and Mul/on in India (i' S/lIdy of Himachal
New Delhi.

(i(

Akadcmickie

DIALOG.

Warszawa.

�278
Przemysław Hinca
PASTORAL TRADII'IONS AND THE PRESENT DA Y OF GADDI MOUNTAINEERS
FROM THE STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESII (INDIA)
(Summary)
The Gaddi are one of the tribes still inhabiting valleys between high mountains in Ilimachal
Pradesh state ofthe North India.
In the past times Gaddi have been semi-nomadic pastoral group. Their neighbours concerned
them as the best shepherds in West part of the Ilimalaya range. Local rulers very olien chose
Gaddi as herders ofthe rajah's goats and sheep /locks. Rajahs gave them rights lo graze specific
tracts and parIs of forest lands in the winler grazing grounds and summ.:r grazing grounds as well.
Over lime a series of regulations wen: imposed on the Gaddi by the British colonizas. Shepherds
were forced to pay many taxes (Ihree annual laxes lor the For.:st Department: cross-lax on the
borders ofrajah's counlies and frontiers ofslates - lixed by the British, and so on).
Today the Himachal Pradesh D.:partment for For.:st Farming and Cons.:rvalion wntinually
demands many kinds of payments Illr grazing permission. Moreover. herders have to lead their
animals by tixed routes (ofkn longer than traditional one). 1\ is no doubt. that state government
would like to stop Gaddi's seasonal migrations and to settle them il1to villages. For officials will
be easier to manage a settled communily. They are not inlerested in conservation of the culture
with long (over 1000 ycars) tradition. Fon:st Dept. is not providing any veterinary help for
Gaddi's !locks. During my ticldworks in 1997 I have heard and IlJund in local ne\\spapers terrible
information about unknown disease. which mass killed goats and sheep. Many shepherds lost
their flocks and only one source of means. But in opinilln of the state government it is not any
problem. Unemployed Gaddi can go to the "well-paid" work. 1\ means lo build mountains roads
and bridges. They will not get any fortune for a hard and dangerous \\ork. Conditions when: they
live, during "working season" are \\'orse than those in small. temporary shelters on pasture lands.
Even in such situation "road-workers" breeding a tell' goats or sheep tied ncar their transient
"houses" made oftin plates (gained from tins ofmustard oil).
II seems, not so easy to root out Ihe shepherds tradition from tl1\:ir souls. 13ul Ihe government
wilh patience will wait of ne);t generations of ""unemployed herders", \\hen all sheep and goats
will disappear from Himalayan slopes. I hope, that pride and importance of tradition (so typical of
pastorał cultures) will thrive in Gaddi's hearts till better times. Beller times \\ith a place for
people who will hold millenarian tradition in respect.
This article is based on lieldworks data galhered during Polish Ethnological Survey 'Toward
Asia" in 199611997 and reviews in many libraries of the Ilaryana, Ilil11aehal Pradesh and Uttar
Pradesh slates.
ham/a/ec} by P llinca

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        <description>The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.</description>
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                <text>Tradycyjna społeczność afrykańska a szkola/ LUD 2002 t.86</text>
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                <text>Systemy wychowawcze i edukacyjne w pluralistycznym społeczeństwie Kamerunu</text>
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                <text>Vorbrich, Ryszard</text>
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                <text>Polskie Towarzystwo Ludoznawcze</text>
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            <name>Format</name>
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      <elementSet elementSetId="4">
        <name>PDF Text</name>
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        <elementContainer>
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              <elementText elementTextId="115404">
                <text>Lud, t. 86, 2002

RYSZARD VORBRlCH
Instytut Etnologii i Antropologii Kulturowej
Uniwersytet im. A. Mickiewicza
Poznań

TRADYCYJNA SPOŁECZNOŚĆ AFRYKAŃSKA A SZKOŁA.
SYSTEMY WYCHOWAWCZE I EDUKACYJNE
W PLURALISTYCZNYM SPOŁECZEŃSTWIE KAMERUNUl

Każde społeczeństwo wypracowuje swoiste metody i procedury służące
podtrzymywaniu ciągłości w czasie. Służą temu nie tylko normy określające
reprodukcję biologiczną, lecz także podtrzymanie i reprodukcję własnej kultury. Tę ostatnią kategorię procedur, uczącąjednostkę uznanych za przydatne umiejętności oraz preferowanych społecznie zachowań, określamy w naszej kulturze jako system edukacji.
Niniejsze studium analizuje (i porównuje) trzy typy systemów edukacyjnych występujących w Afryce subsaharyjskiej: tradycyjny - plemiennysystem socjalizacji, szkolnictwo koraniczne oraz szkolnictwo formalne (publiczne) - oparte na wzorach zachodnich.
Materiału empirycznego dostarczy nam w tym wypadku Kamerun północny, będący regionem, w którym przecinają się i nakładają na siebie wpływy
rodzimych kultur Czarnej Afryki i wielkich cywilizacji uniwersalnych islamu i Zachodu. Żyje tu ponad 40 z 200 kameruńskich grup etnojęzykowych, zaliczanych do prawie wszystkich rodzin lingwistycznych kontynentu. Nic dziwnego zatem, iż na niewielkim stosunkowo terenie ogniskują się,
niczym w soczewce, problemy typowe dla współczesnej Afryki.
W wyniku złożonych procesów historycznych, w omawianym regionie
wykształcił się pluralistyczny, a właściwie mówiąc - wielonurtowy system
edukacyjny. Główne jego nurty tworzą wspomniane wyżej: tradycyjne wychowanie plemienne, szkolnictwo koraniczne oraz szkolnictwo formalne.
Każdy z tych trzech typów kultury wykształcił sobie właściwy model systemu socjalizacji i edukacji. Każdy z nich stawia sobie odrębne cele, stosuje
inne metody, posługuje się innymi językami, obejmuje społeczności o różnej
skali i charakterze.
I Artykuł prezentuje
wstępne wyniki projektu badawczego KBN (2 HOI H 024 22) "Społeczeństwo postplemienne w Afryce. Stare i nowe elity w Kamerunie a budowa społeczeństwa obywatelskiego". Wykorzystuje jednak także obserwacje poczynione w terenie (w Kamerunie) w latach 70. i 80., a zwłaszcza na przełomie wieków (1999-2001).

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Ograniczone ramy artykułu zmuszają mnie do skoncentrowania się w tym
miejscu jedynie na problemie odmienności celów i metod poszczególnych
modeli systemów edukacyjnych oraz na kwestii wzajemnych relacji różnych nurtów edukacji.
Najtrudniejszy do opisania i analizy pozostaje, ciągle jeszcze mało zbadany, plemienny
system
edukacj
i. Wymaga on stosowania odmiennych metod analizy i opisu, uwzględniających strukturę i charakter społeczności plemiennych2•
Społeczności plemienne są małe w swej skali, posługują się lokalnymi językami i nie posiadają pisma, przez co ograniczone są w przestrzennym
i czasowym zasięgu powiązań społecznych. Wykazują daleko posunięte poczucie etnocentryzmu oraz dużą ekonomikę konstrukcji struktur społecznych,
polegającą na znacznej koncentracji ról społecznych u tych samych osób lub
instytucji. Rolę wychowawczą i edukacyjną pełnią instytucje obarczone także innymi funkcjami (gospodarczymi, politycznymi, militarnymi itp.), takie
jak rodzina, ród, stowarzyszenia i grupy wieku.
W północnym Kamerunie nie spotyka się prawie, występującego w innych
regionach AfrykP, wielostopniowego systemu socjalizacji typowej dla społeczności o wykształconych stowarzyszeniach (klasach wieku) lub wyspecjalizowanych kadrach (kapłanach, griotach) chroniących ezoteryczne warstwy przekazu kulturowego. Plemienny system socjalizacji i wtajemniczania
rzadko przekracza tu zatem obszar społeczności lokalnej. Dokonuje się on
w ograniczonym przestrzennie i kulturowo środowisku rodzinnym i rodowym.
Podstawową metodą wychowania plemiennego jest naśladownictwo (np.
poprzez zabawę) lub uczestnictwo (poprzez pracę) w życiu wspólnoty. Dzieci uczą się w ten sposób sposobów komunikowania oraz podejmowania działań i przyjmowania ról przypisanych zwyczajowo jednostce, z racji jej przynależności do grupy płci i wieku.
Obserwując życie wioski kameruńskiej (i szerzej ujmując - afrykańskiej),
łatwo można zauważyć, jak dziewczynki towarzyszą swym matkom podczas
wykonywania przez nie codziennych czynności gospodarczych, w miarę dorastania pomagają im w przynoszeniu wody, gotowaniu pożywienia i opiece
nad młodszym rodzeństwem (z czasem nawet wyręczając matkę w wielu pracach). W ten sposób czerpią one wzory postaw i zachowań przypisanych
w danej kulturze kobiecie-matce.
Tak samo chłopcy, pomagając ojcu przy
2 O specyfice badań nad tradycyjnymi
i nowoczesnymi systemami edukacyjnymi szerzej pisze
J.-Y. Martin (1972). Zob. też Z. Komorowski (1973).
) Jednym z najbardziej rozbudowanych systemów edukacyjnych mogą pochwalić się malijscy
Dogonowie. Oprócz "podstawowego" (obowiązkowego dla wszystkich mężczyzn) zakresu norm
i wiedzy, jednostki pragnące pogłębiać swą wiedzę o bardziej złożone (i trudne do przyswojenia)
treści i wątki kulturowe mogą to uczynić, przechodząc przez cztery poziomy wtajemniczenia (Griau),
1948).

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budowie domu, towarzysząc mu na polowaniach, nabywają wniejętności przydatnych w dorosłym życiu, w pełnieniu roli ojca rodziny.
Wbrew przyjętym wśród niektórych (europejskich) pedagogów4 opiniom,
afrykańskim systemom edukacyjnym nie brak instrumentów i procedur bardziej wyrafinowanych, zmierzających do przekazania dziecku wartości etycznych, rozbudowanych treści mitycznych lub umiejętności kojarzenia, abstrakcyjnego myślenia i precyzyjnego posługiwania się językiem. Przykładu takich środków mogą tu dostarczyć różnego rodzaju formy narracyjne (często
w uproszczeniu zwane "bajkami")5. Dobrą ilustracją edukacyjnego zastosowania krótkich form literackich w procesie edukacyjnym mogą być kameruńskie (afrykańskie) zagadki. Jak zwracają uwagę ich kolekcjonerzy i badacze, kameruńskie (afrykańskie) zagadki z reguły nie zawierają w sobie pytania: kto? co?, lecz przyjmują formę zdań oznajmujących; np. Kameleon, który
pływa = piana na rzece (Toumeux, Iyebi-Mandjek, 1996, s. 195). Wiąże się
to z podstawową cechą (celem) danego systemu edukacyjnego, który nie dąży
do wyrobienia w dziecku nawyku rywalizacji, lecz podporządkowania.
Badacze kameruńskich zagadek (ludowych) zwracają uwagę na jeszcze jedną
ważną ich funkcję edukacyjną. W tutejszych językach, pozbawionych przypadków, a posiadających rozbudowane klasy nominalne (np. 24 w języku
fufulde), właściwa odpowiedź na zagadkę oznacza opanowanie umiejętności
przezwyciężania dwuznaczności semantycznych języka6•
Posługujące się opisanymi metodami i procedurami wychowanie plemienne
nie posiada sformalizowanej struktury ani odrębnej (wyspecjalizowanej) kadry. Jest jednak w swej istocie totalne, ogarnia całą osobowość człowieka.
Jego celem jest socjalizacja jednostki, pełne i harmonijne jej zintegrowanie
z danym społeczeństwem, inaczej mówiąc, uczynienie z dziecka "dobrego"
członka wspólnoty lokalnej i plemiennej. Proces wychowania i edukacji polega w tym przypadku na wprowadzaniu jednostki w określony porządek życia
kolektywnego, czyli na przekazywaniu i wpajaniu dziecku norm kulturowych,
uznanych w danej kulturze za odpowiednie i niezbędne dla utrzymania ciągłości biologicznej, utrwalenia tożsamości oraz harmonijnego funkcjonowania danej społeczności.
Ponieważ jednak społeczność plemienna traktowana jest jako ciągła w czasie wspólnota żywych, zmarłych i jeszcze nie narodzonych, immanentnym
składnikiem wychowania plemiennego jest edukacja religijna, obejmująca ple• Por. Z. Komorowski (1973).
5 Są one jednak zazwyczaj domeną badań filologów, choć i antropolodzy
mogą znaleźć tu interesujący przedmiot studiów.
6 Brak miejsca uniemożliwia rozwinięcie tej wysoce specjalistycznej
kwestii. W uproszczeniu
można powiedzieć, iż chodzi o zdania typu: pantera była na kolacji, którego budowa nie wyjaśnia
nam bezpośrednio, czy pantera spożywała kolację, czy też była na niej daniem. Inne przykłady
zob. Toumeux, Iyebi-Mandjek (1996, s. 194 i n.).

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mienną wizję świata (kosmogonię, kult przodków) oraz związane z niąpraktyki magiczne i kulturę symboliczną. Stąd tak ważną funkcję pełnią w plemiennym wychowaniu osoby starsze, a zwłaszcza ci starcy, którzy są nośnikami
tradycji, naturalnym pośrednikiem między przodkami a światem żywych i dzięki
temu stają się podstawowym wehikułem transmisji kultury typu postfiguratywnego. To dziadkowie, podczas południowej sjesty lub przy wieczornym
ognisku, snują opowieści (łapczywie pochłaniane przez dzieciarnię) o dawnych czasach i mitycznych wydarzeniach. Czytelnik może zauważyć, iż sceny takie spotkać można w wielu kulturach, musi jednak też uwzględnić okoliczność, iż w społecznościach plemiennych owi starcy-narratorzy nie mają
w zasadzie konkurencji jako źródło treści kulturowych i płynącego stąd prestiżu.
Konkludując, można powiedzieć, iż wychowanie typu plemiennego pozostaje zatem w praktyce procesem przekazywania wzorów zachowań. W społeczności, w której jednostka nigdy nie pozostaje anonimowa, ważną rolę
wychowawczą pełni rozbudowany system kontroli społecznej. Polega on na
nieustającym porównywaniu przez otoczenie zachowań jednostki z przyjętymi przez ogół wzorami kulturowymi. Edukacji typu plemiennego obce jest
w zasadzie (wyjątkiem - niektóre treści mityczne) teoretyzowanie. Nie koncentruje się ona też na informacjach praktycznych, przydatnych w życiu codziennym. Plemienny model wychowania największy nacisk kładzie na takie
ukształtowanie jednostki, które przyczyni się do harmonijnego wkomponowania jej w życie wspólnoty: rodziny, rodu, plemienia (fot. 1 i 2). W ten sposób
wychowanie plemienne ogranicza się do doświadczeń własnej wspólnoty: do
pojęć i realiów własnego kręgu kulturowego; jest zachowawcze i defensywne, nie przygotowuje jednostki do samodzielnego rozwiązywania problemów,
lecz do zachowań, jakich oczekuje od niej grupa.
E d u k a c jak o r a n i c z n a może być uznawana za jeszcze jeden z typów edukacji wyznaniowej. Jej specyficzne cechy strukturalne oraz stosowane metody wyznaczająjej jednak szczególne miejsce w typologizacji afrykańskich (kameruńskich) systemów (modeli) edukacyjnych.
Celem edukacji koranicznej jest - co podkreślają sami jej teoretycy "wpojenie uczniom (wzorów) zachowań, jakie powinni oni przyswoić podczas swego życia i w obliczu śmierci, wpojenie zasad, które rządzą nie tylko
relacjami między ludźmi, lecz także przede wszystkim ich osobistymi relacjami z kreatorem" (Hamadou, 1993; cyt. za: Dongmo, 1996, s. 30). Inaczej
mówiąc, omawiany typ edukacji dąży do uczynienia z dziecka "dobrego"
muzułmanina.
Edukacja koraniczna stanowi element, rzec można, ważny instrument ekspansji nie tylko religii - islamu -lecz także cywilizacji o charakterze uniwersalnym. Cywilizacja ta wykształciła bogatą i wielowątkową tradycję. Co
najistotniejsze: posługuje się ona własnym pismem, co pozwala osobom

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Fot. I. Praca z matką, wieś Mandama,
plemię Daba, fot. R. Vorbrich

Fot. 2. Praca z ojcem, wieś Mandama, fot. R. Vorbrich

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i grupom w niej partycypującym włączyć się w szerszy obieg idei i przełamać
izolację społeczną. Tym samym wyrywa ona jednostkę z partykularyzmu
wioskowo-plemiennego, otwiera ją na universum, Jest to jednak universum
odmienne od proponowanego przez kulturę zachodnią, propaguje statyczną
wizję świata z trudem wpasowaną we współczesne procesy modernizacyjne
Afryki.
Na wstępie omówienia szkolnictwa koranicznego należy zaznaczyć, iż zakorzenienie islamu w północnym Kamerunie jest różnej głębokości i jakości.
Niektóre grupy etniczne (Fuibeje, Hausa, Kotoko, Wandala) sąjej nośnikami
od stuleci, inne (znaczna większość), choć równie długo pozostające pod jej
presją, poddały się islamizacji (w różnym zresztą zakresie) dopiero wostatnich 2-3 dekadach?, Wśród wielu grup etnicznych islam ma nadal charakter
misyjny i dopiero buduje swoje struktury, w tym edukacyjne8, W większości
przypadków proces islamizacji doprowadził jednak do ukształtowania się
specyficznej formy tej religii - zwanej "czarnym islamem"9.
W Kamerunie północnym Uak i w większości afrykańskich krajów subsaharyjskich) edukacja koraniczna nie narusza podstawowych zasad i treści
wychowania plemiennego. Z reguły czyni ona znaczne ustępstwa na rzecz
rodzimej afrykańskiej obyczajowości, wiele jej elementów adaptuje lub co
najwyżej wprowadza pewne modyfikacje do "pogańskich" praktyk społecznych lub magicznych 10.
W przeciwieństwie do wcześniej omawianego wychowania plemiennego,
edukacja koraniczna przyjmuje już pewne formy instytucjonalne. Posiada
wyspecjalizowane kadry, które tworzą świątobliwi i wykształceni (lecz na
7 Liczbę muzułmanów
w Kamerunie szacuje się na 22% ludności, wynoszącej w 1996 r.
13,6 mln. Z 3 mln. kameruńskich muzułmanów większość (ok. 2 mln.) żyje w północnej części
kraju, gdzie stanowią więcej niż połowę ludności (szacowanej na 3,5 mln.). Dla porównania liczbę
chrześcijan w Kamerunie szacuje się na 50-53%, pozostali to wyznawcy religii tradycyjnych (por.
ABC Świat ... , 1999, s. 69; Przeglądowy Atlas .... 1998, s. 252).
8 Na podstawie wycinkowych
danych, można szacować, iż w Kamerunie północnym edukacją
koraniczną objęte jest ok. 20% dzieci w wieku szkolnym (6-14 lat), w tym (zależnie od regionu
i poziomu kształcenia od 10% do 45% dziewczynek. Liczbę tę otrzymano, porównując dane zawarte
w: Atlas ... (2000, s. 139, 146) oraz Dongmo (1996, s. 33). Jeszcze trudniej oszacować wskaźnik
skolaryzacji koranicznej wśród ludności muzułmańskiej. Związane jest to z dynamiką proporcji między ludnością animistyczną a zislamizowaną i wynikającym stąd względnym charakterem podawanej przez różne źródła liczby muzułmanów (z urodzenia lub świeżo nawróconych). Wycinkowe dane
dotyczące środowiska miejskiego (Maroua) szacują wskaźnik skolaryzacji koranicznej wśród muzułmańskich dzieci w wieku szkolnym (5-15 lat) na 85% (Toumeux, lyebi-Mandjek, 1996, s. 91).
Wskaźnik ten jest zapewne niższy w środowisku wiejskim i zróżnicowany, zależnie od grupy
etnicznej i (co często się wiąże) zakorzenienia islamu.
9 Pod tym pojęciem rozumie się system dogmatów i rytuałów religijnych opartych na Koranie,
lecz przesiąkniętych w dużej mierze wierzeniami afrykańskimi.
10 Jako przykład może tu służyć zwyczaj obrzezania lub talizmany zawierające cytaty z Koranu, niekiedy jedynie posiadające magiczny z nim związek (starty z tablicy proszek z kredy, którą
napisano werset Koranu, itp.).

�111

bardzo różnym poziomie) mężowie. W Kamerunie wyróżnić można dwie kategorie nauczycieli - mallum i modibbo. Mallum to osoba - mężczyzna lub
kobieta - która posiadła (i przekazuje) umiejętność czytania (oraz przepisywania) Koranu. Każda osoba posiadająca takie podstawowe kwalifikacje może
otworzyć szkołę, z własnej woli (kaprysu) lub na prośbę sąsiadów - rodziców. W literaturze naukowej zwie się ich często, niezupełnie poprawnie
(w żargonie arabsko-francuskim) - marabutamilI. Odrębną, obdarzoną dużym
prestiżem, grupę nauczycieli stanowią tzw. modibbo. Są to Fulbeje, tworzący
endogamiczną praktycznie grupę (kastę), którzy oprócz funkcji dydaktycznych,
pełnią także funkcje opiniotwórcze i politycznel2• Znaczna część nauczycieli
szkół koranicznych oprócz funkcji dydaktycznych zajmuje się także inną pracą zawodową; rolnictwem lub handlem. Odsetek nauczycieli, dla których
nauczanie stanowi podstawowe (lub główne) źródło utrzymania, wzrasta
w miastach i dochodzi do 60% (Toumeux, Iyebi-Mandjek,
1996, s. 88).
Szkoły koraniczne -lakkol (maktab, mahadra) rzadko posiadają odrębne
budynki. Najczęściej lokują się one w meczetach (lub w ich otoczeniu, w krużgankach, w cieniu drzew) (fot. 3 i 4). Nauka odbywa się w nich nieregularnie
- raz lub kilka razy w tygodniu, najczęściej wieczorem.
W szkolnictwie koranicznym wyróżnić można dwa poziomy nauczania:
podstawowy i uzupełniający. Poziom podstawowy - spotykany praktycznie
we wszystkich miejscowych gminach muzułmańskich. Poziom uzupełniający - jedynie w ważniejszych ośrodkach miejskich.
Nauczanie podstawowe ogranicza się z reguły do nauki Koranu. Podstawową metodą dydaktyczną jest tutaj pamięciowy automatyzm, polegający
na wielokrotnym, zbiorowym powtarzaniu (skandowaniu) za nauczycielem
poszczególnych wersetów i sur Koranu (niekiedy bez zrozumienia nawet sensu
słów). Naukę rozpoczyna muzułmańskie wyznanie wiary: Nie ma boga nad
Allacha, a Mohammed jest jego prorokiem. Gdy dzieci opanują to pierwsze
zdanie w obcym dla nich języku arabskim, nauczyciel przechodzi do kolejnych, wybranych sur Koranu, niezbędnych podczas modlitw (przede wszystkim do sur 104 i 114) (Toumeux, Iyebi-Mandjek,
1996, s. 202).

11 Bardziej szanowani marabuci pełnią zarazem funkcję duszpasterzy,
niektórzy z nich mają też
opinię cudotwórców (Komorowski, 1973, s. 56).
12 Aby zostać modibbo,
należy pobierać wcześniej nauki u reputowanych (mających sławę
w okolicy) nauczycieli. Niekiedy porównuje się tytuł modibbo ze stopniem "doktora nauk islamskich" (Toumeux, lyebi-Mandjek, 1996, s. 88), lecz ma on wymiar bardzo względny, bowiem
niektórzy modibbo tworzą później szkoły o wielkiej reputacji, podczas gdy inni zostają "zwykłymi" marabutami. W praktyce "kastę" modibbo tworzy grupa spokrewnionych i spowinowaconych
rodzin, przekazujących swą pozycję społeczną oraz sprawowane funkcje (w tym edukacyjne)
poprzez udzielanie nauk, połączone z drogą filiacji i aliansów; z ojca na syna (wyjątkowo i na
córkę), z wuja na siostrzeńca lub z teścia na zięcia (Atlas ..., 2000, s. 146).

�112
Nauka Świętej Księgi polega nie tylko na powtarzaniu tekstu za nauczycielem, lecz także na przepisywaniu przerabianego fragmentu Koranu kredą
(lub rylcem) na drewnianych tabliczkach (fot. 5). Nie jest to jednak "zwykłe" przerysowywanie pisma, lecz "przepisywanie", połączone z nauką alfabetu arabskiego. Nauka głosek alfabetu zajmuje z reguły (dobremu uczniowi) dwa miesiące. W praktyce wygląda to w ten sposób, iż nauczyciel pisze
na tabliczce tekst (sylabę za sylabą), a uczniowie kopiują go i uczą się równocześnie wymowy poszczególnych sylab13•
Teoretycznie uczniowie na poziomie elementarnym powinni opanować
pamięciowo (przepisać na tabliczce) cały Koran. W praktyce - jak podkreślali moi informatorzy (absolwenci takich szkół) - ćwiczenia skrybtoryjne
obejmują mniej więcej połowę Świętej Księgi. Resztę tekstu Koranu uczniowie poznają z księgi posiadanej przez nauczyciela.
W rezultacie zatem efekty nauczania Koranu (i języka arabskiego) są bardzo skromne. Jak mogłem się przekonać - w środowisku wiejskim - za
dostateczny uważa się poziom, gdy uczniowie, kończąc naukę w szkole koranicznej, znają na pamięć 12 najkrótszych sur Koranu. Poziom nauczania
jest niewiele wyższy w miastach. Jak skrupulatnie wyliczyli Henry Tourneux
oraz Olivier lyebi-Mandjek (1996, s. 95), tylko kilka procent absolwentów
miejskiej szkoły koranicznej może pochwalić się opanowaniem wszystkich
114 sur Świętej Księgi, a kilkanaście procent zna na pamięć mniej więcej jej
połowę14.
Forma przekazu treści kulturowych w szkole koranicznej jest do tego stopnia sztywna i schematyczna, iż pozbawia ucznia możliwości wykazania się
inicjatywą w poszerzaniu swojej wiedzy i lepszym zrozumieniu litery i ducha Świętej Księgi. Nie ma w zwyczaju, aby uczeń mógł spytać o cokolwiek
swego nauczycielal5. Oczekuje się od niego jedynie wiernego odtwarzania
za nauczycielem - w mowie i piśmie - przerabianej właśnie partii Koranu.
Należy jednak zaznaczyć, iż metody pedagogiczne stosowane w szkole
koranicznej łączą wychowanie do życia w solidarnej wspólnocie z elementami rywalizacji. Zasadę tę dobrze ilustrują nagrody i kary tu stosowane.
I) Co jest bardzo ważne i trudne w nauce języka
arabskiego z uwagi na skomplikowaną wartość diakrytyczną spółgłosek w języku pisanym nie znającym samogłosek.
14 Badania na próbie 800 uczniów szkół publicznych w Maroua (uczęszczających
zarazem do
szkół koranicznych) ujawniły, iż zaledwie 68 uczniów (8,5%) (w tym 30 z VI - ostatnich klas
i 3 z klasy II) znało na pamięć wszystkie 114 sur Koranu, 137 uczniów opanowało pamięciowo co
najmniej 76 sur, czyli więcej niż połowę Świętej Księgi; 323 uczniów znało ponad 25 sur. Naliczono także 14 uczniów (w tym dwóch z ostatnich klas), którzy nie potrafili zacytować żadnej
sury (znali jedynie alfabet arabski) (Toumeux, Iyebi-Mandjek, 1996, s. 94).
15 Wadę tę rekompensuje
do pewnego stopnia powszechnie przyjęty zwyczaj zastępowania podczas lekcji nauczyciela przez uczniów bardziej zaawansowanych w nauce. Pomoc koleżeńska może
przybierać wówczas formę "korepetycji". Otwiera to jednak pole do nadinterpretacji i zafałszowań przekazu kulturowego.

�Szkoła koraniczna, fot. autor 200 I r.

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,
--~'~'::~
.
,

~-:"

�113
Uczeń, który przepisze (i odczyta) bezbłędnie pierwszą tabliczkę, otrzymuje zgodę nauczyciela na zmycie wodą świętego tekstu. Woda pozostała po
tym zabiegu przechowywana jest w specjalnym pojemniczku i traktowana
jako posiadająca właściwości magiczne. Uczniowie, którzy przeszli już ten
pierwszy etap nauki, noszą taki pojemnik z dumą na szyi, czym odróżniają
się od mniej pilnych rówieśników.
Koran dzieli się na cztery części (nierównej długości) - tzw.faarde oraz
sześćdziesiąt podrozdziałówhisbeere. Rozpoczęcie każdego hisbeere przez
ucznia jest dla niego i jego bliskich prawdziwym świętem. Tego dnia uczeń
przynosi do szkoły i ofiarowuje nauczycielowi dorodnego kogutal6• Jest on
tego samego dnia przyrządzony (upieczony) przez uczennice i spożyty w uroczystej oprawie, wspólnie przez nauczyciela i jego uczniów. Przed posiłkiem
mal/urn odmawia publicznie modlitwę w intencji ucznia, a on sam staje się
bohaterem dnia, jest fetowany w szkole i w rodzinie (Tourneux, Iyebi-Mandjek, 1996, s. 204-205). W ten sposób uczeń nabywa zaufania do własnych
możliwości oraz przekonanie, iż jego wysiłek jest dostrzegany i nagradzany.
Jednak głównym czynnikiem stymulującym uczniów do pracy są kary, głównie cielesne. Nad głową ucznia wisi ustawicznie (i to dosłownie) rózga nauczyciela. Najmniejsza niesubordynacja lub widoczny brak skupienia (np. zbyt
ciche i pozbawione entuzjazmu skandowanie Koranu), a tym bardziej błąd (w
wymowie lub piśmie) karany jest uderzeniem po głowie lub szczypaniem w
policzek. Źle zdaniem nauczyciela wyrecytowany przez ucznia werset Koranu
musi być przez niego natychmiast powtórzony ("wywrzeszczany" na całe gardło) sto razy. Poważna niesubordynacja karana jest pracą poza kolejnościąnp. zbieraniem chrustu na opał (nauka odbywa się często wieczorem przy
ognisku) lub aresztem17•
W tym miejscu należy wspomnieć o kwestii wynagradzania nauczyciela.
Większość z nich jest opłacana przez rodziców. Czesne nosi (fulbejską) nazwę "pieniądz światła" (ceede yiite) (Atlas..., 2000, s. 146). Forma i wysokość ponoszonych świadczeń jest bardzo zróżnicowana, różna w mieście i na
wsi. W mieście opłata przyjmuje częściej formę pieniężną i waha się od 500 fr
CFA (2,75 zł) miesięcznie do 200 fr CFA tygodniowo od ucznia. Na wsi świadczenia gotówkowe pojawiają się okazjonalnie (podczas świąt), częściej rodzice rewanżują się nauczycielowi, dostarczając mu żywność lub drewno na
opał, z reguły kupują też naftę do lampy przyświecającej uczniom podczas
nauki.

Rozpoczęcie kolejnej faarde zaznacza się ofiarowaniem kozła lub barana.
W szkołach prowadzonych przez nauczycieli starej generacji zdarza się, iż nieposłuszny uczeń,
spętany lub zakuty w dyby, przywiązywany bywa na 1-3 dni (bez jedzenia) do słupa umieszczonego w szkole lub (co często oznacza to samo) w obejściu nauczyciela (Tourneux, Iyebi-Mandjek,
1996, s. 203-204).
16
17

�114
Świadczenia względem nauczyciela nie mają tu jedynie charakteru ekonomicznego, lecz są wyrazem zobowiązań o charakterze duchowyml8. Zobowiązania te nie wygasają nawet w kilka lat po ukończeniu nauki. Dziewczyna wychodząca za mąż zwraca się do mul/ema, u którego "skończyła swój
Koran", o modlitwę w intencji małżeństwa i nowej rodziny. W zamian ofiarowuje mu (praktycznie czyni to jej rodzina) dużą, jak na tutejsze stosunki,
sumę 6 000 fr CFA (33 zł) (Atlas ... , 2000, s. 146).
Bardziej sumienni i wytrwali uczniowie, po kilku latach nauki mogą w ten
sposób przyswoić sobie pamięciowo większe lub mniejsze fragmenty Koranu.
Znacznie gorzej efektywność nauczania koranicznego rysuje się w odniesieniu
do języka arabskiego, skoro jego znajomość jest mała nawet wśród nauczycieli. Jak wykazały precyzyjne, lecz wycinkowe badania - nawet w środowisku
miejskim (Maroua) zaledwie 8% mal/umów znało ten język w stopniu bardzo dobrym, 9,5 % w stopniu dobrym, 32,5 % dostatecznym, a 50 % potrafiło jedynie czytać w tym języku i dokonywać tłumaczeń poszczególnych
partii Koranu "chwytając ich sens" (Atlas ... , 2000, s. 146)19. Inne źródłaodnoszące się do Kamerunu północnego - szacują liczbę nauczycieli koranicznych znających język arabski w stopniu "wystarczającym" na 15% (!). Dwie
trzecie mal/umów miało przyznać się "bez cienia kompleksu" do nieznajomości języka arabskiego lub do znajomości "ledwie trochę" (Taurneux, Iyebi-Mandjek, 1996, s. 89). O ile znajomość języka arabskiego wśród "zwykłych"
mal/umów jest bardzo słaba, o tyle jest ona znacznie lepsza w grupie modibbo, muszą oni nie tylko umieć płynnie czytać, ale i pisać w tym języku;
Słaba ogólnie znajomość arabskiego powoduje, iż pozostaje on dla kameruńskich muzułmanów językiem liturgicznym, językiem słowa bożego i modlitwy. Językiem edukacji koranicznej pozostaje tu język fufulde, traktowany w Kamerunie jako (również) ,Język Koranu" (Tourneaux, Iyebi-Mandjek,
1996, s. 79?o. W piśmiennictwie religijnym i w korespondencji tutejsi muzułmanie stosują natomiast powszechnie pisaną formę tego języka - adżamiija - opartą na alfabecie arabskim.
18 Ze złożonymi materialno-duchowymi
- relacjami między uczniem a nauczycielem wiąże się, nasilające się w ostatnich latach w większych miastach, zjawisko żebractwa uczniów szkół
koranicznych, dla których ten sposób zarobkowania jest nie tylko zdobywaniem funduszy na naukę, lecz jest także formą ćwiczenia ducha (uległości wobec mistrza). Gromady młodocianych
żebraków są - niesłusznie - traktowane przez służby porządkowe (a zwłaszcza zagraniczne instytucje pomocowe) jako "dzieci ulicy", co nie ułatwia im wykonywania "zadania domowego".
19 Dla porównania
można dodać, iż tylko 20% malumów znało w mowie i w piśmie język
francuski, oficjalny język Kamerunu - a 71 % nauczycieli szkół koranicznych nie władało wogóle tym językiem (Atlas ... , 2000, s. 146).
20 Badania etnojęzykowe
i etnoreligioznawcze wykazały również, iż bardzo często islamizacja
osób pochodzących z plemion do niedawna animistycznych pociąga za sobą ich praktyczną ful beizację, odzwierciedlającą się nie tylko przyjęciem języka fufulde (zwłaszcza w zachowaniach prestiżowych), lecz także fulbejskiego stroju, gestu i obyczaju (Gousset, 1999; Toumeux Iyćbi-Mandjek, 1996; Vorbrich, 2000).

�115
Najbardziej wytrwali i żądni wiedzy absolwenci podstawowych szkół koranicznych mogą podjąć naukę na poziomie uzupełniającym21•
W tym celu
udają się niekiedy na dalekie wędrówki - w poszukiwaniu odpowiednich
szkół i mistrzów. Mogą ich znaleźć w większych miastach, takich jak: Garoua, Maroua, Ngaundere lub leżących już w Nigerii - Maiduguri, Yola czy
Kano. Nauka na wyższym poziomie trwa od kilku do (nawet) kilkudziesięciu lat22• W ciągu wieloletnich studiów, uczniowie pobierają ją u wielu nauczycieli-mistrzów, u każdego uzupełniając wiedzę z innych przedmiotów,
takich jak: prawoznawstwo (fiqh), teologia (tawhiidi), tradycja muzułmańska (hadit), egzegeza (tafsir), poezja i literatura (lunga), gramatyka (tarsi/),
wymowa arabska (tadż-wiid).
Uczniowie kameruńskich szkół koranicznych przyswajają też podstawową wiedzę i umiejętności z zakresu dyscyplin świeckich, takich jak matematyka (arytmetyka), a także z dziedzin odrzucanych przez islam ortodoksyjny:
astrologii, kabalistyki, uczą się sporządzać amulety i inne przedmioty magiczne (Atlas..., 2000, s. 146). Proporcje pomiędzy poszczególnymi przyswajanymi dziedzinami pozostawia się osobistemu wyborowi studenta, czyli można powiedzieć, że obowiązuje ich "indywidualny program studiów". Student
- w ciągu wielu lat nauki - często zmienia mistrza, wybierając tego, który
ma opinię specjalisty w dziedzinie szczególnie go interesującej. Nie można
jednak mówić o wąskiej specjalizacji malumów, bowiem każdy z nich specjalizuje się w pewnym wachlarzu dyscyplin, wśród których prym wiodą prawo, literatura i teologia23• Podobne preferencje spotkać można także wśród
studentów, z tym, iż zainteresowanie teologią przewyższa nieznacznie zamiłowanie do literatury24.
Osobnym problemem związanym z funkcjonowaniem pluralistycznegotrójskładnikowego - systemu edukacyjnego są relacje pomiędzy szkolnictwem koranicznym a szkolnictwem formalnym (publicznym). Czytelnym
wskaźnikiem wzajemnych relacji może być równoległe uczestnictwo uczniów
szkół państwowych w szkolnictwie koranicznym.
Brak jest kompleksowych studiów nad wspomnianym wskaźnikiem. Wyniki wycinkowych badań socjologów i pedagogów kameruńskich w zdomi21 Należy zaznaczyć, iż granica między poziomem podstawowym
i uzupełniającym jest w wypadku edukacji koranicznej podziałem umownym i praktycznie się zacierającym. Dlatego niezwykle trudno ocenić wskaźnik uczniów kontynuujących naukę na poziomie uzupełniającym. Niektóre źródła pozwalają szacować ją na 1:40 (Tourneux, Iyebi-Mandjek, 1996, s. 90).
22 Średnio trwa ona 26,71at (!). Ta zaskakująca liczba wynika jednak z nieregularnego
(i często
przerywanego) sposobu pobierania nauk (Atlas ... , 2000, s. 146).
2J Przykładowo wśród 39 malumów z miasta Maroua aż 35 deklarowało szczególne zainteresowanie prawem, 20 - literaturą, 16 - teologią, \O - hadisami i 4 - egzegezą (Atlas ..., 2000, s. 146).
24 142 ankietowanych malumów z prowincji Extreme Nord pobierało w przeszłości naukę łącznie u 290 mistrzów. 82% z nich studiowało prawo, 50% - teologię, 47,6 - poezję i literaturę,
39,2% tradycję (hadisy), 28,4% - egzegezę, 19,2% - gramatykę, 5,3% - wymowę arabską.

�116
nowanym przez muzuhnanów środowisku miejskim (Maroua) pozwalają
stwierdzić, iż oba systemy edukacji nachodzą na siebie w różnym stopniu,
zależnym od uwarunkowań kulturowych i historycznych.
Henry Toumeux oraz Olivier lyebi-Mandjek stwierdzili, iż 49% uczniów
szkoł publicznych w Maroua uczęszczało także do szkoły koranicznej (1996,
s. 165). Z kolei wskaźnik uczniów szkół koranicznych (w wieku 5-15 lat)
nie uczęszczających zarazem do szkoły publicznej zależny był od pochodzenia etnicznego i zakorzenienia w kulturze islamu. Najwyższy był wśród grup
od wieków zislamizowanych: Fulbejów, Wandala, Hausa i Arabów Szoa
(l 00%), znacznie niższy wśród grup podlegających nasilonej islamizacji
dopiero od 1-2 pokoleń: Mafa (41%), Guiziga (25%), najniższy natomiast
wśród dzieci pochodzących z grup znanych ze swej niechęci do islamu np. Toupuri (8%) (Toumeux, lyebi-Mandjek, 1996, s. 92-93).
Szkoła publiczna (fot. 6) określana jest przez muzuhnanów, zaczerpniętym z fufulde, terminem lakkol Nasaara (janngirde Nasaara) - "szkoła Białych" i przeciwstawiana "szkole koranicznej", zwanej "szkołą Fulbe" (janngride Fulbe) (Toumeux, lyebi-Mandjek, 1996, s. 165). Wskazana opozycja
semantyczna dobrze ilustruje niechętny stosunek muzuhnanów kameruńskich
do szkół państwowych.
Okazywana przez tę społeczność rezerwa wobec (świeckiego) szkolnictwa
publicznego była od dawna zauważana i podkreślana przez obserwatorów życia
społecznego w Kamerunie (Atlas..., 2000, s. 142). W dobie nasilonych zmian
cywilizacyjnych, przyczyniała się ona do ekonomicznej i politycznej marginalizacji muzułmanów, wypieranych z posad w administracji i gospodarce państwowej. Zagrożenie to zostało w końcu dostrzeżone przez elity muzułmańskie, które
przystąpiły do rozwoju alternatywnego systemu szkolnictwa. Proces ten nie przebiegał jednak w sposób skoordynowany i odznaczał się wielu meandrami.
Oprócz tradycyjnych szkół koranicznych - obu poziomów - w ostatnich dziesięcioleciach pojawiły się w Kamerunie północnym wyznaniowe
(muzułmańskie) szkoły podstawowe i ponadpodstawowe, aspirujące do statusu szkół publicznych. Swym programem i stosowanymi metodami nawiązują one bądź do metod edukacji zachodniej, bądź do ortodoksyjnej tradycji
islamu, czerpiącego swe wzory z Egiptu lub Arabii Saudyjskiej.
Pierwszy typ szkół to tzw. ecoleJranco-arabe - tworzone od lat 50. XX
wieku przez administrację kolonialną dla dzieci elit muzułmańskich Fulbejów. Oprócz formacji religijnej dawały one świadectwa ukończenia szkoły
państwowej. Co ciekawe, wobec niechęci okazywanej temu typowi szkolnictwa przez pierwszego prezydenta niepodległego Kamerunu - muzułmanina A. Ahidjo - szkoły francusko-arabskie nie zyskały większej popularności w prowincji zdominowanej przez rządy muzułmanów. W sumie powstało ich tylko kilka (w większych miastach), a liczba uczniów tych szkół
nigdy nie przekroczyła 1000 osób (Atlas..., 2000, s. 140).

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W latach 70. powstały nawet szkoły franco-arabe na poziomie ponadpodstawowym. Miały one stworzyć nową - wykształconą - elitę muzułmańską, z40lną podtrzymać dominację polityczną i ekonomiczną tej grupy
ludności na północy kraju. Największy prestiż zyskał (założony w 1977 roku
w Maroua) College de I'Espoir25• W latach 90. szkoła ta dostała się jednak
pod wpływy fundamentalistów islamskich (wahabici organizowali tu kolokwia islamskie), w końcu zawiesiła swą działalność w 1996 roku (Atlas ...,
2000, s. 142, 146).
Miejsce mających uprawnienia szkół publicznych - ecole franco-arab e
- są w ostatnich latach zastępowane przez tzw. colleges islamistes [nie: islamiques (!)]. Przybierają one różne nazwy i reprezentują zróżnicowany poziom nauczania. Wśród naj znaczniej szych wymienić można college prive islamice Sabil (w Bamare) oraz Institut de Theologie Islamique (ITI) w Maroua26• Ten ostatni uważany jest za następcę College de l'Espoir. Odwołujące
się do wzorów importowanych z Egiptu i Arabii Saudyjskiej szkoły "islamistów" powstają na fali pogłębiającej się w ostatnich latach niechęci społeczności muzułmańskiej do szkolnictwa publicznego opartego na modelach zachodnich. Wyrazem dążeń zmierzających do stworzenia kulturowej i metodycznej przeciwwagi dla uksztahowanego
na wzór zachodni szkolnictwa
publicznego jest powołanie w 1993 roku w Garoua Sekretariatu Szkolnictwa
Islamskiego (Secretariat li l'Enseignement Islamique).
Pojawienie się dwóch, a ostatnio nawet trzech typów muzułmańskiego
szkolnictwa wyznaniowego ujawnia zjawisko ścierania się różnych prądów
ideologicznych w świecie islamu. Dalszy rozwój (lub upadek) poszczególnych typów szkolnictwa koranicznego w Kamerunie będzie następstwem przebiegu procesu ścierania się różnych nurtów islamu oraz efektem konfrontacji
wielkich cywilizacji światowych.
S z k o l n i c t w o f o r m a l n e, określane niekiedy mianem "nowoczesnego", wprowadziło do Kamerunu zachodni model edukacji. Cechuje go sformalizowanie, złożoność i hierarchia struktur, wyspecjalizowane
kadry oraz
unifikacja programów i treści edukacyjnych. Wedle znawcy problematyki
edukacyjnej, Z. Komorowskiego (1973, s. 99), "za nowoczesne należy uznać
szkolnictwo kształcące ludzi, którzy będą umieli pracować, optymalnie or-

2S College był ufundowany
i finansowany przez grupę miejscowych alhadżi, a jego długoletlim dyrektorem był modibbo i zarazem mer jednej z dzielnic miasta.
26 Nowy typ szkół muzułmańskich
różni się poziomem i programem od tradycyjnego szkolnicwa muzułmańskiego. Pracujący w nim nauczyciele studiowali często na Bliskim Wschodzie lub
JOChodząz Arabii Saudyjskiej lub Pakistanu. Znajdując się pod wpływem ortodoksyjnych nurtów
sIamu, zwalcza on niektóre zwyczaje i praktyki "czarnego islamu" (jak np. przywiązywanie wagi
jo amuletów). Przybywający z Pakistanu misjonarze oskarżająkameruńskich
muzułmanów, iż są
Jod zbyt wielkim wpływem chrześcijan (Rumi), sami jednak propagują obce Kameruńczykom
NZOry, jak np. odrzucenie pokarmów mięsnych (Atlas ... , 2000, s. 146).

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ganizować własną i innych pracę oraz umiejętnie wykorzystywać jej rezultaty
w ramach tych właśnie warunków". W warunkach afrykańskich celem tego
typu szkolnictwa jest przekazanie uczniom postaw i umiejętności pozwalających na samodzielne i skuteczne funkcjonowanie w nowoczesnym społeczeństwie typu narodowego. Daje ono wiedzę i kwalifIkacje przydatne w społeczeństwie o zróżnicowanej strukturze i wykształconym podziale pracy. Inaczej
mówiąc, szkoła publiczna ma fonnować "dobrego" i przydatnego społecznie obywatela, członka wspólnoty ponadlokalnej, ponadetnicznej i ponadkonfesyjnej.
Przystępując do omówienia szkolnictwa fonnalnego w Kamerunie północnym, należy wskazać na dwie jego cechy strukturalne - względne opóźnienie rozwojowe oraz dysharmonię z tradycyjnym modelem kultury.
Ocenia się, iż pod względem szkolnictwa publicznego opóźnienie Kamerunu północnego względem jego prowincji południowych wynosi 50-70 lat27•
Pierwszą szkołę typu zachodniego na terenie obecnego Kamerunu (południowego) założyli misjonarze baptyści w miejscowości Bimba w 1844 roku.
Rok później powstała szkoła w Douala (Atlas..., 2000, s. 140). Po zajęciu
południowego Kamerunu przez Niemców, stworzyli oni dość szybko sieć szkół
odpowiadających nonnom europejskim. Pierwszą była szkoła rządowa powstała w Douala w 1888 roku (Atlas..., 2000, s. 140)28. Pierwsza szkoła niemiecka w Kamerunie północnym powstała w 1905 roku. Funkcjonowała ona
jednak zaledwie 9 lat. Po przerwie wojennej nową szkołę powołali Francuzi
w 1918 roku. Działała ona jednak (z przerwami) przez 18 lat w warunkach
prowizorycznych (w zagrodzie miejscowego lamido ). Pierwsza szkoła "z prawdziwego zdarzenia" (w odrębnym budynku) powstała tu dopiero w 1936 roku
(Atlas ..., 2000, s. 140).
Względne opóźnienie rozwoju systemu edukacji publicznej w północnej
części Kamerunu odciska swe piętno na poziomie kształcenia, jego warunkach i efektach. Opóźnienia w szkolnictwie północnokameruńskim
najlepiej
ilustruje poziom skolaryzacji, czyli procent dzieci w wieku szkolnym uczęszczających do szkoly. Jest on najniższy w tym kraju. O ile średnia krajowa
wynosi tu 70 (dziewczęta) -71
(chłopcy) (Education, s. 99), to w Kamerunie północnym spada on do poziomu 20,0 (dziewczęta) i 33,7 (chłopcy)
(Atlas ..., 2000, s. 139)29.
Te ogólne cyfry nie oddająjednak zupełnie wewnętrznego zróżnicowania
zjawiska, którego natężenie zmienia się w tej części kraju w znacznym stop27 Opóźnienie
to ma uwarunkowania historyczne. Północna część kraju, odległa o 800-1400
km od wybrzeża, oddzielona od reszty kraju rozległym masywem górskim (Adamawa), została
poddana procesom modernizacyjnym, związanym z epoką kolonialną kilkadziesiąt lat później niż
prowincje południowe.
28 Zob. też Jean-Yves
Martin, Sociologie de I 'enseignement en Afrique Noire, "Cahiers internationaix de sociologie" vol. LIII, no 2, 1972,337-362.
29 Dla porównania
podam, iż w południowych i zachodnich (anglojęzycznych) prowincjach
Kamerunu wskaźnik skolaryzacji sięga nawet 90-98% (!) (Boutrais, 1984, s. 469).

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liu, zależnie od struktury etnicznej i religijnej, warunków naturalnych (rzeźly terenu) oraz społecznych (wskaźnika urbanizacji). Stosunkowo wysokim
vskaźnikiem skolaryzacji mogą się pochwalić (dane z lat 70.-80.) tereny rówlinne - 50-60%, najniższy poziom osiąga on na obszarach górskich - potiżej 20% (Boutrais, 1984, s. 469). Różnice te stopniowo ulegająjednak nivelacji. O ile jeszcze 20 lat temu, w latach 80., widywałem w górach całe
:espoły wiosek (zamieszkałe przez kilka tysięcy osób) pozbawione zupełnie
zkół, to na przełomie XX i XXI wieku - dosłownie na moich oczach [laleszkoły (2-4 klasowe) pojawiły się we wszystkich praktycznie wioskach.
)ynamikę zjawiska dobrze ukazuje bogata w liczby publikacja autorów franuskich - Atlas Extrem Nord (2000, s. 139-146).
Na równinach, na obszarach lepiej zurbanizowanych wskaźnik skolaryzaji osiągać może nawet poziom 60-69%, podczas gdy z dala od ośrodków
liejskich spada do 20-40% (Atlas ... , 2000, s. 139; Boutrais, s. 1984: 468).
lewną rolę odgrywają także czynniki kulturowe: gospodarczy, etniczny i reigijny. Niektóre grupy etniczne (do niedawna "pogańskie"), jak np. Tupuri
Mundang, znane są z dobrego nastawienia do edukacji publicznej. Na ich
obszarzeetnicznym wskaźnik skolaryzacji sięga 60%, podczas gdy wśród
lnych grup (np. Fulbe) spada do 35-39%. W wypadku nikłej skolaryzacji
'ulbejów nakładają się dwa czynniki: gospodarczy i religijny. Wskaźnik skolayzacji wyraźnie spada bowiem wśród muzułmanów, który, co podkreślają
bserwatorzy (Atlas ... , 2000, s. 139), odnoszą z dużą rezerwą do szkolnictwa
ublicznego. Dochodzi do tego ich sposób gospodarowania - nomadyczne
asterstwo, które z natury swej utrudnia trwały kontakt ze szkołą3°.
Pochodną i zarazem wskaźnikiem opóźnienia szkolnictwa północnokamelńskiego jest stan jego kadry pedagogicznej. Niedobór i niskie kwalifikacje
adry są typowe dla całej Afryki subsaharyjskiej. Szczególnie silnie odczu{alnejest to w strefie Sahelu, a więc także na północy Kamerunu. Nauczyieli jest tu za mało (zależnie od departamentu: 54-78 uczniów na 1 nauzyciela) i mają z reguły niewystarczające (niepełne) kwalifikacje. Średnio
o dziesiąty nauczyciel ukończył pełną szkołę pedagogiczną. W najlepiej pod
Im względem stojącym subregionie Kamerunu północnego prowincji
xtreme Nord - wskaźnik ten wynosi 12%31.
W całym Kamerunie północnym panuje przekonanie, iż miejscowa oświata,
lk i w ogóle administracja państwowa, opiera się na importowanej kadrze,
a tzw. Gada Mayo, jak - pochodzącym z języka fufulde terminem - okreJO W regionach zamieszkałych
przez ludność pasterską (Fulbe, Arabów Szoa, Kanuri) dzieci
asowo znikają ze szkół w styczniu i lutym, gdy rozpoczyna się sezon wędrówek. Pojawiają się
)piero najesieni, gdy stada, a wraz z nimi pasterze wracają na zimowe pastwiska. W niektórych
:partamentach zjawisko sezonowego opuszczania szkół przybiera takie rozmiary, iż są one zaykane na kilka miesięcy. Zdarza się też, iż dyrektorzy szkól (w trosce o własne uposażenia)
Iszują wykazy uczniów i ukrywają niedobory (Atlas ... , 2000, s. 139).
JI Zob. Atlas ... , 2000, s. 140; por. J.-L. Dongmo (1996) oraz Toumeux, 1yebi-Mandjek
(1996).

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śla się tu przybyszy "zza rzeki" (gada mayo) Benoue. Rzeka ta stanowi umowną granicę między północnymi a południowymi - lepiej rozwiniętymi prowincjami kraju.
Pobieżne zestawienie miejsc pochodzenia tutejszej kadry nie potwierdza
tej opinii. W leżącej najdalej na północy prowincji Extreme Nord (dla której,
jako jedynej, istnieją w miarę kompletne, aktualne i dostępne dane) na 2624
zatrudnionych tu p r z e z p a ń s t w o Oak się przekonamy to podkreślenie
jest istotne) 1474 (56%) nauczycieli szkół podstawowych pochodziło z danej
prowincji; kolejnych 887 (33%) z pozostałych dwóch prowincji Kamerunu północnego, a zaledwie 11% z południowych, lepiej rozwiniętych regionów kraju.
Właściwą skalę znaczenia importowanej kadry ujawnia dopiero analiza
kwalifikacji nauczycieli pochodzących z różnych prowincji kraju. Nauczyciele pochodzący z południa kraju wielokrotnie dystansują poziomem kwalifikacji swych kolegów - "autochtonów". W grupie nauczycieli Gada Mayo
znajduje się 21 % absolwentów (średnich) szkół pedagogicznych (L 'ecole normale d'instituteurs - ENI). Stanowią oni 68,5% tej kategorii nauczycieli
w omawianej prowincji. 24,8% "południowców" ukończyło "szkołę nauczycieli pomocniczych" (L' ecole normale d 'instituteurs-adjoint - ENIA), co daje
60,7% w skali prowincji. Zaledwie ułamek procenta tej grupy legitymuje się
jedynie świadectwem szkoły podstawowej i prawie nie ma wśród niej (tylko
3 osoby) nauczycieli bez żadnych kwalifikacji (Atlas ..., 2000, s. 140-142).
Odpowiednie proporcje układają się całkowicie odmiennie w grupie nauczycieli pochodzących z prowincji Extreme Nord. Zaledwie 85 z nich 5,7% (!) (26,5% tej kategorii nauczycieli w skali prowincji) - zdobyło najwyższy stopień nauczycielski (instituteur einsegnement generale - lEG) lub
równorzędny, czyli ma kwalifikacje odpowiadające ukończeniu szkoły pedagogicznej. 29,6% omawianej grupy ukończyła szkoły dla "nauczycieli pomocniczych" i zajmuje stanowiska instituteurs adjoints einsegnement generale
- IAEG. 8,1% "tubylczych" nauczycieli (co stanowi 51,5% tej kategorii nauczycieli w prowincji) posiada tylko niepełne kwalifikacje pedagogiczne
i pełni różnego rodzaju funkcje określane jako "pomocnicze" (np. nauczycieli WF-u). W końcu to, co najjaskrawiej ilustruje poziom kwalifikacji kadry nauczycielskiej miejscowego pochodzenia - 33,4% omawianej grupy
(92,3% w skali prowincji) to tzw. "nauczyciele wspomagający nauczanie
ogólne" (maftres d'inseignement general auxiliaires - MEGA) legitymujący się jedynie świadectwem ukończenia szkoły podstawowej - CEPE. Najniżej wykształconą grupę nauczycieli państwowych - nie posiadający nawet takiego poziomu wykształcenia - tworzą tzw. "nauczyciele ochotniczy"
(maftres benevoles). Stanowią oni 16,2% "tubylczej" kadry i zarazem 95,6%
ogółu tej grupy "pedagogów"32 (Atlas ... , 2000, s. 140).
32 Wszystkie
dane dotyczące kwalifikacji nauczycieli z prowincji Extreme Nord podaję za:
At/as ... , (2000, s. 140).

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Fot. 6. Szkoła publiczna, wieś Nive, plemię Daba, fot. R. Vorbrich

Ci ostatni pracują głównie w małych wiejskich szkołach i rekrutowani są
l reguły wśród miejscowych
kilkunastoletnich chłopców, którzy "otarli" się
choćby o publiczną szkołę podstawową. Ukończyli oni przeważnie zaledwie
2-4 klasy szkoły podstawowej i - jak się osobiście przekonałem - często
ledwo potrafią mówić i pisać po francusku.
Osobną grupę nauczycieli "tubylczych", nie ujętą w powyższej statystyce, stanowią tzw. "nauczyciele rodziców" (maltres des parents). Nie są oni zatrudniani
przez państwo, lecz opłacani przez rodziców i lokalne "elity" (kupców, funkcjonariuszy państwowych itp.). Ich kwalifikacje oraz dokładną liczbę trudno ustalić. Można założyć, iż z reguły nie posiadają świadectwa szkoły podstawowej.
Szacunki dotyczące wielkości tej grupy w prowincji Extreme Nord są krańcowo
różne i wahają się od 44 do 1336 (!) (Atlas ..., 2000, s. 142), a więc dorównują
być może niemal liczbie miejscowych nauczycieli opłacanych przez państwo33•
Pochodzenie kadry szkolnictwa publicznego powoduje dodatkowe problemy.
Nauczyciele pochodzący z odległych, południowych regionów kraju traktująpracę
w zacofanej ("dzikiej") prowincji jako zsyłkę. Marzą tylko o przeniesieniu do
rodzinnych stron. Nie mają oni motywacji do lepszego przygotowania się do pracy
)) Pomijam w tym miejscu, istotny dla efektów kształcenia, problem niskiego (nawet jak na
A.frykę) uposażenia nauczycieli (zależnie od stażu i kwalifikacji - 25--45 tys. Fr CFA miesięczlie), którego poziom nie stanowi właściwej motywacji do pracy i sprzyja powszechnemu w Kanerunie zjawisku korupcji (nauczyciele wiejscy nagminnie wykorzystują uczniów do pracy na
;woich działkach rolniczych, nauczyciele miejscy "sprzedają" oceny, a zdarza się, że uczennice
;tarszych klas "kupują" oceny pozytywne za usługi seksualne).

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w trudnych warunkach34• Szczególnie trudna jest sytuacja nauczycieli przybyłych na wieś z miasta (lub odległych prowincji). Nie znającym lokalnych języków, miejscowych układów społecznych i zwyczajów trudniej przychodzi realizacja programu i jego dostosowanie do kultury swych uczniów35•
Z kolei nauczyciele "tubylczy", gorzej wykształceni, mogą nadrabiać braki
własnego przygotowania do pracy pedagoga znajomością lokalnego języka36
oraz rozeznaniem miejscowych warunków. Jednak im silniej są oni zintegrowani z miejscowymi społecznościami lokalnymi (ich wiek lokuje ich na niższych szczeblach tradycyjnej struktury społecznej), tym trudniej im niekiedy
zyskać odpowiedni prestiż otoczenia i posłuch u uczniów, swych nieco młodszych tylko kuzynów i sąsiadów.
Druga, zasygnalizowana już cecha miejscowego systemu szkolnictwa formalnego - jego dysharmonia z tradycyjną kulturą afrykańską - znajduje
swe źródło w omówionych wcześniej celach, jakie stawia sobie szkolnictwo
publiczne. Zmierza ono praktycznie do przełamania izolacji i przekształcenia tradycyjnego społeczeństwa (plemiennego) w społeczeństwo typu chłopskiego (lub miejskiego), zdolnego funkcjonować w szerszych strukturach,
w ramach cywilizacji industrialnej.
Wizja przyszłości zderza się tutaj z realiami pochodzącymi z odległej przeszłości. W rezultacie, w regionach o silnie zachowanych strukturach i mentalności plemiennej - a takim regionem jest w przeważającej mierze Kamerun
północny - szkoła pozostaje ciałem obcym, instytucją importowaną. Uwaga
ta nie odnosi się tylko do zarzuconych już w przeważającej mierze importowanych z Europy treści programowych i podręczników, przywołujących anegdotycznychjuż "naszych przodków Galów", lecz także do współczesnych, poddanych afrykanizacji programów nauczania, które często, co wykażę poniżej,
nie uwzględniają kontekstu kulturowego, w jakich będą realizowane.
Dla dzieci pochodzących ze środowiska wiejskiego, często o l 00% (lub
bliskim mu) wskaźniku analfabetyzmu, gdzie dopiero pierwsze pokolenie
(a nierzadko pierwsze roczniki) poddane jest skolaryzacji, czas spędzony
w szkole nie jest przedłużeniem wychowania rodzinnego. Szkoła nie tylko
wprowadza w świat im (oraz co ważniejsze także ich rodzicom) nie znany,

34 Zwłaszcza gdy kilka lat temu, z powodu trudności budżetowych,
zniesiono dodatek dla nauczycieli wiejskich i przeniesionych służbowo na prowincję.
35 Nieraz mogłem zaobserwować,
jak "importowani" wiejscy nauczyciele z widocznym lekceważeniem (lub co najwyżej protekcjonalnie) odnosili się do rodziców swych uczniów, ajako swoje główne posłannictwo traktowali "oduczenie" swych uczniów "zwyczajów z buszu".
36 Wbrew pozorom, w tych warunkach ujawnia się istotna rola naj niżej wykształconej
kadry:
"nauczycieli ochotniczych" i "nauczycieli rodziców". Nabiera ona na znaczeniu na najniższych
poziomach kształcenia - SIL i CPo "Tubylczy" nauczyciele stanowią bowiem trzon kadry w małych (o jednoosobowej obsadzie) szkółkach wiejskich, o niepełnych kursach kształcenia (jednolub dwuletnich), gdzie uczniowie stykają się po raz pierwszy z obcym językiem i kulturą.

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wprowadza nowe wartości, postawy i źródła prestiżu sprzeczne z tradycyjnym modelem życia plemienneg037.
Brakuje szerszych danych ukazujących stosunek izolowanych społeczności lokalnych do szkoły publicznej. Jak mogłem obserwować rozwój sytuacji
w górskich wioskach Kamerunu, gdzie "na moich oczach" powstawały pierwsze szkoły, z reguły problem nie istniał (nie odczuwano braku tej instytucji)
do czasu powstania szkoły w najbliższej sąsiedniej miejscowości. Gdy szkoła pojawiła się w zasięgu 2-3 godzin marszu, ujawniał się zróżnicowany do
niej stosunek,zależny od społecznej roli i statusu rodziców. Pierwszymi rodzicami, którzy posyłali tam swoje dzieci, były przeważnie osoby uwikłane
w ponadlokalne struktury gospodarcze lub polityczne (handlarze, działacze
partii politycznych). Kilka lat później to ich dzieci stawały się z reguły pierwszymi (co prawda niedouczonymi) nauczycielami w szkołach wybudowanych
w rodzinnych wioskach. Stawali się oni żywym przykładem nowych dróg
awansu społecznego, jakie otwiera szkoła publiczna.
Wspomniana bariera kulturowa dzieląca tradycyjne społeczności Afryki od
cywilizacji współczesnej (zdominowanej przez wzory zachodnie), którą próbuje upowszechniać szkoła kameruńska (i szkolnictwo afrykańskie w ogóle)
rzutuje na strukturę, metody i efekty szkolnictwa publicznego w tym kraju.
W Kamerunie, podobnie jak we wszystkich byłych koloniach francuskich,
przyjęto francuski model systemu edukacji. Jest on bardzo sformalizowany
i ogromnie ustrukturyzowany. W wersji francuskiej wydzielić w nim można
trzy główne poziomy nauczania: obejmujące 5 lat nauki szkolnictwo podstawowe (rico/es primaire), liczące łącznie 7 klas szkolnictwo ponadpodstawowe (enseignement secondaire) oraz szkolnictwo wyższe. Każdy z nich dzieli
się na dwa lub trzy poziomy pośrednie kończące się egzaminami sprawdzającymp8, przy czym kończący poziom ponadpodstawowy egzamin matural-

31 Jak mogłem się przekonać, w miejscowościach
(np. w Mandamie), gdzie szkoła istnieje już
kilkanaście lat, do nowych rad wioskowych wybiera się już nie tylko starców i przywódców grup
pokrewieństwa, lecz głównie osoby posiadające świadectwo ukończenia szkoły.
38 Szkolnictwo
podstawowe dzieli się na trzy segmenty: jednoroczny kurs przygotowawczy
(cours preparatoire) - CP, dwuletni kurs elementarny (cours elementaire) - CEl i CE2), oraz
dwuletni kurs średni (cours moyen) - CMI i CM2. Ukończenie ostatniej klasy kursu średniego
daje świadectwo szkoły podstawowej - tzw. CEPE (Certificat d'Etudes Primares Elementaires).
Szkolnictwo ponadpodstawowe dzieli się na dwa pośrednie poziomy: premier cyc/e - czteroletnie gimnazja (koledże - CiJlIeges)38oraz second cyc/e - trzyletnie licea (lycees). Gimnazja mogą
mieć profil humanistyczny (np. colleges d'enseignement general) - CEG lub ścisły (colleges d 'enseignement seconder) - CES. Wzorowany na francuskim, kameruński system szkolnictwa średniego dopełniają (w niewielkiej liczbie) gimnazja techniczne i handlowe (colleges d 'inseignement technique industriel et commercial) - CETIC oraz ich oddziały rzemieślnicze, rolnicze lub gospodarcze
(section artisana1es,rura/es, menageres) - SARIAM (Atlas... 2000: 139-142). Osobną kategorię tworzą
jeszcze w Kamerunie szkoły kształcące nauczycieli, na różnych poziomach - ecole normale oraz,
typowe dla całej Afiyki, różnego typu kursy kształcące i dokształcające nauczycieli, usytuowane przy
uniwersytetach, lecz dostępne dla osób bez świadectwa maturalnego lub nawet gimnazjalnego.

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ny ma miejsce już na uniwersytetach i otwiera drogę do ostatniego - trzeciego - poziomu edukacji (l'enseignemet superieure).
Wspomniana już przepaść dzieląca tradycyjną kulturę mieszkańców Kamerunu (zwłaszcza północnego) z wymogami szkolnictwa publicznego wymusiła pewne zmiany w przyjętym tu generalnie francuskim modelu systemu edukacyjnego. Najważniejszym novum jest wprowadzenie dodatkowego
- wstępnego - poziomu szkolnictwa podstawowego - tzw. SIL (Section
d'initiation a la lecture). Ma on na celu złagodzenie szoku kulturowego wśród
pierwszoklasistów i nadrobienie zaległości rozwojowych wynikających
z wychowania w środowisku cechującym się całkowicie odmienną, niepiśmienną kulturą. Kurs inicjujący naukę szkolną ma na celu przygotowanie dzieci do
łatwiejszego przezwyciężenia trudności i stresów związanych z adaptacją
do nowego środowiska społecznego. Nie dotyczy to tylko opanowania nowego i zupełnie nie znanego wcześniej języka - francuskiego (w Kamerunie
zachodnim jest to język angielski), lecz także przyswojenia wiedzy, wyrobienia nawyków i umiejętności, które dzieci europejskie, a także dzieci z miast
afrykańskich, wynoszą z reguły z domu rodzinnego.
Uczniowie na poziomie SIL uczą się np., co to jest papier i kreda (że nie
należy go jeść, choć z tym ostatnim przyborem bywają problemy i w polskiej
szkole), czym jest ołówek i długopis (są temu poświęcone specjalne lekcje),
uczą się punktualności i koncentracji.
Łatwiejszej adaptacji do wymogów szkolnych służy nie tylko odpowiednio opracowany program, lecz i metody dydaktyczne. Na poziomie SIL prowadzi się zajęcia z 11przedmiotów w cyklach dwutygodniowych, odpowiednio po 23 lA i 19 Y2 godziny (5 lub 6 dni) tygodniowo.
Tab!. l. Struktura i rozkład czasowy przedmiotów na poziomie S I L
(w układzie dwutygodniowym):
godziny

przedmiot
tydzień l
język (francuski)
nauka czytania
nauka pisania
rachunki
nauka wysławiania się (recytacji)
moralność (obyczajowość)*
wychowanie fizyczne
rysunek
edukacja dotycząca zmysłów **
prace ręczne
zajęcia rolnicze
(Źródło: Toumeux, Iyebi-Mandjek,

6h
4h
2h
2h
Oh
Oh
3h
l h

45
45
30
45
45
00
00
O h 30
O h 30
O h 45

1996, s. 134)

tydzień 2

5h
3 h 30
2 h 30
2 h 15
O h 30
O h 30
2 h 30
O h 30
O h 30
O h 30
O h 45

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* zajęcia obejmują fonny zachowania się w nowym środowisku, kwestii ubioru (nie należy przychodzić nago do szkoły), zasad hierarchii społecznej (zachowania się w stosunku do rówieśników i nauczycieli), wyrabiają dyscyplinę (dotyczą zachowania się podczas lekcji, sposobu zabierania głosu itp.).
** Zajęcia dotyczą nauki koncentracji i percepcji (np. nauki rozpoznawania - oglądania rysunków, ilustracji dwuwymiarowych)39.

Metody nauki oraz programy dostosowane są teoretycznie nie tylko do
zdolności dzieci (np. umiejętności koncentracji), ale także do ich wcześniejszych doświadczeń i wzorów miejscowej kultury. W praktyce owo dostosowanie programów do kwalifikacji miejscowej kadry i miejscowego kontekstu kulturowego nie przebiega bez trudności. Na przykład zakłada się, iż ponieważ sześcio-siedmioletnim dzieciom wiejskim trudno byłoby wysiedzieć
w skupieniu na lekcji, powinny one trwać na poziomie inicjującym od 15 do
30 minut (Toumeux, Iyebi-Mandjek, 1996, s. 134). Jak mogłem się nieraz przekonać osobiście, w przeładowanych i cierpiących na braki lokalowe i kadrowe
szkółkach wiejskich (w klasach liczących 60-70 uczniów) lekcje trwają
z reguły dłużej (bez wyraźnych przerw), bowiem w przepisanym czasie nauczyciel nie byłby w stanie zrealizować programu.
W tych samych szkołach nauka języka francuskiego, prowadzona przez
nauczycieli słabo znających ten język, polega głównie na zbiorowym powtarzaniu (skandowaniu) zdań podawanych przez nauczyciela, na sposób typowy dla opisanej tu wcześniej szkoły koranicznej.
Efektywności nauczania w różnym stopniu sprzyja także treść podręczników. Mimo zmian (usunięciu europejskiego kontekstu kulturowego), podręczniki i programy nie zawsze potrafią uwzględnić realia kulturowe środowiska, w którym wzrastają wiejskie dzieci. Za przykład, jak trudno pogodzić
realia afrykańskie z wymogami upowszechnienia współczesnej cywilizacji
technicznej, może posłużyć treść zadania, jakie muszą rozwiązać uczniowie
SIL (po 30 tygodniach nauki)40:
Dzieci wybrały się samochodem w odwiedziny do babci, która (jak każda prawdziwa afrykańska babcia) mieszka oczywiście na wsi. "Dzieci pojechały samochodem (...), lecz nie dojechały, ponieważ samochód .... (tu należy wskazać prawidłową odpowiedź):
....zarzuciło
....miał wypadek
....eksplodował
....osiadł na mieliźnie.

Wyboru odpowiedzi, w obcym dla nich języku francuskim, mają dokonać
izieci, które nie tylko nie mają własnego podręcznika (ma go tylko nauczy39Jak mogłem się wielokrotnie przekonać, ludność z izolowanych wiosek (górskich) nie potrafiła
:xlczytać (rozpoznać szczegółów) zdjęć fotograficznych. Moim infonnatorom było obojętne czy oglą:Iająje pionowo, poziomo czy też "do góry nogami". Sprawiali wrażenie,jakby nic "tarn" nie widzieli.
40 Por. Toumeux, Iyebi-Mandjek
(1996, s. 206).

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ciel), w których domach nie pojawiła się nigdy żadna książka (lub gazeta
z ilustracjami) i które nigdy nie widziały morza, rzeki, a niekiedy nawet samochodu.
Opisana bariera kulturowa pomiędzy środowiskiem szkolnym a rodziną
wpływa znacząco i ujemnie na efekty procesu edukacyjnego.
O skali trudności adaptacyjnych dzieci rozpoczynających naukę świadczy
już procent uczniów przerywających naukę i tzw. "repetentów"41. W prowincji Extreme Nord do ostatniej klasy szkoły podstawowej dociera zaledwie
25% uczniów, przy czym w departamentach mało zurbanizowanych (np. górskich) - zaledwie 17-19%. Co znamienne, największy (skokowy) ubytek
uczniów ma miejsce między poziomem SIL a kolejnym (CP). Do drugiej klasy
dociera zaledwie 55% pierwszoklasistów (w departamentach słabo zurbanizowanych jeszcze mniej - 43-52%) (Atlas ... 2000, s. 139). Dodatkowo
problemy adaptacyjne dzieci w początkowych (i nie tylko) latach nauki szkolnej ilustruje zjawisko drugoroczności. W omawianym regionie wynosi ono na
poziomie SIL aż 45%, podczas gdy średniaogólnokameruńska 38,5%42.W wyższych klasach wskaźnik ten oscyluje z reguły między 32,4% a 37% (w całym
Kamerunie 27,0-29,9%). Co ciekawe, wskaźnik drugoroczności jest największy w ostatniej klasie szkoły podstawowej (CM2) i wynosi w prowincji Extreme Nord 53,2% (w całym kraju zaledwie 37,1%) (Atlas..., 2000, s. 139-142).
Związane jest to z faktem, iż ukończenie szkoły podstawowej (zdobycie świadectwa - CEPE) jest warunkiem znalezienia pracy w sektorze państwowym
(a praktycznie także w sektorze prywatnym). Uczniowie ostatniej klasy,
zwłaszcza w środowisku miejskim, uparcie i wielokrotnie podejmują więc
wysiłek zdobycia świadectwa, zwiększającego ich szansę awansu społecznego. Cytowane powyżej dane statystyczne pokazują, iż ukończenie ostatniej klasy przychodzi z większym trudem młodzieży z zacofanych regionów
kraju43.
41 Pierwsze
zjawisko jest plagą głównie regionów wiejskich, gdzie dzieci łatwiej przerywają
naukę, nie znajdując większej motywacji do jej kontynuowania, drugie spotyka się częściej w miastach, gdzie nowe wzory prestiżu i awansu społecznego lepiej motywują uczniów do mozolnego
pokonywania szczebli "kariery" szkolnej (por. Atlas ... , 2000, s. 139; Toumeux, Iyćbi-Mandjek,
1996, s. 164n.).
42 Szkolnictwo
północnokameruńskie - obejmujące zaledwie 9,2% uczniów całego kraju "dostarcza" aż 13,4% "repetentów" (na poziomie SIL - 16,5%) (Boutrai, 1984, s. 468).
43 Pomijam w tym miejscu istotny, lecz nie zawsze uchwytny statystycznie,
problem wpływu
trudności lokalowych i sprzętowych dla efektów nauczania. Zaledwie 61,3% szkół omawianego
regionu zbudowanych jest z trwałego materiału (wypalanej cegły itp.), wiele z nich (głównie wiejskich) mieści się w budynkach o ścianach wzniesionych z gliny (15,7%) lub w prowizorycznych
szałasach (23%) (Atlas ... , 2000, s. 140). Zagęszczenie klas jest tu ogromne i wynosi średnio 65
uczniów, przy normie dopuszczonej przez kameruńskie Ministerstwo Edukacji Narodowej, wynoszącej - 50 (Atlas ... , 2000, s. 140). W wielu szkołach wiejskich brak ławek (uczniowie siedzą na
kamieniach lub suszonych na słońcu cegłach), a zdarza się, że nawet i tablic. Uczniowie piszą
kredą na połamanych drewnianych tabliczkach lub ołówkiem na skrawkach papieru.

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Fot. 7. Warsztaty mechaniczne, Gimnazjum Ojców Szkolnych w Douala, fot. R. Vorbrich

Efekty szkolnictwa podstawowego rzutują bezpośrednio na poziom pu)licznego szkolnictwa ponadpodstawowego. Jest on powszechnie uznawany
:a niski (naj niższy w kraju). Pierwsze gimnazja i licea (colleges) pojawiły się
u (w Nagaundere i Garoua) w latach 50. A ich właściwy rozwój nastąpił do)iero w latach 60. i 70. Trudną sytuację wynikającą z opóźnienia pogorszyła
lodatkowo polityka miejscowych władz, które postawiły na wzrost ilościovy, a nie jakościowy tego typu szkolnictwa. Liczbę szkół próbowano dostoować tu nie do rzeczywistych potrzeb i możliwości społeczności lokalnych,
ecz do liczby nowo kreowanych jednostek administracyjnych. Jedno gimnajum przypadać miało w ten sposób co najmniej na jeden arrondissement
powiat), a liceum najeden departament. Co więcej, powołanie nowej szkoły
"ładze i społeczności lokalne zaczęły traktować jako argument w staraniach
l awans w strukturze administracyjnej regionu44•
Nic dziwnego, iż szkolnictwo ponadpodstawowe boryka się z typowymi
,problemami wzrostu". O ile łatwiej inicjatywom lokalnym pokonać przezkody materialne (poprzez wznoszenie prowizorycznych budynków), o tyle
:nacznie trudniej przychodzi im pokonanie ogromnych luk kadrowych. O skali
lroblemu świadczy fakt, iż zdecydowana większość nauczycieli gimnazjów

44 Gdy w poprzednim
roku odwiedziłem Mandamę (wieś znaną mi od 25 lat), w której pierwza szkoła - dwuoddziałowa - pojawiła się przed 20 laty, mieszkańcy z dumą pokazali mi nowo,znoszony, dwuizbowy budynek przyszłego gimnazjum. Mówili: "teraz, gdy będziemy mieli gimazjum, będzie u nas jak w mieście, pewnie niedługo Mandama zostanie stolicą dystryktu".

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pochodzi z Południa, w tym ponad 113 z zachodnich, głównie anglojęzycznych, prowincji kraju (Atlas ... , 2000, s. 142)45.
Taka sytuacja sprzyja na pierwszy rzut oka wyrównywaniu różnic rozwojowych, lecz w konsekwencji utrwala niski poziom szkolnictwa średniego
w prowincjach północnych. W ślad za kadrą nauczającą ściągają tu też z całego kraju "wędrujący repetenci" (zwani vagabonds seolaires), dla których szkoła
na Północy stanowi ostatnią szansę zdobycia dyplomu gimnazjum lub (częściej)
liceum. Powoduje to nie tylko obniżenie standardów, lecz także ogromne "przepełnienie" gimnazjów i liceów. Pochodząca z zewnątrz presja demograficzna
wywierana na licea i brak specjalistycznej kadry, przyczynia się do nieproporcjonalnego rozwoju liceów i niedorozwoju szkolnictwa techniczneg046•
Sztucznie rozbudowane szkolnictwo ponadpodstawowe nie spełnia zatem
swoich podstawowych funkcji - tworzenia średnich kadr oraz podstawy rozwoju szkolnictwa wyższego. Można powiedzieć, iż między innymi z tego
powodu szkolnictwo wyższe osiągnęło w Kamerunie północnym zaledwie
zalążkową postać. Ten problem powinien stanowić już jednak przedmiot odrębnego studium47•
Przedstawiony opis różnego pochodzenia systemów edukacyjnych pokazał, iż odmienne w formie i treści systemy wychowania i edukacji działają
w Kamerunie północnym równolegle, przenikając się i uzupełniając w ograniczonym zakresie.
Pluralizm systemów edukacyjnych, poprzez ścieranie się partykularyzmów
i wartości uniwersalnych, może wpływać na ich efektywność i osiągnięcie
zakładanych celów przez każdy z nich.
W zależności od stopnia ich wzajemnych relacji, zjawisko pluralizmu może
ułatwiać otwarcie jednostki i społeczności definiujących się kulturowo lub
etnicznie na inne sfery (poziomy) rzeczywistości społecznej, przez co ułatwić
im proces samoidentyfikacji w społeczeństwie typu narodowego. Może też w wypadku nierównomiemego rozłożenia relacji i stopnia partycypacji w róż45 W tym kontekście jeszcze jedna liczba dobrze ilustruje zarówno braki kadrowe, jak i rezerwę
ludności muzułmańskiej do szkolnictwa publicznego. W regionie, którego ponad 50% mieszkańców wyznaje islam, zaledwie 2% nauczycieli szkół ponadpodstawowych to muzułmanie (Atlas ...,
2000, s. 142).
46 W 1997 r. odnotowano
w Kamerunie północnym 15 566 Iicealistów i zaledwie 4 916 gimnazjalistów (Atlas ... , 2000, s. 142). W tym samym czasie potencjał szkolnictwa technicznego równał się tu 1% tego typu szkolnictwa w skali kraju (jw.).
47 Od 1982 roku powstało
w Ngaundere, stolicy skrajnie południowej prowincji Kamerunu
południowego, tzw. Centrum Uniwersyteckie (Centre Universitaire de Ngaunden!). Na początku
lat 90., dzięki pomocy norweskiej, uzyskało ono w pełni status uniwersytecki i znajduje się pod
opieką materialną i merytoryczną Uniwersytetu w Trams (Noah Nga Mveng, 1996, s. 3), nadal
jest to jednak bardzo skromny ośrodek naukowy i dydaktyczny. Większość młodzieży z Kamerunu północnego, decydująca się na kontynuowanie nauki na wyższym poziomie, udaje się do odległej
o 700-1500 km stolicy kraju - Yaounde. Być może zmieni się to w najbliższych latach. W 2001
roku rozpoczęto bowiem organizację uniwersytetu w Maroua - największym mieście regionu.

�129

nych systemach edukacyjnych - utrwalać podziały społeczne i kulturowe, przenosząc je z poziomu plemiennego i etnicznego na poziom społeczeństwa narodowego.
W konsekwencji brak równowagi i harmonii między wzorami socjalizacji
przyczynić się może do tworzenia w Afryce społeczeństwa typu postplemiennego, w którym elementy struktur i postaw plemiennych (kolektywizm, przewaga związków krwi nad dowolnymi, statusem zależnym od przynależności
etnicznej) dość przypadkowo przemieszane są z instytucjami i zasadami wytworzonymi w społeczeństwie Zachodu (kategorią obywatela lub wzorami
sukcesu osobistego).

BIBLIOGRAFIA
ABC Świat ...
1999
ABC Świat. Afryka II, red. W. Maik, Poznań.
Atlas ....
2000
Atlas de la Province Extreme Nord, Paris.
Boutrais J.
1984
Le Nord Cameroun: des hommes, une region, Paris.
Dongmo J.-L.
1996
Evolution recente de la scolarisation des jeunes dans l 'Adamawa 1ge-20e. siec/e, "Ngaundere-Antropos" vol. l s. 29-54.
Education (Annuaire UNESCO), Paris, table 4.
Islam or christianity? The Chaises ofthe Wawa and the Kwanja ofCameroun, "Africa" t. 69 (2), s. 179-200.
Griaule M.
1948
Dieu de l'eau, Paris.
Hamadou A.
1993
Naissance et evolution de l'enseignement franco-arabe
Universite de Bordeaux III).

(these de doct.,

Sociologie de l'enseignement en Afrique Noire, "Cahiers intemationaux
de socjologie" vol. LIII, no 2, 1972, s. 337-362.
Noah Nga Mveng 1.
1996
Preface, "Ngaundere-Antropos" vol. l, s. 3-4.
Przeglądowy Atlas ...
1998
Przeglądowy Atlas Świata. Afryka, Kraków.
Toumeux H., lyebi-Mandjek O.,
1996
L 'ecole dans une petite ville africaine Maroua, Cameroun, Paris.
Vorbrich R.
Tradycyjne religie Kamerunu wobec chrześcijaństwa i islamu, "Lud" t. 84,
2000
s.37-48.

�130
Ryszard Vorbrich
THE TRADITIONAL AFRICAN COMMUNITY AND THE SCHOOL.
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS IN THE PLURALISTIC SOCIETY
OFCAMEROON
(Summary)
The study analyses (and compares) three types of educational systems in sub-Saharan
Africa: the traditional tribal system of socialization, Koranic schooling and formal (public) schools based on Western tradition.
The empirical part of the article is based on field studies conducted (1999-200 I) in
northern Cameroon and different types of sources (statistical data and other publications)
referring to this region of Africa. Northern Cameroon is particularly useful for comparative studies ofthe educational systems as it is here that the influence ofnative cultures of
black Africa and great universal civilizations of Islam and the West cross and overlap
here.
Each of the educational systems has different objectives, uses different methods, different language, comprises societies of a different scale and character.
The traditional education focuses on introducing the child into a defined order of
collective life, inculcating the cultural norms into the child, recognized in a given culture as necessary to strengthen the identity and harmonious coexistence ofthe community.
The aim of the Koranic education is to inculcate the patterns of behaviour into children, which govern not only the relations between people but also, and first of all, their
personal relations with the creator. The objective is to make a child a "good" Muslim.
The formal education introduced the Western model of education to Cameroon. It is
characterized by formalized, complex and hierarchical structures. Its aim is to teach the
children the attitudes and skills allowing them to independently and effectively function
in the modem national community.

�</text>
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                <text>S

T

U

D

DANUTA

I

A

I

M

A

T

E

R

I

A

Ł

Y

MARKOWSKA

TRADYCYJNA

SPOŁECZNOŚĆ

WIOSKOWA W

PROCESIE

ZMIAN

Przedmiotem rozważań są przeobrażenia gospodarczo-społeczne wsi
M o d l n i c y pod K r a k o w e m na przestrzeni l a t 1880—1960 . N a t y m p r z y ­
kładzie pragniemy ukazać proces przemian od w s i rolniczej, i w znacznym
jeszcze stopniu „zamkniętej", do w s i podmiejskiej ze zróżnicowaną s t r u k ­
turą społeczno-zawodową ludności, której życie gospodarcze, społeczne
i k u l t u r a l n e da się dzisiaj wyjaśnić jedynie charakterem j e j powiązań
s t r u k t u r a l n y c h i f u n k c j o n a l n y c h z miastem i ośrodkami przemysłowymi.
Omówimy s k u t k i , j a k i e dla życia zbiorowego mieszkańców w s i miał p r o ­
ces różnicowania się s t r u k t u r y społeczno-zawodowej , j a k burzył o n l u b
przekształcał dawne więzi lokalne, j a k rugował tradycyjne autorytety na
rzecz n o w y c h autorytetów oraz j a k i wpływ wywarł na krystalizowanie
się cech i modelu zawodu „rolnika".
1

2

Dla ustalenia, w jakiej mierze proces stwierdzony w e w s i badanej jest
t y p o w y d l a strefy podmiejskiej K r a k o w a , dokonano porównania p r z e m i a n
s t r u k t u r y społeczno-zawodowej ludności z analogicznymi przemianami
w k i l k u i n n y c h wsiach t e j strefy . Przed w y t y p o w a n i e m w s i M o d l n i c y
do badań monograficznych przeprowadzono badania lustracyjne w w i e l u
3

\ Artykuł t e n s t a n o w i f r a g m e n t
tedrze

Etnografii

Dobrowolskiego.
dotyczące
2

cych

W

Ogólnej
W

okresu
naukach

różne

będziemy

p r a c y m a g i s t e r s k i e j , p i s a n e j w 1955 r. w K a ­

i Socjologii

latach

1958 i

U. J.

pod k i e r u n k i e m prof,

1960 p r z e p r o w a d z o n o

społecznych

względnie

tego

spotyka

zjawiska.

trwałe

się

wiele

D l a celów

wykonywanie

definicji

naszej

czynności

formalnie),

zaspokajaniu

3

towej

te czynności

Wyzyskano
dane

źródło

potrzeb

(najczęściej

nazywać
usługo­

określonych

społecznych, a stanowiących

t u p r z e d e w s z y s t k i m materiały G ł ó w n e g o Urzędu

Narodowej w

lub

d l a osób

utrzymania.

s t a t y s t y c z n e Wydziału R o l n e g o

Rady

podkreślają­

zawodem

wytwórczych

określonych społecznie k w a l i f i k a c j i

służących

zawodu,

analizy

w y c h , wymagających

oraz

uzupełniające,

1955—1960.

aspekty

wykonujących

dr K a z i m i e r z a

badania

Krakowie.

Statystycznego

i Wydziału E w i d e n c j i Ludności

Powia­

�DANUTA

76

MARKOWSKA

wsiach strefy podkrakowskiej. Następnie podjęto badania monograficzne
w jednej w s i , rekonstruując interesujący nas proces poprzez odtwarzanie
historii poszczególnych rodzin aktualnie zamieszkujących wieś (aż do trze­
ciej generacji wstecz). Nadto zebrano w miarę możliwości dane o r o d z i ­
nach, które niegdyś tę wieś zamieszkiwały. Pomocniczo wyzyskano także
źródła archiwalne.
Badany proces omówiony zostanie w trzech przekrojach
lata 1880-1918, 1918-1945, 1945-1960.

czasowych:

Ten podział chronologiczny, stosowany w w i e l u badaniach w sposób'
konwencjonalny, znajduje w przypadku omawianego zagadnienia głębsze
uzasadnienie. Każdy z wyróżnionych okresów cechuje się bowiem własną
specyfiką s t r u k t u r y społeczno-zawodowej. Najogólniej można b y określić
pierwszy z nich jako okres r o z w o j u popańszczyźnianego, wyraźnie jeszcze
kontynuujący dziedzictwo pańszczyźniane zarówno w strukturze społecz­
nej ludności (opartej przede w s z y s t k i m na strukturze własnościowej w r o l ­
nictwie), j a k i w charakterze lokalnych powiązań. Okres ten cechuje j e d ­
nak już prawno-formalna samodzielność chłopstwa, a także przypada na
niego swobodny i b u j n y r o z k w i t w i e l u dziedzin k u l t u r y ludowej. D r u g i
okres m a charakter przejściowy. S t r u k t u r a własnościowa w r o l n i c t w i e
traci z wolna na dominującym znaczeniu, coraz szerzej i silniej przeja­
w i a się dążność do powiązania z miastem przez zawody pozarolnicze. Jed­
nakże miasto nie jest w stanie wchłonąć rezerw siły roboczej w s i . N i e ­
pewność i brak stabilizacji zajęć pozarolniczych nie pozwala na wykształ­
cenie się nowej s t r u k t u r y społeczno-zawodowej mieszkańców w s i . Wresz­
cie okres po 1945 r o k u wiąże rezerwy siły roboczej w s i w sposób trwały
z ośrodkami przemysłowymi i miastem, przynosząc w efekcie nową po­
stać s t r u k t u r y społeczno-zawodowej ludności, która charakteryzuje się d o ­
minantą liczebną kategorii chłopów-robotników, pojawieniem się r o b o t n i ­
ków przemysłowych, traktujących wieś jedynie jako miejsce zamieszka­
nia, oraz malejącą stale grupą rolników nie zarobkujących poza gospo­
darstwem.
I.

OKRES

L A T 1880-1918

Jest t o zjawisko znamienne, że m i m o bliskości K r a k o w a (12 k m ) wieśzachowuje w t y m okresie charakter prawie „czysto" rolniczy. Około
1880 r o k u na ogólną liczbę 70 r o d z i n zamieszkujących wieś 9% s t a n o 4

B r a k d l a tego o k r e s u d a n y c h s t a t y s t y c z n y c h . P o d a n y o b r a z został z r e ­
k o n s t r u o w a n y n a p o d s t a w i e h i s t o r i i r o d z i n . N a z w y poszczególnych k a t e g o r i i s p o ­
łecznych właścicieli g o s p o d a r s t w podano t u w e d ł u g m i e j s c o w e j t e r m i n o l o g i i . W n i e
p u b l i k o w a n y c h materiałach a r c h i w a l n y c h dotyczących tej w s i ( A r c h i w u m
Pań­
s t w o w e w K r a k o w i e , A r c h i w u m M o d l n i c k i e Konopków S y g n . A M K n r 1) z n a j 4

�TRADYCYJNA

SPOŁECZNOŚĆ

WIOSKOWA

W

PROCESIE

ZMIAN

77

w i l i kmiecie
(8,5 do 14 i więcej ha), 15% zagrodnicy
(5,5 do 8,5 ha),
3 1 % t z w . gospodarze (2 do 5,5 ha), 19% t z w . półgospodarze (0,5 do 2 ha),
16% chałupnicy i komornicy,
c z y l i ludność bezrolna. B r a k p r a w i e rze­
mieślników. Z usług rzemieślniczych ludność korzysta w e wsiach sąsied­
nich l u b nabywa odpowiednie w y r o b y na l o k a l n y c h jarmarkach. N i e w y ­
stępują podówczas jeszcze znaczniejsze różnice w k i e r u n k a c h p r o d u k c y j ­
nych gospodarstw chłopskich czy poziomie k u l t u r y rolnej. Toteż w t y c h
w a r u n k a c h dochód z gospodarstwa, a co za t y m idzie, poziom b y t o w y r o ­
d z i n rolników wyznaczony był przede w s z y s t k i m rozmiarami własności
ziemi. Co więcej, sezonowość, dorywczość czy ogólniej — brak stabili­
zacji zajęć pozarolniczych powoduje, że w o m a w i a n y m okresie s t r u k t u r a
własnościowa w r o l n i c t w i e jest zasadniczym czynnikiem, określającym
pozycję materialną i społeczną rodziny.
S t r u k t u r a własnościowa gospodarstw chłopskich charakteryzuje się
znacznymi krańcowościami, lecz było to zróżnicowanie w obrębie zawodu
r o l n i k a (jeśli dla tego okresu można użyć t e r m i n u „zawód" na określenie
pracy rolniczej). Bezrolna i małorolna ludność w s i stanowiła istotny ele­
ment s t r u k t u r y klasowej wsi, ale nie tworzyła jeszcze grup zawodowych.
Niemniej ogromna masa rodzin zmuszona była zdobywać czy uzupełniać
środki utrzymania pracą najemną w r o l n i c t w i e l u b poza r o l n i c t w e m . Je­
d y n i e b o w i e m kmiecie i zagrodnicy oraz bogatsi spośród gospodarzy mogli
przy ówczesnym poziomie gospodarki rolnej i poziomie potrzeb b y t o w y c h
zapewnić wszystkim członkom rodziny pracę i utrzymanie w e własnym
gospodarstwie. Już w rodzinach gospodarzy, a powszechnie półgospodarzy
uzupełniano źródła u t r z y m a n i a różnego rodzaju pracami zarobkowymi,
a dla rodzin chałupników i komorników praca najemna stanowiła jedyne
l u b główne źródło utrzymania. Nie t y l k o aktualna sytuacja gospodarcza
i rodzinna skłaniała do podjęcia pracy najemnej, ale również groźba
pauperyzacji wisząca n a d młodym pokoleniem w związku z l i c z n y m i
działami r o d z i n n y m i ziemi. Starano się j e j zapobiec przez zdobycie go­
tówki drogą p r a c y najemnej i d o k u p y w a n i e ziemi.
Dla analizy znaczenia pracy najemnej w życiu społeczności w s i waż­
ne jest rozróżnienie na pracę najemną w r o l n i c t w i e i pracę najemną poza
r o l n i c t w e m . Praca najemna w r o l n i c t w i e była w o m a w i a n y m okresie bar­
dzo rozpowszechniona i w postaci zajęcia stałego l u b sezonowego obej­
mowała około 35% rodzin, natomiast wszelkiego rodzaju prace najemne
poza r o l n i c t w e m obejmowały znacznie mniejszy odłam ludności, bo za-

d u j e m y d l a końca X V I I I w . t y l k o następujące k a t e g o r i e ludności: k m i e c i e , z a ­
g r o d n i c y , chałupnicy, k o m o r n i c y . W y d a j e się, iż k a t e g o r i e „gospodarzy" i „pół­
g o s p o d a r z y " , wyróżniane p r z e z ludność pod k o n i e c X I X w., są p r o d u k t e m r o z w o j u
s t r u k t u r y własnościowej o k r e s u popańszczyżnianego.

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ledwie 10% rodzin. Nadto n i e miały one charakteru stałego. Jednakże
właśnie one zasługują na baczniejszą uwagę. W nich bowiem, a nie w p r a ­
cach najemnych w rolnictwie, tkwił zalążek przyszłej s t r u k t u r y społeczno­
-zawodowej ludności w s i .
U j m i j m y łącznie wszelkiego rodzaju prace poza własnym czy r o d z i ­
cielskim gospodarstwem i spójrzmy na nie o d strony i c h znaczenia dla
ludności w s i . Wszelkie prace tego rodzaju mogły być w różnych t y p a c h
rodzin i w różnych sytuacjach r o d z i n n y c h : a) głównym źródłem u t r z y m a ­
nia; b) ubocznym, lecz stałym źródłem u t r z y m a n i a ; c) okresowym l u b d o ­
raźnym źródłem utrzymania (sposób uzupełniania budżetu rodziny. G o ­
tówka zdobywana na cele gospodarstwa rolnego. Sposób zdobywania go­
tówki d l a dokonania spłat rodzinnych itp.); d) prace w y k o n y w a n e przez
osoby w stanie bezżennym (nawet z zamożniejszych rodzin) miały n a celu
gromadzenie gotówki na potrzeby przyszłego gospodarstwa bądź też zdo­
b y w a n i e nawyków pracy i umiejętności p r z y d a t n y c h w e własnym g o ­
spodarstwie (praca młodych dziewcząt w mieście w charakterze służą­
cych, pomocnic k u c h e n n y c h w restauracjach, pomocnic u cukierników,
u krawców itp.).
Otóż praca najemna w r o l n i c t w i e spełniała w o m a w i a n y m okresie rolę
stałego, zarówno głównego, j a k i ubocznego źródła utrzymania. Natomiast
prace najemne poza r o l n i c t w e m mogły być t y l k o doraźnym źródłem d o ­
chodu l u b zajęciem przejściowym z p u n k t u widzenia losów życiowych
jednostki.
D o najważniejszych prac n a j e m n y c h w r o l n i c t w i e należy zaliczyć
zatrudnienie w m i e j s c o w y m f o l w a r k u Konopków w charakterze k a r b o ­
w y c h , polowych, stangretów, f o r n a l i , czeladzi, służby kuchennej i p o k o ­
j o w e j . Były t o wszystko zajęcia o charakterze stałym. N a j e m stały opie­
rał się n a u m o w a c h rocznych zawieranych przez dwór z głowami r o ­
dzin („oirdyniaria"). Nadto w sezonie prac p o l n y c h angażowano d o pracy
również żony i dzieci fornali, ¡ale ma w a r u n k a c h n a j m u sezonowego^. W y ­
nagrodzenie roczne otrzymywać m i e l i fornale w p r o d u k t a c h r o l n y c h
i gotówce. W p r a k t y c e jednak dwór wypłacał częstokroć wszystko w p r o ­
duktach r o l n y c h , stosując przeliczenie według a k t u a l n y c h cen r y n k o w y c h . .
P r a k t y k o w a n o również formę opłaty za pracę k w i t k a m i , za które można
było w karczmach d w o r s k i c h nabywać różne artykuły (sól, cukier, naftę,
zapałki), a przede w s z y s t k i m wódkę. Poza stałymi n a j e m n i k a m i dwór
zatrudniał sezonowo pewną liczbę rąk roboczych ze w s i oraz grupę p r z y byszówngórali. T y c h ostatnich opłacano gotówką, natomiast n a j e m sezo­
n o w y opłacano częstokroć również p r o d u k t a m i r o l n y m i i k w i t a m i . '
Ze stałego n a j m u korzystał również miejscowy f o l w a r k plebański
i niektórzy spośród bogatszych gospodarzy. Jednakże t e prace najemne
mają d l a w s i znaczenie marginalne w porównaniu z rolą d w o r u Konopków.

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Do najczęstszych zajęć pozarolniczych dla robotników n i e w y k w a l i f i k o ­
wanych należała praca w b u d o w n i c t w i e mieszkaniowym w K r a k o w i e ,
prace przy budowie dróg i l i n i i k o l e j o w y c h oraz prace transportowe. T e
ostatnie związane były z położeniem w s i przy szlaku do b. Królestwa
Kongresowego, poza t y m granice w s i M o d l n i c y i w s i Szyce t o zarazem
granice zaboru austriackiego i rosyjskiego. Miejscowi gospodarze posiada­
jący konia i furmankę n a j m o w a l i się w zimie u kupców żydowskich d o
przewozu towarów znad granicy rosyjskiej do K r a k o w a . Z sąsiednich
lasów Czajowskich, położonych już n a terenie t z w . Kongresówki, zwożono
drzewo do K r a k o w a , skąd spławiano je następnie do Gdańska. Miejscowa
ludność najmowała się także do transportu towarów znad granicy p r u ­
skiej, spod Krzeszowic do K r a k o w a . Z możliwości prac transportowych
korzystali również bogaci kmiecie, lecz prace te powierzali parobkom l u b
najmowali „na dniówkę", gdyż względy prestiżowe nie pozwalały i m zaj­
mować się tego rodzaju pracami osobiście. Należy t u wspomnieć o prze­
mycie, który jednakże nie był zajęciem jakiejś określonej g r u p y społecz­
nej; o jego wyborze decydowały cechy i n d y w i d u a l n e . Interesującym r o ­
dzajem zajęć pozarolniczych, w y k o n y w a n y m wyłącznie przez kobiety,
było k r a w i e c t w o i haft. W M o d l n i c y szyto stroje ludowe krakowskie i stąd
między i n n y m i przemycano je w bańkach od m l e k a na tereny zaboru
rosyjskiego. W początkach omawianego okresu j e d y n y m zajęciem pozarolniczym gwarantującym względną stabilizację była służba domowa
w K r a k o w i e . Jednakże właśnie to zajęcie traktowane było przez d z i e w ­
częta jako okresowe.
Z początkiem X X w i e k u nasiliły się i zróżnicowały prace murarskie
w K r a k o w i e . Przystąpiono między i n n y m i do prac restauracyjnych na
Wawelu, budowano nowe dzielnice. W i e l u mieszkańców w s i znalazło
w związku z t y m zatrudnienie. Z d o b y w a l i o n i częstokroć bardzo wyso­
kie kwalifikacje, lecz i i c h praca nie rokowała stabilizacji. Wzrost z a t r u d ­
nienia pozarolniczego stanowi pewną konkurencję dla d w o r u i zmusza go
do opłaty gotówkowej za pracę najemną. Dysponowanie gotówką rodzi
wśród najemnych w r o l n i c t w i e tendencję do oszczędzania na zakup k a ­
wałka g r u n t u . T a k więc nasilenie się zajęć pozarolniczych nie pozostało
bez wpływu na stosunki pracy w r o l n i c t w i e .
B r a k szans na stabilizację w zawodzie pozarolniczym powoduje, iż
powszechnym dążeniem ludności 'bezrolnej i małorolnej było zakupienie
kawałka z i e m i i przejście w hierachii społecznej w s i do kategorii gospo­
darzy. Wzwyż awans na tej drodze był prawie niemożliwy. Godny u w a g i
jest fakt, iż r o b o t n i c y b u d o w l a n i z a t r u d n i e n i w K r a k o w i e częstokroć zdo­
b y w a l i bardzo wysokie kwalifikacje z pogranicza b u d o w n i c t w a i rzemiosła
artystycznego, lecz i c h wysokie kwalifikacje, oceniane pozytywnie j a k o
cechy i n d y w i d u a l n e , nie miały praktycznie żadnego prawie znaczenia dla

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rangi społecznej człowieka w obrębie społeczności wioskowej. Ściślej, m i a ­
ły jedynie pośrednio — o t y l e , o ile określały dochód, a co za t y m idzie,
szansę zakupu gospodarstwa rolnego. T a k długo bowiem, j a k długo nie
zostały spełnione inne w a r u n k i , a przede wszystkim gwarancja stabili­
zacji w zawodzie, nawet wysokie kwalifikacje nie stanowiły tytułu do
prestiżu społecznego w zbiorowości, w której „liczyła się" własność, pew­
ność losu, zasiedziałość. Obserwujemy więc zjawisko wyrastania pewnych
ważnych elementów modelu zawodowego (w dzisiejszym rozumieniu tego
pojęcia), ale w o d e r w a n i u od i n n y c h istotnych elementów. Czy oznacza to,
że w w a r u n k a c h takiej okresowości czy sezonowości zajęć pozarolniczych
nie działały bodźce w k i e r u n k u podnoszenia k w a l i f i k a c j i zawodowych?
Wręcz przeciwnie. Poziom k w a l i f i k a c j i decydował nie t y l k o o wysokości
zarobków, ale nawet o możliwości znalezienia pracy w w a r u n k a c h silnej
konkurencji na r y n k u pracy. Z kolei nasuwa się pytanie, przy pomocy
j a k i c h kryteriów wartościowała wówczas ludność w s i zajęcia pozarolnicze?
Obok pożądanej, lecz t r u d n e j l u b wręcz niemożliwej do osiągnięcia sta­
bilizacji w zawodzie d r u g i m ważnym k r y t e r i u m oceny był dochód. L u d ­
ność podejmująca pracę zarobkową na krótki t y l k o okres zwracała — rzecz
jasna — uwagę j e d y n i e na dochód. K r y t e r i u m wysiłku fizycznego, uciąż­
liwości pracy przy złych w a r u n k a c h higienicznych w ogóle nie było b r a ­
ne pod uwagę. Słabo zmechanizowane prace w gospodarstwie własnym
czy praca najemna w r o l n i c t w i e były bowiem również uciążliwe i w y m a ­
gały znacznego wysiłku fizycznego.
Przejdźmy jednak do społeczności wioskowej. Ówczesną wieś l a t osiem­
dziesiątych i dziewięćdziesiątych X I X w i e k u określić możemy jako względ­
nie zamkniętą, tradycyjną społeczność lokalną . Pod t y m pojęciem r o ­
zumiemy zespół następujących cech: 1) wspólne t e r y t o r i u m , stanowiące
r a m y przestrzenne życia społecznego danej zbiorowości; 2) małe rozmiary
zbiorowości, powodujące, iż wszyscy j e j członkowie pozostają ze sobą
w bezpośrednich stycznościach; 3) tego rodzaju skumulowanie powiązań
i współzależności ekonomicznych w tej zbiorowości, które t w o r z y swego
rodzaju całościowy układ ekonomiczny, stanowiący podstawę s t r u k t u r y
społecznej tej zbiorowości; 4) istnienie systemu organizacyjnego, o b e j m u ­
jącego tę i t y l k o tę zbiorowość (choć w typie powtarzalnego), a wyraża­
jącego się i n s t y t u c j a m i społecznymi f o r m a l n y m i bądź n i e f o r m a l n y m i ,
znajdującego w y r a z w podziale funkcji, układzie miejscowych autoryte­
tów, działaniu opinii społecznej, sankcjach społecznych i t p . ; 5) istnienie
5

5

Por. K . D o b r o w o l s k i ,

Wrocław,
B.

t.

1:

G a ł ę s к i, O

1958, s.

35—38

niektórych

Chłopska
(10.

kultura

Tendencje

determinantach

tradycyjna,
do

zmian

„Etnografia P o l s k a " ,

uniformizmu
społecznych

S o c j o l o g i c z n e " , 1961, n r 2, s. 42—49 ( K o d z i n a chłopska, więzi

na

kulturowego);
wsi,

„Studia

rodzinno-sąsiedzkie)

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całego zespołu urządzeń społecznych i k u l t u r a l n y c h zaspokajających —
w ramach ówczesnych możliwości i wzorów — podstawowe potrzeby spo­
łeczne i k u l t u r a l n e członków tej zbiorowości w obrębie w s i , na j e j g r u n ­
cie; 6) istnienie silnego poczucia przynależności do danej zbiorowości.
Samookreślanie się grup, rodzin i jednostek przez przynależność do t e j
zbiorowości. Poczucie odrębności w stosunku do i n n y c h społeczności l o ­
k a l n y c h czy szerszych układów społeczne—ekonomicznych.
W a r u n k i e m niekoniecznym, ale bardzo ważnym jest ciągłość osad­
nictwa podstawowego trzonu ludności a wraz z nią ciągłość k u l t u r o w a
wyrażająca się w i e l o k r o t n i e w e własnej lokalnej historii, bogatej t r a d y c j i
miejscowej ' i t p . Ważnym czynnikiem jest również więź etniczna i r e l i ­
gijna.
Ten t y p społeczności lokalnej jest bezpośrednim dziedzictwem okresu
pańszczyźnianego. Więcej, wyraża niejako jego istotę. Zamknięta całość,
samowystarczalna i izolowana, podporządkowana panu feudalnemu — oto
najogólniej cechy p a r t y k u l a r y z m u feudalnego. W t y m układzie zarówno
struktura własnościowa ludności, j a k i jej f o r m y współdziałania, współ­
pracy, styczności społeczne i t p . służyć miały potrzebom d w o r u l u b kształ­
towały się na marginesie jego potrzeb. W gruncie rzeczy t e n rodzaj spo­
łeczności lokalnej traci swą najistotniejszą, genetyczną podstawę w m o ­
mencie zniesienia pańszczyzny, prawnego „glebae a d s c r i p t i o " . U t r z y m u j e
się jednak nadal przez dłuższy jeszcze czas. Za kryzysem starego układu
nie nadąża bowiem narastanie elementów nowego. Ludność formalnie,
prawnie nie związana już ze społecznością lokalną, nie ma jeszcze r e a l ­
n y c h warunków na wejście w inne i szersze układy społeczno-ekonomiczne. N i e ma t y c h szans na gruncie ekonomicznym, gdyż miasto i przemysł
nie są w stanie wchłonąć nadmiaru rąk roboczych w s i , a także w y m i a n a
towarowa pomiędzy miastem i wsią nie może się szerzej rozwinąć na s k u ­
tek tradycyjnego, samowystarczalnego charakteru gospodarstwa chłopskie­
go. N i e m a t y c h szans również na gruncie społecznym czy k u l t u r a l n y m
na skutek ogromnego historycznie wytworzonego dystansu pomiędzy w a r ­
stwą chłopską a i n n y m i w a r s t w a m i społecznymi i b r a k u odpowiednich
i n s t y t u c j i społeczno-kulturalnych, które by działały „adaptująco" wobec
chłopstwa. Jest to prawidłowość ogólna r o z w o j u galicyjskich w s i popańszczyźnianych, wzmożona na badanym terenie faktem długotrwałego istnie­
nia d w o r u , wielostronnością jego powiązań ze wsią oraz pogranicznym
położeniem w s i w stosunku do sąsiedniej t z w . Kongresówki (w zaborze
rosyjskim) i żywotnością k u l t u r y ludowej „krakowskiej".
W okresie o d około 1800 r . do początków X X w i e k u zależności go­
spodarcze łączące ludność w s i tworzyły rodzaj „obwodu zamkniętego".
M i e j s c o w y p r o l e t a r i a t i półproletariat w i e j s k i znajdował w całości za­
t r u d n i e n i e w f o l w a r k u Konopków, plebańskim czy u bogatszych gospo6 -

E t n o g r a f i a P o l s k a , t. V I I I

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darzy. Podejmowanie czy poszukiwanie pracy najemnej pozarolniczej
nie było w y n i k i e m ograniczonej chłonności l o k a l n y c h miejsc pracy, lecz
spowodowane było t y m , że praca w przemyśle i w mieście była lepiej
opłacana, a ponadto gotówką. Ludność w s i była zarówno silnie zróżni­
cowana w swej s y t u a c j i ekonomicznej, j a k i zintegrowana ze sobą w sy­
stemie w z a j e m n y c h zależności i powiązań. N a gruncie różnic w s y t u a c j i
majątkowej i wyposażeniu gospodarstw wyrosły bogate f o r m y o d r o b k u ,
pomocy wzajemnej i n a j m u , łączącego poszczególne kategorie społeczno-ekonomiczne ludności w s i .
Symptomatyczna dla tego „obwodu zamkniętego" jest funkcja karczem
dworskich i młyna. Utrzymały się one na terenie w s i jeszcze od okresu
pańszczyźnianego i były c z y n n i k i e m wiążącym wieś ekonomicznie z d w o ­
rem. Stali l u b sezonowi najemnicy, pracujący w f o l w a r k u Konopków, n a ­
b y w a l i za t e k w i t k i różne artykuły w karczmie. Także w młynie d w o r ­
s k i m k w i t y respektowane były jako forma opłaty za przemiał. Ten rodzaj
powiązań pomiędzy d w o r e m a ludnością w s i uznać należy za charaktery­
styczny przykład wczesnej fazy rozwoju stosunków kapitalistycznych
w r o l n i c t w i e , kontynuującej w i e l e elementów poprzedniego systemu eko­
nomicznego — stosunków feudalnych.
K o n t a k t y społeczne ludności skupiały się wokół d w o r u , kościoła,
karczmy. Okazję dla nich stanowiły również lokalne j a r m a r k i .
Tradycja miejscowa przechowała bardzo wyidealizowany obraz ówczes­
n y c h stosunków pomiędzy d w o r e m a ludnością w s i . Na tej idealizacji
zaważyła zapewne osoba ówczesnego dziedzica, Juliana K o n o p k i , znane­
go przyjaciela Oskara Kolberga. „ P a n " na skutek swych zainteresowań
ludoznawczych był w bardzo b l i s k i m kontakcie z ludnością w s i . Brał
udział w obrzędach l u d o w y c h , chodził po domach i zapisywał pieśni. Był
gorącym propagatorem i entuzjastą krakowskiej k u l t u r y ludowej. M o d l n i ca b o w i e m — obok sąsiednich Bronowie — uchodziła za swego rodzaju
centrum tej k u l t u r y , a obrzędy i strój l u d o w y k r a k o w s k i promieniowały
stąd na sąsiednie wsie zaboru rosyjskiego. W e dworze urządzano przed­
stawienia oparte na tekstach l u d o w y c h opowieści i pieśni. Doroczne dożyn­
k i w y p r a w i a n e w e dworze skupiały ludność całej w s i . Podobnie dzień
św. Wojciecha, „patrona" t e j w s i , uroczyście obchodzony był w e dworze
przy udziale całej miejscowej ludności. Tak więc pewnego rodzaju wspól­
nota na gruncie k u l t u r y ludowej łagodziła zarówno dystans społeczny, j a k
i sprzeczności interesów pomiędzy ludnością w s i a d w o r e m . Podobny
aspekt miały stosunki najmu, odrobku i inne tego rodzaju, zachodzące
pomiędzy zamożną a ubogą ludnością w s i . Z najmem łączyły się f o r m y
poczęstunku, zapraszanie do stołu n i e l e t n i c h dzieci najętej do pracy k o ­
biety. W przypadku trwalszych powiązań między bogatymi a b i e d n y m i
rodzinami niejednokrotnie bogaci gospodarze b y w a l i rodzicami chrzestnymi

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dzieci swoich najemników. W bogatszych domach skupiało się życie t o w a ­
rzyskie z okazji p e w n y c h prac sezonowych, j a k darcie pierza czy przędze­
nie l n u . Na zakończenie t y c h prac z reguły w y p r a w i a n o rodzaj uczty,
z muzyką i poczęstunkiem. Dalszym czynnikiem integracji społeczności
wioskowej był zwyczajowy system zabezpieczeń. F a k t przynależności do
w i o s k i narzucał obowiązek udzielenia bezpłatnej i niezwrotnej pomocy
zniedołężniałym starcom nie posiadającym k r e w n y c h , rodzinom dotknię­
t y m klęskami żywiołowymi i t p . Istniał na przykład zwyczaj bezpłatnej
zwózki drzewa d l a pogorzelców budujących d o m , a nawet świadczenie bez­
płatnej robocizny p r z y budowie, p r z y c z y m poczęstunku u d z i e l a l i p o ­
stronni bogaci gospodarze. Podobnie opinia wioskowa w s i oczekiwała od
bogatych gospodarzy, b y dotkniętym klęską gradobicia udzielali bezzwrot­
nie ziarna siewnego. Obok poczucia wspólnoty lokalnej istniało jednak
silne poczucie dystansu społecznego, odpowiadające faktycznej s t r u k t u r z e
społecznej. A oto fragment relacji - jednego z informatorów, dotyczący
lat dziewięćdziesiątych: „Ojciec m n i e d o w n i casem posyłoł do synku,
zeby m u co kupić. T o m widzioł, jako t a m beło. T a m kozdy mioł swoje
miejsce. Dzień w dzień sie bez zime schodzili i g w a r z y l i o duchach.
A Z y d ino po ścianach pisoł, w i e l a m u k t o w i n i e n . Bo p i l i wszyjscy na
b o r g . Jeno ci, co m i e l i za robote w e dworze k w i t y , to sie k w i t a m i w y płocali. C i co p i l i na borg, to j a k przysed cos płacić, to nieroz sprzedowoł prosie abo świnie i dopiro płacił. W s y n k u kozdy mioł swoje
miejsce. K m i e c i e i zagrodnicy godnie p r z y s a m y m synkwasie, osobno
chałupnicy i k o m o r n i c y , j a k kasty. T a m nic o światowych rzecach nie
beło. Same b a j k i i tela. Rej w t y m w o d z i e l i k m i e c i e " .
6

K o b i e t y nigdy nie chodziły do karczmy na owe wieczory. N i e w y p a ­
dało. Terenem kontaktów towarzyskich kobiet były zamożniejsze d o m y
w czasie skubania pierza czy wieczorne „wysiadki" przed domami. T u
spotykali się zarówno biedni, j a k i bogaci, t u przychodzili młodzi parobcy,
aby się zalecać do dziewuch. W czasie t y c h „wysiadek" czy „pogwarek"
głos należał do starszych. Młodsi b y l i raczej b i e r n y m i i c h uczestnikami..
Bardzo ważną funkcją t y c h zebrań było ugruntowanie a u t o r y t e t u starych
oraz p o d t r z y m y w a n i e idealizacji dawnego s t y l u życia. Dobitnie ilustrują
to wspomnienia jednej z informátorek, dotyczące mniej więcej r o k u 1900:
„Downi, j a k sie ludzie na p o g w a r k i schodzieli, nierozem jako dziewucha
siedziała i słuchała, j a k stare k o b i t y gwarzyły. T o m se myślała: » M ó j
Boże, kiedyż t y z to jo t a k bede umiała gwarzyć i k i e d y m i będzie w o l ­
no gwarzyć z ludziami«. Bo to t a k beło, że t a m młodzi sie nie łodzywali,
jeno słuchali, co starsi gwarzą..., ale troche sie t y z i strachali, bo t o
starzy g w a r z y l i , íze świat k u gorsemu i k u zagładzie idzie, i ze w i d n o
6

Informator

W.

F . , lat

66, w y w i a d

nr

4,

1955

r.

�DANUTA

84

MARKOWSKA

j u z niedługo będzie koniec świata, bez to ze ludzie j u z nie takie, j a k i e
beli przody" .
7

K o n t a k t y o charakterze t o w a r z y s k i m miały również miejsce z okazji
obrzędów dorocznych czy świąt kościelnych. Częstokroć — j a k wspo­
mniano wyżej — patronował i m dwór. Sk 4piały one ludność w s z y s t k i c h
w a r s t w społecznych w s i , lecz ważne czynności obrzędowe spełniali boga­
ci i szanowani kmiecie czy zagrodnicy. Podobnie obrzędy rodzinne, p r z y
ówczesnej silnej ingerencji społeczności w i o s k o w e j w życie rodziny, nie
•miały wyłącznie prywatno-rodzinnego, lecz ważny g r u p o w y , społeczny
aspekt. Społeczne u w a r u n k o w a n i e obrzędów r o d z i n n y c h przejawiało się
w t y m , że istniał wyraźny model obrzędowy dla poszczególnych g r u p
społecznych w s i . I t a k n p . m i m o zasadniczego podobieństwa schematu
obrzędowego wesela kmiece czy zagrodnicze n i e mogły się odbywać
w karczmie, natomiast biedota t a m właśnie je urządzała. Społeczny cha­
r a k t e r obrzędów r o d z i n n y c h wyrażał się też w szerokim uczestnictwie
mieszkańców w s i w d a n y m obrzędzie (w tańcach weselnych, pogrzebach,
n o c n y m c z u w a n i u p r z y zwłokach). P r z y t y m podział f u n k c j i obrzędo­
w y c h i godności był od nowa manifestacją miejscowych a u t o r y ­
tetów. Społeczeństwo sankcjonowało w t e n symboliczny sposób to, co
się w zakresie f a k t y c z n y m dokonywało; i t a k n p . a k t oczepin był nie
t y l k o w y r a z e m z m i a n y s y t u a c j i życiowej dziewczyny, ale także obrzę­
d o w y m wyłączeniem z g r u p y rówieśniczej dziewcząt i przyjęciem
w grupę mężatek-gospodyń .
8

Na uwagę zasługują również szersze k o n t a k t y społeczne związane
z handlem i wymianą. Należy przy t y m wyraźnie odróżnić chłopskie j a r ­
m a r k i od kontaktów handlowyeh z ludnością K r a k o w a . Te ostatnie nie
t y l k o nie sprzyjały zbliżeniu ludności wiejskiej do miejskiej, lecz wręcz
przeciwnie — pogłębiały poczucie odrębności i sprzeczności interesów
Zbliżenie do .ludności miejskiej nastąpić miało później i na zupełnie innej
drodze. O d m i e n n y charakter miały k o n t a k t y handlowe z ludnością sąsied­
nich w s i w czasie lokalnych jarmarków. Tutaj akt kupna-sprzedaży nie
nosił t y l u znamion przeciwieństwa interesów, co w p r z y p a d k u kontaktów
handlowych pomiędzy ludnością w s i a miasta. Na chłopskich j a r m a r k a c h
częste były w y m i a n y t o w a r u za t o w a r w przeliczeniu na ceny r y n k o w e .
A k t kupna-sprzedaży na chłopskim j a r m a r k u miał n i e t y l k o znaczenie
ekonomiczne. Miał o n swój sens towarzyski. Ważniejsze transakcje b y ­
wały „zapijane" w karczmie, wymieniano przy t y m informacje, poglądy
i opinie, kojarzono małżeństwa.

7

8

grafia

Informátorka

M.

M., l a t 64, w y w i a d

O społecznym s e n s i e obrzędów
Polski,
W a r s z a w a 1947.

nr

15, 1955 r.

rodzinnych

pisze

J . S . В y s t r o ń,

Etno­

�TRADYCYJNA

SPOŁECZNOŚĆ

WIOSKOWA

W

PROCESIE

ZMIAN

85

Na straży wszystkich t y c h f o r m kontaktów i powiązań ludności w s i
stał układ m i e j s c o w y c h autorytetów . W latach osiemdziesiątych i dzie­
więćdziesiątych X I X w . bardzo ważnym autorytetem w s i był „dziedzic".
0 jego powiązaniach ze wsią wspomniano już wyżej. Wysoka ocena spo­
łeczna dziedzica była nie t y l k o kontynuacją dawnego myślenia chłopa
pańszczyźnianego, stawiającego szlachcica na najwyższym szczeblu h i e ­
r a r c h i i społecznej, ale także w y n i k i e m osobistych powiązań ówczesnego
dziedzica z ludnością w s i , jego patronatu nad wsią. I n n y m ważnym auto­
r y t e t e m był ksiądz. Między d w o r e m a plebanią istniał nawet rodzaj p o ­
rozumienia w zakresie w y t w a r z a n i a opinii. Na przykład wedle miejsco­
w e j t r a d y c j i w latach dziewięćdziesiątych X I X w . i z początkiem X X w.,
k i e d y na skutek rozpowszechniającej się emigracji zarobkowej groził f o l ­
w a r k o m b r a k rąk roboczych, ksiądz w czasie kazań piętnował tendencje
migracyjne, ostrzegał przed demoralizacją młodzieży i t p . Informatorzy
t y m między i n n y m i tłumaczą fakt, iż z terenu M o d l n i c y prawie nie było
emigracji zagranicznej. W obecności księdza jako autorytetu rozstrzygano
sporne prawne i gospodarcze sprawy rodzin, do niego zwracano się z proś­
bą o wyjaśnienia w sprawach politycznych czy ogólnie wiedzy o świecie.
9

Spośród ludności wiejskiej najwyższą oceną społeczną cieszyli się
kmiecie. O n i w o d z i l i p r y m w radzie gminnej i parafialnej, decydując
w w i e l u istotnych dla w s i kwestiach. O n i reprezentowali w razie potrzeby
wieś n a zewnątrz. I c h opinie, wzory zachowania i poglądy respektowane
były przez pozostałą część mieszkańców w s i . Poza wspomnianą karczmą
1 radą gminną także w kościele zajmowali uprzywilejowane miejsce. O n i
w czasie procesji nosili chorągwie, i c h córki szły „do obrazu". Jest rzeczą
charakterystyczną, że na t y m t l e powstawało wiele uzasadnień, u z n a w a ­
n y c h i głoszonych zresztą także przez ludność biedną, w rodzaju takich,
j a k ; „Przecie t o kmieć do procesyji m o iść, bo łon mo lepsy m u n d u r ,
a bez t o i parada jest więkso" . U p r z y w i l e j o w a n i e k m i e c i w życiu t o w a ­
r z y s k i m przejawiało się w powierzaniu i m f u n k c j i obrzędowych. I c h n a j ­
chętniej proszono „ w k u m y " , na mówców weselnych czy pogrzebowych.
W czasie uroczystości czy zabaw sadzano i c h z w y k l e razem, uzasadniając
to t y m , że „kmieć z k m i e c i e m n o j l e p i pogwarzy. Ło cymze miołby g w a ­
rzyć z t a k i e m , co n i e mo g o s p o d a r k i ? "
10

11

Najniżej w ocenie społecznej ludności stali fornale. Żyli oni też
w znacznej izolacji towarzyskiej. Już sam fakt zamieszkania w „chyzie"
d w o r s k i m izolował i c h przestrzennie od reszty w s i . Nadto fornale b y l i
9

Polski,

W

l i t e r a t u r z e p o l s k i e j o a u t o r y t e t a c h w i e j s k i c h pisał В y s t r o ń,
s.

tradycyjna,

6—8. Z a g a d n i e n i e

to o m a w i a

s. 31—33 (8. Potęga

1 0

Informator

11

Informátorka

też

Dobrowolski,

autorytetów).

J . J . , l a t 89, w y w i a d

n r 8, 1955 r.

M . M., l a t 64, w y w i a d

n r 15, 1955 r.

Chłopska

Etnografia
kultura

�DANUTA

86

MARKOWSKA

elementem bardziej płynnym, p r z y b y w a l i t u z sąsiednich w s i z zaboru
rosyjskiego i nierzadko po k i l k u l a t a c h p r z e n o s i l i się do i n n y c h f o l w a r ­
ków. O żonach f o r n a l s k i c h krążyło we w s i wiele „szydnych" opowiadań.
Jedna z informátorek, córka k m i e c i a , mówi: „Zachowanie t a k i e j k o b i e t y
f o r n a l s k i e j też inne było niż gospodyni... P o w i a d a l i ludzie, że f o r n a l k a
nieraz na weselu coś po k r y j o m u wzięła p o d f a r t u c h i do d o m u zanio­
sła" .
12

Na baczniejszą uwagę zasługuje autorytet l u d z i starych, a zwłaszcza
starych z zamożnych rodzin. K i l k a było jego źródeł. Najogólniejszą przy­
czyną był p o w o l n y r y t m ówczesnych przemian społeczno-ekonomicznych,
powodujący, iż przygotowanie do życia młodego pokolenia sprowadzało
się do a s y m i l o w a n i a i c h do treści k u l t u r o w y c h zastanych, do przekazy­
w a n i a zastanych nawyków p r o d u k c y j n y c h , myślowych i t p . T e n stan rze­
czy
szczególnie predestynował s t a r y c h do t e j f u n k c j i . W
analizie
a u t o r y t a t y w n e j pozycji l u d z i starych we w s i należy odróżnić i c h
realną, faktyczną przewagę, przejawiającą się częstokroć w p r z y m u ­
s o w y m egzekwowaniu posłuchu, od a u t o r y t e t u uznawanego, w p e w n y m
zakresie aprobowanego przez młodych. E l e m e n t p r e s j i w a u t o r y t a t y w ­
nej pozycji s t a r y c h wynikał stąd, iż bardzo długo nie „odpisywali" o n i
młodym z i e m i . Częstokroć p o z w a l a l i ją zresztą użytkować przez k i l ­
kanaście n a w e t l a t przed zapisem n o t a r i a l n y m . Powodowało to, że
w skali w s i g r u p a „głów gospodarstw" rekrutowała się ze starszych
mężczyzn, mających częstokroć już pożenionych synów. Nieco i n n y
charakter m a autorytatywność s t a r y c h w zakresie wiedzy rolniczej,
i to zarówno e m p i r y c z n e j , j a k i magicznej. Działał t u cały zespół
czynników,
jak brak
regularnego
szkolnictwa,
brak
szerszych
kontaktów ludności wiejskiej z i n n y m i środowiskami. Słowem — b r a k
i n n y c h źródeł wiedzy. W tej sytuacji starzy gospodarze b y l i najważniej­
szymi nosicielami wiedzy fachowej rolniczej, strzegli jej jednak zazdrośnie
i stopniowo w nią wtajemniczali. Rzecz jasna, że i w t y m momencie
autory taty wności starych t k w i jakiś element przymusu — brak i n n y c h źró­
deł wiedzy. N i e m a on już jednak tego ostrego charakteru, co egzekwowa­
nie posłuchu pod groźbą wydziedziczenia. Ważnym źródłem autorytetu
starych była także i c h rola w przekazywaniu zasad konwenansu wiejskie­
go. Zachowanie towarzyskie starych stanowiło dla młodych a t r a k c y j n y
model ( p r z y p o m n i j m y cytowaną wypowiedź i n f o r m a t o r k i , która wzdycha:
» M ó j Boże, k i e d y t y z to jo t a k bede umiała gwarzyć...«). Rozróżnienie
t y c h elementów autorytetu wydaje się ważne również dlatego, że w t o k u
dalszego rozwoju n a j p i e r w upadają te, które związane były z funkcją prze­
kazywania wiedzy rolniczej. Działalność oświatowa Kółek Rolniczych, d a -

Informatorka

W.

A., l a t 60, w y w i a d

n r 5, 1955 r.

�TRADYCYJNA

SPOŁECZNOŚĆ

WIOSKOWA

W

PROCESIE

ZMIAN

87

Tująca się w o m a w i a n e j w s i o d końca X I X w., a zwłaszcza p i e r w s z y c h
lat X X w., wpływ oświatowy miasta, a nade wszystko zmiany w technice
u p r a w y ziemi obniżyły w t y m zakresie autorytet starych. T r w a jednak
nadal „przymus" oj ca-właściciela. A oto charakterystyczna wypowiedź
jednego z informatorów: „Starzy d o w n i to t a k te n a t u r e przejrzeli, że
podług wiatrów, podług gleby wróżyli, j a k i będzie r o k i gdzie co trza
siać, coby sie udało. Młody n i e beł jesce t a k i w y p r a k t y k o w a n y , coby t o
som wiedzioł, a starzy z niechęcio tego u c y l i , bo k c i e l i , coby młody j a k
najdłuzy do n i k chodzieł i radzieł sie. P o t y m j a k nastały te kółka r o l ­
nice i u c y l i n o w y c h sposobów i u p r a w , to młodzi n i e do łojców, a do
i n s t r u k t o r a po rade chodzieli. Co z tego, k i e j j e m starzy z i e m i nie do­
wali" .
l13

Spoistość tej tradycyjnej społeczności lokalnej ulega zachwianiu w po­
czątkach X X w., kiedy t o znaczna część bezrolnej i małorolnej ludności
w s i podejmuje pracę w mieście. M i m o iż prace t e nie dawały jeszcze
wówczas szansy stabilizacji, t o jednak tworzyły zalążek przyszłej klasy
robotniczej czy w a r s t w y chłopów-robotników. Zaczyna się proces tworze­
nia nowej s t r u k t u r y społeczno-zawodowej, wywodzącej się już nie t y l k o
z lokalnego układu i t e m u układowi służącej, lecz wynikłej z powiązań
z szerszym układem społeczno-ekonomicznym. Wzrost kontaktów z klasą
robotniczą miasta powoduje powolne wprawdzie, lecz stałe przenikanie
na wieś n o w y c h wzorów życia. N a pierwsze lata X X w . przypada też
a k t y w n a działalność oświatowa rolnicza. Wszystko to zapowiada zmierzch
„tradycyjnej społeczności l o k a l n e j " , jej systemu wartości i j e j autorytetów.
Uogólniając stwierdzić należy, że a u t o r y t e t y omawianego okresu l a t
1880—1918 j a k k o l w i e k reprezentowały jakieś szersze instytucje l u b g r u p y
społeczne, n p . kościół czy stan ziemiański, t o jednak w świadomości m i e ­
szkańców w s i przejawiały się zawsze w formie konkretnej personifikacji,
jako autorytety osobowe: k o n k r e t n y pan, k o n k r e t n y ksiądz, konkretna g r u ­
pa starców. Przy t y m autorytatywność t y c h osób dotyczyła zazwyczaj
dość szerokiego zakresu spraw, wykraczając poza i c h zasadnicze role spo­
łeczne. Ksiądz był na przykład nie t y l k o autorytetem w sprawach m o r a l ­
ności i ściśle religijnych, lecz także autorytetem wiedzy. Tego rodzaju
autorytety osobowe wydają się być charakterystyczne dla t r a d y c y j n y c h
społeczności l o k a l n y c h o niezróżnicowanej s t r u k t u r z e zawodowej, r o l n i ­
czych i „zasiedziałych", t j . o słabej ruchliwości oraz drugoplanowych
kontaktach z i n n y m i rodzajami środowisk społecznych czy kulturą ogól­
nospołeczną.
W zagadnienie rangi czy r o l i różnych postaci pracy wytwórczej czy
zajęć zarobkowych doskonale wprowadza nas miejscowe
nazewnictwo.
1 3

Informator

W.

S.,

lat

50, w y w i a d

nr

20,

1955

r.

�DANUTA

88

MARKOWSKA

Toteż na zakończenie rozważań nad charakterem s t r u k t u r y społecznej w s i
tego okresu zestawimy te pojęcia :
1. P o s a d a, „człowiek na posadzie" — określenie nielicznych w e
w s i przedstawicieli takich zawodów, j a k pisarz, nauczyciel, szerzej —
wszelkie zawody inteligenckie, opłacane przez władze samorządowe i pań­
stwowe, a nie związane z własnością, lecz z wykształceniem. Sporadycz­
nie młodzież w s i zdobywa posady, lecz jest t o droga wyjścia ze środo­
wiska, a nie czynnik różnicowania jego s t r u k t u r y społeczno-zawodowej.
2. I n t e r e s , „mieć interes" l u b „prowadzić interes" — określenie
wszelkich pośredników handlowych, dzierżawców karczem dworskich,
właścicieli sklepów i t p . Niektórzy spośród ludzi „interesu" pojawiają się
t y l k o okresowo w e w s i , i n n i mieszkają w niej, lecz są j a k b y poza j e j
strukturą społeczną, gdyż jest to element obcy etnicznie {Żydzi), bez
t r a d y c j i zasiedziałości.
3. F а с h , „mieć f a c h " — pojęcie bardziej zróżnicowane wewnętrznie
niż d w a wyżej podane. Dotyczy: a) mistrzów m u r a r s k i c h i b u d o w l a n y c h ,
którzy n i e j e d n o k r o t n i e zdają egzaminy cechowe, ale n i e mogąc znaleźć
stałej pracy w mieście, usiłują nabyć ziemię i przejść do g r u p y rolników.
Ta. kategoria jest znana n a terenie w s i ; b) t r a d y c y j n y c h zawodów
rzemieślniczych w i e j s k i c h , t a k i c h j a k k o w a l , f u n k c j o n a l n i e powiązanych
z gospodarką wiejską i w y s o k o cenionych w h i e r a r c h i i społecznej w s i
( j a k k o l w i e k niżej niż k m i e c i e czy zagrodnicy). Z przedstawicielami rze­
miosł w i e j s k i c h styka się ludność w s i stale w czasie l o k a l n y c h j a r ­
marków.
4. S ł u ż b a , „być n a służbie" — określenie stałej pracy najemnej
w r o l n i c t w i e : w folwarkach i u bogatych gospodarzy; dotyczy zarówno
dzieci, j a k i dorosłych. Także określenie pracy dziewcząt służących w p r y ­
w a t n y c h domach w K r a k o w i e .
5. S p o s ó b d o ż y c i a , „szukać sposobu do życia", „znaleźć sposób
do życia" — określenia wszelkiego rodzaju przejściowych zajęć służących
uzupełnieniu źródeł utrzymania. Dotyczy szerokiego zakresu czynności,
od pracy przy budowie szosy aż po zbieractwo ziół czy przemyt. „Sposób
do życia" jest charakterystyczny zwłaszcza d l a najbiedniejszych kategorii
ludności, ale nie t y l k o (np. przemyt).
W t y m zestawie pojęć nie mieścił się nigdy rolnik. T e r m i n „rolnik"
nie był zresztą w t y m okresie w ogóle jeszcze używany. Na określenie
właścicieli gospodarstw używano nazw szczegółowych: kmieć, zagrod­
n i k i t p . , które dotyczyły n i e t y l e charakteru czynności wytwórczych, ile
14

Słowniczek sporządzono w następujący sposób: n o t o w a n o dosłownie t e r m i ­
n y używane p r z e z n a j s t a r s z y c h informatorów w e w s i i z k o n t e k s t u w y p o w i e d z i
usiłowano określić i c h z n a c z e n i e , następnie zaś w s p e c j a l n y c h r o z m o w a c h
pro­
szono, b y n a j s t a r s i mieszkańcy w s i p o d a l i , co rozumieją p r z e z poszczególne pojęcia.
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pozycji społecznej, kojarzyły się z tradycją lokalną, -miejscami w e w s i ,
nazwami pól, „ojcowizną", „dziedzictwem", słowem — dotyczyły pewnego
s t y l u życia.
II.

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LAT

1918—1945

Okres międzywojenny, podobnie j a k okres poprzedni, zawiera w so­
bie k i l k a faz r o z w o j u stosunków ekonomiczno-społecznych w s i . Można
by mówić o okresie bezpośrednio p o w o j e n n y m , k i e d y t o — bardzo krótko
zresztą — była dobra k o n i u n k t u r a r y n k o w a dla artykułów gospodarstwa
rolnego. W t y m czasie (1919—1924) z p o w o d u nieustabilizowanej w a l u t y
wszystkie pieniądze uzyskane ze sprzedaży artykułów r o l n o - h o d o w l a n y c h obracali chłopi n a zakup materiałów b u d o w l a n y c h , sprzętów do­
m o w y c h i odzieży. Dobra k o n i u n k t u r a ulegała s t o p n i o w e m u pogorszeniu,
a k r y z y s ogólny l a t 1929—1933 dotknął również wieś, w s k u t e k czego
poważnemu obniżeniu uległa stopa życiowa w s z y s t k i c h k a t e g o r i i miesz­
kańców w s i . P e w n a poprawa s y t u a c j i społeczno-ekonomicznej miesz­
kańców w s i widoczna jest po r o k u 1934. O d dawna narastający k r y z y s
gospodarki dworskiej doprowadził w w y n i k u trudności l a t 1929—1933
do całkowitego p r a w i e j e j u p a d k u . Prób rozwiązania szukano w częścio­
wej parcelacji gruntów d w o r s k i c h , przy czym ziemię n a b y w a l i zarówno
chłopi z M o d l n i c y , j a k i w s i sąsiednich. Parcelacja gruntów d w o r s k i c h
w latach trzydziestych w sposób i s t o t n y zaważyła na s t r u k t u r z e własno­
ściowej gospodarstw chłopskich w s i . Dzięki pomocy k r e d y t o w e j bardzo
w i e l e bezrolnych i małorolnych r o d z i n n a b y w a małe działki ziemi.
Następował więc w t e n sposób proces zacierania dużych różnic w stanie
posiadania. P o w s t r z y m u j e to częściowo proletaryzację ludności związa­
ną z działami r o d z i n n y m i ziemi. Jako ostatnią fazę tego o k r e s u należy
wymienić drugą wojnę światową i okupację niemiecką. N i e zaważyła
ona j e d n a k w sposób i s t o t n y n a tendencjach r o z w o j o w y c h s t r u k t u r y
społeczno-zawodowej w s i a n i n a j e j życiu gospodarczym. Toteż w n i ­
niejszej analizie zostanie pominięta.
W okresie poprzednim społeczność w i o s k o w a reprezentowała p r z e j ­
r z y s t y system powiązań społeczno-ekonomicznych, jasny układ auto­
rytetów, określony system wartości społecznych powszechnie akcepto­
w a n y c h . Okres międzywojenny jest dla badacza
słabiej
czytelny.
W zebranych materiałach t e r e n o w y c h n i e zaznaczył się o n o s t r y m
kontrastem a n i w stosunku do okresu poprzedniego, a n i następującego
po n i m . Jest t o b o w i e m okres przejściowy, zawierający w sobie w i e l e
zjawisk d a w n y c h , tkwiących k o r z e n i a m i jeszcze w okresie sprzed p i e r w ­
szej w o j n y , j a k i n o w y c h , stanowiących zapowiedź okresu następnego.
Można b y o t y m etapie r o z w o j o w y m w s i powiedzieć, że jest t o okres

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wyraźnej w a l k i sprzecznych tendencji i poszukiwania nowego m o d e l i ;
zarówno życia zbiorowego, j a k i jednostkowego.
W okresie poprzednim społeczność w i o s k o w a ściśle wyróżniała po­
szczególne kategorie własnościowe gospodarstw i miała d l a n i c h o k r e ­
ślone nazwy. Z j a w i s k o to było kontynuacją okresu pańszczyźnianego,
k i e d y to poszczególne kategorie chłopstwa i i c h Obowiązki wobec d w o r u
były dokładnie ustalone. W okresie międzywojennym n a s k u t e k przeobra­
żeń w s t r u k t u r z e własnościowej, wywołanych zarówno rozdrobnieniem
gospodarstw, j a k i n a b y w a n i e m ziemi d w o r s k i e j , zaczęły się zacierać
dawne określenia i w efekcie zachowała się t y l k o nazwa „kmieć" na
określenie 'posiadacza gospodarstwa o r o z m i a r a c h od 5,5 do 8,5 ha.
I n n e kategorie własnościowe gospodarstw n i e miały odpowiadającego
i m n a z e w n i c t w a i Określane były ogólną nazwą „gospodarz".
S t r u k t u r a własnościowa gospodarstw chłopskich w s i M o d l n i c y przed­
stawia w połowie l a t t r z y d z i e s t y c h następujący obraz . N a ogólną liczbę
122 rodzin kmiecie, posiadający 5,5 do 8,5 ha, stanowili 8% ogółu rodzin,
gospodarstwa o powierzchni 2,5 do 5,5 ha reprezentowane były przez
30% rodzin, gospodarstwa o areale 1 do 2,5 ha przez 38% rodzin, a go­
spodarstwa o p o w i e r z c h n i poniżej 1 h a przez 1 9 % . Ludność całkowicie
bezrolna stanowiła 5% ogółu rodzin w e w s i . Gospodarstwo stanowiło w y ­
starczającą podstawę egzystencji rodziny jedynie w p r z y p a d k u k m i e c i
i gospodarstw mających 2,5 do 5,5 ha. Tutaj u t r z y m u j e się w dalszym
ciągu tendencja do samowystarczalności.
15

Najbardziej znamienną cechą wszelkich zajęć poza własnym l u b r o ­
dzicielskim gospodarstwem jest dla omawianego okresu zmiana proporcji
liczebnych pomiędzy z a t r u d n i o n y m i najemnie w r o l n i c t w i e a z a t r u d n i o ­
n y m i poza r o l n i c t w e m . P r z y p o m n i j m y , że w poprzednim okresie 35%
r o d z i n powiązanych było z pracą najemną w rolnictwie, a t y l k o 10%
z pracą pozarolniczą. N a t o m i a s t w okresie międzywojennym (w d r u g i e j
połowie l a t trzydziestych) już 60% r o d z i n wiąże swą egzystencję z pracą
najemną poza r o l n i c t w e m , g d y natomiast w r o l n i c t w i e najemnie za­
t r u d n i a się t y l k o około 5%. Upadek gospodarczy d w o r u przejawił się
nie t y l k o w sprzedaży części ziemi, a l e także w w y d a t n y m ograniczeniu
n a j m u stałego i sezonowego oraz ogólnym rozprzężeniu o r g a n i z a c y j n y m .
Z w o l n i o n o w i e l u f o r n a l i , pozostawiając i c h zaledwie t r z e c h . „Pon sie
zrujnował, a f o r n a l o m t y z jeno bicyska w garściach łostały" — mówi
o t y m jedna z informátorek . Zalegano z wypłatą „ordynarii" i opłatą
najmu, toteż mnożyły się kradzieże w e dworze. Zadłużenie d w o r u p o ­
wodowało, iż coraz częściej sprzedawano chłopom zboże i koniczynę „na
16

D a n e te pochodzą z r e k o n s t r u k c j i drogą b a d a n i a h i s t o r i i w s z y s t k i c h r o d z i n .
Informátorka P. J . , l a t 52, w y w i a d n r 12, 1955 r.

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p n i u " . N a tego rodzaju transakcjach miało się wzbogacić ' k i l k u chłopów
w e w s i . W t y c h w a r u n k a c h do pracy najemnej w e dworze szedł element
napływowy, natomiast ludność miejscowa dążyła przede w s z y s t k i m do
zajęć 'pozarolniczych. T a k więc w latach trzydziestych i dalszych X X w .
dwór n i e odgrywał już żadnej p r a w i e r o l i w stosunkach pracy n a w s i .
Zakres prac 'pozarolniczych ulega w o m a w i a n y m okresie poszerzeniu.
Z m i e n i a się też i c h charakter. L i k w i d a c j a granic zaborów poszerza t e r e n
poszukiwania pracy. Rozpoczynają się m i g r a c j e cotygodniowe do Z a ­
głębia Dąbrowskiego do pracy w kopalniach. W związku z t y m poja­
wiają się n o w e zawody, t a k i e j a k górnik, ślusarze i t p . N a d a l wśród
prac zarobkowych w K r a k o w i e przeważają prace m u r a r s k i e (około 70%
ogółu z a t r u d n i o n y c h w K r a k o w i e ) , a obok tego praca w zakładach m e ­
t a l u r g i c z n y c h w 'charakterze tokarzy, frezerów i i n n y c h zawodów
m e t a l u r g i c z n y c h . Następną grupę stanowią p r a c o w n i c y k o l e i państwo­
w y c h . Ogólnie stwierdzić należy, że wzrosła g r u p a zajęć pozarolniczych
wymagających ' k w a l i f i k a c j i zawodowych, natomiast zanikły l u b uległy
ograniczeniu zajęcia n i e wymagające k w a l i f i k a c j i , t a k i e j a k t r a n s p o r t
f u r m a n k a m i , prace p r z y b u d o w i e dróg i t p . N i e znaczy t o jednak, b y
ludność n i e podejmowała tego rodzaju prac. Wobec częstych zwolnień
z pracy, k r y z y s u i niepewności co do stałości miejsca pracy n a w e t ci,
którzy posiadali w y s o k i e k w a l i f i k a c j e zawodowe, zmuszeni b y l i w czasie
bezrobocia do p o d e j m o w a n i a prac nie wymagających k w a l i f i k a c j i l u b
do n a j m o w a n i a się w r o l n i c t w i e .
M i m o iż okres międzywojenny n i e przyniósł rozwiązania d l a r e z e r w
siły roboczej wisi, t o j e d n a k w w i e l u p r z y p a d k a c h nastąpiło względnie
trwałe włączenie części p r o l e t a r i a t u i półproletariatu wiejskiego w n o ­
woczesne zakłady przemysłowe i 'powiązanie go z robotnikami m i e j s k i m i .
K i l k a r o d z i n ze w s i przenosi się n a stałe do miasta. Wśród kryteriów
oceny zawodu n a p l a n p i e r w s z y w y s u w a się wówczas sprawa stabilizacji
w d a n y m zawodzie i zakładzie pracy. N a d r u g i m miejscu występował
rozmiar dochodu. Szansa stabilizacji wzrastała w miarę w z r o s t u k w a l i ­
f i k a c j i zawodowych, toteż wzrastała w e w s i liczba robotników w y k w a ­
l i f i k o w a n y c h różnych specjalności. Z i e m i a pozostaje j e d n a k n a d a l w a r ­
tością najbardziej pożądaną, gdyż s t a n o w i najpewniejsze źródło egzy­
stencji. Stąd powszechne obracanie dochodów pozarolniczych n a zakup
ziemi.
Wzrost liczebny z a t r u d n i o n y c h w przemyśle, b u d o w n i c t w i e i kolei,
i c h wzrost procentowy w ogólnej liczbie rodzin w e w s i spowodował,
że w życiu społecznym w s i zaczynają o n i odgrywać istotną rolę. K r y z y s
gospodarki dworskiej i stale postępująca parcelacja eliminują dwór
z życia społeczno-gospodarczego w s i i powodują upadek jego a u t o r y t e t u .
W ślad za t y m zdeprecjonowana jest także praca w e dworze, toteż w t y m

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okresie w h i e r a r c h i i społecznej w s i bezrolny m u r a r z czy ślusarz, nawet
n i e mający stałego zatrudnienia, oceniany był wyżej od najemnie p r a ­
cującego w r o l n i c t w i e . Żaden z n i c h n i e miał pewnego i ustabilizowanego
miejsca pracy, ale r o b o t n i k przemysłowy górował k w a l i f i k a c j a m i . Z a ­
cierają się też ostre przedziały pomiędzy poziomem życia rodzin k m i e ­
cych a resztą ludności w s i . N i e t y l k o b o w i e m spada przeciętny areał
gospodarstw kmiecych, ale także n a s k u t e k zajęć pozarolniczych i n a b y ­
cia działek ziemi podnosi się poziom b y t o w y d a w n y c h 'najbiedniejszych
k a t e g o r i i ludności w s i . S t r u k t u r a społeczna w s i okresu sprzed pierwszej
w o j n y światowej była spolaryzowana pod względem własnościowym i ta
polaryzacja określała dystans społeczny. Okres międzywojenny p r z y ­
nosi „ześredniaczenie" s t r u k t u r y własnościowej. Powstaje jednakże n o ­
wego rodzaju dystans społeczny, wywołany zupełnie o d m i e n n y m i czyn­
n i k a m i . Szukać i c h należy na l i n i i wieś — miasto. Otóż n a przeciwstaw­
n y c h krańcach s t r u k t u r y społeczno-zawodowej w s i znaleźli się z jednej
strony t r a d y c y j n i kmiecie, z d r u g i e j w y s o k o w y k w a l i f i k o w a n i robotnicy
przemysłowi, w sposób trwały powiązani z nowoczesnymi zakładami
przemysłowymi (nie zawsze przy t y m należący do najniższych kategorii
właścicieli gospodarstw). Zarówno j e d n i , j a k i d r u d z y stanowią w p r a w ­
dzie z n i k o m y procent ogółu r o d z i n w e w s i , jednakże zasługują n a uwagę
j a k o przedstawiciele d w u różnych systemów wartości społecznych. Są
też w świadomości mieszkańców w s i w t e n sposób u z n a w a n i . K m i e c i e
reprezentują dziedzictwo okresu poprzedniego, system wartości cha­
r a k t e r y s t y c z n y d l a t r a d y c y j n y c h s t r u k t u r agrarnych, w y s o k o w y k w a ­
l i f i k o w a n i robotnicy przemysłowi powiązani z m i a s t e m i klasą r o b o t n i ­
czą miasta stanowią zapowiedź nadejścia społeczeństwa i n d u s t r i a l n e g o
z jego- systemu wartości. Pomiędzy t y m i wartościami oscylują aspiracje
i dążenia ogromnej masy rodzin w e w s i . Jest sprawą bardzo c h a r a k t e ­
rystyczną, iż w okresie międzywojennym powszechne było dążenie d o
n a b y w a n i a ziemi, czy zachowania własności, lecz oceny społeczne i auto­
r y t e t y tego okresu wykraczają już dalej poza uznanie własności w r o l ­
n i c t w i e . Powszechne dążenie d o posiadania gospodarstwa rolnego jest
w y r a z e m niepewności zajęć pozarolniczych, a l e jednocześnie działa już
w społeczności w i e j s k i e j żywy przykład r o d z i n robotniczych, szerzej
zaspokajających potrzeby b y t o w e swych członków, „światłych", obezna­
n y c h z bieżącymi s p r a w a m i p o l i t y c z n y m i , kontaktujących się z i n n y m i
środowiskami.
Przeobrażenia s t r u k t u r y społeczno-zawodowej w s i pociągają też za
sobą z m i a n y w powiązaniach i zależnościach społecznych. Zachowały
się w p r a w d z i e t r z y podstawowe f o r m y powiązań gospodarczych: najem,
odrobek i pomoc sąsiedzka, ale w o d m i e n n y c h proporcjach i bardzo
z m o d y f i k o w a n e . Bogatsze gospodarstwa na ogół nie stosowały już w t y m

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•okresie n a j m u stałego, lecz t y l k o sezonowy, opłacany zawsze gotówką.
Z a t r u d n i a n o w t y m okresie w sezonie znaczną liczbę rąk roboczych,
ale na przeciąg krótkiego czasu. Wiąże się t o ze zmianami w technice
rolnej. N a przykład w okresie międzywojennym w y o r y w u j e się z i e m n i a ­
k i , co skraca czas sprzętu, ale w y m a g a okresowo znacznie większej liczby
rąk roboczych niż w w a r u n k a c h dawnej f o r m y sprzętu. Rozpowszechnia
się n a j e m stosowany przez mniejsze gospodarstwa, nie posiadające siły
pociągowej i zmuszone do korzystania z usług bogatszych gospodarzy.
T ę formę n a j m u opłacano gotówką, t a k pożądaną przez gospodarzy n i e
mających pozarolniczych źródeł dochodu i słabo z o r i e n t o w a n y c h r y n k o ­
w o w swej gospodarce r o l n e j . Coraz większego znaczenia nabiera okreso­
w e współdziałanie sąsiedzkie pomiędzy gospodarstwami równorzędnymi.
Wiąże się t o zarówno z „ześredniaczeniem" s t r u k t u r y własnościowej, j a k
i z m i a n a m i w technice rolniczej, ze spadkiem przeciętnej Bczebności
rodziny ( w porównaniu z okresem poprzednim), z ograniczeniem pracy
dzieci w w i e k u s z k o l n y m oraz z z a t r u d n i e n i e m pozarolniczym mężczyzn,
co uszczupliło r o d z i n n y zespół roboczy obsługujący gospodarstwo rolne.
Odrobek jest tą formą powiązań gospodarczych, która w okresie mię­
d z y w o j e n n y m znajduje się wyraźnie w regresie. Zanikają też całkowicie
niektóre jego postacie, t a k i e j a k odrobek za ziarno czy z i e m n i a k i udzie­
lone n a przednówku. Wszelkie f o r m y powiązań ekonomicznych okresu
międzywojennego
nacechowane
są rzeczowością. F a k t współpracy
gospodarczej n i e obligował już do kontaktów t o w a r z y s k i c h , zakończenie
c y k l u prac r o l n y c h coraz rzadziej łączyło się z zabawami. Przetrwały
w p r a w d z i e f o r m y pomocy „z dobrego serca", jednakże w o m a w i a n y m
okresie układały się coraz bardziej n a płaszczyźnie kontaktów i n d y w i ­
d u a l n y c h czy najbliższego sąsiedztwa i n i e angażowały już całej spo­
łeczności w i o s k o w e j .
Zmienił się też charakter jarmarków w i e j s k i c h . W p r a w d z i e nadal
odbywały się one w t r a d y c y j n y c h miejscach: w Skale, Krzeszowicach,
a n a w e t przez pewien jeszcze czas w samej M o d l n i c y , ale straciły swój
d a w n y uroczysty charakter. W okresie międzywojennym n i e wymieniało
się już p r a w i e zupełnie na j a r m a r k a c h jednego t o w a r u za d r u g i , lecz
powszechnie operowano gotówką. L i k w i d a c j a karczem w e w s i spowo­
dowała, iż coraz rzadziej „opijano" a k t kupna—sprzedaży.
Okres międzywojenny jest okresem powolnej, lecz stałej dezinte­
g r a c j i społeczności w i o s k o w e j . Zadecydowały o t y m przede w s z y s t k i m
następujące c z y n n i k i : 1) coraz silniejsze powiązania znacznej części, l u d ­
ności z p o n a d l o k a l n y m i układami społeczno-ekonomicznymi: miastem
i ośrodkami przemysłowymi, Wieś przestaje być „obwodem zamknię­
t y m " . Nastąpił wzrost ruchliwości zarówno przestrzennej (cotygodniowe
dojazdy do pracy), j a k i społecznej (przesunięcia w s t r u k t u r z e własno-

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ściowej, z m i a n y zawodów i t p . ) ; 2) objęcie w s i systemem ogólnospołecz­
n y m oświaty szkolnej i pozaszkolnej (oświatą fachową — rolniczą, dzia­
łalnością U n i w e r s y t e t u Ludowego w sąsiednich Szycach, działalnością
p a r t i i politycznych); 3) poszerzenie bezpośrednich styczności z ludnością
miasta ( k o n t a k t y rodzinne i towarzyskie); 4) poszerzenie w y m i a n y t o ­
w a r o w e j pomiędzy m i a s t e m a wsią.
Proces dezintegracji społeczności w i o s k o w e j wyraża się w życiu
z b i o r o w y m u p a d k i e m t r a d y c y j n y c h autorytetów, osłabieniem k o n t r o l i
społecznej oraz t w o r z e n i e m się różnych, częstokroć przeciwstawnych
sobie ugrupowiań o charakterze t o w a r z y s k i m , światopoglądowym.
C z y n n i k i e m , który s i l n i e zaważył na przeobrażeniach kontaktów t o ­
w a r z y s k i c h n a terenie w s i , była postępująca emancypacja młodych,
wzrost i c h znaczenia w życiu z b i o r o w y m . O n i b y l i ludźmi najbardziej
„światłymi", o c z y t a n y m i , o n i „objechali kawał świata" w czasie służby
w o j s k o w e j , o n i b r a l i udział w pracach Kółka Rolniczego, organizacji
młodzieżowych i politycznych. Młodzi wreszcie uczestniczyli w pracach
U n i w e r s y t e t u Ludowego w Szycach. A o t o charakterystyczna wypowiedź,
dotycząca początku l a t trzydziestych: „Bardzo dużo zmieniło się po w o j n i e
i większa powstała samodzielność młodych. O n i b y l i na wojnie, zetknęli
się z różnymi narodami, popatrzyli, j a k l u d z i e gdzie indziej żyją. K u l t u r a
r o l n a w t e d y się podniosła, t o młodzi t y m się z a j m o w a l i . Zaczęli uwalniać
się od władzy starszych. Rozleciała się w t e d y t a jedna w i e l k a rodzina
wiejska. Jeszcze zaraz po w o j n i e z b i e r a l i się ludzie wieczorem, n a p o ­
gawędki, ale już n i e starzy n a n i c h m i e l i głos, ale c i , co z wojska p r z y ­
szli i t y l e świata w i d z i e l i ... starzy p o w o l i przestali chodzić na t e w i e ­
czorne pogadanki, bo i m n i j a k o było, że n i e o n i teraz p r z y głosie ...
A p o t e m t o już każdy z t y c h młodych jakiejś się r o b o t y przyczepił i t a k
się wszystko skończyło" . N i e była to jednakże j e d y n a przyczyna
u p a d k u a u t o r y t e t u starych. I s t o t n y c h p r z y c z y n szukać należy również
w zmianach, j a k i m uległa gospodarka chłopska w t y m okresie. Jej
modernizacja 'powoduje, że a u t o r y t e t fachowy rolników, opierający się
na i c h długoletniej praktyce, okazuje się niewystarczający. I c h miejsce
zajmują w h i e r a r c h i i autorytetów l u d z i e z a w o d u : i n s t r u k t o r z y Kółka
Rolniczego, agronomowie. Oświata szkolna i pozaszkolna, działalność
U n i w e r s y t e t u Ludowego w sąsiednich Szycach i rozpowszechniające się
czytelnictwo w znacznej mierze pozbawiają księdza jego a u t o r y t e t u
wiedzy. Dodajmy do tego, że n a terenie w s i pojawiają się d w a n u r t y
ideologiczne: robotniczy, reprezentowany przez nieliczną w p r a w d z i e ,
ale świadomą grupę robotników powiązanych z miastem i przemysłem,
oraz ideologia chłopska propagowana w U n i w e r s y t e t a c h L u d o w y c h
11

1 7

Informator

W.

J . , l a t 64, w y w i a d

n r 38, 1958 r.

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i Kołach Młodzieży W i e j s k i e j . Jedna i druga przyczyniła się d o powsta­
n i a nowego d l a w s i a u t o r y t e t u , a u t o r y t e t u „człowieka światłego".
W o g r o m n y m skrócie powiedzieć można, że z jednej s t r o n y a u t o r y t e t y
tego okresu stają się bardziej specjalistyczne, związane z f u n k c j a m i za­
w o d o w y m i , a z d r u g i e j s t r o n y r o d z i się n o w y rodzaj a u t o r y t e t u , ponadpersonalny. Ksiądz n p . pozostaje n a d a l a u t o r y t e t e m w sprawach r e l i g i i
i moralności, ale przestaje rám być w sprawach w i e d z y o świecie, nie
wpływa już n a życie gospodarcze w s i . Ojciec zachowuje a u t o r y t e t j a k o
głowa r o d z i n y , ale t r a c i w i e l e j a k o a u t o r y t e t fachowy r o l n i c z y . I n s t r u k ­
t o r Kółka Rolniczego jest a u t o r y t e t e m z a w o d o w y m , ale n i e i n g e r u j e
w i n n e dziedziny życia w s i . Poprzez pojawiające się książki i gazety
powstaje n o w y autorytet: oderwany, anonimowy p r a w i e — autorytet
w i e d z y czy ideologii.
Tworzenie się tego rodzaju autorytetów w y d a j e się być charakte­
r y s t y c z n y m z j a w i s k i e m towarzyszącym procesowi przełamywania r a m
społeczności lokalnej i różnicowania się s t r u k t u r y społeczno-zawodowej.
Wszystkie wyżej omówione procesy zarysowują się w okresie między­
w o j e n n y m w 'postaci tendencji,. Zarówno w zakresie życia gospodarczego,
j a k i stosunków społecznych wieś przeżywa wyraźny przełom. Coraz
bardziej traci charakter zamkniętej społeczności, ciążąc silnie k u miastu,
lecz miasto jeszcze nie jest w stanie zapewnić pracy n a d m i a r o w i rąk
roboczych ze w s i . Rozwiązanie dla t y c h nurtujących wieś procesów n a ­
stąpiło dopiero w okresie następnym.
P r z y j r z y j m y się z kolei i dla tego okresu pojęciom i nazwom odno­
szącym się do różnych czynności z a r o b k o w y c h (por. też s. 88—89):
1. Nadal mówi się o p o s a d z i e w t a k i m rozumieniu j a k w okresie
poprzednim, t o jest j a k o o zawodzie inteligenckim, w y k o n y w a n y m w i n ­
stytucjach samorządowych l u b państwowych. I nadal posada oznacza
drogę wyjścia ze środowiska, a przynajmniej wyobcowanie z niego.
2. Nadal zachowuje się pojęcie i n t e r e s na określenie pośrednictwa
handlowego l u b posiadania sklepu, lecz wieś ma teraz m n i e j styczności
z tego rodzaju ludźmi (likwidacja karczem dworskich, ograniczenie p o ­
średnictwa kupców żydowskich).
3. Obok pojęcia f a c h pojawia się pojęcie z a w ó d , rozumiane jako
posiadanie pewnego określonego stopnia k w a l i f i k a c j i w dziedzinie pracy
możliwej do objęcia w zakładach przemysłowych czy przedsiębiorstwach.
Następuje też odróżnienie tak rozumianego „fachu" czy „zawodu" od t r a ­
d y c y j n y c h zajęć t y p u rzemieślniczego, wiejskiego. N a określenie t y c h
ostatnich stosuje się teraz t e r m i n „fach rzemieślniczy". W pierwszym
rozumieniu „fach" staje się zjawiskiem coraz częstszym na w s i , natomiast
„fach rzemieślniczy" coraz bardziej zanika l u b też przekształca się

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w „fach", gdyż część samodzielnych rzemieślników z okolicznych w s i
przechodzi do zakładów pracy w mieście (np. stolarze do f a b r y k i mebli).
4. Obok pojęcia s p o s o b u d o ż y c i a pojawia się nowe — d o r a ­
b i a n i e n a ż y c i e , służące określeniu wszelkich czynności n i e k w a l i i i k o w a n y c h i przejściowych czy sezonowych. Rola tego rodzaju zajęć
i i c h zakres maleje zresztą w y d a t n i e w o m a w i a n y m okresie.
5. Określenie s ł u ż b a zachowało się nadal w p i e r w o t n y m znaczeniu,
t j . w odniesieniu do pracy najemnej w r o l n i c t w i e i służby dziewcząt
w i e j s k i c h w mieście. A l e — j a k wspomniano wyżej — rola pracy n a j e m ­
nej w r o l n i c t w i e w y b i t n i e maleje.
6. Pojawia się natomiast nowe pojęcie — r o b o t n i k . M i a n e m t y m
określa się tę część mieszkańców w s i , która pracuje w nowoczesnych
zakładach przemysłowych. T e r m i n ten i pojęcie przejęła ludność w s i ze
środowiska miejskiego. W i e l u informatorów podkreślało w trakcie w y ­
powiedzi, iż użycie takiego samookreślenia sprzyjało i c h zbliżeniu z r o ­
b o t n i k a m i m i e j s k i m i . Na terenie w s i natomiast pojęcie „robotnik" stano­
wiło symbol wartości k o n k u r e n c y j n y c h wobec symbolu „kmieć". Posłu­
giwanie się pojęciem i t e r m i n e m „robótnk" wiązało się niewątpliwie
z jakąś zalążkową postacią świadomości robotniczej, lecz n i e była t o
jeszcze świadomość klasowa, a raczej poczucie przynależności do dużej
g r u p y l u d z i pracującej w podobnych w a r u n k a c h i mającej jednakowe
p r o b l e m y ekonomiczno-społeczne.
7. Na określenie s y t u a c j i właściciela i n d y w i d u a l n e g o gospodarstwa
używa się terminu r o l n i k . Być może szukać t u należy wpływu ideolo­
gii chłopskiej z j e j językiem. D o t e r m i n u „rolnik" dodaje się coraz
częściej p r z y m i o t n i k i , n p . „zacofany r o l n i k " , „dobry r o l n i k " . Treść
znaczeniowa tego t e r m i n u n i e zawiera więc już m o m e n t u własności,
lecz charakterystykę poprzez k w a l i f i k a c j e .
III.

OKRES

LAT

1945-1960

Reforma rolna w sposób istotny przyczyniła się do dalszego „ześredniaczenia" s t r u k t u r y własnościowej. Z r e f o r m y rolnej otrzymało ziemię
około 80% rodzin w e w s i . Przyczyniło się t o do podniesienia średniego
poziomu bytowego rodziny, lecz nie stworzyło rolników.
W 1950 r .
na ogólną liczbę 157 r o d z i n 3,2% stanowiły r o d z i n y
bezrolnych, 5,7% rodzin posiadało 0,1-0,5 ha; 38,2% 0 , 5 - 2 ha; 4 9 , 1 %
2—5 ha, 3,8% rodziny posiadające 5—10 ha.
W 1960 r .
na ogólną liczbę 146 r o d z i n 6,9% s t a n o w i l i b e z r o l n i ;
7,5% rodziny posiadające 0,1—0,5 ha; 43,8% rodziny posiadające 0,5—2 ha;
39,7% 2—5 ha; 2 , 1 % rodziny posiadające 5—10 ha ziemi.
1 8

1 9

wej

18

Dane

ze s p i s u

19

Dane

z Wydziału

Rady

powszechnego

Narodowej w

Rolnego

z

1950 г.,

i Wydziału

Krakowie

oraz

dane

Główny

Urząd S t a t y s t y k i .

E w i d e n c j i Ludności
z miejscowej

księgi

Prez.

Powiato­

meldunkowej.

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Rozwój przemysłu w K r a k o w i e , Nowej Hucie i w i n n y c h miejsco­
wościach wchłonął nadmiar rąk roboczych ze w s i i nie t y l k o nadmiar;
do zawodów pozarolniczych przeszło b o w i e m w i e l u członków rodzin
posiadających ziemię w dostatecznych rozmiarach. Część ludności całko­
w i c i e przeniosła się do miasta. Także znaczny odsetek młodzieży zdobywa
zawody inteligenckie i przenosi się do miast. W 1960 r . n a ogólną liczbę
146 rodzin t y l k o 16% u t r z y m u j e się wyłącznie z r o l n i c t w a i 6,9% sta­
nowią r o d z i n y robotnicze i inteligenckie całkowicie bezrolne, d l a których
wieś jest j e d y n i e miejscem zamieszkania. Ogromna masa pozostałych
rodzin t o chłopi-robotnicy, posiadający różnej wielkości gospodarstwa
rolne. W rodzinach t y c h różnie kształtuje się procentowy udział dochodu
z r o l n i c t w a i dochodu z zajęć pozarolniczych, tworząc szereg podtypów
w t e j kategorii. T a s t r u k t u r a społeczno-zawodowa jest z jednej s t r o n y
rezultatem dawnej s t r u k t u r y społeczno-zawodowej, s k u t k i e m r e f o r m y
rolnej oraz o t w a r c i a się n o w y c h możliwości pracy w przemyśle
i usługach.
Wraz z poszerzeniem się rynków pracy nastąpił także w z r o s t zakresu
w y k o n y w a n y c h zawodów. G d y okres do l a t 1950—1952 charakteryzował
się jeszcze znaczną zmiennością miejsc pracy i częstymi z m i a n a m i za­
w o d u przez poszczególne jednostki, t o o d l a t pięćdziesiątych wzwyż
o b s e r w u j e m y wyraźną stabilizację zarówno miejsca p r a c y j a k i zawodu.
A oto zawody w y b i e r a n e przez ludność w s i : 1) zawody i n t e l i g e n c k i e
i półinteligenekie związane z administracją, s z k o l n i c t w e m i działalnością
kulturalną. Wyróżnić t u należy zawody w y k o n y w a n e na terenie w s i
oraz zawody w y k o n y w a n e w mieście i i n n y c h ośrodkach; 2) zawody
techniczne wymagające średniego wykształcenia zawodowego l u b kursów
odpowiadających t e m u p o z i o m o w i ; 3) zawody robotników w y k w a l i f i k o ­
w a n y c h ; 4) zawody związane iz usługami, a więc: p u n k t a m i skupu,
sklepami, b a r a m i m l e c z n y m i i t p .
y

P r z y j r z y j m y się, j a k i e ikryteria oceny zdecydowały o w y b o r z e zawodu
i miejsca pracy. Otóż podobnie j a k w d w u poprzednich okresach ważkie
znaczenie m a sprawa dochodu. T r a c i natomiast n a znaczeniu t a k ważny
w poprziednim okresie c z y n n i k stałości pracy. Szerokie możliwości zat r u d m e n i a , związane n a j p i e r w z odbudową, a potem z rozbudową k r a ­
j u , powodują, że pracę znajduje się bardzo łatwo, bez wysiłku. Wystę­
pują natomiast d w a n o w e k r y t e r i a oceny zawodu i miejsca p r a c y :
k r y t e r i u m wysiłku fizycznego i czasochłonności w y k o n y w a n e g o zajęcia.
Pierwsze z n i c h wiąże się z bardzo różnorodnymi s t a w k a m i płac w róż­
n y c h dziedzinach gospodarki narodowej. S t a w k i t e częstokroć były b a r­
dzo różne n a opłacenie t e j samej l u b podobnej czynności zawodowej,
zależnie o d ważności branży d l a gospodarki ogólnonarodowej. D r u g i e
k r y t e r i u m wiąże się z f a k t e m , iż r o b o t n i c y — j a k już powiedzieliśmy —
7 — E t n o g r a f i a P o l s k a , t. V I I I

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są zarazem właścicielami gospodarstw r o l n y c h . Przejawiają o n i dążność
do zdobycia t a k i c h zawodów, które umożliwiłyby i m jednoczesną obsługę
gospodarstwa rolnego. Do t a k i c h prac należały d o l a t pięćdziesiątych
wszelkiego rodzaju prace w brygadach r e m o n t o w y c h i transporcie, gdzie
czas pracy był j e d y n i e teoretycznie n o r m o w a n y . Po t y m okresie nastąpiła
j e d n a k wyraźna stabilizacja zawodów, płac i wymogów zawodowych.
W y t w a r z a się też wyraźnie model zawodowy d l a w i e l u czynności,
które do t e j pory można było Określić j e d y n i e j a k o zajęcia. Oznacza
t o w p r o w a d z e n i e wymogów co do k w a l i f i k a c j i zawodowych i wykształ­
cenia ogólnego robotników, gradację w obrębie zawodu i system płac
przypisany do stopni awansu zawodowego. Kurczą się też możliwości
znalezienia pracy n i e wymagającej k w a l i f i k a c j i . T a k więc w ocenie
zawodu ponownie z siłą pojawiają się następujące k r y t e r i a : dochód
oraz stabilizacja w połączeniu z k w a l i f i k a c j a m i z a w o d o w y m i , Po raz
pierwszy w h i s t o r i i zajęć pozarolniczych ludności w s i p o j a w i a się p o ­
jęcie awansu zawodowego, rozumianego n i e j a k o rodzaj „szczęścia" czy
niezwykłej k a r i e r y , lecz j a k o etap drogi zawodowej. Pojęcie ciągłości
w zawodzie n i e jest dziś rozumiane j a k o stałe powtarzanie określonych
czynności, „trzymanie się r o b o t y " , lecz stopniowe przechodzenie o d c z y n ­
ności p r o s t y c h do bardziej s k o m p l i k o w a n y c h i hierarchicznie wyższych.
Bardzo często n a p y t a n i e o zawód i n f o r m a t o r z y spontanicznie podają
również stanowisko w zawodzie i wypowiadają się o perspektywach
awansu.
Jeśli jeszcze r a z powrócimy d o wyróżnionych przez nas znaczeń zajęć
pozarolniczych, t o 'powiedzieć m u s i m y , iż w t o k u r o z w o j u historycznego
stają się one coraz bardziej głównym źródłem u t r z y m a n i a l u b źródłem
równorzędnym gospodarstwu rolnemu. Praca poizarolnicza n i e jest już
dzisiaj środkiem do n a b y c i a ziemi. Obserwuje się natomiast usługową
rolę zajęć pozarolniczych wobec gospodarstwa rolnego j a k o sposobu jego
doinwestowania. Z j a w i s k o t o wiąże się z całym szeregiem f o r m powią­
zań i przepływów gotówki pomiędzy rolnictwem a i n n y m i dziedzinami
gospodarki narodowej. Zagadnienie t o jest j e d n a k bardzo s k o m p l i k o w a n e
i wymagałoby p r e c y z y j n y c h pomiarów ekonomicznych, co przekracza
kompetencje mniejszej analizy.
J a k się wydaje, współczesne przeobrażenia gospodarczo-społeczne
badanej w s i są t y p o w e d l a przeobrażeń zachodzących w strefie p o d m i e j ­
skiej pod wpływem i n d u s t r i a l i z a c j i , którym to pojęciem posługujemy
20

20

dla

Procesy

na

zresztą

w s z y s t k i c h terenów

Probleme
w

te są

o podobnej

d e r Entwicklungsplanung

I I I Międzynarodowym
St. Wolfgang

k o w s k a

charakterystyczne nie tylko dla terenu Polski, ale

we

Kongresie

wrześniu

i A. S u d l i t z

we

strukturze agrarnej.
in Verdichtungszonen
Europejskiego

1982 r. Omówienie
„Wsi Współczesnej",

Por. np. G .
—

referat

Towarzystwa

tego K o n g r e s u

Isbary,

wygłoszony

Socjologii
dają

D.

1963, n r 5, s. 130—142.

Wsi
Mar­

,

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się w szerokim r o z u m i e n i u . Industrializacja jest w p r a w d z i e zjawiskiem
ekonomicznym, ale zespół t y c h zjawisk, określany t y m pojęciem, p o ­
wołuje z k o l e i do życia określone s k u t k i społeczno-kulrurowe. Te zaś
z k o l e i oddziaływają n a ekonomikę. W t e n sposób zamyka się krąg
współzależności. W rozważaniach o wpływie i n d u s t r i a l i z a c j i n a badaną
wieś należy w celach analizy wyodrębnić d w a n u r t y tego procesu:
1) bezpośredni w p ł y w miasta K r a k o w a i Nowej H u t y ; 2) w p ł y w p o ­
średni, związany z ogólnospołecznym procesem i n d u s t r i a l i z a c j i . G d y
pierwszy z n i c h przejawiał się bezpośrednio przede w s z y s t k i m w dzie­
dzinie gospodarczej, t j . w przemianach źródeł dochodu ludności, t o
d r u g i poprzez środki masowej i n f o r m a c j i rozpowszechniał pewien s y ­
stem wartości, n o w e aspiracje i dążenia. Z k o l e i przyjęcie tego systemu
wartości określało w znacznej mierze uczestnictwo miejscowej ludności
w n o w y c h szansach ekonomicznych, wpływało na d o k o n y w a n e w sferze
gospodarczej w y b o r y . W y d a j e się bowiem, że ogólnospołeczny proces
i n d u s t r i a l i z a c j i niesie ze sobą p e w i e n system wartości
genetycznie
miejskich, i t o charakterystycznych dla nowoczesnego społeczeństwa
miejskiego, a więc społeczeństwa miejsko-undustrialnego. Wartości t e
akceptowane i przejmowane przez ludność w s i wymagają w t o k u p r a k ­
tycznej realizacji odpowiedniego przystosowania do warunków w i e j s k i c h ,
co częstokroć łączy się z powstawaniem o s t r y c h sprzeczności pomiędzy
o b i e k t y w n y m i w a r u n k a m i życia a modelem, do&lt; którego się aspiruje.
Sprzeczności t e są zresztą siłą motoryczną w i e l u ważnych przeobrażeń
życia zbiorowego w s i , życia r o d z i n y w i e j s k i e j i j e d n o s t k i . A n a l i z a treści
t y c h aspiracji wydaje się ważna, gdyż dopiero w t y m świetle zrozumie­
m y zarówno postawę wobec ziemi, j a k i ocenę zawodów pozarolniczych
oraz m o t y w y podejmowania t a k i c h a n i e i n n y c h zajęć pozarolniczych,
a więc ważki fragment obszernego zagadnienia czynników sprawczych
przeobrażeń s t r u k t u r y społeczno-zawodowej. Jako najważniejsze w świetle
zebranego materiału należy uznać: 1) aspiracje związane z gospodarstwem
d o m o w y m , t j . d o m e m m i e s z k a l n y m , o d p o w i e d n i m wyposażeniem wnętrza
mieszkalnego, i co jest niezmiernie ważne — s t y l e m życia domowego, t j .
r y t m i c z n y m gospodarstwem d o m o w y m , niezależnym od c y k l u rocznego
w gospodarstwie r o l n y m ; 2) aspiracje emancypacyjne jednostki, t o jest
aspiracje w k i e r u n k u posiadania zawodu zgodnego z zamiłowaniem i osob­
n i c z y m i możliwościami, aspiracje w k i e r u n k u p r a w a do własnego s t y l u
życia, rozwoju jednostkowych możliwości i t p . , prawo do normowanego
czasu pracy i odpoczynku, dążenie do ostrego rozgraniczenia czasu pracy
o d czasu r e k r e a c j i („czas w o l n y jako wartość społeczna"); 3) aspiracje
związane ze środowiskiem, w którym się mieszka, a więc pewne w y m o g i
c y w i l i z a c y j n e : k o m u n i k a c j a , e l e k t r y f i k a c j a , kanalizacja, postać osadnic­
t w a , pewne i n s t y t u c j e społeczne i k u l t u r a l n e ; 4) aspiracje w k i e r u n k u

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nowego m o d e l u życia rodzinnego, opartego na p a r t n e r s t w i e pomiędzy
małżonkami i z r o z u m i e n i u (a nie subordynacji) pomiędzy r o d z i c a m i
a dziećmi, t a k a postać życia rodzinnego, która zaspokajałaby nie t y l k o
zbiorowe potrzeby jego członków, ale także była w stanie odpowiedzieć
na potrzeby bardzo i n d y w i d u a l n e . T a k i m n i e j więcej m o d e l p r o p a g o w a n y
jest współcześnie przez prasę popularną i inne środki masowej i n f o r ­
m a c j i . Jest o n wyraźnie, genetycznie rzecz biorąc, m i e j s k i i także w w i e ­
l u środowiskach m i e j s k i c h nie' jest r e a l i z o w a n y w pełni, lecz s t a n o w i
a t r a k c y j n y model, do którego się aspiruje.
Spróbujmy z k o l e i odpowiedzieć, w j a k i sposób ludność badanej w s i
usiłuje realizować t e n model. Dodamy od razu, iż w sferze obserwowa­
nych zachowań najsilniej i najpowszechniej przejawiają się aspiracje zwią­
zane z poziomem gospodarstwa domowego. Częstokroć zresztą zostają one
spłycone i służą nie t y l e wygodzie rodziny, ile są manifestacją p r e s t i ­
żową n a zewnątrz.
Realizacja nowoczesnego gospodarstwa domowego wymaga zarówno
p e w n y c h podstawowych urządzeń cywilizacyjnych w środowisku, j a k i d y ­
sponowania przez rodzinę określoną gotówką, pozwalającą na m o d e r n i ­
zację wyposażenia d o m u mieszkalnego i odpowiednią jego rytmikę w cią­
gu r o k u . Badana wieś jest w pełni zelektryfikowana, a co za t y m idzie,
całkowicie prawie zradiofonizowana. Powszechnie nabywa się też ostat­
nio np. p r a l k i elektryczne i prodiże. Także dogodne połączenia k o m u n i ­
kacyjne wiążą ją w sposób łatwy z m i a s t e m . Około 50 % domów m u r o w a ­
n y c h powstałych po w o j n i e wskazuje na dużą prężność w zakresie b u d o w ­
nictwa mieszkaniowego. A l e realizacja nowoczesnego gospodarstwa domo­
wego — j a k już powiedziano — wymaga dysponowania gotówką. T r a d y ­
cyjne gospodarstwo chłopskie, nietowarowe, słabo zorientowane r y n k o w o
nie pozwala na dokonanie pełnej modernizacji gospodarstwa domowego.
Toteż model nowoczesnego gospodarstwa domowego działa motorycznie
w d w u k i e r u n k a c h : bądź t o skłania do przestawienia gospodarki r o l n e j na
t o r y bardziej specjalizacyjne, dochodowe, bądź też do podjęcia pracy poza­
r o l n i c z e j , dostarczającej pożądanej gotówki. W p r z y p a d k u badanej w s i ,
gdzie rozmiary gospodarstw są małe, d o m i n u j e podejmowanie pracy poza­
rolniczej, niemniej jednak nawet w gospodarstwach chłopów-robotników
obserwuje się tendencje do specjalizacji w gospodarstwie r o l n y m . Droga
podjęcia zajęć pozarolniczych jest spowodowana nie t y l k o małymi rozmia­
r a m i gospodarstw, ale także bliskością K r a k o w a i Nowej H u t y i łatwością
znalezienia w nich pracy. Wśród nielicznej dziś w e w s i g r u p y „czystych
rolników", t j . r o d z i n utrzymujących się wyłącznie z u p r a w y z i e m i , prze­
ważają dziś gospodarstwa specjalizacyjne. D w a spośród nich to już n a w e t
nie gospodarstwa rolne, lecz czysto ogrodnicze. Przejmując „nowoczesne"

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i m i e j s k i e aspiracje życiowe ludność w s i zaadaptować je m u s i do w a r u n ­
ków swego środowiska. Dodajmy nadto, iż nie przyjmuje ona t y c h wzorów
bezkrytycznie, gdyż od dawna obserwuje życie miejskie. I t a k np. — rzecz
charakterystyczna — młodzież badanej w s i nie dąży do zdobycia zawodów
i n t e l i g e n c k i c h z wyższym czy n a w e t średnim wykształceniem, lecz n a j ­
częściej pragnie podjąć od r a z u jakąś pracę zarobkową i dopiero w za­
kładzie pracy korzystać z możliwości dokształcania się i podnoszenia
k w a l i f i k a c j i . Wartość z i e m i przedewaluowała się w p r a w d z i e jako jedyne
pewne źródło u t r z y m a n i a r o d z i n y , lecz zachowała i n n y aspekt wartości,
a m i a n o w i c i e stała się wartością instrumentalną, mającą zaspokajać zbio­
r o w e i i n d y w i d u a l n e potrzeby członków r o d z i n y . Z ziemi „wygospodaro­
w u j e " się strój, m o t o c y k l , meble i t p . — Ziemia, gospodarstwo oceniane
są na t y l e p o z y t y w n i e , na ile sprzyjają realizacji pożądanego m o d e l u ży­
cia. A oto charakterystyczna wypowiedź i n f o r m a t o r k i , która uzyskała
ziemię dzięki r e f o r m i e r o l n e j : „Downi ludzie na ziemi siedzieli, t e r o z k i
w d o m u , w pokojach chcą mieskać. Jo z i e m i jesce nie dziełem między
dzieci. T r z y m o m y sie jesce k u p y , bo d o m z t y z i e m i c h c i e l i m y w y b u d o ­
wać, a teroz jesce co do d o m u trza kupić" .
21

W wypowiedziach informatorów za najbardziej idealną sytuację uważa
się, gdy ktoś z rodziny pracuje w mieście i tą drogą dostarcza gotówki,
a ziemia jest bądź d o d a t k o w y m źródłem dochodu pieniężnego, bądź speł­
nia rolę żywiciela rodziny, a więc jest rodzajem rozszerzonego gospodar­
stwa domowego. W obu przypadkach chodzi o możliwość dysponowania
gotówką dla podniesienia poziomu życiowego r o d z i n y . Jesteśmy t u u źró­
deł czynników stabilizacji w a r s t w y chłopów-robotników. A l e sytuacja
chłopa-robotnika pozwala w p r a w d z i e na realizację wyższego poziomu
konsumpcyjnego niż n p . w rodzinach robotniczych, nie posiadających
ziemi, lecz jednocześnie absorbuje siły zespołu rodzinnego i pozostaje
w k o n f l i k c i e z i n n y m ważnym elementem „nowoczesnego" w z o r u ży­
cia — potrzebą czasu wolnego. Znacznie silniej przejawiają się aspiracje
co do czasu wolnego u młodzieży obojga płci nie będącej jeszcze
w związkach małżeńskich. Jest jednakże sprawą charakterystyczną, że
n a w e t ta młodzież, która w okresie poprzedzającym małżeństwo k o r z y ­
stała z czasu wolnego
i spędzała go w sposób „miejski" l u b zbliżony
do „miejskiego" (kino, operetka, wycieczki), w momencie zawarcia związ­
k u małżeńskiego p r z e j m u j e f o r m y t r a d y c y j n e : odwiedzanie k r e w n y c h
2 2

21

Informátorka

P. J . , l a t 57, w y w i a d

n r 1, 1960 r.

N a t e m a t c z a s u rwolnego mieszkańców w s i
przeprowadziła b a d a n i a K r y s t y n a Ł a p i ń s k a ,
kańców wsi, P o l s k a A k a d e m i a N a u k , Oddział w
siedzeń K o m i s j i " , lipiec—grudzień 1962, K r a k ó w
2 2

p o d m i e j s k i e j i młodzieży tej w s i
Problem
czasu
wolnego
miesz­
K r a k o w i e , „Sprawozdanie z P o ­
1963.

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i znajomych, w y s i a d y w a n i e przed domem i t p . Łatwe p r z e j m o w a n i e
wzorów m i e j s k i c h przez młodzież w zakresie f o r m spędzania czasu
wolnego należy więc uznać za element k u l t u r o w y c h a r a k t e r y s t y c z n y dla
p e w n y c h g r u p w i e k u i n i e można oczekiwać, iż u t r w a l i się o n w t a k i e j
postaci w k u l t u r z e . D o t y c z y to zwłaszcza kobiet, które z m o m e n t e m
zawarcia małżeństwa są w w a r u n k a c h d o m i n a n t y r o d z i n chłopów-ro­
botników przywiązane do działki ziemi i d o m u i przeciążone pracą.
Charakterystycznemu i szkodliwemu społecznie wypaczeniu uległ wzór
emancypacji osobistej jednostki. Załamaniu uległ d a w n y autorytet rodzi­
cielski. K o n t r o l a i sankcja społeczna w s i nie reprezentuje dziś już żadnej
prawie siły realnej, zdolnej kierować postępowaniem jednostki. Młodzież
męska, dysponująca gotówką i nie uznająca żadnych prawie miejscowych
autorytetów, zachowuje się samowolnie. Spożycie alkoholu jest zastrasza­
jące. Częste są również p r z y p a d k i korzystania przez młodzież z dochodów
gospodarstwa bez świadczeń z i c h strony na rzecz gospodarstwa czy r o ­
dziny. Jest t o t y p o w y przykład w a d l i w e j adaptacji wzorów miejskich, za
które cenę obyczajówo-społeczną płaci wieś.
Powróćmy jednak do społeczności lokalnej. Jak w t y c h w a r u n k a c h
kształtują się f o r m y współżycia ludności wsi? K o n t a k t y ekonomiczne mają
dziś charakter prawie wyłącznie rzeczowy. Wszelkie postacie n a j m u opła­
cane są gotówką, a o d r o b k i przeliczane „na dniówkę". Poza t y m i f o r m a m i
współpracy ekonomicznej, jakie występowały we w s i w okresie między­
w o j e n n y m , pojawia się nowa zinstytucjonizowana postać współdziałania,
oparta na kółkach rolniczych. Jest t o jakaś forma docelowej integracji spo­
łeczności wioskowej. Jednakże ogólnie rzecz biorąc wieś przedstawia dziś
obraz zindywidualizowanych rodzin, kontaktujących się szeroko ze środo­
w i s k i e m m i e j s k i m , i t a k n p . w obrzędach .rodzinnych i różnego rodzaju
uroczystościach udział gości z miasta sięga częstokroć 60% ogółu za­
proszonych. Upadek d a w n y c h więzów l o k a l n y c h i dezintegracja społecz­
ności w i o s k o w e j nie łączy się jednak z negatywną ocerią własnego śro­
dowiska. Bliskość K r a k o w a powoduje, że mieszkańcy uważają swą wieś
za rodzaj przedmieścia i mówią o t y m jako o p e r s p e k t y w i e najbliższej
przyszłości. U t w i e r d z a i c h w t y m p r z e k o n a n i u fakt, iż ostatnio zdarzają
się p r z y p a d k i nabywania w e w s i parcel b u d o w l a n y c h przez ludność m i a ­
sta K r a k o w a . Także w ocenie mieszkańców w s i sąsiednich, dalej położo­
n y c h od K r a k o w a , „wżenienie się do M o d l n i c y " czy k u p i e n i e parceli
b u d o w l a n e j w M o d l n i c y oceniane jest jako awans społeczny.
Przypatrzmy się z kolei, j a k i c h rozróżnień używa się współcześnie na
określenie czynności zawodowych. Otóż najbardziej uderzającym z j a w i ­
skiem jest powszechne prawie posługiwanie się oficjalną terminologią. N a

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p y t a n i e o rodzaj pracy zarobkowej odpowiada się najczęściej wyczerpu­
jąco, z podaniem zawodu, specjalizacji w obrębie zawodu i stanowiska
w zawodzie. W użyciu jest również pojęcie ogólne „robotnik", w t a k i m
znaczeniu, w j a k i m posługuje się n i m prasa i radio. Natomiast t e r m i n
„chłop-robotnik", znany w e w s i , używany jest z l e k k i m zabarwieniem
humorystycznym.
W bardzo interesujące zagadnienie wprowadza nas analiza pojęciowa
t e r m i n u „rolnik". Otóż informatorzy r o l n i c y ostro sprzeciwiali się użyciu
na i c h określenie t e r m i n u „chłop", uważając, iż b r z m i on zarówno pejo­
r a t y w n i e , j a k i nie odpowiada rzeczywistości. „Chłop to jakaś ciemna m a ­
sa, a j a jestem r o l n i k , tak samo j a k mój sąsiad ślusarz, bo on przy ślu­
sarce pracuje, a j a p r z y r o l i " — mówi jeden z informatorów . Wszyscy
wyspecjalizowani r o l n i c y podają jako swój zawód: „ogrodnik", „hodow­
ca" i t p . Tę próbę znalezienia nowego samookreślenia sytuacji r o l n i k a uznać
należy za bardzo symptomatyczną. Niewątpliwie po to, b y czynności r o l n i ­
ka stały się „zawodem" w nowoczesnym r o z u m i e n i u tego pojęcia, potrzeb­
ne jest spełnienie k i l k u o b i e k t y w n y c h warunków, a m i a n o w i c i e p r o d u k t
pracy r o l n i k a nie może być przeznaczony w przeważającej swej części
na bezpośrednią konsumpcję, lecz m u s i być pracą na rzecz społeczeństwa,
a więc m u s i być t o w a r e m p r o d u k o w a n y m na r y n e k , i dalej d o w y k o n y ­
wania tej czynności musi być w y m a g a n y określony społecznie poziom
k w a l i f i k a c j i zawodowych. Toteż m u s i m y powiedzieć, że praca r o l n i k a jest
o b i e k t y w n i e t y m bliższa pojęciu nowoczesnego zawodu, i m bardziej jego
gospodarstwo p r o d u k u j e t o w a r y , i m bardziej jest wyspecjalizowane i i m
wyższe k w a l i f i k a c j e f o r m a l n e posiada dany r o l n i k . M o m e n t samookre­
ślenia u j a w n i a t u bardzo charakterystyczne s u b i e k t y w n e tendencje.
W w i e l k i m uproszczeniu można b y powiedzieć, że bliskość miasta i szan­
sa r y n k o w a wpływają na wykształcenie się o b i e k t y w n y c h cech zawodu
r o l n i k a , a zróżnicowana s t r u k t u r a zawodowa w s i działa jako model na
samookreślenie się rolników, działa w k i e r u n k u upodobnienia i c h p r a c y
do zawodu w t a k i m r o z u m i e n i u , w j a k i m mówi się o zawodach poza­
rolniczych.
23

24

UWAGI

KOŃCOWE

Na przestrzeni osiemdziesięciu lat następował w życiu ekonomiczno-społecznym w s i proces przejścia od izolowanej w znacznym stopniu i po­
wiązanej z miejscowym f o l w a r k i e m społeczności lokalnej d o w s i o cha-

2 3

24

Informator

К.

I., l a t 66, w y w i a d

В . G a ł ę s к i , Chłopi

i zawód

n r 5, 1960 r.

rolnika,

W a r s z a w a 1963.

�104

DANUTA

MARKOWSKA

rakterze podmiejskim, której życie ekonomiczne i społeczne da się w y j a ­
śnić j e d y n i e c h a r a k t e r e m j e j powiązań z miastem. S t r u k t u r a własnościowa
w r o l n i c t w i e przeszła swoistą ewolucję od bardzo spolaryzowanej, będą­
cej jeszcze dziedzictwem o k r e s u pańszczyźnianego, do coraz bardziej w y ­
równanej, o d wyraźnych k a t e g o r i i ekonomiczno-społecznych wyznaczo­
n y c h własnością do wyrównania się dystansu w poziomie życia na s k u t e k
stabilizacji zajęć pozarolniczych. I s t o t n y m c z y n n i k i e m dzisiejszego zróżni­
cowania społecznego jest podział na l i n i i wieś — miasto, a więc różny
stopień uczestnictwa w pracy pozarolniczej i k u l t u r z e m i e j s k i e j . A l e także
w obrębie w s i i pracy rolniczej zaznacza się nowa linia podziału, przebie­
gająca od f o r m t r a d y c y j n y c h do nowoczesnych. Zarówno b o w i e m gospo­
darstwa „czystych" rolników, j a k i chłopów-robotników dadzą się p o klasyfikować z p u n k t u widzenia swego charakteru na tradycyjne, t j .
nietowarowe i niewyspecjalizowane, j a k i na „nowoczesne", t j . specjalizu­
jące się w swej produkcji. To rozróżnienie nie jest t y l k o w y n i k i e m a n a l i ­
zy badacza, lecz stanowi w badanej zbiorowości praktycznie stosowany ze­
spół kryteriów d l a oceny r a n g i społecznej rodziny czy jednostki.
Wieś stała się środowiskiem wielozawodowym, w którym poszczegól­
ne g r u p y ludności wchodzą w określone układy społeczne zarówno z po­
b l i s k i m miastem, j a k i ośrodkami odległymi. N i e t w o r z y ona już dzisiaj
zintegrowanej całości, powiązanej w i e l o s t r o n n y m i więzami gospodarczy­
m i i społecznymi. K o n t a k t y towarzyskie w obrębie w s i kształtują się d o ­
b r o w o l n i e na zasadzie swobodnej selekcji. W t o k u r o z w o j u historycznego
wieś przeszła ewolucję od silnie zróżnicowanej społecznie i gospodarczo,
lecz jednocześnie zintegrowanej zarówno gospodarczo, j a k i społecznie, do
w s i o s t r u k t u r z e znacznie bardziej „wyrównanej", ale jednocześnie zdez­
i n t e g r o w a n e j w s w y m życiu gospodarczym, a zwłaszcza społecznym.
Szeroki wachlarz zawodów, występujących w obrębie w s i , wpłynął na
kształtowanie się samookreślenia zawodu rolnika. W h i e r a r c h i i społecznej
w s i decydujące znaczenie ma poziom gospodarstwa domowego i s t y l życia
domowego uznany za „nowoczesny". Na plan dalszy schodzi natomiast
kwestia, jakiego rodzaju źródło dochodu — rolnicze czy pozarolnicze —
gwarantuje t e n poziom. Nieliczna grupa rolników prowadzi gospodarstwa
w znacznej mierze towarowe i stylem życia domowego nie odbiega z b y t n i o
od r o d z i n utrzymujących się z zajęć pozarolniczych. T a k więc wieś jest
wprawdzie zróżnicowana zawodowo i społecznie, lecz czynnikiem n i w e ­
lującym jest wspólność aspiracji, zwłaszcza w gospodarstwie d o m o w y m
i s t y l u życia domowego:. Rzecz jasna, mówimy t u t a j o pewniej general­
nej tendencji, gdyż rzeczywistość a k t u a l n a przedstawia pod t y m w z g l ę ­
d e m obraz znacznego jeszcze zróżnicowania.

�TRADYCYJNA

Danuta

SPOŁECZNOŚĆ

WIOSKOWA

W

PROCESIE

ZMIAN

105

Markowska

LA

COMMUNAUTÉ

RURALE

TRADITIONNELLE EN

COURS

DES

CHANGEMENTS
Résumé
Nous

présentons

Modlnica

—

i c i l e s résultats

district

de

Cracovie

des r e c h e r c h e s

(Krakow).

faites;

dans

L e s recherches

ont

le v i l l a g e

de

porté

la

sur

periodě a l i a n t de 1880 e n v i r o n jusqu'ä 1960.
L e s d o c u m e n t s de base, r e c u e i l l i s s u r l e t e r r a i n p a r l ' a u t e u r , c o n s i s t e n t
d a n s l ' h i s t o r i q u e r e m o n t a n t jusqu'ä l a 3 g e n e r a t i o n — des f a m i l i e s q u i h a b i t e n t
a c t u e l l e m e n t l e v i l l a g e . L ' a u t e u r a puisé ä t i t r e a u x i l i a i r e d a n s l e s d o c u m e n t s
d'archives.
ě r a e

D u r a n t ces 80 années l a v i e économique et s o c i a l e d u v i l l a g e a évolué
un sens bien
ä

precis. A u

l'exploitation

agglomeration

depart

seigneuriale

de

type

l a collectivité

voisine,

suburbain

le

dont

isolée ä b i e n

village

la

vie

est

des égards

devenu

économique

dans

est liée

finalement

et

sociale

une

ne

peut

s ' e x p l i q u e r que p a r l a n a t u r e des r e l a t i o n s a v e c l a v i l l e . L a s t r u c t u r e des r a p p o r t s
de

proprietě

dans

tres

contrastée,

Les

categories

ä

l'origine,

l'agriculture

heritage

économiques

se sont

a

subi

de l'époque

une

evolution

d u servage,

et s o c i a l e s r e p o s a n t

fondues

par suite

d'une

elle

caractéristique.
s'est

nivelée

D'abord

p e u ä peu.

s u r l a proprietě, tres

égalisation

du niveau

marquees

de v i e liée

ä l a s t a b i l i s a t i o n des o c c u p a t i o n s p r o f e s s i o n n e l l e s h o r s de l ' a g r i c u l t u r e . L e f a c t e u r
e s s e n t i e l de différenciation

sociale consiste a c t u e l l e m e n t d a n s l a d i s t i n c t i o n e n t r e

l e v i l l a g e et l a v i l l e , c'est-ä-dire d a n s l e degré de p a r t i c i p a t i o n ä J a c u l t u r e et a u x
activités u r b a i n e s . D e p l u s d a n s l e c a d r e méme d u v i l l a g e et d u t r a v a i l a g r i c o l e
nous v o y o n s

se d e s s i n e r u n e l i g n e de p a r t a g e séparant l e s f o r m e s

des

formes

modernes.

des

paysans-ouvriers peuvent

c'est-ä-dire
moderne,

traditionnelles

L e s e x p l o i t a t i o n s des p a y s a n s « p u r s » a u s s i b i e n q u e c e l l e
étre classées e n e x p l o i t a t i o n s

de t y p e t r a d i t i o n n e l ,

basées s u r u n e économie de s u b s i s t a n c e , et e n e x p l o i t a t i o n s
c'est-ä-dire

spécialisées

dans

leur

production.

Cette

de t y p e

classification

ne r e s u l t e pas s e u l e m e n t de l ' a n a l y s e d u c h e r c h e u r , m a i s e l l e refléte u n e n s e m b l e
de

criteres

familie
Le
Les

utilises dans

ou

la

societě

étudiée

pour

évaluer

le

rang

social

d'une

d'un individu.

village

groupes

est

devenu

u n milieu dans

lequel

s'inserent diverses

p a r t i c u l i e r s se t r o u v e n t d e t e r m i n e s p a r des r a p p o r t s

professions.

sociaux

precis

q u i l e s r e l i e n t t a n t ä l a v i l l e v o i s i n e qu'ä des c e n t r e s u r b a i n s éloignés. L a c o l l e c ­
tivité v i l l a g e o i s e
des

liaisons

ä l'intérieur

ne f o r m e p l u s a u j o u r d ' h u i

économiques

et s o c i a l e s

d u v i l l a g e se c o n s t i t u e n t s e l o n l e s affinités

de 1'évolution h i s t o r i q u e l e v i l l a g e
aux

structures sociales

temps

d'une g r a n d e

sont

de

l a v i e économique
Le

nivelées,

a subi

et économiques

mais

oů

en т ё т е

la

temps

différenciées,
a u n stade

i l s'est

mais

profession

la vie quand

social

Ensemble
en

тёте

oů l e s s t r u c t u r e s

desintegré

d'agriculteur.

dans

Dans

le village
la

sous

a influé

hierarchie

le

rapport

i l est qualifié

de «moderne».

L e probléme

sur la notion

sociale

u n role décisif est joué p a r l a qualité de l ' i n s t a l l a t i o n d o m e s t i q u e
de

d'ordre

électives. D a n s l e c a d r e

et s u r t o u t s o c i a l e .

l a r g e éventail des m e t i e r s exercés
de

coherent m a i n t e n u p a r

u n e double t r a n s f o r m a t i o n .

nettement

c o h e s i o n i n t e r n e , i l est passe

se

тёте

u n ensemble

multilaterales. L e s relations

du

village

et p a r l e s t y l e

de l a

source

des

�DANUTA

106
revenus

—

agriculture

ou autres

MARKOWSKA

—• a s s u r a n t

ce g e n r e

p l a n . U n groupe a s s e z r e s t r e i n t de c u l t i v a t e u r s possede
port

et p a r l e s t y l e

revenus

non

professionnel
de

agricoles.

l a v i e ne s'éloigne

Ainsi

le

village

est

et s o c i a l , m a i s l e s a s p i r a t i o n s

l'aménagement

ďuniformisation.
genérale,

de

de l a m a i s o n
I I est e v i d e n t

p a s trop

deja

de v i e passe
des f a m i l i e s

différencié

communes,

du

surtoüt d a n s

c a r l a réalité offre e n c o r e

présentons

ä cet égard

ici seulement

une grande

second
de

vivant

point

et d u s t y l e de l a v i e , représentent
q u e nous

au

des e x p l o i t a t i o n s

le
un

de

rap­
des
vue

domaine
facteur

une tendance

diversité.

�</text>
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    <itemType itemTypeId="1">
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          <element elementId="41">
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                <text>Wolski, Krzysztof</text>
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              <elementText elementTextId="127161">
                <text>Instytut Archeologii i Etnologii PAN, Instytut Historii Kultury Materialnej PAN</text>
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              <elementText elementTextId="127164">
                <text>„Etnografia P o l s k a " , t. X I X z.. 1

KRZYSZTOF

WOLSKI

T R A D Y C Y J N A U P R A W A WINOROŚLI W A F G A N I S T A N I E
Afganistan., j e d e n z n i e l i c z n y c h krajów świata, gdzie t r a d y c y j n e m e ­
t o d y i t e c h n i k i w r o l n i c t w i e jeszcze n i e ustępują nowoczesności, posiada
niektóre dziedziny gospodarki rolnej z d a w n a doskonale rozwinięte i w y ­
soko postawione.' Sadownictwo i ogrodnictwo stanowią słuszną dumę tego
k r a j u , a uprawę w i n n e j latorośli można uznać za najlepiej rozwiniętą
i c h gałęź.
Powierzchnia A f g a n i s t a n u n i e jest a n i pomierzona dokładnie, a n i o b l i ­
czona. Niektórzy badacze przyjmują, że liczy ona 635 000 k m , z tego
wzniesione d o 300 m n.p.m. jest 5600 k m (0,9%), o d 300-600 m —
58 500 k m |(9;2%), o d 600-1800 m — 294 000 k m (46,3%), o d 18003000 m — 210 000 k m (33,1%), a ponad 3000 m — 66 900 k m (10,5%)
Badane obszary znajdują się w g r u p i e d r u g i e j , trzeciej i czwartej. P o w ­
szechnie p r z y j m u j e się, że obszar A f g a n i s t a n u w y n o s i 657 500 k m ,
a przeważnie mówi się o 650 000 k m .
T e r e n y użytkowane rolniczo' (zajęte pod uprawę) zajmują 78 000 k m ,
t o jest 1 1 , 9 % p o w i e r z c h n i k r a j u . W t y m t e r e n y nawadniane wodą z rzek
rud-i-bar
zajmują 3,38 m i l . h a (5,2%), nawadniane wodą ze źródeł i studni
czeszmeh sar 0,87 m i l . h a (1,3%), a wodą z kanałów podziemnych karizi
1,06 m i l . h a (1,6%), zaś u p r a w y suche lalmi zajmują 2,49 m i l . ha( 3,8%).
N a t u r a l n i e n i e w l i c z a się d o tegO' łąk i pastwisk zajmujących 3,20 m i l . ha
( 4 , 9 % ) . Inne źródła podają, że t e r e n y użytkowane rolniczo' zajmują obszar
około 120 000 k m , co w stosunku do powierzchni k r a j u w y n o s i około
1 8 % *.
2

2

2

2

2

2

2 2

2

2

3

2

Badania n a d uprawą w i n n e j latorośli w Afganistanie i n a najbliższych
terenach przyległych północnego Beludżystanu w Pakistanie miałem możJ . H u m l u гл, L a géographie
h a g u e 1959, s. 17.
1

К.
s. 336.
2

Wolski,

Afganistan,

[w:]

D ł N. W i 1 b e r, Afghanistan,
1962, s. 339.
3

* Wolski,

op. cit., s. 339.

de l'Afghanistan.
Geografia
its people,

Etude

powszechna,
its society

d'un pays
t.

aride,

Copen­

I V , W a r s z a w a 1967,

its culture,

New

Haven

�144

KRZYSZTOF

WOLSKI

ność przeprowadzać w i e l o k r o t n i e podczas k i l k u m o i c h w y p r a w n a Środko­
w y Wschód w latach 1960-1973 . B a d a n i a m i objęto w Afganistanie obszary
wokół miasta Kandahar n a południowym zachodzie, K a l a t - i - G h i l z a j (prow.
Zabul) i Ghazni oraz Gardezu n a południu, prowincję Logar w A f g a n i ­
stanie środkowym, okolice K a b u l u i południowe stoki H i n d u k u s z u ( K o h - i Daman, dolinę r z e k i Ghor.band, okolice Bamijanu) w Afganistanie środ­
k o w y m , okolice Khindżian, Duszambe i P u l - e - C h u m r i n a północnych zbo­
czach H i n d u k u s z u Środkowego oraz Taszkhurgan, Mazar-i-Szerif i K h a nabad w Afganistanie północnym a wreszcie Badachszan (okolice miasta
Faizabad) w Afganistanie północno-wschodnim.
s

Badania przeprowadzane były w różnych porach r o k u , przeważnie
jednak w lecie i jesienią, g d y owoce w i n o g r a d u dojrzewały, a r y n e k pełen
był różnych o d m i a n w i n o g r o n . L i c z n i i n f o r m a t o r z y r e k r u t o w a l i się spo­
śród właścicieli w i n n i c , ogrodników, kupców, a także przygodnych zna­
jomych.
U p r a w a winorośli w chłodniejszych rejonach Środkowego Wschodu m a
równie stare tradycje, j a k u p r a w a p a l m y d a k t y l o w e j w rejonach u p a l n y c h .
Pomijając już udział w i n a w m i t a c h śródziemnomorskich (np. greckich)
czy w Biblii, powszechne występowanie liścia w i n n e g o i grona w i n n e g o
j a k o m o t y w u dekoracyjnego w najstarszych ceramikach Wschodu jest
dowodem dawności u p r a w i wagi, jaką d o tej u p r a w y przykładano. Ciąg­
łość u p r a w y g a t u n k u Vitis vinifera możemy obserwować w w i e l u krajach
basenu Morza Śródziemnego, j a k również n a Środkowym Wschodzie,
gdzie winorośl właściwa (Vitis vinifera
możemy obserwować na Środko­
w y m Wschodzie, gdzie winorośl właściwa (Vitis vinifera)
jest u p r a w i a n a
w najprzeróżniejszych w a r u n k a c h m i k r o k l i m a t y c z n y c h (oazy itp.), gle­
b o w y c h i wysokościowych, w strefie k l i m a t u ciepłego i umiarkowanego.
Oczywiście od wieków trwająca u p r a w a pozwoliła n a w y t w o r z e n i e w i e l u
o d m i a n g a t u n k u , s i l n i e zróżnicowanych w wydajności, t y p i e i w w i e l ­
kości owoców, smaku, a wreszcie odporności n a działanie czynników k l i ­
matycznych, j a k m r o z y l u b upały, długotrwała susza czy deszcz, oraz o d ­
porności n a choroby. Zresztą p i e r w o t n e siedlisko winorośli mieścić się
może i mieści się t a k w ośrodkach pochodzenia roślin u p r a w n y c h n a o b ­
szarze p r z y p a m i r s k i m , czyli centralnoazjatyekim, j a k i w ośrodku B l i s k i e ­
go Wschodu, c z y l i przednioazjatyckim . I dziś jeszcze w różnych r e j o ­
nach A f g a n i s t a n u spotkać można różne o d m i a n y dzikiej winorośli, już t o
krzewiastej (np. w Badachszanie l u b Kandaharze), już t o karłowatej pną­
cej. Długowiekowa izolacja Afganistanu i n i e w i e l k a ilość badań botanicz6

5

W

l a t a c h 1960-1961, 1964, 1972 i 1973 przeprowadziłem b a d a n i a

Beludżystanie, w A f g a n i s t a n i e
6

M. N o w i ń s k i ,

Dzieje

w

północnym

zaś w l a t a c h 1969, 1971, 1972 i 1973.
upraw

i roślin

uprawnych,

Warszawa

1970, s. 25-27

�U P R A W A WINOROŚLI W

145

AFGANISTANIE

n y c h n a obszarach wschodnioirańskich uniemożliwiają wysunięcie odpo­
w i e d n i c h wniosków odnośnie do autochtonicznych o d m i a n i autochtoniczności winorośli n a t y c h terenach.
W p r a w d z i e J . H u m l u m twierdził, że winorośli n i e spotyka się t a m
j a k o dziko rosnącej , j e d n a k zetknąłem się z dziką winoroślą jadalną
w okolicach K a n d a h a r u oraz w rejonie K w e t t a - P i s z i n w pakistańskim
Beludżystanie. N i e jest j e d n a k wykluczone, że może to być winorośl zdzi­
czała, gdyż przemieszczenia osad l u d z k i c h następowały t a m często. Z d r u ­
giej strony pochodzić może ona z pestek którejś z o d m i a n u p r a w n y c h ,
p r z y p a d k o w o zasianych n a ustroniach.
Winogrona północnego A f g a n i s t a n u j a k o doskonałe w s m a k u wspomina
p r z y opisie T e r m e z u słynny podróżnik z X I V w i e k u I b n B a t t u t a (13251354) , a przecież w e współczesnym Afganistanie najlepszą sławę mają
w i n o g r o n a okolic K a n d a h a r u , następnie k o t l i n a p r o w i n c j i P a r w a n u , c z y l i
okolice C z a r i k a r u n a p n . od K a b u l u , a dopiero n a t r z e c i m miejscu stawia
się w i n o g r o n a północy.
7

8

Okręgi u p r a w y winorośli w Afganistanie t o przede w s z y s t k i m K a n d a ­
h a r n a południowym zachodzie, w c e n t r u m K o h - i - D a m a n (czyli p r o w i n c j a
P a r w a n i Kapisa w okolicy K a b u l u ) oraz Maimene i Mazar-i-Szerif n a
północy .
O p t y m a l n y m i w a r u n k a m i u p r a w y Vitis vinifera ssp. sativa „tok" ( f . )
l u b „tok-e-angur" (f.) są t e r e n y o glebach ciepłych, głębokich i p r z e p u ­
szczalnych ze znacznymi ilościami w a p n a w glebie. Winorośl dobrze się
udaje również n a glebach górskich, k a m i e n i s t y c h , a zawierających sporo
wapna, jednak n i e z b y t w y s o k o położonych, b o w Afganistanie ponad
2500 m n.p.m. już n i e sięga , a choć sporadycznie t r a f i a się jeszcze wyżej
i owocuje, t o n a t y c h w y s o k o położonych stanowiskach daje drobne
owoce.
9

1 0

11

Winorośl dzięki znacznej długości k o r z e n i (dochodzących do 7 m)
doskonale p o t r a f i przetrwać porę suchą. Może się obywać nawet bez
sztucznego nawadniania, co jest rzeczą niezmiernie ważną w s u c h y m k l i -

7

8

H u m l ů m , op. cit., s. 183.
Ibn

Warszawa
9

Battuta,

Por. H u m l u m ,

1 0

Osobliwości

miast

i dziwy

podróży,

red. A.

Zajączkowski,

1902, s. 141.
op. cit., s. 184.

f. = n a z w a w języku f a r s i ( p e r s k i m ) , p. = n a z w a w języku p a s z t u .

11 Winorośl rosnąca n a w y s . 2350 m n.p.m. spotykał J . H u m l u m (op. cit., s. 188).
Rośnie o n a w
tym wymaga

różnych w a r u n k a c h
lepszego

n a różnych wysokościach z t y m , że i m wyżej,

nasłonecznienia, a w z i m i e ochrony. W

mych badaniach nad

Zatoką Perską ( w 1971 r.) spotkałem w i n n i c e w o k o l i c y B u s z e h r u p r a w i e n a s a m y m
brzegu

morskim

(otoczone

murami

t r a m i i solą).
10 — E t n o g r a f i a P o l s k a , t. X I X , z. 1

z kamieni wapiennych,

d l a osłony p r z e d

wia­

�146

KRZYSZTOF

WOLSKI

macie A f g a n i s t a n u . Winną latorośl można zasadzić n a w i e l u miejscach,
które się z p o w o d u jakości gleby, nachylenia t e r e n u i t p . n i e nadają do
u p r a w y i n n y c h roślin. Gdzie już n i e m a miejsca na u p r a w y zboża, t a m
jeszcze można sadzić winorośl, a t a k i c h zakątków w dolinach górskich
środkowego A f g a n i s t a n u jest sporo. Przykładem mogą być d o l i n y r z e k i
G h o r b a n d czy Pandżir l u b Logar (w okręgu Z a r h u n Szahr, gdzie dolina
znacznie się zwęża).
12

R y c . 1. W i n n i c e w prow. P a r w a n w okolicy m. C z a r i k a r
F o t . K . W o l s k i , 1973

Wydajność w i n n i c afganskich zależy od ogólnych, warunków k l i m a ­
t y c z n y c h danego r o k u , z t y m , że lata suche (lecz nie skrajnie suche, j a k
1971, gdy k r z e w y w p r o w i n c j i P a r w a n zasychały z b r a k u w o d y ) nie o d ­
bijają się źle na wielkości p l o n u , a n a w e t przeciwnie, w t a k i c h latach
owoce bywają słodsze i t y m s a m y m cenniejsze, n p . j a k o r o d z y n k i , również
wydajność zależy od umiejętnej pielęgnacji w i n n i c .
Sadownictwo baghdari
o d g r y w a bardzo poważną rolę w r o l n i c t w i e
Afganistanu. Wszelkie owoce mewadżiat zajmują niepoślednie miejsce
w wyżywieniu i eksporcie k r a j o w y m . W latach 1956-1959 wartość ekspor1 2

P o r . S. M a d e j ,

Winorośl.

W a r s z a w a 1957, s. 46.

�U P R A W A WINOROŚLI W

147

AFGANISTANIE

t u świeżych owoców stanowiła 1 0 % całego dochodu z eksportu. W latach
następnych eksport jeszcze wzrósł. Owoce suszone grają poważniejszą r o ­
lę, przynosząc k r a j o w i 2 7 , 5 % wartości całego eksportu. Pozycja owoców
w eksporcie przeważała nawet n a d eksportem karakułów (25,4%) w y n o ­
sząc 37,5%, ilościowo zaś składało się n a tę cyfrę 33 800 t o n owoców
świeżych i 27 000 t o n owoców s u s z o n y c h , z czego poważną większość
stanowiły r o d z y n k i . W latach 1954-1955 dochód A f g a n i s t a n u z eksportu
owoców świeżych wynosił 115 milionów afgani (Indie 85 milionów, P a k i ­
stan 30 milionów), suchych zaś 432 m i l . afgani (Indie 386 m i l . , Pakistan
18 m i l . , ZSRR 11 m i l . , U S A 6 m i l . ) . Owoce suszone t o w % r o d z y n k i ,
a n a pozostałą Vs składają się morele, migdały i pistacje. Orzechy grają
znikomą rolę w eksporcie. Region K a n d a h a r u w latach 1956-1957 d o ­
starczył 7 0 % e k s p o r t o w a n y c h z A f g a n i s t a n u suszonych owoców . Głów­
n i e były to kiszmisz, c z y l i r o d z y n k i .
13

u

15

Na terenie A f g a n i s t a n u można wyróżnić d w a zasadnicze t y p y w i n n i c :
w i n n i c e przydomowe w ogrodach oraz w i n n i c e polne. W i n n i c e p r z y d o ­
m o w e w n i e w i e l k i c h ogrodach występują przeważnie w środkowym i pół­
n o c n y m Afganistanie, w i n n i c e zaś jako u p r a w y polowe w południowo-zachodnim. N i e k i e d y sady i w i n n i c e położone są z dala o d osad, z których
dochodzi się dla pielęgnacji roślin. Czasami w t a k i c h ogrodach rezydują
baghwan (p.), c z y l i ogrodnicy, ale b y w a i tak, że w i n n i c e , otoczone g l i n i a ­
n y m m u r e m (jak n p . w Sarai Chodżia n a północ o d K a b u l u ) są p i l n o w a n e
jedynie w okresie dojrzewania w i n o g r o n . Niektóre w i n n i c e w K o h - i - D a m a n są t y l k o ogrodzone d r u t e m kolczastym. W i n n i c e polowe n p . w o k o ­
l i c y K a n d a h a r u przeważnie bywają otoczone g l i n i a n y m m u r e m .
Spotyka się też drobne u p r a w y , składające się z k i l k u krzewów w i n o ­
rośli zasadzonych tuż przy ścianach domów. Pędy roślin pną się p o żer­
dziach p r z y ścianach, l u b też puszczone są n a płaski dach i t a m dopiero
rozpięte na n i e w i e l k i c h rusztowaniach . W i n n i c e z r u s z t o w a n i a m i określa
się j a k o tok-e-swara.
Sporo i c h w d o l i n i e rzeki Ghorband w miejscowości
Czardeh G h o r b a n d i w G u l Behar. Mają one tę zaletę, że są zabezpie­
czone przed szkodnikami i złodziejami, ale pozostają narażone na zapędy
dzieci domowych, a często i inwentarza (kozy).
16

T y p o w a n i z i n n a w i n n i c a angur-i-bagh
(f.) pod Kandaharem, obojętnie
czy jest ona polna czy ogrodowa, przydomowa, w porze zimowej, g d y
z w i n o g r a d u opadają liście, przedstawia się j a k o szereg wałów i rowów.
W r o w a c h dżiowa (p.) u podnóża wałów puszta (p.), zawsze po i c h s t r o n i e

1 3

W i 1 b e r, op. cit., s. 284.

14

H u m 1 u m, op. cit., s. 349.

15

H u m l ů m , op. cit., s. 348.

16

B a d a n i a w dolinie r z e k i G h o r b a n d w środkowym H i n d u k u s z u , lato-jesień 1960.

�148

KRZYSZTOF

WOLSKI

północnej l u b n i e k i e d y wschodniej zasadzone są k r z a k i w i n o g r a d u w o d ­
ległości od siebie od 1,5 d o 2,5 n i . M a t o n a celu ochronę roślin przed
n a d m i e r n y m działaniem p r o m i e n i słonecznych i umieszczenie p n i a p o
stronie cienistej puszta. Rów dżiowa jest głębokości około 0,75-1 m , a n i e ­
k i e d y dochodzi d o 2 m , szerokość zaś jego w y n o s i około 1-1,5 m . Długość
dżiowa dochodzi nieraz d o 30 m . U jednego końca w i n n i c y l u b w j e j
połowie prostopadle do dżiowa biegnie rów samana, którym doprowadza
się z p o t o k u wodę. W o k o l i c y C z a r i k a r u i w ogóle w n i z i n n y c h w i n n i c a c h
środkowego A f g a n i s t a n u grzędy, n a których rosną k r z e w y , są niższe (ok.
V2 m wysokości). N i e k i e d y winorośl jest sadzona na n i e w i e l k i c h kopczy­
kach. W środkowym Afganistanie, w dolinach H i n d u k u s z u , również koło
K a l a t - i - G h i l z a i , w Logar i n a w i e l u jeszcze górzystych obszarach A f g a n i ­
stanu w i d u j e się w i n n i c e posadzone n a tarasowatych zboczach dolin. K r z e ­
w y są t a m mniejsze niż w w i n n i c a c h n i z i n n y c h , a nawadnia się j e wodą
bieżącą w r o w k a c h n a poszczególnych tarasach.
W w i n n i c a c h p r z y d o m o w y c h , gdzie w i n o g r a d puszczony jest na ściany
l u b n a dach d o m u , k r z e w o t r z y m u j e wodę doprowadzoną małym r o w k i e m
dżiujcza (i.) (bruzdą) z ogrodu.
N i e k i e d y n a s k r a j u sadów mieszczą się małe w i n n i c e . W i n o g r a d pnie
się t a m n a m o r w y l u b i n n e drzewa. K r z e w rośnie u stóp drzew i w r a z
z n i m i jest nawadniany. Zazwyczaj t a k i e w i n n i c e bywają nieco zanie­
dbane, przycinanie b o w i e m w i n o g r a d u pnącego się na drzewa jest u t r u d ­
nione, a s k u t k i e m tego owoce są pośledniejszego g a t u n k u i nie cieszą się
p o p y t e m n a r y n k u . W i n n c e tego t y p u spotyka się n a obszarze całego
A f g a n i s t a n u , lecz głównie na północy, koło Mazar-i-Szerif. W i n o g r a d
n a d r z e w n y b y w a określony j a k o angur-e-edrahti.
N a drzewa puszcza się
odmianę o owocach granatowo-czarnych, d r o b n y c h , z pestkami i bardzo
słodkich.
Osobno w y p a d n i e parę słów poświęcić w i n n i c o m mieszczącym się w czę­
ści ozdobnej zwykłego ogrodu l u b w ogrodzie ozdobnym. Są t o w i n n i c e -pergole czalia (f.), spotykane w Koh-e-Daman, pod K a b u l e m l u b K a n daharem czy Ghazni. K r z e w rośnie w r o w k u nawadniającym, a łodygi
rozpięte są n a drewnianej k r a t o w n i c y l u b odpowiednio przygiętych k i j a c h .
N o w e w i n n i c e zakłada się n a wiosnę ( l u t y — marzec), g d y m a się d o
dyspozycji sporo obciętych pędów pochodzących z przecinki s t a r y c h W i ­
nogradów. Obcięte pędy w dwóch trzecich długości zakopuje się do ziemi,
po północnej stronie kopców z i e m n y c h w okolicach K a n d a h a r u , a n a pozo­
stałych chłodniejszych i przeważnie w i l g o t n i e j szych terenach po d o w o l ­
n y c h stronach; w d o l i n i e zaś r z e k i Ghorband n a w e t n a południowych
zboczach. Jednak wszędzie uważa się, a b y dać sadzonkom nieco cienia.
Łodygi po wiosennych deszczach wypuszczają liście, po sześciu zaś latach
roślina zaczyna kwitnąć i należycie owocować. D l a n o w y c h w i n n i c dobie-

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AFGANISTANIE

149

ra się miejsca, gdzie gleba nie jest zasolona, zasolenie gleby szkodzi b o ­
w i e m winorośli, która n i e rodzi, marnieje l u b wydaje owoce drobne
i twarde.
W w i n n i c a c h w K o h - e - D a m a n (prow. Kapisa i Parwan) d o prac p r z y
zakładaniu, a także u p r a w i e w i n n i c używa się następujących narzędzi
rolniczo-ogrodniczych: kulang (i.), jest t o k i l o f d o rozbijania t w a r d y c h
g r u d oraz w y r y w a n i a k a m i e n i z g r u n t u , tesza (f.), mała motyczka-barda
o ostrzu szerokim n a 8 c m d o u p r a w y z i e m i (spulchniania), a także d o
usuwania chwastów. D o podcinania k o r z e n i chwastów i t r a w podczas
p l e w i e n i a używa się małego sierpka żelaznego', często o zasiekanym
ostrzu, l e k k o zaokrąglonym i małej rączce d r e w n i a n e j . Sierpek t e n w G u l
Behar nosi nazwę daskala (f.); w p r o w i n c j i Logar nazywa się aradas (f.).
Narzędzie t o m a ok. 30 c m długości. T o samo narzędzie w o k o l i c y K a n -

Ryc.

2. W i n n i c a w

Koh-e-Daman

( z i m a 1973 r.)
F o t . K . W o l s k i , 1972

d a h a r u nosi nazwę arekhudżi (p.). W Kandaharze do podcinania korzeni
chwastów używa się n i e w i e l k i e j (ok. 23 c m dł.) szpachli żelaznej z d r e w ­
n i a n y m t r z o n k i e m , zwanej hakdast (p.). W p r o w . P a r w a n do podsypywan i a grząd pulwan (f.) służy r y d e l żelazny beel (f.) i łopata-szufla cziori (f.),
również w okolicy C z a r i k a r u używa się do u s y p y w a n i a pulwan i podsy-

�KRZYSZTOF

150

WOLSKI

p y w a n i a szerokiej zębatej s z u f l i andża (f.), którą pracuje d w u l u d z i . Jeden
t r z y m a andża i w b i j a ją w ziemię, a d r u g i ciągnie sznur l u b rzemień, za­
czepiony n a d w u końcach dolnej, poziomej części narzędzia.
Przecinanie pędów w i n o g r a d u o d b y w a się w okolicy K a n d a h a r u w l u ­
t y m i w m a r c u , n i e później jednak niż w d r u g i e j dekadzie marca, gdyż
p o t e m roślina zaczyna już puszczać soki. N a wyższych terenach środko­
wego A f g a n i s t a n u przecinanie pędów w i n o g r a d u t r w a d o końca marca.
Pędy boczne p r z y c i n a się w odległości około 10 cm od głównego pędu,
zwanego conga de anguru (p.) w Logar l u b szahczeje-angur
(i.) w P a r w a n
i Kapisa. Używa się do tego n i e w i e l k i e j składanej piłki, zwanej
ara-e-takburi (i.) .
P o d o b n y m i piłkami posługują się w K o h - e - D a m a n i po pół­
nocnej stronie H i n d u k u s z u . N i e k i e d y stosuje się zwykłe piłki ręczne
ara (f.). W okręgu Logar koło J u l - e - A l a m też używa się t y c h piłek, a także
n o ż y czaku (f.p.). Czasami w okręgu Logar w miejscowościach Z a r h u n -Szahr (bliżej K a b u l u ) i Czarh-e-Logar (bliżej Gardezu) ścina się pędy
w i n o g r a d u żelaznymi nożami kaczi (f.). Jeżeli w i n o g r a d zostanie przycięty
krótko, wydaje o n owoce duże i słodkie. Winorośl n i e przycięta w y d a
owoców więcej, lecz drobnych, w o d n i s t y c h i mało słodkich.
17

1 8

W n i z i n n y c h w i n n i c a c h środkowego A f g a n i s t a n u bezpośrednio po&gt; p r z y ­
cięciu pędów następuje n a wiosnę przekopanie ziemi, a b y spulchnić glebę
oraz zniszczyć b u j n i e rosnące chwasty. Uszkodzone grzędy podsypuje się
od nowa. Wiosenne deszcze zwilżają ziemię, a dzięki dostatecznej ilości
w i l g o c i następuje b u j n e puszczanie n o w y c h pędów rodzajnych.
Inną czynnością bezwzględnie konieczną w s u c h y m k l i m a c i e A f g a n i ­
stanu jest okresowe nawadnianie w i n n i c y . Częstość tego zabiegu zależy
od różnych czynników, ale przede w s z y s t k i m o d rodzaju gleby w danej
okolicy. W rejonie K a n d a h a r u , gdzie obok gleb g l i n i a s t y c h występują
gleby lekkie, piaszczyste, w i n n i c e nawadnia się w odstępach czasu pomię­
dzy t y g o d n i e m a trzema t y g o d n i a m i . Równinne w i n n i c e o glebach l e k k i c h
nawadnia się co 7-10 d n i , n a glebach cięższych zaś, gliniastych, co d w a
tygodnie. Nawadnianie zależy też od warunków m i k r o k l i m a t u okolicy.
W czasie upałów i t r w a n i a l e t n i c h suchych wiatrów, słynnych
bad-i-jahsat-o-bis
ruz (f. = w i a t r s t u dwudziestu d n i ) , m u s i się częściej dostarczać
wodę w i n n i c y . P r z y t y m w okresie w i o s e n n y m i l e t n i m w i n n i c a potrze­
buje więcej w o d y niż w jesieni, g d y owoce dojrzewają i ogrodnik baghwan
dba raczej o słodycz w i n o g r o n , a u n i k a i c h wodnistości, a więc dostarcza
roślinom m n i e j w o d y . Zresztą w okresie w i o s e n n y m zdarzają się deszcze,
a poza t y m w glebie jest sporo w i l g o c i pochodzącej z opadów z i m o w y c h .
Jeżeli opady zimowe są mniejsze niż zazwyczaj, t o w okolicy K a n d a h a r u
A r a — e — t a k b u r i (f.), wyrabiają rzemieślnicy w K a n d a h a r z e . Z n a c z n i e lepsze,
s t a l o w e , oczywiście dużo droższe, w y r a b i a się w osadzie C z a r i k a r , w prow. P a r w a n .
1 7

1 8

R a z spotkałem t a m n a w e t i m p o r t o w a n y

sekator.

�U P R A W A WINOROŚLI W

AFGANISTANIE

151

w g r u d n i u , s t y c z n i u i l u t y m n a w a d n i a się w i n n i c e „zimną wodą", a b y —
j a k powiadają — „korzenie zasnęły", a od z i m o w e j w i l g o c i wyzdychały
r o b a k i w ziemi.
Inaczej jest w w i n n i c a c h rosnących na stokach gór, zboczach d o l i n ,
gdzie u t r a t a w i l g o c i n a o t w a r t y m terenie jest większa, osłonięcie z i e m i
mniejsze, a wsiąkanie w glebę szybsze. T a m r o w k a m i nawadniającymi,
b r u z d a m i dżiujcza napuszcza się częściej wodę, która raczej płynąc niż
stojąc, w m n i e j s z y m s t o p n i u wsiąka w g r u n t . N a niektórych glebach gó­
rzystego środkowego Afganistanu, odznaczających się dużą przepuszczal­
nością (i podsiąkliwością), w i n o g r a d u p r a w i e wcale się n i e nawadnia, sto­
sując t e n zabieg j e d y n i e 2-3 razy w ciągu r o k u .
Nawożenie w i n n i c y należy do ważnych prac plantatora, czy t o b o w i e m
na terenach piaszczystych, l e k k i c h gleb, czy t o n a glebach g l i n i a s t y c h
i k a m i e n i s t y c h l u b n a w e t n a glebach głębokich i przepuszczalnych (jak
np. Koh-e-Daman), winorośl w y m a g a nawożenia, jeśli m a dawać corocznie
obfite plony. D o nawożenia używa się głównie m i e r z w y zwierzęcej. Z a
najlepszą uważa się mierzwę bydlęcą. O owczej i koziej sądzi się, że jest
z b y t mocna, wielbłądzia zaś uchodzi za ostrą i n i e nadającą się d o n a w o ­
żenia w i n n i c . W przemieszaniu z popiołem i kompostem posypuje się
ziemię wokół pędu rośliny albo rozsypuje nawóz w dżiowa — r o w i e n a ­
wadniającym, gdzie napływająca woda rozmiękcza nawóz i doprowadza
do każdej rośliny. Nawożenie w i n n i c o d b y w a się wczesną wiosną.
Sprzęt w i n o g r o n , podobnie j a k i n n e prace, w y k o n u j e się ręcznie.
C z y n n i p r z y t y m są mężczyźni, gdyż k o b i e t y w Afganistanie a n i w polu,
ani w ogrodzie przeważnie n i e pracują, wyjątkowo t y l k o pomagają męż­
czyznom. Ręcznie o b r y w a się grono w i n n e — rhoza (p.) hosza (f.), a n a ­
stępnie wkłada d o stożkowatego kosza w i k l i n o w e g o — tukri (f.), tukrej
(p.), wymoszczonego w p i e r w liśćmi w i n o g r a d u — poona de anguru (p.)
l u b barg-e-tok-e-angur
(i.) .
Tukri w o k o l i c y K a n d a h a r u n a z y w a się kowarczia. Kosz t e n ma dno wypukłe i nie jest s t a b i l n y . W kowarczia, niosąc
go n a głowie, odstawia się w i n o g r o n a d o suszarni rodzynków, jeśli obejście
jest blisko. Jeżeli w i n n i c a leży w większej odległości od mieszkania wła­
ściciela, w t e d y d w a kosze u s t a w i a się n a kadżiawa (p.f.), t o jest ruszto­
w a n i u z drążków będących j u c z n y m siodłem t r a n s p o r t o w y m używanym do
przenoszenia ziemiopłodów na osłach, a rzadziej na k o n i a c h czy wielbłą­
dach. Angur (f.p.), c z y l i winogrona, przewożone są przeważnie n a osłach.
Również p r z y dalszym transporcie samochodowym, winogrona, obłożone
liśćmi (aby owoce utrzymały świeżość) przewozi się w kowarczia, a także
w ostatnich latach w skrzynkach.
19

Okolice K a n d a h a r u posiadają liczne o d m i a n y w i n o g r o n , białych, czer-

1 9

Nazwy z prowincji

Logar.

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KRZYSZTOF

WOLSKI

R y c . 3. K o w a r c z i a — w i k l i n o w y k o s z do t r a n s p o r t u w i n o g r o n
F o t . K . W o l s k i , K a n d a h a r 1973

w o n y c h i ciemnych (czarnych). I c h nazwy w języku pasztu n i e k i e d y brzmią
identycznie w języku farsi, jednak tylko- w danej okolicy. W i n n y c h oko­
licach ta sama nazwa oznacza zupełnie i n n y t y p owoców, o i n n y m kształ­
cie, b a r w i e i smaku. T a k jest n a przykład z w i n o g r o n a m i sahibi. Pod
K a n d a h a r e m nazwą tą określa się owoce okrągłe, słodkie, w K a b u l u zaś
i w K o h - e - D a m a n sahibi wyglądają j a k hussaini, podłużne, małosłodkie
o skórce czerwonej.

�153

U P R A W A WINOROŚLI W A F G A N I S T A N I E

W Kandaharze, słynącym z u p r a w winorośli i p r o d u k c j i najlepszych
o l b r z y m i c h rodzynków, wśród wczesnych (sierpniowych) o d m i a n najczę­
ściej spotywane są: Hussaini
(p.f.) — białe, długie, wałeczkowate, duże;
Aszkari
(p.) białe, nieduże, owalne, Szyrkiszmisz
(p.) określane też j a k o
kiszmiszi, c z y l i r o d z y n k i czerwone, owalne, n i e w i e l k i e ; Lal (p.) białe, k u ­
liste, bardzo duże, z pestkami, bardzo słodkie; Tora (p.), c z y l i
Angur-i-sijah (i.) — czarne, bardzo ciemne, podłużne, średnio duże . P r z y końcu
sierpnia pojawiają się zielonawożółte, Haita (p.) podłużne, o l b r z y m i e w i e l ­
kości śliwki węgierki i zaczynają się Spin kiszmisz (p.) — drobniejsze zie­
lonawożółte, rodzynkowe, jesienne .
20

21

Choroby winorośli w Afganistanie są liczne. D o najbardziej z n a n y c h
należy otszak, która polega n a szarzeniu owoców i i c h skarleiúu, oraz
korhona będąca rodzajem g r z y b i c y (być może Septorium
ampelina)
powo­
dująca czernienie łodyg, z a n i k owoców, a u dołu pędu objawiająca się
zrakowaceniem. Inną i chyba największą plagą w i n n i c y jest
peczniak-e-surh, c z y l i k a n i a n k a w i n n a (Cuscuta monogina) ,
która s w y m i g r u b y m i
pędami o w i j a łodygi w i n o g r a d u . Pecziak-e-surh
m a łodygi k o l o r u czerwonolila, duże (średnica V2 cm), białawozielone owoce, ułożone w n i e w i e l ­
k i c h gronach. Ta odmiana k a n i a n k i pasożytuje wyłącznie n a winogradzie.
Obie zarazy otszák i korhona uważa się za bardzo groźne d l a w i n n i c , lecz
j a k dotychczas niewiele się jeszcze r o b i dla i c h zwalczania. Podobnie jest
•z pecziak-e-surh,
którego łodygi z r y w a się w r a z z łodygą żywiciela i daje
owcom l u b kozom. Zabieg z r y w a n i a k a n i a n k i w i n n e j jest przeprowa­
dzany niedokładnie, więc pasożyt szybko, się odradza. K a n i a n k a w i n n a w y ­
stępuje n a g m i n n i e n a północy k r a j u , w T u r k m e n i i Afgańskiej (okolice
Mazar-i-Szerif), Badachszanie, w środkowym Afganistanie (Koh-e-Daman,
okolice K a b u l u ) , a rzadziej t r a f i a się n a południowym zachodzie (okolice
Kandaharu).
22

23

Ostatnio w okolicy K a b u l u zaczęto wprowadzać do w a l k i z otszak
i korhona chemiczne p r e p a r a t y używane z powodzeniem w Ferganie
w ZSRR. Jednak t a nowoczesna ochrona winorośli jest jeszcze mało roz­
powszechniona w Afganistanie.
Filoksera (Phylloxera
vastatrix),
jeden z najgroźniejszych szkodników
w i n n i c amerykańskich, jeszcze się n i e pojawił w w i n n i c a c h Afganistanu,
ale zawsze istnieje możliwość zawleczenia f i l o k s e r y bądź t o z A m e r y k i ,

2 0

B a d a n i a t e r e n o w e , K a n d a h a r — 4-6 V I I I 1972 r.

2 1

B a d a n i a t e r e n o w e , K a d a h a r — 25-27 V I I I 1972 r.

2 2

Obserwacje

w

miejscowości

S a r a i Chodżia w

K o h — e — D a m a n n a północ od

K a b u l u (wrzesień 1972).
2 3

I n n e o d m i a n y k a n i a n k i , pasożytujące

n a marchwi, koniczynie, lucernie, b u ­

r a k a c h , a n a w e t n a c e b u l i , są plagą r o l n i c t w a A f g a n i s t a n u .

�154

KRZYSZTOF

WOLSKI

bądź t o z Europy, choć możliwości poruszania się tego owadu są raczej
ograniczone.
Na południu k r a j u i w okolicach K a n d a h a r u poważnym s z k o d n i k i e m
w w i n n i c a c h są szakale. N i e w i e l k i e te zwierzęta podchodzą nocą do d o j ­
rzewających w i n o g r o n i objadają najlepsze, najsłodsze i największe owoce,
niszcząc p r z y t y m pozostałe g r o n a . W a l k a z szakalami jest t r u d n a , gdyż
skradają się one bardzo' cicho, a psy n i e chcą na n i e polować. N a szakale
zastawia się żelazne paści talaka (p.) l u b k o p i e głębokie doły z zapadnia­
m i . N i e k i e d y zakradnie się d o w i n n i c y hiena, lecz t a w ogrodach w y j a d a
głównie melony i arbuzy. Poważne szkody w w i n n i c a c h wyrządzają też
p t a k i dzienne, zwłaszcza wróble, ale od n i c h łatwiej można się upilnować.
Przed p t a k a m i pilnują w i n n i c chłopcy u z b r o j e n i w proce.
24

N i e k i e d y dojrzewające w i n o g r o n a są atakowane przez olbrzymie osy
zambur, które nakłuwają każdą dojrzałą jagodę i powodują j e j gnicie
l u b częściowe obsychanie, utrudniające z b y t t a k i c h owoców, grona b o w i e m
trzeba sortować, a nadpsute jagody usuwać. Także wśród plonów o d m i a n
r o d z y n k o w y c h osy powodują szkody, gdyż nadpsute owoce n i e tylko* źle
zasychają, lecz puszczają sok i zanieczyszczają i r m e r o d z y n k i . Do nakłutych
przez osy jagód zlatują się m u c h y , dopełniając zniszczenia.
W okolicach K a n d a h a r u , gdzie względnie często pojawiała się sza­
rańcza malah (p.), w i n n i c e były m n i e j narażone na jej żarłoczność, gdyż
przede w s z y s t k i m pożerała liście jabłoni, m o r e l i i granatów, a liści w i n o ­
rośli przeważnie n i e zjadała.
Klęską d l a w i n n i c są u l e w n e deszcze trafiające się n i e k i e d y wśród
lata. N a d m i a r wody, a przede w s z y s t k i m zwilżenie liści, łodygi i owoców,
powoduje pękanie jagód. W okolicy K a n d a h a r u występuje pękanie o w o ­
ców U nasady w d w a d n i p o u l e w i e . N a j m n i e j o d p o r n y m i o d m i a n a m i
w w y p a d k u u l e w y są letnie duże w i n o g r o n a Haita i Szehali, które n a d pęknąwszy w n e t gniją w w y s o k i e j temperaturze. N a szczęście deszcze
w lecie należą d o rzadkości, choć n p . w 1972 r. t a k i e opady w s i e r p n i u
zdarzały się w różnych rejonach A f a g n i s t a n u .
N i e k i e d y w u s t r o n n y c h p o l n y c h w i n n i c a c h poważne szkody wyrządza­
ją ludzie, przeważnie przechodzący koczownicy albo buszujące wszędzie
dzieci. Przed złodziejami c h r o n i się winnicę pilnując stale, t a k w dzień
j a k w nocy, oczywiście w okresie dojrzewania w i n o g r o n . Pilnujący m i e ­
szka w specjalnie p o s t a w i o n y m szałasie czapar (f.). Szałas b y w a z w y k l e
budą z chrustu, gałęzi i słomy postawioną n a ziemi l u b umieszczoną n a
rusztowaniu, b y z wysokości można było objąć w z r o k i e m całą winnicę.
N i e k i e d y w w i n n i c a c h stoją g l i n i a n e d o m k i strażnicze.
Ochroną od zwierząt są gliniane ogrodzenia — m u r y , dochodzące n i e Pod K a n d a h a r e m znane jest powiedzenie

„Dobre w i n o g r o n a

z a w s z e je s z a k a l " ,

�U P R A W A WINOROŚLI W

155

AFGANISTANIE

R y c . 4. S u s z a r n i a w i n o g r o n w o k o l i c y C z a r i k a r u
F o t . K . W o l s k i , 1973

k i e d y d o 2V2 m wysokości. Strzegą one w i n n i c przed wtargnięciem krów,
owiec, osłów i najgroźniejszych kóz. W g l i n i a n y m ogrodzeniu f u r t k i są
plecione z patyków w i e r z b o w y c h l u b topolowych, bywają też z desek
lub drewnianych krat.
W wysoko w z n i e s i o n y m środkowym Afganistanie, gdzie w zimie t e m ­
p e r a t u r y nocą bywają bardzo niskie (do —35°), d n i e m zaś w słońcu n a ­
stępuje znaczne ogrzanie (do + 2 5 ° ) , p o k r y w a śnieżna szybko znika, a r o ­
śliny narażone są na wymarzanie. Stąd też k r z e w y w i n o g r a d u w w i n n i ­
cach i p r z y domach bywają n i e k i e d y opatrywane, choć bardzo niedokład­
n i e i licho. Podsypuje się j e ziemią, wprzód obłożywszy liśćmi, t r z y n a m i
l u b d r o b n y m i gałązkami. Pod Kandaharem, gdzie zimą padają deszcze,
a mrozów przeważnie n i e bywa, wszelkie zabiegi zabezpieczające przed
zimą są zbyteczne. W Afganistanie północnym, gdzie zimą szaleją w i c h u ­
r y , n a terenach o t w a r t y c h n i e k i e d y w i n o g r a d przygina się do ziemi, p r z y sypuje słomą i ziemią, podobnie j a k to robiono w Ferganie . W Badachszanie w i n o g r a d u przeważnie się nie ochrania na zimę.
2S

25 р

о т

в.

Grąbczewski,

gen. Grąbczewskiego,

W

t. I I I , W a r s z a w a

pustyniach
1925, s. 38.

Raskemu

i Tybetu,

[w:]

Podróże

�156

KRZYSZTOF WOLSKI

Jak już w s p o m n i a n o wyżej, t r a d y c y j n i e do t r a n s p o r t u w i n o g r o n używa
się w i k l i n o w y c h , stożkowatych koszy tukri (i.) .
W okolicy Kandaharu
t a k i e same kosze nazywają się kowarczia (p.). Są one wąskie, o średnicy
w połowie około 35 c m , a długości od 100 do 120 c m . Wymoszczone liśćmi
w i n n y m i gwarantują świeżość owoców, przewiewnością zaś chronią od
skiśnięcia.
26

W K o h - e - D a m a n n a p n . od K a b u l u
do przechowywania świeżych
w i n o g r o n n a zimę używa się specjalnych naczyń z g l i n y suszonej na słoń­
cu. Naczynie, zwane kanghina, składa się z d w u misek wielkości głębo­
k i c h talerzy. D o wnętrza wkłada się w październiku w i n o g r o n a o d m i a n y
kiszmiszi, a m i s k i s t y k a się brzegami, które następnie zalepia się świeżą
gliną. Owoce t a k zamknięte n i e zsychają się i dają się przechowywać przez
cztery miesiące, aż do połowy lutego. Świeże w i n o g r o n a w zimie u z y s k u ­
ją dobrą cenę.
D o p r z e c h o w y w a n i a w stanie świeżym dużych w i n o g r o n o d m i a n y hussaini używa się większych naczyń z niewypalonej g l i n y . Naczynia takie
noszą nazwę kanduczia. Są t o szerokie dzbany o wysokości 45 cm, a śred­
n i c y około 30 c m . Otwór z a m y k a n y jest glinianą przykrywą. Po napełnie­
n i u dzbana owocami brzeg p r z y k r y w k i oblepia się szczelnie gliną. W i n o ­
grona hussaini mogą być przechowywane w kanduczia n a w e t przez sześć
miesięcy bez zsychania się owocu i marszczenia skórki. Naczynia t a k i e
używane są też p o północnej stronie H i n d u k u s z u w d o l i n i e P u l - e - C h u m r i
i Duszambe.
2 7

Większość owoców w Afganistanie przechowuje się w postaci w y s u ­
szonej. Suszy się śliwki, jabłka, gruszki, morele, m o r w y , a n a w e t melo­
n y . Również, i t o w przeważającej ilości, suszy się p l o n y w i n n i c . Można
powiedzieć, że przeszło połowa p r o d u k c j i w i n o g r o n zostaje wysuszona
i następnie jako r o d z y n k i dostaje się n a r y n e k k r a j o w y i krajów sąsied­
n i c h . Suszenie w i n o g r o n n a r o d z y n k i o d b y w a się już t o w specjalnych
pomieszczeniach, już t o n a dachach domów mieszkalnych.
Suszarnie rodzynków w K o h - e - D a m a n na północ od K a b u l u są b u d y n ­
k a m i wolnostojącymi l u b p r z y b u d o w a n y m i d o obejść gospodarskich czy
też domów mieszkalnych. W t a k i c h w y p a d k a c h suszarnia mieści się w gór­
nej (piętrowej) części b u d y n k u , podczas gdy dolne przeznacza się n a i n n y
cel (składy p l e w i t r z y n , magazyny, spiżarnie, rzadziej obory). Suszarnie
stawia się zawsze w miejscach p r z e w i e w n y c h . Materiałem b u d o w l a n y m
28

2 6

N a z w a z prow. L o g a r .

2 7

B a d a n i a w S a r a i Chodżia 15 I X 1972.

M e l o n y w i e s z a się u pułapu k o m o r y l u b s p i c h l e r z a i t a m w s u c h y m p o w i e ­
t r z u zasychają i zmniejszają s w ą objętość. W r a z i e potrzeby użycia i c h , zeschły owoc
obsypuje się g o t o w a n y m ryżem, u m i e s z c z a w p r z y k r y t y m n a c z y n i u , a b y spęczniał •
i nabrał „soczystości".
2 8

�U P R A W A WINOROŚLI W

157

AFGANISTANIE

R y c . 5. M a ł e s u s z a r n i e w i n o g r o n w o k o l i c y C z a r i k a r u
F o t . K . W o l s k i , 1973

jest glina (w w i l g o t n y c h blokach układana podczas stawiania suszarni)
l u b cegła surówka. Liczne szczeliny w e n t y l a c y j n e w ścianach sprawiają
z dala wrażenie strzelnic, t a k że mniejsze suszarnie, kształtu m a s y w n y c h
czworobocznych wież, nasuwają przypuszczenie, iż ma się do czynienia
z b u d o w n i c t w e m o b r o n n y m , a n i e ze zwykłymi pomieszczeniami gospo­
darczymi. W K o h - e - D a m a n suszarnia nosi nazwę balachana (f. — w y s o k a
izba, wysokie pomieszczenie, a dosłownie górna ižba) i jest wąską (3-5 m
szeroka) izbą o wysokości 5-7 m . Długość suszarni dochodzi n i e k i e d y d o
k i l k u n a s t u metrów. Szczeliny w e n t y l a c y j n e n i e są szersze niż 20 cm, i c h
wysokość zaś n i e przekracza 1 m (przeważnie m a około 60 cm). W Sarai
Chodżia balachana, czyli saigichana (i.), miała wnętrze wysokie n a 5,5 m,
a o t w o r y w e n t y l a c y j n e w y m i a r y 10 X 4 5 cm. Szczeliny w e n t y l a c y j n e b y ­
wają zupełnie otwarte, zatkane luźno gałązkami albo zamknięte siatką
drucianą, co n i e w s t r z y m u j e dopływu p o w i e t r z a i p r z e w i e w u w i a t r u ,
a c h r o n i wnętrze od wtargnięcia p t a c t w a i szkodników. Są one t a k u m i e ­
szczone w k i l k u rzędach jedne n a d d r u g i m i , że o t w o r y rzędu wyższego
nie wypadają bezpośrednio n a d o t w o r a m i rzędu niższego, t y l k o występują
na przemian. Wewnątrz balachana m a albo ruchome, przenośne ruszto­
wania, odpowiednio wysokie, l u b od s t r o p u zwisają rzadkie m a t y z g r u ­
bych t r z c i n l u b bambusów, n a których jesienią wiesza się grona winne.

�158

KRZYSZTOF

WOLSKI

Na rusztowaniach układa się bambusowe l u b trzcinowe pręty z pozawie­
szanymi g r o n a m i w i n n y m i albo przywiązuje d r u t y (jest t o p r a k t y k a n o w ­
sza) i n a n i c h wiesza winogrona.
W p r o w i n c j i P a r w a n właściciele mniejszych w i n n i c mają suszarnie
w i n o g r o n parterowe, o w y m i a r a c h wnętrza 2 X 4 m , a wysokości 2,5 do
3 m , zadaszone stropem, z którego' sterczą żerdzie służące do zawieszania
na n i c h w i n o g r o n . Do suszarni p r o w a d z i n i e w i e l k i , n i s k i otwór wejścio­
w y . O t w o r y w e n t y l a c y j n e rozmieszczone są w trzech — pięciu rzędach.
Z w y k l e małe suszarnie stoją w grupach, co ułatwia i c h p i l n o w a n i e .
W okolicy K a n d a h a r u suszarnia nazywa się kiszmiszchana (czyli r o dzynkarnia). Małe, stare kiszmiszchana
mają w e n t y l a c y j n e o t w o r y m n i e j ­
sze i okrągłe, łatwiejsze do zamknięcia w związku z częstszymi b u r z a m i
p r o c h o w y m i występującymi w południowo-zaehodnim Afganistanie. O t w o ­
r y w e n t y l a c y j n e w o k o l i c y K a n d a h a r u nazywają się sorai (p.). W dużych
w i n n i c a c h p o d Kandahar em r o d z y n k a r n i e mają niekiedy po k i l k a d z i e ­
siąt metrów długości. Sorai w n i c h są podłużne, pionowe. Podobnie jest
w mniejszych, nowszych suszarniach. Suszarnie w i n o g r o n okolic K a n d a ­
h a r u n i e posiadają stropu-dachu (jesienią deszcze n i e padają w pd.-zach.
Afganistanie). W czasie suszenia w i n o g r o n górę kiszmiszchane
przeważnie
p r z y k r y w a się żerdziami i gałęziami, d l a ochrony owoców przed ptactwem.
N i e k i e d y góra pozostaje o t w a r t a , w t e d y specjalny stróż p i l n u j e suszarni.
Grona wiesza się n a sznurach przywiązanych do- tyczek w b i j a n y c h w spe­
cjalne o t w o r y w ścianach. Często suszarnie w i n o g r o n określa się nazwą
bad-e-ćhana (f. = izba p r z e w i e w u , izba w i a t r u ) , spotykaną n a obszarze
środkowego Afganistanu.
1

W okolicy Ghazni, K a l a f - i - G h i l z a j jako suszarnie używane są izby
znajdujące się na najwyższym piętrze, wąskiego, wieżowatego d o m u
mieszkalnego. I c h duże o t w o r y okienne (nie zamykane) gwarantują nale­
żyty p r z e w i e w suchego i gorącego powietrza. Przeważnie w i n o g r o n a suszy
się n a dachach domów. Są to tereny, gdzie w i n n i c jest m n i e j , a ludność
posiada m n i e j w i n o g r o n do suszenia. Także w i n n i c e w o k o l i c y Ghazni są
małe. Winogrona układa się na dachach n i e bezpośrednio na glinianej p o ­
lepie, lecz n a okrągłych płaskich koszach w i k l i n o w y c h l u b płaskich w i k l i ­
n o w y c h kręgach, z w a n y c h kierah (p.). N i e k i e d y pod kosze l u b kręgi p o d ­
kłada się kamienie, a b y uzyskać p r z e w i e w spod spodu .
29

Liczne o d m i a n y w i n o g r o n A f a g n i s t a n u dają po wysuszeniu rozmaite
g a t u n k i rodzynków. O d m i a n y rodzynkowe różnią się t y m o d pozostałych,
że są bezpestkowe. Specjalnie jako kiszmiszi r o z u m i e się w i n o g r o n a białe,
n i e w i e l k i e , owalne l u b podłużne, słodkie, a dojrzewające w e wrześniu
i pierwszej połowie października. Pomijając kształt, zależny od odmiany,
Wysuszone

w

t e n sposób r o d z y n k i uważa się z a pośledniejszy

gatunek.

�U P R A W A WINOROŚLI W

AFGANISTANIE

159

k o l o r rodzynków u w a r u n k o w a n y b y w a często sposobem suszenia. Z tej
samej o d m i a n y można uzyskać r o d z y n k i białozielonkawe, białożółtawe,
a nawet czerwonawobrązowe. Pierwsze pochodzą z n i e przejrzałych o w o ­
ców suszonych w cieniu, drugie uzyskuje się z owoców przejrzałych rów­
nież suszonych w cieniu, trzecie zaś z owoców przejrzałych suszonych
w słońcu. Czarne uzyskuje się z owoców ciemnoniebieskich (czarnych).
Przeważnie suszenie nie jest skomplikowane, j e d y n i e t y l k o p r z y o l b r z y ­
m i c h rodzynkach kandaharskich, u z y s k i w a n y c h z o d m i a n y kolosalnych
słodkich w i n o g r o n Haita stosuje się specjalną technikę określaną j a k o
dbdżiousz (р.), co można przetłumaczyć j a k o gotowane, a raczej zaparzane.
Zabieg polega na zanurzeniu we wrzącej wodzie g r o n Haita, a następnie
przesuszaniu i c h w sposób podobny, j a k t o się p r a k t y k u j e z i n n y m i w i n o ­
gronami. Wodę d o zaparzania przygotowuje się przez zagotowanie w niej
p e w n y c h ziół, p e w n y c h nasion i n i e w i e l k i e j ilości gaszonego wapna. W t y m
t o roztworze jeszcze wrzącym, zanurza się n a chwilę grono, uważając, a b y
p r z y p a d k i e m n i e popękały. Sądzi się, że roztwór wpływa n a łatwiejsze
odparowanie n a d m i a r u w o d y z dużych owoców, a także wpływa dodatnio
na zasuszenie się słodkiego s o k u w i n o g r o n .
30

Po wysuszeniu w i n o g r o n w balaćhana zdejmuje się je z m a t l u b sznu­
rów czy drutów, a następnie składa w kącie izby. W podkandaharskich'
kiszmiszkhane
winogrona, gdy wyschną, obija się k i j a m i . Spadają one n a
k i l i m y podłożone n a polepie. W razie potrzeby sprzedaje się j e k u p c o w i - h u r t o w n i k o w i , który k u p u j e r o d z y n k i w stanie zupełnie s u r o w y m , b r u d ­
ne, zaprószone, z wyschłymi łodygami, a nieraz jeszcze ze słomą, n a któ­
rej spoczywały w magazynie r o l n i k a . W t a k i m stanie ładuje się r o d z y n k i
do wełnianych dużych worów dżiowal (f.p.), załadowuje n a zwierzęta
juczne i odstawia k u p c o w i . N i e k i e d y k u p i e c - h u r t o w n i k w t a k i m stanie
dostarcza j e dalej d o kupców hurtowników w większych miastach. T a m
dopiero następuje powierzchowne oczyszczanie. W płaskich koszach l u b
na dużych sitach ręcznie opala się r o d z y n k i , wybierając gałązki i słomę
oraz odsiewa część k u r z u i b r u d u , który zdoła wypaść przez oka sita
l u b szpary kosza. Część b r u d u i k u r z u , j a k a przylgnęła d o rodzynków
w czasie suszenia, gdy wypuściły nieco lepkiego soku, pozostaje n a d a l na
suszonym owocu i dopiero ostateczny odbiorca w y m y w a ją, oczyszczając
przed użyciem. Jednak, n p . p r z y w y r o b i e w o d y r o d z y n k o w e j , nieczystości
t y c h się n i e oddziela, a b y nie tracić cennej, choć zbrukanej słodyczy.
Przeważnie większość rodzynków jest dostarczana n a r y n e k przez
d r o b n y c h producentów i przychodzi w stanie takiego przemieszania gaZ tego t y p u s u s z e n i e m spotkałem się j e d y n i e w o k o l i c a c h K a n d a h a r u . Z n a n y
ten sposób j e s t też w p o b l i s k i m pakistańskim Beludżystanie, l e c z t a m r a c z e j z a r z u ­
cony, ze względu n a duży popyt n a świeże w i n o g r o n a H a i t a , t a k w K w e t c i e j a k i n a
eksport do K a r a c z i .
к
3 0

�KRZYSZTOF WOLSKI

160

tunków i wielkości, że w y m a g a przesortowania. Sortowanie o d b y w a się
u kupców hurtowników po przeczyszczeniu t o w a r u , a n i e k i e d y n a w e t już
w sklepach kupców detalicznych. P r z y s o r t o w a n i u z a t r u d n i a się k o b i e t y
i dzieci. K u p c y detaliczni, mając sporo wolnego czasu, często własnoręcz­
n i e sortują r o d z y n k i w swych k ra m a c h, co można obserwować przecho­
dząc przez bazary.
Dotychczasową tradycyjną praktyką był zbyt rodzynków do krajów
sąsiednich: Rosji, I n d i i , Pakistanu, a n a w e t I r a n u . Już po I I w o j n i e świa­
t o w e j , a raczej w latach sześćdziesiątych, rozpoczęto w skrajnie p r a w o ­
w i e r n y m Afganistanie wyrabiać z rodzynków zabronione przez Koran w i ­
na i k o n i a k i . M i s t r z a m i Afgańczyków okazali się specjaliści włoscy,
którzy zaczęli produkować wspaniałe wina,, n i e ustępujące jakością w i n o m
włoskim. J a k dotychczas p r o d u k c j a w i n w Afganistanie prowadzona jest
na mała skalę, ale być może w niedalekiej przyszłości r o z w i n i e się i z n a j ­
dzie z b y t n a r y n k a c h krajów sąsiednich.
Użytkowanie uboczne w i n n i c y b y w a różnorakie. Spotyka się n i e k i e d y
u p r a w y współrzędne n i e w y s o k i c h d r z e w owocowych, t a k i c h j a k morele,
brzoskwinie i migdałowce, a n i e k i e d y i śliwy. D r z e w a t e n i e zacieniają
w i n n i c y , a także n i e wyciągają z b y t w i e l e w i l g o c i z gleby i w i n o g r a d na
t y m n i e t r a c i . Przeciwnie, n i e w i e l k i e drzewa owocowe są przytłaczane
pędami pnącego się na nie w i n o g r a d u . Nieraz w i d u j e się w w i n n i c a c h
w p r o w . P a r w a n rosnące m o r w y l u b orzechy włoskie, lecz wielkość i w y ­
sokość t y c h d r z e w grozi w i n n i c y zaciemnieniem, a także wyssaniem w i l ­
goci. Dlatego też m o r w y i orzechy, g d y się z b y t rozrosną, u s u w a się z w i n ­
n i c y . W sadach składających się z jabłoni i grusz w i n o g r a d zagraża t y m
drzewom, więc t a k i e j symbiozy p r a w i e się n i e spotyka. Zresztą n i e m a l
zawsze drzewa owocowe usuwane są z w i n n i c , i c h dochodowość b o w i e m
jest z reguły niższa od dochodów z u p r a w y w i n n e j latorośli.
3 1

Z użytków ubocznych w w i n n i c a c h należy jeszcze wspomnieć o k o ­
rzyściach ze z b i o r u n a zielono t r a w rosnących wśród krzewów w i n o g r a d u ,
a także ze z b i o r u liści w i n o g r a d u d a w a n y c h w jesieni o w c o m i kozom.
Wiosenna p r z y c i n k a krzewów dostarcza już t o pędów s k a r m i a n y c h przez
kozy, już t o lichego drzewa opałowego z grubszych części obcinanych
gałęzi.
Podsumowując powyższe u w a g i w y p a d n i e jeszcze wspomnieć o w k r a ­
czaniu nowoczesności w tradycyjną uprawę w i n o g r o n w Afganistanie.
Najważniejszym t a k i m w y d a r z e n i e m jest wprowadzenie w w i n n i c a c h
w K o h - e - D a m a n s p r y s k i w a n i a krzewów przeciw zarazom. Widać w t y m
T a k w Kábulu, j a k i w C z a r i k a r z e w m n i e j p r a w o w i e r n y c h d o m a c h w y r a b i a
się w i n a z w i n o g r o n . Wyciśnięty sok s i l n i e dojrzałych o w o c ó w poddaje się f e r m e n ­
t a c j i w b u t l a c h . Przeważnie do w y r o b u W i n a używa się w i n o g r o n o d m i a n
kiszmiszi
lub też d r o b n y c h , słodkich c i e m n y c h w i n o g r o n z północy k r a j u .
8 1

�U P R A W A WINOROŚLI W

161

AFGANISTANIE

wyraźne w p ł y w y kontaktów z hodowcami z sąsiednich terenów radzieckiej
A z j i Środkowej. Podobnie wprowadzenie sekatora w okręgu Logar ułatwi
i przyspieszy wiosenne przycinanie. W związku z powstającym p r z e ­
mysłem f e r m e n t a c y j n y m w Afganistanie i początkami przetwórstwa w i ­
n o g r o n i rodzynków n a w i n a , dają się gdzieniegdzie obserwować próby
wprowadzenia n o w y c h o d m i a n winorośli dającej specjalnie poszukiwane
aromatyczne owoce, potrzebne d o p r o d u k c j i w i n . Jednak w większości
w i n n i c A f g a n i s t a n u zachowują się tradycyjne, o d wieków wypróbowane
m e t o d y h o d o w l i winorośli oraz sposoby sprzętu, przechowywania i susze­
nia winogron.
Muzeum Etnograficzne
PI. Wolnica 1
31-060 K r a k ó w

Krzysztof

Wolski
TRADITIONAL RAISING O F GRAPEVINES IN

AFGHANISTAN

S u m m a r y
T h e a u t h o r s t u d i e d t h e t r a d i t i o n a l m e t h o d s of r a i s i n g g r a p e v i n e s i n A f g h a n i s t a n
d u r i n g h i s t r a v e l s to t h a t c o u n t r y a n d to P a k i s t a n b e t w e e n 1960 a n d 1973, m a i n l y
i n 1969, 1971, 1972 a n d 1973. C e n t r a l , s o u t h w e s t e r n a n d n o r t h e r n regions of A f g h a ­
n i s t a n w e r e investigated. V i n e s a p p e a r i n a l l p l a c e s t r a d i t i o n a l l y c o n s i d e r e d a s
appropriate, b u t v i n e y a r d s a r e m o s t d e n s e l y grouped i n t h e f o l l o w i n g
regions:
K a n d a h a r i n the southwest, K o h - i - D a m a n a n d near K a b u l i n the central area,
a n d M a z a r - i - S h a r i f i n t h e n o r t h . V i n e y a r d s c a n a l s o often be f o u n d w h e r e t h e
t e r r a i n m a k e s t h e r a i s i n g of cereals, i m p o s s i b l e , e.g. i n t h e p r o v i n c e of L o g a r o r i n
t h e v a l l e y of G h o r b a n d R i v e r i n M i d d l e H i n d u K u s h . E c o n o m i c a l l y m o s t i m p o r t a n t
i n t h e c o u n t r y is t h e K a n d a h a r region, p r o d u c i n g as m u c h as 70°/o of d r i e d f r u i t
( m a i n l y r a i s i n s ) e x p o r t e d b y A f g h a n i s t a n i n nineteen-fifties. I t a l s o s u p p l i e d t h e
b u l k of e x c e l l e n t v a r i e t i e s of grapes e x p o r t e d t o P a k i s t a n a n d e v e n to I n d i a . N e a r
K a n d a h a r c a n b e f o u n d t h e greatest n u m b e r of c u l t i v a b l e v a r i e t i e s of v i n e s , w i t h
i m p r e s s i v e l y b i g w h i t e " l a l " o r " h a i t a " a n d t h e " k i s h m i s h i " or r a i s i n species w i t h
f r u i t w i t h o u t seeds. T h e " k i s h m i s h i " f r o m t h i s r e g i o n differ i n s i z e ; t h e f r u i t a r e
u s u a l l y oblong, w h i t i s h , y e l l o w i s h o r p i n k y , w h i l e t h e n o r t h e r n r a i s i n v a r i e t i e s a r e
m o s t often d a r k b l u e to black, w i t h o b l o n g b u t s m a l l e r fruit, often w i t h s m a l l seeds.
A n u m b e r of types of v i n e y a r d s c a n b e d i s t i n g u i s h e d i n A f g h a n i s t a n t h a t c a n
be r o u g h l y d e s c r i b e d a s e i t h e r f i e l d o r household ones. I n t h e s o u t h a n d i n t h e
c e n t r a l region, t h e v i n e s a r e g e n e r a l l y l a i d o n e a r t h m o u n d s or d i k e s , s o m e t i m e s
u p to 1.5 m h i g h , w h i l e t h e roots of s h r u b s g r o w i n a d e e p recess, h i d d e n i n s h a d o w
f r o m s c o r c h i n g s u n . I n t h e n o r t h , v i n e s a r e a l l o w e d to m o u n t trees, houses ( w i t h
scaffolding o n flat roofs) or c l a y w a l l s . A v i n e y a r d o r " b a g h - e - a n g u r ' is u s u a l l y
s u r r o u n d e d b y s u c h w a l l s . V i n e y a r d s a r e w a t e r e d a t 7 t o 21 d a y s i n t e r v a l s d e p e n d ­
i n g o n t h e l o c a l n a t u r a l conditions, s o l a r i z a t i o n a n d p e r m e a b i l i t y of t h e s o i l , but
i n t h e p e r i o d of r i p i n g t h e s u p p l y of w a t e r is l i m i t e d to m a k e t h e f r u i t m o r e sweet.
I n t h e r i p i n g p e r i o d t h e v i n e y a r d s a r e v i g i l a n t l y g u a r d e d against v e r m i n (birds,
-

11 — E t n o g r a f i a P o l s k a , t . X I X , z. 1

�162

KRZYSZTOF

WOLSKI

j a c k a l s , goats) a n d thiefs. A w a t c h m a n l i v e s p e r m a n e n t l y i n a s p e c i a l c a b i n o r
" c h a p a r " built of b r a n c h e s o r c l a y . F r u i t a r e p i c k e d b y h a n d . T h e y aire t r a n s p o r t e d
i n w i c k e r b a s k e t s o n t h e b a c k s of asses, m u l e s o r oxen. G r a p e s a r e d r i e d w h o l e for
r a i s i n s i n c l a y s h e d s c o n s t r u c t e d for this p u r p o s e ( k i s h m i s h k h a n a , s a i g h i k h a n a ,
b a l a k h a n a ) w i t h n u m e r o u s v e n t i l a t i o n holes i n t h e i r w a l l s . R a i s i n s c o n t a m i n a t e d
w i t h p e d u n c l e s a r e s u p p l i e d to w h o l e s a l e m e r c h a n t s a n d o n l y t h e n they a r e c l e a n e d
a n d sorted out.
P h y l o x e r a ( P h y l l o x e r a v a s t a t r i x ) is not yet f o u n d i n A f g h a n i s t a n . T h e greatest
t h r e a t to g r a p e v i n e s is c o n s i d e r e d to be C u s c u t a monogina, c a l l e d " P e c h i a k - e s u r h " , a p a r a s i t e most w i d e s p r e a d i n v i n e y a r d s i n t h e north. I t is n o w h a n d l e d by
p l u c k i n g t h e s p r o u t s of a n i n f e c t e d plant. A g a i n s t other plagues c h e m i c a l s p r a y s
i m p o r t e d f r o m t h e U S S R a r e b e i n g introduced.
T h e m e t h o d s of c u l t i v a t i o n , v i n t a g e a n d storage p r e v a i l i n g i n A f g h a n i s t a n a r e
s t i l l t r a d i t i o n a l ones. H o w e v e r , i n recent y e a r s w i n e p r o d u c t i o n a n d f e r m e n t a t i o n
i n d u s t r y h a s s t a r t e d t h a t w i l l p r o b a b l y b r i n g the i n t r o d u c t i o n of n e w v i n e s p e c i e s
n e c e s s a r y for m a k i n g s t a p l e w i n e s .

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                <text>39. Tradycyjne formy zapraszania gości na wesele
Oprac. Anna Drożdż

Kwestionariusz PAE nr 9, Zwyczaje i obrzędy weselne, oprac. Józef Gajek przy współudziale Feliksa
Olesiejuka:
45. Kto zapraszał gości weselnych? (...)
46. Czy wygłaszał orację wierszowaną zawierającą treść zaproszenia? Zapisać tekst takiej przemowy! Czy
we wsi znano tylko jeden tekst — czy więcej? Ważne jeżeli chodzi o przesiedleńców zamieszkujących wieś,
a pochodzących z różnych stron.
Objaśnienia znaków: 1—oracje; 2—błogosławieństwo; 3—formy wyrażające szacunek; 4 — inne;
5 — brak informacji; 6 — brak tradycji.
Uwaga: Wypełnienie znaku kropką oznacza, iż zjawisko występowało w przeszłości.

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                <text>Kurpie</text>
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                <text>przyroda</text>
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                <text>krajobraz</text>
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              <elementText elementTextId="136202">
                <text>Puszcza Zielona</text>
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                <text>U. 1. „Ptaszek",
wycinanka,
24 X 30 era. Wyk. w 1954 r.
Stanisława Staśkiewicz,
Strzałki,
pow. Ostrołęka. II. 2. Rozalia
Bednarczyk ze wsi Dylewo, pow.
Ostrołęka, z palmą
wykonaną
na Niedzielę Palmową w 1960 r.

Jacek

Clądzki

T R A D Y C Y J N E

P O G L Ą D Y

NA

W WYPOWIEDZIACH

CHŁOPÓW K

RPIOWSKIEJ P U S Z C Z Y

W literaturze etnograficznej przyjęto szukać źródeł
nieprzeciętnych uzdolnień plastycznych ludu wiejskie­
go w sferze wrażliwości estetycznej twórców, w pre­
dyspozycjach wewnętrznych, czy jakimś właściwym
ludowi światopoglądzie artystycznym . Sądy takie
utrzymują się po dzień dzisiejszy, przy czym trudność
ich uzasadnienia względnie odrzucenia polega na
tym, iż zbyt mało poświęcono Sfetychczas uwagi
1

1

Por. Seweryn Udziela, Poczucie piękna ludu
ropczyckiego, „Wisła", t. I I I , 1889, s. 19—20,24; Euge­
niusz Frankowski, Sztuka ludu polskiego, „Mono­
grafie artystyczne", t. X V I I , Kraków 1928, s. 5—6;
tenże, Sztuka ludu w Polsce — Malowanki, „Mono­
grafie artystyczne", Warszawa — Kraków 1928, s. 4;
tenże, Sztuko ludowa, „Wiedza o Polsce", t. 5/III,
s. 345,357; Tadeusz Dobrowolski, Śląska rzeźba w
drzewie, Wydawnictwo Muzeum Śląskiego w Kato­
wicach, dz. I , t. I , 1930, s. 6,12; Ksawery Piwocki,
Zagadnienie metody w badaniach nad sztuką ludową,
„Lud", seria I I , t. X 1931, s. 2,7,9—12; tenże, Z badań
nad powstawaniem stylu ludowego, „Przegląd Współ­
czesny", 1936, s. 95; Karol Iwanicki, Figura Chrystusa
Frasobliwego, Warszawa 1933, s. 11; Mieczysław Gładysz, Góralskie zdobnictwo drzewne na Śląsku, Kra­
ków 1935, s. 7—16; tenże, Zdobnictwo metalowe na
Śląsku, Kraków 1938, s. 2—8; Stanisław Dąbrowski,
Pisanki lubelskie, Lublin 1936, s. 6—7; Tadeusz Se­
weryn, Polskie ?nalarstu&gt;o ludowe, Wydawnictwo
Muzeum Etnograficznego w Krakowie, nr 10, Kraków
1937, s. 66—74; tenże, Sztuka ludowa w Polsce (ka­
talog wystawy), Kraków 1948, s. 23—24; Marian Morelowski, Hafty ludowe Wołynia, „Rocznik Wołyński",
t. V I I , 1938, s. 3—4,8; Kazimierz Moszyński, Kultura
ludowa Słowian, cz. I I , z. 2, Kraków 1939, s. 733—
760; Józef Grabowski, Wystawa krakowska malar­
stwa i grafiki ludowej, „Polska Sztuka Ludowa",
1948, nr 6/7/8, s. 10,20,35—46; tenże, Zagadnienie stylu
ludowego, „Polska Sztuka Ludowa", 1948, nr 9/10, s. 3.

P I Ę K N O

PRZYRODY
ZIELONEJ

�szczegółowym badaniom nad interesującym nas za­
gadnieniem. Tak np. jedyna znana mi w naszej
literaturze próba ogólnej charakterystyki wrażliwości
estetycznej ludu na piękno przyrody, podjęta przez
K. Moszyńskiego , opiera się na kilku zaledwie wy­
powiedziach chłopów oraz paru ogólnych spostrzeże­
niach, których dostarczyli badacze albo nie wnika­
jący w złożony charakter przedmiotu , albo też tylko
marginesowo a nawet przypadkowo o niego za­
haczający .
Taki stan wynika w głównej mierze z obiektyw­
nych trudności, jakie wyrastały przed badaczem
podejmującym kilkadziesiąt czy kilkanaście lat temu
próbę badania niniejszego przedmiotu. Już Cz. Piet­
kiewicz zwracał uwagę, jak szczelnie współcześni
mu chłopi ukrywają wszelkie wewnętrzne doznania,
których nie sankcjonowałby surowy, konieczny praktycyzm życiowy, względnie (można by dodać) jakieś
wyższe racje np. wiary . Stąd trudności w wywo­
łaniu spontanicznych reakcji na piękno, zwłaszcza
przyrody, i uzasadniony krytycyzm wobec progra­
mowych indagacji opartych o kwestionariusz pytań .
Wydaje się, że dzisiaj, kiedy w obyczajowości wsi
dokonują się głębokie, gwałtowne przeobrażenia,
2

3

4

5

fi

2

Por. Kazimierz Moszyński, Kultura ludotoa Sło­
wian, cyt. wyd., s. 733—742.
Por. informacje Czesława Pietkiewicza, prze­
kazane listownie K. Moszyńskiemu, oraz dane za­
mieszczone w przypisie pracy: N. Ivanickij, Materiały
po etnografii vologodskoj gubernii, r. 1890, s. 118.
(K. Moszyński, Kultura ludowa Słowian, cyt. wyd.,
s. 737—739).
Takim źródłem jest: M . Gładysz, Góralskie
zdobnictwo drzewne na Śląsku, Kraków 1935, s. 37.
Autor dokonał pionierskiego dzieła dostarczenia
pierwszych, opartych na wnikliwych, naukowych pod­
stawach badawczych, danych o poglądach estetycz­
nych górali śląskich. Poświęcił jednak uwagę, zgod­
nie z tematem pracy, poglądom estetycznym oraz
podnietom twórczym, dotyczącym zdobnictwa w drze­
wie, nie zajmując się wrażliwością estetyczną w szer­
szym zakresie, w tym również na piękno przyrody.
Jednak autor przytacza wypowiedź, w której infor­
mator wyznaje, iż rzeźbienie w czasie surowej zimy
przywodzi mu na myśl miłe wspomnienia letnich,
gwiaździstych nocy. Wyznanie beskidzkiego górala
3

4

98

następuje znaczne rozluźnienie tych wszystkich krę­
pujących osobowość chłopa reguł. Warto również
zwrócić uwagę na konsekwencje zaniku, względnie
znacznego osłabienia antagonizmów klasowych, czy
antagonizmów między wsią a miastem. Pewne postawy
i poglądy przestały uchodzić za synonim pogardzanej
przez chłopa jaśniepańskiej lub nawet miejskiej
lekkomyślności, niefrasobliwości itp. Należy wreszcie
dodać, że dysponujemy dzisiaj bez porównania do­
skonalszym aparatem naukowej dokumentacji (zapis
na taśmie magnetycznej, filmowej itp.). Wszystko to
sprzyja odrobieniu istniejących zaległości w zajmu­
jącym nas przedmiocie.
Dane, które pragnę przedstawić w niniejszym
opracowaniu, stanowią rozszerzenie materiałów publi­
kowanych już w „Polskiej Sztuce Ludowej" . Przed­
stawiają one częściowy rezultat badań prowadzonych
cd dłuższego czasu na terenie Kurpiowskiej Puszczy
Zielonej . Celem ich było prześledzenie, na przestrzeni
ostatnich kilkudziesięciu lat, zależności między osiąg­
nięciami artystycznymi a wrażliwością estetyczną
u jednostek starszego i młodszego pokolenia .
Przedstawienie całokształtu wyników badań wy­
kracza poza określone ramy szkicu i dlatego, zastrze7

8

9

często było wykorzystywane jako jeden z dowodów
wielkiej subtelności doznań estetycznych chłopów pod
wpływem piękna przyrody. Powołuje się na nie rów­
nież K. Moszyński, op. cit., s. 741.
Czesław Pietkiewicz, Kultura duchowa Polesia
rzeczyckiego, Warszawa 1938, s. 258—261.
Por. K. Moszyński, Przedmowa do pracy: M .
Gładysz, Góralskie zdobnictwo drzewne na Śląsku,
Kraków 1935, s. V; Cz. Pietkiewicz, op. cit., s. 258.
Por. J. Olędzki, Wypowiedzi rybaków kurpiow­
skich o wyglądzie ryb, „Polska Sztuka Ludowa" 1959,
nr 1/2, s. 73—75; tenże, Rybołówstwo na terenie kur­
piowskiej Puszczy Zielonej od końca XIX do połowy
XX w. w pracy zbiorowej Kurpie — Puszcza Zielo­
na, Tradycje historyczne a problem regionu, t. I ,
„Biblioteka Etnografii Polskiej", 1962, nr 5, s. 140—141.
Badania przeprowadzono w ramach stałej pracy
w Zakładzie Etnografii I H K M PAN w Warszawie.
Zebrane materiały znajdują się w Archiwum Zakładu
i stanowią jego własność.
Określeń — starsze i młodsze pokolenie uży­
wam w znaczeniu ogólnym. Do starszego pokolenia
5

8

7

8

9

�gając sobie prawo powrotu do podjętego tematu,
obecnie ograniczę się jedynie do przedstawienia ma­
teriałów zasygnalizowanych w tytule.
Będą to wypowiedzi wyłącznie ludzi starszych
0 tym co uznają za piękne lub brzydkie w otaczają­
cym ich świecie przyrody. Ograniczając się do wy­
powiedzi informatorów urodzonych nie później niż
przed 1920 rokiem, można mieć pewność, że roz­
patruje się poglądy stosunkowo najściślej związane
z okresem pełnej żywotności tradycyjnej twórczości
plastycznej, a więc najbardziej reprezentatywne dla
działających w tym czasie twórców, których wysokie
osiągnięcia artystyczne dobrze są znane.
Badania prowadzone były głównie we wsiach
położonych w centralnych partiach
Kurpiowskiej
Puszczy Zielonej — w miejscach, gdzie najżywiej
zachowała się tradycyjna twórczość plastyczna. Przy
wyborze informatorów zwracano uwagę na ich umie­
jętności. Wybór więc padał najczęściej na znane
tkaczki, wycinankarki i in. Nie pominięto jednak
1 tych, którzy potrafili tylko np. zdobić jaja, czy
lepić figury z ciasta (byli to najczęściej mężczyźni).
Do celów porównawczych zebrano także wypowiedzi
miejscowych rzemieślników — kowali i cieśli oraz
osób nie zajmujących się żadną dziedziną tradycyjnej
twórczości plastycznej.
Badaniami objęto reakcje estetyczne na: pory
roku, dnia i nocy, krajobraz (jego konfiguracja i szata
zewnętrzna), florę (drzewa, krzewy, kwiaty ogrodowe
i polne), faunę (zwierzęta leśne, ptaki, owady i ryby),
zwierzęta hodowlane (konie i krowy) oraz wygląd
człowieka. Uzyskane wypowiedzi noszą niestety często
piętno badań prowadzonych w oparciu o kwestio­
nariusz pytań. Chociaż pochodzą od różnych osób,
niekiedy zbudowane są podobnie, a w swej tonacji
wyrażają jakąś wspólną postawę człowieka jndagowanego znienacka ,w sprawach, nad k t o ^ h i i nie
zawsze miał możność się zastanawiać . Oczywiście
najbardziej przydatne byłyby wypowiedzi sponta­
niczne, nie wywołane umyślnymi pytaniami badacza.
Na tę formę badań nie było jednak odpowiednich
warunków (np. konieczność długotrwałego przebywa­
nia w badanym środowisku i to w charakterze jego
członka). Zresztą i w takich warunkach nie byłoby
pełnej gwarancji, że we wszystkich interesujących
nas sprawach można by bez ingerencji zdobyć po­
trzebny materiał.
Pozostaje jeszcze do wyjaśnienia przyjęta zasada
doboru przedstawianych tekstów wypowiedzi. Mijałoby
się oczywiście z celem podanie całego ich zestawu,
tak obszernego, jaki udało się zgromadzić . Wiele
bowiem wypowiedzi nie różni się ani pod względem
wyrażonego w nich stanowiska, ani użytej argumen­
tacji. Nawet forma ich często jest zaskakująco zbież­
na. Z drugiej jednak strony, ze względu na znaczenie
tych wypowiedzi stanowiących mało dotychczas wy­
korzystane źródło w literaturze przedmiotu, nie byłaby
chyba celowa zbytnia ich selekcja, prowadząca do
podawania tylko najbardziej
charakterystycznych
przykładów. Należy też mieć na uwadze, iż przepro­
wadzając analizę poglądów estetycznych grupy ludzi
w ten sposób, że kolejno omawia się ich stanowiska
wobec tych samych konkretnych dziedzin — gubi
10

11

zaliczam urodzonych w okresie od siedemdziesiątych
lat X I X w. do dwudziestych lat X X w., a do młod­
szego — urodzonych w okresie od dwudziestych do
czterdziestych lat X X w. Oczywiste jest, że okreś­
lony wiek osoby badanej nie może stanowić wystraczającego wskaźnika — z jakim należy wiązać go
etapem czy rodzajem przeobrażeń zachodzących w l u ­
dowej kulturze duchowej. Trudno bowiem wyznaczyć
jakieś ścisłe granice dla tych przeobrażeń, jak też
przyjąć, iż u każdego człowieka przebiegają one
jednakowo.

II. 3. Izba Rozalii Skrodzkiej podczas konkursu
na wnętrze chaty kurpiowskiej w 1949 r. Swidborek, pow. Ostrołęka. 11. 4. „Leluja",
wycinan­
ka, 20,8 X 11,8 cm. Wyk. Marianna
Bałdyga,
Wach, pow. Ostrołęka.
II. 5. „Zielko",
wycinan­
ka. Wyk. w 1960 r. Ewa Rydel,
Charciabałda,
pow. Ostrołęka.

się w jakimś momencie obraz indywidualności auto­
rów, która może wyrażać się w niejednolitej skali
doznań wobec estetycznych wartości poszczególnych
przedmiotów czy zjawisk. Dlatego też starałem się,
aby cytując po raz pierwszy informatora przytoczyć
jak największą ilość jego wypowiedzi i to dostatecz­
nie reprezentatywnych.
POGLĄDY NA PIĘKNO PORY DNIA, NOCY I ROKU
Starzy Kurpie przyjmują istnienie dnia i nocy
jako odrębnych stadiów cyklicznych przemian czaso­
wych, nie łącząc ich w jedną — tak jak my to widzi­
my — dobę. Inaczej też, nieraz krańcowo różnie
ustosunkowują się do dnia (pory odpowiedniej
do pracy i wszelkich czynności życiowych), i inaczej
do nocy, która nie jest tak pożyteczna. Ścisłe uzależ­
nienie organizacji dnia pracy na wsi od naturalnego
10

„Nie miałem na względu, którna rybka strojniejsa. Gdyby cłek wiedział, ze będzie go kto o to
pytał, to by sobie powyglądał co piękniejse". Wy­
powiedź 79-letniego Władysława Nasiadki (pełniejsze
dane w przypisie 15).
n w wyniku przeprowadzonych badań zgroma­
dzone zostały odpowiedzi na kwestionariusz zawiera­
jący ok. 50 pytań. Wywiadem indywidualnym obję­
tych zostało ogółem 40 osób. W niniejszej pracy wy­
korzystane zostały w pełni wypowiedzi 17 informa­
torów.

99

�porządku, jaki wyznacza wschód i zachód słońca,
determinowało w jakiś sposób charakter tradycyjnych
na Kurpiowszczyźnie postaw wobec swoistego piękna
dnia i nocy, a także pór przejściowych — poranku
i wieczora.
Dzień, jak mówią Kurpie, rozpoczyna „rano",
„ranek", „poranek" lub „zaranek", czy też „zeranek".
Tych dwóch ostatnich nazw używano dawniej najpowszechniej, Dzień kończy i noc rozpoczyna „wie­
czór" (używa sie też określeń „na wiecór" i „podwiecór").
Oto zestaw najczęściej spotykanych wypowiedzi
na temat tych pór:
„Najmilsy i najpiękniejsy, to jest zaranek, bo
Pan Bóg daje cłowiekowi na cały dzień dobre. Dał
przeżyć noc i do roboty dzień, zeby się przerobiło".
(Stefania Samsel)
„Rano je najładniej bo cłowiek wyspany i tseźwy.
Wiecorem to jus nie tak ładnie, bo cłowiek zmęcony."
(Marianna Bałdyga)
„Poranek najprędzej podziwiam, bo wypocętam,
raźna jakaś do roboty. Najgorsa je przed wiecorem,
bom najcięzsa, ręce, nogi bolom z całego dnia mdleją."
(Stanisława Staśkiewicz)
„Z rana je piękniej, bo to rosa w te koraliki się
zebrała. Ziemia wtedy paruje, rosa wychodzi, urodzaj
sie okazuje, wtedy wsystko wychodzi na wiezch, a to
jest kozyść. A na wiecór, to nawet ten ptak jek zrywa
sie z gniazda, to zaśpiewa az z rana." (Władysław
Nasiadka)
W wypowiedziach tych ujawniają się reakcje wy­
łącznie na praktyczną przydatność określonych pór
dnia, wprowadzających człowieka w stan większej
lub mniejszej sprawności fizycznej. Nie zawsze też
informatorzy umieją dostatecznie jasno to wyrazić.
Mężczyźni, którzy na ogół lepiej niż kobiety znają
drobne tajemnice przyrody (procesy wegetacyjne
dokonujące się na przestrzeni dnia), bardziej szczegó­
łowo uzasadniają swoje stanowiska. Dlatego też
wszystkie te wypowiedzi podkreślają wartości, jakie
wnosi poranek, natomiast o wieczorze, jeśli się już
mówi, to tylko w kontekście nadchodzących z tą
porą fizycznych utrudzeń ciała i zamierającego
w przyrodzie życia.
Ale zdarzają się wypowiedzi innego rodzaju:
„W zaranku, to ślicnie rosa ładny zapach daje
i ładnie wiecorem, bo zapach z drzew, a w południe,
to nie, bo słunko grzeje i trzeba sie schować."
(Marianna Zalewska)
„W zaranku najlepiej, psyjemnie, to je rosa.
słonko bystre świeci, cichutko, a w południe to
gorącka trzeba spać się położyć. Wiecorem niebo najstrojniejse, wtedy są na niebie ołtarze, a rano to
słońce jesce śpi, to ołtarzów nima. Ja łubie do nieba
popatseć ale zaranek najładniejsy." (Rozalia Skrodzka)
12

13

14

15

10

17

12

Stefania Samsel, ur. 1916, zam. w. Browary,
pow. Ostrołęka. Niezamożna, nauczyła się wycinać
w szkole, znalazła w wycinankarstwie dodatkowe
źródio zarobku. Umie tkać i haftować.
Marianna Bałdyga, ur. 1885, zam. w. Wach,
pow. Ostrołęka. Zamożna. Uprawiała z zamiłowania
wszelkie rodzaje tradycyjnej twórczości plastycznej.
Dzięki zdolnościom wokalnym i świetnej znajomości
pieśni często organizowała wesela.
Stanisława Staśkiewicz z domu Poręba, ur.
1912 w Tatarach, pow. Ostrołęka. Średniozamożna.
Umie tkać i lepić figury z ciasta.
Władysław Nasiadka, ur. 1883 r., zam. w. Strzał­
ki, pow. Ostrołęka. Niezamożny. Nie posiada żadnych
zdolności plastycznych, długie lata spędził na emi­
gracji zarobkowej w Ameryce.
Marianna Zalewska, ur. 1893, zam. w. Łyse,
pow. Kolno. Średniozamożna. Potrafi wycinać, malo13

14

15

18

100

Ujawnia się tutaj, chociaż w sposób bardzo nikły,
odczuwanie efektów wizualnych czy powonieniowych,
które się wiążą ze zmianami pór dnia. Jednak po­
dziwianie uroków zachodu czy wschodu słońca jest
ogółowi zupełnie obce. Tylko ci, którzy w jakiś
sposób zetknęli się z innym środowiskiem lub mieli
lepsze warunki życiowe, pozwalające na korzystanie
np. z książek, znajdują zadowolenie, i to niewątpliwie
estetyczne, w podpatrywaniu tworzących się na nie­
bie, jak to mówi jedna z informatorek, „ołtarzy".
Niekiedy staje się to dla nich prawdziwą potrzebą.
Ale takie doznania u starszych ludzi należą do wy­
jątkowych. Wszystko bowiem, co dokonuje się w
przyrodzie pod wpływem zmian pór dnia, a nie ma
chociażby pośredniego, korzystnego lub niekorzyst­
nego wpływu na codzienne sprawy bytowe, uchodzi
ich uwagi, nie wywołując tym samym jakichś
doznań estetycznych.
Stąd też bierze się obojętność większości tych
ludzi na uroki nocy, nawet księżycowej, gwiaździstej.
„Ja w nocy nie patse za widokami, nigdzie nie
wychodzę, bo jek się połoze, to zeby strachy chodzili,
zeby mnie wynieśli, to sie nie obudzę. Mozę tam
być księżyc najsykowniejsy, cały w pełni, nie mam
takiego upodobania, zeby głowę do niego jak pies
zadzierać." (Marianna Zalewska)
„Nie miałem tego zaletu, zeby popatseć na gwiaz­
dy i podumać. Nie zajmuje się tym, nie łubie patsyć
na gwiazdy. Nie miałem casu dumać. A jest tu taki
sąsiad, to on mówi, ze się na tym nawet wyznaje."
(Władysław Nasiadka)
Przy tym nastawieniu jakieś znaczenie może mieć
tylko to, czy noc jest wietrzna czy cicha, widna albo
ciemna, jednym słowem — o ile utrudnione jest
wówczas poruszanie się po świecie.
„Łubie tylko cichą noc, spokojną taką i widną,
kiedy księżyc pokazuje drogę i wiatru nie ma, bo
wiatr tylko drogi naddaje... A jak juz idzie burza
to śmerć, to jus śmerć dla mnie. Nawet jek same
błeskawice, to koniec świata. Nie łubie na to patrzeć,
wcale nawet nie patrzę, bo to jakby cały świat się
palił, jakby na palący świat się popatsył". (Stanisława
Olender)
W ocenie pór roku najpopularniejsze wśród star­
szego pokolenia Kurpiów jest stanowisko polegające
na uznawaniu piękna wiosennego, w najlepszym
razie również wczesnego lata, przy zdecydowanej
niechęci wobec tego wszystkiego, co wnoszą do życia
w przyrodzie jesień i zima. Interesujące są motywy
takiego stanowiska:
„Najładniejsy to maj, cerwiec i jesce lipiec z pocątku, a potem sie robi smętnie. Na wiosnę i wczes­
nym latem wtedy na łąkach kwiatuski, żytko sie
zieleni, wtedy świat istnieje. Potem robi sie saro,
drzewka juz nie rosną, a w sierpniu to juz sara
godzina. Przy końcu roku, to jakby do grobu wloz,
nie ma nic wyglądu, świat sie ogołusa." (Stanisław
Koprek)
18

19

wać jajka, lepić figury z ciasta, tkać. Umiejętności te
wykorzystywała tylko dla własnych potrzeb.
Rozalia Skrodzka, ur. 1880, zam. w. Swidwiborek, pow. Ostrołęka. Pochodzi z rodziny leśnika.
Ojciec jej cieszył się opinią człowieka światłego —
czytającego książki. Z zamiłowaniem uprawia wy­
cinankarstwo dla siebie i dla innych. Umie tkać, ma­
lować jajka, lepić figury z ciasta. Prowadzi wesela,
zna dużo pieśni.
Stanisława Olender, ur. 1919, zam. w. Strzałki,
pow. Ostrołęka. Średniozamożna. Jej matka była
znaną wycinankarką. Sama wycina w związku z za­
potrzebowaniem z zewnątrz. Umie tkać, robi bardzo
piękne pisanki, lepi figury z ciasta.
Stanisław Koprek, ur. 1897, zam. w. Klimki,
pow. Ostrołęka. Gospodarz zamożny. Umiał doskonale
pleść koszyki, zajmował się trochę ciesiołką.
17

18

19

�POGLĄDY

NA PIĘKNO

KRAJOBRAZU

Kurpiowska Puszcza Zielona to — jak wiadomo —
rejon równinny, gdzieniegdzie urozmaicony ledwie
widocznymi wzniesieniami moren polodowcowych,
które Kurpie nazywają „górami", z jedną niewielką
pozostałością dawnej puszczy koło wsi Czarnia, poza
tym teren tu i ówdzie pokryty młodym, sosnowym
lasem, kępami olszyn w miejscach podmokłych,
wszędzie zaś indziej piaszczystych, nieurodzajnych
pól, które sąsiadują niekiedy z polanami lub pasmami
łąk, ciągnącymi się ponad korytami dosyć rozwiniętej
sieci rzeczek i strug. Można w tej okolicy wynaleźć
bardzo piękne miejsca, gdzieś u wysokich brzegów
Pisy lub Narwi, na duktach uroczyska leśnego Surowe-Czarnia, czy nawet tam, gdzie tylko pola i łąki
tworzą krajobraz. Te wyróżniające się zakątki nie
znane są jednak ogółowi mieszkańców Kurpiow­
szczyzny. Przeważająca ich większość orientuje się
jedynie w tym krajobrazie, który otacza wieś lub
który można dojrzeć z drogi do kościoła czy poblis­
kiego miasta.

II. 6. „Lalki", wycinanka.
Rydel, Charciabalda, pow,

Wyk. w
Ostrołęka.

1961 r. Ewa

„W maju najpiękniej, najprzyjemniej
pachnie
wszystko. Późniejsa pora to coraz gorsa, coraz cięzsa,
wrzesień najgorsy, kopanie, mus siedzieć na polu...
Wiosna to najpiękniejsa, bo najweselsa, wtedy sie
wsystko rozwija i pierwszy miesiąc lata ładny, a po
żniwach, to tak naprawdę, to już powietrze i słońce
inaczej chodzi. Zima to najgorsa, noc i noc i noc."
(Rozalia Bednarczyk)
Podobnych wypowiedzi można by przytoczyć wiele.
Przewija się w nich pogląd, iż miarą piękna pór
roku jest związana z nim większa lub mniejsza
żywotność roślinności. Wyrażeniu go służą określenia:
„do życia powstaje", „rodzi się", „wszystko się roz­
wija", „wychodzi na wierzch", „zieleni się", „kwitnie"
lub „ksitnie", „wszystko pachnie" i wtedy „świat
istnieje", „świat ma wygląd", „jest wesoły" — inaczej
niż wówczas gdy „nadchodzi sara godzina", „noc",
„jakby do grobu wloz", bo „wsystko omdlone", „smęt­
ne", „świat sie ogołusa", „drzewka nie rosną".
20

Wypadki reagowania na piękno pory jesiennej
i zimowej zdarzają się bardzo rzadko. Uwrażliwienie
w tym kierunku zasadza się jednak zawsze na wąskim
kręgu doznań. Jednostki obdarzone tą wrażliwością
obojętnie przyjmują np. zmiany barw roślin z na­
dejściem jesieni, czy walory wizualne ośnieżonej
ziemi, również sam śnieg, szron i mróz (np. na
szybach) nie zaprząta ich uwagi.
„Najlepiej mi się podoba wiosna, bo wszystko
do życia powstaje, a lato wsystko bardziej omdlone.
Jesień tez mi się podoba, bo wtedy cłowiek bardziej
zamyślony. Jak zima ostra, az skierki idą, to mi się
podoba, a jak taka rozlazła to nie. Wiosna, to radość
taką w sercu u cłowieka sprawia, bo wsystko takie
rozmaite, żywe — bardzo wzniosłe." (Anna Kordecka)
21

20

Rozalia Bednarczyk, ur. 1888, zam. w. Dylewo,
pow. Ostrołęka. Średniozamożna, zajmowała się tkac­
twem na zbyt i własne potrzeby. Potrafi stroić palmy
wielkanocne.
Anna Kordecka, ur. 1895, zam. Myszyniec, pow.
Ostrołęka. Siostra Rozalii Skrodzkiej, patrz przypis
17. Kilkuletni pobyt w Warszawie nauczył ją wysoko
21

Z drugiej znów strony, prawie każdy z informa­
torów miał w swym życiu okazję zetknięcia się
z krainami o zupełnie odmiennym wyglądzie, nieraz
uchodzącymi w powszechnej opinii za najpiękniejsze.
Było to za czasów ich młodości, kiedy wędrowali na
prace sezonowe do sąsiednich wsi mazurskich i war­
mińskich, kiedy udawali się na wieloletnią emigrację
zarobkową do Ameryki i w czasie ostatnich wojen,
które zawiodły wielu do najdalszych zakątków świata
(kraje dawnej Rosji, Chiny).
Jeśli poświęcam uwagę temu wszystkiemu, to
wyłącznie z myślą o właściwej interpretacji wypo­
wiedzi, w których nie zawsze znajduje pełne odbicie
charakter ziemi kurpiowskiej.
„Jakie tam zdrojowcyska w tej Francyji, a góry,
góra a na niej jesce góra, a na wierzchu woda rznie
do góry. A trawy jakie wysokie. Na kamieniu rosło
i na górze, bo tam zdrojowcyska. Taka trawa ze
przejść trudno. Ale mnie sie tu podoba. W naszych
stronach jest równo i tak zagajone, tak jakby umaione, a w insych, to tak smutno nie ma lasów..."
(Wł. Nasiadka)
„Ja to taki wzrok mam bystry, ze w ksiunzce
przez papsier zidze co na trzeciej karcie napsisane.
Wszyśćko dojźre lepsiej niz drugi przez liornetke.
Jek po morzu jechalim do Ameryki, to na przodku
mnie kapsitan postaził żebym mu meldował. To
azem go zadziwił! To je u mnie z przyrodzenia taki
talent, bodaj zreśtą może i scego innego. Mnie
wszyśćko enteresowało, zawdy s e wszyśćkiemu prze­
glądałem. Drugi to taki ślamazarny nic go nie enteresuje albo psije za duzo. Jek tam my byli, to ja
chodził sobzie na te niebotycne góry, dzie takie skały
byli świecące jek srebro. A te góry to tekie, ze można
iść, iść, stale iść i jej nie minie — z chmurami stojo
złącone. Ale po mojemu, to w nasych stronach natura
jest doskonalsa od Pana Jezusa przystepniejsa cłoziekoziu dana. Dla mnie, to nie ma jek w nasych
stronach. Juz za rzyką jest nie tak ładnie, chociaż
gleba urodliwa, góry sie tam ciungną dzie nie
pójdzies. Dla mnie tam je widok wyględny dzie
równo." (Apolinary Waśkiewicz)
;

22

„Gdzie równina, to m i się podoba, jek byłam
w Ameryce to widziałam góre, to jek obłok, ale to
na prawdę śkaradny widok. A jek równo, gdzie
cenić znane przez nią dziedziny twórczości: tkactwo,
hafciarstwo, wycinankarstwo. Pracowała dla muzeów
i miłośników sztuki ludowej.
Apolinary Waśkiewicz, ur. 1883, zam. w. Waszki, pow. Kolno. Niezamożny. Zajmował się ciesiołką,
potrafi lepić figury z ciasta.
22

101

�spojrzy jekby jebko kulnął — to pięknie." (Waleria
Brodzik)
Wszyscy informatorzy dostrzegają piękno wyłącz­
nie w krajobrazie równinnym. Tym jest on piękniej­
szy, im bardziej wyrównany. Wszelkie natomiast
nierówności terenowe uznaje się za szpecące. Widoki
najpiękniejszych gór przyjmowane są często ze
szczerą odrazą, najwyżej zaś z pewnym zaintereso­
waniem ich niezwykłą formą, dziwnością szaty, ale
zainteresowaniu temu nie towarzyszy zadowolenie
estetyczne.
Surowość krajobrazu, jego naturalne właściwości
— bez porównania w mniejszym stopniu, aniżeli to
wszystko co jest w nim dziełem człowieka — sta­
nowią przedmiot uwagi i pośrednio jakiegoś rodzaju
doznań, które nas interesują. Wydawałoby się, że
właśnie Kurpie, którzy jeszcze nie tak dawno wiele
korzystali z wszelkich pożytków starej puszczy, ci
ludzie nazywający się „puscakami" („my z puscy"),
powinni posiadać szczególnie rozbudowany świat
doznań estetycznych. Przedstawia się to jednak
zupełnie inaczej. Wróćmy do wypowiedzi już cyto­
wanej.
„Ale mnie się tu podoba. W nasych stronach jest
równo i tak zagajone, tak jakby umajone, a w
insych to tak smutno, nie ma lasów. Ale najlepiej
łubie się tam popatrzyć, gdzie dobrze zagospodarzone,
bujne zyto rośnie, kartofelki wyrosłe. Po mojemu
zdaniu jek las w porządku zasadzony w rządkach,
wtedy chęć cłowieka zbiera na niego popatrzeć, jek
na to żytko cy kartofelki." (Wł. Nasiadka)
Aby nie mieć wątpliwości, jak daleko ustępują
w wyobrażeniach starszych mieszkańców Kurpiow­
szczyzny walory lasu walorom estetycznym zagospo­
darowanych pól, czy też sianokośnych łąk, niech
świadczą dalsze wypowiedzi.
„Gdzie jest równe pole, tak równiutko, jezioro,
to najpiękniej. A gdzie góry, piaski, lasy jak tu,
to nie chce się wracać nawet. Ale muso tu zyć
gdzie góry choć to nieprzyjemnie. Dla mnie pole
ze zbożem rozmaitym, potem łąka najlepiej mi się
widzi, a na końcu to las." (Stanisława Staśkiewicz)
„Równina to najsykowniejsa, bo cłowiek chodzi
równo, i kuniom lżej, a góra to tak, ze z pieca na
łeb. Pięknie je tam dzie żytko, kartofelki. To je dla
mnie najładniejse, bo to Pan Bóg daje cłowiekowi
do użytku. I siano w stogach ładnie się prezentuje.
Las to jus nie to." (Franciszka Zisk)
„Tam dzie rośnie zboże to najładniej i łąki tam
dzie kwiatem pokryte tes ładnie wyglądają, i w lesie
ładnie jak zapach grzybowy jest, ale najbardziej
to pole ciesy i najsykowniejse jest." (Marianna Za­
lewska)
„Jak jest taka równina, ze można puścić piłkę,
to mi się najbardziej podoba, taki widok jest piękny,
zachwycający. I taka wilca samotność tes mnie
zachwyca, cłowiek wtedy jest bardziej zamyślony.
W łąkach to się tak nie zachwycam jak w zbożu.
Zboże to mnie zachwyca, bo to z tego jest chleb.
Takie zęsiste bujne zboże to piękne." (Anna Kordecka)
„Z górów co mi tam za kozyść z patsenia, równina,
a to piękna, nie las i nie łąka, ale tam dzie jest
ładne zboże, to i usionde se pod kłośki, popatse, po­
myśle jek ludzie żyją, to takie mam upojenie."
(Ewa Rydel)
23

24

25

23

Waleria Brodzik, ur. 1884, zam. w. Stary My­
szyniec, pow. Ostrołęka. Z rodziny ubogiej. Już w
dzieciństwie pracowała sezonowo we wsiach szla­
checkich w Przasnyskiem lub u gburów w Prusach.
Umie tylko tkać. Praca zarobkowa nie pozwalała jej
zajmować się innymi tradycyjnymi dziedzinami twór­
czości.
Franciszka Zisk, ur. 1887, zam. w. Czarnia,
24

102

To, że wśród starszego pokolenia chłopów kur­
piowskich tylko zupełnie wyjątkowo uznaje się las
jako składnik wzbogacający krajobraz, skłania do za­
stanowienia się nad konsekwencjami faktu tak bardzo
późnego skolonizowania prawie nienaruszonego w
swej naturalnej szacie obszaru, jakim była dawna
Zagajnica, a dzisiaj Kurpiowska Puszcza Zielona.
W wielu przecież wypadkach trud karczowania pusz­
czy i bardziej mozolnego przystosowania poleśnych
terenów do uprawy ponosili jeszcze dziadkowie,
a nawet ojcowie najstarszych z żyjących na terenie
Kurpiowszczyzny ludzi. Wydaje się, iż z przytoczo­
nych wypowiedzi przenikają reminiscencje owej
walki z lasem, którą musieli kiedyś stoczyć przod­
kowie dzisiejszych Kurpiów, a także radość, z jaką
witali każde wyhodowane przez siebie zboże.
Przedstawione wypowiedzi wyrażają przede wszyst­
kim jednak najbardziej osobiste stany doznań inda­
gowanych osób, różniących się na pewno cechami
psychicznymi, niejednakowo pobudliwych, lecz jakże
zgodnych w formułowaniu swych wrażeń. Jeśli więc
nie istnieją jakieś istotne różnice w reprezentowanych
postawach, świadczy to, jak bardzo podobne były
warunki życiowe tych wszystkich ludzi, jednakowo
uzależnionych w swym bycie od plonów jałowych,
piaszczystych gleb. Tylko u nielicznych jednostek,
które zakosztowały nieco lepszych warunków, nie
skrępowanych surowymi regułami praktycyzmu ży­
ciowego, mogło dojść do wykształcenia się bardziej
wielostronnie rozwiniętej wrażliwości.
„Ja to straśnie wsystko miłuję, i pole, i las, i łąkę,
ja na to wsysko patrzę i ładnie, nie mogę taksunku
na to wyłożyć, bo to mi się wsysko jednako podoba".
(Rozalia Skrodzka)
POGLĄDY NA PIĘKNO ROŚLIN
(DRZEW, KRZEWÓW I KWIATÓW)
Najczęściej spotykanym drzewem na terenie Kur­
piowskiej Puszczy Zielonej jest sosna („choja", „ C h o j ­
ka", „chujka"), a potem świerk („jeglija", „jeglaska").
Stanowią one zasadniczy drzewostan tutejszych lasów,
rosną często w mniejszych lub większych skupiskach
wokoło zagród, a nieraz samotnie wzdłuż dróg i w
polu na ugorach. Inne drzewa iglaste, jak cisy,
modrzewie, a nawet jodły, spotyka się dzisiaj na
Kurpiowszczyźnie raczej wyjątkowo.
Z drzew liściastych najwięcej chyba jest olszyn
(„olsyna"), które panują niepodzielnie w pobliżu strug
i wszelkich miejsc podmokłych. W starych wsiach
można spotkać okazy wiekowych dębów, częściej
jeszcze lip, a także pięknie wyrośniętych jesionów
(„jasień", „jesień"), klonów („klun"), kasztanów („kaśtan"), akacji („agacja",
„akacyja",
„wakacja"),
zmurszałych wierzb („zierzba"). Gdzieniegdzie w lesie,
czy w polu lub w obrębie zagrody rosną samotnie
brzozy („brzezina") i osiki („osa", „osina").
Warto jeszcze powiedzieć o drzewach owocowych.
Kurpie hodują wiśnie („ziśnia"), rzadziej jabłonie
(„jebłoń", „jebłonecka", „jepko"), grusze (,kruska"
rzadziej „krusa") i śliwy. Poza kilku wsiami, na
całym obszarze Kurpiowszczyzny nie ma sprzyjają­
cych warunków glebowych do uprawy sadownictwa.
Często w dużych kilkudziesięciohektarowych gospodar­
stwach jest zaledwie kilka słabo owocujących drzepow. Ostrołęka. Średniozamożna. Nie potrafi wycinać.
Zdobieniem izby wycinankami zajmował się starszy
o 20 lat brat. Potrafi tkać i lepić figury z ciasta.
Ewa Rydel, ur. 1885, zam. w. Charciabałda,
pow. Ostrołęka. Zamożna, współwłaścicielka tartaku.
Mimo podeszłego wieku doskonale wycina. Potrafi
tkać, umie malować jajka, lepię figury z ciasta, zna
wiele miejscowych pieśni.
25

�H. 7. „Ofiara", świeca wotyw­
na z wyobrażeniem
zwierząt
hodowanych w gospodarstwie.
Wyk. w 1960 r. Antonia Ci­
cha, Brzozowy Kąt, pow.
Ostrołęka. II. 8. Fragm. tka­
niny „buronki".
Wyk. ok.
1914 r. Marianna Zalewska,
Łyse, pow. Kolno.

wek wiśni. Inne natomiast drzewa owocowe, nawet
przy znacznych staraniach gospodarzy, nie przyjmują
się, a jeśli już uda się je wyhodować, owoce są
mizerne, cierpkie lub kwaśne.
Najbardziej chyba charakterystyczną
(zarazem
reprezentującą stosunkowo najwęższy zakres doznań
estetycznych) bywa taka postawa w ocenie piękna
drzew, w której za kryterium oceny przyjmowana
jest wyłącznie ich pożyteczność. Uznanie, iż drzewo
,.ma wygląd", jest „wyględne", „strojne", „taka zeń
strojnota", „ładne", „taka zeń ładnota" lub „prawdziwa
strojnota" „prawdziwa ładnota", czy wreszcie że jest
„mocno psiękne" — pokrywa się zawsze z uznaniem
jego szczególnej przydatności w gospodarstwie. Nie­
którzy cenią więc klony, lipy, jesiony, dęby czy
kasztany otaczające zazwyczaj stare zagrody i sku­
tecznie chroniące zabudowę przed piorunami, wiatrem,
czy dostarczające cennego cienia w czasie upałów,
a jednocześnie posiadające doskonałe drewno. Inni
znów zwracają uwagę wyłącznie na drzewa owocowe,
szczególnie grusze, śliwy i jabłonie, których smaczne
owoce tak trudno wyhodować na tym terenie. Nato­
miast uwagi jednych i drugich uchodzi, nie wywołując
żadnych przyjemnych doznań, widok drzew tak po­
wszednich na Kurpiowszczyźnie, jak sosny, świerki
czy olszyny. Również te drzewa, z których surowiec
jest lichy (wierzby, osiki) nie stanowią dla nich
przedmiotu estetycznych doznań. A niekiedy nawet
drzewa twarde, przy tym pięknie i wonnie kwitnące
— akacje — budzą nawet swego rodzaju odrazę.
„Najpsyjemniejse, to jabłonie i śliwy, bo owoc
ną nich ładny, smacny jek dostojały. Teka jabłoń

obwiesona jabłuskami, to prawdziwa strojnota. Dru­
gie drzewa to juz nie to, a na akacyje to nie łubie
nawet popatrzyć, bo mi raz nogi do krwi pokalecyła."
(Marianna Zalewska)
„Ładne, strojne drzewa to wiśnie i kruski. A k l u ny, kaśtany, inne cuda, to nie robi mi różnicy, rośnie
to niech rośnie. Z tych prostych drzew, to jesce
łubie popatrzyć na cis, bo mi sie podoba jako tako,
bo ma taki inny, niepodobny do insych wygląd."
(Ewa Rydel)
W przedstawionych wypowiedziach znajduje wyraz
najbardziej skrajna postać omawianego stanowiska,
zdarza się bowiem również spotkać z uznaniem za
piękne tych przymiotów drzew, z którymi nie wiąże
się jakieś bezpośrednie praktyczne znaczenie.
„Drzewo jek sie rozwinie to każde ładne i ma
wygląd, a jek liście opadną, to nieładne. Lipa najładniejsa. Niesiąc znijdzie, to zakście, ksiatki puchną
i mocno ładnie pachną. A kaśtan i klun ładny —
ma ładne zieloniutkie liście i sie rozkłada jek pa­
rasol. Jeglije, to najgorse, suche takie, jek się na
ogień położy to trzaska. A osina, to jesce skaradniejsa, a mózio, co wiater jest. cy nima to ciungiem
się ruchają. Mnie się to drzewo nie podoba." (Fran­
ciszka Zisk)
„Brzezina, klony, lipa, lescyna, choina i sidwa,
co ma niebieskie kwiatuski, mi sie straśnie podoba.
Zierzby, osy, jeglije to mi sie za bardzo nie podobają
dlatego, ze sie nie nadają nawet do opału. A lipa,
klon i brzozy, to pozytecne. Z brzozy, to nawet
leci jaśkoła — dobra na barsc gotować, i liście, i kurę
103

�«

mają ładną. Z gałęziów dobre są miotły, to przyjemne,
bardzo psiękne dzewa." (Anna Kordeeka)
Nie ulega kwestii, że łatwy do dostrzeżenia (opa­
danie i wzrost liści) proces wegetacyjny drzew liś­
ciastych wywołuje u wielu informatorów doznania
estetyczne. Stąd też m.in. tak wiele uwagi poświęcają
oni właśnie tym drzewom. Wydaje się, że zawsze
jednak u podstaw zainteresowania leży sama wartość
materialna określonego drzewa, oraz to, w jakim
stopniu wyróżnia się pod tym względem wśród i n ­
nych drzew, a to z kolei wyzwala reakcje na zalety
jego budowy, kształtu korony, barwę kory i liści.
Oczywiście pojęcie wartości materialnej czy pożytecz­
ności jest tu bardzo względne. Trudno bowiem byłoby
nie przyznać tych zalet np. sośnie — drzewu stano­
wiącemu podstawowy surowiec w budownictwie (tra­
dycyjnym), sprzętarstwie itp. Nie chodzi tu jednak
0 „powszednią" pożyteczność czy zwykłą w a r t o ś ć . '
„Lescyna mi się najbardziej podoba i jesień i klon.
Ale lescyna najładniejsa. przyjemna ozechy ma i dla­
tego, ze nasa wiara mówi, ze lescyna gdzie jest to
piorun nie trzaśnie. Lescyna. to błogosławione, ka­
tolickie drzewo. Łono ma podstawę kształtną i gęste
liście fajne." (Rozalia Bednarczyk).
„Tu my jesteśmy obsadzeni samymi pięknymi
drzewami, takimy drzewamy gdzie piorun nie uderzy.
Jest lipa, lescyna i klon. Na lipie się Matka Boska
objawiła w Świętej Lipce, pod lescyna skryła się
z Panem Jezusem jek Herod ją gonił, a na klonie
tez się objawiła ale w Grytwałdzie. To są wsystko
ślicne, przepiękne drzewa. A są znów takie, co mi
się nawet wyglądem swoim nie podobają, jek ta
akacja, co ma kolce. Gdzie to rośnie, to przejść nie
można. U nas rosła w ogródku, to wsystką powycinalim." (Stefania Samsel)
2

Podobnie jak w innych wypowiedziach na temat
świata przyrody, tak i tu zdarzają sie wyjątkowo
poglądy różne od wyżej przytoczonych. Wyrażają
większą skalę doznań nie ograniczając się do katego­
rycznego uznawania za piękne tylko bardzo okreś­
lonych rodzajów drzew.
,.Są rozmaite drzewa, rozmaite scepy. Po drogach
teraz posadzone sa wakacie, to tes stroine drzewa.
Te jegliie, to takie powyrastane, to taka ładnota,
dwadzieścia psieć metrów trzyma do góry. taka
prawdziwa strojnota. Brzezina, to łuna tez strojnie
rośnie i gałęzie ma jek leluja. Wsiskie drzewa są
ładne, psiękne. a takie strupy, k^eceństwo Tdrzewa
zniszczone przez człowiek — J.O ], to az żałość pa­
trzyć." (Rozalia Skrodzka)
Z całości rozpatrywanego materiału szczególnie
cenne są wypowiedzi wyrażające poglądy na piękno
kwiatów, ponieważ daia nam wvobrażenif&gt; o wrażli­
wości estetycznej ludzi z omawianego środowiska.
Obiekt, zainteresowania nie ma bowiem w tym
wyoadku ściśle ustalonych wartości utylitarnych,
a jego piękno manifestuje się wyraźniej niż innych
przejawów przyrody.
Nie bede omawia' spotykanych na Kurpiowszczyźnie rodzajów kwiatów, czv to ogrodowych, czy pol­
nych, charakterystykę ich dają przytoczone niżej
wypowiedzi. Wspomnę tylko o stronie zwyczajowej
" Mogą odgrywać tu pewną rolę wierzenia, ja­
kimi otacza lud drzewa. Większości rosnących
w kraju, w tym również na terenie Kurpiowszczyzny
(brzoza, cis, dąb, olsza, jesion, osika) przypisuje się
szczególne, nadprzyrodzone właściwości. Jest przy
tvm rzeczą znamienną, iż z wierzeń tych wyłączona
m.in. bvwa sosna. Por. Adam Fiszer, Drzewa w wie­
rzeniach i obrzędach ludu polskiego, Lwów 1938,
« 3—17: Cezaria Baudouin de Courtenay Ehrenkreutz,
Zwticzaie wiosenne ludu polskiego, odbitka z: „Wiedza
1 Życie", Warszawa 1927, s. 7—11.
104

zagadnienia — o wykorzystywaniu kwiatów do róż­
nych określonych celów.
W tradycyjnej obyczajowości Kurpiów kobiety po­
czuwały się jak gdyby do obowiązku dbania o to,
aby kwiaty rosły w ogrodzie (najczęściej przed
domem) oraz w donicach (na oknach domu widocz­
nych od strony drogi i wejścia). W powszechnej opinii
kwiaty znajdujące się w tych miejscach uważane
były za widome świadectwo gospodarności domowni­
ków, a także dodrobytu panującego w domu, pozwa­
lającego na zajmowanie się czymś tak nie związa­
nym ze stałymi kłopotami dnia. Nie było zaś zwyczaiu
ustawiania we wnętrzu demu bukietów żywych
kwiatów. Sam zresztą charakter wnętrza nie sprzy­
jał temu zupełnie. Przystosowane ono było, przede
wszystkim do zajęć gospodarczych, a następnie do
spożywania posiłków i odpoczynku — głównie spania.
Nie było w nim, jak wiadomo, ani sto u ustawionego
centralnie, ani też szaf, czy stolików, które nadawa­
łyby się do udekorowania naczyniem z bukietem
kwiatów. Co prawda, stół ustawiony w jednym
z kątów izby, służący od jakiegoś czasu jako swego
rodzaju ołtarz z figurą osoby świętej lub „pasyją",
mógł być takim miejscem , ale wykorzystywano
go przy rozmaitych -domowych zajęciach jako składo­
wisko przyborów np. do szycia, czesania, niekiedy
kładziono nań chleb, to znów odstawiano przedmioty
kultowe i wówczas służył do bardziej uroczystych
posiłków. Dlatego też na stole tym kwiaty, jako
przystrój przedmiotów kultowych, pojawiają sie sto­
sunkowo późno, kiedy coraz mocniej ugruntowuje się
potrzeba należytej czci dla „świętego" miejsca. Zna­
mienne, że nie są to kwiaty żywe — z ogrodu, łąki
czy lasu, lecz prawie zawsze sztuczne — własnej
roboty lub zakupione na targu. Niewątpliwie wchodzi
1u w grę szczególne upodobanie do tego właśnie ro­
dzaju kwiatów, ale nie jest też bez znaczenia ich
trwałość oraz wzgląd, że podczas korzystania ze stołu
nie ma obawy rozlania wody, której wymagają kwia­
ty naturalne.
ł

27

Kwiaty, obok rozmaitych ziół, czy w ogóle pewne
rośliny występują dosyć często w ludowych obrzę­
dach jako niezbędny przejaw adoracji obiektów
kultowych. Kurpie używają ich podczas dorocznych
świąt do przystrajania figur i krzyży przydrożnych
oraz wnętrz kościoła. Sposób, w jaki wite są w tvm
celu bukiety, wieńce lub girlandy, nie świadczy by­
najmniej o jakiejś większej znajomości i umiłowaniu
przez Kuroiów tego swoistego kunsztu dekoratorskiego. Inaczei już bywa w wypadku bardziej w aściwych
kulturze ludowej obrzędów, jakimi sa np. na terenie
Kurpiowszczyzny: w ązanie na polu „przepiórki"
z. kłosów żyta i kwiatów polnych (odpowiednik —
w innych stronach — plonu), wycinanie „marcinek"
i strojenie bydłu rogów wiankami przed pierwszym
wypasem, wicie ..zianusków" na Matkę Boską Zielną,
czy nawet sporządzanie palm wielkanocnych.
ł

;

Należy jeszcze odnotować fakt, że w miejscowej
tradvcii całkowicie obcy był zwyczaj wvkorzystvwam'a kwiatów iako darów — symboli uczuć dla bliskich
lub osób. wobec których żywi się szacunek. Na Kurpiowszczyźnie nigdy dawniej nie składano kwiatów,
ani osobom żywym ani umarłym. Często występujący
w innych stronach tradycyjny zwyczaj przystrajania
27

Istnieje wiele powodów aby sądzić, iż stół
ustawiony w kącie izby zaczął pełnić na Kurpiowszczvźnie funkcię domowego ołtarza dopiero od połowy
X I X w . t j . od momentu przełamania na tym terenie
powszechnego indyferentyzmu religijnego.
Szerzej
omawiam to zagadnienie w innym miejscu, por.:
Artystyczna twórczość kowalska na terenie Kurpiow­
skiej Puszczy Zielonej od końca XIX w. do I woiwi
światowej, „Polska Sztuka Ludowa", 1961, nr 4, s. 209.

�mogił kwiatami czy owocami jarzębiny, kasztanowca
lub głogu — tu nie był przyjęty. To, że nie wykorzy­
stywano kwiatów jako darów, byłoby faktem bez
większego znaczenia w interesującym nas przed­
miocie, gdyby nie wielka popularność u Kurpiów,
tak zresztą jak i u innych grup ludowych, zwyczaju
obdarowywania się przy wszelkich okazjach rodzin­
nych, szczególnie zaś podczas zarękowin, wesela
i chrztu — przedmiotami o wartościach material­
nych.
Wydaje się, że podanie tych wszystkich uwag
było konieczne, z wypowiedzi informatorów bowiem
nie zawsze wynika dostatecznie jasno ich stosunek
wobec piękna tych roślin. Szczegółowe opisywanie
przez niektórych informatorów wyglądu kwiatów
sugerowałoby np. znacznie rozbudowaną ich wrażli­
wość na kształt, budowę kwiatostanu, strukturę
i barwę płatków, a tak w rzeczywistości nie jest.
„Nagietki drobne, żółte, krozowate, takie jakby
kto je pociepał, a w środku kocioulek, tak po żniwach
lubi kścieć, to je cuć trupem — ale ładne ksiatki.
Comber jakoś kścieje, chyba niebziesko. To to ładnie
pachnie. Ale najsykowniejse, to orginy i różowe,
i cerwone, i bziałe. Tutaj u nas to ich nie mają, je
mają na Prusach i u ślachty. Orginy są ksiaty
najładniejse, bo to jak podłoży pod nią gnoju (mają
pod spodem takie kartofelki), to urosną duze, jest
na co popatrzyć." (Franciszka Zisk)
„Dawniej to rumianku nasieli, zeby pachniał,
a z insych ksiatów to comber, taki zieluny i ma nie­
bieskie ksiatki, takie drobne jek konicyna. I saranki
były. Najładniejse to pliściowe i cerwune i niebieskie,
taki rozmaity kolor mają, jakie tylko farby. Te są
ksiatki średniodrobne... Na łunkach to rośnie trzęsiunek, to tes ładny ksiatek, łun ma takie łopatki, jak
urwać wiązkę, to łun nie postoi, łun zawse bandzie
latał, a inse kukawki, białe, żółte ksiatki, co ich
moc na łunkach to zbytecne:" (Ewa Rydel)
„Kwiat kwiatowi nie równy, te co do ołtarza,
to najpiękniejse — róże, tulipany, woska piwonia,
lilia, to są duze kwiaty, to są kwiaty zachwycające.
A są takie polne, to do nicego, do otłarza nie pasują."
(Anna Kordecka)
„Ładne kwiaty, to piwonia, chryzantema, bo ma
duze dubeltowe kwiaty... Z tych, co na łąkach, przy
struskach rosną, to mi jesce podchodzą niezapomi­
najki, jak wsadzić do wody to same rosną, ale to
małe kwiatki." (Marianna Zalewska)
„Georginie, lelje, astry, to fajne kwiaty. Georginie
i lelje, to znać, ze kwiaty, je na co popatrzyć. U nas
teraz na Kurpiach to przeważnie wysokie są kwiaty,
a tych drobnych to nie sieją... Z tych co w domu
się trzyma, to fortensja najładniejsa, bo co miesiąc
inacej kście i kawaler albo gupi jaś to tes dobry,
bo stale ksitnie." (Stanisława Olender)
,.Z dawności hodowalim saranki i nagetki-żółte,
takie nieduże, co mają takie pazurki i siła zielunego.
To byli takie zwykłe kwiatki... Astry, o to piękne,
najpiękniejse są więkse i takie rozmaite."
Tak więc tylko kwiaty hodowane w ogrodzie i w
domu spotykają się z większym lub mniejszym, lecz
zawsze zgodnym uznaniem dla ich estetycznych
walorów. Natomiast jeśli chodzi o kwiaty z łąk —
to już tylko bardzo nieliczne (np. niezapominajki,
rumianek i „trzęsionek") cieszą się podobnym uzna­
niem. O kwiatach leśnych i rosnących na polach
(najczęściej w zbożu) informatorzy nie wspominają.
Leśne, podobnie jak większość kwiatów z łąk, są im
pod względem estetycznym zupełnie obojętne, polne
zaś uważane są za chwasty zagrażające plonom zbóż,
co również wyklucza przyznanie im wartości estetycz­
nych.
28

29

28

Antonina Cicha, ur. 1900, zam. w. Brzozowy
Kąt, pow. Ostrołęka. Zamożna, uprawia tkactwo, umie
wycinać oraz lepić figury z ciasta i wosku.

Znamienne jest bardzo, na jakie cechy kwiatów
zwracają główną uwagę informatorzy i które z nich
wywołują najżywsze reakcje. Jeśli chodzi o kwiaty
hodowane — najważniejsza jest ich wielkość. Te,
które są „duże", „dubeltowe", „znać że są kwiaty" —
podobają się najbardziej. Kwiaty zaś „drobne",
„małe", „średniodrobne" — choćby miały piękny za­
pach, barwę — zawsze ustępują dużym. Znacznie już
mniejszy zachwyt wywołuje różnobarwne i długo­
trwałe kwitnienie. Jeżeli chodzi o takie kwiaty, jak
niezapominajki, rumianek czy wspomniany „trzęsio­
nek", to ich specjalne przymioty, wyróżniające je od
reszty kwiatów polnych wywołują uznanie. Może to
być zdolność zachowania długo po ścięciu świeżego
wyglądu, albo jakaś cecha szczególna, niezwykła,
np. „trzęsionka", czyli drżenie delikatne zawieszonych
kwiatostanów.
Ładunek emocjonalny w ocenach piękna poszcze­
gólnych kwiatów nie jest więc jednakowy, nigdy
jednak, jak mi się wydaje, nie jest tak znaczny, aby
mógł świadczyć, że stosunek do kwiatów wyróżnia
się bardziej od innych reakcji omówionych już
wcześniej.
„... Lubzie żółte ksiaty, rosną duze, o mój Boże
jak to się zakście. U mojej mamusi to cały ogród za­
walony był ksiatami, różnego kalibru, i jasne, i po­
marańczowe, i żółte. Mnie sie rozmai+e spodobyły,
małe i duze, rozmaite ksiaty i te co na łąkach, w ży­
cie, i w lesie kścieją. O Maryjo, jakie psiękne nieraz
w lesie najdzie się. Jak bym ja ksiatów nie lubziła
wszyćkich, to ja bym tych lelujów wycinała?" (Ro­
zalia Skrodzka).
Na tego rodzaju żywą, a przy tym jednakowo silną
reakcję na piękno wszelkich kwiatów (zarówno ma­
łych, jak dużych, ogrodowych i polnych), udało mi
się natrafić — na ogólną ilość 40 przebadanych i n ­
formatorów — zaledwie w dwóch wypadkach.
POGLĄDY NA PIĘKNO OWADÓW, PTAKÓW
I ZWIERZĄT LEŚNYCH
„Są takie robaki trawniki cerwune i zielune, to
pseciwne ludziom — kąsają. A w boru są duze ciązniki, śwecące, pomarańczowe, a łby mają złote. I są
padalce siwe i znijiska. Są takie się nazywają krówki,
jak kartofle, becą jek dzwon. Te paskudztwo co się
komary zwą, to skoda o nich gadać. Mandle bziałe
są, mają okrągłe, nawet ładne skrzydełka. Nad wodą
żyją to walne robactwo — furane [fruwające], to
dwóch sortów są bziałe i cerwune, są tez kuniaki
srebrne, jak palice duze. Jest tego, a jest. Nie chce
juz sobie ich więcej wspominać". (Rozalia Skrodzka)
Oto najbardziej łagodne wyrażenie uczuć żywio­
nych wobec ogółu owadów, które nazywa się na Kurpiowszczyźnie „robastwem" lub „robakami". Wypo­
wiedź pochodzi od informatora wyjątkowo wrażli­
wego i tylko tym należy tłumaczyć jego powściągli­
wość w ocenie każdego z tych stworzeń. Zazwyczaj
bowiem mówi się o nich tak:
„O jakie są rozmaite robaki, o matko moja. Każ­
dego bym pantofla zdjęła i zabiła. Żadne mi się nie
podobają wcale. Motyle to się ich boję, takie obrzy­
dliwe, to ja się ich nawet boję". (Anna Kordecka)
Spośród owadów tylko trzmiele i pszczoły spoty­
kają się u starszych ludzi z na tyle życzliwym stosun­
kiem, aby można było mówić o wywoływaniu przez
te stworzenia jakiegoś rodzaju doznań estetycznych.
Ale nawet w wypadku pszczół, o których się mówi
nie inaczej, jak „dobre robacki", „dobre robaki" itp.,
wszelkie zachwyty dotyczą w zasadzie tylko poży29

Na podstawie wypowiedzi informatorów wy­
mienionych w przypisach: 13,14,15,16,19,20 i in.

105

�II. 9. „Leluja",
wycinanka.
Wyk. ok. 3955 r. Marianna
Zalewska, Łyse, pow. Kolno.

tecznej dla człowieka ich pracowitości, nigdy zaś np.
misternej budowy ciała, czy ogólnego wyglądu &gt;.
„... Iść do ula popatrzeć jak one pracują, jak przy­
chodzą obładowane na nogach, to drugie pomagają,
a jak brzęcą — mają taki ucciwy rozdźwięk, ze się
tylko ukłaść. Jak gryka zakwitnie, to jak one miód
zbierają, do straśny dźwęk. Tam nie ma sporu, złości".
(Teofil Nasiadka)
Wypowiedzi o ptakach reprezentują bez porówna­
nia szerszy, bardziej rozbudowany zespół wrażeń.
„Nic wcale się na ptactwie nie znam. Jeden wróbel
i wrona co mi się pod nosem kręcą, to o nich mogę
powiedzieć, ze skudne i bez żadnego nawet wyględu.
Kiedyś to były bąki. Jek zabucał, to na mile było
słychać. Były tez prukawki, to jek zaceły prukać
w lesie, to jek jechał w kunie, to mu as ustały. Gile
takie byli, co pod kołdunem ma pióra zielune i siwe,
ale juz kilka lat go nima. Skonciś psylatywały jed­
wabniki. Na jesieni kalinę obsiadły, to walnie duze.
Nie bace juz, cy miały kropki po sobie, cy jakiś psystrój miały. To były śwycące, ślicne ptaski". (Józef
Slachetka)
„Ładnych ptasków u nas dosyć ich jest, ale nawet
nie wiem jak sie nazywają ... Sroka, o, ta jajka krad­
nie, kukułka ona tez niedobra, a dziencioł tes do
nicego — śnierdzi. Dzieci raz go w gniździe wynaleźli
to śnierdział paskudnie. Słowik on to jesce najładniej
może śpiewać". (Stefania Samsel)
„Jaskółki najbardziej jesce lubzie, a te wszystkie
inne to skodniki. Sykowny jest jesce łubek, dzie
przyjdzie, to dziubie, piórka ma takie cerwune kiele
ocu i cubek ma. Ładny ptasek. Jastrząb, to strojny
ale niedobry, jeg go lubić i chwalić, jek się jego
urodą zachwycać jek on skudny jek pies". (Ewa
Rydel)
Stwierdzenia: „nic wcale się nie znam na ptac­
twie", „nie wiem jak się nazywają", przy tym rzeczy3t

31

32

30

Szerzej omawiam stosunek do pszczół w pracy:
Tradycyjne
wierzenia o pszczołach z
Kurpiowskiej
Puszczy Zielonej, „Literatura Ludowa", 1961, nr 4—6,
s. 39—44.
Teofil Nasiadka, ur. 1876, zam. w. Dębniki,
pow. Łomża. Gospodarz średniozamożny, pszczelarz,
nie uprawiał żadnej dziedziny twórczości plastycznej.
31

106

wiście nienajlepsza orientacja w przymiotach właści­
wych określonym ptakom („gil pod kałdunem ma
pióra zielune i siwe") świadczą, że większej uwagi
nie poświęcano tym stworzeniom. Stąd też duża róż­
norodność stanowisk jeśli chodzi o wskazanie ptaka
pięknego. Oczywiście szkodników w ogóle nie bierze
się w tym wypadku pod uwagę, chociażby były naj­
piękniej upierzone, ładnie śpiewały itp. Ich niepożyteczność wyklucza jakiekolwiek uznanie. Natomiast
wśród ptaków, które nie szkodzą, każdy informator
dostrzega dwa najwyżej trzy, które mu się podobają.
Zależnie od okoliczności, w jakich miał z określonym
ptakiem styczność, czy widywał go lub słyszał częściej
albo rzadziej, rodziło się żywsze nim zainteresowa­
nie. Wówczas też powstawała reakcja na specyficzne
dla „wybranego" ptaka przymioty. Mogła więc w grę
wchodzić u jednych — barwa upierzenia, u innych —
jakieś drobne szczegóły ogólnego wyglądu, czy wresz­
cie zachowanie — głównie śpiew.
Oto zestaw wypowiedzi spotykanych najczęściej.
Obok nich spotyka się inne, w których przejawia się
już nie tak obojętny i przypadkowy stosunek do
ptactwa.
„Wsystkie ptoski ładnie śpiewają jek ciepło. Jek
ciepło to każdy się weseli. Kukawki jak jest zaranek,
to ślicnie śpiewają. Skowronek śpiewa, to wesoło na
świecie. Łubki to dzie na chliwie albo na opasi zrobzi
gniazdo, to ładny, pstry ptasek. Mnie się zdaje, ze
każdy przyjemny sykowny, jek weźmie śpiewać. K r u ­
ki, a wrony, a jastrzębie mają ładne psióra, ale to
niedobre, nieprzyjemne ptaki". (Marianna Strzemienna) .
„Najgorse pożarte, niedobre, co żrą kurcaki, to się
nazywają jastrzebzie, to ładne, strojne są, mają psiórka bręgowate. Drugie się nazywają seroki, siwe są.
bzegi u sksydełek i ogony mają bziałe i krowatki
bziałe mają, a łebki carne, to strojne ptaki, to jaj­
kami tylko żyją. kradną. A gołąbki, to ładnota,
a grucą łuziut, łuziut. one strojne, a są gapy, co mają
plecy siwe. a sksydła i oguny corne to tes strojne
ptaki. Gołąbki, seroki i jastrzębie to najstrojniejse".
(Marianna Bałdyga).
Ptaki śpiewające wymieniane są w pierwszej koleiności i najczęściej. Śpiew skowronka i turkawki
uchodzi przy tym za najpiękniejszy. U niektórych
informatorów wywołuje on uczucie zadowolenia i ra­
dości. Ptaki nie śpiewające, ale barwnie upierzone,
zajmują następne miejsce. Jest rzeczą znamienną,
w kontekście z poprzednio omawianymi postawami,
że ta grupa informatorów ptakom nawet najbardziei
szkodliwym (jak np. jastrzębiom) nie odmawia już
uroku. Zdarza się, że pstre upierzenie tych ptaków,
ich lot szybki lub majestatyczny wywołuje duże
uznanie lub nawet podziw.
Należy jednak jeszcze raz powtórzyć, iż obecnie
u starszych ludzi z terenu Kurpiowszczyzny posta­
wa taka jest bez porównania rzadziej spotykana niż
poprzednio opisana. Nie wykluczone, że dawniej było
inaczej. Chociażby przy końcu X I X w., kiedy lasv
nie były tak jak dziś przetrzebione, nad strugami zaś
r o z c i ą g a j się bardziej rozległe tereny pokryte szu­
warami — i tym samym ptactwo miało lepsze warun­
ki, spotykało się więcej jego rzadkich gatunków,
33

32

Józef Slachetka, ur. 1889, zam. w. Szafranki,
pow. Ostrołęka. Gospodarz niezamożny, rybak zawo­
dowy, nie zajmował się twórczością plastyczną.
Marianna Strzemienna, ur. 1867, zam. w. Wy­
krot, pow. Ostrołęka, średniozamożna, zajmowała się
tkactwem, innych rodzajów twórczości plastycznej
nie uprawiała.
33

�szczególnie atrakcyjnych pod względem wyglądu czy
zachowania.
To samo można w zasadzie powiedzieć jeśli cho­
dzi o wszelką dziczyznę. Dzisiaj wielu najstarszym
nawet ludziom większość zwierząt leśnych nie jest
zupełnie znana z widzenia. Dlatego też bardzo trudno
jest dopatrzyć się jakichś istotnych prawidłowości
w poglądach na piękno tych stworzeń. Zrozumiałe,
że zupełnie inne będą one u osób, którym udało się
jeszcze widzieć jakieś „dzikie" zwierzę, aniżeli u tych,
które nie miały tej okazji. „Dzikich stworzeniów nie
zidziałam, to nie poziem, które mi się spodobają.
Zajunc casem przeleci, ale zajunc — jek to zajunc"
(Franciszka Zisk). Należy jeszcze dodać, że nie zawsze
mogła to być okazja oglądania zwierzęcia w natural­
nych warunkach jego przebywania.
„Niech ta ciort weźmie wszystkie gady, robaki
i inne zwierze. Ze zwierzyńcem raz psyjechali, to na
żadne patsyć nie mogłam ... Wsyscy chodzili oglądać
waza, a ja popatrzyła się wstrząchłam i posłam. Lisa
nieli wyrudziałego, to scezył na wsystkich zęby,
pascękę rozdziawił i charcał". (Marianna Zalewska).
POGLĄDY NA PIĘKNO KRÓW I KONI
Wybór koni i krów jako wyłącznego obiektu ba­
dań poglądów estetycznych, związanych ze zwierzęta­
mi domowymi, hodowanymi przez Kurpiów, podykto­
wany był z jednej strony faktem występowania sto­
sunkowo najszerszego zespołu wartości estetycznych
u tych zwierząt i z drugiej ich znaczeniem w gospo­
darstwie chłopskim. Przynajmniej od połowy X I X w.
krowy i konie stanowią podstawę gospodarki hodo­

wlanej na terenie Kurpiowskiej Puszczy Zielonej.
Hodowla innych zwierząt była tu zawsze słabiej roz­
winięta, a tym samym mniej poświęcano jej uwagi.
Tak więc na przykładzie tych dwóch zwierząt naj­
łatwiej i chyba najdokładniej można prześledzić sto­
sunek, jaki żywią starsi mieszkańcy Kurpiowszczyzny
do żywego inwentarza. Nie chodzi tu o stwierdzenie
oczywiste, że zabiega się o zdrowie i jak najlepszy
rozwój stada, że nad nieoczekiwaną stratą każdej
sztuki ciężko się boleje. Chodzi natomiast o to, iż
chów tych stworzeń wprowadza jakiegoś rodzaju uza­
leżnienie ludzkiej jednostki, u której zawsze drzemie
gdzieś w głębokich pokładach świadomości pragnie­
nie nieskrępowanej swobody. Codzienny trud kar­
mienia licznej, nigdy nie sytej trzody na pewno za­
ostrza to pragnienie. Stąd na każdym kroku wymierza
się tym zwierzętom najgroźniejsze przekleństwa,
a jeśli oszczędza się im cięższych razów (chociaż też
nie jest to regułą), to tylko z troski .o własny interes.
Stworzony został osobny zasób wyrażeń najbardziej
grubych, które by najdosadniej określały to wszystko
co wiązać można z bydłem i nierogacizną. Utrzymy­
wanie się ich w stałym, żywym obiegu wskazuje, iż
nie zaszły istotne zmiany w systemie wychowu i uza­
leżnieniu od niego chłopa. Zwierzęta te otoczono nadomiar wierzeniami, które przypisują niektórym
z nich najbardziej złe moce. Na terenie Kur­
piowszczyzny jeszcze dziś utrzymują się one w formie
reliktowej wobec konia, psa i ś w i n i .
34

34

Por. J. Olędzki, Wota woskowe ze wsi Krzy­
nowłoga Wielka i Brodowe Łąki, „Polska Sztuka L u ­
dowa", 1960, nr 1, s. 14.

107

�Wszystkie zatem najtroskliwsze nawet zabiegi
w stosunku do żywego inwentarza dokonuje się
z ciężkiej konieczności, której przyświeca jedyne
pragnienie — maksymalnego wyzyskania materialnego
każdej sztuki. To- wyłączne zainteresowanie, w wy­
padku konia uczynienia go najwydatniejszą siłą po­
ciągową, a bydła — jednostek najbardziej mięso
i mlekodajnych, przewodzi wszystkim opiniom o ich
wyglądzie, kształtuje bez reszty związane z nimi po­
glądy estetyczne.
,.Jek tłuste stworzenie to piękne. Tek koń jek
i krowa". (Antonina Cicha).
„Krowa jek sie wychowała tłusta, taka ze ją w i ­
dać i wymię ma tłuste, to sykowona. Tak samo i koń
każdy ładny jak dobze wychowany". (Marianna Za­
lewska).
..Krowa jak i kuń jak dobze wychowane, nie ste­
rane, tłuste, to jaka by nie była maść, to ładne".
(Stanisław Koprek).
Oto najbardziei bezpośrednie, najprostsze stwier­
dzenia, nie zawoalowane żadnym dodatkowym przy­
braniem słownym. U podstaw ich leży reakcja na
przymioty dobrego wyhodowania zwierzęcia, mani­
festującego się w ogólnym jego wyglądzie — głównie
kszta cie tułowia. Ale istnieią informatorzy nie ma­
jący tak surowych doznań, którzy są bardziej wymapaiacy wobec wvgladu zwierzęcia wartościowego i po­
trafią prawie smakować w symptomach właściwych
mlecznej, obfitującej w mięso krowie i mocnemu ko­
niowi.
..Koń ni zólty, ni corny. ani bzieły tylko kaśtan,
to najstrojnieisy. Jek ma piec seroki, a łud opałkowaty. a syje wygięta, a łepek honorowy, to je stroj­
ny. Krowa jek ma kałdun jek fura, a chrzvbiet gar­
baty, to nie honorowa, nie stroina, musi być tłusta
i chód mieć taki coby się w niej gnaty nie gibały.
I cyrwuna i łaciata, jek tłuste, to ładne". (Rozalia
Skrodzka).
..Kunie najładniejse to takie jek ziśn e cerwune
i żółte tes mi jesce podchodzą. Bziały. to sie mózi —
iedzie z bziałą bziedo. To jak juz inaksego nie może
kuoić... Corny, to mi sie nie podoba, bo mi sie wydaie ze nie ma stroiu. zresta cornv. to zawsze gorsv,
ociąga sie przy robocie. Jek kaśtanowaty taki cyrwunv. to zaraz tłustsy sie wydaie". (Ewa Rvdel).
„Kaśtany to naistrojniejse. s w e tvs sa jesce stroine, kare jus nie tyle wyględne. Wsystkie ładne jek
tłuste, wypasione, to i tuzvcka l?7y i biedra nie za
wysokie, syja krótsa sie robi. pierś się mhi silnieisa,
inny fason. Choć to s?mo stworzenie, takie wvględniejse. zdatniejse do roboty i wyjazdki". (Władysław
Nasiadka).
..Piękne sa krowy cerwune i łaciaste. ładnie w y ­
chowane, a kunie kaśtanowe, cvrwune. takie krępe,
silne. A takie bia e i corne. to śmiertelniki. to strasnie nieładne. One zawsze do roboty gorse. Wsystko co
wsoaniałe. to piękne, takie zdrowp. żywe. mocne, takie
iak piorunem z nieba Ja to t=ka górnolotna. A są
fleematvki. im to byle co podchodzi. Takich to ja
bym pozabijała". (Anna Kordeckal.
Miedry poszczególnymi wypowiedziami nie zacho­
dzą żadne różnice jakościowe Znamienne jest. że
zarówno informatorzy mniei jak i bardziej wrażliwi
na estetykę •— w poglądach na piękno koni i krów
są jednomyślni.
Jako ..niękne". ..ładne". ..strojne", czy ..honorowe"
uznają tylko zwierzęta „tłuste", „dobrze wychowane",
ł

;

;

ł

35

Por. P. Szumowski, Z. Jastrzębowski, Przy­
czynek do studiów nad geograficznym rozmieszcze­
niem ras zwierząt, domowych w Polsce. ..Kwartalnik
Statystyczny", t. X: 1933. z. 1. mapa: Rozmieszczenie
ras koni w RzeczyDOspolitei Polskiej; M. Biernacka,
Kurpiowska aospodarka hodowlana, w opracowaniu
zbiorowym: Kurpie — Puszcza Zielona. Traducie hi­
storyczne a problem reaion».. cyt. wvd.. s. 234—236.
Por. T. Konopiński, Hodowla bydła — pocho36

108

„wypasione". Mogą się najwyżej różnić w ocenach
szczegółowych, gorzej lub lepiej orientować w zale­
tach poszczególnych odmian i ras.
Istnieje wiele powodów, aby twierdzić, że na te­
renie Kurpiowskiej Puszczy Zielonej wyhodowana
została pewna miejscowa odmiana konia pospolitego
z domieszką konia ciężkiego i (mniejszą) lekkiego,
wysoko uszlachetnionego. Konie te charakteryzują się
niewysokim wzrostem, krępą budową, małą głową
i kasztanową maścią. Kurpiowszczyzna słynęła z nich
jeszcze do I wojny światowej . Stąd też najprawdo­
podobniej tak wielu informatorów uznaje za piękne
wyłącznie konie maści kasztanowej, względnie gniadej („żółtej") najbardziej ją przypominające. Nato­
miast bydło kurpiowskie, od czasów jak sięga pamięć
najstarszych informatorów, zawsze było mieszane.
Do I wojny światowej hodowano przeważnie krowy
maści „siwej", „pstrej" (czerwono-biała lub białoczerwona), „kobielastej" (czarna z białym pasem na
grzbiecie), a także „łyse" (czerwona o grzbiecie bia­
łym), „kropichy", „graniaste" (czarna lub czerwona
z białymi łatkami). Od końca X I X w. pojawia się
ponadto na tym terenie odmiana rasy nizinnej, białoczarnej i czerwonej — polskiej . W wyniku tak
znacznej różnorodności hodowanych odmian zrozu­
miałe są różnice w poglądach informatorów na piękno
krów o określonej maści. Najczęściej bywa tak, że
informatorzy uznają za piękne, względnie najpiękniej­
sze tej maści bydło, do jakiego najbardziej przywykli,
stykając się z nim w rodzinnej wsi lub zagrodzie.
35

36

POGLĄDY NA PIĘKNO FIZYCZNE CZOWIEKA
Piękno człowieka można rozpatrywać w mniej lub
bardziej szerokim aspekcie, uwzględniając np. przy­
mioty wyodrębniające go od świata zwierząt (przy­
mioty umysłowe! lub zatrzymując się na tvch tylko
jego cechach, które go wiążą z pozostałymi żywymi
istotami, czyli ograniczaiąc się do jego fizycznego
wyglądu. Wybierając pierwszą z tych możliwości
wkracza się w złożona problematykę etyki. Dlatego
też poprzestanę na analizie poglądów związanych wy­
łącznie z zewnętrznym, fizycznym pięknem człowieka,
jego figurą, budową, karnacją oraz barwą włosów
i oczu. Informatorzy nasi nie ujmuią jednak swych
ocen wyglądu człowieka w oderwaniu od wyobrażeń
o określonych walorach psychicznych czy charak­
terologicznych. Stoją bowiem na stanowisku, że u nie­
których osobników pewnym cechom zewnętrznym od­
powiadają ściśle określone zalety ducha. np. blondyni
0 błękitnych oczach mają dobre serce, szczere, otwar­
te usposobienie, a ich zaprzeczeniem są ludzie o wło­
sach rudych lub oczach zielonych. Tego rodzaju sta­
nowisko jest bardzo popularne w środowisku ludo­
wym. Dla podiecia próby interpretacji jego żywot­
ności w odniesieniu do Kurpiowszczyzny — niezwykle
pomocne są wvniki badań antropologicznych. Na
podstawie danych dostarczonych przez A. Maciesze
można z dużym prawdopodobieństwem twierdzić, że
wszystkie te cechy wyglądu, które wiążą się z nie­
korzystnymi przymiotami usposobienia i charakteru
człowieka wystenuia wśród ogółu ludności kuroiowskiej bardzo rzadko . W tym można by znaleźć w y ­
tłumaczenie utrzymywania się u starszych Kurpiów
owego niczym nieuzasadnionego uprzedzenia do r u ­
dych i zielonookich. Pamiętamy bowiem, że zawsze
oceniali oni negatywnie te wszystkie właściwości
37

dzenie, rasy, pokrój, dobór, żywienie,
użytkowanie
1 organizacja czyli biologiczne i ekonomiczne podsta­
wy hodowli bwdfo. Poznań 1931, s. 233; M. Biernacka,
op. cit s. 236—237.
Por. Aleksander Maciesza. Puszczanie przas­
nyscy. Przyczynek do charakterystyki
antropoloqiczn°i
Kurpióui. ..Archiwum Nauk Antropologicznych", t. IIT,
dz. A. Antropologia, nr 1, Warszawa — Lwów 1923,
s. 6—9.
37

�wyglądu np. zwierząt domowych, szczególnie zaś koni,
które nie występowały dostatecznie często lub —
inaczej — które odbiegały od spotykanych niegdyś
najczęściej.
Przejdźmy jednak do samych wypowiedzi. Infor­
matorzy, ustosunkowując się do urody ludzkiej, biorą
pod uwagę przede wszystkim wzrost, budowę i ogólną
kondycję obiektu.
„Jak jest scupiy, to lichy, to licho nadziejo w nim.
Najlepsy, najsyKowniejsy chłop, to taki średni (nie
wysoki), mocny. I kobieta tak samo, jak zdrowa, to
fajna". (Apolinary Waśkiewicz).
„Chude, wysokie ludzie to mi się nie podobają,
bo mają wygląd niezdrowego, nie zdatnego do roboty.
Na tłustego to bym stale patrzyła, bo tłusty to zdro­
wy, ładny. Jek cłowiek zdrowy, to cerwony, cerzysty,
taki prętki do wszystkiego". (Stanisława Olender).
„Przychodzili do mnie takie scupłe, rosłe chłopy,
to nie chciałam z nimi gadać. As przyset taki jeden
karcysty, cerwuny kark równo z włosami, mocny
seroki, to se pomyślałam dobry do gospodarki i do
pokazania ludziom". (Ewa Rydel).
„Mocno duze ludzie mi się nie podobają, takie
bociany. Średnie to mi się podobają, takie zgrabne,
tłuste. A chudy to ciemięga, to as zygać się chce.
Ale za tłusty, to tes nie ładny, jek by się na korycie
upas. Lubię patrzyć na takich prętkich, co chyżo się
rusają". (Anna Kordecka).
„Chudych to nienazidze, a tęgich, tłustych, to ja
tes nienazidze. Ja tych kadłubów nienazidze, bo jek
umrą, to śmerdzą i za życia śmerdzą. Te to do zwieziny podobne. Ja to tak jem, zeby jak najmniej
śmerdzieć jek umrę. Najpiękniejse, to takie są l u ­
dzie, me za duze ale i nie małe, bo ich nie zidać,
dobrze rozrośnięte, mocne, silne". (Rozalia Skrodzka).
Obraz ideału urodziwego człowieka rysuje się we
wszystkich wypowiedziach bardzo podobnie. Jest to
osobnik, który swoją budową, ogólną kondycją gwa­
rantuje pełne przygotowanie do ciężkiej pracy fizycz­
nej, tewne różnice zdań co do tego, czy jest nim
osobnik bardziej niż dobrze, czy tylko dobrze odży­
wiony, nie mają większego znaczenia wobec jedno­
myślności, iż nie jest nim na pewno osoba szczupła —
wysoka. Przy takim stanowisku zrozumiały staje się
w wypowiedziach brak jakiegokolwiek ustosunkowa­
nia się wobec poszczególnych części ciała, stopnia har­
monii i regularności budowy. Określona wielkość
i forma głowy, kształt dłoni i nóg nie stanowią dla
informatorów warunku piękna. Sporo natomiast uwagi
poświęcają oni cerze, znajdując w niej odbicie stanu
zdrowia.
Jakie jeszcze szczegóły w wyglądzie fizycznym
człowieka stanowią przedmiot estetycznych doznań —
wspomniałem już wcześniej. Są to barwa włosów
i oczu.
„Cyganów, carnych to nienazidze. Najpiękniejse
to takie, co włosy mają jasne i ocy jasne. A bure,
ciemne, to nie lubzie. Żielune to najgorse. Kot ma
ci zielune, to zdradliwe, to do nicego". (Antonina
Cicha).
„Podobają mi się mocno ocy niebzieskie. Carne
i sare nie, a juz kocie, to nie doj Boże, najgorse, fałsywe. Ciemne blondyny i satyny, to ładne, a ryzi
i ciorne takie kruki, to śkaradztwo. Ryzi to fałsywi,
a ciorny, to jekby się ufarbował na pokaz". (Józef
Slachetka).
„Jek okrągła buzia, jasne włosy i niebieskie ocy,
to sykowny. Cyganiaste, to mi się nie podobają".
(Franciszka Zisk).
38

„Puszczanie przy jednakowym z ogółem Pola­
ków Królestwa wzroście i siągu, jednakowych wy­
miarach obwcdu i długości głowy oraz jednakowych
najczęściej spotykanych wymiarach szerokości głowy,
a także jednakowej odsetce barw włosów, a więc
o włosach najczęściej szatynowych, wyróżniają się
największą odsetką oczu jasnych, największą ilością

„Mnie się spodobują ludzie jasne, coby ocy,i włosy •
nieii jasne. Ale takie całkiem jasne to juz me, a cerwune, takie ryzie, to jesce gorse, to niedobre takie
ludzie, chytre, mściwe, taki, to gotów cłowieka zabić".
(Marianna Bardyga).
Tak więc równ.eż w stosunku do tych drobnych
szczegółów urody ludzkiej informatorzy zajmują
ściśle określone stanowisko, nie różniąc się w wyma­
ganiach, jednakowo żywo wyrażając swój stosunek
do cech, które uznają i które budzą w nich sprzeciw.
Podobnie jak w ocenach piękna zwierząt domo­
wych, tak i tych dotyczących człowieka nie udało mi
się stwierdzić różniących się zasadniczo postaw. To­
warzysząca im kategoryczność wyrażania sądów każe
zastanowić się nad tym jak bardzo silne musiało być
oddziaływanie czynników sprawczych. Można dopa­
trywać się ich przede wszystkim w ciężkich warun­
kach bytu okresu, kiedy kształtowały się poglądy
starszego pokolenia Kurpiów, a także w izolacji społeczno-kulturalnej tego rejonu k r a j u .
Na tej bardzo pobieżnej charakterystyce poglądów
na piękno fizyczne człowieka można skończyć oma­
wianie zgromadzonego materiału. Pozostaje tylko
samo uporządkowanie tych wszystkich uwag, które
nasunęiy się w toku przeprowadzonego wywodu.
Przeżycia estetyczne starszego pokolenia Kurpiów
wiążą się z odczuwaniem uroków tych wartości świata
przyrody, które mają materialne lub społeczne uza­
sadnienie w bytowaniu chłopa względnie też jakieś
racje w jego wierzeniach. U człowieka cechami taki­
mi są przede wszystkim — przystosowanie do cięż­
kiej pracy fizycznej i łatwość współżycia grupowego,
u koni — głównie zdolności pociągowe, u bydła, po­
dobnie jak u ryb, przede wszystkim zalety spożyw­
cze, u niektórych owadów (pszczół, trzmieli), niektó­
rych ptaków, a także roślin — pożyteczność dla gos­
podarstwa, w krajobrazie — żyzność gleby, łatwość
eksploatacji (np. brak nierówności terenowych) oraz
stopień zagospodarowania, wreszcie, jeśli chodzi
o pory dnia i roku — przede wszystkim wpływ na
ożywienie w przyrodzie oraz na stan wyższej spraw­
ności fizycznej człowieka. Nawet piękno kwiatów oce­
niane bywa przez to w jakiej mierze świadczą one
o gospodarności i pozycji hodującego ich cziowieka.
Przyjmowanie za miernik piękna realnej wartości
przedmiotów czy zjawisk przyrody stanowi w egzy­
stencji chłopa-rolnika dominujące kryterium oceny
estetycznej; dotyczy to wszystkich bez wyjątku jed­
nostek, które zostały objęte badaniem. Takie stano­
wisko wyzwala oczywiście kategoryczność estetycz­
nych sądów, osłabia wszelkie wahanie czy niezdecy­
dowanie w wyznaczaniu rzeczy brzydkich, prowadzi
do zakreślenia pięknu w przyrodzie wąskich granic.
Są wypadki, że uroki pór roku i dnia, następnie
krajobrazu oraz flory i fauny spotykają się z bar­
dziej elastycznym osadem. Można by powiedzieć, iż
piękno tych dziedzin świata przyrody, od których
uzależnienie bytu chłopa nie jest obecnie ściśle uza­
leżnione lub które nie są przedmiotem stałych trosk
czy zabiegów gospodarczych (z przyczyn nieraz zu­
pełnie obiektywnych) — wyzwalają bardziej złożone
doznania estetyczne. W odniesieniu do tej sfery pięk­
na w przyrodzie można więc mówić o pewnym, nie­
raz zasadniczym, zróżnicowaniu poglądów estetycz­
nych interesującego nas środowiska. Natomiast piękno
tych dziedzin przyrody, wobec których człowiek na
wsi czyni stałe starania gospodarcze, względnie na
których zmuszony jest skupiać stale uwagę, czerpiąc
z nich korzyści — a więc przede wszystkim piękno
38

osobników miernego czyli średniego wzrostu. Puszcza­
nie wyróżniają się wśród Polaków największym sto­
sunkowo do swego wzrostu tułowiem, najkrótszymi
nogami i długiemi rękami, odpowiadając pod tym
względem typowi ludności ciężko pracującej". A. Maciesza, op. cit., s. 54.

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