Epic heritage of Khakas as a resource of ethnic development: problems of revitalization

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to analyze the philosophical and sociological aspects of the process of revitalization of epic culture in its entirety and completeness. The theoretical analysis of epic culture as a system is supplemented by the results of a sociological study of the problems of the most complex and unpredictable process of revitalization of the Khakas epic tradition.

To reveal the topic, the authors used a system-functional method, the essence of which is to consider the epic culture as a system, each component of which has a specific purpose. The work focuses on identifying the functions of the epic in society, which determines the context in which the epic tradition is alive and plays an active role in society. To determine the problems and prospects of the revival of the Khakas epic culture, a semi-formalized survey of experts (performers, writers, musicians, actors, scientists – a total of 21 people) was conducted. The results of the included observation were also presented, especially since one of the authors (A. M. Tyulberova) is a performer of Khakas heroic legends.

In the work, epic culture as a system is represented in the unity of the core (value system), elements (authentic text, narrative gift, “understanding audience”), “protective belt” (traditions and canons of performance, the system of prohibitions, ritual practices that accompany acts of performing stories and etc.). The authors highlighted the main functions of the epic culture: ontological, axiological, aesthetic, sociological, ethical, environmental, reflective, communicative, existential and psychotherapeutic. The epic heritage, functioning in its entirety, contributed to the preservation and development of the ethnos in time and space.

An analysis of expert responses showed that in questions of the revival of epic culture, respondents were divided into two unequal groups. Most believe that the epic heritage should be revived as a sociocultural phenomenon by educational, cultural, media and other institutions. A few supporters of understanding epic culture as sacred activity are convinced that narrator should receive the right to perform epic works only from sacred ancestors, and the action itself always sacred.

Further research requires the definition of actors, mechanisms and means of revitalizing epic culture as a resource for the self-development of an ethnic group.

Acknowledgments: The study was carried out as part of the RFBR project No. 19-011-00365 “Problems of the effective use of human capital: regional dimension”

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