13th Congress of the International Society for Folk Narrative Research

Presentation Abstracts

PROFANTOVA, Zuzanna

European Cultural Adaptation or About the Place of Tradition in the Schizophrenia of Post-Totalitarian Cultures

In this paper we make the distinction between two kinds of incentives that set the adaptation processes in motion (change of international context and, at the same time, change in internal context), and two kinds of adapting entities (the state and society). In this connection there are four kinds of adaptation mechanisms: a) the state adapts itself to changes in the international context, b) the society adapts itself to changes resulting from a), c) the state adapts itself to changes in its internal social context, d) the society adapts itself to changes in the internal contexts in foreign states. Further, we identify three basic strategies of adaptation of the state and/or society to changes in the international context. 1) passive adaptation, 2) creative adaptation, 3) active adaptation. In these processes, tradition as the manifestation of cultural memory and specific national traditions concerned with the question of identity, play a significant role.

As post-modern society changes its hierarchy of values, culture, tradition and identity emerge as key factors in the adaptive processes of the state and societal groups.