This project problematises and explores the questions of culture, ethnicity and identity in the Baltic Sea area between 1860 and 1950. The approach is interdisciplinary, combining history, gender, religion, and media studies. The focus is on the emotional and ritualistic aspects of identity construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Max Weber\u2019s classical analysis, modern times are characterized by a tendency towards \u201ddisenchantment\u201d. But the era and world described by Weber were simultaneously hotbeds of strong emotions: the hope and anger of revolutionaries, the passionate fight for women\u2019s rights, the aggressive jingoism of nationalists and the religious flare-up of revivalism. Modern human identities are not only \u2013 or even primarily \u2013 characterized by rationality. They are also rooted in the irrational, magical, and enchanted. In short, we argue that the modern world was, and remains, as much enchanted as disenchanted. This is, in fact, the focus of the project \u201cenchanted identities\u201d. Four sub-projects each use case studies from the Baltic Sea region to look at how identities are \u201cenchanted\u201d \u2013 through ritual, festival and spectacle; and through feelings and bodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We are interested, of course, in symbols and discourse; but we are also intrigued by the structures of feelings that are integral to identity expression and formation, and which should be found in festivals, rituals, symbols, gestures, clothing, discourse and public myths. These expressions, recoverable through letters, diaries, photographs, newspapers, posters, literature and interviews, constitute the source-material for our studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When finished, the project researcher should be able to present linked case studies which will demonstrate the role of emotions in \u201cenchanting\u201d identities \u2013 that is, investing certain identities with magic, force and charm, the \u201callure\u201d that has encouraged people to live, work, die and kill for their identities around the Baltic Sea.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-484","project","type-project","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n