Lud 1895 - A founding manifesto of Polish anthropology/ethnology/ethnography

Abstract

The importance of the first issue of Lud (1895) consisted in its character of a manifesto. It presented a proposal of ethnological research in Poland to be carried out in practice until the end of 1960s. At the same time it marked the beginning of more critical approach in the discipline, as well as the programme of social engagement of Polish intelligentsia in collecting information about the folk culture. In a country divided by the partitions of Poland between Russia, Prussia, Austria it was Lud that together with ZWAK and Wisła provided the intelligentsia educated in different foreign universities with a forum for exchange of thoughts and experiences, discussion of research, theory, new philosophy currents (evolutionism, the concept of primitive society), etc., preparing Polish scholars and intellectuals for taking part in debates within the international academic world. On the other hand, the form provided by Lud resulted instrumental for construction of one of the fundamental Polish national myths: the one of folk culture.