Cultural Transmission in Polish and Jewish Families in Interwar Białystok
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/SPI.2025.3.002Keywords
Białystok, culture, cultural transmission, cultural capital, regional and intercultural education, intergenerational transmission of traditionAbstract
This article analyzes the mechanisms of cultural transmission in Polish and Jewish families living in interwar Białystok. It compares practices of transmitting tradition in both communities within the city’s multicultural context. The theoretical framework builds on Antonina Kłoskowska’s concepts of cultural transmission and Pierre Bourdieu’s notion of cultural capital. Methodologically, the study employs the biographical method based on thematic interviews conducted with thirty-seven respondents of Polish and Jewish origin born before World War II. The material was subjected to qualitative data analysis using coding procedures typical of grounded theory.The findings reveal the functioning of both “great traditions,” consciously transmitted through educational and religious institutions, and “small traditions,” unconsciously transmitted in everyday social life. The analysis confirms the crucial role of the family as the primary locus of religious and customary transmission, as well as the significance of urban space as a site of cultural integration. The conclusions point to the complexity of cultural transmission in a multicultural environment, where various mechanisms complemented one another to create a shared cultural heritage among Białystok residents that transcended ethnic and religious divisions. Research on cultural transmission in prewar Białystok families makes it possible to document the accounts of the last living witnesses, thereby creating a valuable archive for future generations. These findings can also serve as educational material supporting regional and intercultural education programs.
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