Singers of epic tales. Scenarios of gaining mastery
https://doi.org/10.28995/2686-7249-2023-4-100-116
Abstract
The article delves into the narratives of singers of tales and audiences, incorporating insights from researchers on the acquisition of the “epic gift” and the regulation of epic performance in a broad Euro-Asian context. The author distinguishes two narrative scenarios for the acquisition of the capacity to perform epics: the “vocation of the singer” and the “training of the narrator”. In the first scenario, narrators receive the epic gift through mythological initiation, such as from the heroes of tales via otherworldly encounters, dreams, or illnesses. In the second scenario, narrators are nurtured within the family of narrators, under the guidance of experienced narrators, as a result of selftraining, listening, or reading epic texts – thus try their hand and perform the epic for the audience. Such narrative scenarios complement each other, as a “vocation” often legitimizes a prolonged “training” and the formation of the singer of tales. Highlighted narrative scenarios are evident not only in traditional, but also in modern, urbanized societies, where the performance of epics is embedded into state and republican ideologies. That phenomenon can be best explained through James Scott’s concept of the state transforming social reality to better conform to bureaucratic optics and to be more manageable. However, the scenarios outlined in the article for the formation of the epic narrator in the 21st century have become a discursive form that bears little relation to the traditional training of narrators.
Supporting agencies: The article was prepared as part of the research work of the state assignment of the RANEPA.
About the Author
N. V. Petrov
Presidential Academy; Russian State University for the Humanities
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Nikita V. Petrov, Cand. of Sci. (Philology), associate professor
bld. 82, Vernadsky Av., Moscow, 119571
bld. 6, Miusskaya square, Moscow, 125047
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Review
For citations:
Petrov N.V. Singers of epic tales. Scenarios of gaining mastery. RSUH/RGGU Bulletin: “Literary Teory. Linguistics. Cultural Studies”, Series. 2023;(4):100-116. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.28995/2686-7249-2023-4-100-116
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