The Aspects of Latvian Traditional Culture and Multiculturalism in the Acquiring of Textile Technologies

Under development of globalization, there is an essential question in each field of education regarding balance of traditional Latvian cultural values and multiculturalism. Despite plenty of activities performed in Latvia in the field of multicultural education, in the subject of home economics and technologies the multicultural education has mostly appeared as bilingual education in national minority schools. There are many opportunities in multicultural education and Latvian traditional culture that have not been used in the acquisition of home economics and technologies. The aim of this research is to evaluate the educational opportunities of Latvian traditional culture and multicultural education during the process of mastering textile technologies. In the article conception of Latvian traditional culture and multicultural education is analysed and its determinative aspects are examined. A case study has been performed in order to analyse and evaluate the content of textile study course and the learning process as well as students’ concluding tasks regarding teaching methodology of textile and textile articles made by pupils within the frame of State Olympiad of household, home economics and technologies called “Ethnography”. In all courses designed for the prospective teachers of home economics and technologies as well as household elements of traditional and multicultural education are included. When acquiring traditional culture, textile techniques, forms and elements of composition, teaching of colours and materials, very often comparisons, illustrations and explanations in terms of traditional culture of other nations are used for comprehension of the subject. Specific tasks are made for acquiring culture of Latvia and other nations. Students make copies of fragments of completed articles and learn the technologies of making traditional articles. Several students in their graduation papers have studied the opportunities of acquiring traditional values of Latvian and other nationalities’ cultures in studies of home economics and technologies. The analysis of works completed in the Olympiad „Ethnography” shows that students make varied creative compositions, using ethnographic symbols as source of inspiration, and implement them in various textile techniques. At the end of the article proposals and conclusions regarding development of Latvian traditional culture and multicultural education studies for the prospective teachers of home economics and technologies are drawn. It is necessary to improve the content of home economics and technologies’ subject as well as the methodological approach in order to implement both traditional and multicultural education in schools and high-schools in the studies of the prospective teachers of home economics and technologies

Contraverse în conduita sarcinii şi naşterii gemelare

Sarcina multiplă întotdeauna a fost încadrată în categoria sarcinilor cu risc crescut, datorită multitudinii de complicaţii ce o însoţesc, ea este cu atât mai actuală, cu cât incidenţa sarcinilor multiple creşte de la an la an, nu în ultimul rând datorită aplicării metodelor de reproducere asistată. Articolul prezentat are la bază rezultatele unui studiu clinic, precum şi date recente de literatură şi abordează contraversele apărute în conduita sarcinii şi naşterii multiple

The Dialogue Science and Religion: Elements of Matter and Form

The article deals with interpretations of Christian dogmas and myths, also expounding the psycho-emotional interpretation of the selective result of apocalypse. The author also outlines the criteria of verity and value of Christian dogmas in nowadays society and science. In the article it is tried to find out the cause of specific content of myths. Zinātnes un reliģijas dialogs: formas un satura elementi. Rakstā apskatīti kristietības dogmu jeb mītu zinātniskās interpretācijas mēģinājumi, tai skaitā apokalipses selektīvo rezultātu psihoemocionālā interpretācija. Ieskicēti kristietības dogmu (mītu) patiesības un vērtības kritēriji mūsdienu sabiedrībā un zinātnē. Mēģināts noskaidrot mītu specifisko saturu rašanās cēloņus

VISUAL COMMUNICATION GRAPHIC GUIDANCE’S CONTENT OF SPECIAL ARTISTRY STYLE CREATION FOR YOUNG RHYTHMIC GYMNASTS

The artistic evaluation of the competitive composition has a significant effect on the final result in rhythmic gymnastics. An important criterion of artistry is the ability of gymnasts to prove the idea and image of music-accompanied composition dynamically and emotionally. Thus, special artistry like imagery and its style is one of the determining tools for making an aesthetic impression, which accordingly affects the subjective evaluation of the composition. Considering the early specialization in rhythmic gymnastics, it is necessary to develop imagery of gymnasts already at the initial preparatory stage by using visual communication metaphoric graphic guidance. The aim of the research is to create a content of visual communication graphic guidance to develop the perception of special artistry styles for young rhythmic gymnasts (ages 4-6). To achieve the research goal scientific and specialized literature analysis and modelling methods were used. The graphic guidance was developed according to each style of special artistry, based on the visual communication design principles, illustrating the styles in the form of age-appropriate metaphors symbolized by animals, flowers, the environment, and other elements. In total, the content of 32 visual communication graphic guidance was developed.

MYTHICAL TIME AND SPACE IN THE POETRY OF ULDIS BĒRZIŅŠ

One article describes the writings of Uldis Bērziņš, one of the most prominent Latvian poets and translators (and also a dissident) who made his debut in the 1960s. It focuses on the aspect of time and space. The 20th century is a time of re-evaluation of values and of a search for new ways of self-expression. Entrenched mythical notions experience transformation and renaissance. Hystorical myths as a source of instigation for Latvian literature (also in folklore) reach their climax in the 1920-40s and 1960-80s, i.e. in a period when problems of ethnic identity were emphasized more than ever. Uldis Bērziņš in his poetry successfully blends trends of modernism (and some of postmodernism) with mythical reality. He thereby refreshes the message of Latvian life, as well as reinforces particular trends common for whole humankind, which the author accomplishes with the help of cultural signs densely introduced into the texts. The objective of the paper is therefore to identify and emphasize dominant details of mythical time and space in the following anthologies by the Uldis Bērziņš: „Piemineklis kazai” („A Goat’s Monument”, 1980), „Poētisms baltkrievs” („The Poetism Belarussian”, 1984), „Nenotikuši atentāti” („Assassinations which never took place”, 1990), „Laiks” („Time”, together with Juris Kronbergs, 1994) and „Nozagti velosipēdi” („Stolen bicycles”, 1999). For the more detailed description of the peculiarities of the author’s works and for understanding the connection between the linguistic elements and the ethnical specifics of thinking, it was decided to use methods which are new to Latvian literary theory and are not so commonly referred to. Namely, a philological method was used for the in-depth text analysis (Николина 2007), and a linguo-culturological one for researching the connection of language and culture (Хороленко 2006). Speaking about U. Bērziņš’ notion of mythical time and space, it is referred to as an „eternal now” situation, which also includes details of historical and psychological time and space. However, mythical time and space is dominant: texts of the poems contain a very dense layer of mythologems (Odin, Odysseus, Thor), images (trees, mountains, wheels) and mythical concepts. This layer very often merges with the layers of folklore and religion which are introduced into the texts by means of stylization and reminiscences or allusions. The paper is organized according to the three dominant features of myths in the texts of Uldis Bērziņš – dichotomy, cyclicity, and syncretism. These are revealed with the help of particularly rich micro details and cultural signs and the transformation of folklore motives. Dichotomy as a disclosure of two aspects of one whole is carried out in the artistic space within the oppositions here and there, on the top and on the bottom, center and periphery, or insider and alien. These are characterized by symbolic notions of a mountain or a bridge, images of Riga and the Daugava, as well as the introduction of a mediator (a goat, bird or a ghost), which reach over the borders of time and space. Thereby the poet emphasizes fundamental ontological aspects which are concentrated in the semantic meanings of the notions of time, eternity and lifetime. In turn, by means of linguistic elements (not only semes, but also syntactical structure and pragmatic elements) Uldis Bērziņš pays attention to the multifunctionality and uniqueness of a language, and is trying to reach the level of a parent language. Within these dichotomies, the images, motives and signs also actualize a historic time and space. Thereby, a background for the disclosure of subtextual layers is organized, and simultaneously a point of view for several artistic chronotopes is expressed, which is interpreted as a symbiotic process in the poetry of Uldis Bērziņš. The search of oneself in the context of eternity is expressed with the help of the cyclicity principle. This is at the same time a tool for the illustration of different time spaces, which creates a synthesized model of an artistic world with a polyphony of linguistic elements. The cyclicity indicators in the poetry of Uldis Bērziņš are the images of a wheel, mill, and ball, as well as the interaction of the change of cycles of nature and human life. Special attention is paid to the points of intersection of time, thereby marking the Latvian year and the course of human life. In addition, the acknowledgment that the cycle is never-ending and repetitive, makes us look for interconnections with the philosophy of existentialism and a possible fulfillment of the meaning of life. Syncretism, on the contrary, as a combination of several different traditions, allows Uldis Bērziņš to emphasize features of cultural, linguistic and ethnic identity. In the united whole, i.e. in the interpretations of a sign, motive, image or myth, there is an accumulation of a few notions that create a peculiar effect of surrealism in a poetic text. For Bērziņš, syncretism is discovered in an image of a city, a sound, personal names (Peteris, Juris), religious characters (Jesus Christ, Krishna), and myths of the creation of the world. To find features of syncretism in a text, a reader does not only have to have some knowledge of mythology, religion, or culturology, but also needs associative thinking, since the poet often plays with phonemes and facts by linking them in rhythmically symbolic combinations. To sum up Uldis Bērziņš’ notions of mythical time and space, it can be concluded that the poet successfully uses the means of language, its meanings, its peculiar functions and associative nets in order to create a synthesized model of the mythical, historical, and psychological time space. This requires additional attention from a reader, because each poem is a subtextually dense discloser of a cultural heritage and an indicator of the search of oneself

Aspects of personality’s value education in the life story of Jānis Mencis, Sr.

In a democratic society humane personality is the highest value. That is as well the overall aim of upbringing. At different ages diverse priorities put themselves out. What are the contemporary priorities in value education and how to realise them? In order to find motive for the task of upbringing in school, we shall analyse the experience of previous generations. The aim of the article: to find out the cognitions in value education by the distinguished teacher Janis Mencis (1914-2011) that could prove useful to contemporary teachers in teaching to children love towards their motherland, its history and culture. As it is well known, the best means for upbringing is authority, inspiring model whom to resemble and love. Likewise contemporary teachers have the necessity to become educators whom children and teenagers would like to imitate. Personality of Janis Mencis (Sr.) is the paragon of several generations of whose experience we can learn

CREATIVITY OF CONTEMPORARY DIEVTURI GROUPS AS A CULTURAL POLITICAL DISCOURSE

Dievturība (dievturi - "God keepers", "people who live in harmony with God") is a newly created religious tradition having appeared in the second part of the 1920s – 1930s, its most essential source includes materials of Latvian folklore and folk traditions. These are interpreted by construing a religious ethical theory and creating a religion which is alternative to Christianity, with its own doctrine and rituals, and the conception of Latvianness in culture and politics. Latvianness is the most essential concept of cultural politics to which all activities of the dievturi are subjected (exaltation, family celebrations (krustabas, vedības (marriage), bedības (funeral)) as well as seasonal rituals, cultural historical excursions, tidying and spiritual restoration of the sacral sites (sacred places, castle mounds), folklore activities, article publications in mass media, summer thematic camps in the countryside marked by intensive mastering and cultivation of history and culture, celebration of Latvian public holidays and the most important remembrance days. Contemporary dievturi groups are seeking for new ideas in order to develop and popularize their conceptions, which can partly be characterized as a cultural political programme for theoretical (doctrine) and practical (exaltations, ceremonies, seasonal rituals) realization of Latvianness and its components. Within this publication, creativity means the system of ideas and values that promotes the development and perspectives of dievturi groups as well as includes them into a wider cultural political environment thus performing a culture-creating job. A special attention is paid to the essential ideas and values guiding the creativity of contemporary Latvian dievturi groups, making ample use of storyteller habitus, thus intentionally allowing the domination of group participant discourse. The two main directions of dievturi group participant creativity are the development of their doctrine (teaching) and the ritual practice (exaltations). These directions allow to attract wide attention of the society and mass media, new participants and supporters, to influence the political and cultural processes in Latvia. An important part in the doctrinal reflections of the dievturi, especially in the ritual practice (exaltations), has always been taken by Latvian literature writings. A selective choice of these supplement the textual canon of the dievturi continuing the tradition in line with “the mood of Latvian folk songs” and attributing a more modern shape and world outlook concepts to dievturi undertakings. The aim of an exaltation is always associated with the main cultural political concept of the dievturi – Latvianness, namely, to make Latvianness more active, to offer an opportunity to approach Latvianness, make efforts for deeper comprehension of it, being aware and living through it, although thematically it may be dedicated to separate components of Latvianness (people, land, language, God, Māra, Laima, work, virtues, human life, and the like). Also, the most essential ideas and values of dievturība – gender equality, domesticity, antiglobalism, ecology, traditional marriage formula, life style and appearance, environment (for example, use of Latvian language), music, art and literature priorities (classical and/or national music, use of local building materials and ornaments (all ornaments have been observed in Latvia’s nature), writers, poets and playwrights who most precisely depict the “Latvian spirit” – derive from folk songs and the cultural concepts deriving thereof. Activity in the field of Latvianness (ethnicity conception) is in accord with the activity in favour of the future of the Latvian people, symbolical non-forgetting of culture correspond to generating of culture. This attributes a political and social dimension to the cultural activity of dievturi. Dievturība does not perform an official cultural politics of cultural values, heritage, traditions etc., this is a task for politicians; however, it is at least a marginal participant of the cultural political sphere. Placing ethnicity, or the Latvian discourse, at the centre of cultural politics encompasses the range of further impact when the seeming encapsulation within the margins of culture are replaced by reflections on Latvian economy, guidelines in education and science, health care system, axiological juxtaposition of the countryside and city. Also, the evaluation and criticism of the activity of the Christian Church by the dievturi is connected with the conception of Latvianness. Dievturi strongly disclaim Christianity and any chance of mutual cooperation (and also vice versa), protest against its monopoly position in Latvian society, consider Christianity a historically alien religion having been forced upon Latvians and demanding the status of a traditional religion in Latvia also for dievturība including, for example, the right to wed, to celebrate religious festivals. The results of field research do not allow to speak about dievturība today as a strong and united manifestation of Latvian religious experience and way of life. Rather, it is possible to register (after the decline of the movement at the end of the 1990s and at the beginning of the 2000s) a quite consistent and sufficiently active revival which is connected with the appearance of new persons and creative ideas among Latvian dievturi. The future events depend on the fact whether dievturi themselves would be able to solve the protracted inner inconsistencies and find a uniting grounds for further development of the movement. The article is based on the study results obtained during the 2006–2008 field research carried out in dievturi groups (interviews with group leaders, participants and individual representatives, transcripts of audio and video materials). The study was carried out with the financial support of the project “Society and lifestyles” and using its accepted methods – ethnographic description, semi-structured interviews and methods of visual anthropology (photography, filming) and instructions by the Ethical Commission (for example use of assumed names for storytellers)