Suullisen perinteen tekstualisaatio ja moderni kontekstualisaatio / The Textualization of Oral Tradition and its Modern Contextualization in Finland

The Textualization of Oral Tradition and its Modern Contextualization in Finland was a research project that aimed at advancing the study of oral tradition by problematizing the concept of textualization, and at producing new relevant research. The concept of textualization stands here for the written documentation of oral tradition and it is therefore a central tool in research into folk culture and its methodology. Instead of denoting sameness between oral and literary performances, the project’s basic tenet was that the documentation of oral tradition produces representations that purport to imitate the forms and contents of oral performances, but, at the same time, convey meanings that are embedded in the social, cultural, and ideological contexts of this modern practice. The project furthered its goal by constituting an active network and support group for four doctoral students writing their dissertations on closely interrelated issues.