Belief Tales: A Call for Cooperation

Belief tales (“belief tales” like “folk tales,” “fairy tales,” “trickster tales,” “tall tales”) form a significant part of narrative folklore. We call those of us who are interested in delving into the secrets of these tales to join the group: we intend to come together for our mutual benefit.

Interested folklorists please write to: isfnr.beliefstory@gmail.com.

Description of intentions

Genres: Legend (= legend of the sacred), daimonon (= demonic legend), magikon (daimonon on magic actions), urban belief tales (= urban / modern legends) and other genres of belief tales.

Aspects: As the work is a unity, with several aspects, all aspects of the tales should be included: (1) historical, comparative; (2) classification and cataloguing; (3) literary-semiotic; (4) sociological, (uses, performance, functions); (5) psychological and socio- psychological (uses, functions); etc.

Activities: An electronic “Newsletter” will be issued, available to everybody, on the ISFNR web site (http://www.ut.ee/isfnr). It could publicise a current bibliography (annotated); descriptions of work-in-progress and projects; information on meetings and teaching; calls for cooperation and help; etc.

Finances: At the moment, all the work is being done on a voluntary basis. For the future, members are called on to be inventive.

Early responses would be very welcome, in order to plan a first meeting at the next ISFNR congress (Athens, June 21-27, 2009).

Gillian Bennett (England)

Kishore Bhattacharjee (India)

Lina Bu-giene. (Lithuania)

Isabel Cardigos (Portugal)

Irma-Riitta Järvinen (Finland)

Heda Jason (Israel)

Eda Kalmre (Estonia)

Zoja Karanovic (Serbia)

Vera Kuznetsova (Russia)

Ulf Palmenfelt (Sweden)

Paul Smith (Canada)

Timothy Tangherlini (USA)

Ülo Valk (Estonia)