Известия Уральского федерального университета. Серия 2: Гуманитарные науки (Oct 2015)
Finno-Ugric Population of Northern Russia: The View of a Russian Ethnographer (Based on S. V. Maksimov's A Year in the North)
Abstract
Nineteenth century Russian "mass" essays on ethnography produced a new language, combining scientific narrative and entertaining presentation. Maksimov’s A Year in the North became one of the first examples of this new style of ethnography. Maksimov creates images of the indigenous population of northern Russia (Samoyeds, Sami, Karelians, Komi-Zyryans) revealing a leading colonial discourse and "evolutionary ladder" of people. The major steps of this "evolutionary ladder" are the first and last ones (i.e. those of Samoyeds and Zyryans). The author maintains that the artistry of this text does not distort the ethnographic discourse but, on the contrary, enriches it and serves as a "counterweight" to the author's concept.
