Paper short abstract:

The cultural boundary between “locals” and “non-locals” exists in the outlying district of Vilnius. People, who belong to different generations, have a different attitude towards this cultural boundary. During my presentation, I would like to discuss in detail how this division between “locals” and “non-locals” is maintained and the origin of it.

Paper long abstract:

his presentation is based on ethnographical data, which I have acquired during my field research in the Vilnius area. Some of the people there (mostly local Poles) identify themselves as “locals” (in Polish “tutejszy”). They claim that a person can be recognised as a local, only if his parents and grandparents lived in the Vilnius area. They refer to the tombstones with polish engravings on them in a local cemetery, buildings in the Vilnius area designed by Polish architects. The houses and the monuments of the famous artists who lived and performed in the area are mentioned as well. These material objects in the city are presented as testimonials of deep polish roots in the area.

People feel a cultural boundary (to use Fredrik Barth (1969) term) between themselves and other people, who they call “non-locals”. “Non-locals” being people who moved to live in the Vilnius area some time ago and cannot relate to material past of the Vilnius area. The cultural boundary is maintained by communicating (among “locals”) narratives about certain differences between “locals” and “non-locals”.

People, who belong to different generations, have a different attitude towards this cultural boundary. This boundary is very important to the oldest generation (born right after W.W.II.). It is of lesser importance for the people born between 1960 and 1990. The youngest generation wants to challenge this division and abolish it.

During my presentation, I would like to discuss in detail this division between “locals” and “non-locals” and the origin of it.