Paper Short Abstract:

The analysis of "ethnographic" texts in late 18th- (Ljubljana) and early 19th-century (Klagenfurt) reveals two approaches: an ethnographic one, based on state science (Göttingen school), and a "folklore" approach, influenced by Herder's ideas.

Paper Abstract:

The analysis of "ethnographic" production in late 18th-century Ljubljana (Zois circle) and early 19th-century Klagenfurt (Carinthia circle) identifies key figures such as AT Linhart, B Hacquet, F Sartori, G Kumpf, and U Jarnik. Their work indicates two approaches: the first, "ethnographic", is rooted in state science (Göttingen school - Schlözer et al.), while the second, "folklore," is influenced by Herder's ideas on Slavic folk culture, informed by Karl Gottlob Anton.

The Imperial-Enlightenment tradition of F Müller and A Schlözer is reflected in Hacquet's "Abbildung und Beschreibung" (1801-1808) and Sartori's "Reise durch Steiermark, Kärnten, Krain und Küstenland" (1811), which document people's lives for governance purposes. Sartori noted, "The Empire cares little for the language spoken by its servants, as long as they serve it faithfully," highlighting a focus on administrative efficiency over cultural identity.

Linhart's descriptions of Slovenians and Kumpf's account of Carinthian cultural harmony prefigure later folklore approaches. Jarnik's "Andeutungen über Kärntens Germanisierung" (1826) examines ethnic and national cultural life, heritage, and identity formation. These works, while ethnographic, shift towards preserving ethnic cultural heritage and imperial loyalty. Early ethnographic practices employed various methodologies for imperial administration, scientific documentation, and cultural preservation, revealing the field's complex history.