At times, the Kalevala has been suggested as reflecting shamanism of the ancient Finns, but Frog, a research fellow at the University of Helsinki, disputes that, since the Kalevala, while based in oral tradition was also a creation of author Elias Lonnröt, with many sources of inspiration coming from outside Finland’s borders. Frog’s lecture will look in different ways at the work’s relationship to oral tradition, and the mythology behind the poetry, and discuss “shamanism” in this context vis-a-vis what is seen in indigenous cultures.

Note that this lecture is Saturday January 16 at 11am, a different day and time than FACA’s usual programming.