The Word „master/Master” Sounds Strange…

Iwona Kabzińska

doi:10.18778/2450-4491.08.11

Authors

Iwona Kabzińska Polish Academy of Science in Warsaw, Department of Archeology and Ethnology https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7709-9999

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/2450-4491.08.11

Keywords:

teacher, master, searching, relationship teacher/master – apprentice

Abstract

The author avoids using the term master/Master, instead referring to the concept of a Teacher when describing the people who played a significant role in her life and who are the main protagonists of this article. These people are the Professors Anna Kutrzeba-Pojnarowa and Witold Dynowski, ethnologists, excellent lecturers and researchers; and also people full of passion, respect for the achievements of other scholars, fascinated with the history of the discipline they represent and the interrelation of “macro” and “micro” history. First and foremost, they are great PEOPLE. Reminiscing about encounters with them, the author presents the model relationship between a teacher and a pupil, close to her, which is not limited to passing knowledge. The relationship is based on kindness, openness to others, and motivating them to overcome their limitations, fears and difficulties. The skills of noticing the potential of others, encouraging them to develop, acceptance, keeping one’s spirits up, support and co-existence should also be mentioned.

Another person who also played the role of Teacher, although she has never been designated as such by the author, is her Grandmother Janina Orzechowska.

She was the one who shaped the author’s attitudes to life, her way of looking at other people, her passions and ways of being. She was the person whose selfless love expressed by her behavior, gestures and looks accompanied the author from an early age.

The motif of the relationship is very explicit in the text. The author emphasizes that relationships are not always joyful and constructive. Sometimes they clip one’s wings, they hurt and take away the light. Relationships which are beautiful in the beginning can also change under the influence of an illness, of one person affecting the others. The author describes changes like that via the example of the relationship with someone who appears in the text as the anonymous Teacher. It was a person from whom the author received a bitter lesson in life, far from fairy tales with a happy end.

Author Biography

Iwona Kabzińska, Polish Academy of Science in Warsaw, Department of Archeology and Ethnology

Kabzińska Iwona – professor at the Polish Academy of Science Institute of Archeology and Ethnology. She is interested in people, interpersonal relationships, conditions influencing human life and the biographical perspective. She is especially close to hypersensitive people whom she regards as representatives of a cultural minority. She also writes about the changes that affect the degradation of the natural environment.

References

Andersen H. Ch. (2008) Baśnie, transl. by S. Beylin, H. Gordziej, Poznań, Oficyna Wydawnicza G & P.
Google Scholar

Bach R. (2003) Seagull. A Story, London, Harper Collins.
Google Scholar

Biernacka M. (1993) Anna Kutrzeba-Pojnarowa (1913–1993), “Etnografia Polska” XXXVII: 5–17.
Google Scholar

Biernacka M., Kopczyńska-Jaworska B., Kutrzeba-Pojnarowa A., Paprocka W. (Eds.) (1976–1981) Etnografia Polski. Przemiany kultury ludowej, vol. 1–2, Wrocław– Warszawa, Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich, Instytut Historii Kultury Materialnej PAN.
Google Scholar

Burchard P. (1985) Za ostatnim przystankiem, Warszawa, Czytelnik.
Google Scholar

de Mello A. (1992) Awareness, New York, Doubleday.
Google Scholar

de Saint-Exupéry A. (2000) The Little Prince, transl. by R. Howard, Boston, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Google Scholar

Dynowski W. (1963) Współczesna Mongolia, Wrocław, Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich.
Google Scholar

Kozłowski R. (2008) Wewnętrzny nauczyciel człowieka. Eseje z teologii egzystencjalnej, Warszawa, Eneteia. Wydawnictwo Psychologii i Kultury.
Google Scholar

Kutrzeba-Pojnarowa A. (1976) Kultura ludowa w dotychczasowych polskich pracach etnograficznych in: Etnografia Polski. Przemiany kultury ludowej, vol. 1, M. Biernacka and others (Eds.), Wrocław–Warszawa, Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich, Instytut Historii Kultury Materialnej PAN: 19–57.
Google Scholar

Kutrzeba-Pojnarowa, A. (1977) Kultura ludowa i jej badacze. Mit i rzeczywistość, Warszawa, Ludowa Spółdzielnia Wydawnicza.
Google Scholar

Kutrzeba-Pojnarowa, A. (1988) Trześniów. Tradycyjna kultura chłopska i kierunki przemian (refleksje etnografa), Brzozów, Muzeum Regionalne PTTK w Brzozowie.
Google Scholar

Sokolewicz Z. (1987) Witold Dynowski (23.08.1903–31.07.1986). Profesor etnografii Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego, założyciel i naczelny redaktor „Etnografii Polskiej”, “Etnografia Polska” XXXI: 13–17.
Google Scholar

Tokarski J. (Ed.) (1980) Słownik wyrazów obcych PWN, Warszawa, Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe.
Google Scholar

Zafón C. R. (2004) The Shadow of the Wind, transl. by L. Graves, New York, The Penguin Press.
Google Scholar