Zaiga Pleiko

From Tradition to Interpretation

In parallel with my studies in folklore and anthropology, I have been working for several years as an editor of the Digital Cabinet of Folksongs (Elektroniskais Dainu skapis) and as one of the compilers of the two most recent manuscripts of the academic publication Latvian Folk Songs (Latviešu tautasdziesmas). During this work, I developed an interest in contemporary interpretations of Latvian folk songs, which has resulted in publications and conference presentations on the representation of aggression, violence, and trauma in Latvian folk songs.

Throughout this research, questions concerning gender aspects in folk songs became increasingly relevant, leading to a deeper engagement with gender theories. I applied these theories in my master's thesis, where I explored the embodiment of the contemporary urban individual and its relationship to a public space structured by gender.