Talk by Professor Rahilya Geybullayeva, Head of Azerbaijani Literature Department, Baku Slavic University, 'Rules to follow in contemporary Azerbaijani society in the mirror of medieval behavioural patterns (in Kitabi Dede Gorgud)'

Professor Rahilya Geybullayeva will give a talk on 

'Rules to follow in contemporary Azerbaijani society in the mirror of  medieval behavioural patterns (in Kitabi Dede Gorgud)' 

Abstract: The aim of this presentation is to trace links of modern-day Azerbaijanis’ rules to follow and their relation to the medieval period. What were the social and cultural models or behavioural models of modern peoples in the Middle Ages? For example, how did projected to present day such rules as the covering of the head and hicab, the role of a woman in society, namaz and wine in Islamic poetry and in the sacred book, and whether they were observed several centuries ago, and if so, how?

 The argument comes from case studies - my and my generation’s life experience from Soviet period and after collapsing of the country, when we were spectators or eyewitnesses how some of the abovementioned rules changes just during ten-fifteen years, even accepted as primordial. This means that contemporary people have shaped societies with distinct social attitudes and behavioural norms for regulation of communication through centuries. Each period had imposed new features onto already excited rules, changing some interpretations in a renewal context, recycling cultures; some rules are forgotten, still being interpreted as stable, authentic.To learn more about changing interpretations of the “authentic” social rules and models this research is based on the medieval (XVI century) literary text, which is one of the sources for understanding the culture of peoples. What rules should be followed, behavioural models of the people can be identified through a literary text.  

Biography:

Rahilya Geybullayeva graduated from Azerbaijan State Pedagogical Institute of Russian Language and Literature, master degree diploma (with Leninskaya stipendia  - as Magna Cum Laude) in 1981, Baku, and received  PhD from Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov  (Theory of Literature), 1989, Moscow, and doctor nauk (Dr. Habil.) from Literary Institute named after Nizami, Azerbaijan National  Academy of Sciences in 2004 (Theory of Literature, Azerbaijani Literature), and full prof. since the 2008 year. She is an author of more than 100 researchers (papers, monographs, textbooks, conference and workshop concepts).

Her research interests focus on cultural matrix, social and cognitive anthropology through literary text, identity and "nationality" of cultural artefacts.

 She is the Head of Azerbaijani Literature Department,  Baku Slavic University  (since 2005) and founded Azerbaijan Comparative Literature Association in 2005. R. Geybullayeva is the lecturer on Azerbaijani Literature; Comparative Literature and Comparative Culture;  Lecturer on Azerbaijani Culture for expats. She was Adjunct Faculty at ADA University, Baku (since 2012).

Dr.Geybullayeva was visiting professor at SOAS, London University  (UNESCO grant for  Intercultural Dialogue Regular Programme); and at the Comparative Literature Department, University of Wisconsin -Madison, USA (for project “Conception of National Literature”) with Fulbright grant; The Berkeley Program in Eurasian and East European Studies (BPS) University of California, Berkeley (Field Development project on “Cross-disciplinary social sciences and methodology and theory) covered by Carnegie grant.