Janina KURSITE

Professor Janina KURSITE Leading Researcher, Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art University of Latvia, The Dean, Faculty of Philology Visvalza iela 4a Riga, LV 1050 Latvia Phone: +371 7225157; +371 7229908 Fax: +371 7141012 E-mail: kursite@hotmail.com

Born:  March 8, 1952, Daugavpils, Latvia

• Mythology of the Balts
• Folklore of the Indo-Europeans and Finno-Ugrians
• Poetics of Poetry
• National Identity and Literature
• Photography

Languages: Latvian, Russian, Estonian, English

• University of Tartu (Faculty of Philology) , Estonia, 1970 - 1975
• University of Latvia (Faculty of Philology), 1975 - 1976
• Dr. philol., (Candidate of Sciences in former USSR, Ph.D. in Western countries), Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art, Riga,1982
• Dr. habil. philol., Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art, Riga, 1993

• Head of the Department of the Theory and History of Culture; Academy of Culture (1994 - 1995)
• Vice Rector; Academy of Culture (1995 - 1997)
• Professor , University of Latvia, 1997-
• Dean, Faculty of Philology, University of Latvia, 1999 -.

• Corresponding Member, Latvian Academy of Sciences, 1994
• Full Member , Latvian Academy of Sciences, 1997
• Award of the Ministry of Culture, 1996
• Vilis Pludonis Prize in Literary Criticism, Latvian Academy of Sciences, 1998
• The Baltic Assembly Award, 1999

• Member, Latvian Writers Union,
• Member, Editorial Advisory Board of Journal “Letonica”, 1998
• Member, Latvian Council of Science Expert Committee for Folkloristics

Lectures

• Latvian Folklore and Literature, Visiting Lecturer, University of West Michigan,   University of Stokholm

• Latvian Folklore
• Mythology of the Balts
• Ugro - Finnish Folklore
• Folklore and Literature
• Theory of Literature
• Latvian Literature (1900- 1930 )

• Versification of Latvian Poetry at the Beginning of the 20th Century, 1988, Riga: Zinatne Press, (in Latvian).
• Poetics of Raini’s Poetry, 1996, Riga: Zinatne Press, (in Latvian).
• Latvian Folklore and Myths, 1996, Riga: Zinatne Press, (in Latvian).
• Mythological in Folklore, Literature, Arts, 1999, Riga:Zinatne Press, (in Latvian)
• The Dictionary of Poetry (Dzejas vardnica), 2002,  Riga:Zinatne Press, (in Latvian)

• J. Kursite( Head of Project). Dictionary of Symbols of Latvian Folklore. Latvian Council of Science (1999 -2000 ).
• J.Kursite (Head of Project). The Processes of Latvian Culture and History in the Baltic Context. Latvian Council of Science (1999-2000).
• J. Kursite( Head of Project). Baltic Mithology. Latvian Council of Science (2001-2004 ).
• J. Kursite( Head of Project). Baltic Mithology II. Latvian Council of Science (2005 -
• J. Kursite. The National Identity and Literature in Europe in the 19th Century. The International Project, University of Stokholm.

     Hobbies: to be on vacation with my family; reading interesting books & detective stories

Last update 29.11.2002