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Residents of Lemberg as Other
Conclusion
Due to their social and economic position, the Lembergs became the laughing¬
stock of the neighboring residents, as they continue to be but not to such a degree
as before. ‘There is no obvious reason why Lemberg was in the second half of the
nineteenth century a laughingstock of the country. It is possible that Lembergs
became the center of jokes due to geographical position on the periphery and their
high social and economic position. Some researchers thought that the narrow¬
minded view of Lemberg inhabitants, their standard of living, and their genetic
diseases resulting from intermarriage could be the reason for jokes about this town.
In humorous stories, Lembergs appeared as stupid and foolish. The behavior of the
characters in the humorous tales does not accord with accepted norms of behavior
of a majority, for example, stretching the church with manure, shooting sausages,
swimming in linen, and lifting a bull on the bell tower. Neighbors most likely
took advantage of the reputation of Lemberg in order to undermine the Lembergs’
authority and to express disagreement with certain norms and values, such as their
way of life based on exploiting neighboring residents.
As with narrative tradition, visual material also serves to create an “Other,” the
image of someone who is different. Caricatures establish a humorous note by creat¬
ing images that deviate from commonly accepted aesthetic standards. The carica¬
tures were created to accompany Butalci and their primary role was to corroborate
and enhance the humorous tales.
References
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