REFLECTIONS ON TATAR CULTURE (Refleksje nad kultura tatarska)

Scholars who study the problem of Polish Tatars assume a variety of perspectives in their analyses; some look for hard determinants of ethnic distinctiveness, while others allow those interested speak for themselves and just listen to their reflections or watch the activities they undertake on account of their shared identity. Adopting the latter perspective in her analysis, the author treats Tatar culture as a symbolic source, which is used by its creators, hosts or heirs in a variety of ways in social relations, for a range of reasons, and in multiple circumstances in order to give meaning to the world. On this understanding, the vision of ethnicity does not presuppose the existence of a set of cultural characteristics inherent in a group. It assumes that ethnicity is produced by social practices. In her article the author shows how Polish Tatars 'do' culture in response to their own needs and the needs of the social milieu in which they function.