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Aquatica: literature, culture
Aquatica: literature, culture (eds. Mirjana Detelić and Lidija Delić), recently published by the Institute of Balkan Studies, is the third in a series of edited volume devoted to animals associated with particular spatial strata and elements of nature. It offers analyses of myths and their reflections not only in folklore, medieval and later, but also in mystical teachings, literary fiction, motion pictures and language, showing in a good way that encounters of different methodological approaches and disciplines are as precious as they are indispensible for achieving at least some measure of comprehensiveness in looking at the phenomena, motifs and symbols of both traditional and modern culture.
The already published volumes, on birds (Birds: literature, culture, 2011, eds. Mirjana Detelić and Dragan Bošković) and on reptiles (Vipers and scorpions: literature and culture, 2012, eds. Mirjana Detelić and Lidija Delić), form part of a project the initial goal of which has been to use the creatures associated with the celestial and underground worlds to mark out the poles of the spatial and mythical axis and, consequently, the associated symbolism and meanings from the earliest times until the present. It has turned out, however, that the process of stratifying can be based on other criteria, too (air : earth : water : fire), and so the editors have chosen to prepare a fourth volume which would take them into account. The volumes are mostly focused on the animal world, but the fourth element – fire – does not provide enough material for a separate book because, among other things, the few animals traditionally associated with fire, such as the phoenix or salamander, have already found their place in the previous volumes. The editors nonetheless believe that fire may very well be replaced with blood (which is hot, fiery, etc.) and, releasing this third volume, announce a fourth: Blood: literature, culture, which could suitably round off the project.