Fragments of Utopia of Desire in South Slavic Oral Lyric Poetry

Abstract

The paper discusses fragments of utopian notions in South Slavic oral lyric poetry. The function of those fragments is to express aspirations for a different life, mainly regarding freedom of choice, a possibility to decide on one’s own life, and to act in order to fulfil desires – even at the cost of breaking the social rules of the community. The models of alternative worlds present in the songs in some segments correspond with reality, but above all, they offer a utopian vision of a different world as an expression of desires even when they remain unfulfilled (or impossible to be fulfilled). The utopian possibility is modelled by motives of mighty, bold, active maidens, who take the initiative, overcome obstacles, perform magical acts, use their beauty in order to fulfil their erotic desires and aspirations for a freer and more dignified life. In the end, the paper points out that the utopian desire in oral lyric songs is fulfilled in the very act of singing about an alternative world.