The paper treats the issues of researching the ethnic identity of Slovene emigrants as within appeared in the work of seminar for the study of Slovene emigration within the Department of Ethnology. In the process of collecting the materials, in the study of relevant literature and the preparation of seminar and graduate papers, much attention has been given to conventional and methodological questions. New approaches to the understanding of inter-cultural and inter-ethnic relations and dynamic definitions of ethnic identity are characteristics of the constructs produced. In their sophistication, they surpass and refute the stereotypes of emigrant culture.

The paper treats the issues of researching the ethnic identity of Slovene emigrants as within appeared in the work of seminar for the study of Slovene emigration within the Department of Ethnology. In the process of collecting the materials, in the study of relevant literature and the preparation of seminar and graduate papers, much attention has been given to conventional and methodological questions. New approaches to the understanding of inter-cultural and inter-ethnic relations and dynamic definitions of ethnic identity are characteristics of the constructs produced. In their sophistication, they surpass and refute the stereotypes of emigrant culture.

In the novel Za dolar človečnosti (For a Dollar of Humanity, 1983) written by Ivan Dolenc, a biographical account of a typical struggle of a (Slovene) immigrant for survival and success in his new country, Canada, is presented. The life of Slovene and Yugoslav immigrants is stretched between hope and despair. Dolenc's novel is written in a straightforward type of narrative, with a number of digressions including some short stories in the second half of the novel. The author stresses that the migrant must be included in a new environment also spiritually, if he wishes his desires for freedom, honest way of life and personal integrity to be fulfilled. John Krizanec, a son of a Slovene immigrant, was born in Canada. He has already written some successful plays, among them Tamara (1981) and Prague (1983). In the latter he presents the life and activity of a theatrical group which endeavours to perform in Prague a work defending political freedom. However, political controllers prevent them from doing this, at least for the time being. Krizanc's heroes struggle to achieve the same aims as the protagonist of Dolenc's novel.

In the novel Za dolar človečnosti (For a Dollar of Humanity, 1983) written by Ivan Dolenc, a biographical account of a typical struggle of a (Slovene) immigrant for survival and success in his new country, Canada, is presented. The life of Slovene and Yugoslav immigrants is stretched between hope and despair. Dolenc's novel is written in a straightforward type of narrative, with a number of digressions including some short stories in the second half of the novel. The author stresses that the migrant must be included in a new environment also spiritually, if he wishes his desires for freedom, honest way of life and personal integrity to be fulfilled. John Krizanec, a son of a Slovene immigrant, was born in Canada. He has already written some successful plays, among them Tamara (1981) and Prague (1983). In the latter he presents the life and activity of a theatrical group which endeavours to perform in Prague a work defending political freedom. However, political controllers prevent them from doing this, at least for the time being. Krizanc's heroes struggle to achieve the same aims as the protagonist of Dolenc's novel.

Bert Pribac definitely belongs among the major Slovene poets in Australia. In a way, his creations also merge with literary stream s in the homeland. Pribac’s beginnings as a poet can be linked to the elated, post-war reconstruction period of Slovene poetry. Also associated with it are the first shoots of optimistic intimism and, later, its destruction. After his departure abroad, Pribac’s poetry, with his homesick Istrian nostalgia, acquires typical traits of an emigrant poetry, but, on the other side, its treatment of human loneliness and smallness and the inhumanity of today’s civilization merge it with contemporary Slovene and broader stream s in poetry During his s ta y in Australia, Pribac also began to write in English and asserted himself in his new homeland with the publications in multicultural and Australian literary magazines.

Bert Pribac definitely belongs among the major Slovene poets in Australia. In a way, his creations also merge with literary stream s in the homeland. Pribac’s beginnings as a poet can be linked to the elated, post-war reconstruction period of Slovene poetry. Also associated with it are the first shoots of optimistic intimism and, later, its destruction. After his departure abroad, Pribac’s poetry, with his homesick Istrian nostalgia, acquires typical traits of an emigrant poetry, but, on the other side, its treatment of human loneliness and smallness and the inhumanity of today’s civilization merge it with contemporary Slovene and broader stream s in poetry During his s ta y in Australia, Pribac also began to write in English and asserted himself in his new homeland with the publications in multicultural and Australian literary magazines.

The purpose of the paper is to present the life and work of Vinko Žitnik, a poet who has remained practically unknown in his homeland despite the relatively high artistic level found in some of his cycles and poems. Žitnik belongs to the middle generation of the so-called Slovene political emigrants, those who settled in Argentina by the end of the 1940’ and continued to develop the Slovene culture with a commendable zeal. A short biography of the poet is followed by an outline of the themes treated in all his creative periods. The central part of the study presents the contextual and form al side of Žitnik’s poetry from the early publications in 1928, to his only collection, Pomlad (The Spring) printed in 1937 and well reviewed, through to his last poems, published shortly before his death in Antologija slovenskega zdomskega pesništva (The Anthology of Slovene Emigrant Poetry). Žitnik certainly is one of the more prolific Slovene poets, as he has left, besides the numerous pre- and post-war publications in various domestic and emigrant publications, as m any as for ty unpublished collections containing almost 4000 poems, many of which doubtlessly deserve publication.

The purpose of the paper is to present the life and work of Vinko Žitnik, a poet who has remained practically unknown in his homeland despite the relatively high artistic level found in some of his cycles and poems. Žitnik belongs to the middle generation of the so-called Slovene political emigrants, those who settled in Argentina by the end of the 1940’ and continued to develop the Slovene culture with a commendable zeal. A short biography of the poet is followed by an outline of the themes treated in all his creative periods. The central part of the study presents the contextual and form al side of Žitnik’s poetry from the early publications in 1928, to his only collection, Pomlad (The Spring) printed in 1937 and well reviewed, through to his last poems, published shortly before his death in Antologija slovenskega zdomskega pesništva (The Anthology of Slovene Emigrant Poetry). Žitnik certainly is one of the more prolific Slovene poets, as he has left, besides the numerous pre- and post-war publications in various domestic and emigrant publications, as m any as for ty unpublished collections containing almost 4000 poems, many of which doubtlessly deserve publication.

Despite the fact that much has been written and said in the last two decades about the life and work of Louise Adamic, there are voids in both his life and work, which will probably never be filled for the lack of information. The author analyses Adamic’s creative periods and ascertains that, given the various areas of his interest, it is no wonder that he was perfect in none. She underlines that while his literature did not stand up to the pressure of time and his works are not literary gems, the warm humanism and humane message the emanate are worth emphasizing.

Despite the fact that much has been written and said in the last two decades about the life and work of Louise Adamic, there are voids in both his life and work, which will probably never be filled for the lack of information. The author analyses Adamic’s creative periods and ascertains that, given the various areas of his interest, it is no wonder that he was perfect in none. She underlines that while his literature did not stand up to the pressure of time and his works are not literary gems, the warm humanism and humane message the emanate are worth emphasizing.