EN
Basing on his scientific involvement in the field of ethnology in the totalitarian era, the author reflects on: (a)- a personal path leading to the study of urban ethnology; (b)- the reasons for shift or interest to the issue of Jewish community and distinctive features of his research; (c)- whether and how the Institut of Ethnology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences served the function of an 'island of positive deviation' in the totalitarian period.