What is folklore? Folklore is the traditional art, literature, knowledge, and practice that is disseminated largely through oral communication and behavioral example. (American Folklore Society)

Folklore Folkloristics

Folk + Lore What is meant by “folk”? What is meant by “lore”? A word with many meanings An old word for “knowledge” Meaning varies, but less debated than “folk”

Folklore and Folkloristics Origins in late 18th and early 19th c. Originally the study of European peasant traditions Peasant traditions presumed to be “dying out”

The Grimm brothers Wilhelm (1786-1859) and Jakob (1785-1863)

Grimms’ “Circular-Letter Concerned with Collecting of Folk Poetry” (1815)

Founding Fathers of American Folkloristics Literature: Francis Child Anthropology: Franz Boas (1858-1942)

“Folk” A level of culture

Elite culture Associated with formal institutions education or other value-related goal is primary purpose Examples include literature, ballet, symphony, opera, painting, photography

Normative culture (mass, popular) experienced through the mass media Profit and entertainment is primary goal Examples include TV, Hollywood movies, comic books, best-sellers, video games

Folk culture Generally learned and conducted in face-to-face situations/small groups Traditional, unofficial, noninstitutional level of culture

Characteristics of Folklore Note: I added two more characteristics to those of Brunvand

1. Is usually oral, customary, or material Jeannie Robertson, ballad singer

Parrot being taken to the Blessing of the Animals, Los Angeles, 1953

Irish mumming

Face jug/ugly jug, American south

Car art

2. Constructed as “traditional” The fundamental elements remain stable over time Circulates among members of a group

3. Exists in multiple versions Propagates Changes as it propagates No “correct” version

4. Usually anonymous in origin Lacks original “authorship” No known “original author” Only known “performers”

5. Is formularized Follows an identifiable pattern Pattern followed is usually associated with a genre

6. Exists at “folk” level of culture Circulates informally and/or is “non-institutional”

7. Associated with a group of people This is the modern “folk” in/of folklore