Folklore in Everyday Life

Folklore in Daily Life

• Common expressions and childhood games illustrate the prevalence of folklore in everyday activities.
• Folk wisdom examples include phrases like "You can’t teach an old dog new tricks" and "Never judge a book by its cover."
• Games such as "Rock, Paper, Scissors" highlight informal cultural knowledge passed through interactions.

Folklore's Relevance

• Folklore is not a fading phenomenon; it evolves and adapts to current language and society.
• It maintains significance in cultural identity, reflecting ongoing human experiences despite societal changes.

Importance of Folklore

• Folklore transcends triviality; it embodies vital cultural values and shared knowledge.
• It shapes cultural identity, revealing beliefs, traditions, and experiences within communities.

Coinage of "Folk-Lore"

• William Thoms introduced the term "folk-lore" in 1846, emphasizing knowledge of the people, reflecting culture and experiences.

Dual Nature of Folklore

• Dorothy Noyes notes the tension between repudiation (seen as outdated) and nostalgia (valued for its cultural beauty).
• Henry Glassie contrasts tradition (continuity) with variation (change), further defining folklore's complexity.

Quilting as a Cultural Artifact

• Quilts exemplify folklore's duality as they may be perceived as old-fashioned yet celebrated for craftsmanship and nostalgia.

Characteristics of "True Folklore"

• JH Brunvand identifies five qualities: verbal, customary, or material content, traditional form, multiple versions, anonymous authorship, and formularization.

Defining "the Folk"

• Alan Dundes defines "the folk" as any group sharing a common factor, ranging from families to nations based on traditions and practices.

Folklore as Performance

• Folklore is a performance involving active participation and interaction, emphasizing how elements are shared and enacted in a community.

Dan Ben-Amos on Folklore

• Dan Ben-Amos describes folklore as "artistic communication in small groups," underscoring its interactive and creative nature.

Models of Transmission

• Folk Process of Transmission: Folklore changes as it is shared through informal channels, akin to the game "telephone."
• Mass Culture Transmission: Uniform transmission from a single source to many, causing no variations.
• Elite Culture Transmission: Selective sharing leads to varied interpretations of the same piece of information.

Impact of Transmission Methods

• Different methods (e.g., email vs. word-of-mouth) affect how folklore is altered as stories are shared, showing variability in retellings.

McNeill’s Perspective on Tradition

• McNeill argues "traditional" means "passed on," regardless of age, allowing new creations to be considered traditional if they are shared.

Definition of Folklore

• McNeill defines folklore as "informal, traditional culture," emphasizing its evolution outside formal institutions through personal sharing.

Writing as a Technology

• Writing is an invented communication tool enabling the storage and transfer of information over time and space.

Age of Writing Technology

• Writing technology dates back about 5,000 years, beginning with Sumerian cuneiform around 3,200 BCE.

Differences Between Orality and Literacy

• Various linguistic skills develop at different ages, shaping the way children communicate and engage with language.

Folklore and Ethnography of Speaking

• The fable "Fox & the Crow" illustrates how folklore anthropomorphizes characters to convey human-like themes and lessons.

Folkloristic vs. Scientific Definition of Superstition

• Folkloristic: Superstitions are beliefs around chance and magic based on perception of cause and effect.
• Scientific: A standard unscientific belief often seen as without foundation.

Components of Superstitions

• Signs represent omens (e.g., "Are your ears burning?").
• Magical actions depend on specific conditions (e.g., carrying an umbrella to prevent rain).
• Conversion merges signs into magical actions (e.g., wishing upon a shooting star).

Complexity of Superstitions

• Superstitions address unpredictable human experiences related to luck, love, and happiness, providing coping mechanisms.

Traditionalization and Validation of Superstitions

• Superstitions gain legitimacy through repeated cultural practice, such as beliefs in lucky charms or healing properties.

Rationalism and Superstitious Thinking

• Rationalism and superstition can coexist, exemplified by dowsing as both a folkloric tradition and a practical method for finding water.