There are three major genres when it comes to the study of
folklore. They are verbal folklore, material folklore, and customary folklore.
Before I started this course, I thought folklore was just stories written or
verbally passed down through generations. This breakdown of verbal, material
and customary makes the topic easier to understand; it also allows you to see
that folklore exists today in every person’s life.
folklore. They are verbal folklore, material folklore, and customary folklore.
Before I started this course, I thought folklore was just stories written or
verbally passed down through generations. This breakdown of verbal, material
and customary makes the topic easier to understand; it also allows you to see
that folklore exists today in every person’s life.
Verbal folklore refers to spoken customs and traditions. Verbal
folklore can be apply to certain dialects, naming practices, traditional
phrases and sentences, jokes and stories, and folksongs to name a few. For example,
one topic we discussed in class is the fact that in California we call
Coca-Cola “soda” whereas in the south people call it “pop.” These differences
are region specific. One important aspect of verbal folklore, just like other
forms of folklore, is that they are learned informally from your family or
peers.
folklore can be apply to certain dialects, naming practices, traditional
phrases and sentences, jokes and stories, and folksongs to name a few. For example,
one topic we discussed in class is the fact that in California we call
Coca-Cola “soda” whereas in the south people call it “pop.” These differences
are region specific. One important aspect of verbal folklore, just like other
forms of folklore, is that they are learned informally from your family or
peers.
The next genre of folklore is material folklore; this refers
to material objects. These objects have a special meaning to the group of which
they are from. Architecture, food, and clothing are examples of material
folklore. Some foods are region specific. New Orleans is famous foe jambalaya, crawfish,
shrimp, gumbo, and other Cajon dishes; on the other hand San Francisco is
famous for Dungeness crab and chippino.
to material objects. These objects have a special meaning to the group of which
they are from. Architecture, food, and clothing are examples of material
folklore. Some foods are region specific. New Orleans is famous foe jambalaya, crawfish,
shrimp, gumbo, and other Cajon dishes; on the other hand San Francisco is
famous for Dungeness crab and chippino.
Customary folklore refers to shared and accepted customs or
behaviors. Shaking hands is a common way to greet someone in the United States,
but in Japan you would bow to someone. The signal “shaka” or “hang loose” has
an association to Hawaii, but it may mean something slightly different if used
here.
behaviors. Shaking hands is a common way to greet someone in the United States,
but in Japan you would bow to someone. The signal “shaka” or “hang loose” has
an association to Hawaii, but it may mean something slightly different if used
here.
In my upcoming project for this course, I am focusing on
child folklore with an emphasis on material lore. My subjects will be my
nephews who are only two and not quite talking yet, I will not be able to
interview them, only observe and maybe participate as well. In our society,
children as young as two obtain an insane amount of material possessions. Most of
the items are unnecessary; when watching two two-year-olds play together they
almost always converge around the same object. This age is when you first learn
about sharing. You are able to see what meaning the objects have to the
children.
child folklore with an emphasis on material lore. My subjects will be my
nephews who are only two and not quite talking yet, I will not be able to
interview them, only observe and maybe participate as well. In our society,
children as young as two obtain an insane amount of material possessions. Most of
the items are unnecessary; when watching two two-year-olds play together they
almost always converge around the same object. This age is when you first learn
about sharing. You are able to see what meaning the objects have to the
children.
Interesting topic. I'm looking forward to your presentation!
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