Living Folklore is a comprehensive, straightforward introduction to folklore as it is lived, shared and practiced in contemporary settings. Drawing on examples from diverse American groups and experiences, this text gives the student a strong foundation—from the field's history and major terms to theories and interpretive approaches. Living Folklore moves beyond genres and classifications, and encourages students who are new to the field to see the study of folklore as a unique approach to understanding people, communities, and day-to-day artistic communication. This revised edition incorporates new examples, research, and theory along with added discussion of digital and online folklore. "A student-oriented entry to the study of folklore . . . Rich with examples from the field and the class-room . . . Helps students to see that folklore is really about understanding people." — Journal of American Folklore "Students are going to love this book: the examples will stimulate their interest in other cultures, and the approaches to the study of folklore will open up new meanings in their own lives. The authors draw upon their extensive teaching experience and in-depth scholarly research to produce a textbook that sets a new standard for introductory folklore courses." —Patrick B. Mullen Living Folklore An Introduction to the Study of People and Their Traditions By Martha C. Sims Martine Stephens Utah State University Press Copyright © 2011 Utah State University Press All right reserved. ISBN: 978-0-87421-844-2 Contents Acknowledgments...............................................ixPreface.......................................................xii1 Folklore....................................................12 Groups......................................................303 Tradition...................................................694 Ritual......................................................985 Performance.................................................1306 Approaches to Interpreting Folklore.........................1807 Fieldwork and Ethnography...................................2068 Examples of Folklore Projects...............................2329 Suggestions for Activities and Projects.....................300Notes.........................................................309References....................................................314Index.........................................................322 Chapter One Folklore We know you have heard it before: "It's just folklore." We hear it when newscasters are announcing the report of a popular home remedy that does not really cure people (and may actually harm them). We hear it—or might even say it—when a friend is telling a story about the haunted house on the winding street in our neighborhood. People often call something "folklore" to dismiss the validity of the subject they have been discussing. To some people, the term folklore commonly suggests something untrue, not real—just a story or an old-fashioned belief. But that is a misconception. Some people come to folklore study expecting to learn only about quaint cultures from the past or contemporary cultures of those who are less educated, less fortunate, and less sophisticated than they are—primitive or simpler groups. That, too, is a misconception. In the following sections we will clear up misconceptions about folklore by considering what folklore is and isn't. We will also look at genres and important concepts of text and context and offer a short history of the study of folklore as a foundation for our own exploration. What is Folklore? A Working Definition Folklore is many things, and it's almost impossible to define succinctly. It's both what folklorists study and the name of the discipline they work within. Yes, folklore is folk songs and legends. It's also quilts, Boy Scout badges, high school marching band initiations, jokes, online avatars, chain letters, nicknames, holiday food, and many other things you might or might not expect. Folklore exists in cities, suburbs, and rural villages; in families, work groups, and residents of college dormitories. Folklore is present in many kinds of informal communication, whether verbal (oral and written texts), customary (behaviors and rituals), or material (physical objects). It exists in the physical world and in virtual settings online. It involves values, traditions, and ways of thinking and behaving. It's about art. It's about people and the way people learn. It helps us learn who we are and how to derive meaning from the world around us. As we explore some attempts to define the field of folklore , we want to ask you to expand your concept of folklore or at least to let go of any preconceived ideas of what folklore means. One of the most useful ways we have found to clarify these distinctions is to talk about what folklore is not. Folklore is not necessarily untrue or old fashioned. Hav