Dynamics Of Folklore

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 456 pages
• Published by: Utah State University Press; Rev Exp Su edition May 1, 1996
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0874212030
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0874212037
• Book Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Weighs: 1.4 pounds

Product Review
In The Dynamics Of Folklore, Barre Toelken discusses the history, meaning and variety of folklore. He considers "the biology of folklore" and emphasizes the dynamic, everyday, everywhere richness of folk expressions from occupational and ethnic lore to foodways, holidays, personal experience narratives, legends, ballads, myths, provers, jokes, crafts, and others, clearly tracing the cultural worldviews folklore conveys and how it expresses them. Throughout the text Toelken offers students and others practical instruction and advice on methods and study, including field research, cross-cultural understanding, discerning the context and meaning of folk performances, and recording and archiving folklore. Extensive bibliographical essays outline the history and literature of folklore, and over one hundred photographs illustrate examples of folk events, arts, and processes. The Dynamics Of Folklore is a benchmark body of scholarship and essential reading for any serious folklorist. -- Midwest Book Review

Reader Reviews
Unfortunately, I think the somewhat quaint words "folk" and "lore" in "folklore" throw people off and make them dimiss folklore studies as a trivial or insignificant field of scholarship. "Folklore" just doesn't have the imposing sound of similar fields like anthropology and sociology. Admittedly, before reading Toelken's book, if I thought of the word "folk lore" I probably would have pictured my grandfather sitting in a rocking chair telling stories from his childhood. Of course, that is also a part of folklore, but I realize now how much more there is to it. Before reading this book, I didn't have a good understanding of what folklore was. Even now, folklore's not so easy to define. I think the best description of folklore is this: it is what makes our cultures unique, and what makes belonging to whatever social groups we belong to, significant. Jokes, food, songs, religion ... Toelken covers these topics and more in his book, which reads kind of like an introduction to folklore studies. Until I read this book, I probably would've laughed at the suggestion that I myself belong to several folk groups. Now that I better understand the complex social groups that we all belong to, it's left me more curious to discover what makes different folk groups unique. This is not the type of book that you read and think "ok, that was nice" and then never think about it again. This book will open your eyes and make you question the things that you take for granted in everyday life. A must-read!