1.1 Definition and scope of folklore and visual culture

Folklore and visual culture intertwine, shaping how we see and share our world. From ancient myths to modern memes, these forms of expression reflect our values, beliefs, and creativity. They're not just old stories or pretty pictures—they're living, breathing parts of our culture.

This topic digs into what makes folklore and visual culture tick. We'll look at how they're defined, the different types that exist, and why they matter. It's all about understanding the stories we tell and the images we create, and how they connect us to our past and present.

Folklore and Visual Culture: Key Concepts

Defining Folklore and Visual Culture

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Top images from around the web for Defining Folklore and Visual Culture

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  Chinese folklore - Wikipedia View original

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  Mexican Dance | View Large or Original Mexico Vivo Folklore … | Flickr View original

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  File:Pottery shrine piece, Ibo - African objects in the American Museum of Natural History ... View original

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• Folklore encompasses traditional cultural expressions, practices, and knowledge passed down orally or through imitation within communities (folktales, rituals, crafts)
• Visual culture refers to production, circulation, and interpretation of visual artifacts and images in society (paintings, photographs, advertisements)
• Collective nature characterizes folklore transmitted through generations
• Oral transmission distinguishes folklore from written literature
• Variation occurs as stories and practices adapt to different contexts
• Rootedness in tradition links folklore to cultural heritage
• Visual culture emphasizes visual modes of communication (images, symbols, gestures)
• Technology shapes visual culture through new media and platforms (digital art, virtual reality)
• Visual elements play significant role in many folkloric traditions (traditional costumes, folk art)

Dynamic Nature and Cultural Influence

• Folklore and visual culture adapt to changing social contexts
• Both reflect and influence cultural values and beliefs
• Historical events and movements shape folklore and visual imagery
• Folklore preserves cultural memory and identity
• Visual culture constructs and challenges societal norms
• Globalization impacts spread and transformation of folkloric elements
• Digital technologies accelerate exchange of visual cultural artifacts

Forms and Genres of Folklore and Visual Culture

Verbal and Material Folklore

• Verbal folklore includes myths, legends, folktales, proverbs, and riddles
• Myths explain natural phenomena or cultural origins (creation stories)
• Legends recount historical or pseudo-historical events (King Arthur)
• Folktales encompass fictional narratives passed down orally (Cinderella, Anansi stories)
• Proverbs convey cultural wisdom in concise sayings
• Riddles challenge listeners with word puzzles
• Material folklore comprises traditional crafts, folk art, costumes, and architecture
• Traditional crafts include basketry, weaving, and metalwork
• Folk art encompasses paintings, sculptures, and decorative objects created by untrained artists
• Traditional costumes reflect cultural identity and social status
• Vernacular architecture represents regional building styles and techniques

Visual Culture and Contemporary Folklore

• Visual culture encompasses fine art, photography, film, television, advertising, and digital media
• Fine art includes paintings, sculptures, and installations in galleries and museums
• Photography captures and constructs visual narratives
• Film and television shape cultural narratives and visual aesthetics
• Advertising creates and reinforces visual symbols and cultural desires
• Digital media expands visual culture through social networks and virtual spaces
• Folk visual culture includes traditional art forms like quilting, wood carving, and pottery
• Contemporary visual folklore manifests in internet memes, street art, and DIY culture
• Internet memes spread cultural ideas through humorous images and text
• Street art transforms urban spaces with graffiti and murals
• DIY culture encourages creative reuse and personalization of objects

Performance-Based Forms

• Performance-based folklore includes folk dance, storytelling, and musical traditions
• Folk dance preserves cultural movements and rhythms
• Storytelling events maintain oral traditions and community bonds
• Musical traditions encompass folk songs, instrumental performances, and rituals
• Performance-based visual culture incorporates theater, digital performance art, and interactive installations
• Theater combines visual elements with live performance
• Digital performance art utilizes technology for immersive experiences
• Interactive installations engage audiences in participatory visual experiences

Interdisciplinary Nature of Folklore and Visual Culture Studies

Foundational Disciplines

• Anthropology contributes ethnographic methods and cultural theory
• Linguistics analyzes verbal folklore and visual communication systems
• Literary studies examine narrative structures and symbolism
• Cultural studies explore power dynamics and representation in folklore and visual culture
• Art history provides frameworks for analyzing visual artifacts over time
• Media studies investigate production and reception of visual media
• Sociology examines social contexts and functions of folklore and visual culture
• Psychology explores cognitive and emotional responses to folklore and visual stimuli

Theoretical Approaches and Methodologies

• Semiotics analyzes signs and symbols in folklore and visual culture
• Cultural theory examines how meaning constructed and contested
• Ethnographic methods observe and document folklore and visual culture in context
• Digital humanities apply computational tools to analyze patterns and trends
• Material culture studies bridge folklore, visual culture, archaeology, and museum studies
• Critical theory, including feminist, postcolonial, and queer theory, informs contemporary analysis
• Feminist theory examines gender representation in folklore and visual culture
• Postcolonial theory addresses power dynamics in cultural representation
• Queer theory explores non-normative identities and expressions in folklore and visual culture

Tradition, Creativity, and Innovation in Folklore and Visual Culture

Role of Tradition

• Tradition acts as foundation for cultural continuity
• Folkloric elements contribute to identity formation
• Traditional visual motifs provide recognizable cultural symbols
• Oral traditions preserve historical and cultural knowledge
• Traditional practices maintain community bonds and social structures
• Visual traditions inform aesthetic preferences and artistic styles
• Folklore traditions often encode moral values and social norms

Creativity and Adaptation

• Creativity manifests in variations of traditional forms
• Storytellers adapt folktales to contemporary contexts
• Artists reinterpret traditional motifs in new media
• Creativity allows folklore to remain relevant across generations
• Visual artists blend traditional techniques with modern materials
• Adaptations of folklore reflect changing social values
• Creative reinterpretations of visual culture critique or reinforce cultural norms

Innovation and Cultural Evolution

• Innovation incorporates new technologies into traditional practices
• Digital storytelling platforms preserve and disseminate folklore
• Social media creates new forms of visual folklore (reaction GIFs, TikTok trends)
• Tension between tradition and innovation drives cultural evolution
• Globalization accelerates exchange of folkloric and visual cultural elements
• Hybrid forms blend traditional folklore with modern visual culture
• Contemporary studies examine how traditional forms adapt to societal changes
• Digital archives preserve and provide access to folkloric and visual cultural heritage