In Search of Authenticity : The Formation of Folklore Studies

4e de couv.: Authenticity is a notion much debated, among discussants as diverse as cultural theorists and art dealers, music critics and tour operators. The desire to find and somehow capture or protect the "authentic" narrative, art object, or ceremonial dance is hardly new. In this masterful examination of German and American folklore studies from the eighteenth century to the present, Regina Bendix demonstrates that the longing for authenticity remains deeply implicated in scholarly approaches to cultural analysis. Searches for authenticity, Bendix contends, have been a constant companion to the feelings of loss inherent in modernization, forever upholding a belief in a pristine yet endangered cultural essence and fueling cultural nationalism worldwide. Beginning with precursors of Herder and Emerson and the "discovery" of the authentic in expressive culture and literature, she traces the different, albeit intertwined, histories of German Volkskunde and American folklore studies. A Swiss native educated in American folklore programs, Bendix moves effortlessly between the two traditions, demonstrating how the notion of authenticity was used not only to foster national causes, but also to lay the foundations for categories of documentation and analysis within the nascent field of folklore studies. Bendix shows that, in an increasingly transcultural world, where Zulu singers back up Paul Simon and where indigenous artists seek copyright for their traditional crafts, the politics of authenticity mingles with the forces of the market. Arguing against the dichotomies implied in the very idea of authenticity, she underscores the emptiness of efforts to distinguish between folklore and fakelore, between echt and ersatz Folklore. Washington Irving and Mark Twain used it in their fiction; Sigmund Freud and William James incorporated it into their work; Henry Ford and Franklin Roosevelt promoted it. Their efforts were set against the background of folklorists who brought collections of traditional tales, songs, and crafts to the attention of a modernizing society. The ideas of these folklorists influenced how Americans thought about the character of their society and the directions it was taking.Here for the first time is a history of American folkloristic ideas and the figures who shaped them. Simon Bronner puts these ideas in cultural context, showing the interconnection of folklore studies with historical events, social changes, and intellectual movements. He follows the beginnings of American folklore studies in the antiquarian literature of the 1830s through the rise of folklore societies in the 1880s to the emergence of an independent discipline in the 1950s. In this progression, Bronner identifies several major themes tying folklore studies to intellectual history: first, the unearthing of a hidden, usable past; second, the charting of time and space; and third, the structuring of communication. More than a chronological or biographical history, this book is an interpretation of folkloristic ideas and their relationship to American society.

Folklore. Washington Irving and Mark Twain used it in theirfiction; Sigmund Freud and William James incorporated it into theirwork; Henry Ford and Franklin Roosevelt promoted it. Their effortswere set against the background of folklorists who broughtcollections of traditional tales, songs, and crafts to theattention of a modernizing society. The ideas of these folkloristsinfluenced how Americans thought about the character of theirsociety and the directions it was taking.

Here for the first time is a history of American folkloristicideas and the figures who shaped them. Simon Bronner puts theseideas in cultural context, showing the interconnection of folklorestudies with historical events, social changes, and intellectualmovements. He follows the beginnings of American folklore studiesin the antiquarian literature of the 1830s through the rise offolklore societies in the 1880s to the emergence of an independentdiscipline in the 1950s. In this progression, Bronner identifiesseveral major themes tying folklore studies to intellectualhistory: first, the unearthing of a hidden, usable past; second,the charting of time and space; and third, the structuring ofcommunication. More than a chronological or biographical history,this book is an interpretation of folkloristic ideas and theirrelationship to American society.

Poetry, History, And Democracy -- From Experience To Representation -- American Romanticism And The Emergence Of Folklore Studies -- Latent Authenticity Quests In Folklore Definitions And Theories In Turn-of-the-century Germany -- Defining A Field, Defining America -- Departures And Revisions -- From Fakelore To The Politics Of Culture. Regina Bendix. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 261-294) And Index. The author of this text explores notions of authenticity in German and American folklore studies from the 18th century to the present. She demonstrates how "authenticity" was used to foster national causes and uphold a belief in "cultural essence" against feelings of loss inherent in modernization.