Introduction
Folkloristics is the academic study of folklore, including folk tales, beliefs, customs, music, and visual representations. When applied to visual art, folkloristics helps understand how traditional stories, symbols, and images shape cultural expression. It also plays a key role in influencing modern media such as television programs, documentaries, advertisements, and films. This answer explains the concept of folkloristic in visual art and how it contributes to the development of media in simple terms.
What is Folkloristic in Visual Art?
Folkloristic in visual art refers to the study and use of folk elements like traditional stories, motifs, rituals, and everyday practices in visual forms such as paintings, posters, cinema, TV, and digital media.
Examples of Visual Folk Elements:
- Madhubani and Warli art showing rural life and mythological scenes
- Rangoli and tribal paintings used as storytelling mediums
- Folk costumes, masks, and dance performances captured visually
These visual arts are not just decorative—they carry cultural messages, moral lessons, and identity symbols.
Contribution of Folkloristic in Visual Art to Modern Media
1. In Television Programs
- TV shows often use folk stories, characters, and traditional themes to attract local audiences.
- Children’s programs retell folk tales using animation, such as Tenali Raman or Vikram-Betal.
- TV serials based on epics (like Ramayana or Mahabharata) use visual folk symbols to connect with audiences.
2. In Documentaries
- Documentaries often record the lifestyles, rituals, and beliefs of tribal and rural communities.
- They use visual art to show folk traditions—like wall paintings, crafts, festivals, or tattooing practices.
- Such documentaries help in preserving folk culture and raising awareness.
3. In Advertisements
- Advertisements use folk visuals to connect emotionally with consumers, especially in rural markets.
- Folk music, local dialects, and traditional costumes are used to show authenticity and trust.
- Example: A tea company ad might use a village scene painted in Madhubani style to promote “natural” or “homegrown” values.
4. In Films
- Folklore-inspired films use folk stories, art, and music to create culturally rich narratives.
- Costume design, set design, and even dialogues are shaped by folk traditions.
- Example: Films like “Tumbbad” use folk horror stories and visual elements from local myth to build unique cinema.
- Regional cinema uses folk dances and music to represent local identity.
Why Is This Important?
- Cultural Preservation: Visual representation helps preserve traditional knowledge and symbols.
- Social Connection: People feel connected when they see their stories, rituals, and symbols shown in media.
- Education: Children and youth learn cultural values through visual storytelling.
- Economic Support: Using folk visuals in media supports local artists and craftsmen.
Challenges
- Misuse: Sometimes folk elements are misrepresented or over-simplified for commercial use.
- Cultural Appropriation: Traditional designs or stories are used without giving credit or benefit to the original communities.
- Loss of Depth: In some TV or ads, folk culture is shown just as a background, not with full meaning.
Conclusion
Folkloristics in visual art plays a crucial role in shaping modern media. Whether in television, documentaries, films, or advertising, the use of folk symbols, stories, and visuals brings authenticity, cultural richness, and emotional value. It is important that this connection is made respectfully and thoughtfully, so that folk traditions are both celebrated and preserved for future generations.