Introduction
Folklore studies is an academic field that analyzes the traditional beliefs, customs, stories, songs, and other cultural expressions passed down within communities. Over time, several schools of thought have emerged to study folklore from different theoretical and methodological perspectives. These schools provide various lenses to interpret the meaning, origin, and function of folklore. This answer highlights the key features of the major schools of thought in folklore studies.
1. Historical-Geographical School
- Also called the “Finnish School.”
- Originated in Finland during the 19th century.
- Main goal: Trace the origin and distribution of folktales.
- Uses comparative method to study variations in folk narratives across regions.
- Salient Feature: Believes there is one original version of every tale (Urform).
- Example: Studying different versions of Cinderella across cultures.
2. Functionalist School
- Associated with anthropologists like Bronislaw Malinowski.
- Views folklore as serving a function in society, such as teaching values or resolving conflicts.
- Folklore is seen as a tool for social harmony and cultural continuity.
- Salient Feature: Every folk element has a purpose and utility in its community.
- Example: Harvest songs promote cooperation and unity in farming communities.
3. Structuralist School
- Associated with scholars like Claude Lévi-Strauss and Vladimir Propp.
- Analyzes the structure or pattern behind folk narratives.
- Looks at binary oppositions (e.g., good vs evil, life vs death) and recurring story elements.
- Salient Feature: Focuses on the deep, universal structures of folklore.
- Example: Propp’s 31 functions of Russian folktales.
4. Psychoanalytic School
- Influenced by Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung.
- Explores the unconscious mind and symbolic meanings in folklore.
- Folklore is seen as a reflection of human fears, dreams, and desires.
- Salient Feature: Focuses on inner conflicts, wish-fulfillment, and archetypes.
- Example: Interpreting the witch in folk tales as a symbol of repressed maternal authority.
5. Marxist School
- Uses class struggle and economic factors to interpret folklore.
- Folklore represents the voice of the oppressed or working class.
- Salient Feature: Emphasizes power, inequality, and resistance in folk traditions.
- Example: Folk songs of laborers highlighting exploitation and injustice.
6. Performance-Based Approach
- Developed in the 1960s and 70s by scholars like Richard Bauman.
- Focuses on folklore as a live, interactive event rather than a static text.
- Salient Feature: Emphasizes the role of the performer, audience, and context.
- Example: Studying how a folk singer’s gestures and tone shape the performance.
7. Feminist and Gender-Based Approaches
- Analyzes how folklore constructs or resists gender roles and patriarchy.
- Salient Feature: Highlights women’s voices, agency, and resistance in folk narratives.
- Example: Folk songs that protest dowry or celebrate female strength.
Conclusion
Different schools of thought in folklore offer unique insights into the meaning and purpose of traditional narratives and practices. From tracing origins to analyzing performance and social functions, each approach adds depth to our understanding. A multidisciplinary view helps scholars appreciate the richness and complexity of folklore as a living, evolving cultural phenomenon.