LK

Lecture 4_Principles of Folklore_Legends Myths Folktales and Memorates

Anthropology of the Supernatural

  • Course Code: Anth 206

  • Focus on beliefs and experiences related to supernatural beings such as witches, zombies, and vampires.

  • Lecture 4: Principles of Folklore (Legends, Myths, Folktales, Memorates)

The Supernatural

  • Definition: Existing or occurring through an agency beyond natural forces.

  • Influenced by scientific thinking, particularly during the Scientific Revolution (1600-1700) and the Age of Enlightenment (1700-1800).

  • Emphasizes the historical context that shaped these ideas.

Enchanted vs. Disenchanted Worldview

  • Enchanted Worldview: Belief in supernatural influences; traditionally expected to diminish with the spread of science.

  • Disenchanted Worldview: More scientific and rational perspectives that emerged.

  • Question posed: Why did enchanted ways of knowing persist alongside scientific advancements?

Academic Approaches to the Supernatural

  • E.B. Tylor: Proposed the Unilinear Cultural Evolutionary Theory; criticized for being racist and unsupported by empirical evidence.

  • Evans-Pritchard: Studied the Azande; emphasized rationality in beliefs.

Ongoing Rationality Debate

  • Lucien Lévy-Bruhl: Introduced "participatory consciousness," a way of thinking complementing rationality.

  • Scholars like Tambiah, Greenwood, and Magliocco have continued to explore this concept.

The Phenomenology of Belief

  • Involves the work of scholars like David Hufford and Shelly Adler.

  • Explores two hypotheses: Cultural Source Hypothesis vs. Experience Source Hypothesis.

  • Core experiences shape supernatural beliefs, interpreted through cultural lenses.

  • Proposes biological bases for certain core experiences.

Importance of Life Experience

  • Hufford argues that life experience should coexist with technical expertise to foster a holistic view of self and world.

  • Critiques narrow views that dismiss spiritual beliefs as misguided.

  • Advocates for folklore as a means to democratize cultural authority in discussions about beliefs.

Folklore and Folkloristics

  • Folklore: Expressive culture reflecting a group's vernacular and unofficial narrative heritage, distinct from literature.

  • Deeply influences literary production and media, known as the folkloresque.

Supernatural Genres

  • Types of Stories: Includes legends, memorates, myths, and folktales, each with supernatural themes.

Genre Problems

  • Western categories don’t always apply to non-Western narratives; ideal for folklore scholars but fail to capture the fluidity of storytelling.

Characteristics of Legends

  • Definition: Believable narratives set in real-world contexts involving supernatural events.

  • Examples include the legend of King Arthur and the Sasquatch.

  • Variability: Legends can take many forms including stories, statements, or actions (ostension).

Legend Style and Structure

  • Typically told in 3rd person, authenticating credibility through relatable narratives.

  • Structure: Introduces elements, builds climax, and often concludes with open questions or warnings.

Functions of Legend

  • Inform, educate, or warn about cultural dangers; provoke conversations around reality and belief.

  • Belief in legends can vary within communities and individuals.

Related Genres: Memorates and Rumors

  • Memorate: Personal narrative of a supernatural experience, usually in 1st person.

  • Rumors: Legends as statements, verifiable or not; often arise from social uncertainty.

Legend Complexes

  • Clusters of interrelated legends about specific themes or locations, e.g., Area 51 and UFO legends.

Anti-Legends and Ostension

  • Anti-Legends: Scientific explanations attempting to rationalize legends.

  • Ostension: The act of enacting legends, can be found in media like ghost tours or horror films.

Legend Tripping

  • Activity involving visits to supernatural locations, often as rites of passage for adolescents.

  • Commercial versions include ghost hunting shows and tours.

Legend Content

  • Often addresses cultural boundaries, e.g., life vs. death, good vs. evil, reality vs. the supernatural.

Common Legend Subjects

  • Supernatural Subjects: Ghosts, witches, vampires, werewolves, and cryptids such as Bigfoot.

  • Can also encompass historical legends or urban myths.

Myths and Folktales

  • Myth: Concerns gods and heroes, explaining the world; holds sacred significance.

  • Folktale: Set in imaginary worlds with supernatural figures; often includes moral lessons.

The Folkloresque

  • Cultural appropriation of folklore in popular media for commercial purposes, feeling folkloric but being distinctly crafted.

Folklore vs. Popular Culture

  • Folklore: Informally transmitted and creatively communicated without profit motives; endlessly variable.

  • Popular Culture: Commercially driven and transmitted through mass media, often homogenized.

Effects of the Folkloresque

  • Introduces cultural elements to broader audiences, potentially altering the original traditions.

Conclusion

  • Understanding the origins and genre of supernatural stories is crucial for unraveling their meanings and effects in culture.

  • Important to distinguish between genuine folkloric materials and commercial adaptations.

Upcoming Lectures

  • 21 January: Exploration of ghosts and hauntings, assessments of the Final Essay Project.

  • 23 January: Deep dive into legends and legend trips; introduction to hermeneutical methods.