5 Folklore Vs. Pop Culture: Bridging Traditions

Folklore, a vibrant and ever-evolving aspect of human culture, is part of daily life. It comes alive through our interests, hobbies, relationships, and artistic expressions, reflecting the beliefs and values of people and their cultures. Folklore helps to shape our traditions and connects us through shared stories and practices. As the American Folklore Society states, “it is at the heart of all cultures… [and] a fundamental part of what it means to be human” (“What Is Folklore?”).

Although common, folklore can be difficult to define. Therefore, we will use the definition that folklorists Martha C. Sims and Martine Stephens provide in Living Folklore: An Introduction to the Study of People and Their Traditions:

Folklore is many things, and it’s almost impossible to define succinctly. It’s both what folklorists study and the name of the discipline they work within. Yes, folklore is folk songs and legends. It’s also quilts, Boy Scout badges, high school marching band initiations, jokes, online avatars, chain letters, nicknames, holiday food, and many other things you might or might not expect. Folklore exists in cities, suburbs and rural villages; in families, work groups, and residents of college dormitories. Folklore is present in many kinds of informal communication, whether verbal (oral and written texts), customary (behaviors, rituals), or material (physical objects). It exists in the physical world and in virtual settings online. It involves values, traditions, ways of thinking and behaving. It’s about art. It’s about people and the way people learn. It helps us learn who we are and how to make meaning in the world around us. (1-2)

Folklore is traditionally passed down and across generations through oral communication, though modern technology has facilitated communication through other mediums. It is not usually learned in an educational setting, but instead informally, acquired through the friends, family, and the social groups we belong to. Topics often differ from everyday conversations and include vernacular (specialized terminology) of shared interests and experiences. For instance, the game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) isn’t a typical workplace or dinner table conversation, but it occurs regularly between members of a particular folk group. Discussions among players in person, through text, or over social media may include terms such as “Dungeon Master,” “character sheet,” and “critical hit” to reference the game’s extensive lore. The vernacular used in these conversations is a form of shared language that fosters a sense of community among insiders.

Folk Groups

At the heart of all folklore lies the role of the people who actively live it. Within each folk group, shared knowledge becomes the defining characteristic, privileging “insider knowledge” of the group’s customs. For instance, think of a chess club. Members actively engage in creating, experiencing, and sharing lore to express their shared passion for chess. Like any folk group, a chess club follows written and unwritten rules regarding chess etiquette, strategies for game play, and camaraderie. Take Club Chess, for example. This folk group, which formed during the Covid pandemic, consists of hundreds of young adults in New York. Members meet weekly at different pubs to drink cocktails, listen to live music, and above all, play chess. According to founder Alexander Luke Bahta, “We’d turn on the disco ball, and there’d still be people playing by candlelight. Someone turned to me one day and said, ‘This isn’t a chess club. This is Club Chess’” (Bansinath).

Individuals become members of folk groups through birth, circumstance, or choice. For example, someone born into a Jewish family with strong cultural traditions automatically becomes a member of that folk group, inheriting shared values, customs, and vernacular. Family serves as our first folk group, and holidays like Passover or Hanukkah and learning Yiddish phrases passed down through generations contribute to the cornerstone of Jewish identity and belonging. On the other hand, joining a folk group can be a deliberate decision that involves the selection of peers, hobbies, and/or interests that align with one’s desired identity, like in the examples of D&D or Club Chess. Entry into a folk group could also depend on other circumstances, like living in a particular region, which aligns members through interests and shared cultural or recreational experiences, such as genealogy, photography, or surfing.

Folklore is unique due to its organic, living nature. It is continuously shaped and reshaped across generations as traditions, stories, and artifacts are passed down within folk groups, reflecting the evolving cultural identity of communities over time. This continuous process connects the past with the present, often without a clear author or single origin. By and large, folklore is as diverse as its people, and we see an array of artistic expressions produced to preserve, celebrate, and transmit cultural heritage. As explained by the American Folklore Society:

Every group with a sense of its own identity shares, as a central part of that identity, folk traditions–the things that people learn to do largely through oral communication and by example: believe (religious customs, creation myths, healing charms), do (dance, make music, sew clothing), know (how to build an irrigation dam, how to nurse an ailment, how to prepare barbecue), make (architecture, art, craft, music), and say (personal experience stories, riddles, song lyrics). (“What is Folklore?”)

Genres of Folklore

The three primary genres of folklore are verbal/oral, material, and customary lore. Each genre represents different aspects of folk culture and encompasses a wide range of traditions, beliefs, and practices.

• Verbal/oral folklore: This genre comprises narratives and knowledge transmitted verbally or through writing. This category of folklore is perhaps the most widely recognized, and it includes campfire stories, myths, legends, proverbs, folktales, songs, and poems. Think of folktales like The Boy Who Cried Wolf, urban legends like Slenderman, epic stories such as King Arthur from England, or the folk/gospel song “This Little Light of Mine.”
• Material folklore: This genre refers to tangible objects, tools, crafts, and artifacts that are created, used, or valued by a community and hold cultural significance in it. These items reflect the traditions, values, and histories of the people who create and use them. Examples include Persian rugs, lanterns used during China’s Mid-Autumn Festival, 4th of July fireworks, quilts of the Underground Railroad, Native American basketry, and family heirlooms.
• Customary folklore: This genre reflects things that people do, like traditions, performances, and rituals. They can be everyday practices or special ceremonies. Customs can include festivals like Spain’s Running of the Bulls, holiday traditions like trick-or-treating on Halloween, right-of-passage rituals like a wedding, or even superstitions like “knocking on wood” to avoid bad luck. Customary lore influences how individuals interact with one another, celebrate significant events, and navigate daily life.

The Intersection of Folklore and Pop Culture

Today, we frequently see elements of folklore overlapping with pop culture, and while they may seem worlds apart, the line between these two phenomena can be blurry. For this reason, understanding the differences between the two can provide a clearer lens with which to interpret societal influences and embedded values as well as how they evolve and adapt over time. While folklore reflects a folk group’s values and traditions, pop culture is about what’s happening in the moment. It includes things that are in high demand, in high quantities, for large audiences, and transmitted through mass media. For example, think about Barbie, both the fashion doll and as a character in several movies. Barbie is not just a toy, but also a cultural phenomenon that epitomizes the shifting ideals and aspirations of society. As a product of pop culture, Barbie’s evolution over the years mirrors changing beauty standards, societal expectations, and evolving notions of femininity. Barbie was imagined and marketed solely for commercial purposes, mass production, and mass distribution.

However, it’s common for pop culture to draw from folklore by reimagining and repackaging folklore for mass audiences. Take for example the movie and television series What We Do in the Shadows, a mockumentary-style comedy that follows a group of vampire roommates living in Staten Island as they negotiate the challenges of modern life. The show offers a humorous take on vampire lore, blending traditional elements with contemporary humor and satire. Through its unique storytelling and quirky characters, What We Do in the Shadows is a stark contrast to the traditional folklore depiction of vampires as malevolent and monstrous creatures.

To illustrate the difference, Slavic folklore tells stories of three different classes of vampires: the eretiki (similar to Dracula), the erestun (an undead, evil spirit that causes harm to the living), and the most dangerous vampire called the eretica (a female vampire-witch.) Legend states that if a person “happen[s] to lay eyes on an eretica, her open vampiric eye will pierce the soul and most certainly cause death” (Baxter 10). The belief that heretics might return from the dead as vampires, condemned to consume human flesh and denied entry into heaven, reflects Slavic cultural beliefs of the consequences of Christianity and sin. From this example, it’s easy to see how the entertainment industry diverges significantly from traditional folklore to focus on contemporary trends rather than cultural fears, traditions, and taboos.

Whereas the heart of folklore is the people (the folk group,) the heart of pop culture is most certainly the money. Above all, it is important to recognize that folklore reflects deep cultural values and meaning, exemplified by belief behaviors (customs and practices) that keep traditional stories alive, whereas pop culture shapes what’s cool at a certain moment in time. Overall, understanding the similarities and differences can help us to ask questions about how our stories change over time and who benefits from telling them.

Folklore? Pop Culture? Or Both?

The boundary between pop culture and folklore isn’t always straightforward, especially when pop culture has the potential to transition into folklore over time and vice versa. Likewise, this transformation is influenced by several factors. While pop culture is characterized by its immediacy, mass appeal, and association with contemporary trends, these characteristics can evolve and integrate into broader cultural traditions. When elements of pop culture endure and become ingrained in the collective consciousness, they could have a lasting impact on society and contribute to the formation of cultural memories. And as these memories are passed down, they may transform into folklore.

As an example of how pop culture can transition into folklore over time, let’s look at Elvis Presley, an American pop culture icon from the 1950s-60s. Elvis’s music and image have transcended their initial context, finding a place in movies, artwork, wedding chapels, and impersonators. These fans form a distinct folk group, going beyond merely appreciating his music as they share urban legends, conspiracy theories, and stories of his likeness in everyday life, such as on an empty container of McDonald’s sauce or in an ocean wave. In this context, Elvis probably was not considered folklore during his recording days, but now in legends or as a face in a wave, he becomes a part of folklore.

Another example of the blurriness between folklore and pop culture exists in fandoms that fuse the traditional with the contemporary. Like folklore’s reflection of society’s collective values, fandoms can also reframe pop culture into more significant cultural narratives such as fanfiction, artwork, and costumes, like we see in the practice of cosplay at gatherings like Comic-Con. Fandoms can also turn popular TV shows like Game of Thrones into living folklore when members of a folk group reinterpret characters and reenact events through role play, generating a narrative that transcends the original source material.

For these and many other reasons, the interplay between pop culture and folklore is intricate and can lead to fresh interpretations, adaptations, and reimaginings, making it a challenge to draw clear boundaries between the two. Overall, the difference lies in the intention, the practice, and in the audience. As Martha Sims and Martine Stephens point out in Living Folklore:

The main distinguishing difference between folklore and other types of cultural expression is in what we do with the stuff – how we learn about it and hear about it, and how (or whether) we incorporate it into our daily experience and lives. The differences are also clear in how we pass around different kinds of objects, verbal expressions, and behaviors with other people… we learn folklore informally through our interactions with other people… Folklore reaches groups of people who share personal connections, values, traditions, beliefs – and other forms of lore – that in part define them as a group. (5)

Cultural Appreciation vs. Appropriation

In recent years, there has been a push for diversity and inclusivity in pop culture. Films such as Black Panther and Crazy Rich Asians offer representation that has been historically marginalized in the entertainment industry. These films not only entertain audiences but also contribute to the reevaluation of Black and Asian cultures. Similarly, in folklore we see a push for cultural visibility, reflected in the preservation and presentation of traditional stories and practices from underrepresented communities. For example, queer folklore is gaining cultural prominence through pride events, LGBTQ+ cultural narratives, and recognition in academic and artistic spheres. In recent times, both folklore and pop culture have become spaces for diverse voices to not only be heard but also celebrated, revealing an ongoing evolution of the larger cultural identity.

However, as folklore is transmitted from generation to generation and from one culture to another, there’s a crucial element to consider: cultural appropriation. This occurs when traditional stories, symbols, or practices are taken out of context or used in ways that misrepresent their original meanings, leading to disrespect and exploitation. It’s important to note that the line between appreciation and appropriation can sometimes be thin.

Take Dia de los Muertos, for example. In recent years, we’ve seen the widespread appropriation of its imagery in Halloween costumes, decorative items, and food packaging. These products often oversimplify the cultural significance of the tradition, reducing it to mere aesthetic or commercial value, and perpetuating stereotypes about Mexican culture, such as portraying this as a Mexican version of Halloween, without acknowledging its deep spiritual and familial significance. This not only strips the tradition of its authenticity but also risks erasing its true meaning for those who celebrate it as an integral part of their cultural heritage. Therefore, while it’s important to celebrate cultural traditions, it’s also crucial to recognize the difference between appreciating and appropriating culture. Education, dialogue, and understanding are vital to ensure that cultural appreciation stays respectful and doesn’t cross into appropriation.

Folklore or Pop Culture? How to Analyze a Text

Given these factors, it can be difficult to determine if a text belongs to folklore or pop culture, especially since both types offer glimpses into our shared experiences. While folklore serves as a repository of cultural heritage, values, beliefs, and customs, pop culture serves as a snapshot of a moment in time and commercialization is one of its defining characteristics. Therefore, the following checklist is provided to help you analyze key questions about both. While this list is not comprehensive, it is here to help you to navigate the process.

Analyzing folklore involves exploring cultural and historical roots, identifying morals, symbols, themes, characters, and customs.

• Know where it’s from. What is the cultural origin?
• Understand when it’s from. What is the historical context?
• Look at how it might have changed. How has the text evolved over time?
• Find the main lesson. Which key moral(s) or lesson(s) does this text emphasize?
• Look for repeated symbols or themes. What is the significance of the symbols and/or themes?
• Note any special characters, symbols, and their meanings. What archetypes do they represent? What is their significance to the folk group?
• Research the cultural significance. Are there special customs or practices in the story?

Analyzing pop culture requires consideration of motivations, commercial influences, current trends, distribution, and cultural representation.

• Know who made it. Who created this? Is this associated with an industry?
• Understand its goals. What is the commercial intent and/or influences?
• Know how it is shared. How is the text primarily distributed? In which medium?
• Recognize current trends. How do current events and trends influence it?
• Find references to other pop culture. How does this text use other pop culture elements?
• Analyze how the text uses folklore. How does the text adapt or change elements of folklore?
• Examine cultural representation/appropriation. How are people of a certain ethnic group or demographic portrayed? Why?

Conclusion

Both folk and popular texts broaden our appreciation of cultural diversity, historical understanding, and critical engagement with the stories and traditions that make us who we are. And while pop culture may reflect our current interests and trends, folklore serves as a collection of our cultural memory, offering invaluable insights that define us as human beings. In the words of folklorist William A. Wilson:

Surely no other discipline is more concerned with linking us to the cultural heritage from the past than is folklore; no other discipline is more concerned with revealing the interrelationships of different cultural expressions than is folklore; and no other discipline is so concerned …with discovering what it is to be human. It is this attempt to discover the basis of our common humanity, the imperatives of our human existence, that puts folklore study at the very center of humanistic study (“What is Folklore?”)

Works Cited  

Bansinath, Bindu. “It’s Not a Chess Club. It’s Club Chess. The game of kings has become an unlikely downtown craze.” Curbed, 30 Aug. 2023, https://www.curbed.com/article/club-chess-maneros-of-mulberry.html

Baxter Game, Poppy N. “The History of Vampire Folklore: Fear and Introspection 2000 BCE.-2000 CE.” Young Historians Conference 33 (Portland State University), 26 Apr. 2023. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/younghistorians/2023/papers/2

Howson, Alexandra. “Popular Culture.” Salem Press Encyclopedia. 2021.

Sims, Martha C., and Martine Stephens. Living Folklore: An Introduction to the Study of People and Their Traditions. 2nd ed. Utah State University Press, 2011.

The American Folklore Society. “What is Folklore?” The American Folklore Society, n.d., https://whatisfolklore.org/.