In Search of Authenticity: The Formation of Folklore StudiesUniv of Wisconsin Press, 1997 M11 15 - 306 pages 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. |
Contents
Poetry History and Democracy Locating Authentici1y | 27 |
From Experience to Representation The Onset of a Scientific Search for Authenticity1 | 45 |
American Romanticism and the Emergence of American Folklore Studies | 68 |
The Role of Authenticity in Shaping Folkloristic Theory Application and Institutionalization | 95 |
Latent Authenticity Quests in Folklore Definitions and Theories in TurnoftheCentury Germany | 97 |
Defining a Field Defining America | 119 |
Questioning the Canon | 155 |
Departures and Revisions Toward a Volkskunde Without Canon | 159 |
From Fakelore to the Politics of Culture The Changing Contours of American Folkloristics | 188 |
Epilogue | 219 |
Notes | 231 |
261 | |
295 | |
Other editions - View all
In Search of Authenticity: The Formation of Folklore Studies Regina Bendix No preview available - 1997 |
Common terms and phrases
academic aesthetic American appeared argued assessment associations attempt authenticity authority ballad Bausinger become Boas brought called canon century chapter Child claim clearly collection concept concerned considered constructed context continued contributed critical cultural disciplinary discipline discourse discussion early efforts emergence ethnic European evidence existence experience expressive field folk folklore folklorists folksong genuine German goal Grimms groups Herder human ideas ideology individual influence insight institutional intellectual interest invention issues journal knowledge Lachmann language legitimate less literary literature living materials matter means native nature oral origin particular past performance philosophical poetic poetry political popular practice present production question recognized remained role Romantic scholarly scholars scholarship scientific social society song spiritual term theory thought tion tradition turn ultimately understand United University vocabulary Volk Volkskunde writing