Types of Folklore to Know for Folklore and Visual Culture

Folklore is a rich tapestry of cultural expressions, from storytelling and crafts to rituals and digital memes. Each type reveals unique insights into community identity, values, and traditions, connecting us to our past and shaping our visual culture today.

1. Oral folklore (folktales, myths, legends)

   • Transmitted through storytelling, often reflecting cultural values and beliefs.
   • Includes various genres such as folktales (entertaining stories), myths (sacred narratives), and legends (historical tales).
   • Serves as a means of preserving history and teaching moral lessons.

2. Material folklore (crafts, architecture, costumes)

   • Encompasses tangible objects created by communities, showcasing cultural identity.
   • Includes traditional crafts (pottery, weaving), architectural styles (homes, public buildings), and costumes (traditional attire).
   • Reflects the skills, resources, and aesthetics of a culture.

3. Customary folklore (rituals, festivals, games)

   • Involves practices and events that are regularly performed within a community.
   • Includes rituals (ceremonies), festivals (seasonal celebrations), and games (traditional sports).
   • Reinforces social bonds and cultural continuity.

4. Visual folklore (folk art, graffiti, tattoos)

   • Consists of visual expressions that convey cultural narratives and identity.
   • Includes folk art (paintings, carvings), graffiti (street art), and tattoos (body art).
   • Often reflects social issues, personal stories, and community pride.

5. Digital folklore (memes, urban legends online)

   • Emerges from online platforms, adapting traditional folklore to digital contexts.
   • Includes memes (humorous images or videos) and urban legends (anecdotal stories).
   • Reflects contemporary culture and societal concerns, often spreading rapidly through social media.

6. Performative folklore (folk dance, music, theater)

   • Involves live performances that express cultural narratives and traditions.
   • Includes folk dance (traditional dances), music (folk songs), and theater (storytelling performances).
   • Serves as a means of community expression and cultural preservation.

7. Occupational folklore (traditions within professions)

   • Encompasses the shared practices, stories, and beliefs within specific professions.
   • Includes jargon, rituals, and anecdotes unique to particular trades (e.g., fishing, farming).
   • Helps to build camaraderie and a sense of identity among workers.

8. Belief folklore (superstitions, folk medicine)

   • Involves traditional beliefs and practices related to health, luck, and the supernatural.
   • Includes superstitions (beliefs about luck) and folk medicine (traditional healing practices).
   • Reflects cultural understandings of health, illness, and the natural world.

9. Foodways (traditional recipes, cooking methods)

   • Encompasses the cultural practices surrounding food preparation and consumption.
   • Includes traditional recipes (family dishes) and cooking methods (preparation techniques).
   • Reflects cultural heritage, community identity, and social practices.

10. Verbal folklore (proverbs, riddles, slang)

    • Consists of spoken expressions that convey wisdom, humor, or cultural identity.
    • Includes proverbs (short sayings with moral lessons), riddles (puzzles), and slang (informal language).
    • Serves as a means of communication and cultural transmission within communities.