1. Oral Traditions:
* Folk Narratives: Folklorists examine myths, legends, folktales, fairy tales, and other storytelling traditions. They analyze themes, characters, motifs, and how these stories are transmitted through generations.
* Folk Songs: They study folk music, its lyrics, melodies, and the cultural contexts in which they are sung. This includes ballads, work songs, lullabies, and other types of traditional music.
* Proverbs and Riddles: Folklorists explore the wisdom, humor, and cultural insights embedded in proverbs, riddles, and other forms of traditional sayings.
2. Material Culture:
* Folk Arts and Crafts: They study the techniques, materials, and aesthetic values of traditional crafts like pottery, weaving, woodcarving, and metalwork.
* Folk Architecture: Folklorists analyze traditional building styles, materials, and the cultural significance of homes, barns, and other structures.
* Foodways: They explore traditional foods, recipes, and eating customs, considering their historical origins and cultural meanings.
3. Beliefs and Customs:
* Folk Religion and Magic: Folklorists study traditional beliefs about the supernatural, including spirits, witchcraft, and magic. They also examine folk customs related to religious practices, festivals, and rituals.
* Superstitions and Folklore: They investigate folk beliefs about luck, omens, and the supernatural, and how these beliefs shape people's lives and interactions with the world.
* Traditional Medicine and Healing: Folklorists study folk remedies, herbalism, and other traditional healing practices.
4. The Transmission of Folklore:
* Oral Transmission: Folklorists study how folklore is passed down through generations by word of mouth, through storytelling, song, and performance.
* Written Transmission: They also examine how folklore is preserved and disseminated through written texts, including collections of folktales, songbooks, and anthropological studies.
* Modern Adaptations: Folklorists explore how folklore is adapted and reinterpreted in contemporary culture, through movies, television shows, music, and other media.
5. Cultural Significance:
* Identity and Belonging: Folklorists examine how folklore shapes people's sense of identity and belonging to a particular community or culture.
* Social Commentary: They analyze how folklore reflects and critiques social norms, power structures, and other aspects of society.
* Historical Context: Folklorists use folklore to understand the past, tracing cultural changes and developments over time.
Folklorists employ a variety of research methods, including fieldwork, archival research, textual analysis, and ethnographic observation. They work in museums, universities, libraries, and other institutions, contributing to our understanding of human culture and the power of tradition.