Advancing Folkloristics

Review This ambitious volume repositions the field of folklore in the context of numerous emerging perspectives including queer theory, intersectionality, feminism, (de)colonization, and anti-racism. . . . This dizzying array of topics reveals the complexities of folkloristics and the considerable intellectual and ethical affordances of working in a transdisciplinary manner to highlight the meaning-making processes of vernacular culture(s) and their practitioners. The end of this foray is hardly an end at all, but rather a road map for the future of the discipline. -- T. R. Tangherlini ― Choice Product Description An unprecedented number of folklorists are addressing issues of class, race, gender, and sexuality in academic and public spaces in the US, raising the question: How can folklorists contribute to these contemporary political affairs? Since the nature of folkloristics transcends binaries, can it help others develop critical personal narratives?Advancing Folkloristics covers topics such as queer, feminist, and postcolonial scholarship in folkloristics. Contributors investigate how to apply folkloristic approaches in nonfolklore classrooms, how to maintain a folklorist identity without a "folklorist" job title, and how to use folkloristic knowledge to interact with others outside of the discipline. The chapters, which range from theoretical reorientations to personal experiences of folklore work, all demonstrate the kinds of work folklorists are well-suited to and promote the areas in which folkloristics is poised to expand and excel. Advancing Folkloristics presents a clear picture of folklore studies today and articulates how it must adapt in the future. Review This book should be required reading for all students seeking graduate degrees in Folklore Studies. Before writing a thesis or dissertation, and most certainly before applying for or accepting positions as folklorists, students should digest the chapters in this collection of essays and discuss them thoroughly with their peers and their teachers. To ignore the wisdom and cautions included in Advancing Folkloristics would be to invite career struggles that could hinder, frustrate, and destroy their dreams of becoming successful folklorists in a world that holds little, if any, serious regard for a field that can so easily be trivialized, largely from lack of knowledge about the field itself or a blatant disregard for cultural diversity and community traditions in general. No matter where folklorists find themselves, whether it be the lone folklorist in an English Department (or an entire university), a state humanities or arts organization, or a local or national museum, folklorists often find themselves lonely and vulnerable, literally fighting for our jobs because our work rarely looks like the work of others in the organizations where we find ourselves. Addressing the issues examined in this collection long before they become very real, everyday concerns will bolster our enthusiasm for the field of Folklore Studies while also providing a smoother path on the journey of learning how to be a good folklorist. -- Elaine J. Lawless, author of Reciprocal Ethnography and the Power of Women's Narratives, Curator's Distinguished Professor Emerita, University of Missouri About the Author Jesse A. Fivecoate is a doctoral candidate in folklore at Indiana University, Bloomington. In 2018, he received the Dorson Dissertation Prize from the Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology. Kristina Downs is Managing Editor of the Journal of Folklore Research. She is also creator and host of the Crimelore podcast. Meredith A. E. McGriff is Membership Director of the American Folklore Society and co-founder of Hoosier Films. She is author of The Michiana Potters: Art, Community, and Collaboration in the Midwest.