Towards the New Folklore Genre Theory

Year, pages: 2015, 161 - 173

The rapid development of new media, especially the Internet, triggered major changes in culture and caused a general change in the status of texts. These changes call for a new folklore genre theory. A word is no longer the only element that builds folklore texts when they enter the Internet – the new multimedia space. On the one hand, the phenomena known as e-folklore, combining different means of expresion, show similarity to traditional folklore (due to anonymity, collectivity, multivariant dimension and emphasis on the value of tradition), and on the other – they are radically different due to their unique dynamism. New technologies successfully stimulate creative activity of the network users, showing the signs of folklore activity. As a result, not only are traditional genres subject to progressive modifications and changes (e.g. chain letters, fake warnings against viruses, urban legends, rumours, conspiracy theories, miraculous events, e-revelations), but also new forms and genres (new Internet-based humour, photoshopping, Internet memes, blogs, chats) as well as the so-called visual folklore phenomena are created. The users’ activity on social networking websites is also important. It enriches the structure of contemporary folklore messages and at the same time strengthens the power of emotions and imagination of the virtual community. Furthermore, the modern folklore, functioning in the media context, creatively uses the popular culture content. In this situation, it is necessary to analyse the context of contemporary folklore-creating situations, inspiring not only the existence, but also transformations of folklore genres understood as models of specific communication situations.

Hajduk-Nijakowska, J. 2015. Towards the New Folklore Genre Theory. In Slovenský národopis / Slovak Ethnology, vol. 63, no.2, pp. 161-173. 1339-9357.

Hajduk-Nijakowska, J. (2015). Towards the New Folklore Genre Theory. Slovenský národopis / Slovak Ethnology, 63(2), 161-173. 1339-9357.