2016/09/01 by J. D. A. Widdowson · 1 citation
Arts and Humanities · #Folklore, Mythology, and Literature Studies #Folklore #Redress #Multiculturalism #Variety (cybernetics) #Reputation #Subject (documents) #Sociology #Media studies #Political science #History #Law #Social science #Library science #Anthropology
paper · doi:10.1080/0015587x.2016.1198178
openalex publication_date 2016/09/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
The study of folklore in England stands at a crossroads. Is it content with its current activities and achievements, or should it make a determined effort to move forward? A subject pioneered in this country, which gave it its name and early academic reputation, seems in danger of losing momentum. Its mission lacks a common purpose, and tends to be fragmented, and the discipline as a whole has largely been ineffectual in asserting its social and cultural importance. One way to redress these shortcomings is for the leading organizations concerned to undertake a comprehensive survey of the rich variety of traditions in our present-day multicultural society. This will generate a new impetus in efforts to document these aspects of English cultural heritage.