What actually is folklore? Is it just the stories we pass down through generations, or is there more to it? These were just a couple of the questions I had before going into this event, and I am pleased to say that Professor Owen Davies and Dr Ceri Houlbrook managed to answer these questions and more.
Davies and Houlbrook are academics from the University of Hertfordshire where they teach on the only master’s course in folklore in the UK. They have recently co-authored Folklore: a journey through the past and present which primarily explores British folklore, and they are now both part of the team carrying out the National Folklore Survey for England. Throughout the talk, they both emphasised that folklore is adaptable and ever-changing because it reflects societies and communities that are also adaptable and ever-changing. I found this a very interesting point since I had previously assumed that folklore was made up of stories, traditions and customs that were almost as old as time.
Davies and Houlbrook were interviewed by David Clarke at this event. As an expert in contemporary folklore, he was able to ask pertinent questions, including asking his guests about their special interests within folklore. Davies spoke about his interest in the folklore of animals and plants. He focused on the persecution of hedgehogs due to the widespread belief that they would drink cow’s milk, and he emphasised that we often overestimate the popular understanding of the rural world. On the other hand, Houlbrook introduced the audience to digital folklore, which is essentially the idea that the internet has led to a vast, unintentional archive of folklore being created online. I liked that both of the speakers linked their special interests in folklore to the modern world that we now live in as it made the talk feel much more relevant to today.
Towards the end of the event, Davies and Houlbrook spoke about the politicisation of folklore, which can be quite dark and problematic. They spoke about how Welsh and Scottish identities and definitions of their folklore were forged in contrast to Englishness. They then linked this to how the English are currently undergoing an “identity wobble” because they are looking for someone or something to counter, and that this is what has led to St George flags now being used to exclude certain people. I found this discussion of what is almost the psychology behind the redefining of identity and culture very thought-provoking, and I did find it amusing that they mentioned that apparently some St George flags have been spray painted to make them resemble the Batternburg flag, which, as they pointed out, is almost more English.
I loved this event, and it has really piqued my interest in folklore. I was able to learn about how folklore isn’t just stories; it’s also food, festivals, music, theatre, crafts… Essentially, it’s any tradition or custom that has developed within a society or a community, and this broad definition is what makes folklore so inclusive and welcoming.
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
