Vernacular Culture: The Folklore Blog

This blog chronicles recent developments in folklore studies, in my very subjective style. I hope to review books, websites and blogs. It might also include much griping about folklore and fakelorists. In a word, it's folklotastic!

Name:
Location: Acton, Mass., United States

I am an unemployed folklorist and a daddy.

May 02, 2005

Best Folklore Books Ever!

A thread on the Newfolks discussion list and Dundes's recent demise have prompted me to start a list of my favorite folklore books of all time. My short list so far includes "Life Is Like a Chicken Coop Ladder" by Dundes, "Ukrainian Minstrels" by Kononenko, "Folklore Genres" by Ohring, I'd definitely include some stuff by Propp, Santino, Paredes, Bronner and Ben-Amos.

I should also include articles in this list - some of the best folklore resources are in article form: "The Story of Asdiwal" by Levi-Strauss, Bascom's 4 Forms of Folk Narrative, and, IMFHO, the best folklore article ever Bill Elli's Making A Big Apple Crumble. More later on why that is the best ever.

If any readers - assuming I have any! - out there have suggestions, please supply your comments!