Folk Nation: Folklore in the Creation of American Tradition / Edition 1

by Simon J. Bronner

Overview

Bronner (American studies and folklore, Pennsylvania State U.- Harrisburg) explores the intellectual and cultural uses of folkness to cultivate the idea of an American nation and people. After his own 70-page essay, he reprints 17 articles written between 1888 and 1994 by folklorists to demonstrate how notions changed during the century. He does not provide an index. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Product Details

ISBN-13:	2900842028928
Publication date:	08/01/2002
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 1.25(h) x 9.00(d)

About the Author

Simon J. Bronner is Distinguished Professor of American Studies and Folklore at Penn State Harrisburg.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Preface Part 2 Part I Chapter 3 In Search of American Tradition Chapter 4 Suggestions for Further Reading Part 5 Part II Chapter 6 The Field of American Folklore (1888-89) Chapter 7 The Black Folklore Movement at Hampton Institute (1893-94) Chapter 8 Quilts as Emblems of Women's Tradition (1894) Chapter 9 American Folk Song (1915) Chapter 10 "American" Folklore (1930) Chapter 11 American Folklore (1949) Chapter 12 The Folk Idea in American Life (1930) Chapter 13 Folk Art: Its Place in the American Tradition (1932) Chapter 14 Folk Arts: Immigrant Gifts to American Life (1932) Chapter 15 American Folksongs of Protest (1953) Chapter 16 Folklore and American Regionalism (1966) Chapter 17 Border Identity: Culture Conflict and Convergence Along the Lower Rio Grande (1978) Chapter 18 Life Styles and Legends (1971) Chapter 19 Another America: Toward a Behavioral History Based on Folkloristics (1982) Chapter 20 American Folklife: A Commonwealth of Cultures (1991) (with text of the Folklife Preservation Act, 1976) Chapter 21 Folklife in Contemporary Multicultural Society (1990) Chapter 22 Children and Colors: American Folk and Popular Cultures in America's Future (1994)

Editorial Reviews

This straightforward anthology of essays provides an excellent introduction to folklore as an academic discipline. Historic in approach, it focuses on significant eras, from the Gilded Age of the late 19th century to the postmodern, or "teletronic," age. Following an extensive introductory essay, Bronner (American studies and folklore, Pennsylvania State Univ., Harrisburg) presents 17 texts by notable folk scholars, e.g., B.A. Botkin, John Greenway, John Lomax, Richard Dorson, and MacEdward Leach. Informative headnotes precede each selection. A basic reader that includes ancillary text directed to neophytes, this work is not exhaustive, but it does demonstrate the cultural continuity embodied in the American experience as seen through expressions arising from untutored voices and writings. Bronner, the award-winning author of eight previous books, provides a fine bibliography, but the collection would have been greatly enhanced by inclusion of a subject and name index. Recommended for all libraries, as well as folklorists and students of related subjects. Richard K. Burns, MSLS, Hatboro, PA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

Bronner (American studies and folklore, Pennsylvania State U.- Harrisburg) explores the intellectual and cultural uses of folkness to cultivate the idea of an American nation and people. After his own 70-page essay, he reprints 17 articles written between 1888 and 1994 by folklorists to demonstrate how notions changed during the century. He does not provide an index. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

Folk Nation is well organized and clearly thought out. The selections are especially well chosen and historically significant, and the introduction and the headnotes are engaging.

Sharon R. Sherman

Will be immensely useful to teachers of the theory and history of the discipline and to students of American civilization. Bronner's volume will prove influential in reshaping our understanding of the development of the national aspect of our folk traditions—the point at which the academic disciplines meet the domain of the public intellectual.

Joseph Harris