Greenwood Folklore Handbooks
3 total works
In every land, various traditions, customs, and legends have developed around food. And because these diverse traditions are central to the multicultural character of the United States, ethnic foodlore permeates American society. From early Native American cultures to the modern influx of Asian and Middle Eastern immigrants, this book is an accessible introduction to foodlore and foodways. Culturally and ethnically inclusive, from soul food to Navaho fry bread, the volume looks at basic Jewish and Islamic food traditions and Asian, Latin, and European influences on the foods of America. The book begins with definitions and classifications of food folklore. This is followed by a range of examples and texts, along with a review of research on foodlore. The book then looks at foodlore in the works of artists, writers, musicians, filmmakers, and others. The volume closes with a glossary and bibliography of print and electronic resources. While the book focuses on the foodways of the United States, in doing so it also gives considerable attention to the ethnic food traditions fundamental to American culture.
Folklore is the cultural expression of a people, and it makes up key elements of the stories they tell. Using easily accessible language, this book defines, separates, and gracefully weaves together story and folklore. From the ancient world of traveling bards in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America, to the contemporary world of storytelling festivals, fan fiction, and digital story conferences, this reference unravels confusion between concepts of folklore and story, and demonstrates how they are linked. Included are numerous examples and texts, a review of critical approaches, and a discussion of story in literature and popular culture.
Story informs folklore, and folklore informs story. The complex relationship between them is compounded by many definitions and points of view generated by scholars over time. Humans construct their sense of the world through story, vernacular transmission, and folklore. Folklore is the cultural expression of people, and it makes up the key elements of the stories they tell. Written for high school students and general readers, this reference conveniently overviews story as a folklore genre.