7 Folk Culture vs. Popular Culture
Time Requirement: 60 minutes.
Discussion of concepts of folk culture and popular culture; analysis of the ways the two types of culture effect each other.
Learning Objectives
- Students will differentiate between folk culture and popular culture and analyze how folklore influences both.
Strategies and Activities:
Review the concepts of folk culture and popular culture, providing clear definitions and examples of each. Allow time for questions and clarification.
Case Study: Choose a popular culture representation of one of the Arkansas legends (e.g., “The Legend of Boggy Creek” for the Fouke Monster – Consider “Boggy Creek Blog: Legend of the Fouke Monster” from UARK Libraries as a resource). Analyze how the legend has been adapted and represented in popular culture, discussing any changes or additions made to the original folklore.
Case Study – Research Extension: Ask students to consider types of online media about an Arkansas legend: Consider showing conversation threads on forums such as Reddit or Facebook about Arkansas legends.
Discussion: Lead a class discussion on the impact of folklore and folk culture on popular culture and vice versa. Encourage students to share their opinions and insights on whether popular culture representations help preserve or distort the original folklore.
Summarize key concepts and highlight the significance of Arkansas folklore in preserving cultural heritage. Encourage students to continue exploring folklore in their own communities.
Assignments and Assessments:
Homework: Students can research other examples of folklore influencing popular culture and present their findings to the class.
Vocabulary
Folk culture encompasses the traditional beliefs, customs, arts, and practices of a particular group or community. It includes the collective expressions of a community’s identity, passed down through generations and reflecting the group’s values, traditions, and worldview.
Popular culture refers to the mainstream or dominant cultural practices, beliefs, and forms of entertainment that are widely consumed and enjoyed by a large audience. Unlike folk culture, which is rooted in tradition and shared among specific groups, popular culture is often mass-produced and disseminated through media channels such as television, film, music, and the internet.
