The Effects of Industrialization on Folklore

Blog – 2

Folklore in Industrialized Society

Pat Bc

9.5.11

Folklore like culture is affected by many different aspects of society one of which is civility. Civility places distinctions upon classes within society in order to control the acceptability and maintenance of a hegemonic order.  Thus ideas generated by particular groups and classes are viewed within limited definitions determined by the upper class of society.    Levine questions these boundaries placed on the philosophical views of culture and believes that the affects of industrialization shape the attitudes of mass culture which has a profound effect upon history.   He believes that the learner and historian can enhance history by understanding the role of mass culture through its collective behavior and perception of popular culture as an entity of folklore

             Deconstructing the folk  within popular culture means inclusion of minority cultures through accurate portrayals in the media.   Kelley (Notes on Deconstructing “the Folk”, 2004) argues that the individual’s identity and values that contribute to the interpretations by mass culture are influenced by the media.  Identity is shaped by the dominant culture’s hegemonic views as portrayed within the media which in turn determine the response taken by the members of the audience. This deconstruction process includes destroying the myths and stereotypes of people of minority cultures which decreases its artificiality.  For this reason, she argues for a strong integration of cultural studies within history to increase its authenticity of cultures , fairness, and acceptance within society.

            Popular culture is a mix of traditional and new thoughts that are shaped by industrialization which affects each generation in a different manner. Davis (Toward Mixtures and Margins, 1992) views this endless process of acquiring information as the same only the revisions in tools for communication continue to change. Lears (Making Fun of Popular Culture, 1992) argues that Levine’s upbringing during the 1930’s dictates his voice for the common person while his voice is shaped by the 1950’s and 1960’s views of corporate industrialization.   Lears views the study of popular culture useless without the role of the producer and believes that the period of industrial culture determines a philosophy of the producer which contributes to the ideas of the mass audience which influence the culture for that period of time.   Levine’s philosophy provokes much thought  as to the relationship of pop culture to folklore and the true quest for authenticity  and empowerment of  all people, cultures within a global society.