Panel 5. Modern variations and transformations of minor forms of folklore

Convenors: Saša Babič, Estonian Literary Museum, sasa.babic@zrc-sazu.si; Piret Voolaid, Estonian Literary Museum, piret@folklore.ee

Modern variations and transformations of minor forms of folklore

Minor folklore forms (proverbs, phrases, riddles, swear words) are generally known by their fixed form and as a folklore genre by their slow changeability. Nevertheless, the material shows flexibility and high variability: although minor folklore forms seem to be fixed, we can detect many variations on different levels in all context variables (place, time, text, society, use etc.). In modern use of tradition we can detect high creativity, intentionally or unintentionally feeding into the new variants, contexts and functions. Workshop will expose the elements of "fixed tradition" subject to variation; therefore we expect presentations focusing on the following topics:

  • Diachronic variations in minor folklore forms – local, regional, historical, lexical;
  • Adaptations of minor folklore forms to contemporary times – dynamics of folklore;
  • Variations of different forms of specific minor folklore genres through time;
  • The influence of idiolect on the variations of minor folklore forms;
  • The influence of internet on the variations of minor folklore forms;
  • Variations of minor folklore forms in media;
  • Variations of minor folklore forms functioning as humour or denying the authority of the traditional form (exp. antiproverbs).


P5