The Study of American Folklore

The Study of American Folklore Jan Brunvand 640 pp.

Jan Brunvand’s  The Study of American Folklore is one of the best books to read as an introduction to the field. Over the course of the text, Brunvand divides the cultural life of the American people into a set of neatly contained categories. In each genre, there are a set of three effective components. First, an overview of the topic, second, a rich selection of examples plucked from the extant research, and third, a summary of the methods and general direction of that specific area of investigation.

The prose in Study is very effective, treating each of its subjects with an eager eye. Brunvand goes to great lengths to drive home the various systems of classification used in each genre of the discipline. These systems of classification nest nicely into the book as a whole, which is formatted as a breakdown of the entire folklore of the American people. In this division of folklore lies the book’s strongest point by far. Before looking into any area of folklore at depth, it would be ill-considered not to give at least a brief look through the chapter in Study to get a sense of the research present on the subject.

Brunvand’s book can be divided from the other introductory folklore book on this blog, The Dynamics of Folklore, in that it focuses less on how to think as a folklorist. Toelken’s text focuses heavily on first-person recollection of the process of doing folklore research, showing how one can begin to work in the discipline. Personally, I felt that aspect to be the weaker side of Toelken’s work. The Study of American Folklore succeeds by focusing less on a narrative of how folklore can be done and more on the results of research in the fields described.

If Study has a weakness, it is in the section on Folk belief. While Brunvand is happy to discuss all manner of superstition (e.g. dowsing, folk medicine, and lore about the changing seasons) and to distantly treat religion through myths and stories in earlier chapters; the only acknowledgement he gives to the folklore of religion is that occasionally groups split off from larger religious communities, forming insular communities which are rife with an unstated and unexplored folklore.

Setting aside this one flaw, Brunvand’s text is a phenomenal entry point for the aspiring folklorist. It would take a foolish effort of will to read these chapters and not find at least one area which would inspire you to further research. As a guidebook to the genre, especially from the point-of-view of the rank beginner, you would have a hard time finding a better book to read. 

Would I recommend The Study of American Folklore? Yes.

Score: 4.0/5

Would I keep this on my bookshelf? Yes.

-Mr. Cheddar