Folklore is a term used to describe stories, myths and legends that have been retold for centuries. Traditionally spread through word of mouth, disseminating these stories from one generation to the next, they often delivered lessons on morality and warnings about temptatious danger. Tales, that reflected the fears and apprehensions of the cultures from within which they were born. Because they were originally absorbed orally and then retold to others, these stories would often morph, evolving and adapting both in time and geography to suit. They were also entertainment.
Today our modern experience of narrative and storytelling owes a great debt to ancient folklore, but in the western world, the use of the Internet has drastically affected the way in which we receive and disseminate personal ‘stories’. Blurring the lines between myth and fact and accelerating the speed /distance in which storytelling can be communicated it is not always easy to decipher truth in the information we receive. The Wise Old Storyteller has been replaced with an anonymous email, chain letter or social media personality.
If the “folk” in folklore now represents an online community what are the modern social psychological functions of digital urban myths? Where do those original stories meld into our updated ones and why do we feel compelled to recreate them? Is the hoax Face Book post, telling all women to copy and paste an article to other women which warns about a predatory male murderer, waiting to murder women at Midnight in a London park, any different from the tale of Little Red Ridding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf? …
Brief:
Investigate the evolution of the folktale into the digital age.
How do you visually retell stories that are intended to be consumed orally or through written word?
Your final outcome should reflect the research you gather in response to the scenario and reveal your insights, revelations and findings on the topic. This could be a cotemporary retelling/satire/exploration/provocation or simply inspired manifestation. It could be a book, a set of paintings, an installation, a digital design, a website, a performance etc. It’s up to you to decide…Let the outcome reflect YOUR personality and interest as artists/designers.
What is important here is that you concentrate on revealing something new, not what already exists.
Reading List
Psy380, Social Psychology of Cyberspace: Folklore on the Internet. Miami University
From the Beast to the Blonde: Marina Warner
Phantasmagoria: Marina Warner
Welcome to Mars: Ken Hollings
Folklore and the Internet: Vernacular Expression in a Digital World: Trevor J. Blank