What are the impacts of Evolutionary and Devolutionary ideas vis-à-vis folklore

Impacts of Evolutionary and Devolutionary Ideas on Folklore

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The study of folklore has been profoundly influenced by a range of theoretical frameworks over the years, particularly those rooted in evolutionary and devolutionary ideas. These concepts, rooted in broader intellectual traditions such as social evolutionism, cultural evolution, and historical materialism, have shaped the way scholars interpret the transmission, change, and continuity of folk traditions, practices, and beliefs. Here, we will explore the impacts of evolutionary and devolutionary ideas vis-à-vis folklore, looking at how these frameworks have influenced both the content of folklore and the methodologies used to analyze it.


Evolutionary Ideas and Folklore

Evolutionary thought in folklore studies stems largely from early anthropological theories that were influenced by the ideas of Charles Darwin’s theories of biological evolution. Evolutionism in folklore suggests that culture, like nature, develops and progresses through stages, and that folklore evolves from simple, primitive forms into more complex, sophisticated ones over time. These ideas have had several significant impacts on the study of folklore:

1. Linear Progression and Stages of Development

  • Evolutionary theories often assume that folklore progresses in a linear fashion from primitive to advanced stages. This can be seen in the work of scholars like Edward Burnett Tylor and James Frazer, who sought to trace the development of human culture from savagery to civilization.
  • In this view, myths, rituals, and folktales were seen as early forms of religious thought, gradually giving way to philosophy and scientific reasoning. As such, primitive societies were believed to have more vivid and magical folklore, while modern societies were considered to have more rationalized or secular forms of folklore.
  • This idea impacted the way scholars studied folklore, often focusing on “primitive” societies and viewing their folklore as “survivals” from an earlier, more superstitious stage of human history.

2. Categorization of Folklore by Stages of Development

  • Evolutionary ideas led to the classification of folklore according to its supposed developmental stages. This classification often saw folk traditions being categorized as “archaic”, “mythic”, or “modern”, each corresponding to a different period in human history.
  • For example, the mythic or religious tales in many cultures were understood as stemming from primitive stages of human thought, while the folktales of later periods reflected a more rationalized understanding of the world.
  • Scholars like Franz Boas critiqued the application of evolutionary thought in folklore studies, arguing that such linear models were overly simplistic and did not account for the complexity and multiplicity of folklore traditions across cultures.

3. Focus on “Survivals”

  • A major impact of evolutionary ideas on folklore studies was the concept of “survivals”—that is, elements of ancient or primitive cultures that persisted into modern society. These survivals were viewed as relics of an earlier stage of human development, and folklore was often interpreted as evidence of this cultural evolution.
  • This perspective led to the categorization of many traditional beliefs, customs, and practices as remnants of a primitive past, often disregarding their contemporary relevance or function in modern societies.
  • Scholars like Sir James Frazer in his work, The Golden Bough, considered rituals and myths to be “survivals” from an earlier, pre-scientific era.

Criticism of Evolutionary Ideas:

  • The emphasis on linear development in folklore has been heavily criticized. Critics argue that folklore cannot be neatly classified into stages of progression, as it is dynamic, evolving in response to social, political, and cultural contexts.
  • Postmodern scholars reject the notion of a singular cultural evolution and argue that folklore evolves through multifaceted processes, influenced by power relations, social dynamics, and the needs of local communities.

Devolutionary Ideas and Folklore

In contrast to evolutionary ideas, devolutionary theories in folklore focus on the decline or fragmentation of culture over time. These theories argue that cultural practices, including folklore, deteriorate or “devolve” as societies become more complex and modern. Devolutionary ideas often present folklore as a form of cultural expression that is marginalized or disintegrated in the face of urbanization, industrialization, and the increasing dominance of modernity.

1. Decline of Tradition

  • Devolutionary thought contends that traditional practices, including folk customs, rituals, and oral storytelling, have gradually disappeared or faded as urban and industrial societies encroach on rural, agrarian traditions.
  • Folklore, once a vital means of communication and cultural transmission in rural communities, becomes a “lost” or “dying” tradition in the face of modern technology, mass media, and globalized culture.
  • Walter Benjamin’s concept of the “aura” in art, for example, suggests that traditional forms of cultural expression lose their authenticity and aesthetic value as they are commodified and reproduced in mass culture, thus contributing to the decline of folklore.

2. Folklore as a Form of Resistance

  • While devolutionary ideas often suggest the decline of folklore, some scholars view folklore in the modern era as a form of resistance to mainstream culture. In this view, marginalized or subaltern groups may retain and adapt folklore as a way of asserting their cultural identity against the forces of assimilation and cultural hegemony.
  • For instance, the persistence of folk music or oral storytelling traditions in urban spaces can be seen as a way for subcultures to maintain cultural resilience and resist cultural assimilation.

3. Fragmentation and Adaptation

  • Devolutionary ideas also focus on the fragmentation of traditional forms of folklore. As societies modernize, folklore often adapts or fragments into new forms, such as urban legends, digital folklore, and other contemporary forms of storytelling.
  • For example, traditional folktales may be re-contextualized in modern settings (e.g., fairy tales adapted into films or television series), reflecting a devolutionary process in which folklore adapts to the realities of the modern world.
  • Folklore’s adaptability in the face of modernity can also be seen as a form of survival, rather than decline, showing how folklore morphs and evolves in new directions.

Criticism of Devolutionary Ideas:

  • The devolutionary view has been criticized for being overly pessimistic about the future of folklore, underestimating the ways in which folklore can evolve and adapt in contemporary society.
  • Folklore scholars have argued that folklore does not simply fade away, but transforms in response to changing socio-political and cultural circumstances, and can take on new life in modern contexts.

Conclusion

Both evolutionary and devolutionary ideas have had profound impacts on the study of folklore, influencing how scholars understand the transmission, transformation, and decline of folk traditions. Evolutionary ideas have led to the development of theories about the stages of cultural development and the persistence of “survivals”, while devolutionary ideas have focused on the fragmentation and decline of folklore in modern contexts.

However, both frameworks have been heavily critiqued for oversimplifying the complexities of folklore’s continuity, adaptation, and transformation. Contemporary scholars, influenced by postmodernism, cultural studies, and new materialism, argue for a more dynamic, contextual, and multifaceted understanding of folklore, recognizing its capacity for reinvention and resilience in a rapidly changing world. Thus, while the evolutionary and devolutionary perspectives have shaped the early study of folklore, they are increasingly being complemented by more nuanced approaches that account for the diverse and evolving nature of folk traditions.

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