Dan Ben-Amos (University of Pennsylvania)
This is a polemic paper arguing that the discipline of folklore and Intangible Cultural Heritage constitute two incompatible paradigms, each addressing a similar aspect of society and cultural life for different purposes and functions While folklore seeks to research, and gain knowledge and understanding, Intangible Cultural Heritage is concerned with preservation for the sake of exhibition and celebration, In the previous century when folklore faltered in the academic domain there were trends to lean upon Intangible Cultural Heritage, but the conclusion of this paper is that theoretical and methodological self-reliance that does exclude interdisciplinary interaction is preferable.
Part of 02-05 Reassessing Key Moments in Ethnography, Theory, and Disciplinary History [hybrid], Thursday, October 13, 10:30 am–12:30 pm