Explaining Traditions: Folk Behavior in Modern Culture

545 Pages·2011·4.489 MB·English

by  Simon J. Bronner

Exp laining Traditions
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Explaining
Traditions
Folk Behavior
in Modern Culture
S J. B
IMON RONNER
T U P K
HE NIVERSITY RESS OF ENTUCKY
Copyright © 2011 by The University Press of Kentucky
Scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth,
serving Bellarmine University, Berea College, Centre College of
Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University, The Filson Historical Society,
Georgetown College, Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky State
University, Morehead State University, Murray State University,
Northern Kentucky University, Transylvania University, University of
Kentucky, University of Louisville, and Western Kentucky University.
All rights reserved.
Editorial and Sales Offi ces: The University Press of Kentucky
663 South Limestone Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40508-4008
www.kentuckypress.com
15 14 13 12 11 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Bronner, Simon J.
Explaining traditions : folk behavior in modern culture / Simon J.
Bronner.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8131-3406-2 (hardcover : alk. paper)
ISBN 978-0-8131-3407-9 (ebook)
1. Folklore—United States. 2. Oral tradition—United States.
3. Communication in folklore—United States. 4. United States—Social
life and customs. I. Title.
GR105.B666 2011
398.20973—dc23 2011017139
This book is printed on acid-free paper meeting
the requirements of the American National Standard
for Permanence in Paper for Printed Library Materials.
Manufactured in the United States of America.
Member of the Association of
American University Presses
For Michael Owen Jones,
who challenged me to explain
why we do what we do

Contents
List of Illustrations ix
Acknowledgments xi
Prologue: Beginning with Tradition 1
1. Defi ning Tradition: On the Meaning and Politics of a “Handy”
Concept 13
2. Explaining Tradition: On Folk and Folkloristic Logic 63
3. Building Tradition: On Control and Authority in Vernacular
Architecture 93
4. Making Tradition: On Craft in American Consciousness 138
5. Adapting Tradition: On Folklore in Human
Development 196
6. Fading Tradition: On a Dying Language and Lore 248
7. Personalizing Tradition: On Storytelling by an African
American Father and Son 282
8. Symbolizing Tradition: On the Scatology of an Ethnic
Identity 319
9. Sporting Tradition: On the Praxis of American Football 350
10. Virtual Tradition: On the Internet as a Folk System 398
Notes 451
References 459
Index 509

Illustrations
Family sukkah in suburban Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 103
Students from the Harrisburg Hebrew School 105
Interior of an Orthodox synagogue’s sukkah 110
Early stages of an Amish barn raising 114
Later stage of an Amish barn raising 115
Section of “The Orange Show” 124
“Beer Can House” 127
Patio shelter with bottles and inlaid marbles 129
Section of patio showing bottle construction 129
Milkovisch’s “ladder of success” 131
Cleveland Turner, the “Flower Man” 132
Turner’s “Yard Show” 132
Section of wall constructed of beer cans, labels, and wood 133
Louis C. Jones in folk art gallery of New York State Historical
Association 144
Ethnic textile exhibition 147
Rosemaled bowl 153
Yolanda Rosenschein weaving a tallith 154
Charles Rebuck weaving a basket 156
Rebuck with fi nished baskets 156
Pang Xiong Sirathasuk holding up a Hmong story cloth 157
Charles Starry making a child’s rocker 162
Lewis Reinhart weaving a willow basket 164
William Reinhart with willow baskets 164
Paper crafts made by fourth-grade children 169
Driveway lined with wagon wheels 170
Front gate crafted with a wagon wheel 170
Housefront constructed by bricoleur Cal Yingst 172
Yingst holding a crafted bird 173
Bricoleur “Jack” working with stone 176
Jack sitting in his yard 176
Jack with his crafted religious shrine 177
ix