Throughout history humans have responded
to a profound need to translate the experience of life into marks, signs, and
symbols onto an infinitely varied number
surfaces, using an equally varied number
of tools and materials, ranging from compressed
charcoal on a cave wall to a rod
of gold on specially coated parchment.
The medium of drawing has chronicled
the history of humankind—a rich and varied tapestry comprised of countless
interwoven threads, each one bearing the
mark of an individual in relation to a series
of larger wholes. For the novice, the
act of drawing can prove irresistible: give
someone a pencil and a sheet of blank paper,
and they will likely leave their “mark.”
For the accomplished draftsman, drawing provides the satisfying experience not only
of exercising a well-honed skill, but also of
giving eloquent form to a vision.
North America
Craft Revisited
Today’s Western economic structure, based on technology and services, is radically different from the one that existed before industrialization and has resulted in many of the economic crises that face us in the early 21st century. The control of goods has been concentrated in the hands of a few large corporations, rather than distributed throughout the community of small, independent businesses. The production of goods by corporate manufacturing, through modern machinery and technology, has displaced the labor force, separated the mind from the production process, depersonalized and devalued the act of manual skill, and enslaved us to a system of forced consumption. The consequences of these manufacturing practices have had profound effects on us and on our communities.
Coming Out, Coming Home: Reclaiming a Place to Belong
The author provides an introduction to this special issue on gay and lesbian folklore
Hothead Paisan: Clearing a Space for a Lesbian Feminist Folklore
The author discusses a currently produced, independent comic “zine” which uses the myths and symbolism of lesbian identity.
The Folk and the Region
Defining the idea of “region” in American Folklore scholarship
Religious and Scriptural Paradies
The author examines parodies of religious texts in contemporary usage.
Garage Sale Folklore
An exploration of the pheonomenon of the “garage sale,” and an examination of its participants
Ethnic Folklore and the School Art Curriculum
Using folklore genres to engage secondary school students, the author dicusses the use of folklore in the art classroom.
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas
This article examines the Dr. Suess story, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” in its use of secular Christmas symbols and reasons that that is the reason for its popularity as a story told during the Christmas season.
“Remember Me”: the Sources of American Sampler Verses
Fratto examines the origins and use of verses stiched by young girls on American “samplers.”
The Enlisted Man
The folklore of enlisted men, from 1970.
Popular Folk Synonymies
The author provides idioms of folk speech.
The Dangers of Authenticity
An editorial essay preceding a special issue volume on gay and lesbian folklore .
The Dutch Barn in America
An exploration of the European precedents for the New World Dutch Barn