In Search of Authenticity: The Formation of Folklore Studies

by Regina F. Bendix

Authenticity is a notion much debated, among discussants as diverse as cultural theorists and art dealers, music critics and tour operators. The desire to find and somehow capture or protect the 'authentic' narrative, art object, or ceremonial dance is hardly new. In this masterful examination of German and American folklore studies from the eighteenth century to the present, Regina Bendix demonstrates that the longing for authenticity remains deeply implicated in scholarly approaches to cultural analysis. Searches for authenticity, Bendix contends, have been a constant companion to the feelings of loss inherent in modernization, forever upholding a belief in a pristine yet endangered cultural essence and fueling cultural nationalism worldwide. Beginning with precursors of Herder and Emerson and the 'discovery' of the authentic in expressive culture and literature, she traces the different, albeit intertwined, histories of German Volkskunde and American folklore studies. A Swiss native educated in American folklore programs, Bendix moves effortlessly between the two traditions, demonstrating how the notion of authenticity was used not only to foster national causes, but also to lay the foundations for categories of documentation and analysis within the nascent field of folklore studies. Bendix shows that, in an increasingly transcultural world, where Zulu singers back up Paul Simon and where indigenous artists seek copyright for their traditional crafts, the politics of authenticity mingles with the forces of the market. Arguing against the dichotomies implied in the very idea of authenticity, she underscores the emptiness of efforts to distinguish between folklore and fakelore, between echt and ersatz.

Genres: Folklore, Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 1997

Reviews

[Carl · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a while since I read this book, but I found it helpful as both a history of the development of folklore studies in the West and an exploration and critique of the notion of "authenticity" at the heart of the development of hte discipline. At the time I found myself a bit disappointed in her dismissal of the idea of "authenticity", but I think that she is correct in pointing out that we need to be aware that our own emotional need for this "authenticity" can be a stumbling block. This does not mean abandoning intellectual rigor, of course-- it is, for example, still important to understand the context of the piece under analysis, and I would argue that that includes context in time, origin, etc. Overall I find Bendix's argument well in line with the "new", or material philology of manuscript studies, in which the extant form of the text, rather than some hypothetical reconstructed form, is the subject of research and interpretation. I think this is a healthy development, and find myself more on the side of material philology, though I am certainly sympathetic with many of the goals of "traditional" philology-- a certain amount of "reconstructive ambition" is permisable I think.
In any case, I also find myself sympathetic with Bendix's arguments. I'll have to reread the book before I can give a more thorough treatment.

[hh · Rating 3 out of 5]

for my folklore & nationalism class. a clear argument against the idealization of "authenticity" in folklore scholarship. traces the history of folklore studies, focusing on the america and germany, and covers a wide range of scholarly attitudes and theories. great background material.