15 definitions of folk art .
1. Henry Glassie:”Folk art is the expression of the identity of a group, the continuous consensus of which gives it value and the identity of an individual, the expression of which distinguishes it.”
2. Robert Ferris Thompson:”Folk art is the unwritten canon of the people, the whole congeries of objects made for oneself and others with conscious emphasis on aesthetic and social value.”
3. Pravina Shukla: “Folk art is an embodied expression of shared traditions, reflecting a group’s cultural, social, and aesthetic values through tangible forms.”
4. Alan Jabbour: “Folk art is a collective and continually evolving creative expression of everyday life, which reflects a group’s cultural identity, history, and values.”
5. Dorothy Bolton: “Folk art is the visual embodiment of a community’s folklore, encompassing traditions, narratives, and symbolism through material culture.”
6. Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett: “Folk art is the vernacular expression of culture, embodying the everyday aesthetics of ordinary people within their social contexts.”
7. William Ferris: “Folk art is the creative expression of a community’s shared experiences, reflecting their unique cultural heritage and identity.”
8. Michael Owen Jones: “Folk art is the material manifestation of cultural traditions, where aesthetics are shaped by the values, beliefs, and history of a community.”
9. Marsha MacDowell: “Folk art is the tangible representation of a community’s collective memory, expressed through craft, decoration, and storytelling.”
10. Simon Bronner: “Folk art is a dynamic cultural practice that encompasses the material and symbolic expressions of a group, embodying its creativity and traditions.”
11. Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett: “Folk art is the vernacular expression of culture, embodying the everyday aesthetics of ordinary people within their social contexts.”
12. Folklore Society (UK): “Folk art includes all forms of art that are ‘of the people, by the people, for the people,’ reflecting shared traditions and cultural identity.”
13. Gillian Naylor:”Folk art encompasses a wide range of creative expressions, from handmade crafts to decorative arts, that reflect a community’s values and traditions.”
14. Tom Rankin: “Folk art is the embodiment of a community’s cultural heritage, communicated through visual, tactile, and narrative forms.”
15. Ivan Karp:”Folk art is the living cultural production of a community, encompassing everyday objects, rituals, and expressions that convey the essence of a people.”
These definitions highlight the diverse perspectives on folk art, emphasizing its role as a reflection of cultural identity, community traditions, and aesthetic expression.