The politicization of culture in applied folklore

Article Abstract:

Applied folklore focuses on forms of cultural expression as embodiments of community values and traditions. Independent folklore consultants research cultural traditions of communities and find artists to participate in cultural programs in heritage parks, festivals, community centers, exhibits and schools. Folklorists work with those at the center of community knowledge and identity, so their work is naturally political.

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"Wild and free, leave 'em be": wild horses and the struggle over nature in the Missouri Ozarks

Article Abstract:

The National Park Service (NPS) planned to remove small bands of wild horses from the Ozark Mountains in southern Missouri in 1990, but were opposed by the locals. To the NPS the horses were an exotic species not native to the area, but according to local folklore, the horses symbolized a natural way of life that was disappearing. In 1996 President Clinton signed legislation protecting the free-roaming horses.

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De-, re-, and post-industrialization: industrial heritage as contested memorial terrain

Article Abstract:

Industrial history is a terrain where different groups and their assumptions about deindustrialization meet. Former industrial areas across the US are being turned into sites of historical interest, and there are disputes over where emphasis should be placed. Developers want tourist parks while social change activists favor heritage projects emphasizing history, ideals, and narratives of the struggle of labor.

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