Abstract
Fruitful exchanges of ideas existed between early 20th century anthropology (volkenkunde) and folklore studies (volkskunde) in the Netherlands. Folklorists proposed using the fieldwork methods and comparative approach of ethnography. Anthropologists thought folklore studies might be able to shed light on survivals of earlier stages in their own society. During the 1930s, however, anthropologists turned their backs on the evolutionist paradigm, while in the wake of National Socialism and its quest for a common Germanic race and culture folklorists limited their cross-cultural comparisons to Europe. Cultural politics in Germany and other European countries in the 1930s and early 1940s directed the concepts, methods and institutionalization of folklore studies, and consequently led to a distancing from the concepts and practice of cultural anthropology.
Highlights
Anthropologists thought folklore studies might be able to shed light on survivals of earlier stages in their own society
T hese comments were made by folklorist DirkJan van der Ven, who formulated his views on folklore studies in 1930 in the new multidisciplinary Dutch journal Mensch en Maatschappfl (Man and Society 1930a:458)
II3 tion and funding for their discipline at the time. His envy is evident in another publication dated that same year, where Van der Ven compares the 'extremely well-documented monographs on the primitive and semi-primitive tribes in our colonies in the East and West' and the dearth ofknowledge about 'social relations among the islanders of Marken' [a Dutch island renowned for its 'exotic' material culture]
Summary
Anthropologists thought folklore studies might be able to shed light on survivals of earlier stages in their own society. T hese comments were made by folklorist DirkJan van der Ven, who formulated his views on folklore studies in 1930 in the new multidisciplinary Dutch journal Mensch en Maatschappfl (Man and Society 1930a:458).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
