Folklore and Cultural Heritage: Reflecting on Change

Abstract

The article discusses the concepts of “folklore” and “cultural heritage” and their historical development as responses to social transformations. It compares the field of folklore in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to the present-day heritage field, highlighting the specific ways in which each field has risen to the challenges of its time and addressing their potential pitfalls. The author emphasizes the power of these concepts to shape and change the world, as they mobilize people, reform discourses, and transform practices.