Folk Media

Folk media
Introduction to Folk.
• Folk is a certain kind, class, or group of people .
• The great proportion of the members of a people that determines the
group character and that tends to preserve its characteristic form of
civilization and its customs, arts and crafts, legends, traditions, and
superstitions from generation to generation.
• Originating or traditional with the common people of a country or
region and typically reflecting their lifestyle
Folk Media.
• Folk media is an effective means of communication in today’s world
since it not only helps connect people with their cultures but also
revives the lost culture of the society. Folk media forms the language
of expression for the local populace and gives them a chance to voice
out their opinions on various issues. It depicts the constantly
changing face of any society along with its virtues and vices. It is a
method to underline certain dominant ideologies of the society
through its own people. If observed closely, traditional folk media is
an excellent tool to enhance communication and promote dialogue at
the grass root level of any society.
Forms of folk media.
1) Folk dance
2) Folk music
3) Street theatre
4) Puppetry
1) Folk dance
• The most popular form of traditional folk media is the folk dance. Colorful,
vibrant, melancholic, elegant, graceful — all these attributes form the core
of folk dances. They attract audience since the tunes are generally feet
tapping and very well liked by the local crowd. The folk dances vary in
range from the mountains to the plains to the desert to the coastal areas.
Every geographical area differs in the type of dances that it offers. For
example, in India, Punjab has Bhangra as their folk dance which is
energetic and colorful for it is a dance of celebration for them while down
south in Kerala, their folk dance is Mayil Attam( the peacock dance) which
is elegant and is performed at village get-togethers. Traditional folk dances
are an excellent mix of traditional folk music and folk tales that help
communicate messages in an effective manner
2) Folk music
• Folk music is yet another popular form of folk media. Music is
governed by the language, colloquial accent, and instruments used by
the local people. Thus, each territorial area has a distinct folk music of
its own. Folk music is especially admired since it does not require
elaborate set ups or any preparation. Wherever a crowd gathers,
people begin to sing and others gradually join. Lyrics of folk music are
pretty striking since they echo the problems of the people with a
satirical taunt to the government and the officials. Folk songs of Bihar,
UP, MP are very satirical and are often used effectively before
elections to keep the people from getting allured by false promises.
3) Street theater
• Street theatre is one more form of folk media that is being used
widely to propagate socio political messages and to create awareness
for social issues. A group of people perform on streets, and gather
crowds. The objective here is to make people a part of the play and
thus convey the social message. Thus, even a common man identifies
with the issue and becomes a part of the act. Street plays are short,
direct, loud, and over expressive since they are performed in places
where there are huge crowds. They are known to propagate strong
social reforms and are considered as powerful tools to mobilize
crowds towards a certain matter.
4) Puppetry
• Puppetry is another form of folk media that is equally entertaining
and informative. Puppets come in four basic types- glove puppets,
string puppets, rod puppets and shadow puppets. Each type is found
in a particular state like glove puppets are found in Kerala, Odissa, and
Tamilnadu. Puppet shows follow a story, a popular legend or a folk
tale and end in a moral or social message. Children, adults, aged — all
enjoy puppet shows. Paintings and sculptures also form an integral
part of traditional folk media. The paintings depict life and socio-
cultural environment of local people. This is a form of expression
without words or music. They are not just images but give us a clear
idea of what the people face in a societal setup, their problems, their
struggles etc.
conclusion
• Thus, traditional folk media is much more than mere song and dance.
They are a medium of expression for the common man, and a way to
vent out his feelings. Along with mainstream media, even traditional
folk media must be encouraged so that our grass roots are as strong
as the class on top of the pyramid!

Folk Media

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