Folklorist

Something got into my conscious mind recently.  It seems that we see more of specialist called "folklorist" in some media.  It is strange but it seems to become very popular.  The first time I saw one was the one on the first season of the "Mythbusters" (http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/)  Of course, they are specialized in urban legends.  Now, the term isn't just for people interested in urban legends.

I found a definition of folklorist: source:http://www.thefreedictionary.com/folklorist

1. The traditional beliefs, myths, tales, and practices of a people, transmitted orally.

2. The comparative study of folk knowledge and culture. Also called folkloristics.

3.

a. A body of widely accepted but usually spurious notions about a place, group, or institution: Rumors of their antics became part of the folklore of Hollywood.

b. A popular but unfounded belief.

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American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

folklore

(ˈfəʊkˌlɔː)

n

1. (Anthropology & Ethnology) the unwritten literature of a people as expressed in folk tales, proverbs, riddles, songs, etc

2. (Anthropology & Ethnology) the body of stories and legends attached to a particular place, group, activity, etc: Hollywood folklore; rugby folklore.

3. (Anthropology & Ethnology) the anthropological discipline concerned with the study of folkloric materials

ˈfolkˌloric adj ˈfolkˌlorist n, adj ˌfolklorˈistic adj

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

folk•lore

(ˈfoʊkˌlɔr, -ˌloʊr)

n.

1. the traditional beliefs, legends, customs, etc., of a people; lore of a people.

2. the study of such lore.

3. a body of widely held but false or unsubstantiated beliefs.

[1846; coined by English antiquary William John Thoms (1803–85)]

 It is confirming what I was beginning to suspect: they study the cultural scene of the common people, those who aren't related to royalty or noble people.

Before the mythbusters, I didn't knew of that field of expertise.   If I learned about it sooner, I think I would had been interested in it.  I am a big fan of mythology, so I think it is a good start.  It just doesn't seems to have catch up where I live.  I haven't seen people teaching it at the universities around here.  Well, I guess it is fun to have learned more about folklorists.