The Supernatural Folkloresque: Folklore, Popular Culture, and Supernatural Belief
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Date
2024-01-09
Authors
Stavynska, Iryna
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Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
Building upon the study of the folkloresque pioneered by Michal Dylan Foster, this thesis examines a sub-type of folkloresque popular culture that is inspired by supernatural folklore, termed here “the supernatural folkloresque.” Drawing on the existing research from the fields of sociology, folkloristics, religious studies, history, and popular culture studies, as well as examining supernatural folkloresque films and television shows prominent within American popular culture of 1995-2022, I argue that supernatural folkloresque programs tend to signal dissatisfaction with a “disenchanted modernity” and advocate for re-enchanting the world and bringing back the (perceived) lost magic and meaning, which is to be achieved through accepting supernatural belief and reclaiming traditional knowledge preserved in folkloric beliefs and practices; and that such popular culture constitutes a creative and playful mode of exploration of supernatural beliefs, borne out of – and therefore suitable for – the contexts of Western culture in the 21st century.
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Keywords
folklore, folkloresque, popular culture, supernatural belief