‘Folk’ and ‘Rural’ within Contemporary Aesthetic Sites: The Works of Phanishwarnath Renu and Manisha Kulshreshtha
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Art and literature, already subjects of extensive debate, become even more complex when qualified as ‘folk’ or ‘rural.’ Defining these expressions is challenging because they draw from multiple disciplines such as anthropology, community studies, art history, narrative traditions, religiosity, and historiography. At their core, folk creative practices embody an intricate process where diverse elements converge into culturally significant forms. This convergence reflects the dynamic interplay between individual expression and collective cultural influences, intertwining both tangible artifacts and intangible beliefs, a discourse discussed by the Material Culture School. Consequently, these creations serve as indicators of broader socio-economic, historical, and political frameworks. Their inherent ambiguity defies simple categorization, urging continual reassessment of how creative practices express and shape the evolving cultural codes and social norms within any given society.
Source: Thespian Magazine
Author: Vibha S. Chauhan
Institution: University of Delhi
Language: English
Subfield: Literature and Literary Theory
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4409847264