Robert Baron, founding director of Folk Arts Programme at the New York State Council on the Arts, delivered a lecture here on Wednesday on American public folklore and folklorists as cultural brokers.

The lecture, organised in collaboration with Sahapedia, was followed by an interactive session in which Rajan Chedambath, secretary, Centre for Heritage and Development of the Kochi Corporation and anthropologist Indu Menon participated. Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted the event.

The focus of the session was on the role of folklorists and cultural brokers, who enabled communities to safeguard and transmit their traditions on their own terms.

Folklore expresses shared identity of ethnic, religious, regional or occupational groups; folklore is emergent and evolves and changes constantly. Folklore is also a key instrument in facilitating cultural self-determination in a community.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by Special Correspondent / Kochi – December 20th, 2017