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. folklore ... constitutes a basic and important educative and
expressive selling in which individuals Jearn how to see, act, respond, and
express themselves by the empirical observation of close human
interactions and expressions in their immediate society (that is, the family,
occupational group, ethnic community). FOlklore structures the world
view through which a person is educated into the language and logic
system of this close society. It provides ready fonnulas for the expression
of those cultural ideas in ways useful and pleasurable lO tiS and to any
group with which we share close and informal expressive iniCraClions. 1
In providing a concrete form in which implicit worldview is often made explicit, ils
materials offer primary information on the group's altitudes, fears and values. 2 Dundes
thus describes folklore as an "autobiographical ethnography of a people," an unmcdiated
testimony of a culture} More than as isolated statements by and about the tradition-bearers
themselves, Pentikiiinen observes that "the genres form an emie system within which each
genre has its own cocle and grammar as well as message."4
To break down the study of this broad field, Dundes recommends proceeding from
specific points, "folk ideas as units of worldview":
By folk ideas, I mean traditional nOlions that a group of people have about
the nature of man, of the world, and of man's life in the world.5
In line with previous commentators, Dundes conceives of these "folk ideas" as basic
unquestioned premises manifested in folklore but nOt consciously perceived or articulated by
those who hold them. lie suggests that they belong to "the unconscious culture or unself·
consciolls culture of a people."6 In his twO studies relating specifically to worldview he
examines definite attributes of American worldview, (the futuristic orientation and Ihe
frequency of Ihe number three in American culture), and looks for manifestations of these
orientations in folkloristic data. He points out that these tendencies often entail degree rather
than kind, but that it is precisely these differences--or variations rather--among similarities
between cultures which are revealing of the group's attitudes and panicular areas of concern
and valuation.7 While folklore may be thought of as "a mirror of cultUfC," Dundes insists
1Toclkcn. Dynamics 24.
20undcs. "Thinking" 55.
30undcs, "Thinking" 54.
4 Pcntiktiincn. Oral 332.
50undcs. "Folk" 95.
60undcs, "Folk" JOJ.
70un dcs, "Folklore" 471-81.