Volkskultur#
Popular Culture (in German: "Volkskultur" as opposed to "Hochkultur" - "high culture"), term introduced around 1900 to distinguish from "high culture" a variety of fields of cultural activity mainly regional in character and related to the middle and lower classes; it is pre-industrial, originates chiefly in the agricultural and craftsmen´s milieu and is expressed mainly in a festive culture rich in symbols, e.g. varied expressions of piety that originated in the Baroque era, Pilgrimages, regional Trachten, regional Farmhouse Types, the specific use of certain foods, knowledge of traditional Folk Medicine, art trends ( Popular Art, Rustic Furniture, Eglomise Painting), forms of social interaction and communication that are part of oral tradition ( Fairy Tale, Legends and Sagas, Folk Music, Folk Song, Folk Dancing), and Customs and Traditions that have a fixed place in the lives of Austrians and are often associated with the various seasons.
While it was earlier assumed that these traditions were mainly of
Germanic origin, recent studies have shown the strong influence of
churches and monasteries during the Baroque era and the importance of
rules laid down by authorities, e.g. sumptuary regulations, building
regulations. Other important influences were the invention of
Printing and the distribution of printed works as well as patterns of
town life that brought about changes in rural popular culture (e.g.
Christmas Tree). Tourism started influencing popular culture during
the 19th century. The bourgeois opinion that urban-industrial
life was the root of the destruction of popular culture gave it new
impetus in the late 20th century and led to the cultivation
of Folklore Studies as a field of academic interest. In modern days
popular culture is also regarded as part of urban culture.
Promotion of popular culture takes place at provincial level. On a
national level, the interests of organised popular culture are
represented by "Forum Volkskunst" (founded in 1984), which
encompasses 9 federal associations catering for different fields of
activity: "Bund der Oesterreichischen Trachten- und
Heimatverbaende" (traditional costumes etc.),
"Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Oesterreichischer Volkstanz"
(folk dancing), "Oesterreichischer Arbeiter-Saengerbund"
(workers´ singing groups), "Oesterreichischer
Blasmusikverband" (brass bands), "Oesterreichischer
Bundesverband fuer Schulspiel, Jugendspiel und Amateurtheater"
(school, youth, and lay theatre), "Oesterreichischer
Saengerbund" (choirs), "Oesterreichisches
Volksliedwerk" (folk songs), "Verband der
Arbeiter-Musikvereine Oesterreichs" (workers´ music
groups), and "Verband Oesterreichischer Bildungswerke"
(adult education). In the provinces, the promotion of regional values
and traditions is increasingly in the hands of various institutions
concerned with popular culture, e.g. the "Institut fuer
Volkskultur" (Institute for Popular Culture, established in 1991)
in Upper Austria, the "Referat Salzburger Volkskultur"
(Department of Popular Culture, 1993) in Salzburg, the "Institut
fuer Volkskultur und Kulturentwicklung" (Institute for Popular
Culture and Cultural Development), established and supported by
provincial funds in Tirol in 1993. Alongside these there are various
initiatives in the towns.
Literature#
R. Johler, Die "Wiederkehr der Volkskultur" - eine Zwischenbilanz, in: W. Deutsch and M. Walcher, Sommerakad. Volkskultur. 1993, 1994.