Folklorun İşlevleri Üzerine Eleştirel Bir Çözümleme
Critical Analysis on the Functions of Folklore

Summary/Abstract: The definition, application and scope of folklore are held differently in various countries and cultures. The theories / approaches / methods put forward are criticised for this reason. Among the theories applied widely in folklore researches in Türkiye is Bascom’s functional theory. Yet, this theory has several important defects stemming from the scope and application of folklore in Türkiye. Bascom’s functional theory is based upon four basic principles. These are “a) Having good time, entertainment and enjoyment, b) Supporting values, social norms and traditions, c) Transmission of education and culture to new generations and d) Overcoming personal and social pressure”. İlhan Başgöz added a new function to these, which is “Protesting”. These functions are inadequate in products of Turkish Folk Literature and Folklore as they do not include all the economic, sociologic, psychologic and ethnologic influences. In addition to these functions, in the article, we have discussed scientifically the practices of some folkloric products and come up with additional new functions, which are “having an income, economic support”, “facilitaing and increasing solidarity and charity”, “facilitating physical and psychological relief”, “contributing to the formation of personal and national consciousness”, “helping in pysical activity and training”, “getting rid of the feeling of loneliness and helplessness (solace)”, “offering a source of inspiration for science, art, cinema and literature”, and “ıncreasing the power and influence of verbal expression”.

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