Folklore can be a tricky thing to define, as everyone has their own idea of what it is. There are also multiple aspects of folklore, which further complicates finding a good definition. However, Martha Sims and Martine Stephens define folklore as "informally learned, unofficial knowledge about the world, ourselves, our communities, our beliefs, our cultures, and our traditions that is expressed creatively through words, music, customs, actions, behaviors, and materials. It is also the interactive, dynamic process of creating, communicating, and performing as we share that knowledge with other people," (pp.11-12). Furthermore, there are various aspects of folklore that help define it, particularly the traditions, beliefs, rituals, and performances.
WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH CRYPTIDS AND CRYTOZOOLOGISTS?
Cryptozoology has sometimes been referred to as a subculture, though it could also easily be classified as folklore. A study in 2005 found that 1 in 5 Americans conducted some type of research on cryptids, whether that be reading a book or looking up information online. However, only a very small group of Americans went further and began actively participating (Loxton, Prothero & Sherman, pp. 298 - 299). Many people interact with fellow believers through blogs and forums. Some will create entire events, such as conferences, in order to meet and interact with other people in this group. Others will get together in groups to conduct their own fieldwork and actively search for these cryptids (pp. 300).
Since many cryptids, such as Bigfoot, Mothman, or the Jersey Devil, have yet to be proven as real species, they cannot be found in any science or history textbooks. Many of these creatures initially existed at a local level. They were the stars of tales told by families or entire communities (Burton). They previously existed only in verbal folklore, though cryptids have since become more well-known thanks to the internet or other media sources. They have since become examples of public folklore, which is described as being a medium of exchange, including festivals, exhibitions, and documentaries (Debora Kodish). However, while information about cryptids are readily available through books, documentaries, websites, or conferences, they are still not formally taught in academic settings, which certainly matches with Sims and Stephens definition of folklore. |
But Why do people participate in these groups?
There are a variety of reasons why people might join these groups. In an article describing cryptozoology in the medieval and modern world, Peter Dendle suggests that cryptids in the medieval period helped develop social taboos, expressed theological concerns, and provided stories that allowed people to ponder the essence of humanity. He claims that modern cryptozoology stems from guilt over the mass extinction of species due to humans, which led people to repopulate the natural world with creatures who have remained undiscovered and unaffected by humans. Dendle also states that cryptids in the modern times represent "a quest for magic and wonder in a world many perceive as having lost its mystique," (Dendle, p. 201).
That particular statement seems to be accurate for believers and non-believers alike. On a podcast of MonsterTalk, co-hosts Karen Stollznow and Blake Smith discussed why they were interested in cryptids, despite their skepticism. Stollznow compared cryptids to fictional monsters she believed in as a child, while Smith explained that it was the possibility of these creatures' existence that excited them (Loxton, Prothero & Sherman, p.299).
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It is also important to note that there are many scientists, historians, anthropologists, and various other intellectuals who do believe in cryptids. Even skeptics are willing to be open-minded and examine all the evidence given to them in order to determine whether these creatures actually exist. Many believers have expressed frustration with scientists and other academics, claiming that they do not take cryptid hunters seriously, but they are still willing to work with them in order to make the community more scientific. However, there is also another side of the community that directly opposes the scientific community; moreover, their entire goal is to prove that the scientific community is wrong. This group consists of creationists. The main goal of this group is to find cryptids in order to prove scientists are wrong about evolution (Loxton, Prothero & Sherman, pp. 301-309). Some creationists specifically point to the Loch Ness Monster, claiming that this modern-day dinosaur proves that scientists are wrong about evolution and the Earth's age. Other creationists insist that the existence of cryptids proves the existence of God (Burton).