Empirical study of the process of collective creation in folk performing arts

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K03232
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Cultural anthropology
• Research Institution: Seijo University
• Principal Investigator: Hyoki Satoru 成城大学, 文芸学部, 教授 (30356274)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 民俗芸能 / アート / 創造性 / 共同的創造 / 無形文化遺産

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Based on empirical studies on examples of 3 folk performing arts such as Bitchu kagura, Osato Tanabata-odori, Iwami and Geihoku kagura, and also referred to the discussion on aesthetics and creativity in American folklore studies, this study clarified the actual state of transmission (densyo) of folk performing arts as the accumulation of creation to make "something better" by adding various contrivances and impromptu modifications. Through this work, I have focused on the collective creativity that comes from the interaction of people, as opposed to the creativity of exceptional individual talent, and examined the possibility of overcoming the opposing view of "Tradition and Creation" in folklore studies in Japan.

Free Research Field

民俗学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

民俗芸能の伝承の危機が伝えられることが多い現在において、過度な「伝統」の重責を背負うのに代わって、それぞれの時代に即した工夫や創作こそが、これまで民俗芸能を伝えてきた原動力であり、これから次の世代に伝えるためにも必要であるということを、学術的な考察を通して示唆することができる。また近年大きな社会的関心を呼んでいる無形文化遺産の保護などの背景にある「生きている伝統」のあり方の具体的な姿を、実証的な調査研究の成果から学ぶことが可能になる。