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, Eglomisé 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 19^th century. The bourgeois opinion that urban-industrial life was the root of the destruction of popular culture gave it new impetus in the late 20^th 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 Österreichischen Trachten- und Heimatverbände" (traditional costumes etc.), "Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Österreichischer Volkstanz" (folk dancing), "Österreichischer Arbeiter-Sängerbund" (workers´ singing groups), "Österreichischer Blasmusikverband" (brass bands), "Österreichischer Bundesverband für Schulspiel, Jugendspiel und Amateurtheater" (school, youth, and lay theatre), "Österreichischer Sängerbund" (choirs), "Österreichisches Volksliedwerk" (folk songs), "Verband der Arbeiter-Musikvereine Österreichs" (workers´ music groups), and "Verband Österreichischer 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 für Volkskultur" (Institute for Popular Culture, established in 1991) in Upper Austria, the "Referat Salzburger Volkskultur" (Department of Popular Culture, 1993) in Salzburg, the "Institut für 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.