“Urgencies” in the Field: Three Perspectives

Abstract Taken from a virtual presentation at the 2021 annual meeting of the American Folklore Society, three folklorists come together to present their ongoing work under the auspices of “urgencies of the field.” Jon Kay concerns himself with the urgencies of our temporal, corporeal bodies, in addressing creativity in older adults and offering suggestions for cross-pollination between folklore studies and gerontology and creative aging. Maida Owens focuses on climate change and the radical displacement of communities, turning to the concern of what happens to cultural traditions when the people of a community must relocate. Grounded in Indigenous approaches, Tim Frandy considers a decolonizing of our minds with real-world applications that guide us toward better stewardship of the natural world and better physical and mental health practices. Three folklorists, working within the intersectionality of public and academic spheres, and expanding the reach and impact of folklore's work, are finding ways to use their skills and knowledge to address unwelcome urgencies in our world.