How to Give Greater Attention to the
Use of the (Folk) Arts
by
Jerry Johnson
1. The purpose of the workshop
was to help those in attendance begin to “give greater attention
to the use of the (folk) arts… for proclamation, …expansion, and …consolidation.”
(Universal House of Justice Ridván 153 Message).
2. “Folk arts” are expressive
traditions that are passed on informally within a group that may or
may not be ethnic, (could be regional, occupational, faith-based etc.)
often from generation-to-generation. (but could be primarily passed
on within ones peer group). While most of us usually don’t think
about it,
3. We all are “folk artists”
to some degree—in that we are all singers of songs, preparers of
meals, dancers of dances, and tellers of stories, jokes, and other verbal
folk arts that we picked up informally in our families, our faiths,
or communities.
4. We all have the ability to discover
folk arts in our Bahá’í communities and for honoring them by creatively
incorporating them into our proclamation, expansion and consolidation
efforts.
Outline
Informal pre-workshop activity
as people start arriving:
•
solicit help from early arrivals in cutting strings of paper
dolls for children,
•
while cutting find out who has a birthday near the date of the
workshop
•
and start singing “Happy Birthday.”
Prefacing the workshop, the group
sings “Blessed Is the Spot”
I. Our
charge from the Universal House of Justice re: the arts
Consult regarding our need to give “greater attention to the use
of the arts, not only for proclamation, but also for the work in expansion
and consolidation”
II. Regarding
the use of folk arts
Consult on the implications of “… At the level of folk art, this
possibility can be pursued in every part of the world, whether it be
in villages, towns or cities.” .
III. The study of folklore and
folkarts
Solicit and then share definitions of “folk arts” and “folk
music.”
IV. Gospel music as a folk art
tradition
Ask what make it folk art, and then share that it’s
•
learned aurally,
•
passed on informally,
•
within a community.
Seek examples from those in attendance
V. European classical music traditions
Our ethnocentric over-valuing of written art traditions.
VI. Pursuing African-American
gospel folk arts traditions in our communities
A. Seeking and supporting African-American
leadership
B. Using gospel music & other folk
art traditions in proclamation work,
•
Proclaiming who Bahá’u’lláh is
•
Announcing the Age of Fulfillment
•
Exposing others to the Word of God
•
Displaying our diversity
C. Using gospel music & other folk
traditions in expansion work
•
Teaching Bahá’í principles
•
Teaching Bahá’í history
•
Explaining the Valley of Search
•
Describe our becoming Bahá’ís
D. Using gospel music & other folk
traditions in consolidation work
•
Creating a spirit of community
•
Reminding the community of Divine assistance
•
Learning other cultural perspectives
•
Focusing us on our Perfect Exemplar (‘Abdu’l-Bahá)
VI. Other ethnic traditions in
our communities
•
African American folk arts
•
Mexican American folk arts
•
Native American folk arts
•
Asian American folk arts
•
Celtic American folk arts
VII. Following the Bahá’í
African American Gospel Music model
•
Tapping ethnic knowledge in developing ethnic devotional services
•
Letting go of learned traditions
•
European-Americans needing to learn how to follow others at times
•
Understanding oral vs. aural transmission
•
Deepening in the Bahá’í writings in overcoming learned prejudices
& behavior
VIII. Unlike the Bahá’í African
American Gospel Music model
•
Start in our local communities
•
Set limit objectives based on realistic time assessments
•
Aim for quality devotions rather than performances or concerts
•
Focus on perfecting a few quality songs/dances/…
•
Make it congregation centered rather than choir focussed
•
Start with an ethnic tradition whose members step forward
IX. What folk art traditions are
found in your communities?
What folk art traditions did you demonstrate when you 1st came in?
•
Paper doll cutting
•
Birthday celebration traditions
•
Traditional songs of your faith community
Other expressive traditions learned informally in our
communities
•
All have a tradition of folk arts.
•
Reclaiming our ethnic or cultural heritage.
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How
to Give Greater Attention to the
Use of the (Folk) Arts—Excerpt from the 153 Ridván
Message
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