Nowe drogi i stare problemy współczesnej folklorystyki

Abstract

In the first part of this chapter I refer to the concept of folklore contained in the works of Józef Burszta and recapitulate an ongoing discussion in Poland on the subject of folklore research paying particular attention to the ambiguous and changing way of understanding the key concept of the meaning of the text. In the second part I analyse the selected works and concepts concerning the Internet study of folklore (netlore, e-folklore, electronic folklore), concluding that they are characterized by a specific duality: some researchers try to narrow down the concept of the Internet folklore to the certain ways of expression of Internet users (ie. jokes, urban legends, chain letters), others include within its scope all vernacular (spontaneous, informal, unprofessional) forms of activities of Internet users.