民俗学艺术论题的转向——从民间艺术到支撑人之“生”的艺术(vernacular艺术)

Artistic Turn in Folkloristics:From“Folk Art”to“Vernacular Art”

民俗学研究中关于艺术的讨论通常是在民间艺术或民俗艺术概念之下展开的。然而,这类议论往往深受传统与历史性的束缚,普通人在生活世界里所制作的平凡作品很少有机会能被视作"艺术"。要使这样略失偏颇的论题实现在现代社会中的转向,vernacular艺术这个概念应能发挥效用。它所指的,是并不自许为"艺术家"的普通人受难以抑制的创作冲动所驱使而作成的艺术;是在那原本与正统艺术世界的制度、权力或权威无涉的世界里,自学习得艺术技能与知识的人们苦心巧思而成的艺术。它是呈现在普通人生活现场与路上的艺术,有时亦是支撑人生、充实生活的艺术,是寻回新生、填补生命的艺术。在民俗学中采用vernacular艺术这一视点时,艺术本身并不是真正需要我们考察的对象。我们应当考察的是艺术背后人们千姿百态的生活形象与方式,是他们别具特征的人生观与人性,这些都是极好的研究材料。另外,将"艺术家"的个人史与其生活社会的当代史加以描述,从中亦能生长出研究的良材。

In the field of folkloristics,discussions of"art"mainly happen within the framework of"folk art".As these discussions tend to be bound by thought of tradition or historic heritage,works created in the life world of ordinary people are hardly seen as"art."To argue against these biased thoughts in modern society,the concept of"vernacular art"can be effective.Vernacular art is created by those who do not even recognize themselves as"artists,"and is fueled by their unstoppable creative impulse.It is the work of the people who use their ingenuity to make artworks,with self-taught skills and knowledge,in their own life worlds,which are not defined by the system,power and authority of the orthodox art world.Vernacular art is the art that presents itself in ordinary people’s daily routine and different stages of their lives.People find support and fulfillment of their lives in vernacular art;they also use vernacular art to revive and mend their lives.When employing the concept of vernacular art in folklore studies,we should look through the artworks in order to see all the diverse attitudes toward life,and ways of leading it,to see the distinctive humanities and worldviews hidden behind the artworks.Those,rather than the artworks per se,are the data desired by folklorists.Besides,thick descriptions of vernacular artists’life histories and their contemporary societies enable promising researches as well.