1992 00 00 Journal of American Folklore - Vol 105 No 416 - Bill Ellis

Magazine Overview

This document is a review section from the *Journal of American Folklore*, Volume 105, Issue 416, published in Spring 1992 by the American Folklore Society. The reviews, authored by Bill Ellis and Tracy M. Lord, cover several books related to folklore, paranormal phenomena, and alternative belief systems.

Book Reviews

Review of "New Age Encyclopedia" and "UFOs in the 1980s: The UFO Encyclopedia, Volume 1"

Bill Ellis reviews two significant reference works: J. Gordon Melton's *New Age Encyclopedia* and Jerome Clark's *UFOs in the 1980s*. Ellis argues that folklorists should be interested in these books because they organize vast amounts of popular literature on mystical experiences, unorthodox healing, and puzzling phenomena, which are related to traditional folklore. He notes that these works also highlight active networks of believers and investigators, which constitute folk groups whose dynamics are often undocumented.

Ellis finds Melton's *New Age Encyclopedia* to be a valuable addition to reference works on alternative religions. He highlights its comprehensive coverage of the New Age movement, tracing its roots back to the 19th century and detailing various aspects like holistic healing (including herbal medicine, macrobiotics, and Reich's orgone therapy), Wiccan or Neo-Pagan movements, and paranormal interests such as UFO abductions and past-life therapy. The book is noted for its detailed entries, cross-referencing, and bibliographies, though the index format is found to be a drawback.

In contrast, Ellis finds Jerome Clark's *UFOs in the 1980s* less satisfactory as an encyclopedia, though still worth consulting. He criticizes its organization, noting that it provides fewer entries on specific cases and individuals compared to other works like Margaret Sachs's *The UFO Encyclopedia*. Ellis also points out arbitrary criteria for inclusion and omissions, such as the exclusion of David Hufford and Peter Rojcewicz, and the lack of a dedicated entry for 'crop circles'. Despite these criticisms, Ellis acknowledges that Clark, as editor of *International UFO Reporter*, has developed a more reflexive approach to paranormal research, encouraging skepticism while maintaining that mundane explanations are not always sufficient.

Clark's work is characterized by a combative tone, engaging with both 'hard skeptics' and enthusiasts. Ellis highlights Clark's summary of the 'MJ-12' affair as particularly useful. Clark also discusses psychological explanations for UFO encounters, arguing that they often fail to pay attention to empirical evidence and are sometimes matters of faith rather than science.

Ellis concludes that both books provide fair introductions to beliefs and phenomena at the heart of American contemporary folklore, making previously distributed information more accessible and suggesting more sympathetic and productive research approaches.

Review of "Les Productions symboliques du pouvoir" and "Domination and the Arts of Resistance: Hidden Transcripts"

Tracy M. Lord reviews two volumes that examine the interface between classes and power dynamics in relation to folklore. "Les Productions symboliques du pouvoir," edited by Laurier Turgeon, and James C. Scott's "Domination and the Arts of Resistance: Hidden Transcripts" are discussed.

Lord notes that these books share an inquiry into power in relation to folklore and exhibit a functional disciplinary ambiguity. They challenge traditionally aestheticized, ideologically 'neutral' categories in social studies, emphasizing the importance of considering how folklore and folk life situate themselves within broader social and institutional frameworks. Unlike anthropology, which has engaged in significant auto-critique regarding epistemological grounding, folklore has, according to Lord, been somewhat spared this introspection, perhaps due to the concept of 'folk' producing its own marginalization.

Lord suggests that folklore offers a space to move beyond disciplinary obsessions and engage with multiplistic discourse. The two reviewed volumes are seen as contributing to this trend by refiguring the concept of 'folk' and examining the subtle and urgent gravity of 'anthropos'. The reviewed works explore how folklore serves as a space from which to 'skip' self-consciousness and move into a realm of multiplistic discourse, refiguring power dynamics and resistance.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The *Journal of American Folklore* consistently engages with the study of contemporary belief systems, paranormal phenomena, and the social and cultural contexts of folklore. The reviews in this issue highlight the journal's interest in how these phenomena are documented, analyzed, and understood within academic discourse. The editorial stance appears to favor rigorous, evidence-based scholarship that acknowledges the complexity of belief systems and avoids reductionist explanations, while also recognizing the value of folklore in understanding diverse aspects of human experience and social dynamics. The journal encourages interdisciplinary approaches and critical self-reflection within the field.