JAF Quarterly's Summer 2025 Issue Explores Power, Emotion, and Community in Folklore
The Summer 2025 issue of JAF: A Global Quarterly (Vol. 138, no. 549) is set to arrive in subscribers' mailboxes and online platforms. This issue delves into a range of topics, including power dynamics in folk songs, the mixed affects of joy and mourning in performances, and the challenges in community-institutional partnerships. Notably, it features two articles exploring gender, performance, and power. Kalrav Vashishtha and Tulika Chandra's article examines power dynamics in North Indian women's folk songs, while Zahra Abedinezhad's piece explores the complex emotions of joy and mourning in Iranian Muharram performances. Meanwhile, Sarah M. Gordon and Jasper Waugh-Quasebarth discuss the intricacies of community-institutional partnerships in folklore. The issue also includes Mathilde Frances Lind's essay on folklorists' safety in the field, focusing on preparing and supporting students and junior colleagues. A team of researchers detail a graphic novel project aimed at humanizing people who use drugs and destigmatizing drug use. Deeksha Nagar shares her experiences using folklore training to serve immigrants and refugees in Colorado. John Fenn and Michelle Stefano's essay explores the impacts and sustainability of the Community Collections Grant program. Five Perspectives essays tackle complex issues in public folklore amidst changing social and political contexts. The Summer 2025 issue of JAF: A Global Quarterly offers a rich tapestry of insights into various aspects of folklore, from power dynamics and emotional performances to safety in the field and community engagement. It is a testament to the journal's commitment to exploring the multifaceted world of folklore in the 21st century.
