New Folk Restaurant in Hungary

Unit 4: Folk and Popular Culture  

1/13/17

Original article can be found here 

Synopsis:

          Recently, in Budapest, Hungary a restaurant named Urban Betyár had its grand opening. However, this isn’t a traditional restaurant that you would see anywhere in Hungary. Instead, it is unique in that it focuses on the folk food of Hungary. They focus on getting the freshest ingredients, and the best recipes in order to provide natives as well as foreigners with a blast from Hungary’s past. Even the way the restaurant and furniture is set up makes it seem very antique and historic. The restaurant has invested a lot into the aesthetic of the restaurant as well as staff training, and of course the food. In their lower level, they also have a folk culture museum that customers can visit. This is something that no other restaurant has even attempted and it is right in the city. The inspiration behind this idea stems from the viewpoint that Hungarian food is greasy and salty. So, the creator decided to create a restaurant that would go back to the roots and the essence of Hungary itself.

Analysis:

          The newly opened restaurant Urban Betyár, focuses on folk food rather than the popular food that other places offer. The name itself has some historical significance. Betyár is a term used to describe Hungarian outlaws that became famous and had folk songs and ballads dedicated to them. They operated outside of what was traditional, which is what the restaurant is doing. It wants to bring back those things that are so essential to Hungarian history. Urban in the beginning of the name represents that they are in modern times in the middle of the city of Budapest, but then Betyár comes into play with the folk significance. The restaurant works with traditional ingredients. They like to be as authentic as possible and true to Hungarian history, however they still find difficulties because it is not the most accessible. One of their most popular appetizers thus far is an artisan cheese platter. The cheese in that dish comes from an authentic Hungarian artisan cheese monger. Another popular dish is the smoked trout. The trout comes from Szilvásvárad (village in northeastern Hungary) and is fresh. The Hungarian wine has also been pretty popular because most people appreciate how vintage it is and that it is from true suppliers. What this restaurant is doing is risky and unique. Venturing off from the status quo and creating a restaurant like this does not happen too often so it is really interesting to see that people like it. In class we learned that in modern day society folk culture isn’t appreciated as much as it used to be, and is often dismissed among the general public. Therefore, this is why it is nice to see this restaurant at the heart of the capital of Hungary. People who have visited have said that the whole atmosphere of the place takes you back to the roots of the country. The folk culture museum in the lower level is especially important as well because this restaurant is giving people a chance to learn. They have a woman’s room where there are items associated with women back then like spindles. They have a traditional “tiszta szoba” which translates to clean room and is representative of the nicest room in a traditional Hungarian peasant house. There are interactive displays all throughout the museum so that people can listen to stories related to the artifacts in front of them. There are writings in both original Hungarian and translations so that people can get a deeper look into the culture. Overall, what this restaurant is doing by exposing people to the folk culture of Hungary is incredibly unique and truly amazing. It keeps the culture alive and stops it from dying forever. By continuing to share these things from the culture, it ensures its diffusion and stops its disappearance.

Decreasing Folk Traditions in Japan

Unit 4: Folk and Popular Culture  

1/6/17

Original article can be found here 

Synopsis:

          Folk culture is found all over the world in different forms. In Japan, the population celebrates its old traditions by throwing festivals and having events. However, recently the number of these events have decreased. People don’t seem to appreciate these celebrations as much as they used to because the new generation isn’t accustomed to them. Over time these traditions are being shared less and enjoyed by a smaller amount of people. Recently, sixty traditional festivals have been terminated due to the aging population and the decline of the number of people in rural communities. Not only are the traditions not being passed because of a lack of people, but in other areas of Japan the population isn’t even interested in learning about them. Overall, folk culture in Japan is not being maintained as well as used to be.

Analysis:

          Folk traditions in Japan have been decreasing because of a variety of factors. First of all, the younger population just doesn’t appreciate the old traditions as much as the generation before them did. According to the Cultural Affairs Agency, 6,264 events are in a suspended state all across the country. Some specific events that have been discontinued include Kagura which is a Shinto music and dance in the city of Shiroi. Additionally, Shishimai, a lion dance has also been discontinued. The problem is especially more prevalent in rural areas because of the population that is dying off. There aren’t enough people to keep these traditions alive. Many residents across Japan have expressed their feelings of sadness at the end of these traditions but they feel like there is nothing they can do. However, some communities have taken the steps to keep these traditions alive in other parts of Japan by teaching children in school about them at a young age and instilling in them this important part of Japanese culture. Since folk culture spreads very slowly compared to popular culture it is sometimes difficult to continue spreading it. It essentially diffuses from one generation to the next but in the case of the Japanese, the next generation is not receptive to receiving it. Folk culture comes from anonymous hearths so it is important to keep it alive since it can’t be traced back to its original source. If the Japanese do not continue to spread their traditions they will eventually disappear forever. We talked in class about how folk culture is harder to maintain and preserve than popular culture. Therefore, with no one taking these Japanese traditions with them when they relocate, the culture of the separate communities in Japan will not be recorded anywhere and will therefore cease to exist. Overall, if nothing is done about the decrease of folk festivals in Japan the distinctive cultures and traditions of the country will not be preserved.