Word on the Street

Imagine you are sitting in a tee-pee with a story teller of your tribe as he tells you stories that have been passed down from generation to generation. He tells you about moving from place to place, the art of finding and using buffalo as a resource, and many more stories. His stories can be described as folklore. Folklore is described as something that is handed down from generation to generation, usually not written down. Folklore can be looked at as being old and from the past, but in reality our way of life contributes to folklore and how the future generations see the world. I came across this short clip from the Jimmy Kimmel show that is an example how folklore can be passed from individual to individual. While Jimmy Kimmel's show wouldn't be considered folklore itself what he is asking these individuals on the street is a good example. This particular clip, his crew is asking the public what GMO's are and why they avoid them.  His findings are comical and interesting. 

After watching this short video I found myself answering the questions that Jimmy Kimmel asks. I found that a lot of my understanding has come from what I have heard in my own family and peer group. As I have studied the topic I have found that some of the information that I heard from these individuals are true and some of it is more personal opinion from whomever I was talking too. I came to realize how important it is that we check our sources and not believe everything we hear about a topic because it could possibly not be true. The information about GMO's is a great example of skewed ideas and often incorrect information passed from one individual to another. A recent study has shown that 43% of Americans could correctly identify what genetically modified foods are (Branson, 2013). I would imagine that a lot of the perceptions of these individuals come from what they hear from friends and acquaintances.  GMO's have become information passed from around and in a way, turned into its own folklore, as the idea goes from person to person. Whether that information is true or false, it will continue on its way through history and continue to be told from generation to generation. 

Worked Cited:

Branson, K. (2013, November 1). Most Americans Pay Little Attention to Genetically Modfied Foods, Survey Says. Retrieved June 8, 2018, from Rutgers Today: https://news.rutgers.edu/research-news/most-americans-pay-little-attention-genetically-modified-foods-survey-says/20131101#.Wxq_-C_MzMI

Kimmel, J. (2014, October 9). What a GMO? Jimmy Kimmel Live. Los Angles , CA, USA.