Children's and Youth Lore as a Youth Educational Revolt

Authors

• Laura Hokkanen Mikkelin ammattikorkeakoulu

Abstract

Children's and young people's folklore, their own oral tradition, is an active and growing cultural area, despite the increasing urbanisation of the society. The main focus of the article is to analyse some digital folklore examples, which are not allowed for the ears of adults. This children's and youth folklore covers topics such as taboos, racism, sexual and forbidden themes. At the same time these jokes, urban legends, riddles, photo manipulations, tongue-twisters etc. offer us interesting insights into young people's way of coping with horrible happenings in the world like human suffering, wars, school shootings or catastrophes. They show us young people's own world, children's and young people's social area, without adults' custody or propriety. In some cases folklore may also be a revolt against moral norms in society and adults' way of thinking and living.