COMMUNICATION AND FOLK MEDIA

WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY FOLK MEDIA ?

The traditional Media/Folk Media means the mediums through which the cultural traits passed from generation to generation . It is born and expressed in the idiom of people’s culture and has always seemed to entertain ,educate and propagate the existing ideas and attitudes .

Keeping in view their with people at local level local media channels prove to be powerful tools of communication in rural society.

Indian folk forms have a generous mix of dialogue , dance, song , clowning ,moralizing and prayer

WHY FOLK MEDIA ?

A National Committee in its report on communication media in India said , “From the point of view of its easiest appeal to the masses and its quality of touching the deepest emotions of the illiterate millions the medium of songs and drama is matchless.”

ADVANTAGES OF FOLK MEDIA

The folk media help –High audience participationHighly impactfulAvailable at a low costHigh Interest arousal capacitySatisfy the innate desire for self expression Satisfies man’s need for moral instruction combined with entertainment.Preserve and disseminate in a lively manner ,the tradition and culture of our forefathers. Provides immense flexibilityAvailable and enjoyed by all age group people

ADVANTAGES OF FOLK MEDIA

Increased credibility and familiarity

Highly personal and intimate appeal. very close to the hearts and minds of the people owing to it’s origin to traditional beliefs , attitudes and values

Familiar format ,content and colloquial dialects brings about clarity in communication

Rapport is immediate and direct

Barriers to communication almost non existent.

In a face to face communication ,clarification of doubts is possible.

TYPE 1 : PUPPETRY

It is one of the most important traditional media Believed to be the oldest form of popular theatre in India. The term Sutradhar (string holder) in theatre is derived from puppetry.The art of puppetry is popular both as a means of education and entertainment.

The puppet can impart lessons on health, agriculture, literacy, agriculture, employment, rural youth activitiesThere are many types of Puppetry –1.String Puppetry –Originated in Rajasthan2.Glove puppets –source unknown3.Rod Puppets –originated from Orissa and Tamil Nadu4.Shadow Puppet –Orginated in Kerela and Orissa

Local dialects,active participation of local people and everyday and familiar situations make puppetry highly impactful if used in the right manner.

TYPE 1 : PUPPETRY

STRING PUPPETRY

TYPE 1 : PUPPETRY

Glove Puppets Rod Puppets

TYPE 1 : PUPPETRY

SHADOW PUPPETRY

EXAMPLES OF PUPPETRY USAGE

The Union Bank of India and Life Insurance Corporation.

IIMC

Films Division and The Children's Film Society

The Song and Drama Division

Directorate of Field Publicity

DRAMA

Good source of communication , education and entertainment.

The subject of the dramas may topical to the village and help convey solutions to various problems confronted.

The location and time of presentation should suit the convenience of the villagers.

FOLK THEATRE FORMS :TAMASHA

Extremely lively and robust form of folk theatre of Maharashtra.

In this form some topic is selected and then a chorus of 6 -8 male singers can perform and two or more female dancers make the troupe with one of them with a tabla , harmonium or an indian playing instrument.

The story part is the next element . The story of tamasha is in the form of dialogues , song , dance ,drama and is based on stories derived from the myth and folklore . It is in this section that comments are made on contempory and social problems.

The tamasha needs no elaborate stage props or costumes and place and time are suggested through gestures , movements and dialogue. Generally the female artists wear the nine yard maharashtrian sari of loud coloursand males wear kurta pyjama,dark jacket and pheta as headgear.

FOLK THEATRE FORMS :TAMASHA

FOLK THEATRE FORMS :NAUTANKI

Is a North Indian folk drama form performed on an open and bare stageDerives it’s name from Rani Nautanki of Multan whose young lover disguised himself as a women to gain entry into her chambersNautanki has a simple dramatic structure comprising small units linked by a Ranga or a sutradhar ,the narrator.The themes are derived from the ancient epics and from folklore like the tale of Laila and Manju or Sultan DakuMusic is of prime importance in this folk drama for it gives it the pace and tempo required.The main musical instruments used are the Makkara (kettle drum) and DholakThe dialogues are sung to popular folk melodies and even to popular film tunesThe dramatic forms can easily be adopted to make social and political comments on contempory events and leaders.

FOLK SONG and FOLK DANCE

The folk songs and dances help reveal individual talents of the people as well as well as the collective traditions and characters of the community and love for rhythm

Performed during special occassions like festivals,social occasions,kisanmelas and other agricultural and rural development programmes.

Folk dances are expressive of the philosophies of life.

Local Dialects ,tune and tone are used in folk songs and dances so that it is easy for people to remember and express themselves.

Folk songs and dances are entertaining in nature and can be used very effectively to replace the boredom of a serious discussion.

MELAS AND FESTIVALS

Melas are synonymous with joy and fun

A rural mela has a special significance.

It is an occasion of festivity and mass gathering as well as unbound expression of the spirit of inner freedom of creative pride of test of life and colorful traditions permeating the farmers life.

Melas and Festivals are often accompanied by field demonstrations , exhibitions(agro industrial exhibition),rural sports , question answer sessions ,recreational programmes,film shows.

Kisan Mela and Kisan Diwas have turned out to be important festivals.

STORY TELLING /KEERTANA/HARIKATHA/RIDDLES/PROVERBS

Story Telling is one of the best and most commonly used method of instruction in informal education , religious propaganda , rural development etc.Keertana or Harikatha is a kind of concentrated drama in which one gifted actor enters swiftly into a whole series of characters ,moods and managers . It is believed to have spread from Maharashtra to Karnataka and Tamil Nadu 150 yrs ago . It is found to be closely associated with the bhakti movement and used by Kabir and Tukaram.Riddles are educational device through which elders used to communicate knowledge and help in conveying real message of technology ,crop cultivation and home making.Agricultural games designed to help learn something while they are enjoying themselves.Some popular games –Snakes and Ladders,Playing Cards.Proverbs predominate oral civilization and represent the essence of rural wisdom and knowledge.

BIOSCOPE /MUNADI /WALL PAINTINGS/

Bioscope –consists of a box made of light wood . It contains quite a number of folding doors ,each like a panel hinged on one side with another panel with colorful figures and mythological episodes and incarnations of gods and goddesses . It helps in conveying the people of educational messages like vegetable preservation ,mosquito control ,cultivation of different crops etc.

Munadi –In this form the drum is beaten and the attention of the audience is arrested and then the message delivered. The medium is used to inform the people about some happenings like extension activities ,meeting .

Wall Paintings –refers to the practice of drawing or writing on walls . It helps in reaching out to the illiterate masses. The power of picture and it’s local touch with the strong emotional appeal

Literature –The vedas and other literature sources are often used methodology to communicate with the mass.

RESEARCH REQUIREMENT and MODERN MEDIA

The traditional media should be an integral part of the development programme

Many traditional forms of communication are dying of onslaught of modern mass media.

The traditional media is personal , familiar and more credible with which the majority of literate and illiterate people in the villages identify themselves.

Need to be used with understanding and sensitivity.

A deliberate distortion can alienate the masses and lead to vulgarization.

Folk forms are community and language specific and bear values and norms which need to be taken into account.

MODERN MEDIA AND THE FOLK MEDIA

The traditional media can be a potent tool of communication if appropriately integrated with the modern mass media.

The learning process can become more interesting and permanent

The traditional media infused with new themes and ideas can be source of pride to the rural people who may not feel home in a world of modern mass media.

At the same time folk entertainments can provide fresh and interesting programme material for the mass media making them more acceptable to both the rural and urban audiences.

RESEARCH REQUIREMENT and MODERN MEDIA

MODERN MEDIA AND THE FOLK MEDIA

•Identify and elaborate atleast 5 types of folk songs ,folk dance and folk theatres of various states in India

•The traditional media can be a potent tool of communication if appropriately integrated with the modern mass media.Elaborate

CLASS ASSIGNMENT