Presence and the “Work” of Cultural Transmission in Folklore Studies

In a classic book of the same name, Joshua Fishman (2006) writes, “Do not leave your language alone.” His idea that language vitality requires the language community’s intentional efforts could easily be applied to culture as well. In the face of unprecedented threats— including (but not limited to) climate- and politically-induced migration, economic pressures, and the attractions of new forms of cultural production in an increasingly networked world—sustaining cultures and the communities that maintain them requires active, intentional “work.” Doing this “work” relies also on presence in and direct engagement with communities. Too often, however, I have encountered people simply resigned to cultural and linguistic shift. Mei banfa没办法. Bkod pa medབཀོད་པ་མེད།, “There’s nothing to be done.” Building on observations from fieldwork with Tibetans in Western China during the summer and fall of 2023, this article articulates a vision of cultural transmission that builds out from essential principles of presence and “work.”