On Becoming Folklorists in a Political Storm

Abstract Written by graduate students in George Mason University's Folklore Studies program, this collaborative essay reflects on the intersection of academic life, political instability, and professional identity in the wake of the 2024 presidential election in the United States. It explores how the current political climate endangers core folkloristic values—community, diversity, and cultural expression—while simultaneously reinforcing the importance of solidarity and resilience. Through personal narrative, the authors articulate the precarity faced by emerging folklorists, particularly in proximity to federal institutions and under shifting ideological pressures. They call for greater collaboration across academic and public spheres, emphasizing humor, creative expression, and grassroots engagement as tools for resistance and continuity. Ultimately, the essay asserts the enduring relevance of folklore as both a methodology and a mode of survival, and positions the authors as committed participants in sustaining the field through collective action and care.