Towards a cultural history: notes on contemporary Volkskunde (folklore) in German-speaking countries.

The article considers the integration of folklore studies into social and cultural history. Richard Weiss' works on folklore research focused on the characteristics of the folk persons who are enmeshed in the folkways in communal binding and tradition-faithfulness. But his categorization demanded the need to apply historical examination. Rudolf Braun and Arnold Niederer both attacked Weiss' concepts of folkways. Hans Morer provided an analysis of contemporary culture to construct the structure and functions of particular customary practice.