Bob McDowall
Bob McDowall is a former president of the Folkore Society, but is also engaged in the research and analysis of cryptocurrencies and the technology which supports their operation. He is a fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute (RAI) and is a member of the RAI Finance and Administration Committee.
The Political Orthodoxy of Folklore
This article presents an historical examination of the political orthodoxy of folklore from the middle of 19th century when the
Digital Literacy: Its Application to Folklore Studies
Digital Literacy refers to the ability and competence of individuals to research, evaluate and compose clear information through writing and
Folklore & the Law: Does the Law Protect Folklore?
This article examines the proposition “Does the law protect folklore?” by examining the legal models and processes to protect the
New Funding Models for Folklore Research & Studies
Lack of academic funding has marginalised the study of folklore in comparison to other disciplines and to our own colleagues
The Significance of the New Year in Folklore
New Year’s festivity dates back some 4,000 years to ancient Babylon, connecting religion and mythology. In ancient Babylon, the new
Mead: Customs and Traditions
Historically, distilling was an art, as well as an arcane type of magic, regulated by custom, law, and superstition. Certain
The Folklore of Gin
This articles examines the myths and legends which surround the distillation, sales and consumption of gin.
AI: The Folklore of Artificial Intelligence
This article examines the myths and legends which surround Artificial Intelligence.
English Folklore: What Cultural Values Does It Represent?
In broad terms, folklore—or rather its constituents—comprise legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales, stories, tall tales,
Bloodletting and Bleeding: The History and Legends of This Health Cure
For thousands of years, physicians relied heavily on a single treatment for hysteria, heart disease and just about every other
The Folklore of Cryptocurrencies: Alchemy Revisited? (Or: How myths and legends can grow in under 10 years)
This article examines the myths and legends which have grown in the very short period since the incarnation of crypto-currencies.