In folklorist studies, which perspective was prevalent during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries?

The prevalent perspective in folklorist studies during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was the absolutist perspective. This viewpoint emphasized the idea that folk traditions, tales, and practices had intrinsic value and were considered significant and stable within their own cultural contexts. Absolutists believed that these traditions were manifestations of a society's identity and cultural heritage, often treating them as unchanging relics that reflected historical realities.

During this period, many folklorists focused on collecting and preserving these stories and traditions, believing they revealed universal truths about human experience. This focus on the inherent value of folk narratives often led to romanticizing rural and peasant cultures as the keepers of pure, authentic cultural expressions.

The other perspectives, such as contextualism or relativism, which emphasize the importance of context and the multiplicity of interpretations, gained more prominence in the later twentieth century as folklorists began to acknowledge the dynamic and evolving nature of folklore in society.