hufolk1-1, Exercise 1: Why "folk" is contested

Model answer:

"Folk" is contested because the word was largely applied by educated outsiders, while the makers rarely saw their work as a separate "art". The objects were made for use, not for display, so the line between craft and art is blurred. They were also made by communities and not named individuals, which sits awkwardly with the usual idea of an artist, and they were tied to particular places, so a single "national folk art" hides a patchwork of local styles. Any two of these ideas, explained clearly, are enough.