Cecil Sharp and the Curation of English Folksong

Cecil Sharp's work in collecting English folksong is examined through a Marxist lens, revealing it as a project deeply intertwined with British nationalism and cultural hegemony. The analysis argues that Sharp's curation was not a neutral act but selectively shaped a vision of Englishness that reinforced class hierarchies and imperialist ideologies. Sharp's focus on rural traditions and sanitization of lyrics served to depoliticize folk music, making it palatable for the bourgeoisie and obscuring the realities of working-class life. The essay suggests that Sharp's construction of British identity served to assert the superiority of English traditions, contrasting them with other cultures. Ultimately, the text encourages a critical re-evaluation of Sharp's legacy, advocating for a reclamation of folk traditions as expressions of working-class resistance and collective memory.Houston Creative Media