If only I could still muster even half my brain power of 30 years ago,
when I was a post grad student concerned with matters of culture, ideology, and identity...

If I could.. I'd try to understand 'folk' less by the musical genre style and content,
but place more emphasis on analysing the prevailing dominant agendas & vested interests
of self-serving commercial & academic institutions;
and the predisposition, attitudes, prejudices, and social status of performers, audience, critics, etc...

... or maybe I'd just turn the lights off, put my head in an insulated hot water bottle cosy
and scream for 10 minutes....😫