Folist

Folist is a term used to describe a person who creates, curates, and maintains curated lists of items, often with a unifying theme or purpose. Folists emphasize organization, selection criteria, and interpretive notes in addition to simply listing items. They may assemble lists that span books, music, films, artworks, tools, or online resources, and often publish these lists for others to explore.

Etymology and usage of the term are informal and vary by community. Folist appears to be a neologism formed from the concept of a folio or a collection, paired with the -ist suffix to indicate a practitioner. Because it is not widely standardized, definitions of what constitutes a folist can differ, and the term may be used interchangeably with or alongside related roles such as curator, bibliographer, or playlist creator in different contexts.

Practices commonly associated with folists include selecting items based on explicit criteria, organizing entries into thematic or topical sections, adding annotations or commentary that explain choices, and updating lists as new items become available. Folists may work within digital environments such as wikis, blogs, bookmarking platforms, or dedicated curation sites, and they may publish “folios” or similar compilations that invite community input or critique.

Relation to other terms and limitations: the concept overlaps with established roles like curator or bibliographer but centers on ongoing curation and interpretive commentary rather than merely cataloging. Because folist is not a formal or widely recognized title, individuals may choose more common descriptors depending on context. See also: curator, bibliography, playlist, listicle.