ENGH 315: Folklore and Folklife

ENGH 315-001: Folklore and Folklife
(Fall 2011)

01:30 PM to 02:45 PM MW

Section Information for Fall 2011

"Folklore is informally learned, unofficial knowledge about the world, ourselves, our communities, our beliefs, our cultures and our traditions, that is expressed creatively through words, music, customs, actions, behaviors and materials.  It is also the interactive, dynamic process of creating, communicating, and performing as we share that knowledge with other people."

This course offers an introduction to the core concepts, research skills, and subject materials of the discipline of folklore.  We investigate the complexities underlying the unofficial cultural expressions that we are all involved in creating and performing in the context of our everyday lives.  These cultural expressions, transmitted informally, through interpsonal communication, include everything from legends, jokes and songs. to crafts, foodways and festivals.  We explore our individual and group identities, values and beliefs.

We begin by looking at the chraracteristics and existing definitons of folklore, discussing such concepts as folk groups, identity, tradition, perfomance and creativity.  We also consider the practicalities of conducting folklore research, including fieldwork, archiving and ethical issues.  We go on to survey some of the major expressive forms that folklorists study, organized according to the broad genre categories of verbal, customary and material folklore.  Case studies and associated readings are drawn from a variety of groups and tradition within the Americas and beyond.  Class discussions, audiovisual materials and in-class activities all contribute to our exploration of the course content.

The classes, readings and assignments in this course are designed to equip you to recognize, document and analyze the folklore in your own lives and those of others.  Throughout the course, the study of individual genres is combined with an attention to overarching concepts and themes that help us to understand how folklore operates in context, and its functions and meanings for those who create and disseminate it.  Possible course readings include Georges and Jones's Folklorists: An Introduction, plus a selection of articles from folklore and related disciplines.  Course requirements include a series of short assignments that engage you in the folklore field research skills, and a term paper which includes analysis and interpretation of the materials you collect.

Course Information from the University Catalog