FOLK 101 001 Introduction to Folklore

Steve Winick
Lecture: Monday, Wednesday 11:00-12:00
Contact: swinick@sas.upenn.edu

Registration required for both lecture and recitation
General Requirement II: History and Tradition

Far from being hidden or ‘dying’, folklore thrives in public and private spheres, both in everyday life and in extraordinary situations. This course will explore spaces, times, and groups in which folklore materials can be observed. Placing special emphasis on the emergent aspect of folklore, we will examine its dynamic among different age, gender, ethnic and class groups. Individual and communal creativity, as well as continuity and change will emerge as important concepts as we look at the ways in which people communicate with each other not only through narratives, proverbs, sermons, and jokes but also through displays of the body, of house and street, the exchange of food, and the performance of music and dance during festivals and processions. The incorporation of folklore in tourist attractions, school education programs, government projects, advertisement and museums calls for a re-examination of the values and meaning of folklore in contemporary society, especially in a world that is celebrating globalization and is concerned with multiculturalism and identity politics. Lectures will be complimented with audio and visual materials. For a term project, students will learn first hand about the folklorist’s craft by documenting and analyzing folklore materials in their own local cultures.

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