FOLK 702 004 - Field Practicum in Public Folklore

Mary Hufford
Seminar: TBA
Contact: mhufford@sas.upenn.edu

This practicum is offered in conjunction with field projects undertaken by the Center for Folklore and Ethnography, in partnership with a cultural agency, organization, or program outside of the University. Under the tutelage of a faculty member, students will gain experience carrying out community research and presenting the results to the project partners. Students may bring a pre-formed partnership to the practicum, or they can participate in a CFE project. The project for the spring of 2004 is an ethnographic assessment of local community assets within the boundaries of the New and Gauley National Rivers. With funding from the National Park Service, participating students will design and carry out documentary fieldwork in communities along the New River Gorge National River during spring break. Readings for the practicum will include writings by anthropologists and folklorists on ethnographic projects conducted in and around National Parks, as well as a variety of readings and films designed to acquaint students with issues in southern West Virginia. Students will develop practical skills in audio and visual recording technology and GIS mapping through workshops with specialists. Following eight days of time in the field, students will work on processing the materials of fieldwork, and analyzing the results. A limited number of internships will be available during the summer of 2004 for students enrolled in this seminar.

A useful prequel to this course is Folklore 650, Folklore and Critical Regionalism. Offered in the Fall of 2003, this graduate seminar (Folklore 650) will draw on social and critical theory to explore the history of folklore’s relationship to nation-building, the democratic public sphere project, and the formation of regional publics. Advanced undergraduates may enroll by permission only.

 
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