INTRODUCTION TO FOLKLORE

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Folklore | F101 | 0318 | Johnson
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<br>The course will consist of five units, beginning with a short history of the theories, schools, and methods of the field of folkloristics. The second unit will explore some of the more common oral forms of folklore, such as the folktale (including its most important American form, the joke), the legend (including its most important American form, the urban folk legend), the epic, the proverb, and the riddle. The third unit will briefly discuss gestural forms of folklore, including hand gestures and folk dance. A fourth unit will deal with some of the forms of material folklore, such as arts and crafts, weaving, and folk costumes. Mention will also be made at this point of some of the  more peripheral forms of folklore, such as graffiti (including latrinalia) and xeroxalia. Customary folklore will be included in the fifth and final unit. Main topics to be covered here are folk festivals and folk gaming. The course will conclude with a lecture on the total effect of all these forms on society, including discussions of the important term weltanschauung (worldview).
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<br>Fulfills a COAS Arts and Humanities, Traditions and Ideas distribution
<br>requirement.

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Folklore | MIDDLE EASTERN FOLKLORE
<br>F307 | 2531 | El-Shamy
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<br>Intensive I (5/8-5/24) Gender and the Family.  Emphasis in this course is
<br>placed on the family, family values, and familial relations. Gender
<br>(female-male/woman-man) and age (adult-child) differences are explored as
<br>they are expressed in such folkloric forms as prose folk narratives, songs,
<br>proverbs, and riddles. Other aspects of lore, such as spirit possession and
<br>exorcism, will be presented. Similarities and differences with Western
<br>(Euro-American) counterparts are highlighted.
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<br>Major topics treated: I.  INTRODUCING THE MIDDLE-EAST; II  PARENTS AND
<br>PATERNAL FIGURES; III. COURTSHIP AND MARITAL RELATIONS; IV. WOMEN IN
<br>PATRIARCHAL/POLYGYNOUS COMMUNITY; V. SIBLINGS AND COUSINS; VI. UNCLES AND
<br>AUNTS (Paternal and Maternal)
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<br>Text books:
<br>H. El-Shamy,--Tales Arab Women Tell: And the Behavioral Patterns they
<br>Portray. (Indiana University Press, 1999).
<br>H. El-Shamy,--Folktales of Egypt, with Middle Eastern and African
<br>Parallels. (University of Chicago Press, 1980).
<br>Requirements:  Exams 2: Take home, Mid-term Final; ONE book report.
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<br>Fulfills a COAS Arts and Humanities, Traditions and Ideas distribution
<br>requirement and is on List A for the COAS Culture Studies requirement.

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Folklore | CHILDREN'S FOLKLORE
<br>F364 | 0322 | Staff
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<br>The traditional rhymes, riddles, stories, games, folklife, or music
<br>associated with "the culture of childhood."  The role these forms play in
<br>peer-group activity and in the social and cognitive development of the
<br>child.  May be repeated once when topics vary.
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<br>Fulfills a COAS Arts and Humanities, Traditions and Ideas distribution
<br>requirement and is on List A for the COAS Culture Studies requirement.

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Folklore | INDIVIDUAL STUDY IN FOLKLORE
<br>F400 | 0323 | McDowell
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<br>Authorization is required to register for this course.  P:  Must have
<br>consent of the faculty member supervising research.  Students enrolled in
<br>this course will work under the close supervision of a faculty member.
<br>Projects may entail fieldwork, archival or library research, or a
<br>combination of these methods, subject to mutual agreement between the
<br>student and the supervising faculty member.

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Folklore | PRACTICUM IN FOLKLORE/ETHNOMUSICOLOGY
<br>F403 | 0325 | McDowell
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<br>Authorization is required to register for this course.  P. Consent of
<br>instructor.  This course is graded on a deferred R grade basis.
<br>Individualized, supervised work in publicly oriented programs in folklore or
<br>ethnomusicology, such as public arts agencies, museums, historical
<br>commissions, and archives. Relevant readings and written reports required.

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Folklore | FOLK STORIES
<br>F420 | 0326 | Dolby
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<br>In this course, we read, discuss, and write about some of the many kinds of
<br>folk stories found throughout the world.  The course fills the intensive
<br>writing requirement of the COAS, so the major evaluation criteria are
<br>attached to writing assignments.  Students must also register in COAS W333.
<br>There will be some attention given to reviewing rules of grammar and good
<br>writing.  Students should expect to read the equivalent of a book every two
<br>weeks; however, the readings are mostly collections of narrative rather than
<br>analytical essays.  Typically we shall examine collections of Norwegian
<br>folktales, American urban legends, ancient Greek fables, as well as a few
<br>Native American myths and some contemporary examples of jokes and personal
<br>narratives brought together as a class project.
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<br>Fulfills a COAS Arts and Humanities, Traditions and Ideas distribution
<br>requirement.

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Folklore | RESEARCH IN FOLKLORE
<br>F800 | 0328 | McDowell
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<br>Authorization is required to register for this course.  This course is
<br>designed to allow advanced students to receive credit for independent work
<br>done with the permission and supervision of a
<br>member of the faculty.

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Folklore | PRACTICUM IN FOLKLORE/ETHNOMUSICOLOGY
<br>F803 | 0330 | McDowell
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<br>Authorization is required to register for this course.  This course is
<br>graded on deferred R grade basis.  P: Consent of instructor. Individualized, supervised work in publicly oriented programs in folklore or ethnomusicology, such as public art agencies, museums, historical
<br>commissions, and archives. Relevant readings and written report required. May be repeated.

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Folklore | THESIS/PROJECT/DISSERTATION
<br>F850 | 0331 | McDowell
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<br>Thesis/Project credit for M.A. students writing a thesis or completing a
<br>master's project  (a maximum of 6 cr. hours) and Ph.D. candidates (a maximum of 30 cr. hours).