To encourage students to read widely in folklore using the perspectives and questions encountered in the readings. To examine and question how folkloristics, as a discipline, and the lore itself, treats issues of gender, race, ethnicity, class, region, body type, abilities, and the like. We will thus be concerned with looking at the biases, assumptions, and values of the folklorists, the performers, and the traditions. To immerse students in a folklore collective project that requires them to establish rapport with a consultant, record folklore, transcribe it, analyze it, and try to annotate it with other versions of folklore already collected. Any unauthorized absences over three will result in a lowered grade.
Authorized absences are for serious illness, family emergencies.
Those who are very well-prepared for class, attend with fewer than three absences, and who participate actively and productively will receive A's. B's will be for students who are well-prepared but may not be as active in class discussion. All prep papers should include references to one or more of the readings for the day as they apply theories, methods, ideas, in the essays to their own analysis. The prep may be a critique of the readings through analyzing a particular item chosen by the student, or an extension of the readings. The grade will take into account the no. of preps done, the consistency of work or progress, their intellectual engagement with the readings, their engagement with new examples, and their contributions to the class discussion during the semester.