ENGL 244 - Introduction to Folklore

General Education Elective

3 Credits

Folklore is the culture that takes shape in everyday social life. Not all of us are specialists, but all of us tell stories, shape our environments, cultivate communities, and take care of our souls and our bodies. The forms of folklore circulate from person to person and group to group, adapting to every change of situation; they lend themselves to a wide array of social purposes. This course provides an orientation to the basic stuff, methods, concepts, and stakes of folklore studies. We’ll examine “lore of the folk”, taking special notice of the folklore in your own life. You’ll learn the basics of these folkloristic skills including, but not limited to: interpreting culture, field observation and ethnography, documentation and accessioning rigorous listening and interviewing, understanding diversity, as well as connecting vernacular and codified expression.

Prerequisites: ENGL 101 with a grade of C- or higher.