305 Ingraham Hall, 1155 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706; 608/265-3514; fax 608/265-8110; folklore@mailplus.wisc.edu; www.folklore.wisc.edu
Professors Leary (director), Anderson, Atis, DuBois, George, Gordon, Narayan, Niles, Radano, Rao, Scheub, Sutton, Wolf; Associate Professors Martin, Schenck, Valentine; Assistant Professors Garlough, Gilmore, Howard; Associate Lecturer Choy; Lecturer, Mellor; Faculty Associate Olson
Undergraduate advisor for the certificate: Assistant Professor Christine Garlough, 6132 Vilas Hall, 262-8760, clgarlough@wisc.edu
Faculty diversity liaison: Professor James Leary, 306 Ingraham Hall, 262-8107, jpleary@wisc.edu
Folklore is a multidisciplinary field of study concerned with the documentation and analysis of verbal, customary, musical, material, and performance traditions, primarily as they are practiced within cultures, but also as they are revived, modified, even invented by artists, educators, entrepreneurs, activists, communities, and states. The Folklore Program offers courses on folklore forms, practitioners, performances, theory, methods, and public presentation, with an emphasis on cross-cultural and interdisciplinary approaches. Students interested in folklore as an area of concentration typically major in an arts, humanities, or social science discipline. No formal undergraduate major is offered in folklore, but by planning a course of study with the program's undergraduate advisor, a student may design an individual major with a folklore concentration. Undergraduate students may also earn a Certificate in Folklore.
The certificate in folklore is available to students working for a baccalaureate degree in any UW-Madison school or college, and to Special students. The purpose of the certificate is to acquaint students with the nature of folklore, its study, its public presentation, and its relations to a range of human experiences, intellectual currents, and professional endeavors.
The certificate requires 21 credits, including at least one course from each of the following four clusters:
At least four courses must be at the 300 level or above. Directed Study (399) may be used to satisfy one cluster requirement, but only with the approval of the certificate advisor and the director of the Folklore Program. Certificate seekers are urged to consult the undergraduate advisor at the earliest possible opportunity.
Not all courses are offered on a regular basis. Please check with the Folklore Program office for information on specific courses.
100 Introduction to Folklore. I; 3 cr (e-H-E). Surveys folklore in the United States and around the world, with a comparative emphasis on ways in which individuals and groups use beliefs, songs, stories, sayings, dances, festivals, and artifacts to address issues of identity, authenticity, and authority, in complex societies. P: Open to Fr.
102 Introduction to Comparative Ethnic Studies. (Crosslisted with Chicla) Alt yrs.; I; 3-4 cr (e-Z-E). This course introduces students to a multicultural history of the United States, focusing on each of the major ethnic groups: European Americans, African Americans, Native Americans, Chicano/as, Latino/as and Asian Americans. P: Fr and So only; others by cons inst.
103 Introduction to Music Cultures of the World. (Crosslisted with Music) I, II, SS; 2 cr (H-E). Music in various parts of the non-Western world (Africa, Middle East, India, Southeast Asia, East Asia). P: Open to Fr.
210 The African Storyteller. (Crosslisted with African) I or II; 3 cr (L-E). The oral tradition and the written word; the composition of stories, relationship between performer and audience, and transmission of tradition in various African societies. P: Open to Fr.
211 Global Language Issues. (Crosslisted with Anthro, Intl St, Linguis) Irr.; 4 cr (Z-E). A series of modules, each showcasing one language and its culture. Each module tackles a major issue about language, such as extinction and revival, language and nationhood, how widely and deeply languages differ, language and worldview, writing systems and literacy, language discrimination and inequality. P: Open to Fr.
220 The Folk Tale. I or II; 3 cr (L-E). Types of heroes, social functions, and tellers; tales from four cultures. P: Open to Fr.
230 Introduction to American Folklore. II; 3 cr (e-H-E). Folklore of ethnic, regional, religious, and occupational cultures, emphasizing how diverse peoples (African Americans, American Indians, Appalachians, Chicanos, Germans, Irish, Jews, Mormons, miners, service workers, etc.) use traditional festivals, artifacts, songs and stories to express their experiences within American life. P: Open to Fr.
270 The Hero and Trickster in African Oral Traditions. (Crosslisted with African) 3 cr (L-I). Two major characters in African oral tradition as treated in narrative, epic and heroic poetry.
279 Introduction to Turkish Folk Literature. (Crosslisted with LCA) Alt yrs.; I; 3 cr (b-L-E). Survey of major genres of Turkish folk literature including oral epic, heroic and romance tales of minstrels, mystical love poetry, fairy tales, dervish tales, legends, riddles, proverbs, and jokes with emphasis on performance contexts and cross-cultural perspectives. P: Successful completion of or exemption from Com-A requirement. Open to Fr.
320 Folklore of Wisconsin. I; 3 cr (H-D). Introduction to folk cultural groups and folklore forms of Wisconsin. P: Jr st or cons inst.
326 Introduction to Asian Performance. (Crosslisted with Theatre, Dance) Irr.; 3-4 cr (H-I). Issues in the study of Asian performance. Principal genres of Asian performance through study of techniques and aesthetics, and plays; East West theatre relationships. P: Jr st.
329 Introduction to African-American Performance. (Crosslisted with Theatre) Alt yrs.; 3-4 cr (e-H-D). An introduction to the wide range of performance in the African-American diaspora, focusing on dance and theater in the United States. P: Jr st or cons inst.
342 In Translation: Mythology of Scandinavia. (Crosslisted with Littrans, Medieval, Relig St) I or II or SS; 3-4 cr (L-A). P: Jr st or cons inst.
344 Anthropological Approaches to Folklore. (Crosslisted with Anthro) I or II; 3 cr (S-D). Folklore as cultural process. Reviews interdisciplinary history of theories and methods, examining folklore in terms of genres, performance, cultural construction of gendered identities, sociology of knowledge, domination and resistance. Involves field collections. Enrollment limited to 25. P: Anthro 100, 104, 204 or cons inst.
345 In Translation: The Scandinavian Tale and Ballad. (Crosslisted with Littrans, Medieval) I or II or SS; 3-4 cr (L-I). P: Jr st or cons inst.
346 In Translation: The Icelandic Sagas. (Crosslisted with Littrans, Medieval) I or II; 3-4 cr (L-A). P: Jr st or cons inst.
347 In Translation: Kalevala and Finnish Folk-Lore. (Crosslisted with Littrans) I or II; 3-4 cr (L-A). P: Jr st or cons inst.
352 Shamanism. (Crosslisted with Relig St) II; 3 cr (e-Z-I). Survey of shamanism as a religious tradition and sociocultural force in Siberian, Asian, and Native American societies. Exploration of shamanic rituals, roles, cosmology. Cultural and political uses of shamanism in traditional and modern contexts.
353 Javanese Performance. (Crosslisted with Dance, Theatre) I; 2 cr (I). Technique and practice of classical Javanese dance in its musical, historical and cultural contexts. P: Jr st or cons inst.
359 Myth. (Crosslisted with Relig St) I or II; 3 cr (H-D). The relationship between myth and tale, history, culture. Myth research; methodological approaches; world mythologies; myth and modern times. P: So st.
374 Indian Folklore. (Crosslisted with LCA) I; 3 cr (H-I). An introduction to Indian folklore; with all its traditions and genres; folktales, folksongs, myths, rituals, as well as literary sources like the epics. P: Open to Fr.
399 Directed Study in Folklore for Undergraduates. I, II, SS; 1-3 cr (D). Directed study on a folklore topic for undergraduates. P: Cons inst.
401 Musical Cultures of the World. (Crosslisted with Music) Alt yrs.; 3 cr (H-A). Survey of selected musical cultures in Southeast Asia, Africa, East Asia, the Middle East, and the folk music of Europe and the Americas. Classification of musical instruments, theoretical systems, scale structures, role of music in society, relationship of music to other arts in their cultures. P: Cons inst.
402 Musical Cultures of the World. (Crosslisted with Music) Alt yrs.; 3 cr (H-A). Continuation of 401. P: Cons inst.
403 Music Cultures of the World: China, Korea, and Japan. (Crosslisted with Music) Alt yrs.; II; 3 cr (H-A). Considers major musical traditions of China, Korea, and Japan in relation to historical and contemporary contexts. Covers indigenous music theories, instrumental and vocal practices, intra- and inter-regional interactions, broadcast and recording media representations. P: So st & cons inst.
404 Music of S.E. Asia: Tradition, Innovation, Politics, and Religion. (Crosslisted with Music) Alt yrs.; 3 cr (H-A). Considers major musical traditions of Southeast Asia in relation to historical and contemporary contexts, emphasizing religion and politics. Covers indigenous music theories, instrumental and vocal practices, cross-cultural interactions, broadcast and recording media representations, and role of music in religious and political dynamics. P: So st & cons inst.
410 Folklore Studies in Historical Perspective. I, II; 3 cr (H-A). An overview of the history and development of folklore theory from the Romantic period to the present day. P: Jr st & one crse in Folklore, or cons inst.
411 African Poetry. (Crosslisted with African) 3-4 cr (L-I). Analysis of oral and written poetry from various African cultures. P: Jr st.
431 American Indian Folklore. (Crosslisted with Amer Ind, Anthro) II; 3 cr (e-D). An introduction to the genres of American Indian Folklore. Special attention is given to creation stories, trickster tales, and the relationship between folklore and historical memory. P: Jr st & one of the following: Anthro 314 or 344; Folklore 100 or 230 or 320; or cons inst.
437 American Indian Women. (Crosslisted with Amer Ind, Anthro, Women St) II; 3 cr (e-H-I). Examines and interprets the roles of American Indian women in traditional societies, and in contemporary North America. P: 1 crse in Amer Ind St, Anthro 314 or Women St 223, 101, or 102.
440 Scandinavian American Folklore. (Crosslisted with Scand St) Alt yrs.; II; 3 cr (H-I). Examines the verbal, musical, customary, and material folklore of Scandinavian Americans, with emphasis on the upper Midwest. Requires field and archival research. P: Jr st.
443 Sami Culture, Yesterday and Today. (Crosslisted with Scand St) Alt yrs.; 4 cr (e-Z-I). Interdisciplinary study of Sami (Lapp) people of Scandinavia past and present. Indigenous modes of expression and worldview, contemporary cultural and political activism. Extensive discussion of connections to Native American and Inuit experiences; rise of U.S. and other indigenous peoples' movements. P: Jr st or cons inst.
444 Slavic and East European Folklore. (Crosslisted with Slavic) I, II; 3 cr (L-D). Oral traditional literature of Eastern Europe: ritual and lyric poetry, epic, and folktale. P: Jr st or cons inst.
445 Russian Folklore. I or II; 3 cr (H-A). Main genres of Russian folklore, agricultural calendar, folk beliefs, and history of Russian folkloristics. P: Jr st or cons inst.
450 The Ballad. I, II; 3 cr (L-A). A cross-cultural study of the ballad. P: Jr st or cons inst.
451 The Supernatural in the Modern World. Irr.; 3 cr (D). Explores evidence of belief in the supernatural in the modern world as it appears in the context of folk religion, folk medicine, legends, folk drama, ritual and custom, and media accounts and presentations. Surveys scholarly approaches to the topic. P: Jr st or cons inst.
453 Javanese Performance Repertory. (Crosslisted with Dance, Theatre) II; 2 cr (H-D). Introduction to Javanese theatre performance in a Javanese epic tradition. Includes use of Javanese gamelan music as accompaniment for dance drama.
460 Folk Epics. I or II; 3 cr (L-A). Oral nature, structure, performance traditions, and epic ideology, from various world areas. P: Jr st or cons inst.
471 Oral Traditions and the Written Word. (Crosslisted with African) 3-4 cr (L-I). Analyses and comparisons of African oral narrative-performances and African written literatures. P: African 210, 402, or cons inst.
490 Field Methods and the Public Presentation of Folklore. (Crosslisted with LIS) Alt yrs.; I; 3 cr (A). The course combines a fieldwork practicum with scrutiny of the cultural, political, and ethical dimensions underlying the documentation and public presentation of folklore through festivals, exhibitions, publications, and audio-visual productions. P: Sr st, two crses in folklore or cultural anthro or cons inst.
491 Practicum in Public Folklore. I, II, SS; 1-3 cr (I). Offers professional experiences to qualified students who work as interns with a public agency or a private non-profit organization involved in public folklore projects. P: Jr st, Folklore 490 or cons inst.
510 Folklore Theory. I, II, SS; 3 cr (D). Symbolical, psychoanalytic, Marxian, structuralist and performance theory models for analyzing expressive culture. Topics include play, ritual, festival, food, customs, class and the symbolism, structure and politics of narrative. P: Crse in anthro or folklore or cons inst.
512 Material Culture Analysis: The Arts and the Consumer Society. (Crosslisted with ETD) II; 3 cr (H-D). The meanings of objects—both art objects and consumer goods. Interactions between people and objects; "decoding" objects as primary sources of information about the people/cultures that make and use them. P: Jr st.
517 The Irish Tradition. (Crosslisted with English) Alt yrs.; I or II or SS; 3 cr (L-I). Study of the Irish literary tradition from the Middle Ages to the present day, with an emphasis on folk culture and its influence. P: 6 cr of intro lit.
518 The Scottish Tradition. (Crosslisted with English) I or II or SS; 3 cr (L-I). Study of the Scottish literary tradition from the Middle Ages to the present day, with an emphasis on folk culture and its influence. P: 6 cr of intro lit.
520 Ethnic Representations in Wisconsin. (Crosslisted with Anthro) Alt yrs.; 4 cr (D). Representation and self-representation of ethnic cultures in Wisconsin. For example: museums, mass media, ethnic theater. Involves field work and/or archival research. P: Anthro 300 or Folklore 200 or cons inst.
530 Topics in Folklore. I, II, SS; 1-3 cr (A). The topic will vary with the instructor; may be repeated with different content. P: Jr st or cons inst.
535 American Folk and Vernacular Music. (Crosslisted with Music) Alt yrs.; II; 3 cr (e-H-D). An ethnographic, historical examination of immigrant and indigenous "roots" musical genres (blues, hillbilly, powwow, polka, conjunto, etc.) in relation to technological, commercial, artistic, and socio-political forces in American life. P: Jr st.
539 The Folklore of Festivals and Celebrations. (Crosslisted with Anthro, Music, Theatre) I or II or SS; 3 cr (H-A). Survey of interdisciplinary literature on social/performative folklore aesthetics and environments by in-depth study of three festivals and ceremonies. Required field trips. P: Jr st or cons inst.
540 Local Culture and Identity in the Upper Midwest. I or II; 3 cr (e-Z-A). A web-based course, operating as a series of modules. Each module addresses a different aspect of community life and culture in the Upper Midwest, focusing on Wisconsin. Examples include ethnic groups, religious life, vernacular architecture, oral narrative, music and material culture. P: Jr st or cons inst. All stdts register for disc. 3 cr requires extra contact & project.
541 Local Culture and Identity in the Upper Midwest. I or II; 2 cr (Z-A). A web-based course, operating as a series of modules addressing different aspects of community life and culture in the Upper Midwest, focusing on Wisconsin. Examples include ethnic groups, religious life, vernacular architecture, oral narrative, music and material culture. P: Jr st or cons inst.
560 Folklore in a Digital Age. Alt yrs.; II; 3 cr (H-A). Explores traditional forms and performances as they emerge in contemporary communication technologies. Surveys scholarly approaches to the topic. P: Jr st or cons inst.
630 Seminar on American Folklore. I; 3 cr (A). Focuses on American folk and popular culture as it relates to expressive behavior using the work of folklorists, anthropologists, historians and literary scholars. P: A lower level crse in folklore or anthro or cons inst.
639 Field School: Ethnography of Wisconsin Festivals. (Crosslisted with Anthro) Alt yrs.; SS; 6-8 cr (D). A review of key methodological and theoretical approaches for studying festivals, in situ observation of summer festivals and small town folk and ethnic museums, and supervised writing and photographic assignments. P: Cons inst.
640 Topics in Ethnographic Textiles. (Crosslisted with ETD) Alt yrs.; I or II; 3 cr (H-D). Ethnographic survey of non-western textiles; technological, aesthetic, functional, and historical aspects. Geographical area varies: African, East Asian, Southeast Asian, Ibero-American or Native American textiles. P: ETD 430 or cons inst.
655 Comparative World Costume. (Crosslisted with ETD) Alt yrs.; I or II; 3 cr (Z-A). Variations in form, function and meaning of costume in diverse social and cultural contexts; dress as an art form. P: Jr st.
699 Independent Study in Folklore (Graduate). I, II, SS; 1-3 cr (A). Independent study in an area related to folklore for graduate students. P: Cons inst.