12/27/2024 9:42:00 AM	ANTHRO 21 Course Outline as of Summer 2011	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  ANTHRO 21	Title:  AMERICAN FOLKLORE/LIFE
Full Title:  American Folklore and Folklife
Last Reviewed:4/25/2022

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		6 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

Survey of the forms and functions of  American oral traditions and folklife customs. Analysis of myth, legend, proverb, riddle, humor, life cycle events, and other folklore/life traditions in American community and neighborhood settings. Cultural comparisons will include no less than three of the following groups:  African American, Asian American, Chicano/Latino American, European American, Indigenous Peoples of the Americas, and Americans of Middle Eastern Origin.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Survey of the forms and functions of  American oral traditions and folklife customs. Analysis of myth, legend, proverb, riddle, humor, life cycle events, and other folklore/life traditions in American community and neighborhood settings. Cultural comparisons will include no less than three of the following groups:  African American, Asian American, Chicano/Latino American, European American, Indigenous Peoples of the Americas, and Americans of Middle Eastern Origin.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
Area:	D G	Social and Behavioral Sciences American Cultures/Ethnic Studies
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	D	Social Science		Fall 2011
	D1	Anthropology and Archeology
	D3	Ethnic Studies
	D	Social Science		Fall 2010	Fall 2011
	D1	Anthropology and Archeology
	D3	Ethnic Studies
	D4	Gender Studies
	D5	Geography
	D6	History
	D7	Interdisc Social or Behavioral Science
	D	Social Science		Fall 1987	Fall 2010
	D1	Anthropology and Archeology
	D4	Gender Studies
	D5	Geography
	D6	History
	D7	Interdisc Social or Behavioral Science
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	4	Social and Behavioral Science		Fall 2010
	4A	Anthropology and Archeology
	4C	Ethnic Studies
	4	Social and Behavioral Science		Fall 1981	Fall 2010
	4A	Anthropology and Archeology
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

 

1. Describe and explain appropriate terms and concepts used in the study of American folklore and folklife.

 

2. Explain the origins and functions of folklore and folklife customs.

 

3. Evaluate the role of folklore in the portrayal and affirmation of ethnicity, identity, and gender and in the cultural concept of race.

 

4. Apply knowledge of field collection techniques and analysis to folklore materials in American cultures.

 

5. Compare and contrast folkore and folklife genres, concepts and theories in no less than three of the following groups: African American, Asian American, Chicano/Latino American, European American, Indigenous Peoples of the Americas, and Americans of Middle Eastern origins.

Topics and Scope

I. The place of folklore and folklife studies in Anthropology

      A. History and development of folkloristics

      B. Theoretical perspectives

                    1. 19th century perspectives

                    2.  Contemporary perspectives

      

II. Concepts and terms important in folkloristics

      A. Culture and popular culture

      B. Folk group, nation, ethnicity, race, gender, etc.

      C. Genre, version and variant

      

III. Origins of folklore and folklife customs and events

      A. Psychological

      B. Cultural

 

IV. Role of folklore and folklife events in at least three of the following:  African American, Asian American, Chicano/Latino American, European American, Indigenous Peoples of the Americas, and Americans of Middle Eastern origins

      A. Family, social, and age groups

      B. Religion

      C. Heath and healing

      D. Political and economic life

      E. Other

 

V. Survey of folklore genres in at least three of the following:  African American, Asian American, Chicano/Latino American, European American, Indigenous Peoples of the Americas, and Americans of Middle Eastern origins

      A. Narratives (legends, folktales, myths, etc.)

      B. Folkspeech and proverbs

      C. Jokes, games, graffiti

      D. Superstitions, beliefs

      E. Folk songs, ballads, dance and drama

      F. Folk medicine

      G. Other

 

VI. Field collection techniques, analysis, and presentations.

      A. Fieldwork rules and ethics

      B. Collection techniques

            1. Interview and observation techniques

            2. Written and graphic recording

            3. Sound recording

            4. Visual recording

            5. Material lore collection

      C. Analysis

            1. Thesis and argument

            2. Supporting data

      D. Presentation

            1. Written report forms

            2. Visual and oral forms

Assignments:

1. Read 10-25 pages weekly in required textbooks.

2. Take 2 to 3 exams including a final exam, which must include short answer and essay questions.

3. Students will make a field collection of folklore and submit it as a written essay (2-5 pages).

4. Additional required assignments, which may include but are not limited to the following:  

    a.  In-class presentations of folklore collection project.

   b.  One or more 1-3 page papers on assigned topics, including book and article response papers and critical analysis essays.

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 25 - 40%
Field collection essay, other analytical writing
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 40 - 60%
Take 3-4 exams and a final
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 10 - 30%
Class participation, presentations

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

American Folklore: An Encyclopedia. Brunvand, Jan Harold.  Garland Publishing Company: 1998. (Classic text)

 

Dynamics of Folklore. Toelken, Barry. Utah State University Press: 1996. (Classic Text)

 

The Emergence of Folklore in Everyday Life.  Schoemaker, George. Trickster Press:  2008

 

Folkloristics: An Introduction. Georges, Robert A. and  Jones, Michael Owen.  Indiana University Press: 1995. (Classic text)

 

Living Folklore: An Introduction to the Study of People and Their Traditions. Sims, Martha C.  Utah State University Press: 2005

 

The Study of American Folklore. Fourth Edition.  Brunvand, Jan.  W. W. Norton & Company: 1998. (Classic text)

Print PDF