Course RE122 · Year I · Summer 2026-2027

ETHNOLOGY AND FOLKLORE

Compulsory course in Romanian Language and Literature - English Language and Literature, taught by Maria Georgeta Orian.

Overview

Lecturer
Maria Georgeta Orian
Seminar tutor
Maria Georgeta Orian
Type of course
Compulsory
Language of instruction
Romanian
Erasmus language
English, French
Domain
Language and literature
Field of study
Romanian Language and Literature - English Language and Literature
Form of education
Full-time
Form of instruction
Lecture
Credit awarded by
Grade
Teaching methods
Power Point Lecture, Problem raising, Close reading
Entry requirements
-

Aims

Knowing, understanding and a correct using of fundamental ideas concerning concepts specific to Ethnology and Folklore; applying the theoretical framework of Ethnology to the Romanian culture or to the culture of the Erasmus student.

Elaboration of a complex oral / written discourse, rich lexically and syntactically, on a topic of Ethnology and / or Folklore.

Interpretation of traditional culture phenomenon in historical and cultural context.

A presentation on a topic of your choice, subscribed to the theme of the course.

Course contents

Topic I: Theoretical points of reference / conceptual working tools: The evolution of the terminology and of the scientific proccupation in the domain; Concepts and definitions; Interdisciplinarity; Points of reference in the history of the Romanian and world ethnology and folklore studies; Schools of folklore studies; Specific features of folklore (traditional, collective, oral, anonymous, etc); Structural coordinates (verse, rhyme, etc); Folkloric fact and folkloric text; The contextual nature of the folkloric text; Categories of literary folklore; Publications and scientific events in the domain. Topic II: Questions of the methodology of research: preliminary stages, the delimitation of the object of study, establishing a methodology; The structure of a monography: the history of the place, geographical description, ethnic structure, economic structure, traditional costumes, customs and traditions, rites of passage, etc; The opportuneness of the research; Examples of monographies; Topic III: The social paradigm of folklore: the domestic space; ways to configure the rural space: Human settlements and traditional home; popular architecture; peasant furniture; People’s main activities, tools, popular trades and artistic means for raw material preparation; traditional decoration and color palette; Topic IV: Spiritual and material culture; Magic, custom, popular calendar; Ritual and ceremonial poetry; Ritual and non-ritual folklore. Topic V: The folklore of folk customs and habits. The poetry of the rites of passage: birth, wedding, death; Folkloric texts for seasonal customs. Final remarks, a review of the course.

Learning outcomes

Interpretation and critical evaluation of Ethnology and Folklore in different contexts Presenting a professional point of view on the cultural phenomenon starting from the relevant bibliography in the field.

Assessment

Free presentation - 25%Written essay - 50%

Recommended reading

Introducere în etnologie şi antropologie
Jean Copans
Polirom, Iași, 1999 · -
Noţiunile-cheie ale etnologiei. Analize şi texte
Marie-Odile Géraud
Polirom, Iași, 2001 · -
Riturile de trecere
Arnold van Gennep
Polirom, Iași, 1998 · -
Naşterea la români. Nunta la români. Înmormântarea la români. Studiu etnografic
S. Fl. Marian
Editura Saeculum I.O, București, 2000 · -