Course 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 Entry Requirements:

-

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.

Teaching methods:

Power Point Lecture, Problem raising, Close reading

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.

Learning outcomes verification and assessment criteria:

Free presentation - 25%Written essay - 50%

Recommended reading:

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