ETHNOLOGY AND FOLKLORE

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. Topic VI: Myth and mythology: conceptual boundaries. Final remarks, a review of the course.

Interpretation and critical evaluation of Ethnology and Folklore in different contexts Presenting a professional viewpoint on the literary phenomenon starting from the positions expressed in the specialised critical bibliography.