NOTE: The final exam will be an in-class exam on Nov. 19 (no make-ups). You are responsible for information from the whole semester (especially for the long essay answers). The objective questions will be primarily focused on information studied SINCE the 2nd exam, but could include questions as well from conceptual and theoretical information ABOUT FOLKLORE from the whole semester. For instance, you may have to answer questions about definitions of concepts like folklore, tradition, worldview, authenticity, unstandardized multiple variation, enculturation, ethnocentrism, the branches of folkloristics, and other general information from the semester.
THERE WILL BE OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS along the lines of the types of questions you saw on the first two exams (for instance matching and fill in the blank).
Some more specific concepts and genres you should be able to answer questions about follow (in the past there have been short answer essays like all these questions, though this semester the FORMAT of the exam is different, so these concepts and questions may be asked in a different format -- for instance as objective questions or shorter answers (a sentence or phrase instead of a paragraph).
1. Discuss how 4 other genres of folklore (discussed this semester) are often incorporated into the structure of festivals, and describe how you have personally experiences or witnessed these genres at a festival you attended.
2. Choose a particular holiday (from class this semester) and discuss how it involves foodways and material culture. OR Choose a particular holiday (from class this semester) and discuss how it involves at least three genres of folklore. Demonstrate how each of these genres contributes to the holiday and shows “unstandardized multiple variation.”
3. Explain how any character from one of our class examples (like readings – myths, folktales, etc., or the film Whale Rider) goes through the ritual process and discuss how this character fulfill all three stages (especially stage 2).
4. According to class, how are innovation and continuity both important to folk art? Use a class example to explain.
5. Explain how any character from one of our class examples (like readings – myths, folktales, etc.) goes through the ritual process and show how this functions in the story.
6. Which religion (discussed in class) seems to have the most significant use of gestures? Show how gesture (using specific examples) is significant to that religion (and be sure to explain what the gesture means). Base this on class information and NOT on information copied from the internet!!
7. How is dance a creative expression of community? Discuss a specific dance tradition that you believe to be folkloristic, with an emphasis in your discussion of how the dance is connected to continuity (tradition) and innovation and creativity.
8. Using a specific folk belief (perhaps connected to medicine) that was discussed in class (or the reading), explain why folklorists are interested in studying such folk beliefs (is it to prove them untrue and their practitioners stupid?) OR How are two specific folk remedies from class indicative of folk belief more generally? What do they reveal about patterns of folk beliefs?
9. Using class examples, discuss how food is culturally significant (meaning how it reflects a culture’s worldview – based on lecture). OR Explain how a particular example of “foodways” (from class – the film or examples given in class) may reveal something significant about a folk group and an individual’s worldview.
10. Using a specific folk belief (perhaps connected to medicine) that was discussed in class (or the reading), explain why folklorists are interested in studying such folk beliefs and what we learn from doing so.
11. Discuss how TWO examples of folklore from class this semester demonstrate authenticity as it was defined in class. Be specific & thorough in your discussion.
12. What does “flipping the bird” signify, how does it relate to gestures more generally, and when it is used? Is it artistic expression – how so? (Therefore, is it folklore?)
13. Discuss 5 of the typical structures of festival and describe how you have seen (or experienced) them being enacted in a particular festival.
14. Discuss the significance of the “communitas” phase of rituals, what it demonstrates about the nature of ritual, and why it is hard to sustain. Give an example.
15. Discuss a gesture from our class (discussed in class) that you were unfamiliar with before class and explain how it reveals some important perspectives on folklore and worldview.
POSSIBLE LONG ESSAY TYPE QUESTIONS
1. Explain why studying folklore should be considered important in academia (to study at universities) – not just why folklore is “good,” but why it is particularly useful as an academic field of study for university students. Give several specific examples from class as evidence, and base your discussion on class concepts and definitions.
2. Explain how studying folklore may be considered political and how it helps us to better understand humanity (this needs to be based on class lectures). Give several specific examples from class as evidence. Base your answer on class concepts. This is NOT about political content of folklore but how studying folklore can be a political act.
3. Discuss what tradition means and how that meaning is revealed in at least three specific examples of folklore (each from a different genre) studied during this semester. Be sure to include in your discussion how tradition connects to culture, worldview, innovation, inspiration, community, and dynamism. Your examples should reveal ALL aspects of tradition, must be from class, and should be proven to demonstrate your overall concept of tradition as you define it. Definitions and concepts should be based on class information.
4. Discuss how three specific examples of folklore (each from a different branch) studied this semester reveal the creative impulse of humanity, and show how that creativity builds community. In other words, show how both the “folk” and the “lore” operate and why they are important in each example. Your discussion should mention and be built upon key concepts such as tradition, culture, worldview, innovation, inspiration, continuity, and dynamism. Your examples should reveal both parts of the topic (creativity & community), must be from class, and should be discussed in such a way as to “prove” your answer. Definitions and concepts should be based on class information.
5. Discuss at least 3 examples from class this semester to show how many kinds of folklore are ancient and unique expressions of humanity from all times and places. Be sure you give examples that show this breadth and depth of the artistic expression, and how it seems to have always been important to human communities. Base your answer on class definitions, concepts & examples. Support your points with SPECIFIC examples from the class.