Study Guide for Exam II – IDST 2115 ~ Magoulick
If you are able to answer all of the following questions, and IF you have done all the readings, watched all the films, listened to all the music, etc., and if you have reviewed all this carefully, you should do well on the exam.
See your syllabus for a list of readings assigned up to this point (since the first exam).
Films you are responsible for: Monsters: Mysteries or Myths?, Appalachian Music Documentary (from Appalachia), Food for the Ancestors & The Quilters of Gees Bend. Be prepared to answer questions on all the lectures, films & readings.
1. What is the difference between a rumor and a legend?
2. What is the purpose of legends?
3. How are urban legends different from local legends?
4. What are some kind of legends and their functions (teenage, food contamination, etc.)
5. What pseudo proofs are offered for Bigfoot and other monsters and why are they “pseudo”?
6. Define joke and riddle. Give examples of each.
7. Be familiar with these names in the study of folklore (and their contributions): Jan Brunvand, Elliot Oring, Ruth Finnegan.
8. What is the purpose of most jokes and how do they work?
9. What is a likely function of disaster jokes?
10. Which is (are) the most common genre(s) of narrative in our culture?
11. What does our reading explain about jokes?
12. Why do people tell riddles?
13. Give examples of several TYPES of jokes (see website).
14. According to our reading, what is the difference between a malevolent and a benevolent practical joke?
15. What are the main characteristics of oral poetry?
16. What is a ballad? What is a lyric song? What is the difference?
17. Explain similarities and differences between oral and written poetry?
18. Give an example of an oral poem.
19. What does mnemonic mean? How does it apply to oral poetry?
20. Compare and contrast epics and lyric poetry (and know examples of each).
21. What are some distinguishing features of poetry? What is metaphor, alliteration, rhythm, etc.?
22. How does music connect to poetry?
23. How is music connected to ritual, dance, story, and poetry?
24. What is ethnomusicology?
25. What are characteristics of folksongs?
26. Compare and contrast ballads and folksongs.
27. What is the appeal of folksongs?
28. Be prepared to discuss the various examples of music and oral poetry listened to in class
29. Be prepared to describe some influences on American music from around the world.
30. Discuss styles of contemporary music and their roots.
31. Compare and contrast folk art and folk craft.
32. Discuss the examples of folk art presented in class -- and others that are similar
33. Explain how a shift in function (from craft to art) can be influenced by tourism (is it bad?).
34. Is every piece of folk art an example of "high art," or "genius" or "great art"?
35. Are there any examples of folk art that can be considered "high art"? How so, give examples.
36. How can folk art be political or What is political about studying folk art? Be specific.
37. What does folk art reveal about TRADITION and AUTHENTICITY? Is folk art authentic if it is innovative?
38. Does folk art thrive in our world today?
39. Describe typical characteristics of Pueblo pottery (especially from Acoma) and how it's used.
40. What examples of material culture were discussed in class?
41. How is yard art (the way people decorate their gardens) understood by folklorists?
42. What does quilting entail? Why are folklorists interested in it?
43. What is foodways? How is it folklore? How is it important in our world?
44. What are some foodways metaphors?
45. What is Day of the Dead? When and where is it celebrated?
46. Describe the history and importance of Valentine's Day.