Living Folklore
Living Folklore
Living Folklore
Martha Sims & Martine Stephens
312 pages

ISBN 978-0-87421-611-0
cloth $26.95

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ISBN 978-0-87421-517-5
e-Book $22.00

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Living Folklore

An Introduction to the Study of People and Their Traditions

Martha Sims & Martine Stephens

"Students are going to love this book: the examples will stimulate their interest in other cultures, and the approaches to the study of folklore will open up new meanings in their own lives. The authors draw upon their extensive teaching experience and in-depth scholarly research to produce a textbook that sets a new standard for introductory folklore courses." —Patrick B. Mullen, Ohio State University

Living Folklore is a comprehensive, straightforward introduction to folklore as it is lived, shared and practiced in contemporary settings. Drawing on examples from diverse American groups and experiences, this text gives the student a strong foundation—from the field's history and major terms to theories, interpretive approaches, and fieldwork.

Many teachers of undergraduates find the available folklore textbooks too complex or unwieldy for an introductory level course. It is precisely this criticism that Living Folklore addresses; while comprehensive and rigorous, the book is specifically intended to meet the needs of those students who are just beginning their study of the discipline. Its real strength lies in how it combines carefully articulated foundational concepts with relevant examples and a student-oriented teaching philosophy.

Living Folklore moves beyond genres and classifications, and encourages students who are new to the field to see the study of folklore as a unique approach to understanding people, communities and day-to-day artistic communication.

Click here to read a sample of the book in Acrobat PDF.