INQ-270 | Slavic Folklore-Global

Full Title: Slavic Folklore

Topic Description:

Who are the Slavs, and what do we mean by “the Slavic folk”? What are the oldest and deepest beliefs of the Slavic folk? On what are they based? How does the folklore reflect a uniquely Slavic understanding of the world? How does history help illuminate the forms and functions of folklore among the Slavic people? Why is this folk culture important, and what can it tell us about ourselves today? In this course, we explore the root of Slavic folklore and mythology, and examine their impact on the lives of Slavic people in the pre-Christian and Christians eras. We will consider the categories and structures of Slavic folklore and see their manifestations in ritual, material culture, and oral lore, including visual representations in folk architecture, clothing, and crafts, many of them lasting well into the 19th century. The course covers the folklore of several Slavic groups, including Polish, Ukrainian, Russian, Slovak, and Serbian.

Counts as Global? Yes

Topic Approved: February 2017