FLR 255 Folklore and U.S. Popular Culture: Introduces modern US folklore, including popular narratives, legends, rituals, ethnic and gender stereotypes, carnivalesque events, fan cultures, subcultures, DIY, and the commodification of youth culture. Special focus on how people may use mass culture to create new, personal, and sometimes subversive meanings. Fulfills AL requirement, Cultural Literacy, and FLR Expressive Forms and Practices.

FLR 225 Voices of Africa: Novels, music, dance, dress, paintings, films, and cartoons serve as a primary sources from which to learn about the diversity and vivacity of contemporary African peoples. Fulfills AL requirement, Cultural Literacy, FLR Expressive Forms and Practices.

FLR 236 Magic in the Middle Ages: This course considers the period often considered the most “magical” historical period, the Middle Ages. We’ll examine rituals, spells, magical creatures such as elves and fairies, and the ways in which magic reflects the medieval understanding of the universe. Along the way we’ll look at the medieval and magical origins of Hallowe’en and Christmas, and finally at the legacies (or not) of medieval magic such as Wicca and modern magic. Fulfills AL requirement, FLR Diverse Communities and FLR Elective requirements.

FLR 250 Intro to Folklore: An introduction to contemporary folklore studies, with emphasis on the meanings of stories, rituals, festivals, body art, subcultures, the supernatural, street art, Internet folklore, and other forms of vernacular expression. Fulfills AL requirement, cultural literacy requirement. Required for FLR Major/Minor.