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Introduction to Scottish Folklore
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Course Description
Introduction to Scottish Folklife and Folklore: an appreciation of the archeological, anthropological, historical, and linguistic backgrounds to the development of modern Scottish life and character. The course studies mythologies, oral history, lore, customs, and beliefs, as well as the arts of music, dance, storytelling, and poetry. It not only exposes students to language and culture, it involves them in first-hand observation and analysis and in hands-on collection.
Course Information:
Course #: ANT 244
Title: "Introduction to Scottish Folklife and Folklore"
Division: Humanities
Mode: Academic Travel – Course
Credits: 3
Instructor: Dr. Daniel J. Casey
Term: Summer Intersession
Objectives
- To understand the origins of the culture and traditions of the Scottish people and how that culture and those traditions have been reflected and transmitted through language, values, customs, lore,
and beliefs.
- To consider continuity and change in the tradition over the centuries. To examine the effects of Christianity and the influence of Vikings, Normans, and Anglos on the culture and traditions.
- To appreciate the art and place of storyteller and poet in Scottish society.
- To show the persistence of the culture into the modern period–especially in rural life and in the literature music, and other art
forms.
Learning Activities:
- Lectures and presentations at various academic venues, including the Celtic and Scottish Studies Unit at Edinburgh University.
- On-site learning at various academic institutions, heritage centers, and folk museums.
- Extensive readings and presentations.
[This course may be taken for credit in anthropology, cultural studies, folklore, literature, or sociology; the student's directed readings and writing assignments will be tailored to the meet the requisites of the appropriate discipline. Pre-approval by the student's academic advisor/department chair is strongly recommended.]
Means of Evaluation
- Attendance and participation at classes and presentations.
- Readings and analyses of required articles and texts.
- Submission of two required essays/projects. (See below.)
- Submission of a journal with daily entries synthesizing expectations, lecture notes, presentations, readings, and observations.
Course Direction:
Section I
What is "folklife"/"folklore"? The lay of the land. Archaeological and anthropological dimensions. Language and culture. Early Scottish history – Picts, Celts (Scotti), Norse, and Anglo-Normans. Columcille and the impact of Christianity. A Scottish Hall of Fame: Somerled, Wallace, the Bruce, et al. The Wars of Independence to 1707.
Section II
Studies in 17th-19thc Scottish folklife – the Highlands and Islands/the Lowlands. The Protestant Reformation. The impact of industrialization and urbanization. Traditions and rural life. The Clearances. Emigration. Folk customs and beliefs.
Section III
Folkarts – music and dance, poetry and storytelling. Folkminders – the significance of lore to life. Collecting a culture, preserving the arts.
Texts:
- I.F. Grant. Highland Folk Ways. Edinburgh: Birlinn, 1997.
- Sheila Livingstone. Scottish Customs. Edinburgh: Birlinn, 1996.
- Colin MacDonald. Life in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Edinburgh: Mercat Press, 1999.
- Gordon Menzies, ed. In Search of Scotland. Edinburgh: Polygon Books, 2001.
- "Readings in Scottish Folklife and Folklore." (Binder containing 13 journal articles.)
Video Series:
- BBC Scotland: In Search of Scotland Television Series, 2001.
- Kultur Series "The Celts," Opus Productions/S4C
International, 2000.
- BBC Video, "The Celts," 20th Century Fox, 1986.
Course Itinerary (Tentative):
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Date
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Activity
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Day 1:
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Depart US/Canadian Airports to Glasgow
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Day 2:
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Arrive Glasgow – Residence Check-in, Orientation, and Walking Tour.
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Day 3:
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Travel: Glasgow to Port Ellen to Bowmore on Islay: Welcome and Settling in. Bowmore Reception at Columba Centre.
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Day 4:
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Morning Session at Columba Centre
Ancient Scotland, the Geography of Scotland; Language and Culture.
Afternoon: Learning Gallic.
Evening : Music Session
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Day 5:
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Morning Session: Scottish History and Folk History -- Islay, Finlaggan, and The Lords of the Isles
Afternoon: Tour of Finlaggan
Evening: Ceili/Dance Session
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Day 6:
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Morning Session: Aspects of 17th-18th c Folklife on Islay – Politics, Society, Family, House and Home, Occupation, Diet, Religion, Values, Entertainments.
Afternoon: Museum of Islay Life, Port Charlotte.
Evening: Music Session
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Day 7:
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Morning Session: Scottish Folk Customs and Folk Beliefs, Festivals and Feast Days.
Afternoon: Gallic Conversation/Gallic Speakers, Portnahaven.
Evening: Storytelling/Poetry Session, Bridgend Inn in Bridgend.
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Day 8:
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Morning Session: A Church Service (optional)
Afternoon: Coast Road to Kildalton: Kildalton High Cross nand Relics of Christian Monasticism.
Evening: Scottish Film: "The Wicker Man" Discussion at Columba Centre.
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Day 9:
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Morning Session: "Down to the Sea -- the Sea-lore of Islay, Local Seafaring Traditions.
Afternoon: A Sailing to Jura
Evening: Folk Pub Quiz at Ballygrant Inn.
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Day 10:
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Morning Session: The Art of Collecting and Transcribing -- Reporting/Recording Story, Song, and Poem.
Afternoon: Collecting Islay Sea-lore.
Evening: Presentations and Farewell Ceili.
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Day 11:
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Morning Ferry -- Port Ellen and Bus to Glasgow/Edinburgh. Walking Tour of Edinburgh
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Day 12:
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Morning Session: University of Edinburgh, Celtic and Scottish Studies --Collecting and Preserving a Tradition.
Afternoon: Tour of Edinburgh
Evening: A Night Out on the Town
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Day 13:
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Morning: Bus to Glasgow Airport
Return Flights to US and Canadian Cities.
Welcome Home!
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Lecture Information
- Morning Lectures and Presentations – begin at 10:00 AM
- Afternoon Field Trips and Cultural Venues – begin at 2:00 PM
- Evening Programs and Entertainments (music, dances, films, storytelling) – begin at 7:30 PM
- Readings are divided into "Pre-departure" and "On-site"
- Journals, papers, and projects are due by July 14 2005.
- Number of Contact Hours: 52 (3 credits).
- Course credit is assigned under "th Division of Further Education" by the Columba Centre ( Ionad Chaluim Chille Ile) of the University of the Highlands and Islands.
- Instructor(s): Daniel J. Casey, Ph.D., Writer and Lecturer in Celtic Studies
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