MLitt Scottish Folklore

Institution University of Glasgow
Method At the institution
Location Glasgow
Type Masters
Course fee By request

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MLitt Scottish Folklore

Academic title MLitt Scottish Folklore
Course description MLitt: 12 months full-time; 24 months part-time

Subject to approval

Folklore is the knowledge, art, literature, belief and practice that is disseminated and handed on largely through behaviour, oral communication and customary tradition. Folklore is an important source of popular attitudes, prejudices, and stereotypes, as well as national myths, images, and symbols. Folklore denotes expressive forms, processes, and behaviours; the traditional and popular cultures of a nation, region or community. There are specific genres of folklore such as folktale, folksong, folk speech, folk art, folk drama, folk custom, folk belief, and material culture. Folklore genres incorporate, ballads, myths, legends, proverbs, rhymes, riddles, jokes; rites of passage – weddings, baptisms, funerals – childlore, beliefs and ‘superstitions’, calendar customs, festivals, traditional games, sports, gestures, dramas, and dances. Material culture is expressed in areas such as vernacular architecture, traditional crafts, objects, costumes and food.

This degree focuses on the folklore and ethnology of Scotland: lowland and highland, urban and rural, historical past and present day. Students can study the rich folklore and heritage of Scotland at a local and/or international level.

Specific genres of folklore that you can study as part of this programme, include

    * folktale, legend, proverbs and jokes
    * ballad and song
    * folk art, traditional crafts, objects and costumes
    * folk belief, supernatural belief, calendar customs and rituals such as weddings, baptisms and funerals
    * material culture

Content

To graduate from this programme you must complete two core courses, two optional courses and a dissertation.

Core courses

    * Folklore genres
    * Fieldwork and research methodologies

Optional courses

    * Ballads
    * Storytelling
    * Witch beliefs and the Scottish witch-hunts
    * Folklore and cultural history of animals