2018Graduate Field School
Folklore 6020: Field and Research Methods (GeorgestownNeighbourhoodField School)
REQUIRED COURSE FOR ALL INCOMING GRADUATE STUDENTS
The Folklore 6020 Field School will introduce incoming graduate students tothe cultural documentation methods used by folklorists. The Georgestownneighbourhood of St. John’s is the location for the 2018 field school.
Georgestown has a rich history. Adjacent to Fort Townshend, the headquarters of the Newfoundland garrison (1779-1871), Georgestown was the site of an 18th century powder house. Since the mid 19th century, the neighbourhood has reflected the dominant presence of the Catholic church in the city through an impressive complex of religious buildings that include the Basilica Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Bishop’s Palace, two convents, and several schools. Today it remains an important centre for community outreach with a number of non-profit organizations in the vicinity. In the mid to late 19th century, the area developed into a residential neighbourhood that was also home to many small businesses. It continues to be one of St John’s most vibrant neighbourhoods hosting both long standing and newly established businesses, as well an array of domestic architectural styles.
Our teaching base for the field school will be the Lantern, 36 Barnes Road, in Georgestown.
Dates: The field school runs September 4-27. It is an intensive, team-based experience and will require your full commitment. Events will occasionally be held in the evenings. All sessions and social events are compulsory.
Tentative Schedule:
WEEK 1:Classes on the history of the neighbourhood as well asinterviewing, ethics, audio and visual recording techniques, taking ethnographic field notes.
WEEK 2: Working in teams, students interview local residents and conduct ethnographic fieldwork.
WEEK 3: Students continue to work in teams to conduct their own interviews and research. The field school concludes on Thursday evening with a public walking tour developed and hosted by the students.
Instructors:
Dr. Jillian Gould
Jillian Gould regularly teaches folklore research methods at both graduate and undergraduate levels. She was once a participant in the American Folklife Center’s Cultural Documentation Field School in Bloomington, Indiana, where she was bit by the folklore bug—she never looked back. She enjoys studying foodways, Jewish culture, and the culture of aging. Jillian is the coordinator of the Newfoundland Studies certificate programme.
Dr. Diane Tye
Diane Tye has taught courses in folklore research methods for three decades. In 2015 she co-instructed an interdisciplinary field-based course in foodways at Memorial’s campus in Harlow England. Her own fieldwork has been conducted in Atlantic Canada on a range of everyday subjects from cultural understandings of regionally iconic foods like lobster, molasses and home-baked bread, to folk art, local characters, bachelorette parties, Christmas mummering, contemporary legend, and family stories.
Guest instructor
David Taylor will offer two days of instruction on writing ethnographic field notes.
David A. Taylor, Library Services, Library of Congress
David A. Taylor is external relations and program development officer for the Library Services administrative unit of the Library of Congress. In this capacity, he develops and coordinates large-scale public programs and other initiatives, and works with donors and collaborators. Previously, he worked at the Library's American Folklife Center for 26 years. While at the Center, he served as Head of Research and Programs, Head of Acquisitions, and was the founder and director of the Field School for Cultural Documentation. During his time at the AFC, he worked on the Lowell Folklife Project (1987-88) and directed the Italian-Americans in the West Project (1998-93), the Maine Acadian Cultural Survey (1991), and the Working in Paterson Project (1994-95).
Guest Instructors
Over the three weeks a variety of guest instructors will join us to share their expertise on topics ranging from local history, conducting folklore interviews, audio recording, videography, documentary photography, compiling archival metadata, and creating walking tours.
The Specifics:
Requirements: This is a required course for all incoming graduate students. The other two required courses for Fall 2017 semester—Folklore 6010 and Folklore 6030—will begin the week of October 1st, after the completion of the field school.
Preparation: In preparation for the Field School, students must complete an online course on the ethical issues surrounding conducting research with human subjects, called “TCPS2: CORE”: .The direct login is:
This course will takes approximately three hours to complete. The certificate of completion should be emailed to one of the field school instructors, Diane Tye () or Jillian Gould () before September 4th.
In advance of the field school, students shouldalso read the Library of Congress, American Folklife Center, Folklife & Fieldwork: An Introduction to Cultural Documentation available online:
Food:Most sessions will run weekdays 9:30-4:30 and students will bringtheir own lunches. Everyone will share the responsibility for supplying group snacks for coffee breaks. Occasionally we will also have meals together. These meals will be scheduled in advance and be at the student’s expense. They are part of the field school and everyone is expected to attend.
PLEASE NOTE: There is no additional cost for the field school but you should be prepared to spend up to $200 on food, museum admission fees, and other incidentals.