Podcast

This podcast was created and hosted by the UC Berkeley Folklore graduate students. Episodes center around common folklore genres and the ways in which they appear in the Folklore Archive. Each features graduate students, undergraduate archive interns, and experts on the episode’s topic.

Episode 1: Fairy Tales

What better place to start than with an episode about fairy tales? In this debut episode, we talk specifically about the versions of “Rapunzel” (ATU 310) that have been collected and archived at Berkeley. We discuss things like the tale type system, the history of the Grimms’ collection project, and how we define folk narrative and folktale/fairy tale. We also read aloud two texts of “Rapunzel” from the archive, and interpret them for your listening pleasure.

Contributing to the conversation this week: Elizabeth Gilbert, Graduate Student; Sam Puliafico, Graduate Student; Luke Patterson, Graduate Student and Archivist; Dr. Jeana Jorgensen, Visiting Lecturer

Episode 2: Women's History Month (Special Episode)

It's that time of the month (for a new epsiode)! In this episode, our trusty Undergraduate Research Archive Program (URAP) workers are at the helm, and they are taking us all for a ride. Their inspiration for this episode was March—i.e. Women's History Month. Ever wanted to learn more about those euphemisms people use for menstruation? Then this is the episode for you! Folk speech, misogyny, feminist empowerment, it's all there! So "sync" your device of choice, and have a listen!

Our co-conspirators this week: Elizabeth, URAP Coordinator; URAPs Kaitra, Adriana, and Raveen

Special thanks to our musicians, particularly Craig Gilbert, for our unique theme song.

Episode 3: What is Folklore

Have you ever asked yourself, "What is Folklore?" Or maybe, "Do I Have Folklore?" In this episode, we answer some listener questions about folklore and talk about our own assumptions and experiences with that question. We also take to the streets to find out what people think about folklore, what it is and what it isn't.

Contributors this week: Luke Patterson, Graduate Student and Archivist; Elizabeth, Undergraduate Program Coordinator; Sam Puliafico, Graduate Student and Folklore Archive Artistic Director; Elizabeth Gilbert, Graduate Student; Bob Offer-Westort, MA Folklore Student; Tracy Brannstrom, MA Folklore Student; Dr. Jeana Jorgensen, Visiting Lecturer

Episode 4: Interview with Visiting Professor John McDowell

In this podcast, graduate students Cameron Johnson, Leah Simon, and Folklore Graduate Program Chair Charles L. Briggs interview Visiting Professor John McDowell (of Indiana University's Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology) about mentor Américo Paredes' pioneering work on corridos (ballads) and McDowell's own fieldwork on corridos in Mexico. A consummate performer, Professor McDowell illustrates two different types of corridos as he sings and accompanies himself on the guitar.