FOLKLORE, INTRODUCTION

The course is included in the formative activities characterizing the pregraduate teachings of General History, Historical-Anthropological and Geographical Studies. It aims to provide a general introduction to folklore studies ("Demologia" or "Tradizioni popolari", in Italian), retracing the different theoretical paradigms that forged the notion of "folklore" between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. In particular, the course offers a detailed examination of Ernesto de Martino’s works and of the "folklore debate" of the 1950s. De Martino's postwar "ethnographic expeditions" in Lucania and Puglia represented a decisive prototype for the development of an Italian anthropology. His original and powerful vision of magical-religious phenomena as protection and cultural redemption from the "crisis of presence” strongly influenced subsequent studies, and still represents an essential theoretical reference in the anthropological debate. The course will also offer an in-depth analysis of the theoretical debate arising from Antonio Gramsci's reflections on the "culture of the subaltern classes", both in Italian context (in the disciplines of demology and oral history) and in international debates ("cultural studies").

Knowledge and understanding:
- knowledge of the history of folkloric studies and of the theoretical and epistemological debate relating to popular traditions
- in-depth knowledge of the work of Ernesto de Martino, of Antonio Gramsci's thought on the 'subordinate classes' and of the debate on folklore and popular culture
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
- ability to apply ethnographic research methodologies.
Communication and relational skills:
be able to present and discuss the course contents orally

The basic courses of Cultural Anthropology ("Cultural Anthropology - Introduction - Module 1" and "Cultural Anthropology - History - Module 2") are preparatory and must be supported previously or during the course "History of popular traditions - Introduction".

Folkloric studies in Italy and Europe between the 19th and 20th centuries.
The debate on folklore in Italy after the Second World War. Life and works of Ernesto de Martino, the ethnographic expeditions in the South, the theoretical debate on the "crisis of presence" and the analysis of the low Lucan ceremonial magic.
The political uses of folklore. Folk revival. The heritage of traditional cultures. The debate on Antonio Gramsci's reflections on the "culture of the lower classes" and the notion of "popular culture" in contemporary society.

1) Fabio Dei, Cultura popolare in Italia: da Gramsci all'Unesco, Bologna, il Mulino, 2018
2) Ernesto De Martino, Sud e magia, edizione speciale con le fotografie originali di F. Pinna, A. Gilardi e A. Martin e con l’aggiunta di altri testi e documenti del cantiere etnologico lucano, a cura di Fabio Dei e Antonio Fanelli, Roma, Donzelli (the study of this specific edition is required, which contains teaching materials not present in the Feltrinelli edition of the same volume)

Students who do not attend classes, in addition to the texts above, a book of your choice between
a) Antonio Fanelli, A casa del popolo. Antropologia e storia dell'associazionismo ricreativo, Roma, Donzelli, 2014
b) Glauco Sanga, La fiaba: morfologia, antropologia e storia, Cluep, Padova, 2020

The assessment of learning will take place through an oral analytical exam with questions on the texts in the program and on the topics of the lessons; particular attention will be paid to understanding the issues and problems posed in the course and the ability to establish cross-cutting links.

Frontal lessons with use of Powerpoint and audiovisual materials (audio recordings, movies). Teaching language: Italian

Italian

oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Poverty and inequalities" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development