POSSIBLE PROJECT TOPICS :
The following topics are just a few that come to mind. Look through the
Brunvand text--especially the bibliographic section after each chapter.
Surf the Internet under "folklore." Examine a few copies of the Journal
of American Folklore or The Journal of Popular Culture (at COS
Library). Attempt to find a topic you wish to learn more about, a topic
you are interested in. Don't worry about whether someone has already written
on the topic--if the topic is really of interest to you, you will find
a way to communicate that interest to me. Note that your topic must be
pre-approved by me, and the following topics all have potential.
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Legends about a historical figure (George Washington/Billy the Kid/Pocahontas)
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Superstitions (about Halloween, weather, health or gambling)
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Myths and Legends common to Mt Shasta (Bigfoot, Lemurians, Creation stories)
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An in-depth look at a calendar custom (Easter, Christmas, Juneteenth, Halloween...)
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An in-depth look at a rite of passage (turning 21, loss of tooth, pregnancy)
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Ballads of the Civil War or Folk songs of soldiers in Viet Nam
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Common motifs in creation stories
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Organizational lore: Campus folklore, church lore, Disney lore, prison
lore...
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Folklore about Bikers--Harley lore, tales of rides and runs, outlaws...
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The American cowboy in folklore, fact and fiction
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An American writer's use of folklore
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American folk medicine (cures for colds, hair loss, bad dreams...)
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American Indian games/riddles/medicine/basketry/myths/legends
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Wedding customs (could look at local Italian, Lao, African American...)
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Etymology or use of dirty words
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Folk tales of a specific type or country
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Quilt making today and yesturday
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Summer camp lore
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Conspiracy theories
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Cow tipping--does this popular belief actually take place?
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Folk crafts of the Rainbow/Deadhead groups
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A specific festival
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Fishing Lore
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Occupational lore: logging lore, railroad lore, military lore...
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Folk origins of proverbs
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Black folk expressions, Italian Proverbs, rural folk speech...
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Burial customs
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Fire walking
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Snake handling
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Gestures
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Memorates
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Dowsing
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Jargon of the drug culture, hot rod culture...
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Children's games, songs, derogatory epithets
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Cinderella in the movies, in history, in 300 versions, in Asia...
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Cold weather comments
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Local ghost stories
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Mexican-American graffiti, train graffiti, bathroom graffiti, desktop inscription...
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Use of proverbs in literature
