In my introductory course, Anthropology 160, the Forms of Folklore, I try to show the students what the major and minor genres of folklore are, and how they can be analyzed.
Alan DundesIf a student takes the whole series of my folklore courses including the graduate seminars, he or she should learn something about fieldwork, something about bibliography, something about how to carry out library research, and something about how to publish that research.
Alan DundesAncestor worship, or filial piety so characteristic of Asian cultures, for example, does not really resonate with Americans who favor children, not grandparents.
Alan DundesMy academic identity is that of a folklorist, and for many years I have taught only folklore courses.
Alan DundesFuture orientation is combined with a notion and expectation of progress, and nothing is impossible.
Alan DundesCities all over the world are getting bigger as more and more people move from rural to urban sites, but that has created enormous problems with respect to environmental pollution and the general quality of life.
Alan DundesLight travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
Alan DundesPolls are frequently taken to try to tease out or determine likely directions and trends, but once taken, they belong to the past, requiring that new polls be taken.
Alan DundesI have a great advantage over many of my colleagues inasmuch as my students bring with them to class their own personal knowledge of national, regional, religious, ethnic, occupational, and family folklore traditions.
Alan DundesI mentioned that one of the tripartite formulas in American worldview involves time: past, present, and future.
Alan Dundes