Above section is Evening Division.

Description: In this course we will examine Native American culture in the
United States today (as opposed to a historical survey), in the many
dimensions implied by the term "folklife." These areas include material
culture (art and architecture), orally and visually performed genres
(narratives, jokes, songs, music, dance),  folk beliefs and practices
(religion, superstition, medicine), as well as larger performance events
such as ritual and festival.  However,  rather than attempt to cover all
of these genres individually, we will focus on themes that cross generic
boundaries.  Accordingly, the course will stress depth rather than
breadth.

Some topics that we will discuss are the powwow circuit that has become a
mainstay of public performances of Native American culture, folk art in
relation to tourism (including the Native American Market that takes place
annually at the Eiteljorg Museum), and a look at contemporary reservation
life (traditional customs in relation to more modern developments,
especially as expressed in cultural fairs and expos).

We will address Native American groups throughout the United States;
however, many of the examples in class will focus on groups in the
southeastern U.S., particularly the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

Objectives: The goal of this class is to acquaint students with the varied
and complex cultures of some of the Native American groups in the United
States. Along the way, students will learn skills in cultural
interpretation while challenging their own assumptions about how people
view the world.

Requirements: You will be expected to keep up with the reading each week
(approx. 40 pp./wk) and participate in class discussions. You will have
two exams--a midterm and a non-cumulative final--which will account for
50% of your grade (25% for each exam). You will choose a topic for a 10-15
pp. research paper that will account for 25% of your grade. Class
participation, attendance, quizzes and occasional homework assignments
will account for the final 25%.

Fulfills a COAS Arts and Humanities, Traditions and Ideas distribution
requirement and is on List A for the COAS Culture Studies requirement.