Shamanism and Folklore

The local alt-weekly recently published an article about contemporary uses of shamanism around Charlottesville in which they portrayed three local practitioners - one of whom is my friend, former boss and fellow Slavic folklorist Rachel Mann. I had the privilege of being Rachel's teaching assistant for a class on Story and Healing, which included a substantial segment on shamanism. This class was also ground-breaking in it's use of online collaborative writing tools, which is what propelled me into my sub-specialty of technology in folklore studies. It can be said that this class set both Rachel and I on paths that would shape the rest of our lives.

It was nice to read about how Dr. Mann is combining her academic background with her spiritual beliefs to create a local community of healing, you can check out the CVille weekly article here.

Here's some more resources on shamanism and folklore:

• "A World of Healing: The Mesa in Peruvian Shamanism" - Rachel Mann's article on Shaman's Portal.
• "Tuvan Shamanic Folklore" - Mongush B. Kenin-Lopsan. Excerpt from the book "Shamanic Worlds."
• "China's Dagur Minority: Society, Shamanism and Folklore" - Kevin Stuart, LI Wuewei and Shelear.
• "Shamanic Remnants in Hungarian Folklore" - I know it's a Wikipedia article, use your judgement.

New Year, New Link Dump!

Let's get this new year started right by cleaning my cache of recently highlighted folklore links:

• First off, I really love the postings from the Facebook profile Slavic Folklore. Follow her, she always has something interesting.
• Every so often NPR posts something of interest to the folklorist. Here is a story about the ballad in America.
• Someone found a Face Jug.
• Are you looking for a Public Folklorist job in Kentucky? Then click here.
• The American Folklife Center has a new incoming director. Congratulations, Dr. Petersen!
• Honestly, I could not get through these articles. And I don't have the energy or the inclination to correct them. Where knowledge rules, my ass!
• Nice bio and brief interview with folklorist (and Virginia native!) Anand Prahlad.
• What is Afrofuturism? Anything with Sun Ra gets my stamp of approval.
• As I can relate, Gerald Hausman was first introduced to the importance of the Wolf in Cub Scouts. Now if someone can only write a book about the importance of the Webelo in Native American culture.
• Call for papers! Ethnology at the Crossroads. Get cracking, start writing and submit.
• I like when people put their theses online. For free! It's like getting a free book! Congrats to Dr. Lewis for finishing her degree! I look forward to reading the thesis, "Aboriginal Britain"
• Review of "The Story Time of the British Empire: Colonial and Post-Colonial Folkloristics" was recently posted to the Journal of Folklore Research website.
• Speaking of online folklore journals, check out the latest ish of the Journal of Ethnology and Folkloristics, which includes pdfs which can be downloaded onto whatever you do your reading on nowadays.
• New book coming out on Dagestani folk tales.
• Architects design your favorite homes from folk tales.
• This book won the Russian Booker. I want to read it. It is said to have folkloristic overtones.

I only engage in the laziest type of blogging!

While 'writing' this post I was listening to the awesome bootleg recording of Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan "Kickin' It." I recommend that you procure yourself a copy if you are a fan of either.

New Folklore Books for 2012

The new year has started - let's take a look at what is coming to your folklore bookshelf:

• The Ballad Collectors of North America: How Gathering Folksongs Transformed Academic Thought and American Identity - ed. by Scott B. Spencer. American Folk Music and Musicians Series, Hardcover, 272 pp. , Scarecrow Press.
• The Ecology of the Spoken Word: Amazon Storytelling and Shamanism among the Napo Runa - Michael Uzendoski & Edith Felicia Calapucha-Tapuy. Hardcover, 224 pp., University of Illinois Press.
• Herakles - Emma Stafford. Hardcover, 336 pp., Routledge.

Happy New Year and Happy Reading!