Americans do believe in progress and there is almost certainly a kernel of truth in the joke. Alan Dundes americanjokekernel Change image and share on social
The class has become over the years fairly large, running to three hundred or more, but I always insist upon reading all the student folklore collections myself. Although this is a tall order, I look forward to it because I learn so much from it. Alan Dundes classcollectionfairly share on social
If 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 Dundes bibliographycarrycourse share on social
Ancestor worship, or filial piety so characteristic of Asian cultures, for example, does not really resonate with Americans who favor children, not grandparents. Alan Dundes americanancestorasian Change image and share on social
I mentioned that one of the tripartite formulas in American worldview involves time: past, present, and future. Alan Dundes americanformulafuture Change image and share on social
Life, it seems, is nothing if not a series of initiations, transitions, and incorporations. Alan Dundes incorporationinitiationlife Change image and share on social
Cities 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 Dundes bigcitycreate share on social
They do not merely collect texts; they must also gather data about the context and the informant and, above all, write an analysis of the items based upon the course readings and lecture material on folklore theory and method. Alan Dundes analysisbasecollect share on social
In the light of our culture, these are not unreasonable questions and tactics, but if once again, we try to see the lens through which we look, we can see that there is far too great an emphasis placed on the future. Alan Dundes cultureemphasisfuture share on social
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak. Alan Dundes brightfasthear Change image and share on social
