When most people think of folklore, they think of fairy tales and folk music. But folklore is so much more than that! Think of trolls, lutefisk and lefse, holiday traditions, dance, even Ole and Lena jokes! In this workshop, we will talk about folklore in all its manifestations, considering how we might already be engaged in heritage and traditional practices that could be better understood through a folkloric lens. Come to learn about the study of folklore and how it can enrich your life, your family story, and help you see the world through fresh and curious eyes.
When: Saturday, May 9. 10:00am-11:00pm. This workshop will be one hour long.
Instructor: Chrissy Widmayer
Cost: $10 member/$15 non-member
This workshop is made possible thanks to a partnership between the Center for the Study of Upper Midwestern Cultures at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Wisconsin Humanities’ Community Powered initiative, which works to build resilience in communities using the tools of history, culture, and storytelling.
PLEASE NOTE – This workshop will not be recorded.
ALL CLASSES BEGIN CENTRAL TIME
Link for the Zoom meeting will be emailed closer to the start of class.
Contact us at genealogy@nagcnl.org with any questions or for more details about the class.
Chrissy Widmayer is a scholar of community connections. She has a PhD in Folklore Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and an MFA in Creative Writing from George Mason University. Her dissertation research explored how communities create connections and relationships using foodways and storytelling. Her postdoctoral research builds on the work she’s done as the director of Wisconsin Humanities’ award-winning Community Powered initiative, which puts the tools of history, culture, and storytelling in the hands of communities through training and educational programming. Chrissy hopes to help Nordic American communities in the Upper Midwest build capacity to collect their own folklore and produce dynamic public programming around those traditions. Chrissy is also a co-founder of WiseFolk Productions and content creator for Folkwise.