An interview with Meghan Farley, a senior double major in
anthropology/sociology and Spanish from Louisville

RELEASED: April 29, 2004

Class: Introduction to Folklore (Anthropology 340)

Day/time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:40-11:10 a.m.

Professor: Phyllis Passariello, associate professor of anthropology

What makes this class interesting?
"What drew me to anthropology was that it incorporates all aspects of life, and folklore class is that way, too. You see the relevance of everything from folk songs to traditional recipes. Dr. Passariello is a fascinating professor, and she makes the class interesting."

What have you learned this term?
"I've taken a new look at fairy tale stories from my childhood, and I've also seen how important folklore is to solidifying cultural beliefs."

What did you think about the class discussions on fairy tales?
"Our discussions of The Little Mermaid, comparing the Disney film and the original version by Hans Christian Andersen, were quite thought provoking. Taking a psychoanalytic perspective when analyzing fairy tales is a totally different approach from any other way I've looked at fairy tales. I'm not sure if I believe everything we talked about in class, but it's good to analyze and look at things in a deeper way. It's such a great class. Everyone can relate to the topics we talk about, and it makes for a really great discussion."

What do you feel you'll take away from this class?
"I'll take away a deeper understanding of what folklore actually is. The class helped me think about the folklore in my family, too. We've not only read the classic folklore books, but we've also looked at folklore in our everyday lives."

Would you recommend this class to fellow students?
"Yes, I'd recommend it because it's a class that challenges you intellectually, but it's also very fun and it covers subjects that you're familiar with."

Professor Passariello says:
"I hope the students gain a sense that anthropology is a subject that has vitality and relevance to our daily lives. The ultimate mission is to see the universality and diversity of all human beings. Because folklore is so accessible and ordinary, it makes a good window for the anthropological perspective. Also, the class is really fun."

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