The author reflects on Doo Wop as a folk musical form, as he experienced it first hand as a child from the streets in his neighborhood of New York.
Popular Culture
Dance Night at the Barn: Documenting the Line Dancing Tradition of Upstate New York
A fieldwork inspired portrait of line dancing in a rural, Saratoga County Town in New York State.
Upstate New York’s Irish Music Archive
An essay by Ted McGraw about his ongoing radio show, and the resulting collection of Irish music – one of the largest private collections of Irish music in the world.
Book Review: Sad Characters of American Folk Songs
A book review of “Hear My Sad Story: The True Tales That Inspired Stagolee, John Henry, and Other Traditional American Folk Songs,” by Richard Polenberg.
Poetry of Everyday Life
A look at the circus on the occasion of Ringling Bros. &Bailey Circus’s last show on May 21, 2017.
Hothead Paisan: Clearing a Space for a Lesbian Feminist Folklore
The author discusses a currently produced, independent comic “zine” which uses the myths and symbolism of lesbian identity.
Garage Sale Folklore
An exploration of the pheonomenon of the “garage sale,” and an examination of its participants
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas
This article examines the Dr. Suess story, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” in its use of secular Christmas symbols and reasons that that is the reason for its popularity as a story told during the Christmas season.