An exciting opportunity will be taking place at West Virginia University this coming
June. Folklorist and literary scholar Carl Lindahl will be leading the WVU English
Department’s annual Summer Seminar in Literary and Cultural Studies from June 9-12,
2011 on the topic “American Magic: The Fates of Folk & Fairy Tales in the
Appalachians.”
For additional information, you can visit the seminar website at
http://english.wvu.edu/centers/projects/summer_seminar.
Carl has emerged as a champion of Appalachian märchen: his 2008 American Folklore
Society plenary address focused on Appalachian folk- and fairy-tales, and an article
based on his talk, “Leonard Roberts, The Farmer-Lewis-Muncy Family, and the Magic
Circle of the Mountain Märchen,” which appeared in the Fall 2010 issue of the
_Journal of American Folklore_. Carl is particularly interested in contemporary
performances of these tales and their tellers, so this promises not to be just a
study of past scholarship, but of living, emerging tradition, as well.
The WVU English Department is thrilled to have Carl as the leader of our 20th annual
seminar, and hopes you can join us for a weekend featuring the best elements of an
academic seminar-great readings, lively discussions with fellow scholars, and the
leadership of an expert in the field-without the usual headaches (no papers to write
or exams to take).
Registration is $350 for faculty members and non-academics, and $250 for graduate
students. The fee includes breakfast on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Housing will
be available in one of the newest dorms on campus, or for those who prefer to stay
off-campus, there are several hotels and motels nearby.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly with any
questions at rosemary.hathaway@mail.wvu.edu or by phone at 304/293-9738.