Queen of the Bondo

Mythology, folklore, and cultural heritage have deeply interested me for a long time. I had my first aha! moment during my junior year at Cleveland State, when I took a class in Myth, Legend, and Folktale. The subject instantly caught me.

Instead of pursuing it, though, I floundered around for a while and eventually went to library school — partly because I have never been particularly good at following my bliss (or even recognizing my bliss!) but also because library school seemed eminently practical.

Not that I regret the opportunities that library school gave me. But now, I’m thinking about how to build on those past experiences, so I’m taking the time to look at programs in folklore and heritage preservation. And the program that’s standing out right now is the M.A. in Folklore at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Here’s why.

As you may know, my professional interests include Rust Belt literature and local history. Despite the fact that some people find the term “Rust Belt” pejorative and objectionable, there is a sort of Rust Belt heritage, a Rust Belt narrative emerging. This place, once the greatest manufacturing region the world has ever known, is now a place where an old culture is giving way to a new one. It unnerves me to think that this shift isn’t getting due attention, that old folkways might be lost, or that the emerging folkways are seen as fads.

What appeals to me about the program at Memorial University is that it’s rooted in a province with a unique culture — one that’s well-studied and celebrated. The Rust Belt is not as well-studied, and the idea of celebrating the Rust Belt is pretty off-putting to some people. If I want to do a formal study of Rust Belt folklore, folkways, or cultural heritage, then starting in a place where the culture is strong and well-documented might be a good option.

Now, of course I’m a little wary of pursuing something so academic, something that may be just as precariously dependent on grant funding and charitable donations and public tax dollars as libraries and archives. But the prospect of carving a unique research niche for myself, to cultivate my expertise in something I think is important, is strongly appealing.

Also notable: Memorial University offers a Heritage Resources diploma with an opportunity to study in England, and some of the lowest tuition and fees in Canada — even for International students. Hey, that’s me!