In a workshop for one of the sections of the Learning Communities, I pointed the students toward a reference set called the
Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life to help them in their research on traditional clothing of various groups. There are entries on over 500 groups from around the world. Each 2-3 page entry has the same sections:
- introduction
- location and homeland
- language
- folklore
- religion
- major holidays
- rites of passage
- interpersonal relations
- living conditions
- family life
- clothing
- food
- education
- cultural heritage
- work
- sports
- entertainment and recreation
- folk arts, crafts and hobbies
- social problems
- bibliography
To give you a sense of the depth of cultures covered, here's a list of some of the entries from the volume on Asia and Oceania:
- Acehnese
- Afghanis
- Ahirs
- Ainu
- 'Alawis
- Ambonese
- Andamese
- Andhras
- Anglo Australians
- Anglo Indians
- Asmat
- Assamese
- Australian Aborigines
- etc.
1 comment:
eHRAF Collection of Ethnography is probably not as user friendly but it may be a good follow-up resource if students want more in-depth information -- it links to articles and books on those groups, and most, if not all, are full-text.
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