#folklore.with.c

[charcoaljuniper]

i can do this

[charcoaljuniper]

Why did I want to become a folklorist?

My professional answer: Because I believe that everyone’s story is important and deserves to be heard.

My real answer: I read twilight and fell in love with the characters especially jacob and leah and then i grew up and i still loved them but i learned how harmful smeyers portrayal was to indigenous people and how she appropriated the real culture of quileute natives. so i began to read about the real tribe and fell in love again. this time with how kind and gentle they are, how they hold such respect for everyone and everything they touch. learning about their histories, made me want to learn about other cultures too until my brain is drowning in history and legends. they’re all so beautiful. but smeyers blatant racism will always be hovering anytime i interact with the media. i never want this to happen to another culture, even though i know it’s inevitable. so folklore. using what power (if any) i do have to advocate for the preservation of culture.

so yeah anyway i guess i do have thoughts on it.

[charcoaljuniper]

2024 Reads

As the title says, these are my reads from the year. Some were great, some were mandatory. So, I'm going to talk about it. Fyi this count does not include articles, journals, or internet based folklore. This only includes physcial (and kindle) published works. Here we go!

Strange as this Weather Has Been by Ann Pancake

Feminist, Queer, Crip by Alison Kafer

Ramp Hollow: The Ordeal of Appalachia by Steven Stoll

Feminist Disability Studies edited by Kim Q. Hall

Never Never by Serena Valentino

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

The Right to Maim: Debility, Capacity, Disability by Jasbir K. Puar

Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

espresso shots & forget-me-nots by Parker Lee

The Winter Soldier: Cold Front by Mackenzi Lee

Pattern in the Material Folk Culture of the Eastern United States by Henry Glassie

Material Vernaculars: Objects, Images, and Their Social Worlds edited by Jason Baird Jackson

She followed the moon back to herself by Amanda Lovelace

Queer Adolescence by Charlie McNabb

Who's Afraid of Gender? by Judith Butler

How to They/Them by Stuart Getty

Nonbinary Lives: An Anthology by Ben Vincent and others

Gender in the Digital Sphere by Barbara Mitra and others

She/He/They/Me by Robyn Ryle

Gender Trouble by Judith Butler

Up in Flames by Eden Finley and Saxon James

texts i never sent by Ariel Day

The Words I Could Never Say by Yogesh Chandra

save me an orange by Hayley Grace

I reccomend a lot of these and if anyone wants to talk about them im game.

Until next time.

C.

[charcoaljuniper]

Folklore, Gender, and Personal Growth

As many of you know, I've been working on a research project about nonbinary histories. All is going well and I am currently in the revision phase.

The more I read these histories and learn about others in the community, I think I've learned more about myself. I've always known that there are many different terms under the nonbinary umbrella but I always thought I was strictly nonbinary. The more I read, the more I'm resonating with genderqueer instead.

It's fascinating that I'm learning about myself while learning about others. Folklore at work I guess.

So, genderqueer. Thats new. I'm excited for the journey though.

[charcoaljuniper]

The Politics of Folklore

I've seen a lot of folks talking about keeping political feelings and opinions out of folklore and out of museums. But to be frank, that's impossible. Folklore is nothing without the people who make it, and our feelings, opinions, and fears around politics is part of our history. More so, the folk art and gatherings that come out of it is it's own folklore.

In a lot of my classes and research, we've talked about how every single museum structure is politcal and if it isn't, then there is a story that is not being told.

Let's keep that in mind. Remember all folklore is important, all history is necessary. People fighting for what they believe in is folklore and it's needed.

Take care of yourselves.

Blessed Be,

C.

[charcoaljuniper]

introducing, charlie.

hi, my name is charlie and welcome to my little blog!

im: 25 | they/them/theirs | aroace | french-german american

languages: english + french

this is my main blog and i post a lot about folklore, mythology, and current projects that i'm working on.

im currently working on my masters degree in folklore. i am only a semester away and i am currently working on my thesis project. my specialities are germanic folklore, nordic folklore, legends, piracy, and queer narratives.

one more semester until i work in the museum of my dreams.

please come say hey, id love to talk to other folklore enthusiasts! my messages are always open.

[charcoaljuniper]

The Fabric of Identity

My most recent research project. The link to the flipbook is below the cut.

[charcoaljuniper]

i’m too angry and overwhelmed to continue talking about this stuff. im gonna hide and do homework i guess.

[charcoaljuniper]

research time 🌲🍄

[charcoaljuniper]

It's Planting Season

March 10, 2025

Well, it's been a few days but I started this years seedlings. We're doing some herbs, tomatoes, and alpine strawberries. We actually set these up last week but I forgot to share!

[charcoaljuniper]

not exactly folklore but a teeny update. i have a lot going on and i wanted to share.

i’m going next week to get my cap and gown for graduation!

i finished designing the grad announcement because the one from my university is ugly and expensive.

i’m in the editing phase of my thesis project.

i’m in the actual work stage of my internship (yay!).

i have plant plans for my home and will post updates with plant folklore as i do.

[charcoaljuniper]

just some love and guidance from yours truly ❤️

[charcoaljuniper]

lord let me hyperfixate on the project at hand 🙌

i need to finish it.

[charcoaljuniper]

fun fact when talking about anxieties of the state of the country, telling me to drop out of college and stop trying to achieve my dreams because “it’s over now anyway” isn’t helpful at all.

i graduate in 3 months and I got married 3 months ago. I’m angry and I want things to change but telling me to lay down and take it because “oh americas done for anyway”, “don’t even try to get a job in your field (museums) they’re going to go away anyway”, “stop trying”.

it doesn’t fix anything. it doesn’t make america fixed. it doesn’t make anything better.

i’m not going to stop trying to have a good life because everything is falling apart. i can chase my dreams and fight for what’s right at the same time.

[charcoaljuniper]

romanticizing my life to get my research done

[charcoaljuniper]

Hello lovelies.

This is going to be a short post and I’ll return to my regularly scheduled folklore posting momentarily.

I know everyone is stressed because of social media bans, politics, and the inauguration. That’s okay. You’re allowed to be stressed. Try to remember that there are grassroots organizations doing the work, maybe get involved to see what is being done.

We can be angry, I know I am. But we’re still human and only have this one life. So please take care of yourself and enjoy your life even when everything else is falling apart.

I’m an artist at heart. The world may be on fire, but I’m choosing to continue to create art, to find beauty.

You don’t have to choose between enjoying being alive and fighting for justice. We can do both, I will.

And as always, If anyone needs a vent, my ears are open and so are my messages.

Blessed be,

Charlie