Folklore Terminal Projects

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    Vinotok: Myth and Community
    (University of Oregon, 2024-06-14) Keith, Jessie
    The research topic of my terminal project is Vinotok, an autumn equinox festival that takes place annually in the small town of Crested Butte, Colorado. Vinotok is a curious festival in that it wasn’t formally begun until the mid-80s, but draws upon older traditions, myths, stories, rituals, and community activities—from the Gunnison Valley it rests in all the way to the European (mostly northern and western) countries the festival creators and participants are descended from. These roots, how they are reclaimed and reworked, and the community involvement in the festival are all elements that became magnified and emphasized during my fieldwork. As a result of this research, I created a feature-length documentary film, as well as this accompanying written piece. The documentary is to be kept in the Randall V. Mills Folklore Archive here at the University of Oregon, gifted back to community members who were a part of the research, and hosted online (making it more easily accessible for viewing). The goal of this written component of the project is to illuminate folkloric aspects of the festival and examine how those aspects shape and are shaped by the community. I will first present the lines of inquiry, project objectives, and methodology. Then, I will provide a general account of the festival and go on to examine its connections to heritage, spirituality, and folklore scholarship. A reflection on the project as a whole will conclude this work.