American Tall Tales and Folk Songs

Dr. Harvey jumps into the 20th century to demonstrate how Tall Tales reinforce the ideals of the cultures where they were born. For example, many of America’s well-known Tall Tales deal with characters from the wild west and carry themes of expansion, colonization, and progress. After sharing the stories of “Pecos Bill,” “Katy Goodgrit” and “Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox,” Dr. Harvey delves into how ballads and folksongs served as a voice of concerns from those who couldn’t speak. She presents “The Ballad of John Henry” and “The Ballad of Casey Jones.”

English
  • Runtime 31 minutes
  • Network The Great Courses
  • Created June 8, 2022 by
    isolation422h3
  • Modified September 7, 2024 by
    JLS