Author Archives: Michael Effenberger

Your Name is Mud(d)

Contextual Information

Time of Interview: April 23rd, 2012, 4:28 p.m.

Location of Interview: Interior of informant’s room, Parkside Apts.

Informant’s First Encounter w/ Folklore: Early childhood (5 or 6 years old), passed down by parents.

When Folklore is Performed: Either when admonishing someone else’s character, or when discussing family history.

 

Transcript:

“From a very young age my parents were telling me, unless they were lying to me, that I am related by marriage to Dr. Samuel Mudd, aka the origin of the idiom “Your name is mud,” which he got after setting John Wilkes Booth’s broken legs on the evening of the assassination. Um, he didn’t know that Booth had just killed the president, so he was sentenced to prison and served, like, four years in prison for being a doctor and, um, was pardoned by President Andrew Johnson. Um, his name was cursed! His name was Mudd, and his name became “mud” and, fortunately, some ancestor of mine married away from it so I don’t have that name anymore!”

 

According to my informant, after Dr. Samuel Mudd setting John Wilkes Booth’s broken leg, he received several accusations of conspiracy and possible involvement in the Lincoln assassination. With his reputation tarnished, the once esteemed name of “Mudd” became as valuable as “mud,” hence the saying. That being said, my informant was quick to point out that Mudd was only doing his duty as a practitioner of medicine, and that he was not aware of any evidence that could have possibly tied Dr. Mudd to the actual assassination. The idiom is often used to describe someone who has either betrayed their values or had none to begin with.

“Don’t Suck…”

Contextual Information

Time of Interview: April 21st, 5:05 p.m.

Location of Interview: Interior of Informant’s Room, Arts and Humanities

Informant’s First Encounter w/ Folklore: Freshman Year of Private High School

When Folklore is Performed: Before every theater performance.

 

Transcript

“We ate Jolly Ranchers before every show, using the saying “Suck now so you don’t suck later.” If you didn’t have a suck you had a bad show, apparently.”

 

When performing in front of others, it is entirely possible that one could break or falter under the pressure of the crowd. By taking the jolly rancher, one receives a sort of placebo effect that allows them to remain confident while performing in front of others.

Theater Snacks

Contextual Information

Time of Interview: April 21st, 5:08 p.m.

Location of Interview: Interior of Informant’s Room, Arts and Humanities

Informant’s First Encounter w/ Folklore: Freshman Year of Private High School

When Folklore is Performed: During the production of a play

 

Transcript

“In high school theatre we used to have peanut M& M’s before every show to remember the time before any of us remembered when there was a lot of division between the cast and crew. Apparently it was like a West Side Story backstage. However, both the cast and crew work together to produce the same awesome show, so like the actors being the peanut protein you need and the chocolate and shell being what makes it look good, we come together to perform.”

 

The use of visual metaphors, along with treats such as Peanut M&Ms, allows for the cast and crew to unite together for the purpose of putting on a great show.

“At the House of the Blacksmith…”

Contextual Information

Time of Interview: April 24th, 1:03 p.m.

Location of Interview: Interior of VKC Library

Informant’s first encounter w/ Folklore: early childhood, w/ grandparents

When Folklore is performed: when critiquing hypocritical behavior

 

Transcript

“’En casa del herrero, cuchillo de palo.’ It translates to, ‘At the house of the blacksmith, he has knives made of wood.’”

 

My informant would hear his grandfather of Spanish descent often make this passing remark when critiquing someone with hypocritical behavior. The saying speaks to hypocrisy, for the man who works with metals all day goes home to wooden utensils.

“Every Machete that Falls…”

Contextual Information

Time of Interview: April 24th, 1:05 p.m.

Location of Interview: Interior of VKC Library

Informant’s first encounter w/ Folklore: Childhood, w/ grandparents

When Folklore is performed: Often repeated in the kitchen

 

Transcript:

“This one’s a little out there. It’s ‘Machete caído, indio muerto.’ It translates to, ‘Every machete or large knife that falls causes a dead Indian.”

 

My informant recalls hearing his grandmother mention this phrase in passing whenever her grandchildren attempted to help with the cooking. She used it as a means to caution them from using sharp instruments such as knifes, blades, or any other utensils that could inflict damage.