Monthly Archives: May 2015

“Keep People From Thieving”

Nationality: Iranian American
Age: 19
Occupation: Singer
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: 30 April 2015
Primary Language: English

Text:

My grandmother used to say whenever we left something valuable in plain sight to hide it so as to not make good people thieves. So like, if there were construction workers or strangers of any kind in the house we’d all go and hide all the valuables and lock stuff up intensely so as not to tempt anyone into thievery. The concept is that if something gets stolen from you it’s your responsibility for tempting the thief I guess.

Background:

Like I said it was my grandmother who told me about this when I was little. Since she passed on, my mom hasn’t ever really mentioned it, but I notice that she still does it pretty much every time my grandma would have. I think it’s maybe a way that she honors my grandma? I don’t know if that’s important, but it’s just the kinda vibe I get.

Context:

Whenever less fortunate people came over was mainly when it would happen. Like construction workers or whatever, people we didn’t know. Salesmen sometimes, unless the wore suits or looked nice.

My Thoughts:

I think it’s really interesting that in Western culture we always blame the thief for their actions but in this tradition it places the blame on the people whose property gets stolen for tempting the thief. I think this look at cultural differences is apparent because the informant’s grandma believed strongly in it while the informant’s mother only kept it up to honor her own mother. I doubt the informant herself will keep this tradition up now that she has been Westernized.

“Egg Smashing”

Nationality: Iranian-American
Age: 19
Occupation: Singer
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: 30 April 2015
Primary Language: English

Text:

Whenever someone in our family gets a new car, the first time we go on a long trip the car has to drive over and break eggs for good luck. It was always a big eventful moment when my dad would get in the driver’s seat and we’d all stand outside the car and cheer when he ran over the eggs, one behind each tire. Then of course because my mom was a clean freak, we had to spray off the driveway and the tires with the hose before we could actually leave on the trip. But that moment of cheering with me and my brothers was always worth it.

Background:

I have no fucking idea why we do this, it’s just a thing we do. I don’t know any other families that do it; I was always kinda proud of this tradition just because I didn’t know anyone else who did it. I liked it cuz it seemed like a great way to celebrate the journey and then after the trip when we came back and were all really tired and ready for home, it was awesome to see the driveway and remember how cool the trip started out and why we took it in the first place.

Context:

We just did it before the first long road trip in a brand new car.

My Thoughts:

This reminds me of christening a ship before its maiden voyage. I’m sure there has to be some sort of connection ideologically. Otherwise, I like what my informant said about it being a good opportunity to liven up and celebrate an otherwise uneventful departure.

“Ghost Light”

Nationality: American
Age: 22
Occupation: Actor
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: 7 April 2015
Primary Language: English

Text:

It is a tradition in stage theatre to leave a lamppost without a lampshade lit in the middle of a stage every night a theatre closes. This is called a ghost light, and it is meant to provide light for the spirits of the theatre.

Background:

This is a theatrical tradition/superstition I’ve heard about multiple times throughout different acting classes and performances. I’ve never actually worked in a theatre that does this but many Off-Broadway theatres keep the tradition alive in New York. Superstition is very powerful in theatre. I’m not entirely sure how long the tradition has existed but certainly throughout the history of American theatre.

Context:

Again I haven’t witnessed it first hand. Strangely I’ve seen ghost lamps in the storage spaces of theatres so maybe the tradition is fading. I was in a play within a play and the owners of the theatre used a ghost lamp, but outside of that I have yet to see it.

My Thoughts:

This obviously makes me think about the musical Phantom of the Opera, because it plays off that superstition of the haunted theatre. I’m taking a consumerism class right now, and this author Miller keeps bringing up how houses often take on the “haunted” condition due to past owners, and such. I think it’s interesting that for actors who often after long productions feel like they “live” at the theatre, that intensely personal space takes on similar connotations to the home.

“Bros before Hoes”

Nationality: American
Age: 22
Occupation: Actor
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: 7 April 2015
Primary Language: English

Text:

When a man feels that he has been slighted by a woman, he’ll turn to his male friends for support, and often express remorse for having prioritized his paramour over the camaraderie of his “bros.”

Background:

In any breakup or conflict, there is a desire for both parties to believe themselves to be in the right, and to be surrounded by others who are willing to help them believe in their own lack of responsibility. One of the principle ways in which individuals will avoid blame is that of vilifying the person with whom they have had a conflict. When there are very few legitimate complaints to be made about the object of one’s heartbreak, as is often the case when the principle responsibility of the conflict lies in the individual seeking most to avoid blame, the individual is likely to resort to ridiculous overgeneralization and categorically unsound platitudes (“bitches be crazy”). Because they’ve surrounded themselves with friends who will, for the time being, support their friend by confirming their status as a victim, the jilted lover will align their pain along self-indulgent, sexist lines, by drawing the conclusion that women are antagonistic towards the feelings and needs of men, and that the only dependable source of support is that of other males. Like I said, it’s a coping mechanism. While it extends beyond the heterosexual circumstances described above, the overwhelming consensus in our culture would suggest that this way of dealing with guilt is generally most prevalent in this context.

Context:

Ok, so here’s like an example, right?

Bro: “Hey Mark, I’m sorry Kathy dumped you.”

Mark: “Yeah man, I can’t believe that bitch.”

Bro (thinking about what Mark wants to hear): “Yeah, Mark…that bitch.”

Mark: “All I did was cheat on her and lie to her and take her for granted, and then she got all hysterical about it. I think she might have been PMSing. Whatever. Who needs bitches when you’ve got buds, right?”

Bro (texting Kathy, “I heard you’re single ;)): “Yeah, Mark. Kathy’s…Kathy’s the worst.”

Mark: “I’m so lucky I got a friend like you to help me out when bitches be trippin’. Bros before hoes.”

Bro: “Yeah, man…Bros before hoes.”

My Thoughts:

I’ve never thought about this saying as folklore before, but it totally fits. I’m sure there must be other sayings in the world that express the same basic sentiment. I think it’s interesting to talk about it that way, in an academic discourse, because it’s really casual and whatnot if you know what I mean.

“Break a Leg”

Nationality: American
Age: 22
Occupation: Actor
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: 7 April 2015
Primary Language: English

Text:

Before going on stage, performers (usually actors) will express support for one another by encouraging their colleagues to “break a leg.”

Background:

Actors are a superstitious and cowardly lot. Among the many backstage traditions and sayings, “break a leg” is one of the most prominent. The actual meaning of the phrase is unsurprisingly contrary to its literal interpretation, and as such it stands in for wishing good luck or good performances to one another. Actors tend to be remarkably egotistical, and much of their craft relies on temporarily leaving their conceptions of “self” behind. It is therefore desirable to avoid feeding an actor’s hunger for attention and praise, and so the phrase “break a leg” serves to bring the actor down to earth and approach the stage with an attitude of humility.

Context:

Actor who is unfamiliar with stage traditions and theatrical mythology: “Good luck, everybody! We’re going to give an amazing performance. Hey, Julie! You’re gonna be great!”

Actor who knows their goddamn place: “Let’s get out there and do our jobs. Julie, break a leg. You know what? Break two.”

My Thoughts:

I’ve heard this a lot before. I think it’s interesting that I’ve never met an actor who doesn’t follow it. It’s incredibly taboo in the theatre to wish someone good luck. It’s cool that among this professional community which defies both class and culture, everyone (in America at least) follows this tradition.