Monthly Archives: April 2018

White Lighters

Nationality: American
Age: 23
Occupation: Photographer
Residence: Chula Vista, San Diego
Performance Date: 4/22/18
Primary Language: English

Ethan Newmayer, a free-lance photographer working for Louis Vuitton, who hails from, Chula Vista, San Diego, three pieces of folklore for this collection.

The interview was run, in his bedroom, The interview was run, within his studio, at Orchard Avenue, on the outskirts of the University of Southern California

Folk Performance: White Lighters.

Folk Type: Folk Belief.

“I feel like there’s a ton of meaning imbued into everyday objects, particularly in the art world—the cigarette, the paintbrush…” – Stanley Kalu

STORY: It’s more of a widespread thing, but the white lighter myth, you know what I mean? It’s part of like the twenty-seven club, um, like famous musicians that died at age twenty-seven supposedly with a white lighter in their pockets. So, if you have a white light, especially if you’re 27, it’s just bad news. You might die. But white lighters in general are seen as bad luck.

Background information: The background of the white lighter curse was described within the story. The legend is primarily based on the deaths of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, and Kurt Cobain.

Context of performance: The Marijuana sub-culture adopted this legend as true and, as such, it is a widespread within the state of California.

Ethan learned about this from his peers in high school and likes it because it relates to musicians that he really respects.

Thoughts: This legend has been debunked several times. Kurt Cobain did not have a white lighter. The Bic Company didn’t even produce white lighters when Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison were alive. I suppose it persists, in part, due to cognitive dissonance and because it is lumped together with the true story of great musicians dying at 27.

TMB Band Name: Talko Supreme

Nationality: Mexican, American
Age: 20
Occupation: USC Student
Residence: Los Angeles
Performance Date: 4/24/18
Primary Language: English

While interviewing my informant, Brianna, I decided to document her Band Name. She got her Band Name from the upperclassmen of her section in the Trojan Marching Band (TMB). Brianna is a member of the Mellophone section. I asked her to perform her band name to me as if she were asked to “introduce herself” by another member of the band:

 

Brianna: “Once upon a time my name my name is Talko Supreme”

 

In the background, Peter aka Venti Four Logo says “whyyyyyy?” He’s sitting on a couch nearby where I am interviewing, and chimed in like he naturally would when another band member was introducing themself.

 

Brianna: “Because when you’re with me, you’re gonna eat out.”

 

My informant would usually perform this Band Name/Joke ritual in a social setting with other members of the TMB. Sometimes she is asked by alumni of the band who are interested in hearing the new Band Names their section has come up with. Members of the band also frequently ask each other because they are often humorous or come with humorous jokes attached. It is also used to test the band Freshmen to see if their jokes are up to par with the standard set by current band members.

 

According to my informant, everyone in the band has a Band Name that they have been dubbed by their older section members. The Band Names are different in each section. Some sections give their members short names that function as traditional nicknames (example: “Egg”). My informant was mostly able to give me knowledge of how the Mellophone section names its members.

 

My informant’s section gave her a strange because they have to figure out how it applies to them/ what the other section members know about them. My informant is dubbed ‘Talko Supreme’ for a couple reasons: 1.) My informant is Mexican, hence the name’s play on ‘taco supreme.’ 2.) My informant is known for talking a lot and being very social, which is why the first part of her name is “Talko.”

 

Analysis

I have seen my informant introduce herself on many occasions with a few different Name Jokes. The particular joke she gave me is about average  compared to the usual raunchy, outrageous jokes the section normally uses. I think this is a good representation of how Mellophone Name Jokes usually are. I personally enjoy this social band tradition. Everyone has a name, so it’s fun to get to know all the members of the band just to hear them. The tradition of Band Names also further unties the band as one entity.

Norse Mythology

Nationality: Norwegian
Age: 19
Performance Date: 04/24/18

We also have the story of the kraken. Ships going down at sea, was not uncommon. A lot of the Norse mythology is trying to use different creatures in order to explain different things. Mostly with nature, the power of nature. The kraken was an explanation of how ships went down. The ships go down because there’s a giant sea creature. It’s very similar to pirates of the Caribbean. They very much popularized   the idea of the kraken. And pirates too for that matter. I mean it’s interesting to think about whether my family was part of the Vikings that were raided… or the ones who raided.

Other things that’s very Norweigan is the idea of gnomes and elves. My mom has a ton of different dolls she puts out for different occasions. Some of them are really creepy. I would get nightmares from them.

 

  1. Were they like voodoo dolls?

Similar I guess, but not really. It’s just that there incredibly creepy. They also have giant heads. I don’t know why.

My Thoughts

            Dolls are often used in horror movies as vessels for demons. They honestly are incredibly frightening. So the fact that they put out many different kinds for different occasions is in my mind, a living nightmare. But I suppose each one has significance and a meaning. The kraken is an interesting concept. It almost reminds me of the story of the Lochness Monster. They’re both incredibly large creatures that terrorize ships at sea. I suppose Moby Dick could be added to that list, even though it was clear he was a whale, he’s still a large creature that terrorized a ship.

 

Norwegian Christmas

Nationality: Norwegian
Age: 19
Performance Date: 04/24/18

Well…all of my mom’s side of the family is Norwegian. Norway and Scandinavian traditions are actually quite dark. SO for example, one of the traditions we always do, is my mom always like to say the tradition of Santa Claus in the Norwegian manner. It’s very different… I don’t really remember it. But Santa looks very different in like his look and his style. I think he wears elk boots. My mom has a pair of elk boots she likes to put on display. We also have a Norwegian accordion. So that’s always fun to play around Christmas time. I’ve attempted to play it but I’m not really that good. But every year we play it and dance to polka.

 

  1. Do you ever play the accordion for any other occasions?

Not really, it’s just a Christmas thing.

  1. Are the boots for human feet, made of elk fur, or are they for elk hooves?

I think they’re human boots. They kind of look like elf boots in that they’re pointed at the toe.

My Thoughts

Every culture has different traditions for Christmas.   American traditions really idealize Santa Claus in the red suit and the white beard. But the reason for that is actually the Coca Cola Company. They were the ones who dressed Santa as that.   Many other cultures might dress him very differently. Also, elk v. reindeer, is there really a massive difference there? I’m intrigued that polka is the type of music they listen to and dance to around Christmas time

Story of Christmas Eve (as told by Caitlin)

Nationality: German
Age: 21
Performance Date: 04/23/18

We don’t really do this anymore, because my brother and I grew up. But when we were little kids we would go to church for Christmas. We were too little to go to midnight mass. We would put out milk and cookies for Santa and the Christkindle, which is the Christ child who we were told brings us our gifts. But because we grew up in Liechtenstein we knew both about Santa and the Christkindle. And also carrots and water for the reindeer. We would put them just outside the door of the patio. We would go into my parents room and my mom would read us this story she would read every Christmas eve. It was called I believe “One Wintery Night,” it was one of those cute books that was hand drawn. We would be cuddled up on her bed and my mom would be reading the stories to my brother and me. Notice how my dad wasn’t there haha. Mom would tell us he was working. All of a sudden we would here one of the bells on the Christmas tree ring. That meant Santa had come. And we run downstairs and the presents would be there and we were so excited. We would open the window and yell “Thank you Santa and Chirstkindle.” Now as an adult I realize it was my dad the whole time.

  1. Were you ever suspicious that it was your dad?

Not when we were kids. I guess we really believed my dad was working that late on Christmas Eve.

My Thoughts:

It’s interesting how family traditions can be blended from more than one place. For example Santa, a quite American tradition and Christkindle, a tradition from Liechtenstein. It’s cute how these kids were so excited that Santa had come. I personally believe in educating kids to reality sooner rather than later, but I suppose I can see the merit in letting them believe in the magic of Christmas.