Author Archives: afoyle

Spirit of the Woods

Text:
KK: So, in high school, I used to live in a neighborhood that was known for having a soccer field, right? And the soccer field–I never did this, of course–in high school, a lot of people would go to the soccer field late at night to host these things that they would call “wood parties.” Basically, at the end of the soccer field there’s this long path, and you go straight into the woods from there. And people would go into the woods and they’d basically have this free-for-all where they’d drink, they’d do a lot of things, they’d hook up with people, whatever. Late at night, towards the end of my senior year, one of my friends went to one of these wood parties, and she said that there was this person in the woods that would follow the people who would stray from the group. And they could hear, like, the crunching of leaves, and they would hear, like–I don’t know what it was, but they would describe it as this wood spirit, or something, that would follow them if they were not in their group.”

Context:
KK: The context, I would think–I’m not saying she made it up, but– I’m pretty sure that, I think they were nervous cuz they would go pretty deep into the woods to hide from cops and stuff like that (laughs). So, I’m not sure if this wood spirit was maybe like, a manifestation of their fears towards getting caught by authority. But they would say that it would like, take their drinks and it would do certain things–but um, it was interesting cuz I think they were afraid of getting caught so they were very anxious. So people would say that they would notice certain things going on at their wood parties. You know, it was also a bunch of drunk teenagers, so. I don’t know.

Analysis: I think there’s definitely some value to KK’s theories about why this spirit was believed in. For high schoolers rebelling by drinking in the woods, it makes complete sense that superstitions surrounding a spirit of the forest would arise–it’s a very common set-up to spooky stories and horror movies, and the anxiety is understandable. I also think most forests and wooded areas tend to hold a bit of fear and/or mysticism for humans, and the idea of a spirit of the woods is also extremely common.

“Shit Damn Motherfucker” – Theatre Ritual

Text: “Shit damn motherfucker / motherfucker damn / this dumb bitch just stole my man / got to find another fucker better than the other fucker / shit damn motherfucker / motherfucker damn”

Context: HC is a Theatre BA at USC, and has performed / participated in many musicals on campus.

HC: I first encountered “shit damn motherfucker” during MTR’s Fun Home, my first show at USC. If I’m remembering correctly, the seniors taught it to us. You repeat it three or four times, starting really quiet and getting really, really loud, like shouting and jumping all together. It’s like– a way for the cast to get energized and pumped for the performance. From then on… I believe I’ve done it before every USC production I’ve been a part of? It just gets passed down by word of mouth by those who’ve done shows at USC before, which I think is very special. I love it, because it gets everyone connected, grounded, and really free before a show. I think it’s like… a way to get the cast out of their heads and into their bodies. Allowing them to be present and prepared for the work they’re about to do!

Analysis: I agree with HC’s analysis of this–I think the ridiculousness of the tradition allows for an outlet for nerves. It’s a reminder to not catastrophize or overthink–instead allowing the actors to have fun, jump, scream, swear in their friends’ faces, and get adrenaline up for the performance. Similar to a lot of pre-show rituals for theatre, it’s a unifying experience, and something of a reset for the entire group before undertaking a practiced performance.

“Striking” – Theatre Slang

Text: “To strike” or “striking”

Context: AB is a Screenwriting BFA at USC, though has a substantial background in theatre. In a theatrical context, the word “striking” means to clear something [a prop, set piece, etc] from the stage. This is often used during scene transitions within a performance, but can also be used in a rehearsal context for any physical piece that needs to be removed from the performance area.

Analysis: As someone with extensive experience in theatre, it can be interesting to realize what specific terminology isn’t widespread. These terms are so ingrained into your muscle memory when working in theatre, it’s startling to realize they’re not intuitive. Both AB and I are film majors with backgrounds in theatre–in film, “striking” means to turn a light on, which is completely removed from its usage within theatre.

“The cold will go straight to your uterus.”

Text: “Put some socks on–the cold will go straight to your uterus!”

Context: RF is in her 50s. This is a sentiment her mother (a half-Mexican woman) would say to her when she would walk around the house barefoot. RF theorizes that this is an “old wives’ tale” passed down from her Mexican great-grandmother, who would say the same thing to her own children and grandchildren. The idea being that walking around barefoot is harmful, and that the cold from the floor could cause a woman’s uterus to “catch a chill”–the meaning of which RF’s mother has never explained to her.

Analysis: I think this is probably an old belief that has cycled down through RF’s family–what might’ve been a belief about preserving fertility or maintaining a pregnancy has since become a way for the women of this family to express care towards their daughters or granddaughters. RF doesn’t believe her mother actually believes this, but keeps the saying alive as a form of connection to her grandmother, as well as caring for her own daughter.

Paper ring chains

Text: Pieces of paper cut into long strips – those strips are taped or stapled into interlocking rings, creating a chain. The chain holds as many links as there are days until an event–a holiday, the end of school, etc–and every day, a ring is removed every day until the event occurs and the chain is gone.

Context: AB recalls making these chains with her friends in elementary school as a countdown to Christmas. They would use colored construction paper and hang them up in her friends’ houses as a fun activity to commemorate the season.

Analysis: This is a simple and fun activity to commemorate an upcoming holiday or event. It works well for children, as all that is recquired is cutting paper and either taping or stapling it together–it does not need much supervision or materials, but works well as a festive activity. AB mentions learning this at her friends’ houses, but this is also an easy enough craft to do in school, allowing for lots of decoration and chances for children to express their creativity.