Author Archives: Jessica Stempel

Body Art

Nationality: Caucasian, Jewish
Age: 20
Occupation: Student
Residence: Haverford, PA
Performance Date: May 01, 2008
Primary Language: English

Tattoos

Me: Do you still have that tat?

David: that what? Tat

Me: U know, that tattoo

David: ooooooh yea. When people ask I tell them I was young and in love.

Me: Yea we were craaaazzzy

David: Well at least its hidden, its not on my arm or anything, could you imagine?

Me: Ouch…

This is a conversation I had with my ex boyfriend after we broke up. We are discussing tattoos that we decided to permanently ink on our body. They are of each other’s first name initial. Stupid, I know but at the time it seemed like a good idea. My parents do not know, of course, they would kill me.

Tattoos in the western world have for a long time been the subject of much opposing opinions. Some people are very conservative and completely against tattoos, some people get one or two, others cover their whole body. It is a form of personal expression that dates back thousands of years between 5000 and 4000 BCE to the Neolithic Stone Age. Yet, even though this practice is ancient and full of historical significance, parents of modern teenagers still shun it as being a taboo. This is especially true in my religion, Judaism, where there is a myth that one who has been tattooed cannot be buried in a Jewish cemetery. This is in fact false as I readily researched after hearing this rumor as I have two tattoos and was horrified to hear of this prior to my inking sessions.

The reason I think that tattoos, which I believe can be a beautiful and artistic form of self expression, are shunned is because of the western interpretations and transformation of the art. In many other societies, such as the Polynesian culture, tattoos are found to usually be of one style and help to establish cultural identity. However, Americans, as they notoriously do, myself included, guilty as charged have interpreted the tattoo to mean whatever they desire. In our world, variety is highly coveted and tattoos can range from flowers to star wars characters to spousal names to portraits of loved ones. While this is an amazing advance in the tattoo industry, tattoos in the US do not have the same historical significance like they do in other cultures. It is not as much looked at as a tradition or bodily celebration, but rather shunned by much of society as inappropriate. I think many conservative parents are worried because of the availability to their children to choose basically anything they wish as long as they are eighteen and can pay the money and take the pain. Indeed, my parents would be very mad to learn of my secret tattoo. I now look back and realize it probably was not the smartest decisions. However, I to not think I am alone. With 50% of marriages failing in the United States, there are bound to be more than a few people in the same tattoo situation that I am in.

Source: Wikipedia- Tattoos

Folk Art

Nationality: Mexican, Salvadorian
Age: 22
Occupation: Unemployed
Residence: South Central, CA
Performance Date: May 01, 2008
Primary Language: English
Language: Spanish

Tagging- Folk Art

“When I was in my crew back when I was in bad footsteps I used to hit up my name and the crew. I used those things that they use for rock climbing and two niggas would have to hold the rope and pull me up so I could hit up spots like on the bridges over the freeways and on high buildings and shit. I got caught a few times, I don’t do that shit no more though, its not worth it.”

Frank’s account of “hitting up” referrers to “tagging” or “graffiti” using spray cans. In gang and “crew” culture, getting ones identity out in public especially on hard to reach places is especially respected. Although illegal, it is easy to graffiti at night and not get caught by the police.

I would classify “tagging” or “hitting up” as folk art. While many members quickly spray their names down to avoid getting caught, other “taggers” take their time making “pieces” which are more elaborate and decorative forms of graffiti. Some “pieces” or “bombs” are very aesthetically appealing and actually can add a unique feature to communities. Some places, like one spot on Venice Beach, actually allow graffiti to be put on walls. Though it is still not recognized as a form of high art by the mainstream, graffiti art has become a serious and appreciated art form for some people. This is especially true in the hip hop culture.

While I am not at all justifying gang activity, this account of graffiti reminded me of the art which I actually do appreciate when done in ways which certain “taggers” take seriously.

Contemporary Legend

Nationality: Caucasian
Age: 20
Occupation: Student
Residence: Haverford, PA
Primary Language: English

Pop Rocks and Soda- Urban Legend

“When I was a kid, there was always this urban legend that if you eat pop rocks and drink soda together, your stomach will explode and you will die. At the time, I was scared and refused to try it. Then I saw a movie called Urban Legends and it was mentioned in there. Now that I am older, even though I still haven’t tried the combination, I know that there’s no way there is any truth to this.”

Urban Legends are popular among children because they are somewhat ridiculous, but since kids do not always have a firm grasp on logical explanations, they are often not able to discount them. Likewise, they are named to signify their date in history as being from preindustrial times, meaning that children can often times identify with and relate to what is being told to within their own lives. For instance, pop rocks and soda are readily available and the urban legend’s terminus ante quem has to be relatively recent due to the fact that pop rocks have not been around for very long. This makes a child’s worst nightmare as close as the nearest supermarket.

I know that the makers of pop rocks suffered a major hit from this urban legend and the company went great lengths to try and convince people of the urban legend’s falseness. Pop Rocks actually went off the shelf for a period of time due to the failure of sales that the rumor caused. People misinterpreted this disappearance, however, as being proof that pop rocks and soda were so dangerous that one ingredient was forced out of consumers’ reach for their own safety. However, Pop Rocks have recently made their return and occasionally still enjoy their unique sensation, sans soda, though I must say I am eventually planning on finally putting an end to my suspicions once and for all.

Joke – Jewish

Nationality: White
Age: 20
Occupation: Student
Residence: Haverford, PA
Performance Date: May 01, 2008
Primary Language: English

Jewish Joke

“Why do Jewish people have big noses? Because air is free!”

This joke deals with two main stereotypes about Jewish people. One is their appearance, having big noses. The other is that they are cheap.

I must say, being a Jew, I think I am guilty of possessing both of these traits. This Jew joke to me is funny, yet some Jewish jokes deal with trying to make light of the Holocaust, which is something I will never find funny. Light-hearted Jokes like this one, however, are ok with me, as a Jew.

Jewish people may be cheap, I admit it. However, statistically, Jewish people make up less than one percent of the population, but control a large portion of the wealth. Perhaps one of the reasons that Jewish people have such a high success rate of becoming rich is due to their “cheap” tendencies. Especially now, during time of at least an acute economic crisis, perhaps more of the US can learn money saving tips from the Jewish. Yes I might be biased but in reality, there is nothing wrong with trying to save a bit of money.

The big nosed part of being a Jew I cannot explain. It is not to say that every Jewish person has a big nose, but for those who do not, there sure are those who have enough nose for two! My mother, for instance, had a nose job as a result of her dislike of her “Jewish” nose.

The point is, this joke is one that I think many Jews would laugh at because of the validity to it. However, there are some jokes that are just too sensitive to handle, no matter how long it has been after the event that the joke is about. This includes the Holocaust.

Food – England

Nationality: White
Age: 43
Occupation: Nanny
Residence: Sussex, England
Performance Date: May 01, 2008
Primary Language: English

Fish and Chips- Cultural Food

“A popular dish in England is fish and chips. The fish is beer battered cod that is fried. The chips are fries. It has been popular since the 1800’s and is served in newspaper. It is especially popular in Cornwall, where my parents live”

Often times cultural dishes are created based on ingredients, which are readily available or abundant to a region. Such is the case of fish and chips in Cornwall, a town in England on the water. Here, Jayne says the fish and chips are especially delicious. This may be because the fish is caught fresh every day and recipes for it have been passed down through time.

The newspaper idea is one that should be adopted in the US to recycle paper. It makes for a very good way of recycling materials that would otherwise be disposed of. There is a sanitary question, which comes into play, however. This is perhaps why I have seen American versions of food wrapped in faux newspaper. Regardless of cleanliness, fish and chips remains extremely popular in England.

This may be because unlike Americans, the Europeans are not so obsessed with fad diets and such silly ways of trying to become skinny. Most Europeans carelessly enjoy their delicious cuisines special to their countries. However, portions are not as big as you see in the US. Also, their eating habits differ in that they eat to live, not live to eat.