Author Archives: Su Young Kim

Paul is dead

Nationality: Asian American
Age: 20
Primary Language: English
Language: English

The informant is Chinese American. He has been a life-long Beatles fan. He went to Paul McCartney’s concert in 2013.

 

“Paul is dead” is a conspiracy theory that claims Paul McCarney, a member of the former The Beatles, died in 1966 and was replaced by a look-alike. The first time this theory was introduced was September 12, 1969. There was a phone call to a radio DJ Russ Gibb during the airtime. The caller identified himself as “Tom,” and introduced the theory that Paul had died. Later on September 14, college students of the Michigan State University published articles claiming that clues to McCarney’s supposed dead are found among the lyrics and album covers. Similar ideas were published, and within few weeks this conspiracy theory became an international phenomenon.

Those who believe the conspiracy theory to be true give lyrics and artworks as evidences. Some of the famous evidences include the Abbey Road album cover (how Paul is the only one who is barefoot), lyrics to A Day In the Life, the “turn me on, dead man” message when Revolution 9 is played backwards, etc.  Most of these people argue these evidences are devices installed intentionally by the Beatles members and associates, that it’s fan’s responsibility to decode the puzzles. Such notions were denied by the Beatles members numerous times, including Paul McCartney’s interview published in Life magazine in November 1969.

 

Informant: “As a Beatlemania, I was so shocked when I first encountered this conspiracy theory. At first, I thought it was one of those malicious cyber comments by some weird people who don’t like the Beatles. But later I found out this conspiracy theory was a big international phenomenon, with some actually compelling arguments. I got goosebumps all over me when I found ‘Turn me on, dead man” phrase in Revolution 9. Once I started making sense of the theory, other evidences made sense. It all seemed plausible. I still think he is dead. If not, why would there be so many coincidences? If there are too many coincidences, then they are longer coincidences. However, it’s not like I wouldn’t love Paul McCartney if he is a fake. I would still love him, because he did make so many  beautiful songs.”

 

This famous urban legend is still debated among people. Conspiracy theorists from various places threw evidences to consolidate their arguments, and within few weeks from when the theory was first introduced, it became an international phenomenon. I think one explanation for such viral reaction can be evidences that were discovered one by one, by people from all over the world. It left people expecting arguments to come, and people were eventually excited to see the conspiracy theory developing into a strong argument with various evidences. It’s important to note that this conspiracy theory was completed by many single arguments that came  from many different people. 

 

 

To see more evidences argued by “Paul is Dead” conspiracy theorists, see this link.

Trading vests

Nationality: Asian American
Age: 20
Primary Language: English
Language: English

The informant is Chinese American and he was born and raised in California. 

Informant: “My older brother works at a business firm in New York. He told me about this vest that all investment bankers wear at workplace. It’s called a ‘trading vest.’ The early American traders used to wear this vest. Back then, the trading floor, where they traded stocks, was really cold. So all American traders had their own vest with their own team name on it. The experience of the past has transferred over, and that vest became the symbol of investment bankers. They wear this vest even when the weather’s not that cold. I don’t know if the brand really matters, but most people wear trading vests from the brand Patagonia.

This is a case where a particular fashion item came to symbolize an occupation. The story of how the investment bankers came to wear the vest isn’t so fabulous. However, the experience of wearing the same vest gave them a sense of unity, thus helped them build a group identity. So when people saw a man wearing the trading vest, they would identify him as an investment banker. As time went by, the trading vest became an identification of investment bankers. Now, there is no practical need of the vest, because the trading floor is no longer cold. However, as a way of honoring the legacy and history of the past investment bankers, some people wear it. Also, people wear it just to feel the sense of belonging to the group of investment bankers. This indicates that investment bankers have high esteem for the job. 

Pledging a sorority

Nationality: Asian American
Age: 21
Primary Language: English
Language: English

The informant is California-born Chinese American. She has lived in California all her life. She wanted to be in a sorority all her life that it was the first thing she did when she came to USC.  She is 21 years old. She is currently a business student at USC.

Informant: “Each of the new members gets a candle, and the ‘pledge moms’ light it as a symbol that they have accepted the new class into the sorority. The pledge moms are the connection between the new members and the actives. After the candles are lighted, the new members are fully crossed as active members.”

“I felt super relieved during the ritual, because this was the last step of sorority pledging. The candles too made me so relieved. Lighted candles were so pretty that by just looking at them, I felt happy and relaxed. It was a good ending to the somewhat difficult pledging process. Also, the candles definitely gave sense of a ‘ritual.’ I felt like I was really becoming a part of their family, not only by words. “

“Crossing into a sorority is a big thing. It’s so special because it’s something that you only experience once in lifetime. Of course, you will do many activities as a member of the sorority, but pledging is done only once. And it’s a time all focuses are on you. It still remains as one of my most special memories.”

Most sororities and their sorority pledging by lighting the candles. It creates a serene, somewhat holy atmosphere. It resembles ceremonies done at church. Both carry similar connotation. Ceremonies done at church celebrates someone into the household of God. This candle lighting ceremony celebrates the new members as sisters. 

Chants

Nationality: Asian America
Age: 21
Primary Language: English
Language: English

The informant is California-born Chinese American. She is a member of Chaotic 3 (or C3), which is a hop hop organization at USC.

Chant:

We’re not C1

No!

We’re not C2

Hell No!

We are C3

C3

We are C3

C3

We are C3

Whoop Whoop!

Informant: “C3 is a hip hop dance organization at USC. We say this chant after each practice, and at competitions for team morale. We choose one person to say the first line, and the whole team says the every second line. The first line is said by different person, and how to pick that one person is completely random. Somebody just yells at a name, and that person has to do it.”

“I don’t know who made it. All I know is that this chant has been around a long time. The chant hasn’t changed in three years for sure, because it is the same chant I said when I first entered this group. This year is my third year.”

“When we say it, we put our hands to the middle, and at the last line, we throw our hands up. We almost always do it, and it’s nice. It definitely boosts our morale, and we feel like we are together as a team.”

Team chants have long history. Anthropologists claim that humans, even at the time of their first appearance, made team chants to establish a sense of society. Those chants were said before going hunting, before going to war, etc. The activity of chanting together, especially when the message honors the group as a whole, is enough to boost up the team morale. By chanting daily, the members are reminded of their membership, and their loyalty towards the team grows. This C3 chant is easy, simple and fun. Chanting this would definitely help the team come together.

 

Gangnam style parodies

Nationality: Chinese
Age: 20
Primary Language: Chinese
Language: English

The informant is Chinese, who have lived in China until her middle school years. She studied in the states after middle school. She is currently majoring in Cinematic Arts.

 

Original Gangnam Style MV: 

 

The Oregon Duck Style:

 

Obama Style:

 

MIT Gangnam Style:

 

Informant: “It was Fall 2012.  I was a freshmen in college. I don’t know how it started, but suddenly everyone on campus were talking about Gangnam Style. Gangnam Style? I had n0 idea what the name of the song meant. Later I found out it is a song by a Korean singer PSY, and Gangnam is a city in Korea. I checked out the music video and it was so funny. The dancing kid, horse choreography, the elevator guy who is air humping, and more.”

“I thought it would just be one of those songs that come and go. However, this time something was different. My friends would send me links containing different parodies of Gangnam Style. The varieties were amazing. Many colleges made parodies, naming those after their school (ex. MIT Gangnam Style). There were all sorts of animals characters’ Gangnam Style, and there even came ‘Obama Style.’ It definitely grabbed my attention because the parodies were in forms of music videos. If it was only the song that were modified, I wouldn’t have followed it.”

“It was weird how a non-english song became the world’s most popular song for a while. The parodies were made not only in America, but also many other parts of the World. People in the parodies sang to the lyrics that they don’t understand, but still made the best videos. I guess Gangnam Style’s humor and music transcends language barrier.”

 

Parodies of Gangnam Style have fabulous multiplicities and varieties. Gangnam Style syndrome was made by people from many different parts of the world. It was possible because the music video spread through internet, not restricted by any types of regional or cultural border.