Category Archives: general

Don’t be stressed be blessed – Proverb

Nationality: American
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: United States
Language: English

Text:

“Don’t be stressed be blessed”

Context:

“My friend from middle school. To me i use it as a way to alleviate tension when someone is expressing anxiety about a given situation…I use it satirically to bring a bit of humor into the conversation in an attempt to reduce the person’s stress.”

Analysis:

This phrase can take multiple forms for different contexts, but the informant, who learned it from a middle school friend, uses it ironically or sarcastically. Originally viewed as something positive or even religious, this oicotype represents a phrase that has been adapted to meet the group’s more humor focused culture. The informant also does it to alleviate stress, poking fun at the phrase, in order to uplift the mood in a way unique to the audience. Also, it is unique to a school environment as that culture fosters students who uses sarcasm to cope with stress.

King Arthur

Nationality: American
Age: 67
Occupation: Retired
Residence: United States
Language: English

Text:

“There’s this one historic legend that I just remember hearing about all the time with King Arthur. It’s about this boy who ends up pulling out a sword and ends up being the chosen one and king of Camelot. However, there’s a version I know where there’s a common misconception that Excalibur is the sword in the stone, but Excalibur was a sword given to him by the lady in the lake after his first sword broke. He created like the knights of the round table. Then, in one great battle he is severely wounded and he disappears to Avalon. It is said that he will return when Camelot needs him most.”

Context:

The informant isn’t too sure where they first heard this story, but thinks at some point young after watching videos or movies about it. Their interpretation of it is that it’s a historical legend based about war and having a great king to lead everyone.

Analysis:

King Arthur is a legend that follows the definition of occurring in the real world that could be true. The theme reflects those of war and social status as well as loyalty for a king. It follows along an ordinary hero, who starts as a nobody and then becomes a somebody. King Arthur represents the hero archetype or hero’s journey. There’s also an inclusion of mystical objects, such as Excalibur and the sword of the stone, giving meaning to things that normally wouldn’t have meaning. This can also represent a fetish with the swords having meaning. The sword symbolizes destiny and prophesy with Avalon being the place of resurrection and rest or the land of peace while Camelot represents reality. The legend of King Arthur establishes the purposes of what a ruler should look like as someone loyal, brave, the idea of justice, and also can understand the people.

Robert the Doll

Nationality: American
Age: 57
Occupation: Sales Representative
Residence: United States
Language: English

Text:

“The doll has supernatural abilities that allow it to move, change facial expressions, and make giggling sounds. Supposedly it is aware of what’s going on around it. It also is said to be able to move things around and is the cause of mishaps around people who disrespect him. Some people have had misfortunes after visiting him. The story goes something like a boy gets the doll as a gift and then strange things start happening because of it. It’s also been said that if you take pictures of the doll without asking permission it will curse you.”

Context:

The informant describes hearing about from various shows and interprets it as just a supernatural or demonic being. They also believe its more of entertainment value but wouldn’t necessarily mess around with it if it’s true.

Analysis:

This legend represents the use of a cursed object, possessed by an evil demon or, in other words, a fetish. The power is invested in a physical object, where much of the meaning stems from. This is more of an urban legend due to its contemporary approach as something modern and spread through media, centered around the present. Americans seem to find value in the supernatural or paranormal due to a need for exploration or meaning in the unknown, such as death. Within the object itself, there is a theme of respecting others, where much of the bad luck or misfortune is due to disrespecting the doll/the entity within it. The purpose of the doll adds to finding meaning in the unknown as a way to explain bad events that happen, but also possibly based on some truth. This also connects with American fears of the unexplained or strange behavior. This also has some elements of magical ritual, such as appeasing the evil spirit by asking for permission to take a photo. Frazer brought the idea of sympathetic magic, which the doll relates to as the object itself influences or causes events to happen in the real world.

Dybbuk Box

Nationality: American
Age: 67
Occupation: Retired
Residence: United States
Language: English

Text:

“The Dybbuk Box is said to house a malicious spirit. Spirit is said to be trapped in the box until someone helps set it free. Box is said to haunt any person who owns it. Said to cause strange things to happen around it. People who own the box are said to see shadow figures. I learned about it from this show by Zak Bagans, where he was given this box and then some of his workers died upon receiving it or just having bad luck. Said they had nightmares a lot or getting into bad accidents or almost dying.”

Context:

The informant remembers hearing about this from tv shows about the supernatural and interprets it as a story about demons and evil entities. They find it interesting to learn, but also factors in the fear that they feel when getting close to the object.

Analysis:

The Dybbuk Box, in this case, seems to take root from a mix of Jewish culture and American culture. A Dybbuk is from Jewish culture, a wandering spirit that seeks to possess something. The American portion is from the idea of trying to find meaning to that which we can’t explain as well as the fear of the unknown. This also represents an urban legend as its value is spread heavily through media and now takes a more modern approach. The idea also comes from a haunted, or possessed object, that is said to curse those around it. The theme that it could inhibit is to be mindful of one’s surroundings and of what you mess around with as something terrible might happen if you’re not careful. This also holds magical properties through contagious magic as whoever owns it is passed down a curse even after being separated. The opening of the box symbolizes a taboo, or a warning, and prohibiting the action or else misfortune will ensue.

La Llorona

Nationality: American
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: United States
Language: English

Text:

“So one story that I’ve heard growing up a lot in my life is the legend of La Llorona. I first heard it as a very young child probably 5 or 6 years old. My parents, grandma and tias would tell me about her. It’s a story where a young woman had two children a little boy and little girl. She lived in a small town in Mexico- her name Maria. She was very gorgeous a town treasure and had a loving personality. She was a stay at home mom who worked really hard. She had a husband who was a soldier and he would come visit her when he wasn’t out working but one day she caught him cheating on her with another woman. This made her grow furious and jealous and out of pure disgust towards her husband she ended up taking her young children to the river and drowned them. After killing them she realized what she did and immediately got so heartbroken trying to resurrect them. After failed attempts she drowned herself hoping to be with her kids in heaven. However when she died God didn’t let her in. Because of what she did she was forced to wander the earth in search of her children’s souls and only then will she be let in. Little did she know her children’s souls were already in heaven. So she’s now doomed to walk the Earth grounds. She wanders around rivers and lakes late in the night. She screamed/cries out “Ohhh mis hijos!!” (Oh, my children) And when you hear her cry late at night you’re already doommed cause she’s nearby even if she seems further away. It’s said if she is to find you she will become enraged realizing you’re not her kids and drown you in the closest body of water. She’s genuinely search a cursed spirit filled with much despair, grief and anger. She’s known to appear with long dark hair and a dirty white long dress.”

Context:

The informant says that even though they personally don’t believe in it, they’ve heard stories of family members encountering it, making it somewhat believable. They find it fascinating and tragic and finds it to be a story that they would pass down to others, especially having grown up with it themselves.

Analysis:

This narrative represents a legend as it occurs in the real world with some possible truth to it. It represents a story of injustice, jealousy, and grief, causing this pain to be continuously passed down to other people. It suggests the theme of being careful when you go out at night or else something bad might happen to you, which is also probably why it is told to young children as to warn against them from going out to unsafe places. La Llorona represents a revenant, a spirit brought back from the dead for revenge, or as spirit with unfinished business. The story also represents a religious concentration as the reason why she cannot move on is because of God not letting her into heaven due to the consequence of suicide. This focuses on the idea of motherhood due to the guilt she feels for murdering her kids in rage and dealing with infidelity from her husband, showing an importance for family and social connections in society.