Category Archives: Kinesthetic

Body movements

Falling AC Units

Text:

In New York City, there was a common fear of Air Conditioners falling from buildings and crushing pedestrians.

Context:

Informant grew up in NYC in the 70s/80s, and was often told to be careful and look out for falling air conditioners, as apparently, they were common. At least, that is what she was told and raised to believe.

Analysis:

This belief is something I have heard of before, though it is less common now, in my experience. Still, it is rooted in a real fear, and it encouraged children to be much more cautious and aware of their surroundings.

Frozen Faces

Text:

Parents would tell their children that if they make funny faces too much, their faces will be stuck like that forever.

Context:

The informant was told this as a child, and noted that it was said generally either in jest or as a light way to discourage them from being immature/disrespectful and making faces all the time. They also carried this on and said it occasionally to their own child, though mostly in teasing.

Analysis:

This phrase was and is used by parents as a funny but somewhat “scary” way of keeping their children from making faces all the time. It shows how certain beliefs are born from ways of keeping children in check rather than innately from fact or fear.

Trevi Fountain

Text:

If you ever visit Trevi Fountain in Rome, toss a coin over your shoulder into the fountain. This is so fate will bring you back again.

Context:

This is a commonly referenced tradition for tourists to do when visiting the Trevi Fountain. The informant for this article was told this in preparation to visit, and again when at the fountain.

Analysis:

This is a fun and very specific tradition that brings tourists together and makes them feel more connected to the Trevi Fountain. It also connects them to one another, as they see others doing it, they tell their friends who have done it before and trade stories, etc.

Swallowing Gum

Text:

If you swallow gum, it will stay in your system for 7 years.

Context:

This was told to the informant as a child, and it caused her to be very aware and cautious whenever she chewed gum.

Analysis:

This is a common thing told to children, and can sometimes be believed well into adulthood. It is used to dissuade children from swallowing gum rather than spitting it out. The informant also mentioned how she was told this to prevent her from swallowing gum in her sleep, as she would chew it late at night sometimes. It was more out of safety than anything else.

Sausage

Nationality: American
Age: 19
Occupation: College Student
Residence: Morris Plains, NJ, USA
Language: English

It is a men-only post-show tradition that was invented at the local high school theater and celebrated between grade meshing as well as the seniors’ final shows. 

“I didn’t join theater till my sophomore year which had [J] and [C] as the ring leaders of the seniors. They introduced me and the freshman to sausage. It was crazy at first, but a ton of fun. There’s the song sausage, but its cool because there are a lot of singers who have their own verses that all end with ‘but I still get sausage’. All the seniors make their own verses and we[all the male members of theater] all jump around and have fun in there. For closing night, both guys and girls come in and all the seniors get a voice. We would also put a freshman in a safe and bang a beat on it as like an initiation. It was a fun thing to look forward to.”

The ritual reminds me of a fraternity initiation(with less danger). They all sing and jump around in an exclusively male space, singing a song that is an allusion to sex. It can also be very inclusive because theaters are a LGBTQ dominated space, and they allow trans men to be included in Sausage. It’s also a fun tradition to pass down to other generations and a good, safe way to celebrate after a show. It creates community between the younger years and celebrates the graduating Senior class.