Proverb Collection

In the folklore discussion class, I have gathered a proverb from my classmate: “A picture is worth a thousand of words”. When asked where the subject heard the proverb, they answered that most likely they read it on Tumblr. The teammate said that they liked the proverb because in their opinion pictures are a “cool medium mixed with film and music” and that it makes them a powerful storytelling method. It is important to note, that the subject is a music major with a minor in cinema and has experience and passion towards the visuals. The subject identified the context of the proverb as taking pictures of the loved ones and friends. Their definition of a picture is capturing a memory.

It is interesting how the subject got familiar with the proverb and that is from social media. Social media very often creates the folklore – such as memes, popular sayings, and most recently “brainrot vocabulary”. In this case, Tumblr acts as modern folklore hub, where users not only encounter proverbs but also shape their meanings through personal and cultural lenses. The subject’s engagement with the proverb through digital space exemplifies how folklore continues to timelessly evolve in the digital age.

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Metaphor

A subject told me about “Nose Goes”. Essentially, it is a game used to determine who gets stuck with a task that no one wants to do. My subject learned of the game from her younger siblings, when their mother asked someone to take out the trash. Her youngest sister put the index finger on her nose and yelled out “Nose goes!” The other siblings placed their fingers as fast as possible on their noses, except for my subject. She was not aware of the game and therefore lost it. The game is all about speed, at the person who doesn’t get it fast or is the last to place the finger on their nose – loses. According to my subject, the game is primarily used by children, to determine who will perform the dreaded task.

It is interesting how “nose goes” is like a game that starts spontaneously by one person, and everyone has to follow the suit. Now a person who is not aware of the rules is at the disadvantage. This however demonstrates the unwritten customs can shape group interactions. The game is funny because it feels fair but it really isn’t. There is no talking or deciding, just a quick reaction that determines who loses. The silly game shows how people naturally create little rules to assign tasks, giving an advantage to those who already know how it works.

Ride Safe Sign

Nationality: American
Age: 20
Occupation: Student
Language: English

The gesture: Out with the left hand extended downward  by his thigh, “O” made a gesture like a peace sign, the index and middle finger extended and the palm turned forward facing the same direction as him.

“It’s the universal for, like a ‘ride safe’ thing when you pass another biker, like on the opposite side of the street, because there’s that sense of community that comes from riding, so it’s like, when you see someone else who’s taking that risk and is out riding and stuff, you always give them that little sign. And it’s kind of a biker only thing. 

Analysis: As the informant identified, this gesture encourages community members to support each other and recognize their risk and commitment. More than that, this gesture seems like a blessing, especially in its almost compulsory nature. The informant mentions that one ‘always’ gives this sign when seeing another rider as a way to say ‘ride safe’. “Ride safe” in itself is a blessing, a wish upon others to be safe on the road, and the gesture creates a nonverbal blessing that riders can give while also riding safe themselves. Because it is expected to always give this sign, the absence of it might indicate ill will or a jinx, making the upkeep of this tradition and gesture more important to those who believe in its significance.

“Squid”

Nationality: American
Age: 20
Occupation: Student
Language: English

Slang Term: “Squid”

“When you refer to someone as a squid, it means that they are like an unsafe rider who doesn’t wear gear, so when you see someone, like, riding with a T-shirt or shorts or flip flops, they’re a squid.”

“I originally heard that time a few years back… at a bike meet. I looked it up and it turns out it’s like a full on, it’s just a term in the motorcycle community, calling people ‘squids’. It’s sort of used derogatorily-ish, because I mean anyone who’s been in a crash knows that you should not be wearing a T-shirt and flip flops.”

Analysis:

The term “squid” exists in this context as a deterrent for unsafe riders and places emphasis on having proper gear and safe practices. Motorcyclists attribute this phrase to several origins, some saying it is an acronym and others quoting the movement of a squid- a burst in one direction, changing, then a burst in another direction- as plausible explanations. Because one is more exposed on a motorcycle, it is important to take safety seriously and learn to be competent as well as confident. No one wants to be a squid, and being called one is likely meant to serve as a ‘wake up call’ that one’s behavior is unsafe and reflects poorly on the community. As O mentioned, anyone who has been in a crash knows the importance of protective gear. The difference between safe and unsafe behavior may be the difference between life and death, so the term ‘squid’ becomes an important part of keeping people alive and safe

“It’s snowing in the south”

Nationality: American
Age: 52
Occupation: Clerical
Language: English

Folk metaphor: “It’s snowing in the south”

“When my sister and I were younger, uh, probably around middle school age on her part, so around 5th or 6th grade for my part- so, anytime you went out to church, or out to dinner, or anytime you had to dress up, you know you’d be wearing a dress; you’d be wearing a slip. Because you wanted to make sure nothing showed through. You didn’t want the sun shining through your dress. Or your skirt. Anyway. The problem is slips can.. Slip down a little bit sometimes, depending on the length of your skirt, depending on how tight the slip is. Anyway, if you noticed each other’s slip was starting to show underneath the bottom of their dress, you’d kind of just come up next to her or she’d come up next to me and mutter under our breath, “ Hey, um it’s snowing in the south”. And so, that was- you knew your slip was showing and you’d need to go excuse yourself and go fix it.”

Analysis: This folk metaphor seems to stem from perceptions of femininity and modesty and marks a subtle way to tell someone their slip is showing. While it would be inappropriate to declare that the slip has fallen in the middle of a social event, using the folk metaphor avoids tabooistic language and allows the individual to retain their dignity and fix the issue privately. The fact that this was mostly between the informant and her sister may mean that for this individual, this phrase was entirely or at least predominantly used by other women. It likely existed within their vocabulary not only as avoidance of a general taboo, but as a gesture of respect for the other woman and as a means to not draw men’s attention to the issue. The fact that this was muttered or spoken under the breath furthers the emphasis on privacy and dignity, allowing one to compose themselves away from judgement.