Tag Archives: brotherhood

Damn D

Text

“One of my good friends is named Donovan. He and many of my other boys are all in the same frat, Kappa Sigma. Soon, after two of the brothers saw Donovan or when he did something funny they would say “Damn Dirty.” Us brothers found it catchy and comical so we would say it in the same context. “Damn Dirty” evolved to “Damn D” over time and went from only being said in context related to Donovan to being used as a substitute for ‘what’s up’ or ‘wow.’ Now, many of us say it by habit throughout the day.

Context

While we were still new members awaiting initiation into the Delta Eta chapter at USC, one of our fellow new members coined the nickname “Dirty Don.” When he called Donovan this for the first time, we all thought it was hilarious and took the nickname into our own hands and used it on the daily. Sometime later someone who liked Spongebob started calling Donovan “Dirty Bubble” because he reminded him of the tv character. This name was a little harsh off the tongue so we all shortened the nickname to “Dirty.” Once we all became brothers of the fraternity, it was a consensus among all the brothers that “Dirty” was the most funny nickname for Donovan, who also thought it was funny.”

Analysis

Nicknames carry folkloric value all over the world and prominently in young American culture. It serves as a heavy form of identity, personal to individuals and those close to that person. This name is a form of folk speech because it is a made up name used in informal contexts within this particular folk group, the frt brothers. Although these nicknames would sound crazy and meaningless to most people, the shared knowledge of this nicknames origin and meaning create a shared identity within the Kappa Sigma brothers. In this particular story, the nickname gives Donovan identity within his frat along with a unified folk group that stems from all of the brothers who know and understand the phrase “Damn D.” The evolution of the nickname shows how folklore can change and be manipulated over time. There is no factual reason why the name evolved, but instead it changed simply because of humorous interactions among these folk.

The Champions Chalice

Nationality: Malaysian

Occupation: Full time student

Residence: Baltimore, MD

Item: A silver vase called The Champion’s Chalice

Context: The informant played on a rugby team and told me about a tradition involving a silver vase nicknamed “The Champion’s Chalice” that a previous member of the team had stolen. After a win, the rugby team would gather and everyone would drink beer out of the vase to celebrate the victory. After every match the team would gather and drink, but the Chalice was only used following a victory.

Analysis: Both the vase itself and the use of it give insight into the brotherhood that forms within a rugby team. The origin of the vase was it being stolen; when it was first stolen, nobody on the team snitched about who stole it, showing a commitment to supporting teammates off the field. The ritual of drinking out of the vase following a win acts as a form of initiation into the team, and as an extension the brotherhood. For a new member of the team, they must prove their strength by contributing to a winning team, and once they have proven themselves they can share a drink alongside their teammates. For existing members of the team, the Chalice acted as a physical prop to commemorate a victory, and distinguish wins from losses.

“Pin Me Chief!”

Nationality: United States
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles
Performance Date: 27APR2015
Primary Language: English

Kropp was a secret geek in high school. He thoroughly enjoyed sports, rap, and women but had a soft spot for cartoons. He says he would secretly want to be a superhero if he had the chance – “a dope superhero” at that. He is currently a USC student studying environmental science, is enrolled in the NROTC program and loves to skateboard. He has very close ties with his extended family. He hopes to one day commission into the navy as an officer.

One of the roughest part of being in the military are the old traditions. One of them is the “Pinning Ceremony”. In the military there is a rank system. You start at the bottom and slowly start making your way up the ladder. A rank is worn on the collar of the uniform shirt. The rank is a small metal insignia about an inch in length and width. It is pinned to the collar by two prongs that are closed at the back of the collar with frogs (the way an earring is pierced to an ear). One of the oldest traditions in the military is what you do with this pin. Kropp was invited to an advancement ceremony of one of his fellow sailors down in Camp Pendleton a few months ago. The commanding officer speaks and lots of pictures are taking; sailors are dressed up in their uniform. Sailors invite family and friends to these so that they may place the rank on the sailor, give them a kiss and that concludes the ceremony. Kropp said that after the ceremony was when the tradition took part.

Sailors were taking back to their individual commands and then spit up by rank. All of the third classes (4th rank) went with their department heads – their chiefs. And the seconds and first classes with theirs. In order to truly earn your rank, you had to bleed for it. Chiefs would tell sailors to remove the frogs from the back of the rank (the rank still easily remains on the collar). Then all of his department, mostly those that ranked above him would “beat the living hell out of ’em” Kropp says. They punch the rank into your collar bone until you bleed. When Kropps friend came out, he asked him how it went. His shoulder bled and there was a smile on his face. Weird, huh? He just got a beating and he was content.

Analysis: This is not a tradition that is validated by the Navy. All sorts of hazing are both frowned upon and illegal by mandate of the Chief of Naval Operations. This tradition still continues because of how most traditions survive. “If I had to do it, so do you.” In the military, you’re not supposed to be able to skate by. It’s one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. It’s a job meant for tough men and women. Traditions like this may not be sane in the least bit, nor are they supposed to be happening. But the sailors want it. They look forward to it. Because they know they will not belong with their fellow chiefs unless they went through what they went through. One of the fastest ways to build brotherhood in this world is to shed a little blood for each other. And who does that better than the United States Military. 3042100_34e3a666-e788-4964-b3fc-c53c0044c261_grande