"Folklore of Student Life" holds the accumulated wisdom and wit of several IU undergraduate classes and of a good many IU undergraduates, all focused upon the folklore -- those shared avenues of creativity and expression -- that is part of the college experience at Indiana University. This website is a joint production of Prof John McDowell and his students in a number of undergraduate classes
John’s student art Item 1 Student Radio Flyer Date Collected: Estimated mid 1990’s This is an advertisement for the student radio station, probably collected from some ad posted around the campus. The performer who created this piece is unknown but Continue Reading …
Item 2 IU dorm banner Date Collection: Estimated 2000 This artifact is an advertisement for the Resident Hall Association, collected from one of the dorms here at IU. It seems to me that this was a banner created by seven Continue Reading …
Item 3 Presidents Council 90-91 Date Collected: 1991-92 The item is a caricature portrait about a school organization, in this case the Presidents’ Council. I believe was originally collected from the Forest Quad. The names of the people are unknown. Continue Reading …
John’s artworks Item 1: World made out of cigarette butts Date: Fall of 1996 The cigarette Earth was created by three students living at Collins Living Learning Center in the Fall of 1996. This entire work is made from cigarette Continue Reading …
Item 2: Sharpie mural created on student’s living room wall Date: 2007-2008 Location: Student Apartment The art mural was created by an unknown number of students. Dry erase board was tacked onto the wall in the living room of a Continue Reading …
Item 4 Comic created by Emily Hartsay, 1990s. This is a comic strip from a student zine. The creator of this comic was Emily Hartsay. The collector’s name is the Collins Column. This comic could have started out as a Continue Reading …
Item 4: Opium Board * Date: Fall of 2007 Location: Student’s apartment Informant: Anonymous *A note about discussion and interview in concerns of the opium board. As this art does deal with drug culture names have been changed for interviews. Continue Reading …
Item 3: Graffiti Date: Estimated 1990-Present Location: Railroad Tracks Graffiti Bridge is interesting because it, like the board and the mural, is a collaborative effort. And what is unique about this specific graffiti spot is that it is mostly done Continue Reading …