"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
Matt’s drinking games Text 1: Title of Collection: “Game Collection Form” Collector’s Name: Anne Sheldon Collection Location: Read Center Date Collected: April 23, 1973 There is only one drinking game described in this paper. The author calls it “Indian”. The Continue Reading …
Text 3 Original Collector: Steve Spelman Title: Folk Tale Jokes Class: F220 American Folklore Professor: Dolby-Stahl Semester and Year: Fall 1984 Code: 84/125 Convent with 50 nuns and one mother superior. The mother superior is talking to the 50 sisters Continue Reading …
Text 2 Original Collector: Brian Hunter Title: Erotic Jokes Class: F101 Introduction to Folklore Professor: El Shamy Semester and Year: Spring 1987 Code: 87/51 Santa Claus is coming down the chimney; there is this real pretty lady in her lingerie. Continue Reading …
Text 3 Original Collector: Dani Roettoer Title: Ethnic Jokes Class: F220 Semester: Spring Year: 1984 Prof: Prof. Dolby-Stahl Q: “Why do Jewish people have big noses?” A: “Air is free.” Context: This joke was told by a 22 year old Continue Reading …
From Elise’s journal — collected on Facebook: YOU’VE BEEN HIT BY THE |^^^^^^^^^^^^| |PRETTY GIRL TRUCK | ‘|”””;.., ___. |_…_…______===|= _|__|…, ] | “(@ )'(@ )””””*|(@ )(@ )*****(@ ONCE YOU’VE BEEN HIT, YOU HAVE TO HIT 08 PRETTY GIRLS. IF Continue Reading …
Contributor: Elise Informant: Brittany Kepler Tag: Edna Semester/Year: Fall/2005 “There was once this little girl named Edna who was walking back from school. And each day on her walk home she would pass the cemetery and see its beautiful flowers Continue Reading …
Contributor: Elise Withered Informant: Joe Mclaughlin Tag: Dillsboro, IN Cemetery Semester/Year: Fall/2005 “There is a story about an angel in the Dillsboro Cemetery. The story is told that a young man named Phillip goes off to WWII. Jen the love Continue Reading …
Contributor: Leah Lattanner Informant: Eric Matthews Title: “Dorm Legends” Fall 2005 The last person I interviewed was a senior here at Indiana University, named Eric Mathews. He is also from Indianapolis, Indiana; his legend comes from his freshman year. He Continue Reading …
Text 3 A gay man walks into a country bar and says, “I just want everyone to know that I’m gay… I’m not going to hit on anyone. I just like country music.” The bartender says that it’s okay and Continue Reading …
Text 2: The second text is about Stepps cemetery. Sandy says “Ok, ah the house we live in is five miles north of Lake Lemon. Its right under the well we’re connected to the State Forest line and our house Continue Reading …