"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
Leah Lattanner Molly Applebaum “Campus Legends” Fall 2005 Another legend a girl told was about the people on campus. She was also involved with sitting in my dorm discussing different legends on campus. A girl earlier in the year had Continue Reading …
Text 1 “Why did the blonde drown in the pool? “Someone put a mirror down there” Context: This joke makes blondes seem like they are shallow and self-centered. The mirror represents the importance a blonde places on her appearance. The Continue Reading …
Text 2: Title of Collection: “Drinking Games” Collector’s Name: David Gerst Collection Location: Briscoe Date Collected: March 2nd, 1983 Text: This paper is a collection of many different drinking games popular at the time and of the circumstances that surround Continue Reading …
Angie is a saleswoman at a computer store, Pugsly is a programmer who knows how to run a complex word processor called ‘Wordstar’ and Supersalesman is a salesman at the computer store who knows how to sell, but not much Continue Reading …
Text 3: The third text is about Stepps Cemetery also, but it was collected from a different informant. Larry says “Aw, there is a cemetery called Stepps Cemetery in Morgan Monroe State Forest which is famous for a for a Continue Reading …
Elle’s “boressing” Collector’s Name: Pat Moran Title of Collection: “Boresses as Seen by Steve Malasto” Collection Location: IU Wells Library; Archives Office Date of Collection: 1976 The paper focuses on an interview conducted with a brother of the Sigma Alpha Continue Reading …
From Seo’s journal: Text 1 When professors say this… they really mean this! * This needs some minor revision. (I never actually got around to reading this.) * My office hours are by appointment only. (I like to get out Continue Reading …
From Jill’s Journal: Blonde Jokes Q: What’s the difference between a blonde and a toothbrush? A: You don’t let your best friend borrow your toothbrush. Q: How did the dumb blonde break her leg raking leaves? A: She fell out Continue Reading …