Scope and Contents note Explains McQueen's belief that political jokes are so common because they help relieve fear of losing loved ones, of war, and of other issues related to current political problems. Attributes the proliferation of these jokes to email. Discusses how the jokes people tell reveal their political sympathies. Describes three kinds of jokes included in this project: 1) American patriotic jokes, which bolster American morale and which often degrade opponents of America, 2) antiwar jokes, which make...

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Collection of variations to the song "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer." Includes the informal add-ins and their variations. Stories of Rudolph having a lightbulb like nose compared to a flashlight, whether going in history is like Columbus, or George Washington, and versions with more add-ins than others. Created for Dr. Rudy's English 391 course taught at Brigham Young University, Fall 2007.

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Prigmore was interested in hearing proposal stories from a male-only perspective, without corrections from the spouse. Included are stories of proposing romantically in a canyon, informal proposals, and proposals which involved a great deal of planning. The paper was written for Dr. Rudy's English 391 class taught at Brigham Young University in 1998.

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Skinner writes a critical analysis of John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath." Included are three thirsts: the thirst for survival, the thirst for revenge, and the thirst for redemption all connected with water, wine and milk as major themes in the work. Paper was written for Dr. Rudy's English 495 course taught at Brigham Young University in 2000.

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Cronin interviewed many people within Utah that had the gift of "water witching" or the ability to know where to drill wells, and find minerals from the surface of the landscape. Included are interviews from both men and women and their different practices, customs, and methods involving water witching. Project was created for Dr. Wilson's English 392 course taught at Brigham Young University in 1977.

Scope and Contents note This project is a collection of stories about the collector's grandfather, Wayne Vance Gygi. The analysis discusses the man, commenting on his principles of work, religion, and humor. Also comments on how this project creates identity both for Wayne Gygi as well as his descendants. Comments on the influence of folklore through childhood memories and family traditions. Includes a fifteen-item collection including text for obituary, the talk given at the funeral, and photos of the candy and...

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Farnes collected different ways that her friend and peers try and predict the future. Included are ways to predicting love, ways to predicting genders of unborn babies, predicting luck, ways of predicting the weather, predictions from Patriarchal blessings, and ways of predicting death. Project was created for Dr. Wilson's English 391 course taught at Brigham Young University in 1970.

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Discusses the symbolic meaning of food, specifically a wide array of associations with ice cream. Summarizes collection items that associate ice cream with rewards, prestige games, feuds, and family unity. Created by Melissa Groesbeck while she was enrolled in Jill Terry Rudy's English 495 class during Winter Semester 2002.

Scope and Contents note Inouye explores a collection of items brought about through many long, conversations with her grandmother about her native country (China) and the people and stories that make up her past. The personal narratives in this collection represent not only the culture of China before the communist revolution, but also the lives of members of Chen Seiying's family. Inouye discusses stories, songs, games, material culture and food ways that all represent folklore unique to Chen Suiying's experiences...

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Rich writes about old folk beliefs which originated with children and folk beliefs used by parents to encourage good behavior in their children. Project created for Dr. Eliason's English 392 class at Brigham Young University in 1998.