Scope and Contents note

Coons describes the traditions and games that occur at bridal showers in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She relates the advice given to younger women by older women and describes the gender stereotyping that occurs. Created by Lynsey Coons when she was enrolled in Eric Eliason's English 391 course in Fall 2001.

Scope and Contents note Nielsen describes the stereotypical components of creative dating, which usually including extensive planning, bizarre expectations, low-cost activities, and costumes. She suggests that creative dating is peculiar to Mormon culture because that culture expects the wholesome standards and thrift that creative dating encourages. She also believes that Mormon's restrictive dietary code-which prohibits drinking and drugs-compels them to plan activities where they can be crazy without being...

Scope and Contents note

Craw analyzes the possible motivations for the intense amount of local pride in the town of Minersville, Utah (nicknamed Punkin'town). She finds that most members of Minersville believe that they are chosen people who must demonstrate their supremacy through acts of generosity and through building the community. Created by Jennifer C. Craw when she was enrolled in Eric Eliason's English 391 course in Fall 2003.

Scope and Contents note Bush collects "unsuccessful" stories from people who served proselytizing missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He believes that unsuccessful stories-stories in which a person refused baptism or the message of Christ-are unpopular in Latter-day Saint culture because the people of that culture are attached to formulaic approaches to righteousness, in which a good action must necessarily be rewarded. He finds that certain geographies are less conducive to baptisms, and...

Scope and Contents note

Despite Brigham Young University's strict non-drinking policies, Bell finds that many BYU students' social behaviors resemble the drinking cultures at other schools. College students at Brigham Young University remain sober but drink beverages that resemble alcohol in order to express their individuality and rebellion. Created by Cari Bell when she was enrolled in Eric Eliason's English 392 course in Winter 2003.

Scope and Contents note Stevens recounts several different pranks played by missionaries in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He believes that missionaries play pranks as a release from the stress and heartache from preaching all day long, and as a result of their age (most are only 19). He suggests that pranks can also create bonds between fellow missionaries and between missionaries and the cultures they are part of. Created by Robin Stevens when she was enrolled in Eric Eliason's English 368...

Scope and Contents note Crossley collects stories involving members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who propose to their future spouses on temple grounds. He believes that proposing on temple grounds is popular because it symbolizes eternal commitment, because it seems to increase divine approval, because it indicates historical and spiritual rootedness in a place, because it is an aesthetic setting, and because it provides an ideal and important beginning for the rest of the couple's lives....

Scope and Contents note

Vehrs interviews professional and amateur ballet dancers in order to discover their specific pre-show rituals and the reason they engage in them. She finds that rituals occur on a company and an individual level, and that the have less to do with good luck than they do with calming mental nerves and creating unity amongst individual dancers. Created by Marissa Vehrs when she was enrolled in Eric Eliason's English 391 course in Fall 2003.

Scope and Contents note McGee collects the door decorations in her college dormitory as examples of expressive material folklore. She believes that the decorations thrive in environments of disjunction and conjunction, both of which happen when a student leaves home and joins a new dorm folk group. She suggests that door decorations are educational, maintain world view, act as a method of social control, and act as an expressive and creative release. Created by Stephanie McGee when she was enrolled in Eric...

Scope and Contents note

Folsom inventories her grandma's extensive material legacy and tells the stories behind each item. She believes that using one's hands is important in creating autonomy and becoming self-reliant. Created by Emily Folsom when she was enrolled in Eric Eliason's English 391 course in Fall 2003.