Response: Whiteness and the American Ballroom

This article of work regarding ethnographic fieldwork is more akin to a personal narrative more so than a piece of scholarly work. If the author intended to focus on "whiteness" as a theme; its dynamic when juxtaposed again the Other, it would have succeeded if the focus remained as such. Instead, so much of what appears to be the original intent is lost by the insertion of the author as a subject or participant.

It is possible to create a work in which the subjects, theories and case studies are presented without the added narrative difficulties of being both apart of the group by race and wholly separate from the group by socioeconomic status. If the project surrounded race, why then is Mr. Lin not presented as a separate note of conversation. The issue of whiteness is wholly incomplete as the Other incorporates not simply those peoples of South American and African heritage, but of Asian and to a greater extent, far eastern European as well. This is blatantly overlooked, but certainly highlights the issue of being a folklorist and studying one's own group. The author is no more aware of the issues of whiteness than her subjects. The "instability" that is discussed in the introduction is not carried throughout the study.
Although the researcher makes mention of the survey and the great percentage of responses received, the details of the survey are not discussed. If the idea of whiteness can be discerned through comparing dance styles, would it not prove beneficial to examine how these styles came to be as a remark of the stature they hold in modern society? Surely these thoughts on dance as a metaphor for race and body identity are long standing ideologies that require more than a cursory historical purview. By focusing upon the setting of the
researcher, her proximity and difficulty, she is not able to extend the research into the reality of these two dance forms being created for two separate purposes, and because of which, the lore that surrounds them is not based upon race as much as it is based upon formality and custom. It is disappointing to see such an opportunity to examine the origins of "whiteness" as a evolution into form and "civility" be wasted. In addition, this idea of whiteness is also surrounded by status, in which case, Mr. Lin is accepted within the corridors of whiteness by his ability to attain the status required. By overlooking such polarized realities, the ability to move beyond what a laymen's general overview can observe is lost.

Education in US

An excellent article by Lewis Lapham, "Playing With Fire"

Interesting Legend.

This should play straight through to the complete film.
Pink Floyd synced to The Wizard of Oz

So Much From One Sport

Watching sports on TV is in no way comparable to the drama of being at the event. The energy of the pre-game, the game itself and the half-time show are all apart of football. It is interesting to learn all of the ways football is an institution that reinforces the Protestant work ethic as well as patriotism and nationalism. That there is so much history, tradition, and lore surrounding a college football team is also intriguing as it solidifies the group. All those who are fans are the 'folk' with shared stories, songs, rituals and space. Viewing individuals who are apart of varying groups and sub-groups bring into question how the individuals view themselves. Does their identification as a 'buckeye' supersede other ethnic, racial or economic status identifications; or simply part of a national identification such as a "New Yorker?" It would seem from the article that "Buckeyes" view themselves primarily as such around game time; but once game time is over, they change their primary group.

As I read the article aloud as a nighttime story, I was told I "take all the fun out it." In my view it appeared football was popular as it is the only acceptable form of physical violence for men to engage in. Men in society are taught to live in a non-violent, non-confrontational manner. Any form of aggression is frowned upon. This removal of aggression is what makes male sports fans so determined over football. In this conversation with an avid football fan, I was told I had made a correct assessment; he then began to explain the game, the meaning of the gridiron, the coach as "general" and his assistant and special teams coaches as majors, sergeant's, and specialists. It seems the information from the article could be postulated in a number of ways. Sport as a means to pacify the masses, as a means to solidify national identity, to teach the morals of hard work and success, or to divert male aggression from war. Surely the military style of OSU's marching band lend great reminders to the historical efforts of the military, the fashion of old wars fought, its valiantly and honor. From the uniform to the brass laden songs, the fan is reminded of the love of God, of country, and of the military.

Traditions

I did not cook as a child. I watched, sitting at the table while my grandmother chopped onions and threw in spices before saying "Oh I put in too much salt." She did not have measuring spoons or cups or bowls. Nor did she have an array of unrecognizable spices on the rack. She was a woman who kept the kitchen simple. Sundays were big meal dinners. There would either be a roast, or a roasted chicken or my favorite fried chicken filling the house with a spicy smoke. I would steal a gizzard or wing unless she caught me. When she was feeling up to it, there would be deviled eggs, candied yams, collard greens, macaroni and cheese and biscuits. She was not a baker, she was a cook who had perfected South Carolina style southern cooking. Since her, there has never been anyone's yams that have camelized sugar and cinnamon, that are not overcooked and soggy, with the taste of sweet butter and sugar that make them melt as you eat them. This was my favorite. The flavors of the sweet yams with the sharpness of the cheese and taste of onion from the macaroni and cheese was the taste of happiness and love. She taught me how to butter biscuits and how to dip the biscuit in molasses as to get just the right amount without making a mess.

For holidays she would cream the yams and bake them in the orange rinds with a marshmallows coating. For dessert there would be sweet potato pie and a vanilla cake with chocolate icing and ice cream. Her favorite ice cream was banana and then butter pecan; however I never took a liking to the butter pecan, I opted for pralines and cream.

Liver and onions with grits were my best morning breakfasts. I watched the oil pop over the flour, her fork scrapping the bottom of the pan as the floor looked as if it were burning, but it never did. The steam from her water cup would shoot up, the flour bubbling and her hand still scrapping the bottom of the pan, she would look up, smile at me and ask if I had all my books together. On the table next to me were her coffee cup and the paper, folded neatly with an indentation of where she left off reading. I never knew when she awoke, but she was always at the kitchen table drinking her second cup of coffee and had read two thirds of the paper read by the time I came downstairs. This is the only meal I have closely matched. I replicated the recipe by memory.