Title: First Show Flair
General Information about Item:
- Customary Folklore: Ritual, Tradition
- English
- USA
- Informant Data:
- Tara Joshi ’18
- Age: 21
- Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
- Joined Dodecs Freshman Fall
- Current President
Contextual Data:
- Social Context
All new members of the group (often referred to as the babies) participate in this tradition. This happens during the first performance after the new members are selected (which also happens to be the first performance of the year). This tradition has existed for a long time (since before the Informant joined the group).
- Cultural Context
Each group wants to showcase its new members in some way, and this is no different. By dressing in all black while the new members are in flair, the new members all stand out from the rest of the group. This ritual shows the emphasis the group puts on welcoming and celebrating its new members. The Dodecaphonics try to create an inclusive culture and make sure the new members feel welcomed and special, and this is one of the ways in which they accomplish this.
Item:
During the first show of the year, new members dress in flair (mismatched, tacky clothing), while returning members dress in all black clothing. Returning members trick the new members into thinking all group members will be wearing flair, and new members are surprised when they get to the location of the show to see that they are the only ones in flair.
Associated file (a video, audio, or image file):
Transcript
“For baby show, which is our first show of the Fall where we debut our new babies [new members], we tell them we’re all gonna be wearing flair.. but little do they know we are gonna be wearing black… which showcases them better cause we’re wearing black in the background and they’re all wearing flair and looking ridiculous.”
Informant’s Comments:
This is a great way for the Dodecaphonics to show everyone their babies. The Informant also believes this ritual helps returning members bond over making fun of the new members a little bit.
Collector’s Comments:
The Dodecaphonics have a lot of funny pranks to welcome their new members and this is no exception. By doing this they welcome the new members into a unique tradition that they can later look back on and laugh at how they dressed.
Collector’s Name: Marcus Reid
Compiled/Analyzed by: Alex Chan/Sruthi Pasupuleti
Tags/Keywords:
- Singing
- acapella
- Clothing
- flair
- bright colors
- tacky