Date with a Database: Valentine’s Day Edition

For a bit of research-oriented “fun” this Valentine’s Day we dipped into a few of our e-resources to see what might turn up worth sharing.

That Old Miami Myth

Ever been curious if there’s a particular college campus out there apparently generating more romance than most between students?

Looks like it might be Ohio’s Miami University.

A search for “Valentine’s Day” in the Gale OneFile: Gender Studies database brings up a brief 2008 article “Cupid lives on campus” which cites the fact that “about 14 percent of the school’s living alumni population” happen to be married to fellow graduates of the university. Seems there’s something to “that old Miami myth that says whomever you kiss under the Upham Hall arch at midnight you’ll eventually marry”.

Dern-most what now?

Next up: the Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE) Survey. This is a searchable compendium of the results from the original DARE fieldwork begun by the dictionary’s Chief Editor Frederic G. Cassidy who traveled the country querying locals with his list of over 1,600 questions.

You can see, for instance, that among the various nicknames or affectionate names for a sweetheart “honey” is near ubiquitous across the country while western Massachusetts contributes such rarities as “my dern-most bedamnable” and “little honeysuckle vine”. Have you ever heard either of those affectionate terms used before?

Both Dictionary and Survey remain excellent reminders of how diverse areas of the country have developed their own peculiarities of vocabulary that more often than not remain only locally recognized.  

Love Island and Lady Gaga

As nobody quarrels quite like lovers (kidding!) Opposing Viewpoints seems a logical next stop.

A search for “Valentine’s Day” turns up an amusing reporter’s selfie in front of the Biden White House last Valentine’s day. While a search for “Love” reveals contemplation of the reality show Love Island in relation to the broader history of Love and, scrolling on through results, also offers consideration of “Lady Gaga’s pop song ‘Stupid Love’ within Platonist and Pauline philosophies on love” that deploys “a fragmented, queer reading practice”.

Time for Movies

For those in search of some romantic escapism through film, whether solo, as a couple or with a group, Films On Demand has curated a “month of romance” selection of films which includes an overview of 25 films deemed by celebratory film critics as being the most romantic of all time. Have you seen them all?

If you’re in need of a break from the heteronormativity of the films on that list you might check out the offerings in LGBT Studies in Video. This short featuring the skyline and men of San Francisco celebrates romance set to a tune sung by Dorothy Lamour.

What’s Next

Here’s to a Happy Valentine’s Day! And remember that Gleeson’s e-resources are chock full of insightful offerings for every occasion! Try exploring other databases for additional Valentines delights.

And don’t forget February is Black History Month!! Here is our post from last year highlighting some Key Databases.

^{Featured Image at top of post: “Book of Love” by semuthutan is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0}