What Happens Next?
Contemporary Urban Legends and Popular Culture
Published on 26. June 2012
Book
Paperback/Softback
272 pages
978-1-59884-633-1 (ISBN)
Description
This fascinating book uncovers the history behind urban legends and explains how the contemporary iterations of familiar fictional tales provide a window into the modern concerns-and digital advancements-of our society.
What do ghost hunting, legend tripping, and legendary monsters have in common with email hoaxes, chain letters, and horror movies? In this follow-up to Libraries Unlimited's Tales, Rumors, and Gossip: Exploring Contemporary Folk Literature in Grades 7-12, author Gail de Vos revisits popular urban legends, and examines the impact of media-online, social, and broadcast-on their current iterations.
What Happens Next? Contemporary Urban Legends and Popular Culture traces the evolution of contemporary legends from the tradition of oral storytelling to the sharing of stories on the Internet and TV. The author examines if the popularity of contemporary legends in the media has changed the form, role, and integrity of familiar legends. In addition to revisiting some of the legends highlighted in her first book, de Vos shares new tales in circulation which she sees as a direct result of technological advancements.
What do ghost hunting, legend tripping, and legendary monsters have in common with email hoaxes, chain letters, and horror movies? In this follow-up to Libraries Unlimited's Tales, Rumors, and Gossip: Exploring Contemporary Folk Literature in Grades 7-12, author Gail de Vos revisits popular urban legends, and examines the impact of media-online, social, and broadcast-on their current iterations.
What Happens Next? Contemporary Urban Legends and Popular Culture traces the evolution of contemporary legends from the tradition of oral storytelling to the sharing of stories on the Internet and TV. The author examines if the popularity of contemporary legends in the media has changed the form, role, and integrity of familiar legends. In addition to revisiting some of the legends highlighted in her first book, de Vos shares new tales in circulation which she sees as a direct result of technological advancements.
Reviews / Votes
While de Vos's background as a librarian, storyteller, teacher, and scholar brings a special perspective to this subject, the material covered goes beyond an application to young adults. In fact, the book comprises an ambitious survey of 'contemporary urban legends.' . . . There is material in this book to inspire a whole new generation of urban legend scholars to investigate folklore forms, once exchanged orally, as transformed into popular culture products circulated electronically or in print and images. * Journal of Folklore Research * What Happens Next? is a unique and explorative book tracing the evolution of contemporary (or urban) legends from their oral storytelling roots through today's immersion in media and technology. . . . An excellent book with creative ideas in an area lacking in research resources. * ARBA *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Primary & secondary/elementary & high school
Dimensions
Height: 254 mm
Width: 178 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
518 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-59884-633-1 (9781598846331)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
06/2012
1st Edition
Libraries Unlimited Inc
from
€52.79
Available for download
E-Book
06/2012
1st Edition
Libraries Unlimited Inc
€42.99
Available for download
Person
Gail de Vos is adjunct professor at the School of Library and Information Studies, University of Alberta, Edmonton.
Content
Acknowledgments
Introduction
The Popularization of the Genre
Contemporary Legends Redefined
Features of Contemporary Legends
Gender Issues in Contemporary Legends
Influences of Electronic Transmission on Contemporary Legends
What's Inside "What Happens Next?"
References
1-Overview of Media Appearances of Contemporary Legends
Contemporary Legends in the Literary Arts
Horror Literature
Selected Examples of Literature Incorporating Contemporary Legends
Contemporary Legends in Film and Television
Televised and Filmic Contemporary Legends
Freaky Stories (Television Series)
Mythbusters (Television Series)
The Simpsons (Television Series)
Tales from the Golden Age (2009)
Horror Films
Supernatural, Occult and Ghost Films
Slasher Films
Making Their Own Horror Videos
Examples of Horror and Slasher Titles Incorporating Contemporary Legends
Campfire Tales (1997)
The Ring (Ringu) (1998) and The Ring (2002)
Supernatural (Television Series)
Trick 'r Treat (2009)
Urban Legend (1998)
Urban Legends (Television Series)
When a Stranger Calls (2006)
Darwin Awards
Debunking and Confirming Contemporary Legends
International Society for Contemporary Legend Research (ISCLR)
References
2-Ostension, Legend Tripping and Commodification of Folklore
Definition of Terms
Commodification of Contemporary Legends
Examples of Ostension and Pseudo-Ostension
Bloody Mary
The Halloween Sadist
Ostensive Abuse
Mass-Mediated Ostension
Candyman (1992)
Urban Legends (1998)
The X-Files (1993-2002)
Most Haunted (2002-10)
Supernatural (2005-Present)
Blood Oath (2007)
Cropsey (2009)
Shoefiti
Rationales for Shoefiti
An Ostensive Leave Taking
Shoefiti as an Adapted Art Form
Shoe Trees
Shag or Sex Bracelets
Examples of Legend Tripping
San Antonio Ghost Tracks
Rehmeyer's Hollow
Stull Cemetery
Screaming Tunnel at Niagara Falls
Legend Tripping in College Tunnels
Cryptozoology and Legend Tripping
The Jersey Devil
Mothman
Commodification of Mothman
Selected Resources on the Mothman
Literary and Visual Adaptations
Legend Tripping
Bloody Mary
Halloween Sadism
Rehmeyer's Hollow
Mercy Brown: Vampire
San Antonio Ghost Tracks
Shoefiti
Tunnel Legends
"The Jersey Devil"
Mothman
Endnotes
References
3-Folklore and the Internet: Netlore
Definition of Terms
Types of Netlore and Newslore
Computer Legends, Viruses and Warnings
E-mail Hoaxes and Social Network Warnings
Types of E-mail Hoaxes
Virus Hoaxes
Giveaway Hoaxes
Charity Hoaxes or Sympathy Hoaxes
Current Examples of E-mail Hoaxes
Fake Amber Alerts
"Strawberry Quick" Panic
"Le-a"
"Nigerian Scam"/"Advance Fee Fraud"/"419 Fraud"
Interview with a "Scammer"
Selected Resources on the "Nigerian Scam"
Social Network Warnings
Chain Letters
Photographic Urban Legends
"Tourist Guy"
Photographic Parodies: "Roaming Gnomes"
Additional Netlore Examples
Contemporary Legends Reflecting Domestic or International Crisis
"The Grateful Stranger"
"Acid Rain Fallout"
Scarelore
"Bumping the Bumper"
"Burundanga"
"Dangerous Canola Oil"
"Egged Windshields"
"Gang Initiation" (Lights Out!)
"Halloween Gang Initiations" or "Red October"
"Infant Car Seat"
"Killer Clowns"
"UPS Uniforms and Terrorism"
Telephones and the Contemporary Legend
"Grandparent"/"Emergency" Scam
"Stolen Passport" Scam
Literary and Visual Adaptations
E-mail Hoaxes
"Gang Initiation" (Lights Out!)
"Killer Clowns"
"Roaming Gnomes"
References
4-Conspiracy Theories
Contemporary Conspiracies
World Trade Center, September 11, 2001
Chupacabra
Chupacabra and Other Contemporary Legends
Chupacabra and Conspiracy Theories
"The Fat Stealer"
Cryptozoology Connections
Grease "Yakas" or Devils in Sri Lanka
Organ-Theft Narratives: The Stolen Kidney
The Stolen Kidney
The Stolen Kidney and Conspiracy Theories
"Wendy's Chili" Hoax
H1N1 Pandemic
Doomsday Prophecies
2012 Mayan Prophecy
Comet Elenin
Debunking Conspiracy Theories
Conspiracy Theories in Popular Culture
Chupacabra in Popular Culture
The Stolen Kidney in Popular Culture
References
5-Ghostlore and Scary Stories
Ghostlore
Commodification of Ghostlore
Ghost Stories
Ghost Hunting
Ghost Tourism
Ghost Legends Revisited
"La Llorona"
"The Vanishing Hitchhiker"
"Resurrection Mary"
"Humans Can Lick Too" or "Doggie-Lick"
More Ghostlore
Phantom Vehicles and Haunted Roads
Haunted Houses
Haunted Bathroom Narratives and "Hanako-san"
"Kuchi-sake-onna, the Slit-Mouthed Woman"
Campus Lore
"Smiley Gang"
"The Hook"
"The Suicide Rule"
Other "Lethal" Legends
A Contemporary Invention: "Slender Man"
Literary and Visual Adaptations
"La Llorona"
"The Vanishing Hitchhiker"
"Resurrection Mary"
"The Hook"
"Hanako, the Toilet Ghost"
"Kuchi-sake-onna"
Recommended Resources
References
6-A Meeting with the Devil at the Crossroads: A Contemporary Legend?
The Development of the Crossroads Meeting Legend
Historical Development of the Robert Johnson Variant
Antecedents to the Robert Johnson Variant
Should It Be Considered a Contemporary Legend?
Related Legends
"Pact with the Devil"
"Robert Johnson Curse"
"Club 27" or "The Forever 27 Club"
"Two Guitars"
Commodification of the Meeting at the Crossroads
Legend Tripping and Pride of Place
Robert Johnson Blues Foundation Headquarters and Museum
"Hellhound on My Trail: Robert Johnson and the Blues" Conference (September 26, 1998)
Recordings
YouTube and Internet Presence
Reworkings of the "Meeting with the Devil at the Crossroads"
Allusions and Brief Mentions
Musical Allusions
Literary Allusions
Cinematic Allusions
Literary and Visual Adaptations
Novels
Short Stories
Poetry and Song Lyrics
Graphic Novels, Picture Books and Illustrated Books
Cinematic Reworkings: Movies and Television
Screenplays
Selected Reworkings of "The Pact with the Devil"
Online Lesson Plans and Education Resources
References
Epilogue
References
Index
Literary Index
Legend Index
Introduction
The Popularization of the Genre
Contemporary Legends Redefined
Features of Contemporary Legends
Gender Issues in Contemporary Legends
Influences of Electronic Transmission on Contemporary Legends
What's Inside "What Happens Next?"
References
1-Overview of Media Appearances of Contemporary Legends
Contemporary Legends in the Literary Arts
Horror Literature
Selected Examples of Literature Incorporating Contemporary Legends
Contemporary Legends in Film and Television
Televised and Filmic Contemporary Legends
Freaky Stories (Television Series)
Mythbusters (Television Series)
The Simpsons (Television Series)
Tales from the Golden Age (2009)
Horror Films
Supernatural, Occult and Ghost Films
Slasher Films
Making Their Own Horror Videos
Examples of Horror and Slasher Titles Incorporating Contemporary Legends
Campfire Tales (1997)
The Ring (Ringu) (1998) and The Ring (2002)
Supernatural (Television Series)
Trick 'r Treat (2009)
Urban Legend (1998)
Urban Legends (Television Series)
When a Stranger Calls (2006)
Darwin Awards
Debunking and Confirming Contemporary Legends
International Society for Contemporary Legend Research (ISCLR)
References
2-Ostension, Legend Tripping and Commodification of Folklore
Definition of Terms
Commodification of Contemporary Legends
Examples of Ostension and Pseudo-Ostension
Bloody Mary
The Halloween Sadist
Ostensive Abuse
Mass-Mediated Ostension
Candyman (1992)
Urban Legends (1998)
The X-Files (1993-2002)
Most Haunted (2002-10)
Supernatural (2005-Present)
Blood Oath (2007)
Cropsey (2009)
Shoefiti
Rationales for Shoefiti
An Ostensive Leave Taking
Shoefiti as an Adapted Art Form
Shoe Trees
Shag or Sex Bracelets
Examples of Legend Tripping
San Antonio Ghost Tracks
Rehmeyer's Hollow
Stull Cemetery
Screaming Tunnel at Niagara Falls
Legend Tripping in College Tunnels
Cryptozoology and Legend Tripping
The Jersey Devil
Mothman
Commodification of Mothman
Selected Resources on the Mothman
Literary and Visual Adaptations
Legend Tripping
Bloody Mary
Halloween Sadism
Rehmeyer's Hollow
Mercy Brown: Vampire
San Antonio Ghost Tracks
Shoefiti
Tunnel Legends
"The Jersey Devil"
Mothman
Endnotes
References
3-Folklore and the Internet: Netlore
Definition of Terms
Types of Netlore and Newslore
Computer Legends, Viruses and Warnings
E-mail Hoaxes and Social Network Warnings
Types of E-mail Hoaxes
Virus Hoaxes
Giveaway Hoaxes
Charity Hoaxes or Sympathy Hoaxes
Current Examples of E-mail Hoaxes
Fake Amber Alerts
"Strawberry Quick" Panic
"Le-a"
"Nigerian Scam"/"Advance Fee Fraud"/"419 Fraud"
Interview with a "Scammer"
Selected Resources on the "Nigerian Scam"
Social Network Warnings
Chain Letters
Photographic Urban Legends
"Tourist Guy"
Photographic Parodies: "Roaming Gnomes"
Additional Netlore Examples
Contemporary Legends Reflecting Domestic or International Crisis
"The Grateful Stranger"
"Acid Rain Fallout"
Scarelore
"Bumping the Bumper"
"Burundanga"
"Dangerous Canola Oil"
"Egged Windshields"
"Gang Initiation" (Lights Out!)
"Halloween Gang Initiations" or "Red October"
"Infant Car Seat"
"Killer Clowns"
"UPS Uniforms and Terrorism"
Telephones and the Contemporary Legend
"Grandparent"/"Emergency" Scam
"Stolen Passport" Scam
Literary and Visual Adaptations
E-mail Hoaxes
"Gang Initiation" (Lights Out!)
"Killer Clowns"
"Roaming Gnomes"
References
4-Conspiracy Theories
Contemporary Conspiracies
World Trade Center, September 11, 2001
Chupacabra
Chupacabra and Other Contemporary Legends
Chupacabra and Conspiracy Theories
"The Fat Stealer"
Cryptozoology Connections
Grease "Yakas" or Devils in Sri Lanka
Organ-Theft Narratives: The Stolen Kidney
The Stolen Kidney
The Stolen Kidney and Conspiracy Theories
"Wendy's Chili" Hoax
H1N1 Pandemic
Doomsday Prophecies
2012 Mayan Prophecy
Comet Elenin
Debunking Conspiracy Theories
Conspiracy Theories in Popular Culture
Chupacabra in Popular Culture
The Stolen Kidney in Popular Culture
References
5-Ghostlore and Scary Stories
Ghostlore
Commodification of Ghostlore
Ghost Stories
Ghost Hunting
Ghost Tourism
Ghost Legends Revisited
"La Llorona"
"The Vanishing Hitchhiker"
"Resurrection Mary"
"Humans Can Lick Too" or "Doggie-Lick"
More Ghostlore
Phantom Vehicles and Haunted Roads
Haunted Houses
Haunted Bathroom Narratives and "Hanako-san"
"Kuchi-sake-onna, the Slit-Mouthed Woman"
Campus Lore
"Smiley Gang"
"The Hook"
"The Suicide Rule"
Other "Lethal" Legends
A Contemporary Invention: "Slender Man"
Literary and Visual Adaptations
"La Llorona"
"The Vanishing Hitchhiker"
"Resurrection Mary"
"The Hook"
"Hanako, the Toilet Ghost"
"Kuchi-sake-onna"
Recommended Resources
References
6-A Meeting with the Devil at the Crossroads: A Contemporary Legend?
The Development of the Crossroads Meeting Legend
Historical Development of the Robert Johnson Variant
Antecedents to the Robert Johnson Variant
Should It Be Considered a Contemporary Legend?
Related Legends
"Pact with the Devil"
"Robert Johnson Curse"
"Club 27" or "The Forever 27 Club"
"Two Guitars"
Commodification of the Meeting at the Crossroads
Legend Tripping and Pride of Place
Robert Johnson Blues Foundation Headquarters and Museum
"Hellhound on My Trail: Robert Johnson and the Blues" Conference (September 26, 1998)
Recordings
YouTube and Internet Presence
Reworkings of the "Meeting with the Devil at the Crossroads"
Allusions and Brief Mentions
Musical Allusions
Literary Allusions
Cinematic Allusions
Literary and Visual Adaptations
Novels
Short Stories
Poetry and Song Lyrics
Graphic Novels, Picture Books and Illustrated Books
Cinematic Reworkings: Movies and Television
Screenplays
Selected Reworkings of "The Pact with the Devil"
Online Lesson Plans and Education Resources
References
Epilogue
References
Index
Literary Index
Legend Index