Urban Legends
Despite
its name, an urban legend does not necessarily originate in an urban area. Rather, the term is used to differentiate modern
legend from traditional folklore in pre-industrial times.
The term
“urban legend,” as used by folklorists, has appeared in print since at least
1968. Jan
Harold Brunvand, professor of English at the University
of Utah, introduced the term to the general public
in a series of popular books published beginning in 1981. Brunvand used his
collection of legends, The Vanishing Hitchhiker: American Urban Legends &
Their Meanings (1981) to
make two points: first, that legends and folklore do
not occur exclusively in so-called primitive or traditional societies, and
second, that one could learn much about urban and modern culture by studying
such tales.
Many urban
legends are framed as complete stories with plot and characters. The compelling appeal of a typical urban legend is its
elements of mystery, horror, fear or humor. Often they serve as cautionary tales. Some urban legends are morality tales that
depict someone, usually a child, acting in a disagreeable manner, only to wind
up in trouble, hurt, or dead.
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