Table of Contents

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

Promotional Information

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.

About the Author

Gail de Vos is adjunct professor at the School of Library and Information Studies, University of Alberta, Edmonton.

Reviews

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*