An urban legend, urban myth, urban tale, or contemporary legend is a
genre of folklore comprising stories circulated as true, especially as
having happened to a friend or family member, often with horrifying or
humorous elements. These legends can be entertainment, but often
concern mysterious peril or troubling events, such as disappearances
and strange objects. They may also be confirmation of moral standards,
or reflect prejudices, or be a way to make sense of societal
anxieties.Urban legends are most often circulated orally, but can be
spread by any media, including newspapers, mobile news apps, e-mail,
and social media. Some urban legends have passed through the years
with only minor changes to suit regional variations. Recent legends
tend to reflect modern circumstances: for instance, the common legend
of a person being ambushed and anesthetized, only to wake up and
realize that they are now missing a kidney that was supposedly
surgically removed for transplantation.The term "urban legend", as
used by folklorists, has appeared in print since at least 1968, when
it was used by Richard Dorson. 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.[deprecated source]
genre of folklore comprising stories circulated as true, especially as
having happened to a friend or family member, often with horrifying or
humorous elements. These legends can be entertainment, but often
concern mysterious peril or troubling events, such as disappearances
and strange objects. They may also be confirmation of moral standards,
or reflect prejudices, or be a way to make sense of societal
anxieties.Urban legends are most often circulated orally, but can be
spread by any media, including newspapers, mobile news apps, e-mail,
and social media. Some urban legends have passed through the years
with only minor changes to suit regional variations. Recent legends
tend to reflect modern circumstances: for instance, the common legend
of a person being ambushed and anesthetized, only to wake up and
realize that they are now missing a kidney that was supposedly
surgically removed for transplantation.The term "urban legend", as
used by folklorists, has appeared in print since at least 1968, when
it was used by Richard Dorson. 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.[deprecated source]
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