Hookland: Folklore, Landscape Punk and Psychogeography
While landscape changes and stories decay, the marriage of the two – folklore – remains the constant dance in our collective memory.
Mark Twain’s Wild West and the Presidential Election of 1872
In a daring act, facing frightful peril, Mark Twain exploited a legend to launch his onstage comic career. With his future as a lecturer on a knife’s edge, Twain decided to open with a worn-out narrative that had seen better days. A disgruntled audience nearly drove him from the stage … until they understood his brilliant manipulation of their own folklore.
Cursed Paintings: Ill-Fated Portraits and Unlucky Landscapes
The cursed painting is an enduring urban legend that continues to have the ability to scare us, and also makes a good tabloid news story.
The Momo Challenge, Popular Culture, and Folklore
The image is downright disturbing, a young woman with dark hair, bulging eyes, and a chilling smile. She stares out at you and causes you to….die?
The Tales We Tell: Urban Legends as Modern Folklore
Contemporary life is full of folklore, including urban legends, those odd, funny, or scary stories suited to the times and places we live in.