What's Scheduled for this Week:

COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING TASKS:

First, listen to my short weekly audio lecture. You can listen to the lecture in either Real Audio format or you can listen to the lecture in Windows Media format.
Next, explore the following links:
- Urban Legends (urban belief tales or contemporary legends): Take a quick look a some popular urban beliefs and try to guess how many of them are true? (Note: the lack of significant narrative element in these short urban beliefs perhaps disqualifies them from really being called "urban legends.")
- Last week I asked you to do a search for "campus" folklore at the following site. This week I would like you to just explore what might be the best urban legend site around: Urban Legends Reference Pages. Be sure to look at the "rumors of war" section of the site--it has a great legend/rumor collection associated with the terrorist attack on 9/11
- Two other fine Urban Legend sites: Terry Chan's site and the Miningco.com site
- The Elevator story --I fell for this urban legend, but I am now much wiser!
- Read all about an urban legend I didn't fall for!
- Read a short article that examines a change in contemporary legends over time
- Some students have tried to create their own urban legend, and you can look at one a student created two years ago. Be sure to let me know if you have heard of it.
- Read an article on Conspiracy Theories and the traditional narrative motifs found in them
- An interesting essay that explores the origin, function, and validity of a few organ theft urban legends.
During a June 2002 interview, I asked Jan Brunvand a couple of questions concerning urban legends. I first asked "How did you become interested in urnban legends?" You can listen to his response in either Real Audio format or his response in Windows Media format. You might also what to know whether he has a favorite urban legend? Again, you can listen to his response in Real Audio format or his response in Windows Media format.
Review the Homefun on Legends (not a graded assignment)
Read pp. 229--238
Take a short quiz on legends. You should know the most common types of legends and relevant terminology.
Post to the Discussion Board