Encyclopedia of Urban Legends

Presents Descriptions Of Hundreds Of Urban Legends And Their Variations, Themes, And Scholarly Approaches To The Genre, Including Such Tales As Disappearing Hitchhikers And Hypodermic Needles Left In The Coin Slots Of Pay Telephones. Preliminaries; Contents; Preface; A -- K; L -- Z; Index; About The Author. Jan Harold Brunvand ; Artwork By Randy Hickman. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "This reference work offers alphabetical entries on every aspect of the subject, including descriptions of hundreds of individual legends and their variations, legend themes, and scholarly approaches to the genre. The thorough coverage of urban legends of the United States, Canada, and other English-speaking countries is enhanced by entries for all countries in which published urban-legend collections are presently available: hitchhikers vanish all over the world.". "Urban legends are a specimen of modern folk narrative, so this encyclopedia contains entries on how to collect, classify, and analyze texts and performances. Other entries discuss the relationship of urban legends to literature, film, comic books, music, and many other areas of popular culture.". "All entries are cross-referenced and feature brief bibliographies. The introduction defines "urban legend" and sketches out the history of urban-legend studies. A general bibliography suggests further readings on the subject. The Encyclopedia of Urban Legends, which is illustrated, is based on the latest scholarship, including materials available on the Internet."--BOOK JACKET. The Encyclopedia of Urban Legends is the definitive work from the world's foremost authority on the study of urban legends, Jan Harold Brunvand. This encyclopedia offers descriptions of hundreds of individual legends. The thorough coverage of urban legends includes all countries in which published urban legend collections are presently available. Urban legends are a specimen of modern folk narrative, and this encyclopedia contains entries on how to collect, classify, and analyze texts and performances.Other entries discuss the relationship of urban legends to literature, film, comic books, music, and many other areas of popular culture. Coverage includes academic legends, earthquake stories, Internet resources, tabloids in urban legends, and more. All entries are cross referenced and feature brief bibliographies. A general bibliography suggests further readings on the subject. The volume is richly illustrated and is based on the latest scholarship, including materials available on the Internet. This comprehensive and compellingly readable reference work answers all the urban legend questions, offering alphabetical entries on every aspect of the subject, including descriptions of individual legends and their variations, legend themes, and scholarly approaches to the genre "This exhaustive and compellingly readable reference work offers alphabetical entries on every aspect of the subject, including descriptions of hundreds of individual legends and their variations, legend themes, and scholarly approaches to the genre."--Publisher's description College and university campuses, despite being centers of research, learning, and sophistication, are also fertile grounds for the growth of legends and other folklore.