Urban Legends – Modern Tall Tales

Urban legends are modern stories featuring extraordinary elements. These tales are widely circulated and considered by many to contain elements of truth. Urban legends are inherently modern in nature. In fact, the term did not appear until the 1970s. Prior to this time, tall tales were surely circulated. However, they did not garner specific attention as a genre or earn special investigative attention.

The nature of an urban legend is that it must ultimately be believable. To the stories’ audience, the events described must be plausible, though exaggerated, and contain elements of the familiar. Thus, urban legends frequently center on experiences that are common in our modern society. For instance, several tales focus on encounters had while driving. Since most people drive, they can easily relate to those experiences. Similarly, some legends appeal to a specific group. As time progresses, many older legends are altered or retold to adopt more modern elements.

Distribution is the key to the evolution of an urban legend. The tale must be retold until it becomes “popular knowledge.” In some cases, this is facilitated through the use of chain letters. Such letters explain a story and warn of some negative effect if the tale is not passed on. The development of the internet has greatly impacted the distribution of urban legends. Stories can now circulate faster through use of websites, instant messaging, and mass e-mails. Additionally, web-based urban legends gain credibility from the use of photographs, videos, and other media.

Many urban legends fall into the category of “cautionary tales.” These contain elements of horror in an attempt to deter an individual from performing some action. These tales focus on a specific place where a tragic event has occurred or highlight a dangerous situation. Although the specific events in these stories are generally fictional, the ultimate warning has some basis in fact. Thus, the repetition of these types of urban legends may prove beneficial. For instance, some popular urban legends are told about children who eat contaminated Halloween candy. Though rarely reported, it is plausible that such an act could be perpetrated. Other categories of legends include fake news reports, tales of strange animals, and ghost stories.

Although it is nearly impossible to trace the origins of an urban legend, countless researchers and enthusiasts have devoted themselves to investigating these tall tales. There exist numerous books, documentaries, and internet sites devoted to urban legends. One of the most notable is snopes.com, which is also known as the Urban Legends Reference Pages. The site documents thousands of legends and weird news stories. Among the numerous documentaries, several television series devoted to urban legends have also gained popularity. These include Mostly True Stories: Urban Legends Revealed, Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction, and Mythbusters. There is even a government organization called Hoaxbusters, which deals with computer-related legends.

Urban legends are, by nature, elements of folklore. They lack supporting evidence and cannot be ultimately substantiated. However, this has not stopped decades of investigations and continued assertions that some stories are true. Regardless of their veracity, urban legends are an integral part of modern culture. They have filled a necessary niche for modern humans; one left empty as society moved beyond the myths and legends of history.