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The weirdest thing happened to someone my hairdresser knows....

A growing field of folklore research concerns the legends, rumors, and beliefs that circulate through modern media and the complex networks of modern communications. Contacts among international scholars has led to surprised recognition that stories or motifs thought to be distinctive to a given country or locality in fact were circulating simultaneously in many parts of the world. Likewise, narrative elements thought to be "modern" or "urban" have in fact turned up in historical materials dating back to ancient times.

A Group Portrait from the 30th meeting
A group portrait from the 2012 meeting of ISCLR (photo by Linda Kinsey)

In order to gain a better understanding of the dynamics and function of these "contemporary" genres, scholars have recognized the need for worldwide links among legend and rumor scholars.

The International Society for Contemporary Legend Research (ISCLR) encourages study of so-called "modern" and "urban" legends, and also of any legend that circulates actively. Members are especially concerned with ways in which legends merge with life: real-life analogs to legend plots, social crusades that use legends or legend-like horror stories, and search for evidence behind claims of alien abductions and mystery cats. We invite all who have an interest in these areas to join us.

Subscribers get the ISCLR newsletter, FOAFtale News, and the annual peer-reviewed journal, Contemporary Legend.

To join please write the Secretary:

Elissa R. Henken
Department of English
Park Hall
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602
U.S.A.
ehenken@uga.edu

 


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