Pillar Tags, Narrative Core
An analytical examination of the Mothman phenomenon in Point Pleasant, exploring how media framing, social contagion, and collective anxiety transformed a series of sightings into a modern urban legend.
An analytical exploration of ‘lost child’ cryptids, tracing their evolution from ancient changeling myths to modern digital legends through psychological and cultural lenses.
This work examines the cultural and social history of fairy tales, tracing their evolution and revealing their reflection of societal norms. It provides a Marxist perspective on the genre’s role in reinforcing or challenging power structures.
Maria Tatar’s work offers a detailed examination of the Grimms’ Fairy Tales, situating them within their historical and cultural context and revealing their often-dark reflections of 19th-century societal anxieties.
It moves beyond viewing the tales as simple children’s stories and analyzes them as complex cultural artifacts.
A foundational sociological text that argues memory is a social phenomenon, reconstructed by individuals within the frameworks of the groups to which they belong. It explores the vital distinction between the living process of collective memory and the objective record of history.
Digital media has fundamentally reshaped how narratives are constructed, spread, and perceived in the Information Age. This article examines the mechanisms of this shift, from algorithmic influence and filter bubbles to user-generated content and the speed of virality, exploring the profound impact on our collective understanding of reality.
Symbols are the cornerstone of mass communication, allowing media to transcend literal data and profoundly shape cultural meaning. This article delves into how mass media leverages symbolic messaging to construct realities, influence perceptions, and forge collective identity, from historical propaganda to modern digital memes.
Despite scientific rationalism, urban legends continue to flourish as a sophisticated form of contemporary folklore. This article explores the social and psychological mechanisms that facilitate their transmission, defining modern folklore and examining the cultural functions these narratives serve in a digital society.
Internet urban legends represent the vernacular mythology of the digital age, evolving from oral traditions to global viral phenomena. This article explores how digital folklore spreads through social media and niche communities, driven by psychological factors and cultural functions.
This article delves into the psychological underpinnings of why certain stories achieve viral status in the digital age. It explores the cognitive processes, emotional triggers, and social dynamics that drive the rapid spread of modern narratives, from urban legends to speculative theories. Discover how our inherent need for meaning and connection fuels the proliferation of these cultural artifacts.
