What Happens Next?

Gail de Vos is adjunct professor at the School of Library and Information Studies, University of Alberta, Edmonton.

• AcknowledgmentsIntroductionThe Popularization of the GenreContemporary Legends RedefinedFeatures of Contemporary LegendsGender Issues in Contemporary LegendsInfluences of Electronic Transmission on Contemporary LegendsWhat's Inside "What Happens Next?"References1—Overview of Media Appearances of Contemporary LegendsContemporary Legends in the Literary ArtsHorror LiteratureSelected Examples of Literature Incorporating Contemporary LegendsContemporary Legends in Film and TelevisionTelevised and Filmic Contemporary LegendsFreaky Stories (Television Series)Mythbusters (Television Series)The Simpsons (Television Series)Tales from the Golden Age (2009)Horror FilmsSupernatural, Occult and Ghost FilmsSlasher FilmsMaking Their Own Horror VideosExamples of Horror and Slasher Titles Incorporating Contemporary LegendsCampfire Tales (1997)The Ring (Ringu) (1998) and The Ring (2002)Supernatural (Television Series)Trick 'r Treat (2009)Urban Legend (1998)Urban Legends (Television Series)When a Stranger Calls (2006)Darwin AwardsDebunking and Confirming Contemporary LegendsInternational Society for Contemporary Legend Research (ISCLR)References2—Ostension, Legend Tripping and Commodification of FolkloreDefinition of TermsCommodification of Contemporary LegendsExamples of Ostension and Pseudo-OstensionBloody MaryThe Halloween SadistOstensive AbuseMass-Mediated OstensionCandyman (1992)Urban Legends (1998)The X-Files (1993–2002)Most Haunted (2002–10)Supernatural (2005–Present)Blood Oath (2007)Cropsey (2009)ShoefitiRationales for ShoefitiAn Ostensive Leave TakingShoefiti as an Adapted Art FormShoe TreesShag or Sex BraceletsExamples of Legend TrippingSan Antonio Ghost TracksRehmeyer's HollowStull CemeteryScreaming Tunnel at Niagara FallsLegend Tripping in College TunnelsCryptozoology and Legend TrippingThe Jersey DevilMothmanCommodification of MothmanSelected Resources on the MothmanLiterary and Visual AdaptationsLegend TrippingBloody MaryHalloween SadismRehmeyer's HollowMercy Brown: VampireSan Antonio Ghost TracksShoefitiTunnel Legends"The Jersey Devil"MothmanEndnotesReferences3—Folklore and the Internet: NetloreDefinition of TermsTypes of Netlore and NewsloreComputer Legends, Viruses and WarningsE-mail Hoaxes and Social Network WarningsTypes of E-mail HoaxesVirus HoaxesGiveaway HoaxesCharity Hoaxes or Sympathy HoaxesCurrent Examples of E-mail HoaxesFake Amber Alerts"Strawberry Quick" Panic"Le-a""Nigerian Scam"/"Advance Fee Fraud"/"419 Fraud"Interview with a "Scammer"Selected Resources on the "Nigerian Scam"Social Network WarningsChain LettersPhotographic Urban Legends"Tourist Guy"Photographic Parodies: "Roaming Gnomes"Additional Netlore ExamplesContemporary Legends Reflecting Domestic or International Crisis"The Grateful Stranger""Acid Rain Fallout"Scarelore"Bumping the Bumper""Burundanga""Dangerous Canola Oil""Egged Windshields""Gang Initiation" (Lights Out!)"Halloween Gang Initiations" or "Red October""Infant Car Seat""Killer Clowns""UPS Uniforms and Terrorism"Telephones and the Contemporary Legend"Grandparent"/"Emergency" Scam"Stolen Passport" ScamLiterary and Visual AdaptationsE-mail Hoaxes"Gang Initiation" (Lights Out!)"Killer Clowns""Roaming Gnomes"References4—Conspiracy TheoriesContemporary ConspiraciesWorld Trade Center, September 11, 2001ChupacabraChupacabra and Other Contemporary LegendsChupacabra and Conspiracy Theories"The Fat Stealer"Cryptozoology ConnectionsGrease "Yakas" or Devils in Sri LankaOrgan-Theft Narratives: The Stolen KidneyThe Stolen KidneyThe Stolen Kidney and Conspiracy Theories"Wendy's Chili" HoaxH1N1 PandemicDoomsday Prophecies2012 Mayan ProphecyComet EleninDebunking Conspiracy TheoriesConspiracy Theories in Popular CultureChupacabra in Popular CultureThe Stolen Kidney in Popular CultureReferences5—Ghostlore and Scary StoriesGhostloreCommodification of GhostloreGhost StoriesGhost HuntingGhost TourismGhost Legends Revisited"La Llorona""The Vanishing Hitchhiker""Resurrection Mary""Humans Can Lick Too" or "Doggie-Lick"More GhostlorePhantom Vehicles and Haunted RoadsHaunted HousesHaunted Bathroom Narratives and "Hanako-san""Kuchi-sake-onna, the Slit-Mouthed Woman"Campus Lore"Smiley Gang""The Hook""The Suicide Rule"Other "Lethal" LegendsA Contemporary Invention: "Slender Man"Literary and Visual Adaptations"La Llorona""The Vanishing Hitchhiker""Resurrection Mary""The Hook""Hanako, the Toilet Ghost""Kuchi-sake-onna"Recommended ResourcesReferences6—A Meeting with the Devil at the Crossroads: A Contemporary Legend?The Development of the Crossroads Meeting LegendHistorical Development of the Robert Johnson VariantAntecedents to the Robert Johnson VariantShould It Be Considered a Contemporary Legend?Related Legends"Pact with the Devil""Robert Johnson Curse""Club 27" or "The Forever 27 Club""Two Guitars"Commodification of the Meeting at the CrossroadsLegend Tripping and Pride of PlaceRobert Johnson Blues Foundation Headquarters and Museum"Hellhound on My Trail: Robert Johnson and the Blues" Conference (September 26, 1998)RecordingsYouTube and Internet PresenceReworkings of the "Meeting with the Devil at the Crossroads"Allusions and Brief MentionsMusical AllusionsLiterary AllusionsCinematic AllusionsLiterary and Visual AdaptationsNovelsShort StoriesPoetry and Song LyricsGraphic Novels, Picture Books and Illustrated BooksCinematic Reworkings: Movies and TelevisionScreenplaysSelected Reworkings of "The Pact with the Devil"Online Lesson Plans and Education ResourcesReferencesEpilogueReferencesIndexLiterary IndexLegend Index

While de Vos's background as a librarian, storyteller, teacher, and scholar brings a special perspective to this subject, the material covered goes beyond an application to young adults. In fact, the book comprises an ambitious survey of 'contemporary urban legends.' . . . There is material in this book to inspire a whole new generation of urban legend scholars to investigate folklore forms, once exchanged orally, as transformed into popular culture products circulated electronically or in print and images.