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- DictionaryUrban myth
noun
- 1. a humorous or horrific story or piece of information circulated as though true, especially one purporting to involve someone vaguely related or known to the teller.
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Urban legends (sometimes modern legend, urban myth, or simply legend) is a genre of folklore concerning stories about an unusual (usually scary) or humorous event that many people believe to be true but largely are not.
- Candyman. In 2021, director Nia DaCosta’s new vision of Candyman—the popular 1992 horror hit about a vengeful spirit who is summoned to reality by saying his name five times—arrived in theaters.
- The Killer Calling From Inside the House. For decades, stories have circulated about a babysitter home alone who receives harassing phone calls. When the call is finally traced by police, the babysitter is horrified to discover it’s coming from inside the house.
- The Goatman. The Goatman was a purported half-man, half-goat fond of devouring dogs and attacking people in Prince George’s County in Maryland. While the Goatman had been whispered about for years, he got an explosion of publicity in 1971 after a reporter named Karen Hosler delivered a one-two punch lending credibility to his existence.
- The Mothman. No urban legend rundown is complete without mention of the Mothman, a strange creature who purportedly terrorized West Virginia in the 1960s.
- The truth behind Mr. Rogers. A secret many have been dying to know: was Mr. Rogers, host of the children’s show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” actually a U.S. Marine - or maybe a Navy SEAL?
- There are bodies buried in Hoover Dam. This is one urban legend that just won’t die. While there were many fatalities involved in the making of Hoover Dam, zero involved workers slipping into the mix and being covered up with concrete.
- Pools will turn red if you pee in them. We all heard this one as kids: you can’t pee in the pool because there’s a special chemical that turns the water around you red...
- Wedding rice makes birds explode. No one is quite sure where this particular urban legend originated, but there is nevertheless the pervasive fear that if birds consume rice they explode.
An urban legend, myth, or tale is a modern genre of folklore. It often consists of fictional stories associated with the macabre, superstitions, ghosts, demons, cryptids, extraterrestrials, creepypasta, and other fear generating narrative elements. Urban legends are often rooted in local history and popular culture .
Nov 5, 2023 · An urban legend is a story or tale, often with elements of horror or humor, that is passed down through generations via word-of-mouth, gossip, or other forms of informal communication. These legends are also referred to as urban myths and are a part of modern folklore.
Jan 26, 2015 · What makes an urban legend? Chilling and often disturbing ‘real life’ stories are still widely shared, says David Robson. Why do these tales continue to endure? You may have already met ...
Urban myth. An urban myth is basically the same as an urban legend, and the two terms are often used interchangeably. However, the word “myth” implies the story includes supernatural or “mythical” details that make it less believable. So, urban myths are usually seen as overtly untrue. VIII.
