Supernatural Folklore Final Exam Flashcards
How does folklore diff from pop and elite culture?
folk culture is deeply rooted in a specific place and community, whereas popular culture is widely accessible and trends quickly
What are 3 major genres of folklore?
- Material
- Customary
- Verbal
What are the 3 major belief genres of folk tradition?
- Legend
- Myth
- Memorate
What is liminality? Ex.
In between
EX. basement, bathroom, attic
Cultural source hypothesis
a theory that supernatural beliefs are a product of culture
Experimental Source Hypothesis
a supernatural experience people should take a face value
What is worldveiw?
the way we see ourselves and the relationship with the world around us
What is a rational believer
Clear memory of a supernatural encounter
What is a monster?
not human
Ex. of ancient monster
Griffins and Cylops
Ex. of medieval monster
Behemoth and Leviathan
Ex. of scientific monster
Hydra and Jo Jo the Dog Face Boy
Ex. of psychological and future monsters
psychopaths and cyborgs
What is a shapeshifter?
something that can change from one thing to another then return to the original form
What are characteristics of vampires?
pal, dark hair, pointy teeth, strong, fast
Vampires under folk and scientific understanding?
both use the same evidence to support certain conclusions
What was the Great New England vampire panic?
claiming dead people were werewolves, burning dead people
How do you become a werewolves?
Involuntary: witchcraft, hereditary
Voluntary: drink water from footprint, magical salve
What is protection against werewolves?
Silver bullet, garlic, burning
What fears/anxieties might vampires and werewolves represent?
Losing control, infection
Compare/contrast pop cul. and folk representations of aliens over time?
Pop: Green, dangerous
Folk: Green/gray, friendly
4 kind of encounters with aliens?
- sightings
- evidence
- contact
- abduction
What are examples of of alien folklore that have been adopted in pop cul.?
abductions, crop circles, men in black
What is a typical narrative structure of an alien abduction narrative?
Memorate
What are common motifs in alien abduction narratives, common themes?
physical/mental examination, men in black, bright light
Who are Betty and Barney Hill?
a couple who claims to have been abducted by aliens
What are common features of UFO’s?
flying disk, bright light
What is a conspiracy theory?
covering a wide range of events that deal with questions of belief and express FEAR and DISTRUST
Who is La Llorna?
A heart broken women who was said to have drowned her children and herself
Compare La Llorna and other supernatural stories overlap?
She practically haunts the river/creek, pull children, kills/drowns them
What is Dia Los Muertos?
The day of the dead
What is an ofrenda?
A decorated altar that helps passed loved ones find their way home
Under the sea monsters
Kraken, Each Uisge, Ninyo
Relation of selkies, sirens and merfolk
tails, seem half mermaid have other animal
What are mermaid like creatures?
selkies, sirens and merfolk
What does it mean when mermaid have a dual nature?
beautiful but monsterous
Compare the Disney little mermaid to Hans christen Anderson?
Instead of a happy ever after the mermaid dies, and the sister are supportive rather than not supportive
What is ritual?
wide range of repeated actions
What are key components and characteristics of Halloween celebrations in Northern Ireland?
carve gourds not pumpkins
What are the huldufolk?
the hidden people
How to Icelanders regard the hidden people?
with respect, natural, part of everyday life
What are yokai? EX.
Japanesse shapeshifters
EX. Kapi
What are tanuki?
racoon dog
what are characteristics tanuki?
shapeshifters
What are legends about the kanuki?
mischievous, cheerful with wide eyes sometime wear straw hat
What are some characteristics of legend?
true or false, about real places/people, center around an incident or episode
How do Japanese tanuki legends help is understand cultural attitudes and dears to the changing environment?
losing nature
Who is moth man?
a creature that is half man half moth
What is moth man?
a creature that is half man and half moth
What is the legends of moth man?
That disaster happens when is appears
How does the story of moth man diff from the movie?
the movies is based on true events but not true at all
What does moth man symbolize?
dangerous or a warning
How do vampires in folk traditions differ from literary and pop cul.?
folk: monsters
pop: attractive, sparkling
What is virtual ostension?
frame of ostension online, act out of themes or events
What is reverse ostension?
the action before the story
Who is slender man?
leers kids to the woods
Characteristics of slender man
tall, slender, no hands, long limbs, faceless
What is creepypasta?
fiction or other media with elements of horror, typically posted online in the form of short narratives supposed to be true
