What Happens Next? by Gail Arlene De Vos

In fact, the book comprises an ambitious survey of 'contemporary urban legends'. '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. Extended examples of the literature and references to contemporary legends Relevant, insightful comments from seasoned authors in the genre A comprehensive overview of recent available research A list of Internet sites that debunk or confirm urban legends In addition to revisiting some of the legends highlighted in her first book, de Vos shares new tales in circulation which she sees as a direct result of technological advancements. The author examines if the popularity of contemporary legends in the media has changed the form, role, and integrity of familiar legends. What Happens Next? Contemporary Urban Legends and Popular Culture traces the evolution of contemporary legends from the tradition of oral storytelling to the sharing of stories on the Internet and TV. What do ghost hunting, legend tripping, and legendary monsters have in common with email hoaxes, chain letters, and horror movies? In this follow-up to Libraries Unlimited's Tales, Rumors, and Gossip: Exploring Contemporary Folk Literature in Grades 7-12, author Gail de Vos revisits popular urban legends, and examines the impact of media-online, social, and broadcast-on their current iterations.

This fascinating book uncovers the history behind urban legends and explains how the contemporary iterations of familiar fictional tales provide a window into the modern concerns-and digital advancements-of our society.

What Happens Next? by Gail Arlene De Vos