Urban legends and Rumors influencing Social Change
In order to provide reason as to why different cultures respond similarly to certain elements or information, sociologist havedetermined that legends, an rumors influence various cultures in similar ways.
Rumors
Rumors, in terms of sociology are defined as “a widely circulating piece of information that is not verified as being true or false”. Generally rumors develop as a way for individuals to preoccupy themselves with another individual or group of individuals who is of great interest to them. For example, in most cultures and countries the media plays a huge role in developing rumors to which people from these various countries are exposed to, and therefore these cultures develop a similar opinion of the people being exposed in the media.
Legends
Urban Legends are defined as “moralistic tales focusing on current concerns and fears of the city or suburb dweller”. Urban legends often develop as a way for cultures to warn individuals against engaging in risky behavior, or as a way to entertain and scare one another. Often times, similar urban legends exist within different cultures because each culture has adapted the tale to fit their conditions. Below is the information discovered through the “Urban Legends” project which the Social Change group conducted.
2) What role do you think the internet plays in spreading these urban legends?
-The internet allows for urban legends to spread worldwide, and allows people to adapt each urban legend to coincide with their culture. For instance, a legend may begin as a local story, concerned with elements and characteristics personal to the population within that specific area. However, publishing this story on the internet allows for individuals residing in completely different locations and operating under varying cultures to adapt these urban legends to make them relevant to their own culture. This also allows for various versions of the same story to be developed. For example, one legend may spark an idea for another legend concerned with something completely different, yet still related to the original urban legend
In order to provide reason as to why different cultures respond similarly to certain elements or information, sociologist havedetermined that legends, an rumors influence various cultures in similar ways.
Rumors
Rumors, in terms of sociology are defined as “a widely circulating piece of information that is not verified as being true or false”. Generally rumors develop as a way for individuals to preoccupy themselves with another individual or group of individuals who is of great interest to them. For example, in most cultures and countries the media plays a huge role in developing rumors to which people from these various countries are exposed to, and therefore these cultures develop a similar opinion of the people being exposed in the media.
Legends
Urban Legends are defined as “moralistic tales focusing on current concerns and fears of the city or suburb dweller”. Urban legends often develop as a way for cultures to warn individuals against engaging in risky behavior, or as a way to entertain and scare one another. Often times, similar urban legends exist within different cultures because each culture has adapted the tale to fit their conditions. Below is the information discovered through the “Urban Legends” project which the Social Change group conducted.
- What common elements do these Urban Legends have? Do your observations correspond with those of UrbanLegends.com?
2) What role do you think the internet plays in spreading these urban legends?
-The internet allows for urban legends to spread worldwide, and allows people to adapt each urban legend to coincide with their culture. For instance, a legend may begin as a local story, concerned with elements and characteristics personal to the population within that specific area. However, publishing this story on the internet allows for individuals residing in completely different locations and operating under varying cultures to adapt these urban legends to make them relevant to their own culture. This also allows for various versions of the same story to be developed. For example, one legend may spark an idea for another legend concerned with something completely different, yet still related to the original urban legend