URBAN LEGENDS

1. URBAN LEGENDS INVESTIGATING A MODERN FORM OF FOLKORE AS THE BASIS OF DRAMATIC COMMUNICATION

2. KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF URBAN LEGENDS • ORAL TRADITION—PASSED ON BY WORD OF MOUTH • TOLD AS IF TRUE • OFTEN INCLUDE SPECIFIC DETAILS OF TIME, PLACE, & PEOPLE • FREQUENTLY BIZARRE, SURPRISING, OR EVEN CONTAIN ELEMENTS OF HORROR OR THE SUPERNATURAL • MANY TEACH A LESSON OR MORAL • FOAF FACTOR: “A Friend of a friend…” OR “This really happened…” • MANY VARIATIONS • TODAY, INTERNET AND MEDIA SERVE AS CIRCULATION AND EVEN SOURCE OF URBAN LEGENDS

3. The Vanishing Hitch-Hiker • KNOWN IN BOTH THE U.S. AND ABROAD BY THE TURN OF 20TH THE CENTURY • FIRST “OFFICIAL” STUDY OF THE TALE IN THE U.S. WAS DONE IN THE EARLY 1940s • FOUR DISTINCT VARIATIONS WERE COLLECTED AT THAT TIME; NUMEROUS MORE EXIST TODAY

4. ASSIGNMENT: TABLEAUX • Tableaux: “living picture” • Definition: A form of theater in which actors are strategically posed, and often theatrically lit, to vividly portray an effective scene; the actors in the scene do not move or speak • Narrative Form: the structure from which the narrator conveys a story (see handout for types) • Decide upon 5 or 6 key moments of The Vanishing Hitch-hiker that will serve as the still images to effectively communicate your story • CONSIDER: • Sense of place—what is the setting? • Sense of time—when does the story take place? • Sense of mood and atmosphere—how do you want the audience to feel as they listen to the story?

5. ASSIGNMENT: TABLEAUX • BE BIGGER THAN LIFE! • CHOOSE YOUR SCENES CAREFULLY! • Remember basic elements of plot! You must present a complete story! • Include: Narrative Form • Placement of narrator—Timing? Shared? POV? • Enough details of gesture and facial expression to make characters and relationship clear! • Compositional elements: use of space and area • Design elements: sound and light to enhance?