Both Sides of Our Mouths: Contemporary Legends As a Means of Dissent in a Time of Global Modernism
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University of Kentucky UKnowledge Theses and Dissertations--Communication Communication 2013 Both Sides of Our Mouths: Contemporary Legends as a Means of Dissent in a Time of Global Modernism Gerald D. Abbott Jr. University of Kentucky, [email protected] Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Abbott, Gerald D. Jr., "Both Sides of Our Mouths: Contemporary Legends as a Means of Dissent in a Time of Global Modernism" (2013). Theses and Dissertations--Communication. 11. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/comm_etds/11 This Doctoral Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Communication at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations--Communication by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STUDENT AGREEMENT: I represent that my thesis or dissertation and abstract are my original work. Proper attribution has been given to all outside sources. I understand that I am solely responsible for obtaining any needed copyright permissions. I have obtained and attached hereto needed written permission statements(s) from the owner(s) of each third-party copyrighted matter to be included in my work, allowing electronic distribution (if such use is not permitted by the fair use doctrine). I hereby grant to The University of Kentucky and its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible my work in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I agree that the document mentioned above may be made available immediately for worldwide access unless a preapproved embargo applies. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of my work. I understand that I am free to register the copyright to my work. REVIEW, APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE The document mentioned above has been reviewed and accepted by the student’s advisor, on behalf of the advisory committee, and by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), on behalf of the program; we verify that this is the final, approved version of the student’s dissertation including all changes required by the advisory committee. The undersigned agree to abide by the statements above. Gerald D. Abbott Jr., Student Dr. Alan DeSantis, Major Professor Dr. Timothy Sellnow, Director of Graduate Studies BOTH SIDES OF OUR MOUTHS: CONTEMPORARY LEGENDS AS A MEANS OF DISSENT IN A TIME OF GLOBAL MODERNISM DISSERTATION A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the deGree of Doctor of Philosophy in the ColleGe of Communication and Information at the University of Kentucky By Gerald Dean Abbott Jr. LexinGton, Kentucky Director: Dr. Alan DeSantis, Professor of Communication LexinGton, Kentucky 2013 CopyriGht © Gerald Dean Abbott Jr. 2013 ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION BOTH SIDES OF OUR MOUTHS: CONTEMPORARY LEGENDS AS A MEANS OF DISSENT IN A TIME OF GLOBAL MODERNISM The leGend is a permanent fixture of human societies. ThouGh the leGends themselves are permanent, their functions and meaninGs can fluctuate as the context in which they are told and retold shifts. As societies move throuGh history, certain authoritative institutions create narratives that direct those societies and frame debates within them. Issues neGlected by these institutions yet experienced by members of the population can be said to be unconstructed. Social problems that have achieved some level of construction inevitably provoke those who dissent from those constructions. In these situations, members of a society look for alternative means for talkinG about these problems. Often they turn to the contemporary leGend for this purpose. This study reviews a sample of the most popular leGends in the early part of 2012 to determine the ways members of American society were dealinG with the unconstructed social problems of that time. KEYWORDS: Contemporary LeGend, Unconstructed Social Problems, Folklore, Globalism, Modernism G.Dean Abbott _______________________________________________ Student’s Signature July 12,2013 _______________________________________________ Date 2 BOTH SIDES OF OUR MOUTHS: CONTEMPORARY LEGENDS AS A MEANS DISSENT IN A TIME OF GLOBAL MODERNISM By Dean Abbott Alan DeSantis ____________________________________________ Director of Dissertation Timothy Sellnow ___________________________________________ Director of Graduate Studies July 12, 2013 ___________________________________________ Date 3 For those who have carried me here: Mom and Dad Rebecca Daisy and Lucy TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter One Introduction……………………………………………………………………… 1 Literature Review……………………………………………………………… 6 Theory………………………………………………………………………………. 17 Method……………………………………………………………………………… 19 Central Claims and Summary of FindinGs……………………………. 22 Chapter Two Introduction…………………………………………………………………….... 24 Sub-Group One………………………………………………………………….. 25 Sub-Group Two…………………………………………………………………. 30 Sub-Group Three……………………………………………………………….. 37 Sub-Group Four…………………………………………………………………. 39 Analysis of Themes…………………………………………………………….. 45 Chapter Three Introduction………………………………………………………………………. 54 Legend Texts……………………………………………………………………… 54 Analysis of Themes…………………………………………………………….. 62 Chapter Four Introduction………………………………………………………...…………….. 69 Legend Texts……………………………………………………………………… 70 Analysis of Themes…………………………………………………………….. 81 Chapter Five Introduction………………………………………………………………………. 88 LeGend Texts……………………………………………………………………… 88 Analysis of Themes……………………………………………………………...96 Chapter Six Introduction………………………………………………………………...……..99 Legend Texts………………………………………………………………………99 Analysis of Themes……………………………………………………………. 107 Chapter Seven Introduction……………………………………………………………………... 111 LeGend Texts…………………………………………………………………….. 111 Analysis of Themes……………………………………...……………………. 122 iii Chapter Eight Introduction………………………………………………………………….... 129 LeGend Texts…………………………………………………………………... 129 Analysis of Themes………………………………………………………….. 139 Chapter Nine Introduction …………………………………………………………...………. 143 Legend Texts…………………………………………………………………… 143 Analysis of Themes………………………………………………………..… 146 Chapter Ten Introduction…………………………………………………………..………… 148 Analysis of Supra-Themes……………………………..………………….. 152 Limitations and SuGGestions for Further Study………………..… 166 References …………………………………………………………………………..…….. 170 Vita……………………………………………………………………………………….…….176 iv Chapter One Introduction Everyone has heard them, those tales that get passed around, often presented as true. Their plots are a little too neat; their elements a little too perfectly dramatic or humorous to have the feel of real life. They appear in conversation with family and friends, in popular culture and, increasingly, on the Internet. Most people in American culture are familiar with at least those stories that have been around long enough to become “classics” of the genre. Consider the example of “The Hook” : A teenage boy drove his date to a dark and deserted Lovers' Lane for a make-out session. After turning on the radio for mood music, he leaned over and began kissing the girl. A short while later, the music suddenly stopped and an announcer's voice came on, warning in an urgent tone that a convicted murderer had just escaped from the state insane asylum — which happened to be located not far from Lovers' Lane — and that anyone who noticed a strange man lurking about with a hook in place of his right hand should immediately report his whereabouts to the police. The girl became frightened and asked to be taken home. The boy, feeling bold, locked all the doors instead and, assuring his date they would be safe, attempted to kiss her again. She became frantic and pushed him away, insisting that they leave. Relenting, the boy peevishly jerked the car into gear and spun its wheels as he pulled out of the parking space. 1 When they arrived at the girl's house she got out of the car, and, reaching to close the door, began to scream uncontrollably. The boy ran to her side to see what was wrong and there, dangling from the door handle, was a bloody hook (Emery, n.d.). Not all these tales contain an element of terror: for example, “Biscuit for Brains” is a humorous favorite. A few years back my uncle swore that this story happened to someone in his church... There was a sweet older lady who would often do grocery shopping for the infirm and elderly in her church. One hot, summer day a lady asked her to pick up a few things and bring them by her house in a dangerous part of Baltimore City. The sweet old lady was wary but felt that she couldn't say no, even though she was terrified of driving in the part of the city that often had shoot-outs and other drug violence. Anyway, the woman went on her way, picked up the groceries and proceeded to the lady's house. As she entered the lady's neighborhood she noticed young hoodlums gathering on every street corner. Although she had no air conditioning in the car, she rolled the windows up tightly (as a safety precaution) and suffered in the 90 plus degree heat. She drove ahead until suddenly she heard a loud "POP!" and felt a jolt to the back of her head. She reached to feel the back of her head and came back with a wet oozing mess that she was sure was part of her brain! 2 Knowing that she had been shot, the woman turned around and raced to a local hospital. Somehow she made it to the emergency room and had the strength to walk right in. She told the attendant that she had been shot. Immediately