A communicational genre: rumors and urban legends

Authors

  • Jean-Bruno Renard Paul Valéry University/Montpelier III

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15448/1980-3729.2007.32.3421

Keywords:

Imaginary, Mythology, Urban legends

Abstract

In this article the author believes that remains necessary to analyze the rumor´s degree of actuality and to study the mechanisms of distortion of facts or factual information. For him, however, it is most important to understand how and why false news is spread and believed. Renard thinks that rumours and contemporary popular narratives are actually modern equivalents of ancient legends, all of them expressing social or symbolic thought.

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Author Biography

Jean-Bruno Renard, Paul Valéry University/Montpelier III

Jean-Bruno Renard, born in Paris in 1947, is Professor of Sociology at the Paul Valéry University (Montpellier III), member of the IRSA-CRI (Institute of Anthropology and Sociology Research) at LERSEM ( Laboratory of studies and research in sociology and ethnology of Montpellier). His work focuses on popular culture, fantastic beliefs, rumors and contemporary legends. He is the author of The Extraterrestrial.

References

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KLINTBERG, Bengt af. “Why are there so many modern legends about revenge?”. In.: SMITH, Paul (ed.). Perspectives on Contemporary Legend. Sheffield, CECTAL: University of Sheffield,1982.

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LÉVI-STRAUSS, Claude. Le Cru et le Cuit: Paris, Plon, 1964, et L’Origine des manières de table. Paris: Plon,1968.

RENARD, Jean-Bruno. Rumeurs et légendes urbaines. PUF, coll. “Que sais-je?” nº 3445. Paris, 1999 (3e éd. 2006).

ROUQUETTE, Michel-Louis. “Le syndrome de rumeur”. Communications, nº 52, 1990.

SIMPSON, Jacqueline. “Rationalized motifs in urban legends”. Folklore , 92, 1981.

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Published

2008-04-14

How to Cite

Renard, J.-B. (2008). A communicational genre: rumors and urban legends. Revista FAMECOS, 14(32), 97–104. https://doi.org/10.15448/1980-3729.2007.32.3421

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 32 (2007)

Section

Meaning Narratives

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