Date of Award

5-2024

Degree Type

Honors College Thesis

Academic Program

Library and Information Science BS

Department

Library and Information Science

First Advisor

Jeffery Hirschy, Ph.D.

Advisor Department

Library and Information Science

Abstract

The development of modern legend is widely researched, and there are many theories on the involvement of rumor and truth in the creation of folk stories. However, there are often few opportunities to look at the development of a modern legend in detail from beginning to end. The legend of Luther Musselwhite is unique in that it begins at a relatively fixed time, and the generations present during that time are still available to interview. This case study traces the development of this modern legend in Mississippi and analyzes the possible motivations for the spread and development of modern legends in the American South. The analysis concludes that modern legend reflects community and societal issues, and that the boundary between rumor and legend lies where the story began to be used for a specific purpose separate from rational warning.

Share

COinS