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Hoosier
folklore via the Internet
The
history and mystery of Indiana
for
all to see on the Web. But is it accurate?
By
Jason Lourie
CommUnity
What
is folklore, anyway?
The
definition of folklore is very complicated, and there are
different publications and people whose opinions differ about
what folklore is.
According
to the American Heritage Dictionary, folklore is the “traditional
beliefs, practices, legends, and tales of a people passed
down orally.” Although folklore studies did not exist
until the early 19 th century, the practice of folklore began
many centuries ago.
According
to Encyclopedia Britannica, folklore is broken up into many
different categories known as genres. These genres
include fairy tales, songs, proverbs, ghost stories, legends
and rumors. Within each genre, there is an abundance
of stories and tales.
John
Johnson, associate professor of folklore at Indiana University
is unsure what folklore is. When asked the question,
“what is folklore?” he replied, “what is God?”
While
the definition of folklore may remain very complex, it continues
to be studied by folklore experts around the world.
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Southern
Indiana- peaceful, serene, haunted?
During
the day the calm nature of the small towns that comprise southern
Indiana is comforting to its citizens. The area is filled
with Hoosier pride and a rich history.
But
when the sun goes down, or when the Internet is being explored,
Indiana folklore comes alive.
“The Internet is allowing folklore to travel faster and more widespread
than ever,” said John Johnson, associate professor of folklore at
Indiana University.
With
a few clicks of a mouse, and a keen eye on the screen thousands
of folklore Web sites can be viewed by anyone sitting in front of
a computer.
This
new phenomenon is causing mixed views throughout the southern Indiana
folklore community, and scary ghost stories as well as Hoosier legends
can be accessed all over the Web.
The
Internet debate
The
Internet is making folklore easier than ever to access and learn.
By simply researching a database online, anybody can find
information about any type of folklore. Although this is
convenient and fast, there are some southern Indiana folklore experts
who feel that this Internet access is not necessarily a good thing.
“The
Internet is not policed like libraries,” said Johnson. “Anybody
can put anything online, and many times the information is false,
or over-exaggerated.”
For example, the term “Hoosier” has many different interpretations.
One theory is that it originated in colonial times when people would
ask a person knocking on their door, “who's there?” Another
theory is that the term originated in Indiana bars. By simply
researching the Yahoo Website for the definition of Hoosier, over
a thousand Websites appear.
Before
the Internet was invented none of these Sites existed, and Indianans
were unable to learn the definitions as quickly as they can today.
While the true origin of the word may never be revealed,
the Internet is able to post every single guess, whether it has
historical evidence or not.
The
Internet is also causing folklore to become mixed.
“Folklore,
ghost busting, and just plain creative stories are becoming blended,”
said Wanda Willis, southern Indiana folklore historian.
Willis,
who has written several books about Indiana folklore, notes that
this is a harmful thing from a folklore historian's standpoint.
By only reading stories on the Web, a person will believe
them without any factual evidence.
Although the Internet has its drawbacks, there are certain aspects
that make it beneficial to the spreading of folklore.
“The Internet is a valuable tool for research as long as you make
contact with real people and not just electronic words,” said Willis.
If
a source is accurate, the Web is able to provide tons of quality
information.
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| courtesy
photo |
| 'The
Internet is allowing folklore to travel faster and more widespread
than ever,' said John Johnson, associate professor of folklore
at Indiana University. |
It's
everywhere!
Because
of its unlimited size capacity, the Internet contains thousands
of Web sites about southern Indiana folklore. SouthernIn.com,
IndianaGhosts.Homestead.com,
and AmericanFolklore.net
are just a few of the Websites that contain good information.
These Web sites also provide contact information and are professional.
“I had no idea that the Internet had so much information about Indiana
folklore,” said Kevin Anderson, 20.
Anderson,
an Indiana native, was amazed to find out that a little Internet
research was able to provide tons of information.
He,
along with any other curious Hoosier, is able to search the Web
and discover quality information about Indiana folklore.
The
Internet works
Internet
research can be much more convenient that spending hours at a public
library.
Willis,
who is currently writing a book about southern Indiana ghosts, discovered
this during her writing. She successfully used the Internet
to research a spooky haunting in Gibson County.
“I found a reference to a haunting at Oakland City University, east
of Princeton,” said Willis. “A female ghost haunts the tower
of Cockram Hall.”
Willis
explained that the female committed suicide in the tower by hanging
herself and she has haunted the area ever since.
By
simply researching the Gibson County Website, information about
the female appeared.
“I found a story for Gibson County which would've taken me probably
days to research,” said Willis. “I was able to do it all
in just under three hours without leaving home.”
The
convenience and amount of information that the Internet provides
is very appealing to authors, historians, and folklore enthusiasts.
It saves time, and can be accessed from the comfort of one's
home.
Link
to top
True
or false?
Although
folk stories are posted all over the Internet, the validity and
accuracy of them may not be correct.
| 'People
who love a ghost story seem not to care about truth. They
just want to have the hackles raised on the back of their
necks.'
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| -
Wanda Willis, southern Indiana folklore historian |
“Misconceptions
are picked up from one web-site and copied to another,” said Willis.
“People who love a ghost story seem not to care about truth.
They just want to have the hackles raised on the back of their necks.
Being a folklore historian, I want to share the story, keep it alive
so to speak, but eliminate any misconceptions.”
The
importance of knowing whether a piece of folklore is true or false
depends on each individual's opinion. While validity is important
to some, others just want to hear a spooky story and be entertained.
Logging
off
The
Internet is changing the way folklore is being spread and learned.
The Web is more convenient and faster than other research
tools, Johnson warns, “let the buyer beware,” not all folklore is
accurate, or good for society.
Regardless,
Johnson admits, “no folklore stays the same.”
While
the Internet is the subject of conversation now, in the future,
Hoosier ghosts and folk stories may be appearing in other mediums,
reaching beyond a computer screen.
Link
to top
Related
Stories:
Related
Sites:
-
SouthernIn.com-
visit this site to find more Southern
Indiana ghost stories, stories on holiday tradition origination,
and interesting stories as to how Indiana counties received their
names.
- Indianaghosts.homestead.com-
visit this site to join the Ghost Trackers in their quest to find
and report all folklore and ghost stories of Northern Indiana,
Indianapolis, Lafayette, South Bend, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Bloomington,
Terre Haute, and Muncie.
- AmericanFolklore.net-
visit this site to get national folklore- includes tall tales,
historical folklore, spooky stories, weather lore, famous characters,
state and regional folklore.
Have
you visited folkllore sites? What do you think?
Visit
our forum to add your
questions
and comments
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