As long as humans have been living in groups, gathering around the campfire after dark to stay safe and warm, there has been folklore. Originating as warning stories or as a method to teach important moral lessons, they have evolved throughout the millennia into a form of spooky entertainment: urban legends.

This class will explore both historical folklore and modern urban legends, attempting to discover the origins of these fun and sometimes creepy stories, including what they try to teach us about the world and each other. Each week we will discuss "types" of folktales or legends from different regions around the world, and in our final class, students will have an opportunity to present their research on an urban legend of their choosing. Information about the project will be given in week 4.

The format of the class will be as follows:
Week 1: Urban Legends & the Tales we Tell
Week 2: Bloodsucking Creatures & Bipedal Apes
Week 3: Human/Mystery Hybrids
Week 4: Cursed Humans & Corrupted Hearts
Week 5: Faceless Strangers & Women in White
Week 6: Cursed Objects
Week 7: Dolls
Week 8: Student Presentations and Review

The class will seek to approach these stories with open and curious minds, to consider and debate the meaning behind the stories we tell throughout the world, and how they unite us as a global community. After all, no matter where or when you're from... we're all afraid of the unknown!

The class is listed as 45 minutes, but may run up to a full hour depending on discussion.