Author Archives: Madison Palmer

Internet Legend

AGE: 20

Date of performance: 04/04/2025

Language: English

Nationality: American

Occupation: Student 

Primary Language: English 

Title- Chain messages 

Context- A shares that in middle school, there was a period where a mass text would be circulated throughout the school with a message along the lines of “send to x amount of people or something will happen”. A recalls the first time he experienced this—he was genuinely scared of the consequence if he didn’t send it to the correct amount of people. He still is apart of some text chains, but now isn’t afraid of them. 

Analysis-  Legends are a part of the narrative genre of folklore—stories that are located throughout the world with unknown truth. The mass text chain A shares is an internet legend, circulating throughout different regions that carried an uncertainty of its validity when it was trending. 

Latin Legend

AGE: 20

Date of performance: 04/04/2025

Language: English

Nationality: American

Occupation: Student 

Primary Language: English 

Title- the Chupacabra

Context- The Chupacabra is a legend prominent in countries such as Mexico and Latin America.  A shares that his mom, who is from Mexico City, initially told him that they weren’t real, but started to tell him that they were real as he grew older and got into trouble to scare him. 

Analysis- The chupacabra is an animal feared for its blood-sucking abilities—a legend popular in Latin America and Mexico. Legends are a subgroup of the narrative genre in the folk world—they are stories that may or may not be true located throughout various regions. A felt the uncertainty of the chupacabra’s existence since his mom first believed they weren’t real, then started to tell him they existed when she needed him to behave. 

La Diablesse

AGE: 20

Date of performance: 04/03/2025

Language: English

Nationality: American

Occupation: Student 

Primary Language: English 

Title- La Diablesse 

Context- C shares a Trinidadian legend that he was told by his grandmother growing up—the legend of La Diablesse. C says that La Diablesse is a beautiful woman that has one cow hoof hiding underneath her dress. She aims to lure men, representing temptation and danger within Caribbean culture. 

Analysis- Legends are a sub-genre of the narrative genre of folklore, holding some element of truth that is not confirmed or denied. La Diablesse is a legend because she represents a part of the culture in Trinidad as they are very spiritually motivated. The legend of La Diablesse reminds me of Mexico’s La Llorona, both being legendary, beautiful women that seek attention while representing elements of their cultures. This is a telling sign of folklore—variations of similar genres amongst different regions and cultures.

Imugi Legend

AGE: 45

Date of performance: 04/01/2025

Language: English

Nationality: South Korean 

Occupation: Teacher 

Primary Language: Korean/English 

Title- Imugi  

Context- J tells me about the legend of “imugi”, which were believed to be giant serpents that want to be dragons but have to live to be 1,000 years before becoming one. In order to become a true dragon, they must be 1,000 years old and obtain a pearl of power. J says that imugi can either be nice, or come off as mean due to frustration of not being fulfilled. 

Analysis- Legends are a part of the narrative genre of folklore that may or may not be true. The legend of imugi in Korean culture can be equated with legends such as Loch Ness monster or seeing aliens—the likelihood of the stories being true is low, but people continue to believe and carry the legend on due to its cultural significance. Dragons are seen as wise beings in East Asian culture, and imugis are a level inferior to dragons. Koreans also use imugi to reference someone who hasn’t reached their full potential yet.

Dangun Myth

AGE: 45

Date of performance: 04/01/2025

Language: English

Nationality: South Korean 

Occupation: Teacher 

Primary Language: Korean/English 

Title- Dangun Myth 

Context- J shares with me the “Dangun Myth”, a Korean myth that explains the origin of the founder of the first Korean kingdom, Dangun. J says that it is believed Dangun’s father descended from heaven while his mother was a bear that succeeded in a challenge to stay in a cave for 100 days to become human. 

Analysis- Within folklore, there are 3 narrative genres that share similar characteristics with one another. One of which are myths—sacred truths that are miracles if they touch reality. Myths typically describe life before or after the real world, just as the Dangun Myth does. The Dangun Myth describes the origin of Korea’s ‘official’ leader while having fantastical elements such as a bear-woman and god of heaven. The Dangun Myth exhibits characteristics of a typical folk myth.