Hey there, I hope you have a great day and I want you to write about a 10-12 page research essay. Also, you can use up to 3 pictures. I will expect you to send me a draft or the unfinished work first

Tsfamaryam 8

Student’s Name: Matewos Tsfamaryam

Professor’s Name: Ryan Demoss

Course: English 102

Date: May 28, 2023

The Interconnection of Urban Legends Through Worldwide Cultures

Since a long time ago, contemporary folklore has developed and spread throughout many different societies and civilizations. Urban legends stories “The Contaminated Halloween Candy” and “The Myth of the Organ Thieves” are two different urban legends, although they have similarities that make them worthy of study in comprehending urban legends' appealing nature and pervasiveness. Both stories appeal to deeply ingrained fears and worries shared by various people. While the story of Contaminated Halloween Candy preys on parents' concerns about their children's safety during a customarily fun and harmless holiday, The Myth of the Organ Thieves exploits the dread of being targeted by enigmatic criminals that harvest organs for illegal purposes. When people stumble upon these stories, they are intriguing and unforgettable because they feed on their deepest anxieties. Insight into human psychology, society's phobias, and how urban legends endure and change through time will be achieved by looking at their psychological, historical, and sociological aspects.

Understanding the appealing nature and persistence of the Myth of the Organ Thieves and the urban legend of the Contaminated Halloween Candy requires knowledge of their historical elements. The reality-based worries about the trafficking of organs and medical ethics are the origins of the Myth of Organ Thieves. Scheper-Hughes in her article explains that this myth first appeared in the 1960s and 1970s when widespread urban tales about the illegal removal of organs started circulating. These myths played on anxieties over the dark side of healthcare institutions and the possibility of bodily autonomy being violated.

Historical precedents can be found for the urban tale of Contaminated Halloween Candy. According to the Debies-Carl article “If You Should Go at Midnight:Legends and Legend Tripping in America.” published in University Press of Mississippi. His reports of Contaminated Halloween Candy and poisoning cases caused national concern in the 1970s and 1980s. Although these allegations mainly included isolated events, media attention and parental worries reinforced the story. They pushed it to become widely known that children's safety is a worry throughout Halloween because harmful items such as razor blades and needles were found in candy (See Figure 1). Urban legends are created and spread due to actual events and societal fears, as seen by the historical background of these tales.

Moreover, urban legends' attraction can be interpreted in light of its psychological aspects. The Myth of the Organ Thieves and the Tale of the Contaminated Halloween Candy appeal to psychologically resonant worries and anxieties in people. The Myth of the Organ Thieves preys on people's anxiety at being the target of enigmatic criminals who take organs for sale. The fear stems from a fundamental need to defend one's body and preserve physical autonomy. The story instills a sense of mistrust, vulnerability, and increased personal safety.

Similarly, the myth about Contaminated Halloween Candy preys on parents' worries about the security and welfare of their kids. It stirs up anxieties about hurting loved ones and appeals to the innate desire to defend one's family. The story emphasizes children's fragility and the necessity for ongoing vigilance while instilling fears about concealed dangers that may be present in familiar environments. These psychological aspects of urban tales show how storytelling may arouse solid emotions and appeal to our fundamental fears and anxieties.

Furthermore, analyzing their social aspects can give insight into urban legends' persistence and cultural importance. The Myth of the Organ Thieves and the Contaminated Halloween Candy incident are examples of more considerable social worries and concerns. The Myth of the Organ Thieves first appeared during civil turmoil and institutional distrust. It expresses concerns about potential threats inside our communities, and the danger thought to come from outside sources. This urban legend is an excellent example of how the social environment affects the creation and dissemination of urban legends and how common concerns and distrust influence stories.

Sociological implications can also be drawn from the legend of Contaminated Halloween Candy. It reflects social concerns about parental safety, children's safety, and the media's impact on public opinion. Ohlheiser claims this myth became well-known amid the "stranger danger" period when sensationalized media reports heightened parents' concern over strangers harming their children. The sociological aspects of urban legends shed light on the interactions among cultural anxieties, societal norms, and media narratives that influence and sustain these stories.

In addition to all of these aspects, the urban legend of the Contaminated Halloween Candy and The Myth of the Organ Thieves both include recurring themes and motifs that help explain their ongoing significance. Concerns about one's safety and the welfare of loved ones are played upon in both legends. They appeal to shared apprehensions about trust, vulnerability, and the societal hazards that are deemed to exist. These legends serve as a powerful reminder of the value of storytelling and how word-of-mouth, media, and oral tradition spread stories.

Additionally, both stories include the betrayal of trust and cultural conventions. On the one hand, The Myth of the Organ Thieves casts doubt on people's trust in doctors. According to Mandell, the legend of contaminated Halloween candy casts doubts on people's faith in the social side of activities like trick-or-treating. These recurring themes and motifs show how urban legends continue to resonate and have the power to mirror and amplify society's worries and concerns.

Urban legends, particularly the tale of contaminated Halloween candy and the Myth of the Organ Thieves have historical, psychological, and social elements that may be examined to learn more about their appeal and persistence. In addition to reflecting more extensive historical and cultural settings, these stories often delve into deep-rooted fears and concerns. Examining common themes and motifs highlights urban legends' persistent relevance and capacity to capture and spread societal anxieties.

Overall, urban legends are transmitted and evolve throughout all civilization as a result of historical, psychological, and social causes, and the universal themes and motifs that connect these stories across cultures are highlighted by shared themes and motifs. We may learn about the generality of human beings' fears, ambitions, and goals by realizing how urban tales are connected. Urban legends will endure as our globally interconnected society develops, bridging cultural gaps and offering a window into the human race's collective imagination.

(Figure:1) Herbert, Geoff. “Check Halloween Candy: More Reports of Tampered Treats.” Syracuse, 1 Nov. 2018, www.syracuse.com/state/2018/11/halloween_candy_tampered_needles_rocks.html.

Works Cited

Debies-Carl , Jeffrey S. “If You Should Go at Midnight:Legends and Legend Tripping in America.” University Press of Mississippi, Apr. 2023, www.upress.state.ms.us/Books/I/If-You-Should-Go-at-Midnight.

Herbert, Geoff. “Check Halloween Candy: More Reports of Tampered Treats.” Syracuse, 1 Nov. 2018, www.syracuse.com/state/2018/11/halloween_candy_tampered_needles_rocks.html.

Mandell, Nina. “The Myth of the Poisoned Halloween Candy: Here’s How Often Kids Are Actually Injured from Their Trick-or-Treat Stash.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 29 Oct. 2021, www.usatoday.com/story/news/2021/10/29/halloween-candy-poison-razors-safe-eat-joel-best/6193600001/?gnt-cfr=1.

Ohlheiser, Abby. “Analysis | THC, Cyanide and Razor Blades: How Sketchy Urban Myths Taught Parents to Fear Halloween Candy.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 24 Oct. 2019, www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/10/23/thc-cyanide-razor-blades-how-sketchy-urban-myths-taught-parents-fear-halloween-candy/.

Scheper-Hughes, Nancy.”Organ Stealing: Fact, Fantasy, Conspiracy, or Urban Legend?.” Berkeley Digital Library SunSITE, The Library, University of California, Berkeley, 2019, sunsite.berkeley.edu/.