Profs and Pints Online presents: “Slenderman and Other Internet Folklore,” with Sara Cleto and Brittany Warman, former instructors at The Ohio State University and co-founders of The Carterhaugh School of Folklore and the Fantastic.

It's easy to think of folklore as “Old Stuff,” as ancient rituals, half-forgotten tales, and traditions passed down for generations. That’s true, but it’s not the complete picture. Folklore is constantly being reshaped and created anew, and our contemporary world is full of amazing, and recently spawned folklore. A lot of folklore creation is taking place on the Internet, where new legends, customs, and folklore-based games are arising and evolving before our eyes.

Join Sara Cleto and Brittany Warman, who have earned themselves a large and devoted following among Profs and Pints audiences, for a look a fascinating look through the lens of folklorists at tales told online.

We'll discuss some of the most famous and unsettling folklore circulated online, much of which represents the product of collaborative storytelling. You’ll learn about Slenderman, the tall, thin creature who lurks on the edges of playgrounds, and other “creepypasta” legends like “The Expressionless” and the tale of “Candle Cove.”

You’ll also get acquainted with the chilling “elevator game,” which began in Japan and South Korea and eventually spread like wildfire on online forums, inspiring hundreds of daredevils through this world to attempt to access another one by engaging in a button-pushing ritual.

From the early days of the Internet, people have been getting emails containing a “cursed” image, with a warning that the image will drive them insane if they don’t immediately forward it to their friends. We’re not mean enough to say the same thing about our announcement of this Profs and Pints event, but you nonetheless might regret not spreading word of this event to friends, so you all can join in learning about folklore generation via the twisting threads of the World Wide Web. (This talk will remain available in recorded form.)

Profs & Pints Online: Slenderman and Other Internet Folklore