Ghosts in Popular Culture and Legend

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

With entries that range from specific works to authors, folklore, and popular culture (including music, film, television, urban legend, and gaming), this book provides a single-volume resource on all things ghostly in the United States and in other countries. The concept of ghosts has been an ongoing and universal element in human culture as far back as recorded history can document. In more modern popular culture and entertainment, ghosts are a popular mainstayfrom A Christmas Carol and Casper the Friendly Ghost to The Amityville Horror, Ghostbusters, Poltergeist, The Sixth Sense, and Ghost Whisperer. This book comprehensively examines ghost and spirit phenomena in all its incarnations to provide readers with a holistic perspective on the subject. It presents insightful information about the contribution of a specific work or author to establish or further the evolution of ghost lore, rather than concentrating solely on the film, literature, music, or folklore itself. The book focuses on ghosts in western culture but also provides information about spirit phenomena and lore in international settings, as many of the trends in popular culture dealing with ghosts and spirits are informed by authors and filmmakers from Germany, Japan, Korea, and the United Kingdom. The writers and editors are experts and scholars in the field and enthusiastic fans of ghost lore, ghost films, ghost hunting, and urban legends, resulting in entries that are informative and engagingand make this the most complete and current resource on ghost and spirit lore available.

Reviews

Strong in its sampling of many different aspects of the spirit world, this resource can be used for readers' (or viewers') advisory and is valuable for those needing a current reference on ghosts. For those interested in the subject, this engaging reference will pique curiosity in ghosts and their haunts. * Library Journal *

Author Bio

June Michele Pulliam, PhD, is professor of English and gender studies at Louisiana State University. Anthony J. Fonseca, PhD, is library director at Elms College, Chicopee, MA.