“Slenderman and Other Internet Folklore”

Folklore may seem like a dusty relic of the Middle Ages, but it constantly renews itself with each generation. The internet has enabled a new wave of folklore across different cultures and locations, from now-famous legends like Slenderman to “cursed” chain emails. To discuss this phenomenon, Profs and Pints will host Sara Cleto and Brittany Warman, who both earned Ph.D.s at The Ohio State University and are the co-founders of the Carterhaugh School of Folklore and the Fantastic, an online school that offers lectures and instruction on folklore and legends. Cleto and Warman have a devoted following at Profs and Pints’ bar events, having previously given lectures on the women of the King Arthur mythos, summer folklore, and many more topics. They will delve into modern folklore expressions, including the “Elevator Game,” “creepypasta” stories, and other lore that has spread across internet forums, Reddit, and Facebook. Viewers are encouraged to have their own at-home refreshments during the two-hour talk, which will be recorded and available online if you can’t make it to the live event. The talk begins at 7 p.m. on Sept. 22. Registration is available at crowdcast.io. $12. —Tristan Jung