Date of Award
12-2020
Degree Type
Creative Project
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
English
Committee Chair(s)
Lynne S. McNeill
Committee
Lynne S. McNeill
Committee
Jared S. Colton
Committee
Eric C. Morales
Abstract
This project dives into some of the darkest of online spaces, as I seek to uncover the legends, narratives, and beliefs that encourage and popularize culture surrounding self-harm. Building on the extensive research that has been conducted on folk antagonists born on the internet such as the Slenderman, I will discuss another character named Momo who, according to legend, lead their primarily young followers through a series of self-inflicted, harmful acts, each increasing in severity, with the final act ultimately being the taking of one’s life. Research will examine social media threads, YouTube videos, film/television, and fan fiction to unpack the "who, what, how" of the culture's primary participants, and what non-participants stand to gain from understanding its implications.
Recommended Citation
Price, Camille S., "“It’s a hoax!” A Practical Guide for Understanding and Surviving Weird Internet Phenomena" (2020). All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023. 1513.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/gradreports/1513
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