Class
Article
College
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Abstract
This paper examines the commemoration and folklorization of the events surrounding the Silver Bridge collapse which occurred in Point Pleasant, West Virginia in 1967 that have become associated with the legendary cryptid Mothman. On December 15, 1967, 46 people died as the bridge that connected Point Pleasant, West Virginia and Gallipolis, Ohio collapsed. During that time, the area around Point Pleasant was being inundated with sightings of a large bird-like creature that came to be known as 'Mothman.' An examination of the narratives surrounding Mothman and the Silver Bridge collapse, which include songs, literature, and film show an intriguing interplay between the outsider and insider perspective regarding the events, and raise important questions regarding the commodification of legends. I argue that while the commodification of Mothman has proved to be lucrative, there has been what I term a 'narrative hijacking' that has shifted focus from the collapse to the cryptid. Furthermore, the narrative forms that the creature has spawned have caused a rift between the emic and etic traditions surrounding the Silver Bridge collapse. Those with a strong attachment to the historical event focus in on the disaster, while those who see opportunities for monetary gain tend to focus on Mothman. Artistic forms such as a Mothman statue are used to boost tourism as opposed to murals that have been erected which center around the history of Point Pleasant that attempt to reclaim the narrative about the town. In constructing my argument, I utilize Americo Paredes' theory of 'folklorization' and John H. McDowell's theory of 'commemoration.' This research helps to show the complexities at work when legends become commodified and how local communities become disenfranchised in the process.
Start Date
4-8-2020 1:00 PM
End Date
4-8-2020 2:00 PM
Narrative Hijacking: Mothman and the Silver Bridge Collapse
This paper examines the commemoration and folklorization of the events surrounding the Silver Bridge collapse which occurred in Point Pleasant, West Virginia in 1967 that have become associated with the legendary cryptid Mothman. On December 15, 1967, 46 people died as the bridge that connected Point Pleasant, West Virginia and Gallipolis, Ohio collapsed. During that time, the area around Point Pleasant was being inundated with sightings of a large bird-like creature that came to be known as 'Mothman.' An examination of the narratives surrounding Mothman and the Silver Bridge collapse, which include songs, literature, and film show an intriguing interplay between the outsider and insider perspective regarding the events, and raise important questions regarding the commodification of legends. I argue that while the commodification of Mothman has proved to be lucrative, there has been what I term a 'narrative hijacking' that has shifted focus from the collapse to the cryptid. Furthermore, the narrative forms that the creature has spawned have caused a rift between the emic and etic traditions surrounding the Silver Bridge collapse. Those with a strong attachment to the historical event focus in on the disaster, while those who see opportunities for monetary gain tend to focus on Mothman. Artistic forms such as a Mothman statue are used to boost tourism as opposed to murals that have been erected which center around the history of Point Pleasant that attempt to reclaim the narrative about the town. In constructing my argument, I utilize Americo Paredes' theory of 'folklorization' and John H. McDowell's theory of 'commemoration.' This research helps to show the complexities at work when legends become commodified and how local communities become disenfranchised in the process.