Abstract

LOPES, Carlos Renato. Urban legends and the archive: a question of supplementarity. Trab. linguist. apl. [online]. 2010, vol.49, n.1, pp. 11-20. ISSN 0103-1813.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-18132010000100002.

This article discusses the way in which the so-called urban legends are inscribed in, and in the same process, transform an archive of narratives present in the social imaginary, in a relation of supplementarity. In particular, a group of narratives on the topic of needle contamination, such as they circulate in a virtual discussion forum, are examined as being part of a discursive practice whereby a certain knowledge about contagion risks in contemporary society is constructed and reenacted.

Keywords : urban legends; archive; contamination.