Date of Award
1-1-2019
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A. in Southern Studies
First Advisor
Joseph B. Atkins
Second Advisor
Nancy Dupont
School
University of Mississippi
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
Many people chose to brush off the stories and when asked about them they would skip around the story to talk about the history of a place. Those who embraced the stories were not only knowledgable about the stories but also the history. They tended to give both sides with equal enthusiasm and seriousness. Over the years Mississippians have learned about their neighbors through the stories that they told around the campfire or at sleepovers. These stories have been passed down from one generation to the next and have a way of not only identifying a place but also a tradition and a person. While some people choose to ignore ghost stories due to religion others find them fascinating and want to seek out paranormal activity. Why they do that though remains a mystery. The purpose of this thesis project was to see how ghost stories shaped the state of Mississippi and its people. Through research consisting of interviews and articles it was determined that the effects of the ghost stories were positive depending on location and people. Certain businesses thrived on the ghost stories as they increased tourism and revenue for the people living there. However people who lived in the towns where the stories were most popular didn’t seem interested in the stories.
Recommended Citation
Martinez, Ana Lauren, "How ghost stories shape the state of Mississippi and the people" (2019). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1773.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/1773