Date of Award
5-1-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A. in Southern Studies
First Advisor
Shiraz Ahmed
Second Advisor
Andy Harper
Third Advisor
Annemerie Anderson
School
University of Mississippi
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
This thesis is a documentary exploration of paranormal tourism in the French Quarter neighborhood of New Orleans. As of completing this project, paranormal tourism is relatively new to the city, starting in earnest in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This niche industry has woven itself into the larger New Orleans tourism industry and drastically changed the landscape and popular identity of the French Quarter. The photos give a personal perspective of how the industry manifested within the city.
The throughline of this project is a feedback loop I identified- a cycle of influences that has ultimately made the French Quarter what it is today. History shapes folklore, folklore influences pop culture, and all three contribute to the development of paranormal tourism. In turn, tourism can influence pop culture and folklore. In extreme cases, it can affect how we understand history. Each element has the ability to affect another.
Recommended Citation
Ricketts, Sela, "Open For Victims, Sorry We're Dead" (2026). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 8868.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/8868