Jan Harold Brunvand (born March 23, 1933) is an American retired folklorist , researcher, writer, public speaker, and professor emeritus of English at the University of Utah .
80-448: Brunvand is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: Jan Harold Brunvand (born 1933), American folklorist Olav Brunvand (1912–1988), Norwegian newspaper editor and politician Per Brunvand (1937–2015), Norwegian newspaper editor, son of Olav [REDACTED] Surname list This page lists people with the surname Brunvand . If an internal link intending to refer to
160-398: A 2003 article, "Nowadays it would be naive to ask for mere press releases and print articles when most people turn to websites and on-line databases for information." He recognized that urban legend reference sites, like Snopes.com provide readers with far more timely examples and current information than he could keep up with in his books. The Study of American Folklore. An Introduction
240-516: A Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism. While at Michigan State, he attended a Reserve Officers' Training Corps program and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant upon graduation. Brunvand went on to earn a Master of Arts degree in English from the same university in 1957. He briefly served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps at Fort Monmouth and was discharged with the rank of 1st Lieutenant. While attending Michigan State, Brunvand met Richard Dorson ,
320-617: A Guggenheim Fellowship in the Humanities (Folklore and Popular Culture) that same year. Throughout the next decade, Brunvand focused his research on Romanian folklore, with a particular interest in Romanian house decoration. He returned to Romania in 1973-74 and again in 1981, receiving grants from the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) to continue his studies. His research would later be published in
400-478: A disconnect with his students and their views toward folklore. "They always seemed to think that folklore belonged to somebody else, usually in the past, that was something quaint and outdated." He began asking his students to think about and discuss stories from their own lives. These stories helped form the basis of a collection which Brunvand later included in several popular books on the topic of urban legends. In 1981, Brunvand's first book devoted to urban legends
480-524: A folklorist and professor, who became a mentor. Brunvand took an undergraduate American Folklore course Dorson offered in the fall quarter of 1954 and, in subsequent semesters, completed two of Dorson's graduate courses in folklore as a special enrollee. The work Brunvand and other classmates did for Dorson's classes included "preparing a large and well organized personal collection of folklore garnered from oral tradition and furnished with informant data and background comments." These papers would later serve as
560-404: A long list of notable academics and alumni, spanning the fields of scholarship covered by the university. The university is home to five Nobel Prize winners and is institutionally tied to some of the most prestigious prizes in the world. The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded in the university's atrium between 1947 and 1989, thus making it the only university to host a Nobel Prize ceremony. Since 2003,
640-491: A moral." Though criticized for the "popular" rather than "academic" orientation of his books, The Vanishing Hitchhiker and others, Brunvand felt that it was a "natural and worthwhile part of his job as a folklorist to communicate the results of his research to the public." For his lifetime dedication to the field of folklore, which included radio and television appearances, a syndicated newspaper column, and over 100 publications (articles, books, notes and reviews), Brunvand
720-464: A more public forum. I believe that the public and media image of what a folklorist does is in fact part of what we should be doing, whether we were trained specifically for it or not, whether we work in academe or not, and whether we like it or not." Brunvand and his books became so popular, that, when Richard Wolkomir dubbed him "Mr. Urban Legend" in an article for the Smithsonian , the title
800-525: A paper on Norwegian-American folklore in the archives of Indiana University and one about the Norwegian folk hero Askeladden . In 1957, Brunvand returned to the United States as a graduate student at Indiana University , Bloomington, Indiana. He switched majors, from English to folklore, and took a series of classes offered through the university's summer institute. He worked as an archivist in
880-600: A phenomenon like the ethnic joke, examples of which are told by target groups, or is the urban legend essentially a mainstream occurrence? I don't think the final word has been written yet on the genre, but Jan Brunvand has made admirable strides toward that end." The Mexican Pet: "New" Urban Legends is Brunvand's third book in a series of books about urban legends meant to appeal to a general audience. This time, Brunvand includes stories collected from colleagues, students, professional newscasters and appeals through his own publications, lectures and media appearances. He organized
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#1732793536050960-475: A single volume collection titled Casa Frumoasa: The House Beautiful in Rural Romania, published by East European Monographs in 2003. In 1968, The Study of American Folklore: An Introduction was published by W.W. Norton and Company. Brunvand received an Honorable Mention for this book in a 1969 Chicago Folklore Prize competition. The Chicago Folklore Prize is "supported by an endowment established by
1040-406: A society which placed increasing emphasis on ensuring that all its citizens enjoy a life of dignity and security. Education, health services and public administration were among those fields that recruited personnel from the university's graduates. Research changed qualitatively around the turn of the century as new methods, scientific theories and forms of practice changed the nature of research. It
1120-473: A specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name (s) to the link. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brunvand&oldid=1080401034 " Categories : Surnames Norwegian-language surnames Hidden categories: Articles with short description Short description is different from Wikidata All set index articles Jan Harold Brunvand Brunvand
1200-489: A story they heard. They forget details and fill in the gaps by inventing what they are missing to make sense of the story. Though criticized for the popular orientation of his books, Brunvand was dedicated to publicizing the field of folklore, exploring the roots of the stories, where possible, and, in some cases debunking them. "Folklorists fill different educational roles," Brunvand told members of The Missouri Folklore Society in 2003, "sometimes in classrooms, but often in
1280-676: A voluntary sum of 40 kr (roughly US$ 5 ) is donated to SAIH (Studentenes og Akademikernes Internasjonale Hjelpefond). In 2023, Shanghai Jiao Tong University 's Academic Ranking of World Universities ranked UiO 73rd worldwide and the best in Norway, while the 2024 Times Higher Education World University Rankings ranked UiO 127th and the 2024 rankings of the QS World University Rankings ranked UiO 117th worldwide. The 2022 Webometrics Ranking of World Universities ranked UiO 94th worldwide. The 2022 rankings of
1360-605: A while, Brunvand's hobbies and academic interests intersect, notably with an article in The American Fly Fisher debunking a fake quotation by Thoreau . He writes a series of columns on Seniors Skiing.com. Brunvand was a guest on National Public Radio's All Things Considered in September 1999. He spoke to Noah Adams about his book Too Good to be True: The Colossal Book of Urban Legends . His Encyclopedia of Urban Legends , illustrated by Randy Hickman,
1440-638: Is a public research university located in Oslo , Norway . It is the oldest university in Norway and consistently considered the country's leading university, one of the highest ranked universities in the Nordic countries and one of world's hundred highest ranked universities. Originally named the Royal Frederick University, the university was established in 1811 as the de facto Norwegian continuation of Denmark-Norway 's common university,
1520-630: Is a book intended for students of folklore with a particular emphasis on American Folklore as transmitted in the English language. For the purposes of this book, Brunvand defines folklore as "those materials in culture that circulate traditionally among members of any group in different versions, whether in oral form or by means of customary example." The book is divided into three main categories: verbal (dialect and speech habits, proverbs, riddles, tales, rhymes, folk-songs, ballads), partly verbal (superstitions, customs, dances, plays), and non-verbal (gestures, music, handcrafts, folk architecture, food). Within
1600-520: Is a book intended to introduce the idea of urban legends to the general public. Included in the book are such chilling and humorous stories as "The Vanishing Hitchhiker," "The Economical Car," "The Ghost Airliner," The Girl with the Beehive Hairdo," "The Solid Cement Cadillac," and "The Killer in the Back Seat." Brunvand's approach, according to reviewer Janet L. Langlois, "sensitizes
1680-432: Is best known for popularizing the concept of the urban legend , a form of modern folklore or story telling. Urban legends are "too good to be true" stories that travel by word of mouth, by print, or by the internet and are attributed to an FOAF: friend of a friend. "Urban legends," Brunvand says, "have a persistent hold on the imagination because they have an element of suspense or humor, they are plausible and they have
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#17327935360501760-728: Is considered to be "the legend scholar with the greatest influence on twentieth-century media." Brunvand was born on March 23, 1933, in Cadillac, Michigan, to Norwegian immigrants Harold N. Brunvand and Ruth Brunvand. He and his two siblings, Tor and Richard, were brought up in Lansing, Michigan . Brunvand graduated from J. W. Sexton High School in Lansing in 1951. From high school, Brunvand attended Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan , where, in 1955, he earned
1840-621: Is located in the centre of Oslo; it is currently occupied by the Faculty of Law . Most of the university's other faculties are located at the newer Blindern campus in the suburban West End . The Faculty of Medicine is split between several university hospitals in the Oslo area. The university also includes some formally independent, affiliated institutes such as the Centre for International Climate and Environmental Research (CICERO), NKVTS and
1920-621: The Abel Prize is awarded in the university's atrium. Some of the notable academics of the university are: The seal of the University of Oslo features Apollo with the Lyre , and dates from 1835. The seal has been redesigned several times, most recently in 2009. Like all public institutions of higher education in Norway, the university does not charge tuition fees. However, a small fee of 600 kr (roughly US$ 70 ) per term goes to
2000-548: The Center for World University Rankings (CWUR), which "publishes the only global university ranking that measures the quality of education and training of students as well as the prestige of the faculty members and the quality of their research without relying on surveys and university data submissions", ranked UiO 99th worldwide. The University of Oslo administers the Henrik Steffens Professorship at
2080-596: The Faculty of Law and most of the other faculties have been transferred to the Blindern campus in the suburban West End , erected in the 1930s. The Faculty of Medicine is split between several university hospitals in the Oslo area. The Faculty of Theology sponsors 8 research groups in the following fields: Centres of Excellence: The Faculty of Humanities is the University of Oslo's largest faculty, and has approximately 8000 students and 917 employees. The University of Oslo has several units which are not part of one of
2160-458: The University of Copenhagen , with which it shares many traditions. It was named for King Frederick VI of Denmark and Norway, and received its current name in 1939. The university was commonly nicknamed "The Royal Frederick's" ( Det Kgl. Frederiks ) before the name change, and informally also referred to simply as Universitetet ( lit. ' the university ' ). The university was
2240-611: The University of Utah , Salt Lake City, Utah, where he remained a professor until his retirement in 1996. By 1967, Brunvand was a member of the Rocky Mountain Modern Language Association . He had also served as Book Review Editor for the Journal of American Folklore, which he resigned after receiving a Fulbright Scholarship research grant in 1970 to study folklore in Romania. He also won
2320-528: The 1970s and 1980s. The strong rise in student numbers during the 1990s was attributed partly to the poor labour market. The highest position at the university is Professor, i.e. "full Professor." In Norway, the title "Professor," which is protected by law, is only used for full professors. Before 1990, all professors were appointed for life to their chairs by the King-in-Council , i.e. by the King upon
2400-714: The American Folklore Society in 1974 and was elected president of the organization in 1985. From 1977 to 1980, Brunvand served as editor of the Journal of American Folklore, with the goal of making the journal more readable and useful to its major audience, American folklorists. He widened the scope of the journal by including articles written by those outside folklore, but whose work was "relevant to that being done by professional folklorists." He wanted to emphasize folklore and literature, folklore and history, folklife, festival and modern folklore. In 1976, Brunvand's book Folklore: A Study and Research Guide
2480-704: The Associate Professor level; an associate professor may apply for promotion to full professor if he or she holds the necessary competence. Additionally, there are temporary, qualifying positions such as stipendiat (Research Fellow) and postdoktor (Postdoctoral Fellow). A small number of employees with few or no teaching obligations hold the special research career pathway ranks researcher , senior researcher and research professor , which correspond to assistant professor, associate professor and professor, respectively. Several other less common academic positions also exist. Historically, only professors had
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2560-472: The Blindern campus in particular. The faculties situated in central Oslo—Law and Medicine—experienced only a doubling in student enrollment during the 1960s, while the number of students in the humanities and social sciences tripled. By 1968, revolutionary political ideas had taken root in earnest among university students. The "Student Uprising" became a turning point in the history of universities throughout
2640-751: The Brunvand text seems to confirm that introducing folklore by way of genres remains an effective and, for many, a preferred teaching tool even if it does not reflect the most current theoretical perspectives." American Folklore: An Encyclopedia is an illustrated volume that contains within its pages more than 500 articles covering American and Canadian folklore and folklife. Subject areas include holidays, festivals, rituals to crafts, music, dance and occupations. The book provides short bibliographies and cross-references for further research. University of Oslo The University of Oslo ( Norwegian : Universitetet i Oslo ; Latin : Universitas Osloensis )
2720-644: The Faculties of Dentistry, Educational Sciences, Humanities, Law, Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Medicine, Social Sciences and Theology. The university's old campus, strongly influenced by Prussian architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel 's neoclassical style, is located in the centre of Oslo near the National Theatre , the Royal Palace and the Parliament . The old campus was then occupied by
2800-592: The Frisch Centre. The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded in the university's Atrium , from 1947 to 1989 and in 2020. Since 2003, the Abel Prize is awarded in the Atrium. Five researchers affiliated with the university have been Nobel laureates and three have been Turing Award winners. In 1811, a decision was made to establish the first university in the Dano-Norwegian Union, after an agreement
2880-530: The Indiana University Folklore Archives from September 1958 to June 1960. During this time, he met Archer Taylor, who, as a visiting professor, taught a course on proverbs and riddles. This course, according to Brunvand, "changed his life." Proverbs became one of Brunvand's favorite topics to study and discuss. In 1961, Brunvand's A Dictionary of Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases from Books Published by Indiana Authors Before 1890
2960-632: The International Folklore Association and is awarded annually by the University of Chicago for an important contribution to the study of folklore." Brunvand's A Guide for Collectors of Folklore in Utah was published by Utah Publications in the American West in 1971. In the years 1973 to 1976, Brunvand, again, took on the role of associate editor for the Journal of American Folklore. He was named Folklore Fellow by
3040-449: The Way of a Good Story! . He made several appearances on Late Night with David Letterman and, in 1987, began a twice-weekly syndicated newspaper column called Urban Legends. He participated in countless radio talk shows and dozens of press interviews, educating people about this pass-along folk narrative that, typically involves people misunderstanding or making false assumptions about
3120-527: The advice of the Cabinet . The position below Professor was historically Docent (translated as Reader in a UK context and Professor in an American context). In 1985, all Docents became full professors. The most common positions below that are førsteamanuensis (translated as Associate Professor), and amanuensis or universitetslektor (translated as Lecturer or Assistant Professor). At the University of Oslo, almost all new permanent positions are announced at
3200-482: The all-purpose intelligentsia know that folklore is just as much fun as interplanetary travel and not nearly as expensive." To this, Brunvand countered: "I really won't think I have arrived until they refer to Carl Sagan as 'The Jan Brunvand of astronomy.'" Patricia T. O'Connor, writer for The New York Times , described The Choking Doberman and Other "New" Urban Legends as "a collection of 'urban legends,' fictitious narratives that are passed from person to person in
3280-731: The author of The Vanishing Hitchhiker. Includes more recent urban legends such as the Senile President, the Adulterous Evangelist, and the Smelly Gym Sock in the Big Mac. 233 pages hardbound. $ 34.95 (Harvard 1988: 229)." Brunvand retired from the University of Utah in 1996, but continued doing some research and writing as professor emeritus of English. He frequently writes for publications dedicated to skiing, vintage automobiles and fly fishing. Once in
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3360-425: The beginnings of a large archive of folklore housed at Indiana University. On June 10, 1956, Brunvand married Judith Darlene Ast, also a student at Michigan State University. Four days later, the couple left for Oslo, Norway, where Brunvand attended the University of Oslo on a Fulbright scholarship . He spent the year studying folklore. He started publishing in academic publications during this period, notably
3440-437: The book for its failure to make explicit the background theory used to evaluate the works and classification system included in the book, contradictions in detail and narrative, its authoritarian tone, and its charismatic or arbitrary approach to knowledge with serious ethnocentric biases. Peter Tokofsky, in his article Introducing Folklore: A Review Essay , suggested that "the longevity and, presumably, continuing strong sales of
3520-482: The book in thematic categories: animal stories, automobiles, horrors, contaminations, sex and scandal, crime, and products, professionals and personalities. There are new versions of earlier legends, newly obtained pieces and leftovers from his files. Among the stories included in the book are: "The Mexican Pet," "Cabbage Patch Kids' death certificates," "The Green Stamps." Many of the stories have been disseminated through print and broadcast media. Brunvand wrote in
3600-457: The depth necessary for people actively researching urban legends. Janet L. Langlois, for example, wondered what criteria Brunvand used in selecting stories for the book, as well as what made the legends American, urban and modern. Reviewer Gary Alan Fine wrote, "The paperback edition makes an excellent supplementary reading for introductory folklore students. It's all good fun, and Brunvand, folklore's Carl Sagan , should thrive and prosper, letting
3680-449: The faculties, including some interdisciplinary research centres, research centres abroad, the scientific museums, and libraries: Affiliated institutes are independent institutes that have a formal cooperation agreement with and close ties to the University of Oslo. Most of them were established by the University of Oslo, but have been organised as entities formally separate from the university for various reasons. The University of Oslo has
3760-746: The guise of true stories and sometimes persist until they reach the status of folklore." These stories are bizarre but believable and often attributed to a friend of a friend (FOAF). Like in his book, The Vanishing Hitchhiker , Brunvand provided the reader with a survey of urban legends, stories such as "The Choking Doberman," "The Poison Dress," and "The Death of Little Mikey." Each story, with its accompanying variations, are categorized into themes and motifs: victimized women and children, food and beverage contamination, fearful encounters, sexual embarrassment, and humorous retribution. Though Robert D. Bethke called The Choking Doberman "the kind of work one immediately wants to share with friends," he also criticized
3840-485: The injury wasn't anything a cold towel and a cold beer wouldn't fix"). "Day 10," Jim Reilly wrote in an article describing the competition," was the last we heard from Jan. We assume he made it home, but maybe he...vanished." His favorite hobbies are fly fishing and skiing. He and his wife, Judith, continue to reside in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Vanishing Hitchhiker: American Urban Legends and Their Meanings
3920-403: The legends themselves, historical evidence of how the legend may have originated (often with European or East Asian roots), and an explanation of what the legend might mean in an urban or modern context. Although recognized by critics for its usefulness as an introductory volume and reference point for expanding the field of folklore, reviewers cautioned that The Vanishing Hitchhiker lacked
4000-414: The major changes in the university came during the 1870s when a greater emphasis was placed upon research, the management of the university became more professional, academic subjects were reformed, and the forms of teaching evolved. Classical education came under increasing pressure. When the union with Sweden was dissolved in 1905, the university became important for producing highly educated experts in
4080-411: The millennium, the number of students enrolled at the university rose exponentially. In 1992, UiO implemented a restriction on admissions for all of its faculties for the first time. A large part of the explanation for the high student numbers was thought to be found in the poor job market. In 1996, there were 38,265 students enrolled at UiO. This level was approximately 75 per cent above the average during
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#17327935360504160-428: The next two decades, Brunvand added to the collection with "new" urban legends: The Choking Doberman and Other "New" Urban Legends , The Big Book of Urban Legends (which was formatted as a comic book), The Mexican Pet: More "New" Urban Legends , Curses! Broiled Again! , The Baby Train: And Other Lusty Urban Legends , Too Good to be True: The Colossal Book of Urban Legends , and The Truth Never Stands in
4240-507: The only university in Norway until the University of Bergen was founded in 1946. It has approximately 27,700 students and employs around 6,000 people. Its faculties include ( Lutheran ) theology (with the Lutheran Church of Norway having been Norway's state church since 1536), law, medicine, humanities , mathematics, natural sciences , social sciences , dentistry , and education. The university's original neoclassical campus
4320-722: The period after World War I, research among Norwegian researchers resulted in two Nobel prizes. The Nobel prize in Economics was awarded to Ragnar Frisch . The Nobel prize in Chemistry was awarded to Odd Hassel . In the field of linguistics, several Norwegian researchers distinguished themselves internationally. Increased research activity during the first half of the 1900s was part of an international development that also included Norway. Student enrollment doubled between 1911 and 1940, and students were recruited from increasingly broad geographical, gender and social bases. The working class
4400-848: The reader in a highly readable and effective way to both the dynamic narrative process in an urban context and the discipline of folklore and folklife studies." Some of these stories previously appeared in an article Brunvand wrote for the June 1980 issue of Psychology Today . As with Heard About the Solid Cement Cadillac or the Nude in the Camper?, Brunvand categorizes the different legends included in The Vanishing Hitchhiker into classic urban legend types. For each legend type, Brunvand offers samples that show variations on
4480-489: The right to vote and be represented in the governing bodies of the university. Originally, all professors were automatically members of the Collegium Academicum , the highest governing body of the university, but soon afterwards its membership was limited. Docents were granted the right to vote and be represented in 1939 and other academics and students in 1955. In 1975, the technical-administrative support staff
4560-483: The structure, morphology and typology of the folktale. Brunvand taught at the University of Idaho , Moscow, Idaho, from 1961 to 1965. He served as associate editor of the Journal of American Folklore from 1963 to 1967. In 1965, Brunvand taught for a year at Southern Illinois University , Edwardsville, Illinois, focusing on folktales, folklore and literature, before moving with his wife and four children to
4640-413: The student welfare organisation Foundation for Student Life in Oslo , to subsidise kindergartens, health services, housing and cultural initiatives, the weekly newspaper Universitas and the radio station Radio Nova . In addition the students are charged a copy and paper fee of 200 kr (roughly US$ 25 ) for full-time students and 100 kr (roughly US$ 12 ) for part-time students. Lastly
4720-426: The text, Brunvand provided for the reader information on data collecting methods, a general assessment of folklore material, bibliographic essays, and extensive lists of books and articles. To some, like reviewer Elliott Oring , the classification system used by Brunvand made The Study of American Folklore more of an "index" of American folklore rather than a "study" of it. Reviewer Kenneth Laine Ketner criticized
4800-400: The university as the 1960s. The decade represented an unparalleled period of growth. From 1960 to 1970, student enrollment tripled, rising from 5,600 to 16,800. This tremendous influx would have been enough in itself to transform the way the university was perceived, from both the inside and the outside. As it turned out, the changes were even more comprehensive. The university campus at Blindern
4880-667: The university closed and the students arrested. A number of students and teachers were detained by the Germans nearly until the end of the war. After WWII, public authorities made loans available to students whose families were unable to provide financial assistance; the State Educational Loan Fund for Young Students was established in 1947. As a result, the post-war years saw a record increase in student numbers. Many of these students had been unable to begin their studies or had seen their studies interrupted because of
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#17327935360504960-413: The war; they could now enroll. For the 1945 autumn semester, 5951 students registered at the university. This represented the highest student enrollment at UiO up to that time. In 1947, the number had risen to more than 6000 students. This represented a 50 per cent increase in the number of students compared to the number enrolled before the war. In no prior period had one decade brought so many changes for
5040-543: The western world. Often, the outlook for students in the 1960s was bleak. More than ever before came from non-academic backgrounds and had few role models. The "University of the Masses" was unable to lift all its students to the "lofty, elite positions" enjoyed by prior generations of academics. Many students dissociated themselves, therefore, from the so-called "establishment" and from the way it functioned. Many were impatient and wanted to use their knowledge to change society. It
5120-453: The work for the "rhetorical devises" Brunvand used "apparently to suit the popular market." Critics also pointed out that Brunvand's urban legend books raise a question about race and stereotypes that, to some, are left unaddressed. Bethke wrote "We are told that the stories are projective of American popular culture, but precisely what racial segment of the culture participates in the currency of such stories? Specifically, we are dealing with
5200-479: Was also granted the right to vote and be represented in certain bodies, as the last group. Formerly by law, and now by tradition, the highest positions, such as Rector or Dean, are only held by professors. They are elected by the academic community (academics and students) and by the technical-administrative support staff, but the votes of the academics carry significantly more weight. The university's research structure consists of eight schools, or "faculties." They are
5280-630: Was decided that teachers should arrive at their posts as highly qualified academics and continue academic research alongside their role as teachers. Scientific research—whether to launch or test out new theories, to innovate or to pave the way for discoveries across a wide range of disciplines—became part of the increased expectations placed on the university. Developments in society created a need for more and more specialised and practical knowledge, not merely competence in theology or law, for example. The university strove to meet these expectations through increasing academic specialisation. The position of rector
5360-556: Was established by Parliament in 1905 following the Dissolution of the Union. Waldemar Christofer Brøgger was Professor of Geology and became the university's first rector. Brøgger vacillated between a certain pessimism and a powerfully energetic attitude regarding how to procure finances for research and fulfill his more general funding objectives. With the establishment of the national research council after World War II, Brøgger's vision
5440-406: Was expanded, and the number of academic and administrative employees rose. The number of academic positions doubled, from fewer than 500 to around 1,200. The increase in the number of students and staff transformed traditional forms of work and organisation. The expansion of the Blindern complex allowed the accommodation of 7,000 students. The explosive rise in student numbers during the 1960s impacted
5520-482: Was largely fulfilled; research received funding independent of teaching. This coincided with a massive rise in student enrollment during the 1960s, which again made it difficult to balance research with the demands for teaching. In the years leading up to 1940, research was more strongly linked with the growth of the nation, with progress and self-assertion; research was also seen to contribute to Norway's commitment to international academic and cultural development. During
5600-640: Was later added to book jackets and other publicity. In an article for Western Folklore , Brunvand mentioned a notice he found on a computer newsgroup dated 1 March 1989, presumably an insider's joke: "I think Jan Harold Brunvand, alleged author of The Choking Doberman , is an urban legend. Has anybody ever actually seen this guy?" A Harvard Lampoon publication, Mediagate, parodied urban legend books with this fake publisher's notice: "Bookman Publishing's Catalog for Fall '87: The Embarrassing Fart and More New Urban Legends by Jan Harold Brunvand. Yet another set of rumors, tall tales, and fourth-hand hearsay compiled by
5680-582: Was obliged to enter into a legislative union with Sweden based on the outcome of the War of 1814. Norway retained its own constitution and independent state institutions, although royal power and foreign affairs were shared with Sweden. At a time when Norwegians feared political domination by the Swedes, the new university became a key institution that contributed to Norwegian political and cultural independence. The main initial function of The Royal Frederick University
5760-617: Was published as Number 15 of the Indiana University's Folklore Series. Of the book, Brunvand says two things: "I've become better at choosing titles since then," and "The price was $ 3.00, and it was worth every penny of it. In 1961, Brunvand also received a Ph.D. in folklore from Indiana University. His dissertation, The Taming of the Shrew: A Comparative Study of Oral and Literary Versions (Aarne-Thompson type 901), later published by Routledge in 1991, highlighted his interest in
5840-946: Was published by ABC-CLIO in 2001. He gave the keynote address at the 2003 meeting of the Missouri Folklore Society. He was a speaker at the World Skeptics Congress in Italy in 2004. His is a fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry , formerly known as the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal. In 2003 Brunvand was awarded CSICOP's Distinguished Skeptic Award. Brunvand's book Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid: The Book of Scary Urban Legends
5920-505: Was published by St. Martin's Press. The book, intended for undergraduate folklore students, was a research tool with a bibliographic guide and tips for researching term papers. Brunvand edited two other textbooks: Readings in American Folklore , published by W.W. Norton and Company in 1979, American Folklore: An Encyclopedia , published by Garland in 1996. While teaching folklore at the University of Utah, Brunvand noticed
6000-756: Was published in 2004 by W.W. Norton and Company. In 2003, Brunvand entered the Trout Bum Tournament sponsored by Fly Rod and Reel. He participated in the Solo-Angler category. Known during the tournament as the Vanishing Fly Fisher (a nod to his book, The Vanishing Hitchhiker ), Brunvand spent 10 days alone fishing some of his favorite spots in Utah: Mammoth Creek , Gooseberry Creek, Price River , and Antimony River (where he "fell twice and bashed his knee, though
6080-602: Was published. The Vanishing Hitchhiker: American Urban Legends and Their Meanings helped to popularize the topic for a student audience. Urban legends, Brunvand explains, are "kissing cousins of myths, fairy tales and rumors. Legends differ from rumors because the legends are stories, with a plot. And unlike myths and fairy tales, they are supposed to be current and true, events rooted in everyday reality that at least could happen." Urban legends reflect modern-day societal concerns, hopes and fears, but are "weird whoppers we tell one another, believing them to be factual." Over
6160-493: Was reached with King Frederik VI, who had earlier believed that such an institution might encourage political separatist tendencies. In 1813, The Royal Frederik's University was founded in Christiania (later renamed Oslo), a small city at that time. Circumstances then changed dramatically one year into the commencement of the university, as Norway proclaimed independence. However, independence was somewhat restricted, as Norway
6240-537: Was still largely left behind, however. During the German occupation, which lasted from 1940 to 1945, the university rector, Didrik Arup Seip , was imprisoned. The university was then placed under the management of Adolf Hoel , a NS (Norwegian Nazi Party) appointee. A number of students participated in the Norwegian resistance movement ; after fire was set in the university auditorium, Reich Commissar Terboven ordered
6320-417: Was thought that academics should stand in solidarity with the underprivileged. The most fundamental change in the student population was the increasing proportion of female students. Throughout the 1970s, the number of women increased until it made up the majority of students. At the same time, the university became a centre for the organised women's liberation movement , which emerged in the 1970s. Up until
6400-469: Was to educate a new class of upper-echelon civil servants, as well as parliamentary representatives and government ministers. The university also became the centre for a survey of the country—a survey of culture, language, history and folk traditions. The staff of the university strove to undertake a wide range of tasks necessary for developing a modern society. Throughout the 1800s, the university's academic disciplines gradually became more specialised. One of
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