Question

Review Questions

Answer 1

1. The purpose of urban legends of today the same as that of folktales that have been passed down for generations because they both serves as a way by which we deal with thing we do not understand. Mythical creatures and urban legends derives from the same root that we, as species, tends to trying to find explanations when there are none, or the one presented are not in agreement with our beliefs.

2.  Superstitions help humans deal with the fact that so many things in life are outside of their control because they give basic tools and concrete way to explain events and facts that otherwise would be explained by saying that we do not have control over actions and people. This loss of control scares most people, so they decide to believe in superstitions has a way to not have to deal with the randomness of life.

3.  In a way yes, as they represents creatures we do not know about and we are curious towards. However, while mythological creatures do not have the support of scientists, cryptids are accepted in some environment and it is totally possible and plausible that there are some creatures on this earth that we do not nothing about yet.

4.  Lost cities of ancient myth still capture our interest because often they are associated with a fair and just society in which everything is fine. Moreover, the myth behind those cities talks about incredible richness waiting, and so many are pursuing quest not to seek justice but to seek greed. Still, there is always the component of wonder and curiosity that still motivates us.

5. Every area of the world has their own share of legends. Often they are built upon the culture that are telling them, but there are some cases in which common legends are share with all the globe, and those really are telling us that perhaps certain events are more close to history that we would think, like Troy.

Critical Thinking Questions
1. Google Earth and other programs control only a part of the Earth and cannot go under the sea or inside the forests, where most new biodiversity is discovered. Yes, we have increased our power to monitoring life on Earth but there are some zones like the Amazon that have some areas still not accessible to human or satellites.

2. These stories sometimes so valuable because they could offer some clues. Often, if a myth is spread enough around the globe, it means that there is a clue of truth above the myth, so Cryptozoologists could pick up those clues and find new creatures that we did not know before.

3. Because I think it is a mystery that, even if science has justified, continues to capture the imagination, which sometimes it is the only way by which an urban legend could survive. Often, scientific explanation are not easy to understand by non-scientist, and this too contributes to amplify the myth.

4. I would be torn. I would like to keep a secret as it could be  way to enjoy the society alone. At the same time, I would want to tell anyone, in order to maximize the benefit of such discovery. Ultimately, I think I would tell only a rather small amount of people that I trust, if not keeping the secret altogether, as a form of protection toward the society.

 5.  Because they can make people behave in ways that are antithetical towards what could be  responsible behavior. Pursuing the research of urban legend could be dangerous and many people maybe don’t perceive the danger they might do to themselves or other people as well.