Del mito de “la silla peligrosa” a la leyenda urbana de la aguja escondida y el contagio del SIDA

Abstract

Although urban legends are considered of modern folklore paradigms, its origins can be traced to different cultures and different times. This article begins with different versions of a rumor that was spread through the internet and warned about possible AIDS infections by hidden needles in movie theater seats; and concludes by showing that this is a common motif in world literature syllabus: the Greek mythology offered us the versions of Theseus and Pirithous trapped in the Hades or the Procrustean bed, and the arthurian literature the “Siége Perilous” of Galaz, for example. Furthermore, folklores as different as the Mayan of Yucatan or the Spanish of the village of Luciana (Ciudad Real) give due consideration to this topic.

Keywords

• urban legends
• internet
• AIDS’ folklore
• AIDS