Skeptics and believers : an analysis of the power of local legend

Abstract

Employing many of the techniques of literary journalism, this creative project investigated the subject of paranormal activity, focusing on the subculture of those who believe in ghosts. Specifically, the skeptics and believers of the legend of the “Grey Lady Ghost” of Willard Library in Evansville, Indiana were used in a case-study approach to explore the topic in detail. The work of a group of paranormal investigators illustrated the motivations of such researchers and the equipment they use in their quests to document the unexplained. The research found that such legends, prevalent in many communities, can become a means of cultural identification.