I listened to a very interesting podcast today, which was produced by Slate's Decoder Ring. The episode is entitled: "The Incunabula Papers", and it explores the origins of an urban legend/conspiracy theory pertaining to a region of New Jersey called Ong's Hat.
I don't want to give too much of the episode away, because I feel that you should really listen to it. It's an outstanding episode, and I was really impressed with its production quality. For the past few years, I've been intrigued by the exploration of urban legends/conspiracy theories. I feel that this genre of storytelling really lends itself well to the realm of audio. When done well, these stories can take the listener on a wild journey where they experience a heightened sense of fear, dread, and anxiety.
With that being said, I must admit that I see these types of stories as a double edged sword. While they can be entertaining, in today's social and media atmosphere, it can be quite difficult to differentiate between fact and fiction. So what is the responsibility of the storyteller? How do you intrigued your listener into listening to your story, without deceiving them on what is fact or not? This has been a concept that I've struggled with a lot recently. Maybe there should be some sort of announcement at the beginning of the episode informing the listener as to what they are listening to? Or maybe the format is the best way to address the issue. Documentaries may be the best way to showcase these types of stories.
Facts are facts, and the truth must always take precedent.
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