Ghost hunting events and storytelling.

Ironside, Rachael J.

Abstract

Ghost hunting events are a popular leisure activity providing visitors with an immersive dark experience, connecting them with the dark heritage and supernatural legends of a place. This research note aims to conceptualize the role of storytelling in the promotion, production, and participatory aspects of ghost hunting events. In doing so, the article argues that ghost hunting events draw upon coproductive and experiential forms of storytelling, and proposes a cyclical model to illustrate an ongoing, iterative process of narrative construction. As this research note suggests, preexisting narratives framed by the dark history and supernatural legends of a place help to frame promotional discourse and the production of events. However, extraordinary personal experiences, mediumistic intuition, and the collective interpretation of unusual activity shape and transform existing narratives. As such, this research note concludes that ghost hunting events are shaped by, and shape, storytelling through interactive and interpretative processes.

Citation

IRONSIDE, R.J. 2024. Ghost hunting events and storytelling. Event management [online], 28(4): festivals and storytelling: creating experiences through stories, places, and spaces, pages 649-654. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3727/152599524X17077053867629

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 31, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Feb 26, 2024
• Publication Date: May 24, 2024
• Deposit Date: May 27, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: May 27, 2024
• Journal: Event management
• Print ISSN: 1525-9951
• Electronic ISSN: 1943-4308
• Publisher: Cognizant Communication Corporation
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 649-654
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3727/152599524X17077053867629
• Keywords: Coproduction; Dark tourism; Event; Experiential; Ghost hunting; Storytelling
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2348740