Expert: Friday the 13th: Nothing to be Afraid of?
January 13, 2012
By: Karin Slyker
Call it what you want, friggatriskaidekaphobia or paraskevidekatriaphobia, both are
defined as the fear of Friday the 13th, but perhaps the only thing we may have to
fear is fear itself.
Pitch
Call it what you want, friggatriskaidekaphobia or paraskevidekatriaphobia, both are
defined as the fear of Friday the 13th, but perhaps the only thing we may have to fear is fear itself.
Expert
Rob Weiner, associate librarian, Texas Tech University Library, (806) 742-2238 ext.
282, or rob.weiner@ttu.edu.
Talking Points
- The superstition of Friday the 13th
- The Friday the 13th movie and television series
- Friday the 13th in popular culture
Quotes
- “I think the whole Friday the 13th thing gets blown out of proportion. It is like the 13th floor not existing in hotels and office buildings. One of those weird superstitions
where the no. 13 is supposedly cursed.”
- “The Friday the 13th movie franchise certainly helped perpetuate the notion, but it also brought about
one of the most popular Boogie-men in film history, Jason, through the course of 12
films. The franchise made millions and became part of the general popular culture
landscape with Jason being the subject of books, action figures, cartoons, fan films
and fiction and even mash-ups.”