Expert: Friday the 13th: Nothing to be Afraid of?

Pitch

Call it what you want, friggatriskaidekaphobia or paraskevidekatriaphobia, both are defined as the fear of Friday the 13^th, 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 13^th movie and television series
• Friday the 13^th in popular culture
  

Quotes

• “I think the whole Friday the 13^th thing gets blown out of proportion. It is like the 13^th floor not existing in hotels and office buildings. One of those weird superstitions where the no. 13 is supposedly cursed.”
• “The Friday the 13^th 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.”