Bigfoot CS

**Summary**

The legend of bigfoot goes farther back in time than any written history can date. Bigfoot has different adaptations in regard to different cultures and locations. For example, bigfoot is usually attributed to the western mountains of the North American region. In contrast, Algonquin, another rendition of bigfoot, is local to the north-central area of the continent. Some nations attribute bigfoot to having special powers. The Ojibiway people believed bigfoot would appear in times of danger, and others believed he would come as a warning to those who needed to change their ways. American sightings began during the late 1800s. Occasional footprints were found, and some photos and videos were even captured. The descriptions range all the way from an actual ape to a tall hairy human. The mystery continues with groups regularly searching the northern woods and whole organizations dedicated to proving the existence of the mythical creature.  One famous bigfoot encounter involved two men who were horseback riding in California in 1967. They caught a short video of a large hairy creature walking and glancing over its shoulder. The video’s authenticity remains a topic of debate.

**History**

The earliest renditions of bigfoot were attributed to sightings of the “Yeti” in the Himalayans in the 1950s. From there, the ancient Native American legend of “Sasquatch” resurfaced in the United States. The term bigfoot was born after a very large footprint was found in 1967 in Northern California. Many researchers called “cryptozoologists” have kept the mystery alive by doing extensive research on the creature. There are even scholars researching these legends in hopes of discovering a new species not yet known to science. There are also multiple television series dedicated to tracking down bigfoot that also keep the myth relevant in today’s times. One major research program came to light when Disney’s Animal Kingdom created the attraction titled “Expedition Everest” which featured the mystical yeti. The program was a collaboration with Disney and The Discovery Channel. They enlisted researchers to travel from Nepal all the way to China in search of a creature that aligned with bigfoot, and research other creatures that would have coexisted with the animal. They visited monasteries to see supposed relics of the creature and interviewed monks and villagers to hear bigfoot encounters and stories relating to the creature. \

**Legends**

The legend of bigfoot is mainly local to the Appalachian Mountain range area in the United States. There are dozens of encounters claiming to spot bigfoot. While researching different bigfoot sightings, one, in particular, stood out to me. This one stuck out to me because it seemed extremely hard to believe and so interesting if true. In 1924, Albert Otsman claims he was abducted by the bigfoot father and taken to meet the animal’s family. He says he was held captive by the family for over a week until he was able to escape when the father creature fell ill. His descriptions aligned with other bigfoot sightings. This encounter has been debated throughout the years, but if it is true, it is extremely fascinating. Another sighting that stuck out to me was the William Roe encounter in 1955. A man named William Roe claims to have seen a creature that was part human and part animal while he was hiking. Roe signed an affidavit in 1957 stating “that the creature was about 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall and covered in brown silver-tipped hair, with thick arms reaching down to its knees, broad feet and breasts” ( Prestor 2022). This sighting stood out to me because William Roe legally swore that he encountered bigfoot.

**Adaptations**

The legend of bigfoot is an extremely famous one. Because of this, there have been many adaptations in the media. From documentaries to horror movies to children’s movies, there is a bigfoot movie for everyone. One of the most famous adaptations of bigfoot in films was the movie, *The Abominable Snowman* created in the 1950s. This movie has become a classic horror movie throughout the years. Directed by Val Guest, the movie follows a scientist studying in the Himalayan mountains. The scientist meets up with and friend and together they go on a journey to find the beast. Because of the many different claimed sightings, there is much room for interpretation when it comes to the creature. This movie does a good job of depicting what the “yeti” or “bigfoot” could look like. Throughout the many years, and many different cultures, there have been numerous adaptations of bigfoot. Many were previously stated in my research. A few more include “Meh-Teh” in the Himalayans, “Yowie” in Australia, and “Mapinguari” in South America.

**Analysis**

The South American adaptation of bigfoot, the “Mapinguari” especially stood out to me. This creature is said to stand at least 7 ft tall when standing. It seems to be a giant bear with the face of a monkey. This legend is more of a mythical creature. It is often depicted as having a gaping mouth on its belly. It is said to have a horrid smell and long matted fur. Stories of encounters have been told by many, but there has been no actual luck in locating this creature. Although this creature is mainly attributed to folklore, scientists have seemed to find evidence connecting the legend to a prehistoric creature. I found this adaptation interesting because it shows how different legends are taken and adapted to different cultures. The Mapinguari is different from bigfoot in many ways, but there are also similarities.  It is fascinating to see how cultures twist legends to fit their own beliefs and folklore.

**Citations**

“10 Bigfoot Sightings That Made the News.” *Travel Channel*, https://www.travelchannel.com/interests/bigfoot/10-famous-bigfoot-sightings.

“The Abominable Snowman.” *IMDb*, IMDb.com, 19 Oct. 1957, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050095/.

Creative, Efelle. “‘Legend of Bigfoot’        .” *Washington State Military Department*, https://mil.wa.gov/the-legend-of-bigfoot.

Lamoureux, Aimee. “This Sloth Monster Is Said to Roam the Amazon Rainforest – Here's What the Evidence Says.” *All That's Interesting*, All That's Interesting, 30 Jan. 2019, https://allthatsinteresting.com/mapinguari.

“Lost Species Found.” *Lost Species Found*, https://www.rewild.org/news/yeti-and-bigfoot-are-they-real.

Wolchover, Natalie. “Why Do so Many Cultures Have a Version of Bigfoot?” *LiveScience*, Purch, 21 June 2012, https://www.livescience.com/34021-bigfoot-yeti-myth.html.