Common elements of black legends

The defining feature of a black legend is that it has been fabricated and propagated intentionally. Black legends also tend to share certain additional elements:

• Permanent decadence
• Degenerated or polluted version of something else.
• Accidentality of merit.
• Obligatory moral actions.
• Natural moral inferiority and irredeemable character.

Narrations of black legends tend to include: Strong pathos, combined with a narrative that is easy to follow and emotionally loaded, created by:

• Detailed, gruesome and morbid descriptions of torture and violence
• Sexual elements
• Ignorance