Monsters in Literature - Patrons

Why are monsters so popular? And why do they keep showing up?

We see monsters in all sorts of places: the sexy danger of vampires, frightening swarm of zombies, beasts and demons to overcome in digital and table-top gaming, or adorable instructive puppets on Sesame Street. The monster is a cultural staple, but can take on different forms and roles in different eras and contexts. There is an inherent tension in how we respond to monsters, as they are both frightening and appealing, as they act as a representation of our fears and our desires.

This talk will go over the core concepts of Monster Theory, discussing why monsters are such a cultural constant. We will talk about how monsters change in meaning across our lives, as the monster has a different appeal to different ages and audiences. We will look at a few iconic monster-characters, from Frankenstein’s creation to the Cookie Monster, and talk about why monsters matter so much.

FEE: Free for Patrons

SCHEDULE

Thursday,  October 31, 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

FORMAT

This is an online event. A link will be emailed to participants one day before the event.

PRESENTER

Dr. Christina Fawcett is a monster theorist, and cultural studies and media scholar at the University of Winnipeg. Her Ph.D. from the University of Glasgow focused on the moral structures and cultural cues of the monsters in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. A specialist in speculative and genre fiction, she studies participatory media and film and the themes of trauma, justice and monstrosity.