When we think about monsters, we all come up with one common thought. We think of a large, terrifying beast that most likely has sharp teeth, demonic eyes, and the strength of a thousand men. Frightening yes, but I think we actually prefer this image for a few reasons. The biggest one being that this deadly, mythical creature is just that: a myth. It is simply a character in a story and it will never actually harm us. I love this mindset as much as the next person but unfortunately, it is completely untrue. The fact of the matter is monsters are real; and to make matters worse, we all carry one in our minds. It is called ‘the self-image monster’. Many of you might be wondering how on earth our self-image could be a monster, after …show more content…
We are taught that the only way to get ahead in life is to mind those rules about looks, fashion, and diet and follow them exactly as instructed. In addition to that, we learn that there is no cost too high when it comes to seeking perfection, but few seem to realize just how damaging the consequences can be. When we start developing a desire to achieve this unattainable standard, the poor self-image monster gains the ability to manifest itself in our minds in many ways, and not just by making us feel bad about our figures. It can cause us to have depression, develop a tolerance of abusive relationships, commit to self-mutilation, and have many more harmful mental issues. To me this is what makes it a monster, something that is harmful and destructive and if we are not careful, we will unwillingly give it permission to take over and thrive, therefore, destroying us and even those around us completely. In the introduction of the book Monsters we learn that the etymology of the word monster means warning. (Blake and Cooper 3). As a society, we need to heed the warnings that we see manifested in our young people today. Television and movies are moving towards this somewhat, but the pendulum seems to swing from one extreme to the other. We need to build a healthy self-image in our world that says we are valuable. One that says we are worthy to exist and to be loved. A self image that says we are beautiful just the way we
Ever thought of where monsters come from? Do they just appear in our world, or are they procreated by fellow monsters, maybe, created by humans and their desires. During the renaissance and romantic era, a belief roamed around consisting of the idea that any child not resembling their original procreators was considered deformed, therefore also considered a “monster.” Many factors were considered to affect a child’s resemblance to their progenitors, such as women imagination, and desires, absolutely crossing of the role of paternity in the creation process. Although she succeeds in providing many good examples of women’s imagination being a primal factor in procreation, Marie-Helene Huet, in her essay, “ Introduction To Monstrous Imagination,”
Monsters are supposed to scare people and represent their fears. In most monster movies, the monster is a huge, ugly, non-human beast that terrorizes the city and destroys everything. But in the 1985 film The Stuff, the monster appears to be an innocuous dessert; what does that say about the fears of society? Jeffrey Jerome Cohen, an expert on monster culture, explains this and more in his article “Monster Culture (Seven Theses)” reprinted in the textbook Monsters in 2012. Cohen’s first thesis of monster culture, The Monster’s Body is a Cultural Body, argues that “The monster’s body quite literally incorporates fear, desire, anxiety, and fantasy, giving them life and an uncanny independence” (12). According to Cohen, the outward appearance of the monster reflects the fears and anxieties of the culture from which it originated. The first thesis says that the monster is not just a monster; it embodies the things the society wants to cast out as different from it, made into flesh.
A monster is a group that doesn’t obey common societal rules or regulations and is often viewed as an oddity of our society, according to Jeffrey Cohen’s Monster Culture. When the dominant part of our society trusts in an idea or holds something to be legitimate, the monsters dependably trust the inverse. Monster’s have the aspects to think outside the common societal norm. Monsters represent the ideas of our society that we are fearful to contemplate further into that it is something outside of our nature. Monsters cause us to contemplate a societal perspective that we wouldn't ordinarily think as our own. Monsters challenge our basic perspective and encourage us to think deeper into the common themes of our society. Finally, Monsters incite
What do we think of when we picture a monster? According to Merriam-Webster, a monster is defined as a creature that is typically large, ugly, and frightening. That is truly what we usually think of. It is safe to say that the creature in Frankenstein is what fits the description the best. His shape, form, and design are unnatural, which makes it frightening and scarring for an audience.
A monster can be characterized by an extreme deviation from the normal standards of society including an internal or external wickedness. In the case of Mary Shelley’s Creature, his appearance overwhelms those who lay eyes upon him. A mere glance can send a villager running for the hills. It was not until the Creature caught a glance of his own reflection that he understood why villagers were so afraid of him. The realization of his ghastly appearance began the monster’s journey into hopelessness. In Peter Brooks’ article he writes, “Self recognition as the ‘filthy type’ completes the mirror stage of the Monsters development.” (Brooks 377). Seeing oneself as ugly and slovenly can cast shadows on even the most compassionate of hearts.
Monsters are towering, fierce beings best known for causing nightmares and battling heroes. Tales are told of their devastating power, but also of their agonizing defeats. Monsters are symbols of the inherent evil of human nature and of the dark truths of the natural world. Monsters are also challenges, tasks a hero must complete. Sometimes monsters are the ultimate measure of a hero’s worth, other times just another step in a hero’s journey. In the book Bulfinch’s Mythology, Thomas Bulfinch writes that “Monsters, in the language of mythology, were beings of unnatural proportions or parts, usually regarded with terror, as possessing immense strength and ferocity, which they employed for the injury and annoyance of men.” Although independent of what they represent, Monsters come in numerous builds and multiple figures, like humans.
Throughout history we see monsters taking many different shapes and sizes. Whether it be a ghoul in the midst of a cold nightly stroll or a mass genocide, monsters are lurking everywhere and our perception of what monsters truly are, is enhancing their growth as a force with which to be reckoned. Fear of the unknown is seen throughout time, but as humans progress we are finding that things we once were afraid of we are less frightening than they once were. Monsters can evoke fear in their targeted victims rather than physically harm their victims. For instance, every year a new horror film is released with the next scary beast, but why do we call something a monster even if we know it is not real? Even certain people and creatures are classified as monsters, but are they really monsters, or do their actions speak of monstrous doings? In his article and book chapter Monsters and the Moral Imagination and chapter 5 of On Monsters, Stephen Asma suggests that monstrosity, as we know it, is on the rise as humans progress, and how we perceive monsters can often define monstrosities in itself, providing evidence as to why monster cultures are on the rise, and showing how human progress has evolved our perception of how we think on the topic that is monsters.
Jeffery Cohen's first thesis states “the monster's body is a cultural body”. Monsters give meaning to culture. A monsters characteristics come from a culture's most deep-seated fears and fantasies. Monsters are metaphors and pure representative allegories. What a society chooses to make monstrous says a lot about that society’s people. Monsters help us express and find our darkest places, deepest fears, or creepiest thoughts. Monsters that scare us,vampires, zombies, witches, help us cope with what we dread most in life. Fear of the monstrous has brought communities and cultures together. Society is made up of different beliefs, ideas, and cultural actions. Within society there are always outcasts, people that do not fit into the norm or do not follow the status quo. Those people that do not fit in become monsters that are feared almost unanimously by the people who stick to the status quo.
A common way to describe a modern day monster can be described within the soul and mind. Many people have a complex and confused mind. Stephen King states, “ I think that we’re all mentally ill; those of us outside asylums only hide it a little better- and maybe not all that much better, after all.” Monsters can overpower the mind. Many people struggle to listen to themselves, and they let their monstrous conscience take over their actions which will cause harm to them or people around them. It is common for people to battle monsters within their souls. Many people feel too weak to stand up and be free from
We live in a world inhabited by Monsters. Monsters have been identified and represented in a myriad of ways since the birth of time and humanity. The intrusion of uniformity as we define it, the monster. Monsters have been depicted to frighten and agitate, to destruct and clout arguments, and to shape societies. In the chapter “Monster Culture (Seven Theses)”, Jeffrey Jerome Cohen argues with logic and reasoning to the way monsters have been interpreted far and near time. In everything we create, monsters are the by-products of our technology, the products of the things unconsidered. By inspecting our monsters, we divulge the intricacies of our culture, past and
Monsters can come in various physical forms, but all monsters share the same evil mentality. A Monster is a being that harms and puts fear within people. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a prime example of how appearance does not determine whether a creature is a monster or not. In the story, Victor Frankenstein tries to change nature by creating a super human being. The being appears to be a monster. Victor becomes so obsessed with his creation and then rejects it. Victor is the real monster because of his desire for power, lack of respect for nature, and his stubbornness.
Frankenstein shows that what looks like a monster in appearance my not be and what looks normal on appearance may be a monster. While a scary ugly creature may look like a monster a true monster is formed from within and is scene through actions. Along with this knowledge is power and power has the ability to make monsters. The pursuit to know more is a never ending road that leads to lies, secretes, and monstrosity. “How much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow,” while knowledge is boundless and beautiful an excess of anything can create a monster.
It’s no secret that monsters have always been incredibly popular in fiction. The question one must then ask is “Why are monsters so scary”? The answer is more scientific than social. Monsters are terrifying because our brains tell us that they are. Evolution has hardwired our brains to ...
Susan Bordo states in her article “Never Just Pictures”, that children grow up knowing that they can never be thin enough. They are thought that being fat is the worst thing ever. The ones responsible for this are the media, celebrities, models, and fashion designers. All of these factors play a big role on the development of the standard and how people view themselves. Everyone at one dreams about being the best they can in any aspect. But to achieve that most believe that one of the big factors is outer beauty. So people look at celebrities and fashion designers, and believe that to be accepted they have to look like them. That’s when they take drastic measures to change their appearance because they’ve been influenced by the Medias idea of “beautiful.” This feeling mostly happens in women but in recent years the gender gap has become smaller. Now men also feel the need to look good because of the media. On the TV, instead of having infomercials ...
Criteria for being considered as a “monster” are quite broad, but they are entirely based on society’s assessment. Things perceived as monsters represent our fears and insecurities, and they are often judged as a monster based on those. The first criterion, however, is always our first impression of how a thing looks. We jump to conclusions without assessing the nature of the creature. The problems faced by both Gregor Samsa and Frankenstein’s creature all stem from how people react to their appearance. Despite their attempts to fit in with society, they could not overcome the prejudice that they faced because of their outward appearance.