Monster Culture Analysis

To start off, Jeffrey Jerome Cohen who wrote Monster Culture is Professor of English and Director of the Medieval and Early Modern Studies Institute at the George Washington University in Washington, DC. He is known for researching strange mysterious things that connect to an imaginative mind. He finds interested in monsters, foreigners, queers, inhuman forces. In Jeffrey Cohen’s essay Monster Culture Cohen discusses and effectively covers important reasons on how monsters connect with the cultures from which they rise from. I believe that Cohen’s theories are valid and that monsters are a good window into a certain culture.

In this reading, Cohen proposes a sketch of a new modus legendi, meaning, “a method of reading cultures from the monsters they engender.”(Monsters page 11) He also says that he’s going to break some rules from recent cultural studies. Now, Cohen offers seven theses towards understanding cultures through monsters by their character, appearance and representation, such as: Vampires, the Alien, Frankenstein, Werewolves, Grendel, the Boogey man, and etc.

When analyzed online many of the definitions you will find for the word monster include: a strange or horrible imaginary creature, one who deviates from normal or acceptable behavior, or an animal of strange and/or terrifying shape. (Merriam Webster) When observing the “Monster Theory” by Jeffrey Cohen and the 7 theses that he provides in this text, one can begin to somewhat disagree with these formal definitions and attempt to say that it has an even greater meaning. Monsters might scare us and frighten us because of their physical appearances but also can provide us with possible solutions to gaps and uncertainties in our mind that Sigmund Freud would label as “The Uncanny”. I can only but agree with

Rhetorical Analysis of “ Monster Culture ” In his opinion piece at the beginning of the book Monster Theory: Reading Culture , entitled “ Monster Culture (Seven Theses) ” , Jeffery Jerome Cohen tries his best to detail to his audience why monsters are symbolic of those things which e xist on the edges of culture. What monsters are changes according to the ideas and convention s most disruptive to any given culture at any point in time.

“Fear and euphoria are dominant forces, and fear is many multiples the size of euphoria” - Alan Greenspan. New York author, Alan Greenspan, here is explaining that the threat fear presents is really no different than the state of intensity caused by euphoria. In Andrew J. Hoffman’s anthology, Monsters, there is substantial evidence that both fear and euphoria are inflicted upon men, by female monsters. The two threats men typically face against women are temptation and emasculation. Thus, in mythology and folklore, female monsters exemplify the impulse of desire (sexually) for men, and male weakness. These are creature that are lusted after and yet, still feared because of their power. Men find female monsters both fearsome and euphoric and will always threaten their dominance and control.

The dangers frequently endured by soldiers fighting for the United States is immense. Hundreds of men and women are killed daily by terrorists. Many soldiers give up their dreams to fight for their country because they feel endangered every day by extremist groups and other terrorists. The movie American Sniper is based off of the true story of Chris Kyle and his efforts to protect his country. Throughout the movie, Chris Kyle’s struggles demonstrate that war may build courage but also leads to emotional issues.

“What makes a character a monster”? An individual in a text could be considered a monster based on their actions. A “monster” would be considered a character who has committed cruel behaviors and actions, as well as demanding others to commit cruel actions for pleasure. Since monsters commit these type of actions, they tend to have specific personality traits and characteristics. This individual’s personality is typically filled with ugliness. A “monster” may possess characteristics such as cruelty, evilness, selfless, and inhumanity. Often times, a monster would also be considered the antagonist of the story. During this semester, we were instructed to read a number of texts which included Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, and “Elegy”. In the play Hamlet, King Claudius would be the monster and the antagonist of the story. This monster committed cruel action, such as murdering his brother and then beginning to plan another murder. King Claudius is also the monster in the movie Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. The poem, “Elegy” written by Rachel Eliza Griffiths describes characteristics of what it means to be a monster. Each text had a character that would fit into the category of an antagonist and a monster. A character would be considered a monster if they possess harmful behaviors of others and demands other individuals to do the same for their own pleasure. One may be considered a monster based on harmful actions, such as murdering somebody for their

The people of Salem start accusing more and more people and upstanding members of society of witchcraft. The trials end when they accuse the governor’s wife of witchcraft. During the trials, people were tested for being "witches" by tying bricks to their feet and putting the possible witches underwater. The theory was, if you survived, you were a witch and unfortunately, many people drowned. Although some people survived, the "witches" were soon killed anyway. The survivors were believed by the overly suspicious people to have used witchcraft to save themselves. These “witches” being killed without evidence against them proved the hunters to be merciless in their paranoid frenzy. About 20 years later the government apologized because there

In “Monster Culture”, Jeffery Cohen develops an idea that “monsters” are essential to society. In fact, they construct what is “normal”, “rational”, and “civilized”. Specifically, “monsters” are foundational to how we view ourselves. “Monsters” contain all the traits deemed unacceptable and odd. It can be concluded that every outlier is a “monster”. In St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves, Karen Russell tells the story of a pack of wolf girls who are transitioning into young ladies. Russell delves into society’s need for conformity, gender roles, and change. The story is told from the point of view of the middle wolf girl, Claudette, and follows her on her journey from wolf to woman. In relation to Jeffery Cohen’s idea of monster culture, Claudette’s journey applies to Thesis IV “The Monster Dwells at the Gates of Difference” and part of Thesis I “The Monster’s Body is a Cultural Body”. Claudette is torn between two worlds and she has to learn how to successfully “move between the two cultures”. Through Cohen’s theses, Karen Russell uses character development and dialogue to depict the inner and outer battle of societal femininity and individualized femininity and the decision of accepting either side. The presence of “monsters” are essential for this acceptance.

Have you ever woken up feeling paralyzed, and the only thing you could control were your own thoughts? Have you woken up with fear so feverish that you were drenched in sweat, all the while you can’t remember from whom or what? Well, if you were born say about, three hundred years ago in Germany to be specific. The terror that the local village doctor will engage you with is the ferocious, shape shifting, and mischievous Alp. The Alps were associated with Cohen’s Theses 1 (the first theses) – The Monster’s Body Is a Cultural Body. “The monster is born only at this metaphoric crossroads, as an embodiment of a certain cultural moment – of a time, a feeling, and a place” (Cohen, 4). Alps were portrayed as a type of reason of the “why” of all the ailments which were inflicted that involved sleep, but are never seen but only on a few accounts of folklore. They enter homes by the smallest cracks in windows, walls, or doors and immensely enjoyed the satisfaction of doing so. A few nameless stories stated that they’ve been captured, but immediately escaped in a mischievous way.

Your pupils dilate. The pounding of your heart is so intense it feels like there isn't enough room for it in your chest. Blood surging with adrenaline begins to course through your veins. Numbness overcomes your face as each inhaled breath comes faster than the last. As a musician trying to keep the beat with a metronome, you begin to feel time as the temples on the sides of your head pulsate with every second that ticks by. Your hands begin to shake as the most terrifying monster seen within a thousand lifetime's stands before you. It is at this moment you are confronted with the decision to be devoured, cower away, or stand and fight. Only then do you realize- the monster is you. In Jeffery Cohens "Monster Culture," he discusses in

Monsters run free in epic poems of centuries far past; horrific, villainous creatures of fantasy who illustrate all that is bad in the world and stand for the tribulations the epic hero much overcome. The Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf is no different. Some are born of, and in turn give birth to legends, such as the fire-breathing dragon, while others are tied to the bible. In studies, Beowulf's monsters are explained and will continue to be analyzed as symbolic of countless different ideas. In relation to each other and the epic's hero, the monsters of Beowulf represent the ever-present flaws of humanity and the monstrous feelings or behaviors that over take the mind in a moment of weakness, leading to eventual downfall.

Humans are monsters. How did we get to the top of the food chain? Easy. We didn’t get there because of our our superior intelligence. We got there because we murdered other creatures to get there. Murder? Why do I say murder? After all, other animals kill too. True, but they kill for food, for survival. They don’t kill because they find pleasure in it. Murder, to kill someone unlawfully and with premeditation. Do you understand now? Is the truth so shocking? Of course it is. After all, you wizards thought that you were better than everyone. But in reality, you are the lowest of the low. You are at the same level of those muggles whom you scorn.

From time to time popular literature has made it’s way to the bring screen every now and again. Once the mass appeal from the text surfaces, these film industry companies to take them into their own hands, which usually altering the integrity of the text. Once specific example that can be found interesting is the representation of the monster in Frankenstein. In this text the exploration of why director, James Whale, had altered the appearance of the monster not only in the visual aspect, but also the internal knowledge he obtained in the novel, but not in the movie.

During final’s exam week, students tend to procrastinate and stress out. This results in lack of sleep. With that, this leads to the consumption of an energy drink, such as a Monster. This product made its debut around 2002. From there, the production rate has skyrocketed its sales in the 20th century. The Hansen Beverage company is the owner of this product and has been accused of many health-related problems, and despite their increase in sales each year; their price is similar to any other beverage making it inexpensive. One of the reasons why sales increase is because of the unique taste it has makes it addictive. However, people should consume responsibly