Monster Culture Thesis

In the article “Monster Culture (Seven Theses)”, writer Jeffrey Jerome Cohen touches on seven different aspects or theses, concerning the connections of monsters and culture. Cohen reaches out to the reader’s mind by introducing theories of how monsters can impact many cultural categories. He explains the connection between culture and the fact that monsters never appear to truly die the first time around. They always come back to life, and seem to be more capable of adaption and escape than some realize or care to remember. Monsters are characterized as those third party creatures that cause an imbalance and disruption of the typical order or nature of things, in almost an intruding way (Cohen 14-15). It is not in their nature to simply

Everyone loves to watch a good horror film. Whether the effects in the movie are really gory or extremely unsettling, these nail-biting experiences are what give the audience a thrill as they try to peel their eyes away from the screen. The concept of these movies is to give the viewers a good scare, one that will have them glancing over their shoulders or double checking if their doors are locked at night for the next week. This genre has been around since the late nineteenth century, but horror movies did not gain much popularity until the 1930s. Modern day horror films have evolved from its beginnings, but the elements in a horror movie are consistent regardless of time.

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

Monsters are challenges that the human race must overcome. In Jeffrey Cohen’s essay “Monster Culture,” Cohen reasserts the presence of the monstrous within society, and its relation to different cultures in a specific time period. All of Cohen’s seven thesis makes sensible arguments that gives the audience a glimpse on what his purpose is. Each thesis are presented differently, but Cohen correlates his ideas to explain the monster’s true existence. The convergence of intellectualism makes a strong connection between Cohen’s appeal to pathos. Cohen utilizes emotion in his writing to mainly appeal to his audience, and give them an idea on what goes on behind the monster’s identity. The final thesis “The Monster Stands at the Threshold of Becoming”

Asma states, "Monsters can stand as symbols of human vulnerability and crisis, and as such they play imaginative foils for thinking about our own responses to menace.” This means that human weaknesses and fears are represented through monstrous figures, and these fictional situations provide perspective into how we react in fearful environments. In our current society we fear many things, including but not limited to failed or corrupt governmental systems, the afterlife, the unknown, and captivity, which makes this claim valid. Although we may not realize it, these fears are embodied by the horror monsters we see in popular culture. Society shares common fears, and often times the most prevailing fear is reflected in the most popular characters at any given time. Monsters are the fictional representations of society’s dark subconscious, exploring not only why the author’s statement is accurate but what we actually fear.

Since it’s infancy at the beginning of the eighteenth century, horror has followed certain conventions that results in an awakening of the senses, evoking intense emotions of fear and terror in the audience. Horror feeds off triggering the primal fears embedded within all of humankind, creating a sense of menace that is the very substance of this genre. Furthermore, the central menace of a piece tends to enlighten the human mind to the world of the paranormal and the enigmatic, dark side of the unknown. The movie “Psycho” directed by Alfred Hitchcock is a perfect example. Infamous for its shower scene, but immortal for its contribution to the horror genre, “Psycho” was filmed with great tact, grace and art in regards to horror conventions.

Wes Craven’s horror movie “Scream”, inspired the gruesome murder of Gina Castillo. Castillo’s sixteen year old son and his fifteen year old cousin killed Gina Castillo. Why would anyone wish to watch the petrifying film, “Scream”? What would trigger a person to take inspiration from the horror movie, “Scream”. Stephen King describes horror as a piece of the human condition. Author of several horror novels, Stephen King wrote an essay titled “Why We Crave Horror.” In this paper he thoroughly explains why the human species craves horror and how it makes humans feel. In this essay, Stephen King precisely claims that humans desire, horror because horror pushes them to face their fears, renew their feelings of normality, and to expose

Societal values have always been a source of conflict because the views or opinions of one society or culture often contradict the views of another. The proposal of societal change often brings tension between those that oppose the transformation and those that approve of it. Individualism and uniformity are two forces that are constantly dueling for dominance across the globe, and the severity of this competition differs depending on the variation of the melting pot of cultures within a society. Robert B. Ray and Jeffery Cohen, experts on societal values, both inquire and delve within typical aspects and traits of habit that surround western culture regarding these

People nowadays love being scared in any way, shape or form. Wether it would be ranged from going to an amusement park to a haunted house. In the article King states, “When we pay our four or five bucks and seat ourselves at tenth-row center in a theater showing a horror movie, we are daring the nightmare. To show that we can, that we are not afraid, that we can ride this roller coaster”. In the article King compares horror films to roller coasters, to show that they are similar. They both have their element of surprise, you never know what is coming till it happens. Everyone loves the adrenaline rush they get when they get scared. It leaves them wanting more of what they are getting. Today the most popular type of films are horror, there is always that hype over the new horror film that will be coming out. No matter what the circumstances are, these things are done to

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.

American Sniper portrays the most lethal United States Navy SEAL, Chris Kyle during his four tours in Iraq. The audience becomes aware of the disturbing scenes that happen during war combat. It becomes evident that war forces American soldiers must put their lives on the line in order to protect the American identity. American citizens should become more aware of what is occurring overseas, and appreciate the soldiers who are protecting our country. A significant scene is when Chris Kyle and his platoon is in the sneak attack battle, it is an eye opening moment that shows what is evolved in protecting our country. This source relates to Monster Culture theses five by Cohen in the sense we have to put up borders in order to protect our society (page 7). Chris Kyle and the military are acting as the borders, which protect the United States from invaders creating a sense of unity because they are putting their lives on the line for the same reason.

Moreover they deal with our most primal nature and its fears: our nightmares. Some horror films exhibit a substantial

Horror is designed to scare, cause alarm and dread, while also entertaining the audience at the same time in a cathartic experience (Dirk, 2016). Horror films are meant for a specific type of audience that enjoy scary films. Dirks (Tim, 2016) approach to genre horror, is that films went back as 100 years ago, from the earliest days our vivid imagination in seeing ghosts in the shadows to be connected emotionally of the unknown, and fear things that are improbable. You watch a horror film, it makes you aware of the scary surroundings, the essence of fear itself, without actually being in any sorts of danger. Dirks argues that there is a fun and thrill factor in being frightened, or watching something disturbing. It gives you that feeling of an adrenaline rush, as well as having that feeling someone is actually next to you lurking in the dark (Dirk, 2016).

In his short essay “Why We Crave Horror Movies,” Stephen King reveals the truth behind why we enjoy watching horror films, the genre of fear, nightmare, and revulsion. Stephen King presumes that everyone has a mental illness of their own despite the people who are not in an insane asylum, they’re just more discreet with their disease. The tenth-row of any theater viewing a horror movie is a nightmare in itself King explains, but we still try to act intrepid. The purpose of watching a horror movie is “to show that we can that we are not afraid, that we can ride this roller coaster” without stopping to close our eyes or putting our hands down on the rail. King signifies that horror films have always been the responsibility of the young, they

In Mathias Clasen’s psychology essay, “Monsters Evolve: A Biocultural Approach to Horror Stories,” Clasen argues that human beings enjoy horror because of their biological and cultural predisposition to maintain survival skills against predators. This peer reviewed article, posted in the Review of General Psychology 2012 edition, is highly directed towards an audience with interests in science and psychology; the constant reference to evolution and genetic hard-wiring would detour most religious readers. Clasen’s intent is to argue his position that horror in the media can be connected to our roots as Homo sapiens sapiens. Regardless of Clasen’s first-year essay-writing ability, his reasoning and evidence are fairly effective in persuading a scientific reader that our evolutionary cognitive architecture is directly connected to our enjoyment of simulated horror.