This week we have been learning about monster theory. For the journal this week, look for something related to monsters, or the theory we have been talking about. It can be a Halloween post, or it could be related to a movie, book, show, etc. Get creative this week. Whatever text you choose, try to connect it to our monster theory. How is it connected? What reminded you of our theory?
Requirements are still the same. About 250 words, summary and response to the article/post/news/etc; aka text.
Comment below with a link to the text and your summary and response.
Professor Ramos' Blog 
http://www.ktuu.com/content/news/Two-men-arrested-in-road-rage-shooting-injured-toddler-488157341.html
Journal 6
This article is about to a road-rage shooting between two cars, three men, and an injured child. The road rage all started with a few words exchanged between a truck and a sedan. The conversation soon escalated into a high speed, road-rage with shooting involved in the local streets. Police found and pulled over the truck driver and less than three hours later, the sedan driver reported it in as a stolen car but was tracked by his cell phone data. The called was tracked back to where the sedan was found. Both drivers are now facing charges of first-degree assault. Police also believed that the third man that was involved has fled to the Dominican Republic and has a warrant out for his arrest. As for the injured child, police reported that the girl was struck at her home in the arm. Police stated that she is recovering, but she will not regain full use and mobility of her arm. I chose this article because we are learning about monstrous this week.
The monster within each of the three men was pushed to the top surface. Thus, a small conversation of the two cars turned into something bigger than what it should have. This leads to gun involved and a child life, which changed the girls’ life forever. If one of the three men was a bigger person, he could have just driven away without causing a big explosion of hate.
LikeLike
https://www.theodysseyonline.com/the-violence-needs-stop
The article emphasizes the concept that the worst monsters in society are constantly around us. From a young age we are shielded away from all the dangers of the world – all the violence, the riots, the chaos, etc. All evils of the world seemed so far away and rarely encountered unless provoked. As we got older, we learned that destruction is all around us.. In America known as the land of the free, thousands of people come to America to escape whatever chaos they have upon in their own lives, yet violence occurs at every corner. Many mass shootings have occurred the point that people fear being in crowds in plain sight, surroundings must be checked at all time, yet the hypocrisy fills the air. As humans, we demand change for peace, yet we are the only ones stopping us from peace.
In class, we went over the monster thesis. According to monster thesis VII, humans are believed to have darker thoughts that are contained internally, however, through experience and development, our thoughts may continue to grow. At a young age, we have minimal thoughts that are maybe considered abnormal but it is all about whether we allow it to control us or not that ultimately defines us. The article pointed out that us individuals are constantly at war with each other over beliefs, standards, etc. Individuals either live in fear or are oppressed by the actions of America, causing a divide in unity, minimizing the chances of making the world a better place. The only solution for peace in America is to collide together and set our differences aside. Fighting only creates division, actions of the ‘monsters’ is what damages America. We are the only ones that ultimately harm each other.
LikeLike
This week marks the beginning of our second Unit called “Monster Theory.” Monster Theory goes into detail on what makes a monster a monster and how monsters change and evolve to fit the fears or tastes of the current era. The idea that mankind creates the monsters and that they evolve with the times makes me think about one of my favorite monsters of all time, Godzilla. Godzilla, often called the King of the Monsters, is a giant, radioactive, reptilian monster that has starred in his famous films from Japan dating all the way back to his first appearance in 1954. Not only has he has undergone numerous visual changes over the decades, but his origin story and the moral message behind him has also changed. When Godzilla first appeared in 1954, his story was that he was a prehistoric sea monster that had been woken by radioactive activity and began wreaking havoc on Japan. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were still fresh wounds to the Japanese people and Godzilla was used to symbolize nuclear weaponry and its destructive power. Another version of Godzilla explained him as a manifestation of the souls of those who died in the bombings. They were angry with the people of Japan for becoming too complacent and forgetting to honor them, thus they returned as a monster as punishment. As time went on, his incarnations have become less dark and he has even been portrayed many times as the defender of Japan. Quite a few movies have had him teaming up with other “benevolent” monsters to fend off threats such as the evil monsters Destroyah and King Ghidorah. Nowadays, Godzilla has film franchises in development in Japan and the United States that have wildly differing versions of him. The U.S portrayal has him acting rather indifferent towards humankind, but man treats him with respect after he destroys the MUTO monsters that were terrorizing the country. The newest live action Godzilla film from Japan depicts him as a terrifying monstrosity of pure destruction that must be stopped by mankind. Japan also has a trilogy of CG films about Godzilla being such a threat to mankind that we have to leave the planet entirely and go to space in order to survive.
Godzilla is a great example of monsters changing to fit the times. I eagerly await any and all new content from this franchise.
LikeLike
On July 4, 2018, a 30-year-old women, Laquisha Jones, has been charged with attempted murder for beating a 92-year-old Rodolfo Rodriguez. The article states that, Rodriguez, a legal U.S. resident, was out on his daily walk when he encountered Jones. According to Rodriguez, while walking, he accidentally bumped into a women with a child. Soon after the situation escalates and the women shoves Rodriguez to the ground and proceed to beat him with a brick. The women then called four other nearby men to join the attack. Nearby witnesses say that, Jones was heard repeatedly saying “Go back to your country” and other such slander. Miraculously, with many broken bones and other injuries, Rodriguez in recovering in the hospital.
There is a monster inside all of us. It becomes violent when we let the monster take control. Monster theory teaches that monsters are created not born. They are created by society and by culture and passed down to the children. It also emphasizes that society creates boundaries and anything that crosses the line is automatically a monster. For Jones, she absolutely let the monster take control. The article mentions that a 4-year-old child was present during the attack. Whether or not intentional, Jones was teaching the traditions she valued. She was teaching her child to hate what is not normal. Allegedly, 4 other people believed the same things Jones did and joined in the attack. Jones and the others believed that Rodriguez, was a monster because he was an outsider. Just because something is outside the norm, does not mean it is an evil monster.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/rodolfo-rodriguez-attack-mexico-suspects-los-angeles-beat-a8439411.html
LikeLike
I have chosen to do my journal on the film “Pacific Rim” that was released in 2013. The premise of the film is based on a phenomenon that occurred at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean that has begun to spawn enormous creatures that attack human cities around the world. To combat this threat, humanity has combined its resources and created “Jaegers”. Massive bipedal war machines piloted by two people who are joined by mind linking systems. Throughout the film, mayhem and destruction abound as these two types of monsters battle for survival and supremacy.
I chose to do my journal on the film because one particular line in the movie sparks my interest about monsters in general, “to fight monsters, we created monsters of our own”. This line asks a very interesting question about the nature of monsters. So often in literature, media, and culture, monsters are portrayed as bad and even downright evil beings. They represent the worst parts of humanity and signify what we can become if were not careful. So are all monsters evil? The Jaegers are massive war machines that could level cities if they wanted to, but because they fight for the good side, they aren’t seen with terror, but with joy and wonder. Does this mean that they aren’t monsters or that they’re just good ones? The film “American Sniper” displays a similar philosophy as Chris Kyles dad tells him about the difference between sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. Sheep are always victims, wolves are always predators who prey on the sheep, and sheepdogs are a special breed of wolf who use their predatory instincts to fight the wolf instead of hunt the sheep. I believe that this philosophy is very applicable to today. We may not have to fight massive sea monsters or build giant war machines, but we do train soldiers to fight and kill to protect the rest of us. Without the good monsters, were all just sheep being hunted by the wolves.
LikeLike
In every chapter of the “Scooby Doo” cartoon, there is a monster. The monster creates panic among people and destroys property. Later on, the main characters: Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Velma, and Daphne; the Mystery Inc. try to find who is behind the chaos. The team interviews people to seek any trace to find the ‘monster,’ who they know is a human based on their previous cases.
This show can be connected to the Monster theses by Cohen. One is thesis number two: “The Monster Always Escapes.” In the cartoon, the monsters are often a recreation of a famous monster. Transmitting the idea that the monster from the past has returned. Thus, the team tries to find any fragments to find it, such as footprints or talismans; but it escapes constantly. The show exemplifies the idea that if there is the ‘villain’, in this case, the monster, there must be a hero, like the Mystery Inc. The cartoon also emphasizes the idea that the “Fear of the Monster Is Really a Kind of Desire”; theory six. Where the person dressed as a monster crosses the line of ‘good behavior,’ but now possess more freedom. The person desires superpowers, or better said, dominance to induce fear and obtain whatever he/she wants or made people do something. Therefore, monsters exist for a specific purpose. And once the ‘real’ monster is revelated at the end of the show, it has to face the consequences as every other human whose behavior is not acceptable in society.
LikeLike
https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/are-we-truly-alone-cosmos-new-study-casts-doubt-rise-ncna891286
My journal is in response to an article I found by a senior astronomer regarding the probability of extraterrestrial intelligence. The article refers to a paper written by professors from the University of Oxford, and how they predict there is at least a 53% chance that we are alone in this universe. They shoot down the Fermi Paradox, which suggests that aliens are spread out through the vast universe, and the reason we haven’t found them is because of its’ great size. I disagree with the idea this article is supporting: that we are, in fact, alone in this universe. The universe is indefinite; we have absolutely no idea how much of it there truly is. It is ignorant and even arrogant for humans to believe they have it all figured out. We are late to the game- the universe has been here a lot longer than we have. For all we know, we could be the millionth planet in the history of the universe to produce life forms or even humans. Who truly knows? Literally no one. The mystery factor is why I find it especially fascinating. I can relate this to the monster theory because to most, aliens would be defined as a type of monster. Not knowing who or what is out there is a scary thought. Extraterrestrial beings can be whatever we imagine them to be- take the movie “Alien” for example. That final product is the creature of your nightmares. It is grotesque, fierce, and can easily hurt you. On the other hand, the extraterrestrial life forms in our universe could be little to no threat, and perhaps not as scary as Hollywood has chosen to portray them. Nonetheless, humans have adopted the ideology that aliens are big and scary monsters, and maybe it is best that we have not discovered them. Putting aside all of the monster theories and scientific calculations, the universe is something that we all can relate to. We are all derived from universal source energy, and that is what links us to absolutely everything else on this planet, and in outer space (aliens included). Thinking about all of the different possibilities is exciting and if anything, it gives humans something to wonder about, question, and even believe in. So regardless of what those Oxford professors think, I’m going to keep believing that there is more to the universe and we earthlings are NOT the center of it!
LikeLike
I found an article about a state in India, Jammu & Kashmir, that has actually put some legislation through against social media and fake news. Apparently the fake news being spread through social media is becoming such an issue in this state that it has actually caused riots. The government has now come up with ways to monitor the spread of fake news through social media and enacted legislation in which the people found to be spreading fake news can be convicted and punished with up to two years in jail.
This immediately made me think of monster theory because I believe that social media is the biggest man made monster in the world today. You can argue and list countless reasons that make social media such a monster but one of the biggest reasons in recent years is fake news. Our society created and groomed social media and now that we have it, it is out of control. This reminded me of the idea of Frankenstein. We’ve brought it to life and now its reeking havoc, destroying, and causing problems. Another quality social media has that makes it a monster is how huge, unstoppable, and uncontrollable it has become. It has now become something that not only runs our lives but is shaping an entire generation for the worse. It seems like it keeps growing as new platforms come out, and you can almost visualize these app creators shoveling food into the monsters mouths with these new apps and features. An entire generation is going numb because of this monster. The scariest thing about it is that there is no solution in sight nor is there any signs of it slowing down.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/clampdown-on-social-media-in-kashmir/article24428115.ece
LikeLike
An article created three days ago informs us on a man who has recently found evidence on Bigfoot. This man has been investigating Bigfoot evidence for about two years. Robert has been searching for Bigfoot for years and recently discovered a footprint that is possibly Bigfoot’s mark. The article goes on to explain how Bigfoot is also known as “Sasquatch”, the “keen monster”. This comes to mind in what we have discussed in class regarding monsters. Monsters are a manifestation of our anxieties that we create. This ties down also with the discussion we’ve talked about in class about the monster theory. We ourselves have manifested this into what we believed is scary. Bigfoot was never made until someone pointed out that this frightening tall hairy creature was abnormal and strange, which we now identify as a monster. In class, we have discussed about how vampires were made into monsters because of rabies and how monsters are always evolving. Bigfoot can be also related to a vampire, for we have categorized this creature as a monster because of our own fears. There is a wide variety of stories of Bigfoot. Many of the articles discuss how evil they are by the gruesome killing stories, but also stories on how they have heard the screams of this monster. These are all stories that shift and form Bigfoot into what is considered “a monster”. This correlates with Monster Theory IV and how stories on different “monsters” are what created them. It is the same way when describing humans as monsters. If a person were to kill everyone they see and are 7 foot tall, this is something most humans will definitely consider scary and abnormal, which will lead them to be described as monsters.
https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2920940/bigfoot-spotted-legend-scotland-dumfries-galloway-forest-park-robert-shankland/
LikeLike
For this week’s journal, I am going to be discussing the monster in my favorite movie. Ridley Scott’s 1979 film, Alien is my all time favorite movie and has one of my all-time favorite monsters in it. The Xenomorph is an absolutely terrifying creature that only seeks to obliterate the crew of the Nostromo spaceship. What makes the alien so terrifying is the way that the alien is created. For a full-sized xenomorph to be born, an egg must be implanted into another living thing to serve as the host for the xenomorph to be born. What implants the egg into the human is a creature known as a Facehugger, a slimy creature similar to arachnids. After the egg has been implanted into another living being, the baby Xenomorph will burst from the chest of the host. The Xenomorph will grow rapidly, reaching its full size in a matter of days. A Xenomorph is bigger, faster, stronger, and almost as intelligent as humans when it comes to hunting its prey. A Xenomorph can kill in a variety of different ways, such as using its sharp spear ended tail to pierce the body of its prey or using its sharp tongue to puncture the skull of its prey. Also, the Xenomorphs blood is acidic and can melt through metal. All of these things create a truly terrifying monster. Personally, I have always interpreted Ridley Scotts Xenomorph as an embodiment of the anxiety’s that humans have had about space exploration and the unknowns that such exploration has.
LikeLike
http://www.odditycentral.com/…/north-dakota-pharmacist-prescribes-monster-spray-to-child...
According to the US “odditycentral.com” website, recently, a pair of pharmacists from North Dakota in the United States have a whimsy and developed a “monster spray” that can dispel the monsters for children who are afraid of sleeping alone.
So how does it drive away the monsters of your child’s imagination? According to the label instructions, users must spray around the bedroom before going to bed at night – if necessary, spray several times. Don’t worry about the medicine being used up too quickly. A bottle of monster spray can be sprayed 120 times. After the spray, it can be “continued”.
It is said that the children are very satisfied with the effect of the syrup, and this spray even completely cures the “monster phobia” of some timid children. The used parents are full of praise – the spray makes the child feel calm, it seems to really drive the monster away.
In fact, the “Monster Spray” does not make the monsters feel horrible. The only thing that really works is the medicine bottle. The stickers on the bottle are labeled with monsters and instructions for use, so that the children can be sure that the water in the bottle can really Drive away the monsters.
I remember that when I was young, I was afraid of ghosts. I was afraid of black. In the evening, as soon as I turned off the lights, I was scared to hide from the bed. I couldn’t help but look out if I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t sleep.
Why are children afraid of ghosts and fear of black? In fact, this is also a process in which children develop self-security.
I have a friend who is especially fun. She told her son that the monster is most afraid of the taste of shampoo, shower gel and toothpaste, so her baby is very active in bathing and brushing her teeth every night.
Some people may object to this practice because they feel that they are “deceiving children.” Every time I see this kind of comment, I want to ask: Why do we want to tell the child the existence of Santa Claus? As long as it is a positive approach and the child is willing to accept it, why not?
LikeLike
The Sinaloa Cartel is the most powerful drug trafficking organization in North America. Formerly ran by Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, the cartel typically delivers large shipments of opioids to New York to be distributed. According to the article, many people have fallen victim to the war on drugs. It is estimated to be about 80,000 people since 2006. On June 5th Oralia Mendoza and her thirteen year old granddaughter had become part of this statistic. In early June, Mendoza went on to move quarter-kilo of meth to Huntsville, Alabama with her boyfriend,Yoni Aguilar, and ex-boyfriend, Israel Palomino. Both men have connections with the Sinaloa Cartel. After a disagreement, the men believed Mendoza would report them. On June 5th, the men had picked up Mendoza and her granddaughter from their home and took them to a cemetery. The men stabbed Mendoza multiple times and the granddaughter’s body was later found, beheaded, at a nearby farm.
The Sinaloa Cartel, are the very definition of monsters in today’s society. From ruthless murders and the copious amount of drugs distributed, this organization has one motive, money. This relates to thesis 1 of the seven Theses of Monster Culture. The war on drugs has done nothing but given huge amounts of power to these organizations. Addicts are willing to pay anything you tell them if you have the drugs that they can not live without and cartels have an unlimited supply of these drugs. Thesis one states, the Monster’s body is a cultural Body. The war on drugs is a part of our cultural moment and is a huge focus in government and politics. These monsters were created by us. We gave these monsters power because we wanted to ban drug use.
LikeLike
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/true-crime/wp/2018/07/15/a-teen-saw-her-grandma-killed-then-cartel-linked-drug-dealers-beheaded-her-authorities-say/?noredirect=on
LikeLike
This is the trailer to the movie Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation the latest installment of the Hotel Transylvania franchise. This relates to class because the movie is part of a recent trend of making monsters more kid-friendly and appealing. In the past television shows and movies such as Sesame Street and the Twilight films, event anime such as Pokemon and Digimon have subverted the concept of grotesque and frightening monsters into something more cute, friendly and at time even sexy. The movie is about the most famous and well-known vampire, Dracula. He has been over worked from running his hotel (refer to previous movies) and is in search for love. Dracula’s daughter takes notice and has her father take a vacation on board a cruise ship for monsters. Joining Dracula on his vacation are his friends Frankenstein’s monster, the Werewolf and other monstrous creatures who mention that Dracula might be able to have a chance at love. Surely enough he meets Erica, the captain of the cruise ship and quickly falls for her. What Dracula does not now is that Captain Erica is a descendent of his archenemy, Van Helsing and is continuing his work on vanquishing Dracula and well as other monsters by turning the cruise ship into a trap.
The characters in the film are palimpsest of their traditional and well-known forms. For example, Hotel Transylvania Dracula is a palimpsest of the Dracula from the 1931 film, Dracula. This is evident from their appearance. Both Draculas share similar features such as hairstyles, dress in black with a cape and a popped collar, have supernatural powers such as mind control and transforming in a bat. Both also have the iconic accent. But the 1931 film is mean to be scary, Hotel Transylvania is mean to be a light-hearted kid’s comedy. Instead of being fearsome blood sucking terror, Dracula is a mere overprotective father that owns a hotel and is voiced by actor and comedian Adam Sandler. The film also subverts and parodies many horror tropes such as the use of garlic to kill or deter a vampire, which in the film only give Dracula really bad gas.
LikeLike
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-man-shot-and-killed-by-police-identified-a I choose to write Journal 6 on The Chicago Tribune article “Chicago Police Release Body Camera Footage of Patrol Officers Shooting That Prompted Protest”. In this article it talks about Harith Augustus 37 who got killed by police on July 14th 2018. The incident happened in Chicago. 40 seconds of body camera footage shows 3 police officers trying to stop and question the suspect. One of the officers was trying to talk to the suspect when another of the officers grabbed for Augustus wrist. Next the body camera shows Augusts spin around to reveal a weapon and holster in the suspects belt. Augusts tried to run away but was shot down by police. The death was ruled a homicide and the incident is being investigated. Police released the body cam footage in hopes it would show that he officers were maybe justified. Although the footage clearly shows Augusts with a gun, 200 protesters gathered to protest police tactics. Some of these people were family members of slain men from police brutality. This ties into Monster Theory because our society and cultural beliefs have created these monster. Black Lives Matter supporters think ALL police are raciest, while police might think having to deal with black individuals always thinking the worst in them. This covers Thesis I: The Monsters’s Body Is A Cultural Body. dditional-protests-planned-20180715-story.html
LikeLike
Zombies are always mobile but dead. They also always have discolored skin and eyes. But in Santa Clarita Diet, a Netflix original show, it proves that zombies look like normal human beings. It is one of the most light-hearted takes on the zombie story out there but Santa Clarita Diet is doing wonders for the genre. This show is taking zombies to a forum they’ve never been a part of and the whole ploy is working. That said, these aren’t your everyday zombies, but it’s working. Although some of the characters are experiencing difficulty with assimilating into a delicate lifestyle. The way this show is connected to the monster theory is because Sheila, the zombie in the show, has the traits and characteristics of a zombie. In thesis two (the monster always gets away) Sheila had killed a couple of random people and some of their deaths even got on the news. She was never found as a victim nor was thought about being one because of her extrovert personality. In thesis four (the monster dwells at the gates of difference) Sheila had unlimited energy unlike a meager housewife or working mom. When monsters come to mind, you have a picture pop in your head of something either scary, gigantic, odd-looking and evil. But in Santa Clarita Diet it shows that it’s not always like that, which I believe is scarier. Existing in reality, people are the ones you should be the most scared about, not the monster that is living under your bed.
LikeLike
https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/opinion/nation-now/2018/07/01/july-political-cartoons-from-the-usa-today-network/36537165/
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-44791998
Here in this cartoon it’s not so much of a funny one are an illustration about how the rescue of the 12 boys and their coach went. As we all know in Thailand there was a football team that had been trapped in a flooded cave 12 boys and their coach, trapped in an underground cave in the norther area of Thailand. This pas week divers where able to rescue all the boys and their coach, which people are calling a miracle. The team had gone exploring on June 23, 2018 but with heavy rain fall they were trapped for two weeks. The coach helped to keep the boys calm and meditation techniques to help them stay calm and determination to stay alive. With the help of a nation the boys were able to get rescued, the Thai Navy Seals also used the locals to figure out the best for the area and were they team could possibly be. Rescue Specialist and divers came from all over the world to help get the boys out as well, with great efforts and hard work everyone was brought home. Only one diver after looking oxygen was the only death.
With all this being said just reading about it’s quite a miracle that all the boys were able to be brought back home. I wish there wasn’t the one death but all in all it’s a great story of bring people together and encouraging to see something wonderful happening in the world with everything that going on and the scary times that are here.
LikeLike
I saw there trailer for the movie “The Nun” this weekend. In this movie the monster is a nun, if you couldn’t tell by the title. Upon seeing this I immediately thought of the third monster theory. Although the monster is just a nun she obviously is an evil spirit or some sort of other worldly beast, be it a demon or ghost. The monster nun also fits into the fourth theory because most of us think of nuns as holy or good and obviously this nun isn’t filling her time with prayer and community service. The nun in this case is going against the popular idea or thought surrounding a typical nun. The fifth monster theory can arguably be present in this movie as well. The idea that the monster is created as a warning from the unknown. There are countless articles and events that have been documented over the years from the Catholic Church in which we see instances of dark, perverted, or evil practices. Of course this is not a definition of all Catholics or the religion as a whole however there has been speculation of the Catholic Church covering things up. So in regards to this, whats really going on and does anyone even know? I think this movie could be entertaining based on these three theories being applied in the creation of the nun. Now that we have studied the monster theory and these seven thesis that can apply to them I don’t think ill look at another scary movie the same with out analyzing it. I suppose the more theories that can apply to a monster, the more fully conceptualized it is like Frankenstein for example.
LikeLike