This week we looked at monster reviews, analyzing monsters, library research, and Frankenstein to name a few. You have started to research your monsters, so this is a great opportunity to look up modern representations of your monster, and even reviews of the monster representation you are looking at. What was the critical and popular reception to your monsters, both when it came out and a modern day version?
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 
The legend of Matilda Dixon.
The movie “Darkness Falls” was inspired by events that occurred over the last 150 years in the small town of Port Fairy, Australia. The biography film of Matilda Dixon explains in short: her life in Port Fairy and events that lead to her death, also the cover up of her murder thereafter. Matilda was born December 24, 1803 and worked in a bakery. Matilda would bake a special cake for the children in exchange for their baby teeth earning her the name the Tooth Fairy, until one day in 1840 Matilda had an oven fire which burned most of her face. Matilda refused to go out in the daylight because of the sensitivity to light and she did not let kids come over anymore. Matilda did not bake anymore but she still gave the children gifts for their baby teeth. Matilda would wait for the town to sleep. The children left their teeth in handkerchiefs tacked to their doors and Matilda would leave small amounts of change in exchange for them. The towns people thought this behavior was weird but allowed it because of Matilda’s kind nature. Until September 23, 1841 two children went missing and Matilda was blamed and hung to death by a drunken mob. Matilda cursed the town with her dying breath saying, “what I took before in kindness I will take forever in revenge”. The towns people buried her along with their secret
Most of us know the Tooth Fairy to be a friendly sprite that comes in the night to replace our missing baby teeth in exchange for money. The tradition of the Tooth Fairy started in the United States in the early 19th century and customs have differed from those of other countries. The legend of Matilda Dixon sparked an inspiration of an evil tooth fairy that visits children when they lose their last baby tooth and exacts her revenge on anyone who looks upon her face. I believe that the legend of Matilda falls under monster thesis VII “The Monster Stands at the Threshold of becoming”. The Towns people of Port Fairy created the evil Tooth Fairy with the murder of an innocent woman. Matilda’s death was a mirror image of the Salem Witch trials which justified the murder of innocent women because of their differences.
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Victor Cisneros
PToday’s modern-day representation of The Loch Ness Monster where it is said to live in a lake in Scotland. The Loch Ness Monster has popped up in a recent film in 2007 titled “The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep”. This representation of the Scottish mythology creature in this film has gone from Monster in previous films to a loving caring creature. The boy in the film stumbles across an unusual egg on Loch Ness Lake and when he opens it and unexpected surprise emerges from it. Throughout the history of this mythical creature, the world has always perceived it as a threatful monster. But in the 2007 film “The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep” they showed a different perspective of the mythical creature. I remembering seeing this film on DVD rented from a Red Box renting station. I specifically remembering being scared as a young boy because I knew it has the Loch Ness Monster and in my head, the Loch Ness Monster was a scary monster.
But when I started watching the film I realized that it was a very different take on the mythical creature. It was very refreshing. I genuinely enjoyed the film because it was a very heartwarming film about a young boy, his family, and the Water Horse. I will be relating my evaluation essay a lot towards this film because I really enjoyed it because the “Water Horse” or “Nessie The Loch Ness Monster” wasn’t ever a true monster. Everyone in the film who laid eyes on it preserved it as a monster because it was of the unknown. Part of the seven Monster Theories.
https://www.history.com/topics/folklore/loch-ness-monster
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Water_Horse:_Legend_of_the_Deep
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What is a monster?
In a 2015 article by Natalie Lawrence called “What is a monster?”, Lawrence discusses an example of an American Dentist who is then branded a “monster” as a result of him shooting a lion illegally. The dentist’s name was Walter Palmer and was forced to resign from his practice, run away from his home, and hire armed guard to protect himself from the animal rights groups that would come after him. Lawrence continues by discussing what is the making of a monster. She uses the example of “The Dentist” in an effort to provide a real-life example of a normal person who performs monstrous acts. Lawrence’s example of monstrosity, however, does not stop there. She then discusses the things that qualified as monsters in the past as well as recent times.
This article presents a great deal of relevance to the topics we have been discussing in class. It discusses the paramount importance of subjectivity in terms of monsters. In many cases, monsters that are frightening to some may not come across as frightening to others. This is where the discussion of perception and actions comes into play. In terms of monstrous acts, “The Dentist” did murder that lion that was named Cecil in Zimbabwe. Is that the fact that assures it to be reasonable to qualify him as a monster? Maybe. In all actuality, that is where the perception plays a key role. If that was a wild lion that was attacking them or someone else, would it be taken as offensively? Some people would say no. That would be considered self-defense and interpreted as a necessary action opposed to the trophy hunting that Palmer participated in. Also, with that, it Is apparent that because it was named and personified, the lion held the value close to that of a human. The sentimentality draws directly from the fact that we find empathy in the ones who are names and/or personalities of a human. That is how the example of “the Dentist” displays social “monsters” and shows how perception and actions play a key role in the qualification of a monster.
https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/discussion/what-is-a-monster
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The Kraken has been around for quite some time, dating back almost a thousand years ago, being referenced in old Scandinavian mythology. The monster has been represented in new movies such as Clash of the Titans in which the makers took their creative liberties to make the beast look as they pleased. As well as dating all the way back to old Scandinavian tales stating that the monster’s body alone could be the length of almost 3 small islands. The Kraken has since been researched and studied as most monsters have in order to verify whether they exist or not. The Kraken has been published in early books about Norway’s history and then later in the 1800s there was enough evidence to argue the existence of the monster and then name the species of squid that early sailors probably saw.
A large percentage of the ocean remains vastly unexplored so the likelihood of a monstrous squid being real cannot be denied. The largest squid that man can find can measure up to thirty-three feet in length, with potentially even larger ones dwelling the depths of the ocean. Today’s scientists are more interested in what the actual size of these marine animals are and want to learn more about them rather than fearing them. Perhaps in the early myths of Scandinavian lore, they were the source of fear for sailors and fishermen but today they hardly cause any sort of unease or weariness. At least we can say that till one the size of a small island turns up on the coast somewhere then potentially the fear early civilizations had will then again return to us.
https://www.livescience.com/6296-kraken.html
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Jack the Ripper
Jack the Ripper is a real life monster that impacted our history from the way he/she killed the five victims butchering their bodies into multiple pieces. The fear around Whitecapal, East London was growing with this monster on the lose the town shutting down theater showings, people living in terror, police force made a joke of by the killer. Jack the Ripper is psychotic the way he/she kills the mangled bodies that are left, the notes sent to the police that tell them more killings are going to happen and the police can’t stop them. The fact that from August 7 to September 11 1888 Jack the Ripper wasn’t caught and in fall of that year he/she disappeared no more killings occurred but the fear Jack the Ripper left behind and the fear of the unknown.
Jack the Ripper is still talked about today with multiple movies, books, and theories about this psychotic killer that never was caught and impacted a culture. Jack the Ripper is a real monster a human being that went to lengths to demonstrate how deranged the killer is. Five lives the killer claimed and got away with it the police never had enough evidence, leads, or testimonies making this monster even more of a mystery killing in a certain time frame, mangling the victims, and out smarting police in the process. Jack the Ripper defines a monster a killer that makes regular criminals look like pre-school children compared to his heinous acts of violence
https://www.history.com/topics/british-history/jack-the-ripper
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“The Very Messed Up Origins of Hades | Disney Explained – Jon Solo”
In the YouTube video made by Jon Solo he first starts off by giving the audience brief knowledge of the plot of the movie “Hercules”. He then goes on by describing the type of character Hades is; he is “Manipulative, Merciless, and has no problem causing as much pain and panic as necessary to get what he wants”. Hades appears to be “cool, calm, and collected, but the slightest inconvenience could set him off”. The only thing that is completely true about Hades true personality is that he is fair; he will be true to his word even if he knows that he will lose the battle. With that being said Solo starts to tell Hades true backstory. How he was raised, how he gained his power/the underworld, that people feared him, his personality/appearance, his responsibilities, some punishments he had to give, and lastly the story between him and his wife “Persephone”.
I believe that Jon Solo did a great job by evaluating how Hades is represented in the Disney movie “Hercules” compared to who he is in Greek mythology. How he described Hades character in the movie and then gave information about Hades background to better understand who Hades is. I did notice there was a few different details that I read in articles compared to what he said. There are different versions of Hades story, for example how he met Persephone. Solo said that Hades kidnapped her and dragged her to the underworld. She later fell in love with him, but when she was forced to leave his “kingdom” he tricked her into staying with him at least half of the year. Although that story is the more accepting version, he could have pointed out that there are other version and that the original story involves her going there on her own will and choosing to stay there because she loved him and he treated her like his queen.
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Modern adaptations of greek mythology have recently been on the rise in popularity. From movies, comic books, and now videogames. In playing one of my favorite games, Assassins Creed Odyssey, I managed to stumble onto the location of a cave that housed a cyclops, Brontes the thunderer. Brontes was one of the three sons of Uranus and Gaea, the first king and queen of the titans. This would be the first iteration and appearance of the cyclops. The three sons were locked away in separate caves because Uranus feared the power they possessed. The three later go on to create the lighting bolt that Zeuse used to kill Apollo’s son Asclepius, a demi-god.
It was interesting to view the way this mythological beast was adapted into the modern gaming era. Although this character does not possess a huge plot line and almost acts as a homage to the creatures, because Brontes is the only brother of the three that are in the game, it gives the player a wonderful sense of fear and excitement to find out they have to fight and slay the great Brontes-The Thunderer. Not only is it different from fighting the normal enemies in the game but the giant is a huge beast which puts up a great fight and adds a huge amount of lore to the game. Overall, adding such a unique monster into the game really helps enthrall the player into the experience as a whole. It appeals to the sense of wonder and mystery that once this character is defeated, it makes the player stop to rethink the way things have played throughout the story so far.
https://guides.gamepressure.com/assassins-creed-odyssey/guide.asp?ID=46783
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https://images.app.goo.gl/1qudzRdWFQQTEstk7
The monster I’ll be reviewing is one many people haven’t really heard of too much, unless you’re into watching Japanese Anime. The monster from an anime Parasyte: The Maxum that premiered in the spring of 2016. Before that it was created as a (Japanese Comic) Manga issued in 1988! The monster in this series comes from an unknown origin, presumably outer space. When the eggs float down from the sky and hatch they have one goal in mind, and that is to find a host. One article by Mick Joest on geektyrant.com states it perfectly when he compares the show to being an “Alien meets Bodysnatchers” crossover. In the series the parasites subtlety become an epidemic as more parasites take over human brains and adapt to “hide in plain sight” amongst the humans. They slowly mend into the hierarchy of human society where they become increasingly difficult to spot. Most of these parasites resort to eating humans for sustenance. The main character of the series “Shinichi Izumi,” along with a couple of other characters he meets along the way, have a special case in where their parasites didn’t reach the human brain. This due to the fact that the parasites upon hatching from their eggs only have a minute amount of time to find a host. So in the case of the main character Shinichi, the parasite had to settle with his right arm. This sets up an interesting dynamic that forces the two to work together as they both start affecting each other’s personality as the story progresses.
I feel like parasite is such an interesting use of monster theory. I love stories and plots where modern humans are pinned up against the “unknown.” Whether that be a monster or supernatural event. What’s interesting about this monster, being the parasite, is that there is a forced relationship between the monster, and its host. So in that light, the viewer is also forced into a relationship with the parasite. Many thought provoking situations and questions are brought up along their journey. One big one that is asked by Shinichi’s parasite “Migi” (Can literally be translated to Right-Hand side) is when he questions why it’s wrong that his species eats humans to survive, while we as humans kill dozens of other animals to survive. On the other hand as the story thickens, the notion of what it means to be human is also there. So if you’re in to syfy, and looking for a great new show to watch, I highly recommend this 25 episode psychological thriller!
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The Aswang (æ·swang) is a flesh-eating, shapeshifting monster. During the day, Aswangs appear as regular townspeople, though they may be observed by others to have reclusive habits or magical abilities. At night, Aswangs shift into eerie predatory forms and go hunting for human prey, preferring to feast on children and pregnant women above all else. Aswangs are Filipino folklores, there are different types of aswangs, like the manananggals. They can shapeshift into different things, but they are mostly women during the daytime and animals at night. Their scariest ability is that they blend in with humans. They act like normal regular people. They are shy, but they can also have friends, family, and they can have jobs as well. During the night, the aswang splits their body, the upper body grows wings, while the other half is stationary. The only way to kill an aswang is to rub garlic on their lower torso or to use a certain cigarette ash. You can also kill them during the day by using albularyos oil, a special type of oil made of coconuts and holy plants. They are also known to have connections to witchcraft, they had magical powers during the day.
Aswangs are still being put in movies and television shows in the Philippines. The first time I saw one on T.V it still looked scary, but it was poorly made because they did not use CGI during that time. The one I recently saw was from 2014 and that onehad greyish skin, naked, and did not split in half like regular aswangs and it was also male. This one from 2017, looks way better than the one from 2014. Around 21:43 is where you see her transforming into the Aswang monster.
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https://www.biography.com/crime-figure/ted-bundy
Theodore Bundy
Americans were shocked in the 1970s when the authorities or the governments were reporting disappearing of women from Washington, Utah, Idaho, Oregon and Florida. The man behind this crime was Theodore (Ted) Bundy. Many people still consider him one of the most infamous and FBI’s most wanted serial killer of all time. He was born in Burlington, Vermont, on November 24, 1946, starting life as his mother’s secret shame. Eleanor Cowell was 22 years old and unmarried when she had her son Theodore, which humiliated her deeply religious parents. In 1951, she married Johnnie Bundy and the couple had several children together. From all appearances, Bundy grew up in content, working-class family. By the age of 3, he became captivated with knives, he was also a bright student in school. As a teenager, a darker side few his character started to emerge. Bundy like to peer in other people’s windows and thought nothing of stealing things he wanted form other people. Around 1974, many women from Seattle area near Oregon went missing. Later journalists, and other people find out that some of the victims were last seen by a dark-haired man known “Ted”. In the fall of 1974, Ted moved to Utah to attend law school and women start disappearing there too. Ted Bundy’s good looks charm, and intelligence made him something of a celebrity during his trial. Bundy fought for his life, spending years appealing his death sentence. He tried to take his cases as high as the U.S. supreme Court, but he was turned down. Budy’s body was cremated in Bougainvillea, and no public ceremony was held. Before he was executed he requested his ashes be scattered the Cascade Mountains of the Washington State, where he murdered at least four of his victims. Ted Bundy’s life has been the subject of countless books and documentaries trying to shed light on this brutal killer’s crime.
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https://aminoapps.com/c/villainous-4971691/page/blog/black-hat-catrin-headcanon-contest-entry/g025_gG5h6uVnaqNDzKWeEmn40NQPVDBeX5
“El Diablo Catrin”
You ever played Loteria a latino bingo game well known into all Latino. Each card has a figure on particular one “El Catrin” The Gentlemen has a sinister side which I later found out from my grandparents. His origin story mostly known in Mexico when my grandparents saw the “El Catrin” was in Oaxaca, Mexico. It was a late night that day they went to go get some flowers for a party they said so they had to go the next town which was two hours long to pick the flowers for the party. On the way back it was late both my grandparents remember the night very well they both said mention it seems it was a long ride just to get home they both notice a well dress man on the corner middle of the night waving at them asking for a ride. Both my grandparents didn’t stop they kept going it seems El Catrin was always waving by trying to get their attention. If they did anything to give him attention, they said that he will take you away and die. My grandmother told me what they did, they started to pray once they were done praying, he was gone and magically they made it back home safely. Even my parents tell me this day that he’s real others have seen it even my cousin from Mexico believe in it. The reason I chosen him because I believe in spiritual especially this one because he is well known in Oaxaca and when my grandparents told me his story it was scary.
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