We Could be Heroes: Different Kinds of Monsters
I loved this exhibit and it raised many questions in my head that I could write about for days. However, a main concept I thought about was the different origins of monsters depending on the individual or society, the different monsters that result, and how they reflect the individual/society.
The exhibit mentioned different kinds of monsters that humanity has formed throughout the ages, each serving as an archetype of a different purpose. For example, there are monsters that are the embodiment of a society's current or subconscious fears. There are monsters that represent the worst of humanity as they rage violence on innocent victims. There are monsters that are simply creatures that have been misunderstood and shunned from society. And there are monsters that simply appear as monstrous to us because they "fail to fall within bounds of traditional human rationality or expectation."
The idea of monsters is so interesting to me because monsters have served as one of the most common archetypes in story telling since the beginning of humanity, and for good reason. I think that the portrayal of a monster on an individual or societal basis is so reflective of that individual/society--their fears, desires, and greatest trials and opponents. Which kind of monster is most terrifying to you? One that embodies your own hidden fears, or one that brashly betrays all humanity? I would assume that your "ideal" monster is ironically very representative of your character...it seems to me that one's individual monster could be the embodiment of a person's antithesis. Unless, you fear something that is within your own character, and then the monster is an embodiment of your own dark or suppressed side.
In the end, the archetypal monster varies so much between each culture, each person, each movie and each story, that there is much more that could be said on the endless varieties that have been created by us as humanity. But in summary, I believe that each type of each monster can be traced back to a specific fear, desire, or trait of an individual or a society. And it is this physical embodiment of these fears that have made monsters serve as such powerful and accessible archetypes for thousands and thousands of years.
I loved this exhibit and it raised many questions in my head that I could write about for days. However, a main concept I thought about was the different origins of monsters depending on the individual or society, the different monsters that result, and how they reflect the individual/society.
The exhibit mentioned different kinds of monsters that humanity has formed throughout the ages, each serving as an archetype of a different purpose. For example, there are monsters that are the embodiment of a society's current or subconscious fears. There are monsters that represent the worst of humanity as they rage violence on innocent victims. There are monsters that are simply creatures that have been misunderstood and shunned from society. And there are monsters that simply appear as monstrous to us because they "fail to fall within bounds of traditional human rationality or expectation."
The idea of monsters is so interesting to me because monsters have served as one of the most common archetypes in story telling since the beginning of humanity, and for good reason. I think that the portrayal of a monster on an individual or societal basis is so reflective of that individual/society--their fears, desires, and greatest trials and opponents. Which kind of monster is most terrifying to you? One that embodies your own hidden fears, or one that brashly betrays all humanity? I would assume that your "ideal" monster is ironically very representative of your character...it seems to me that one's individual monster could be the embodiment of a person's antithesis. Unless, you fear something that is within your own character, and then the monster is an embodiment of your own dark or suppressed side.
In the end, the archetypal monster varies so much between each culture, each person, each movie and each story, that there is much more that could be said on the endless varieties that have been created by us as humanity. But in summary, I believe that each type of each monster can be traced back to a specific fear, desire, or trait of an individual or a society. And it is this physical embodiment of these fears that have made monsters serve as such powerful and accessible archetypes for thousands and thousands of years.
I also thought the commentary on monsters to be really interesting. I believe everyone fears the side of themselves which embodies monster-like characteristics. I am reminded of 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelly where Victor Frankenstein creates this monster and then is repulsed by it and tries to hide it from society. The monster becomes his antagonist, keeping him from acting as a normal human being, Frankenstein himself turns into a sort of monster. The creation and development of the idea of monsters can be very insightful into the inner workings of individuals and society at large.
ReplyDeleteI also thought it was really interesting how the exhibit talked about monsters being used to represent our fears and the darker side of humanity. On the flip side, heroes become a representation of our dreams (the good ones) and the best of humanity. It's interesting how this then plays out in all kinds of stories, be they legends or comic books.
ReplyDeleteNone of the "monsters" depicted in the museum were typical or cliche. In our classwork we'll be striving to think of new and interesting ways to depict old ideas, just as the artists in "We Could Be Heroes" did.
ReplyDelete