Monster Theory at 30
Those familiar with the discipline of monster studies are aware of the seminal work of Jeffrey Cohen and his influential book Monster Theory: Reading Culture. This book is now thirty years old! Cohen recently made an announcement on Facebook that he has edited a forthcoming volume titled Monster Theory at Thirty published by the University […]
Shipping June 25: Oxford Handbook of Biblical Monsters
It was five years in the making, from initial concept to publishing, but The Oxford Handbook of Biblical Monsters ships this Wednesday, June 25. I received my contributor copies last week, and it looks great. A word of warning: this is an academic title designed for purchase by libraries in universities and colleges, so it’s […]
Oxford Handbook of Biblical Monsters
We have been working diligently the last few months to finalize the proofs and cover for The Oxford Handbook of Biblical Monsters. The proofs have been edited and we are scheduled for publication in June. The Oxford Handbook of Biblical Monsters brings together the work of world-renowned scholars in Bible, theology, religion, and cultural studies […]
David Puglia on Folklore and Monster Studies
Folklore provides another helpful lens through which we can broaden our understanding of monster studies. In this conversation, David Puglia is the guest. David is Associate Professor and Deputy Chairperson in the English Department at Bronx Community College of The City University of New York, where he teaches courses in folklore, children’s literature, popular culture, […]
Yasmine Musharbash and the Anthropology of Monsters
Monster studies is a growing academic discipline, but while religious studies and pop culture have made important contributions, anthropology and other disciplines have not had the representation and contribution they deserve for a truly multidisciplinary approach to the subject. So goes part of the argument of Yasmine Musharbash, an anthropologist who has done important work […]
Heather Macumber on the Monstrous in Revelation
Dr. Heather Macumber is the author of a new book titled Recovering the Monstrous in Revelation: This book reads Revelation through the lens of the monster. Using monster theory, Heather Macumber approaches the cosmic beings in John’s Apocalypse as other and monstrous regardless of whether they are found in heaven or the abyss, with significant […]
Forthcoming volume – Recovering the Monstrous in Revelation (Horror and Scripture)
I just became aware of another great, forthcoming book, one that combines biblical studies and monstrosity. Recovering the Monstrous in Revelation by Heather Macumber This book reads Revelation through the lens of the monster. Using monster theory, Heather Macumber approaches the cosmic beings in John’s Apocalypse as other and monstrous regardless of whether they are […]
Titles of Interest – Monsters of Film, Fiction, and Fable: The Cultural Link Between the Human and the Inhuman
Monsters of Film, Fiction, and Fable: The Cultural Link Between the Human and the Inhuman Edited by Lisa Wenger Bro, Crystal O’Leary-Davidson, and Mary Ann Gareis Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2018 Monsters are a part of every society, and ours is no exception. They are deeply embedded in our history, our mythos, and our culture. However, […]
Call for Papers – “Of Gods and Monsters” at Texas State University
Of God and Monsters April 4th – 6th 2019 Texas State University San Marcos, TX Judith Halberstam famously claimed that monsters are “meaning machines” that can be used to represent a variety of ideas, including morality, gender, race, and nationalism (to name only a few). Monsters are always part of the project of making sense […]
Monster Theory and the Hebrew Bible
Terry Wright of the Sacred Writings blog made me aware of a new essay applying monster theory to biblical studies. The title and abstract are reproduced below. Text and Terror: Monster Theory and the Hebrew Bible Brandon R. Grafius Currents in Biblical Research Volume 6, Issue 1 (2017) Abstract While biblical scholars have long been […]
