Popular Literature - Monsters Anthology – Bryan Lee...Popular Literature - Monsters Anthology –...

PopularLiterature-MonstersAnthology–BryanLee

CulturalMonsters,HumanFearsandPhobiasPersonifiedIntroduction:Createa700-1200-wordintroductiontoyouranthologythatexplainsandexploreswhatinterpreting,analyzing,andstudyingmonsterstoriesthroughthelensesofdiversityandhumanitiescanteachusaboutthediverseexperiencesofhistorically,politically,economically,andculturallymarginalizedgroupsintheU.S.,aswellashowdiversewriters/creatorsprocessanddocumentthehumanexperience.Thisintroshouldintegrateimportantconceptsfromtheliteraryandculturaltheorieswe'veexploredinconnectionwithseveralofthemonsterpiecesthatyou'regoingtoincludeinyouranthology.BeforetakingthisDiversityinAmericanPopularLiteratureCourse,Ihadabsolutelynointerestinscarymovies,scarybooks,orthehorrorgenreasawhole.Ifoundituselesstowillingputmyselfintoasituationandspendvaluabletimeforthesolepurposeofmakingmyselffeeloneofthemostintenseemotionalfeelingsthereis,fear.Admittedly,Ididn’tknowthatthisparticularcoursewasgoingtobeaboutculturalmonstersbeforethefirstdayofclasseven.Ihadarequirementtofulfillandthiswastheclassthatwasavailable,soIsignedup.Itonlytookafewdaysofclassformetostartseeinghowmythoughtstowardthehorrorliteratureandfilmgenrewerewayoffbase.Onceyourealizethatactualnon-human“monsters”onlyexistbecausewewillthemintoexistence,thefeelingsyouexperienceandthethoughtsyouhavewhilewatchingorreadingahorrorpiecearecompletelydifferent.Youstarttoaskyourselfthingslike,“Whyisthiskindofmonsterbeingusedinthisstory?Whynotsomeothersortofmonster?”,“Whoisreallythebadguyhere?”,“Whydoesthismonsterexistinthefirstplace?”,“IsthisfearIamfeelingaresultoforreactiontothemonsterorisactuallyareactiontothethingsthatthemonsterrepresents?”Onceyoumaketheconnectionandunderstandthatthemonster’sbodyisourculturalbody,themonsteralwaysescapes,themonsteristheharbingerofcategorycrisis,themonsterdwellsatthegatesofdifference,themonsterpolicesthebordersofthepossible,thatthefearisreallyadesiretosee,know,orunderstandthemonster,andthatwealreadyare/arebecomingthemonstersandwecreate/createdthemonsters,thehorrorgenreclearlybecomesoneofthemostblunt,brutallyhonest,andcreativemethodsofportraying,confronting,orreflectingonourpurpose,beliefs,ethics,morals,lawsandsocialconstructs,flaws,mistakes,andcultureasawhole.WhenitcomestomarginalizedgroupsintheUnitedStatesandintheworld,issuesofraceandcolor,issuesofgenderandsexuality,nationalism,superiority,religiousandculturaldifference,

warcrimesandcrimesagainsthumanity,thehorrorandculturalmonstergenresareaninvaluabletoolandresourceforunderstandingthedeepandembeddedcharacteristicsthathaveexisted,stilldoexist,andthathavedefinedusasindividualculturalbodiesandastheonehumanculturalbodyasawhole.Theysaythepenismightierthantheswordandinthiscase,Iwholeheartedlybelievethattobetrue.Theonlywaywecanmoveforwardasapeopleistoaddresstheissueswehavebothunderlyingandonthesurface.Justlikeamonstermovie,weneedtodigalittledeeperthanthesurfaceandtheinitialshockinordertocriticallythinkandbeginquestionwhywefeelthewaywedotowardscertaincharacteristics,cultures,races,etc.Doweactuallyfeelthatwaytowardsthatperson,idea,orthingorhasthatideaofhowyoufeelbeeninfluencedbyyourculture,religion,society,family,media,personalbeliefs?Ifthereisanythingyoucanbeinatleastsomewhatcontrolofasahumanbeing,itisyourself,youractions,yourreactions,andyourideas.TableofContents:

• MonsterNovel:IAmLegendo Author:RichardMathesono Resources:GoodReadsListingandPreview

• MonsterPoem:TheTimesTableo Author:RobertFrosto Resources:QuoraDiscussionAboutTheTimesTable

• NativeAmericanWriter/Story:Windigoo Author:LouiseErdrich

• LGBTQ+Writer:“TheBabadookasanLGBTiconmakessense.No,really”o Author/Reporter:JessicaRoyo BabadookWriter:JenniferKent

• MonsterStorybyanAfrican-American:ZoneOneo Author:ColsonWhiteheado Resources:Q&AwithColsonWhitehead

• MonsterIntersectionality:RaceinAbrahamLincolnVampireHuntero Director/Writer:TimurBekmambetov,SethGrahame-Smitho Resources:IMDbPage

• SocialCommentaryonPerceptionofDisability:TheMonsterintheMirror:OnHorror,Disability,andLovingBothatOnce

o Author:EmilyFoster• EnvironmentalConcerns:TheLorax

o Author:Dr.Seuss• MonsterStorybyaFemaleWriter:WomanHolleringCreek

o Author:SandraCisneros• MonsterStorybyaLatinxWriter:CasaTomada(HouseTakenOver)

o Author:JulioCortázar

o Resources:https://www.ukessays.com/essays/spanish/treatment-of-the-outsider.php

AuthorRichardMatheson:RichardMathesonisacelebratedAmericanAuthorwasborninNewJerseyinthemid1920’s.Thenovelheismostwell-knownforisIAmLegend,buthehaswrittenseveralothernovelsthatwereadaptedintomajormotionpicturesaswellasscreenplaysdirectlyforfilmorTV.HecitedBramStoker’sDraculaasoneofhismainandearlyinfluencestohisworkwhichgivessomeinsightintowhyhechosetousevampiresashisfear-personifyingandhumanraceendingmonsterinIAmLegend.SummaryofIAmLegend:IAmLegendbyRichardMathesonisanovelabout“thelastmanonearth”(RobertNeville)whohassurvivedwhiletherestiftheworld’spopulationhasbeenreducedtozerobyabacillusthatturnsit’shuman(aliveordead)hostintoabloodcraving,bloodseeking,andbloodsuckingvampire.Mathesontouchesonseveraldifferentpoints

throughoutthenovelandsomeofthemostsignificantincludesurvivor’sguilt,loveandloss,lonelinessanddepression,companionship,difference(and“theother”),socialconstructionandinfluence,righteousness,andmorality.It’shardtobelievethatsomuchcouldbepackedintoashort170-pageorsonovel,butanend-of-the-human-race-and-modern-society-as-we-know-itsituationisagreatsettingforsuchreflectionsaboutthehumanraceanditdefinitelyhasbeendoneherebyRichardMatheson.Thenovel’sconclusionleadsthereadertoreflectontheirowncurrentenvironment,surroundings,andsocietyandaskthequestion,“Howcanwereallyeverknoworsaywhatwedoashumansistrulymoral,correct,ethical,respectable,orrightifthatisactuallyjustaluxuryandaprivilegeofthemajoritytodecide?”WorksCited(MLAFormat):

• “RichardMatheson.”Wikipedia,WikimediaFoundation,Dec.2017,en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Matheson.UsedtoresearchdetailsaboutRichardMatheson'sbackground.

• Matheson,Richard.IAmLegend.PawPrints,2012.• Matheson,Richard,etal.“IAmLegend.”ByRichardMatheson,

www.goodreads.com/book/show/14064.I_Am_Legend.

Author-RobertFrost:RobertFrostisconsideredoneofthemostfamousAmericanPoetswholivedfromthe1870’stothe1960’s.FrostwasknownforthelanguageandspeechheusedinhiswritingsaswellasthesettingsinNorthAmerica(particularlyNewEngland).Hewroteandpublishedmanyworksandwon4PulitzerPrizesinPoetryforhisworkoverhislifetime.SummaryofTheTimesTable:TheTimesTableisashortbutjam-packedpoemthatfocusesonafarmerandhishorse,bothseeminglynearingtheendoftheirlives.Whilemanypeoplewouldn’tnecessarilyconsiderthisshortpoema

monsterstory,Imostdefinitelywould.Somewriterchoosetousedevices,language,andpersonificationtodepictthingsandconceptslikedeath,butnotRobertFrost.Frostdepictsdeathinthewaythatweusuallyseeitinreallifeashumans,butitisnolessamonster.Thehorsestopsatthesamespringtheyalwayshavestoppedatwhileheandfarmerbothdrinkfrombrokenglasses(canneverbefullagain).Astheyarestopped,thehorsestrugglesforairandfeelsastitchinitssidewitheachandeverybreath.Iasthereaderimaginedthefarmergoingthroughthesamepains.Wefeardeathforalmostourentirelivesandaretaughttodosobythemanydifferentconfusingideasleadingustobelievethatwedon’treallyknowwhathappenswhenwedie,justwhatwecandowhilewe’rehereinthepresentandalive.Thehorserepresentsthefarmer’spassionandinnerdriveoverthework.Ithascarriedhimthroughlivethusfarbutisnearingtheendofitsabilitytodoso.Attheendofthepoem,Frostreflectsonthepassionandinnerdriveofliveandlastlysaysthatifourpassion,motivation,anddrivearegoingtobeusedtocauseharmtoothersortotheworld,thanweshouldseenobetterreasonthantheendourefforts,lettheworldkillitselfoff,andstartanew(returntoinnocence).Deathisoneofthescariestandmostreferredtomonstersouttherebecausewefeartheunknownmorethananythingelseinthisworld.Ifweliveonlytocausedeathanddestructionforothers,weareworsethandeath.

Deathisjustathingandwespendourwholelivescalculatingit(likeaTimesTable)throughourbreath,actions,etc.–Wehumansarethemonstersandthedeathbringers.WorksCited(MLAFormat):

• “RobertFrost.”Wikipedia,WikimediaFoundation,Dec.2017,en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Frost.UsedtoresearchdetailsaboutRobertFrost'sbackground.

• Frost,Robert.“TheTimesTable.”FamousPoembyRobertFrost,www.poetrysoup.com/famous/poem/the_times_table_16705.

• “WhatdoesRobertFrostwanttoconveyinhispoem"Thetimestable"?”WhatdoesRobertFrostwanttoconveyinhispoem'Thetimestable'?-Quora,www.quora.com/What-does-Robert-Frost-want-to-convey-in-his-poem-The-times-table.

Author-LouiseErdrich:LouiseErdichisanAmericanAuthorwhowrotethefamouspoemWindigo.LouiseErdichborninandfromLittleFalls,MinnesotawheresheisamemberisactuallymorethanoneNativeAmericanIndiantribe.MinnesotaisandhasbeenhometomanyNativeAmericantribesthroughouthistory.Sheismostwell-knownforherwritingandcharactersembodyingNativeAmericanpeople,culture,andtraditions.

SummaryofWindigo:WindigoisashortpoemthatusesmanyabusiveandviolentwordstodescribeaterriblemonstercalledtheWindigowhohasaninsatiablehungerforflesh(orman).ThepoemandtheWindigomonsteritselfismeanttorepresentman’slossofconnectionwiththeenvironmentandhistoricallyNativeAmericantraditionsregardingtheearth.Ashumans,weknowthatweareslavestowhatourenvironmenthastooffertous.Atthecoreofourexistenceisthenaturalworld,itscharacteristics,anditsvariouslaws.However,wemasqueradeandactasifwearethemastersoftheearth.Weseemtocontinueourtraveldownthepathofexcessanddestructionashumansonthisearthwhiledisregardingthattheearthisactuallywhatisprovidinglifeforusinthefirstplace.WorksCited(MLAFormat):

• Erdrich,Louise.“WindigobyLouiseErdrich.”PoetryFoundation,PoetryFoundation,

www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43086/windigo.• “LouiseErdrich.”Wikipedia,WikimediaFoundation,Dec.2017,

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Erdrich.

Reporter/Author-JessicaRoy,JenniferKent:Shortcopiedbioaboutreporter,JessicaRoy(nodetailedinformationlistedonline):“JessicaRoyworksontheaudienceengagementteamattheLosAngelesTimes.Shecoverspopculture,politicsandtechnology.”JenniferKentisanAustralianwriterandactresswhorecentlyhadhermotionpicturedebutwithherfirstcriticallyacclaimedmovie,TheBabadook.Overhercareershehasfocusedonthesupernatural,queer,

monstrified,andotherthroughmonsterstories,televisionshows,andmoviesworkingonthingsfromtheAustralianversionoftheTheTwilightZone(calledTwoTwisted),self-directedshortfilmsabountmonsters,etc.Summaryof“TheBabadookasanLGBTiconmakessense.No,really.”&Babadook:Ifeltitwasimportanttocoverthisparticularmediaarticleinthisanthologybecausemediaandthepublic’sviewofyourworkasamonsterandhorrorwriterisjustasimportantasthemeaningyouweretryingtoportrayasthecreator.TheBabadookisaboutamonsterwholivesinafamily’sbasementandhauntsthemthroughabookthatmysteriouslyappears(evenafterbeingdestroyedseveraltimes)intheirhouse.ThismoviewasnotmadetorepresentLGBTQrightswhenitwascreated,buttheBabadookmonsterhasevolvedintoanLGBTQiconbymistake.ThroughtheBabadookbeingmistakenlyaddedtothe“LGBTmovies”categoryonNetflix,jokesstartedtopopupwheretheBabadookwaseithersuperimposedoverarainbowflagortheBabadookhimselfwouldbepicturedbrandishingarainbowflaginhishandwithabigsmileonhisface.ThismistakebyNetflixstartedaconnectionbetweenqueerothernessandTheBabadookandbecameaniconfromthere.Onerespondertothemistakenphenomenonsays,“Inthismoment,whobetterthantheBabadooktorepresentnotonlyqueerdesire,butqueerantagonism,queerin-your-faceness,queerqueerness?”Weoftenputthedescriptionof“different”or“unrelatable”oreven“scary”onthethingsthatwedon’tunderstand.Wegivederogatorydescriptionstoideasorlifestylesthatwedon’tsubscribetosolelybecausewedon’tsubscribetothempersonally.Partofcriticallyanalyzing

culturalmonstersandsymbolsispickingoutwhatsocietalstigmas,pressures,andinstitutionshaveledustotreattheworldandcertainpeopleinitthewaywedoandaskourselves,why?!WorksCited(MLAFormat):

• Roy,Jessica.“TheBabadookasanLGBTiconmakessense.No,really.”LosAngelesTimes,LosAngelesTimes,9June2017,www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-babadook-gay-icon-lgbt-history-20170609-story.html.

• “TheBabadook.”Wikipedia,WikimediaFoundation,Dec.2017,en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Babadook.

• “JenniferKent.”Wikipedia,WikimediaFoundation,Dec.2017,en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Kent.

Author:ColsonWhiteheadBio:ColsonWhiteheadisanAfricanAmericanwriterandnovelistwhohasbeenawardedtheNationalBookAwardforFictionandthePulitzerPrizeforFiction.Whiteheadusesseveralmethodsthroughouthisworkstodrawattentiontothecurrentworld,socialconstructs,racialtensions,inequalities,assumptions,andissues.ColsonutilizeshishomestateandcityofNewYorkasthesettingformostofhiswritingsbecauseitwastheAmericathathegrewupinandisattachedto.Whileheisattachedtothissettinganditprovideshisroots,hehasverystrongfeelingsattachedtothisplaceanduseshiswritingstodrawattentiontocharacteristicsofthisenvironmentthatshapedhimasanAmericanforbetterorforworse.ColsonwenttoHarvardUniversity,hasbeenfeaturedonOprah’sbookclub,andhashadanovelchosenbyPresidentObamalistedasoneofhispicksforasummerreadinglist.

SummaryofZoneOne:ToapersonreadingZoneOnestrictlyforpleasure,itmaybesomewhateasytoquicklyreadthroughthisnovelpurelyforentertainmentasazombienovel.WhiteheadtakesthesettingofNewYorkandahumanstartedZombieApocalypseandusesittoshinelightonallthethings

aboutlife“BeforeLastNight”thatkeepusinlimbobetweentheworldthatusedtobeandthenowzombie-filledworldthatisreality.WhileWhiteheadcoversmanythingsthatdescribeandcriticizethehumanraceandwhatwillmostlikelyleadusintoazombie-apocalypseasawhole,oneofthemainthemesofthebookisdrawingattentiontoraceandthemaincharacter’slifeasanAfricanAmericanman.Spitz,themaincharacter,realizesasthedays/bookgoesonthatrebuildingthesocietythatledtothedestructioninthefirstplaceisequallyasangering,painful,anddifficultasitwastoseeitallfallapart.Spitzissadlynowabletoexcelinaworldwhereprevioussocialconstructsandexpectations(createdandledbymostlyrich,whiteChristians)nolongerexistandherealizesastimegoesonthatmaybeitwastimeforthosebarrierstofalldown.Weputbarriersuptokeeptheunknown,thescary,thedifferent,theblack,thequeer,thebrown,etc.outinsteadofunderstanding,adapting,andmovingforward.Asalways,wearethemonster,wecreatedthemonster,andtheonlywaytoridourselvesofthesemonstersistoconfronttheharshideasbehindwhywethinkmonstersexistinthefirstplace.Doesthatpreviousworldfilledwithsystemicracism,outdatedtradition,flawedethics,andI’m-Right-You’re-Not-Religionreallyneedtoberebuilt?WorksCited(MLAFormat):

• “ColsonWhitehead.”Wikipedia,WikimediaFoundation,16Nov.2017,en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colson_Whitehead.

• ColsonWhitehead(Goodreads,etal.“ZoneOne.”ByColsonWhitehead,www.goodreads.com/book/show/10365343-zone-one.

• Whitehead,Colson.Zoneone:anovel.ThorndikePress,2012.

Director/Writer-TimurBekmambetov,SethGrahame-Smith:SethGrahame-Smith:SethGrahame-SmithisanAmericanAuthorwhohasusedtoideaandconceptofzombiesandtheundeadandthenappliedittoseveralhistoricalstoriesandcontexts(PrideandPrejudiceandZombies,AbrahamLincoln,VampireHunter).Alongwithwritingbooks,Sethisalsoafilmproducer,filmdirector,andTVwriter.Grahame-Smithisknownforthisstyleandhasahistoryoftakingexistingworks,publicfigures,popculture,andhistoricaltextsandspinningthemtoincludezombiesorotherculturalmonsters.TimurBekmambetovisaRussian-bornfilmdirectorwhodirectedthefilmforAbrahamLincoln,VampireHunter.HehasanextensiveresumeoffilmsandprojectsinbothRussiaandtheUnitedStatesmostlyintheaction-genre.

SummaryofAbrahamLincoln,VampireHunter:AbrahamLincoln,VampireHunterfollowsanalternatestoryaboutournation’sformerpresident,AbrahramLincoln.ThestoryandmovietakesLincoln’slifeandsuperimposesastoryofvampiresandrevengeoverinsomewhatofacrudeway.Whileonecandefinitelycallslavemasters,sellers,anddriversbloodsuckingmonsters,itishardtonotlookatthisuseofthemonstervampireasjusttheblatantuseofvampirestereotypestodescribearealgroupofpeoplewhocommittedandperpetuatedrealandterribleactsinournation’shistory.WhileanauthorlikeRichardMathesonconfrontsmanyofthevampiremythsthroughoutIAmLegendandattemptstounpackthemandlookattheminadifferentlight(fromtheperspectiveofthelastmanonearth),theALVHfilmseemstotakemostofthosestereotypesatfacevalueandthenappliesthemtothestory.OnepositivethingthatIwouldliketosayabouthisstoryisthatIdothinkitissomewhatimportanttocontinuetoshinelightontheatrocitiesofournation’spast,especiallyinregardtoslavery.Racismisstilloneofthebiggestproblemsfacingusasthehumanspeciesandalotstillhastobedoneinorderforustotrulymoveon.Takinghistoricalstoriesandeventsandthenretellingtheminmoremodernandpop-culturerelatedwaysisagreatwaytoretellthosestoriesandconveytheirveryrealmessagesandmeaningstoanewgenerationofpeople.WorksCited(MLAFormat):

• Bekmambetov,Timur,etal.AbrahamLincoln,VampireHunter.• “TimurBekmambetov.”Wikipedia,WikimediaFoundation,Dec.2017,

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timur_Bekmambetov.• ShmoopEditorialTeam.“AbrahamLincoln:VampireHunterThemes.”Shmoop,Shmoop

University,11Nov.2008,www.shmoop.com/abraham-lincoln-vampire-hunter-book/themes.html.

• “SethGrahame-Smith.”Wikipedia,WikimediaFoundation,27Nov.2017,en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seth_Grahame-Smith.

Author-EmilyFoster:Bio:EmilyFosterisanAmericanAuthorwhoattendedtheUniversityofNorthernColorado.Shewritesaboutcharacterswhoovercomeeitherunsettlinganduncomfortablesituationsandcircumstancesinasocietywherethosecircumstancesareusuallydepictedasotheredor“monstrified.”SheistheauthorofanovelcalledTheDrowningEyesandalsowritesshortstories(liketheonewereadanddiscussedinourclass).SummaryofTheMonsterintheMirrorTheMonsterinTheMirrorshortstorystartsoutbygoingoveraparticulardatingexperiencewherethemaincharacterwhohasautismiskickedoutofthecarnearthebeginningofthe

dateforthereasonthatshewasverydifferentfromthemanwhowastakingheronthedate.Shesawthedifferencesanduniquecharacteristicsofthispersonshewasabouttogoonadatewithasinterestingandenamoringwhileheonlysawthedifferencesthatmadehimuncomfortableandunsettled(whichledhimtokickheroutofhiscarbeforethedateevengottoapointofsubstanceorrealcharacter).Characterswiththingsaboutthemthataretypicallyseenasdisablingorotheringaremonstrified.Thecharacteristicsthatmakethemuniqueandindividualalsomakethemdifferentwhatisconsideredasthenorm.Insteadofbeingembracedasuniqueandindividual,thecharacteristicsareseenasahold-back,somethingscary,somethingdifferent,somethingthatIcan’tdealwithbecauseIamnotlikethatandcan’trelate,etc.Storieswithcharacterswhoovercomeunsettling,uncomfortable,orotheringcircumstancesarejustasuniqueandindividualasthecharactersinthestory.Themonsterisn’ttheother.Wecreatethemonsterwhenheattributethingstotheotherthatmakethemnotrelatable,different,andunalike.WorksCited(MLAFormat):

• “TheMonsterintheMirror:OnHorror,Disability,andLovingBothatOnce.”Tor.com,15Mar.2016,www.tor.com/2016/03/15/the-monster-in-the-mirror-on-horror-disability-and-loving-both-at-once/.

• June26,2016·byEmily·inHowNottoFall,etal.“Emilyfoster.”Emilyfoster,emilyfosterwrites.wordpress.com/.

• “EmilyFoster.”Tor.com,www.tor.com/author/emily-foster/.• “EmilyFoster|Authors|Macmillan.”USMacmillan,

us.macmillan.com/author/emilyfoster/.

Author-Dr.Seuss:Bio:Dr.SeussisoneofthemostcelebratedAmericanchildren’sbookauthorsandillustrators.Hisworkssoldover600millioncopiesandhasbeentranslatedintoover20differentlanguages.OvertheWorldWarIIera,SeusscreatedmanypoliticalcartoonsfortheTreasuryDepartmenttheWarProductionBoard(1940’s).SomeofSeuss’smostwell-knownandcelebratedworkswerewrittenpost-WWIIinhishomeinCalifornialikeCatInTheHat,HowTheGrinchStoleChristmas,andmore.SummaryofTheLoraxTheLoraxisaboutacuriousboywhogoestotownelderinordertofindmoreaboutandknowthestoryoftheLorax.Helearnsfromtheelder(orOnce-ler)ofhowhistownwasdestroyedovertheyears(by

loggersandeconomists)andalsowhathecoulddoasanindividualtorestorethetowntoitsformerglory.Oneofthelastthingsthattheeldertellstheboyisthathehastocareabouttheenvironmentandhowwechoosetouseitasinhabitantsoftheworldifwereallywanttoseechangeandimprovementinhowwehavedestroyedandtakenadvantageofithistorically.Ifwedonotcare,therestoftheworldwillgothewayoftheTruffulaTreeandeventuallydisappearintononexistence.Ifwedocare,ifweplanttreestogrowaforest,talktotheloggersandtheeconomistsandhelpthemtounderstandthelong-termimplicationsofourindustrialandcommercialactivities,andifweprotectourenvironmentfromthehackofanaxe,wecanmakechangeandensurethatfuturegenerationscanenjoytheTruffulaTreeaswell.“AccordingtoCarlJung,mythshavebecomeanimportantaspectofpopularculturebecausetheytendtocompensateforthoseaspectsofpersonalitythataremostneglectedinasociety(Friedman)…TheLoraxasamonsterisculturallysignificantbecauseitsignifiesthevoiceofreasoninthemyth.WhentheLoraxwarnstheOnce-leroftheconsequencesofcuttingdowntheTruffulatrees,itevokesemotionsoffearandanxietyofwhatwillhappenwhenthelasttreegetscut.TheLoraxisacharacterinpopularculturethatcontainsadeepermeaningwhendemystifyingthestoryabouttheissuesofcapitalismthatarerelevantintoday'ssociety,whichrendersitsculturalsignificance.”WorksCited(MLAFormat):

• Seuss.TheLorax.HarperCollinsChildrensBooks,2017.

• “Dr.Seuss.”Wikipedia,WikimediaFoundation,Dec.2017,en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Seuss.

• ShmoopEditorialTeam.“TheLorax.”Shmoop,ShmoopUniversity,11Nov.2008,www.shmoop.com/lorax/.

• “MonstersofPopularCulture:TheLorax.”MonstersMonstersEverywhere,monstersmonsterblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/monsters-of-popular-culture-lorax.html.

Author-SandraCisneros:SandraCisnerosisaMexican-Americanauthorwhoismostwell-knownforherbookTheHouseonMangoStreetandhershortstoryWomanHolleringCreek,aretellingofthemonsterstoryLaLlorona.AsaMexican-American,CisneroshashadalifeofexperienceintheracialinjusticeagainstLatinxsandLatinx-Americans.Shealsogrewupastheyoungestandonlyfemaleinafamilywith6brothers–becauseofthesecircumstances,sheaddressesandunpacksthesesocialandculturalcircumstancesinherliteraryworks.Alongwithbeingacelebratedauthor,Cisneroshasbeenateacher,acounselor,poetinschools,artsadministrator,andmore.SummaryofWomanHolleringCreek:WomanHolleringCreekisanimportantpieceofMexican-Americanliteraturebecauseitaddressa

mythicalMexicanculturalmonstercalledLaLlorona.Mexicanhistoryinregardtowomen’srightssadlynotverydifferentfromAmericanhistoryinmanyways.Womenwereexpctedtoperformcertainroles,lookacertainway,docertainthingswiththeirlives(mostlyrevolvingaroundhomemakingforthemanandtakingcareofthechildrenwhilethemanworkedtoprovideforthefamily).Thiswomanwhospentallofherlifeworriedabouthowshelooked,ifshewasgoingtomarrythe“manofherdreams”,andwhathaveyouwasshapedbysocietytoactinsuchaway.Shegetsthehusbandofherdreams,theyhavechildren,sheismistreated(wasexpectedandnormalatthistime),sheisleftbyherselfforthemostpart,andovertimerealizesthatthisjustisn’tthepersonwhoshereallyis.Thelifeshewaslivingwascreatedbyexpectation,notbyherowndriveanddesires.Thegrief-strickenmother/womanwhoinemotionaldistresswhensheseesherhusbandwithanotherwomandecidestodrowntheirtwochildrenintheriver.Evenfurtherstrickenbygrief,shestaysbytheriveranddiesherself.Peoplestillsaythatshehauntstheriver(WomanHolleringCreek)andthattheycanhearthewomanholleringforherchildrentocometoher.

InCisnerosstory,thewoman(withthehelpofherfriends,womeninthecommunity,someevolutioninsocietyandtreatmentofwomanovertime),decidestomadethedecisionsheneedstoforherselfandGETOUTOFTHERE.ThewomanwhohelpshertaketheplungepicksherupandastheycrossWomanHolleringCreekonthewaytohernewlifeasanindependentwomansherealizesthatwomencanbeindependent,wild,powerful,masculine,andproudasthewomandrivinghollersastheycrossthebridgeoverthecreek.Awomanholleringisn’talwayspainfulorsadlikeitdescribedinthemovies,stories,andsociety.Awomancanhollerforjoy,forsatisfaction,forglory,andforwhateverthehellshewantstohollerfor,damnit!WorksCited(MLAFormat):

• “SandraCisneros.”Wikipedia,WikimediaFoundation,Dec.2017,en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandra_Cisneros.

• Cisneros,Sandra.Womanholleringcreek.Bloomsbury,2004.

Author-JulioCortázar:JulioCortázarisaknownasoneofthefoundersoftheLatin-AmericanBoomandisfamousArgentinianauthorwhoismostwell-knownforhisshortstories,essays,andnovelswrittenfromtheperspectiveofArgentinianculture,socio-economicissues,geography,andlife.HismanyshortstoriesarecollectedintoasingleworkcalledtheBestario,whichiswherethestoryLaCasaTomadacanbefound.SummaryofCasaTomada:CasaTomadaisastoryaboutabrotherandsisterwhoinhabitaninheritedhouseinanaffluentareaofBuenosAires,Argentina.Thehouseisverylarge(duetothe

brotherandsisterbeingfromarichfamily),butthebrotherandsisteraretheonlytwoinhabitantsofthe8-bedroomhouse.Thetwoarerichasaresultofthemoneytheirdeceasedfamilyhadleftthemalongwiththehouseandtheydonotneedtoworktoprovidealivingforthemselves.Thesisterspendshertimeknitting,thebrotherspendshistimecollectingstampsashisancestorsdid,andtheysharethecookingandcleaningduties.Overtime,theyhearnoisesintheirhousecomingfromanentitytheydescribeas“they”andabandonthepartsofthehousethenoiseiscomingfrom.Throughoutthestory,thebrotherandsisterclosedoors(putupbarriers)tothosepartsofthehouseuntiltheentirehousehasbeentakenoverandtheyareessentiallyforcedoutwithoutanyoftheirbelongings.

Whilethisstoryhasthepotentialtobeanalyzedindifferentways,I’dliketofocuson“theother”inthisstory.Theothercanbeseenasthebrotherandsisterinawaysincetheyaretheonesunderattack.Theyaretheoneswhoarebeinghauntedbysomesortofthingandpushedoutoftheirhouse.Overthestory,theyareslowlybecomingthe“othered”untiltheyhavebeencompletelykickedoutoftheirhome.Thistypeofsituationcanberelatedtoanysortofcolonizationorconquestthroughouthistory.Ontheoppositehand,youcanseetherestoftheworldbeingtheothertothebrotherandsister.Boththebrotherandsisterareverymuchunliketheworkingclassinthattheydonothavetowork.Alltheydoisexistinthishouseshutawayfromtherestoftheworld.Whilethebrotherandsisteraredriventomadnessbythemundaneandtherepetitivenessoftheirboringlivesandgiantemptyhouse,theyshutouttherestoftheworldaroundthembecausetheyknownothingotherthanaffluence.Theydonotknowahardday’sworkorhowtosocializewithstrangers.Therestoftheworldistheothertothem.Thisstoryandthe“othering”goingonthroughoutcanbeparalleledwithCortazar’sfeelingstowardsJuanPéronatthetimehewrotethisstory.WorksCited(MLAFormat):

• “JulioCortázar.”Wikipedia,WikimediaFoundation,Dec.2017,en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julio_Cort%C3%A1zar.

• Cortázar,Julio.Casatomada.Plaza&Janés,1995.• “JulioCortazarCasaTomadaAnalysis.”UKEssays,

www.ukessays.com/essays/spanish/treatment-of-the-outsider.php.