What Asma suggests here is that Monsters are symbolic. Even if they are “fake”, they represent real fears about the world, about each other and about ourselves.

In “Monsters and the Moral Imagination” Steven Asma’s thesis suggests Monsters can
stand as symbols of human vulnerability and crisis….

What Asma suggests here is that Monsters are symbolic. Even if they are “fake”, they represent real fears about the world, about each other and about ourselves.

Below, you can view the monster prompt in its entirety. This is a 2-3 page paper.

Monster Prompt Paragraph Structure:

PARAGRAPH 1

Intro: Introduce your monster. It can be a category of monster (ghosts, vampires, etc.) or a particular monster from a movie, video game, graphic novel, or book (e.g., Lestat from Anne Rices Interview with the Vampire or Freddy Krueger from Wes Cravens A Nightmare on Elm Street). Provide a bit of background for the monsterwho are they? What is their origin story?

Thesis: How does your monster illustrate Asmas thesis? How does your monster represent a social fear, contradiction, or conflict?

Who are the victims of this monster? Why did the monster choose these victims? Is there a clear motive for the violence?
Reconnect to the thesis. Why do the victims tell us about what the monster represents symbolically? (For example, why does Godzillas victims connect to the deeper, more true social fear Godzilla represents). Remember, you do not have to write about Godzilla…choose any monster you are interested in.
QUOTES: What real life data could you share that connects with your monster?

What are the ways the monster attacks? How does he or she kill? If they use a weapon, explain the symbolic significance of the object.
Reconnect to your thesis. How does the monsters methods connect to the thesis about the monster representing human weakness, fear, vulnerability. (For example, why is it significant that Godzilla destroys cities, smashes buildings, sets places on fire? How might this be connected to the nuclear bomb in real life?)
QUOTES: What real life data could you share that connects with your monster?

Does your monster wear a mask? Does the mask reveal or conceal something about the monster? Does the mask allow the monster to hide or cover its true nature?
If they dont wear a mask, do they rely on deception? Is the monster itself a mask for some form of human weakness or vulnerability?

What have you learned about the monster from the application of Asmas theory, and how has it enriched your understanding of this particular monsterand monsters in general?

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