Wyso And The Other Creepy Kids on Gerard Street
Man's Best
Sparkers
Better Dig 2
By Science Fiction Author,
Clara Bush
Science Fiction
Poll Results, Videos, Music,
and other stuff on Wednesdays.
BIG shout out to Texas Tech University, Dr. Charles Crews, and his awesome students for inviting me to be a guest speaker yesterday. Their discussions, questions, and insight on such hot topics as fracking, wind energy, careers, religion, and monsters led to much inspiration for me and hopefully for them.
The Short of It
Dr. Crews’ students helped in my research to design guidelines to create a modern day monster that would become classic like Frankenstein, Dracula, Wolf Man, and The Mummy.
Today’s blog reports the results of three polls I conducted to discover the most popular monster of The Big Four.
The Long of It
The Sci-Fi google + community, the science fiction writers google+ community, and Dr. Crews’ students were polled.
Probe-Filing
I’d loved to hear what you think. Why would a group of young adults vote Frankenstein as their favorite?
I picked Dracula because the poll specified “movie” monster. I love the Frankenstein book much much more than Dracula. —Drew
I thought Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was Gothic horror. Either way I’d have to say Dracula was my favourite, read the book quiet young and it stuck with me for a long time….very enjoyable read.
Victor Frankenstein was the Monster for creating the creature. The Creature itself was largely blameless in the whole affair. Well, the ignorant town folks were pretty horrible too. Collectively they can be referred to as the Angry Mob. —Paul
Dracula has a back story and personality. Wolfy got hairy and we lose the humanness of his body expressions we feed off. Frank, well “he was just this Guy you know.” —Lazarus
The once constant is the angry mob with their pitchforks. Same thing would happen in 2015 if a scientist animated a dead person, only this time we’d be able to see it on YouTube.—Dalt
- Writing, 2 Must Dos and a Don’t - November 25, 2021
- Thoreau and Simply Writing - November 11, 2021
- Kurt Vonnegut, Finding Time. Living Life As A Writer. - October 28, 2021
I wonder if the students leaned towards the monster in Frankenstein because it was the most “technologically” based of the group – fearful of what technology can accomplish/create.
I agree with the student who points out that the mummy had a dark magic quality that made him/her unique to the others. In fact, that brings up an interesting point… what of the “witch/sorcerer” as a monster? Not that they have to always be villains, but there is a case for these often dark magicians, especially in the young adult genre. Lets look at your three (four if you include love) qualifications:
He must be created from the imagination of a writer. CHECK..maybe
The monster should be so depraved—in actions or appearance or both—that society and even his maker reject him and try to destroy him. This gives the monster something with which we as humans can empathize.
The witch is an outcast, or “other”.. certainly rejected by society
His detest-ability is derived from something unnatural like the dead coming back to life, the undead, or being composed of the parts of numerous dead people.
Debatable, is magic “unnatural”??
“Love—either as its main squeeze or as a back story for the journey of a monster.”
not necessarily always true of the monster/witch.. but think of the witches detest of “true love”.. and the idea that a bitter old woman/man tears young lovers apart”
Overall, I think it maybe a sub genre of the Monster.. or maybe I am way off base and derailing the whole conversation on your blog (I hope not, if so sorry), but you certainly have me thinking. Thanks Clara.. what a great blog to stumble upon.
Hi Orloff—Much to ponder!
I include witches/sorcerers in the alien/zombie/ork category. Monstrous indeed, but is there a single witch who stands out as the most monstrous?
Of course there are your fairy tale witches. The bad witch in The Wizard of Oz scared the heck out of me as a child until I met Godzilla. But fairy tale…not feeling the monster. Are you?
Did you have one witch in particular? if so, tell me and I will research.
Thank you for your comment and compliment. I am so happy you like the monster series. You made my day!
Maleficent?
Maleficent— warrants a definite future investigation. Thanks!