“A Modest Proposal” (Swift)
“Monsters and the Moral Imagination” (Asna)
“Seven Theses” (Cohen)
Prompt
You have read several texts which deal with monster culture, “traditional” monsters,
human monsters, and monstrous societal constructs.
In an essay of 700 words or more, discuss the role that monsters play in today’s
society. Are monsters only useful if they are culturally-specific, or do monsters and
their stories transcend cultural and regional boundaries? Who are monster stories
really intended for?
You may wish to touch upon the significance of the longevity of
monsters/monster stories, how monsters have been depicted over time (and
what this reflects about society), and/or what monsters/monster stories can
teach us about society, who we are, and life in genera
