Suburban Phantasmagoriana: Making Monsters in Times of Crisis

Join us for an evocative exploration of the monsters that lurk in our homes and cultures in "Suburban Phantasmagoriana: Making Monsters in Times of Crisis." Media and Monster scholar, Carrie Russpatrick delves into personal recollections growing up in a seemingly haunted suburban home, where fear and imagination intertwined with the harsh realities of a world in turmoil—from the terror of a deteriorating family environment to the resonating threats of climate change and societal upheaval.

Through an analysis of literary and cultural monsters, most notably Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, this lecture uncovers how sinister figures (be they ghosts or creatures) not only reflect existential fears but also serve as mirrors that reveal our innermost insecurities around societal challenges. The speaker posits that monsters arise from crises, embodying our struggles with identity, morality, and the otherness that disrupts societal norms.

Engaging with both personal narratives and cultural critiques, this lecture insists on the importance of acknowledging our “monsters"—those elements of our psyche and environment that we may wish to ignore. By confronting them, we open pathways to understanding ourselves and the world around us, challenging the cycle of denial that exacerbates societal and environmental crises. Come to Prismatic Pages this Halloween season to enjoy a mixture of ghost story and academic lecture to unearth the layers of meaning within the "monstrous" and learn how, together, we can redefine our relationship with that which frightens us most.