Building decoration — wreathes, vines, angels, eagles, saints — are one thing, but nothing beats a good old fashioned gargoyle when it comes to jazzing up the exterior of a building. Usually associated with Gothic Cathedrals in Europe, many cities all over the world have gargoyles perched on buildings of more recent origins. Traditionally, these monsters ward off evil. They can also be part of sculptural story telling and promote the legends that hold a culture together when literacy is uncommon. The most famous gargoyles are winged creatures and the stories of them coming to life at night, flying over
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As if there weren’t enough reasons for me to daydream about going to Scotland… castles, salmon, single malt Scotch, the settings for the Ian Rankin, Val McDermid and Denise Mina mystery books, the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh and that gorgeous burr in the accent, there’s the Loch Ness Monster. Nessie is the quintessential MONSTER of myth and legend. Even a cursory check on the Internet and you’ll find tons of sites devoted to the hunt for the Loch Ness Monster. I got myself seriously dizzy with Nessie sites featuring everything from inconclusive sonar recordings and ‘un-doctored’
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The very first moving pictures may have scared people with stampeding horses and moving trains, but monsters soon became the subject of some of the best — and worst — movies ever made. The 1922 classic Nosferatu, by F.W Murnau with Max Schreck as the vamprie is a truly monstrous interpretation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula story. The completely creepy vampire doesn’t fit into the contemporary landscape of sexy vampires, but it’s from a different time and place. I’ve never seen the 1920 German film The Golem, but now that I’m in a monster mode, I’m going to seek it out.
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What is a Monster? The dictionary definition is broad, with four different meanings for monster. One, legendary creatures that combine aspects of animals and humans — like centaurs, griffins and werewolves Two, anything that is huge, gigantic or oversized Three, any animal or human that deviates from the norm in size, shape, character or behavior Four, a person who inspires fear and horror with evil, cruelty or wicked behavior There are a whole lot of monsters out there! This month, I’ll endeavor to share my thoughts on a variety of monsters and monstrous creatures. Every culture has monsters and monster
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On February 1, I will begin a month of MONSTER MEDITATIONS — daily blogs posts on all things monstrous. I’m hoping to get some of the blog post ideas from readers. Right now, I’m busy preparing for 29 straight days of MONSTERS with research into gargoyles, mythical beasts and everybody’s favorite — vampires! Got any good monster stories to share?
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Lions and Tigers and Bears can be scary, but what about MONSTERS? In preparation for my month of monster meditations, I’m looking for sports teams with MONSTER names. So far… the New York GIANTS!
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I’m in research mode, in preparation for my month of monster meditations — daily blog posts on all things monstrous, from February 1 to February 29. I’m enjoying a Year of the Dragon coincidence. Of all the signs of the Lunar Zodiac, only the Dragon is a mythological creature — a true monster in every way. Happy Year of the Dragon!
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Can a chair become a monster? How about a computer, like HAL? Today I’m looking into the monsters transformed from the benign to the dangerous, as part of my preparation for my month of monster meditations in February. What’s up with that electric toothbrush?
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Are dragons monsters? The year of the dragon starts very, very soon so I’m contemplating dragons. Are they monsters? I think so. They are certainly powerful, enchanted (and enchanting), creatures of nightmares, myths and legends. I will ponder dragons and their tales (and tails) for my February ‘month of monster meditations.’ Dragon stories anyone?
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I’m still exploring topics for the daily monster meditations/blog posts in February. And I’d be remiss if I ignored the ‘monsters’ inside us. Many cultures and traditions have tales of monsters (demons, spirits, ghosts) that inhabit a person. The Dybbuk of Jewish folk tales, clings to a living person — a scary prospect! Demonic possession and dramatic exorcisms are the stuff of horror movie classics, but the idea that we all have a bad side — or the potential for evil — is the internal MONSTER. Robert Lewis Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is no doubt the best exploration
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