'Enchanted Creatures' delves into humanity's long-standing relationship with both real and mythical monsters, exploring their significance in culture and imagination. From ancient manticores to modern cinematic creatures, Lawrence illustrates how the theme of monstrosity has evolved across history. The book examines how these fantastical beings reflect cultural fears, aspirations, and the continuing allure of the monstrous. While it touches on medieval aspects like Grendel, the broader scope celebrates the pervasive presence of monsters in literature and cinema, underscoring their role as vital companions in human dreams and nightmares.
Despite being abhorrent, monsters are deeply persistent. The unselfconscious freedom of childhood might slip away as we age and our fantasy worlds recede, but monsters stay with us.
From the manticores and hydras of the ancient world to the alien Predators and Facehuggers of modern films, our imaginations have always produced monsters and we've always been entranced by them.
Dragons appear in different guises in almost every culture. Creature films gross hundreds of millions of dollars in cinema box offices.
Comprehensive yet accessible, Enchanted Creatures perches at the intersection of literary criticism and cultural studies, examining the beasts that accompany humanity through dreams and nightmares alike.
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