Monsters are all around us. We encounter them in stories, movies, and sometimes even in our dreams. In their diversity, they show that our imagination is limitless, but they also pick up on the fears and desires of our cultures and histories as well as how we have been depicting others and defining ourselves. In this course, we will "read monsters" as reflections of specific cultural and historical moments from the Middle Ages to today. Want to find out more about the mermaid depicted on your Starbucks cup? Or learn what causes shapeshifting? Add a little bit of magic to your life with this course about dragons and witches, while exploring the real-world consequences of these fantastical ideas.
3 units · Letter or Credit/No Credit · GER: WAY-A-II
Monsters are all around us. We encounter them in stories, movies, and sometimes even in our dreams. In their diversity, they show that our imagination is limitless, but they also pick up on the fears and desires of our cultures and histories as well as how we have been depicting others and defining ourselves. In this course, we will "read monsters" as reflections of specific cultural and historical moments from the Middle Ages to today. Want to find out more about the mermaid depicted on your Starbucks cup? Or learn what causes shapeshifting? Add a little bit of magic to your life with this course about dragons and witches, while exploring the real-world consequences of these fantastical ideas.
Offered in Winter 2026 at Stanford University.