Monsters: from legend to pop culture

As children, we all wondered what kind of monster was hiding under our bed. Even though these fears have lessened as we’ve grown up, monsters have always been part of our daily lives. We all know how to protect ourselves from a vampire, or the best way to “take out” a zombie.

These legendary creatures have been around since the dawn of time, in legends and fairytales alike. Serving as warnings, explanations for unknown phenomena or simple superstition, their presence is by no means insignificant. But it was in the ^19th century, notably through Gothic novels, that their popularity exploded. Mystery and fear were the new watchwords! It was in this context, for example, that two of literature’s most famous monsters appeared: Dracula and Frankenstein.

Since then, their image has been constantly renewed and transformed, until today they are veritable pop culture stars. Zombies, vampires and werewolves are not only fashionable, they are also used in a wide range of media, including films, TV series and video games. Literature is no exception, with numerous comic books, graphic novels and mangas often presenting a new facet of these entities. Even children’s books have got to grips with the phenomenon, making them more colorful and appealing.

The library offers a selection of documents presenting these creatures, both historically and from a modern point of view.

To find out more, we invite you to consult the following articles:

• Five mythological monsters in question (Science & Vie)
• The real Dracula (National Geographic)
• The Frankenstein myth was born 200 years ago in Geneva (RTS)
• Mythical monsters (Podcast)
• Exhibition: Je est un monstre (Maison d’Ailleurs, Yverdon)