Instructional Video6:24
PBS

How the Great Depression Fueled the Myth of the Loch Ness Monster

9th - Higher Ed
The Loch Ness Monster, or "Nessie," gained global attention in the 1930s, coinciding with the Great Depression, a time when people craved escapism. Reports of sightings, such as those by three anglers in 1930 and a detailed account...
Instructional Video4:30
PBS

The Origins of the Loch Ness Monster

9th - Higher Ed
Loch Ness, the largest lake along Scotland's Great Glen, is famously known for its legendary resident, the Loch Ness Monster, or "Nessie." Described as having a small head, long neck, and flippers, the creature's legend dates back to a...
Instructional Video6:33
PBS

Mothman in Popular Culture

9th - Higher Ed
John Keel's book "The Mothman Prophecies" and its 2002 film adaptation significantly popularized the Mothman legend beyond Point Pleasant. Keel, a journalist and paranormal investigator, visited Point Pleasant in 1966 to investigate...
Instructional Video7:27
PBS

Mothman: the Winged Monster of West Virginia

9th - Higher Ed
The legend of Mothman began in Point Pleasant, West Virginia in the 1960s. He is described as a six-foot humanoid creature with massive wings and glowing red eyes. Eyewitness accounts from the 1960s detail encounters with the creature,...
Instructional Video8:11
PBS

How Advances in Science Changed the Zombie Narrative

9th - Higher Ed
Films like 28 Weeks Later (2007), [REC] (2007), Quarantine (2008), and Deadgirl (2008) depict the zombie plague as a result of scientific misjudgment, reflecting society's growing anxieties around technology and experimentation. At the...
Instructional Video8:48
PBS

21st Century Zombies: Evolving Fears and Cultural Reflections

9th - Higher Ed
In the 21st century, zombie narratives have evolved, reflecting new societal anxieties such as terrorism, bioengineering, pandemics, and environmental crises. With iconic video games like Resident Evil and films like 28 Days Later,...
Instructional Video8:53
PBS

Consumerism and Social Critique in Romero's Dawn of the Dead

9th - Higher Ed
In 1978, George Romero released Dawn of the Dead, moving the zombie apocalypse to a shopping mall, symbolizing the growing influence of American consumerism and suburban life. This film continued his critique of society, with zombies...
Instructional Video10:31
PBS

The Cultural Significance of the Romero Zombie

9th - Higher Ed
Slavery's influence on the creation of the zombie can be traced back to its roots in Haitian folklore, where zombification was linked to slavery and control. Romero's reimagining of the zombie, however, took on new political and cultural...
Instructional Video2:36
PBS

Trolls in the 20th Century

9th - Higher Ed
At the turn of the 20th century, trolls transitioned from fairy tales into novels, most notably in science fiction and fantasy. J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings series brought trolls into the mainstream, where they...
Instructional Video2:37
PBS

The Return of Trolls in Folklore and Literature

9th - Higher Ed
As science and formal education spread, belief in trolls began to fade until a resurgence of folklore interest in the 19th century. Danish author Hans Christian Andersen included trolls in his fairy tales, and Norwegian illustrators like...
Instructional Video6:17
PBS

The Significance of Trolls in Medieval and Scandanavian History

9th - Higher Ed
Since the publication of troll sagas in the Middle Ages, these mythical creatures have continued to captivate popular imagination, particularly in Scandinavian countries. Medieval Norwegian law even recognized the existence of trolls,...
Instructional Video4:33
PBS

Trolls: From Folklore to Social Media

9th - Higher Ed
Modern trolls, lurking on social media, harass and antagonize others while concealing their identities are much like their ancient counterparts who hid in dark, isolated spaces. Rooted in Scandinavian folklore, trolls originally...
Instructional Video1:58
PBS

Bioengineered Terrors: Killer Plants in Modern Fiction

9th - Higher Ed
In the 1970s and 80s, advances in bioengineering fueled narratives about dangerous plants, reflecting anxieties about genetic experimentation. Stories like Super Mario’s piranha plants and Godzilla, popularized the theme of killer flora....
Instructional Video2:50
PBS

Monstrous Flora: From Science to Fiction in the 20th Century

9th - Higher Ed
At the turn of the 20th century, plants in both science and horror fiction were increasingly viewed with curiosity and fear. The 1920s and 30s saw a surge in monstrous plant narratives, with fears of nuclear mutation, extraterrestrial...
Instructional Video3:54
PBS

Exotic Dangers: The Rise of Killer Plant Myths in the 19th Century

9th - Higher Ed
In the 19th century, advancements in trade and greenhouse technology enabled the global transport of plants, sparking fascination with exotic and sometimes dangerous flora. This led to a rise in fictional tales of carnivorous plants,...
Instructional Video5:30
PBS

Why Are Alien Stories So Popular?

9th - Higher Ed
The 1990s saw a boom in alien abductions in popular culture, fueled by shows like The X-Files and Hollywood blockbusters such as Independence Day. UFO enthusiasts, ranging from skeptics to believers, grew in number, driven by both...
Instructional Video3:33
PBS

The Evolution of Extraterrestrial Encounters

9th - Higher Ed
There are many common depictions of extraterrestrials, but the "gray aliens," which are known for their humanoid forms, large black eyes, and gray skin are among the most common. This video traces the origins of extraterrestrial...
Instructional Video3:43
PBS

The Origins and Evolution of Deadly Plant Myths

9th - Higher Ed
For millennia, humans have used plants for healing and protection, but myths have also depicted plants as conscious killers. Stories of poisonous plants, such as the deadly Javanese upas tree, have been sensationalized throughout...
Instructional Video7:25
PBS

The Rise of UFO Encounters and Pop Culture Influence

9th - Higher Ed
There was a surge in UFO sightings from the 1940s through the 1980s, with the "flying saucer era" beginning in 1946. Significant events like the Roswell incident in 1947 and the first widely publicized alien abduction case of Barney and...
Instructional Video18:17
Curated Video

Ancient Egypt Timeline & Mythology Family Tree

6th - Higher Ed
Ancient Egypt Timeline & Mythology Family Tree
Instructional Video7:18
PBS

How the Mummy Became Modern Horror Icon

9th - Higher Ed
The rise of the film industry solidified the Egyptian mummy as a foreign antagonist, beginning with its first screen appearance in 1899. Universal Pictures' 1932 film The Mummy further popularized the mummy as a horror icon, inspired...
Instructional Video7:08
PBS

The Origins of Mummy Mythology

9th - Higher Ed
Mummies, particularly Egyptian mummies, became iconic in popular culture due to their association with ancient rituals and the afterlife. The process of mummification was initially a sacred practice tied to Egyptian religious beliefs,...
Instructional Video9:16
PBS

How American Culture Changed the Zombie

9th - Higher Ed
After the Haitian Revolution, Vodou evolved in the United States, blending West African, indigenous, and European traditions, which French slave owners brought over. By the 20th century, Vodou and zombies became intertwined with...
Instructional Video6:10
PBS

Origins of the Zombie: Vodou, Enslavement, and the Loss of Free Will

9th - Higher Ed
The origins of the zombie are deeply rooted in the spiritual practice of Vodou, distinct from the popularized Voodoo. Vodou's zombie concept emerged as a representation of a body without free will, manipulated by spiritual forces,...