PBS
When Giant Deer Roamed Eurasia
Megaloceros was one of the largest members of the deer family ever to walk the Earth. The archaeological record is full of evidence that our ancestors lived alongside and interacted with these giant mammals for millennia. But what...
Crash Course
Pan's Labyrinth: Crash Course Film Criticism
In 2006, a movie took on authoritarianism and the violent aftershocks of the Spanish Civil War—all through the eyes of an innocent young girl and the fairy tale world she discovers in the woods. Pan's Labyrinth is both a beautifully...
TED-Ed
TED-ED: How did Dracula become the world's most famous vampire? - Stanley Stepanic
Over a hundred years after his creator was laid to rest, Dracula lives on as the most famous vampire in history. But this Transylvanian noble _ neither the first fictional vampire, nor the most popular of his time _ may have remained...
Bedtime History
History of Dragons for Kids | Bedtime History
Learn more about the history of these mythical, fearsome creatures across many cultures throughout time.
Bedtime History
History of Mermaids and Mermen for Kids | Bedtime History
Join us as we dive into the enchanting history of mermaids, mythical sea creatures that have captured the human imagination for centuries. Mermaids, depicted as half-human, half-fish beings, appear in folklore across various cultures,...
PBS
How the Mummy Became Modern Horror Icon
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 by...
PBS
The Origins of Mummy Mythology
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,...
PBS
How American Culture Changed the Zombie
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 American...
PBS
Origins of the Zombie: Vodou, Enslavement, and the Loss of Free Will
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, often...
PBS
Are Werewolves Transitioning From Monster to Metaphor?
As we continue to evolve in our understanding of nature and humanity, modern werewolf stories are exploring more sensitive and introspective themes, shifting away from the violent, tortured archetype of the past. The future of werewolf...
PBS
Renaissance of the Werewolf in 1990s and Early 2000s Pop Culture
The 1990s saw a resurgence in werewolf popularity, particularly in video games, movies, and television. Games like Altered Beast and films such as Ginger Snaps revived and modernized werewolf lore, connecting transformations to themes...
PBS
Werewolves of War: From Nazi Propaganda to Post-War Pop Culture
After World War I, some German soldiers who refused to disband formed a group called "Werewolf," which later became an elite recruiting source for the Nazi regime during World War II. Werewolves were integrated into Nazi propaganda,...
PBS
The Evolution of Werewolves in Film
The dawn of the film industry influenced the depiction of werewolves in popular culture. Beginning with early 20th-century movies that incorporated werewolf lore often included a demonization of non-white populations. Later, the werewolf...
PBS
How Industrialization and Urbanization Changed Werewolf Legends
In the 19th century, the werewolf shifted from a feared monster to a symbol of literary fantasy, fueled by industrialization, urbanization, and the rise of science. Stories about werewolves became popular in Gothic literature, penny...
PBS
The Enduring Myth and Medical Mysteries of Werewolves
Throughout history, the concept of werewolves has been closely intertwined with both supernatural and medical explanations. Initially, lycanthropy referred to both literal shape-shifting into wolves through magic and a form of mental...
PBS
Evolution of Werewolf Legends During the Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages, werewolf legends evolved, becoming more widespread and demonized by the church. Changes in farming, particularly the rise of sheep farming, positioned wolves as a threat to livelihood, which reinforced their...
PBS
Cultural Variations and Christian Influence on Werewolf Legends
Influenced by Germanic and Nordic traditions, werewolf legends spread throughout Europe. This resulted in a variety of werewolf stories across different cultures. From transformations caused by drinking from a wolf's footprint to legends...
PBS
Myth, Symbolism, and Cultural Origins of the Werewolf
Wolves have played a unique role throughout human history, being both feared predators and admired creatures. This video explores the origins and evolution of the werewolf myth across various cultures, emphasizing three main types of...
PBS
The Origins of ‘Big Bug’ Science Fiction
Insects make up 80 percent of the world’s species, so it's not all that surprising we’ve occasionally made them into monsters in science fiction and horror. What is staggering is why the “big bug” subgenre took off in the 1950s. Find out...
PBS
Death Worms: Fact or Fiction?
Rumored to roam some of the world’s most desolate places the poisonous, killer death worm can trace its history in folklore back thousands of years. Made more famous and frightening with science fiction series like Dune and Tremors,...
PBS
Don’t Let Them In! The Urban Legends of Black-Eyed Children
An urban legend that exploits our fears of an obstructed gaze and the deeply unsettling idea that the youngest of our species are out to destroy us, the lore of Black-Eyed Children, or Black-Eyed Kids, is a modern construction. But the...
PBS
Leprechaun: From Gold-Loving Cobbler to Cultural Icon
Leprechauns are associated with St. Patrick’s Day and Irish culture, but do you know why? The jovial, red-haired little man dressed in green standing next to a pot of gold is a modern invention—the diminutive faerie folk was once more...
PBS
The Crazed Hunt for the Himalayan Yeti
Dr. Zarka examines the yeti’s origins, from Tibetan folklore and religion to the Westernized abominable snowman version. She explains how Buddhist beliefs, a series of intrepid 20th-century explorers, and a creatively translated word...
PBS
Fire Cat or Fire Cart? The History of Japan’s Kasha
Swooping down from the heavens on a fire ball, the Kasha drags the bodies of the dead to the underworld for a life of damnation. Most frequently depicted as a demonic, flaming cat, the kanji for ‘Kasha’ actually translates to “Fire...