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 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 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 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 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 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,...
Instructional Video4:50
PBS

Are Werewolves Transitioning From Monster to Metaphor?

9th - Higher Ed
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...
Instructional Video6:55
PBS

Renaissance of the Werewolf in 1990s and Early 2000s Pop Culture

9th - Higher Ed
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...
Instructional Video5:42
PBS

Werewolves of War: From Nazi Propaganda to Post-War Pop Culture

9th - Higher Ed
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,...
Instructional Video7:40
PBS

The Evolution of Werewolves in Film

9th - Higher Ed
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...
Instructional Video5:24
PBS

How Industrialization and Urbanization Changed Werewolf Legends

9th - Higher Ed
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...
Instructional Video4:14
PBS

The Enduring Myth and Medical Mysteries of Werewolves

9th - Higher Ed
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...
Instructional Video7:20
PBS

Evolution of Werewolf Legends During the Middle Ages

9th - Higher Ed
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...
Instructional Video5:15
PBS

Cultural Variations and Christian Influence on Werewolf Legends

9th - Higher Ed
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...
Instructional Video8:10
PBS

Myth, Symbolism, and Cultural Origins of the Werewolf

9th - Higher Ed
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...
Instructional Video11:44
PBS

The Origins of ‘Big Bug’ Science Fiction

9th - Higher Ed
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...
Instructional Video11:55
PBS

Death Worms: Fact or Fiction?

9th - Higher Ed
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,...