Food for Thought: Monsters & Markets

Who: Dr. Cynthia Jones (Foreign Languages) & Dr. Valentinas Rudys (Economics). 
When: Thursday, October 31 @ 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Where: Hetzel-Hoellein Room - Library #321 (food provided!)

Monsters are everywhere; they are in the stories we tell, creeping in and out of folklore and fairytales, and lurking in literature, film, and television.

What is it about the figure of the monster that both fascinates and frightens us? The term 'monster' comes from the Latin roots 'monstrare' (to reveal or demonstrate) and 'monere' (to warn), therefore the monster can be interpreted as a figure that both reveals something about us and warns. Interestingly, monere is also the root for 'money', thus linking the monster to consumption and the transfer of wealth.

Can these two seemingly unrelated concepts possibly be connected? Yes! By connecting monsters and markets, this presentation will be an exploration of capitalism, consumption, and transfer of wealth through the pop cultural lens of vampires, werewolves, zombies, and other monsters.