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Monstrum
The Origins of ‘Big Bug’ Science Fiction
Season 3
Episode 14
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 how nuclear weapons, the suburbs, the Cold War, and the pest control industry all contributed to a beloved film subgenre in this episode.
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10:33
Let’s talk about the eerie and unsettling legend of changelings.
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7:11
Rooted in Greek culture, the Christmas monster Kallikantzaros is a goblin-like creature.
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8:15
You think you know Gremlins—but their story is far deeper than just the 1984 movie.
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32:44
Let’s talk slasher films–their origins, their lasting impact, and why we love them so much!
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12:47
Is the Manticore a man-eating monster from Persian myth or simply a misidentified tiger?
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12:13
Jiangshi, is a variation on the vampire that you won’t soon forget!
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8:44
Translation has shaped the lore of Grendel's Mother as a fearsome yet misunderstood figure.
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10:29
La Lechuza: The Shape-Shifting Witch-Owl
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10:09
King Kong and how his long-lived story has changed to reflect our society’s complex social issues.
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11:16
Ever felt like a place seems real yet oddly unsettling?
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11:15
The Pacific Northwest's enigmatic waters are home to an elusive sea serpent of legend: Cadborosaurus
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9:06
In this episode, we explore the complicated legacy of the monumental 1933 film, King Kong.