SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY MONSTROUS SYMBOLS PRACTICE MONSTERS AS SYMBOLS

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY: MONSTROUS SYMBOLS

PRACTICE: MONSTERS AS SYMBOLS How are Vampires a symbolic representation of the fears of sexuality?

SYMBOLISM DEFINITION: Any reoccurring object (thing, person, animal, etc. ) incorporated into a piece of literature to represent an idea figuratively. Symbolism always relates to theme. What is figurative language? Symbolism can take different forms. Generally, it is a physical object representing an idea to give a meaning that is much deeper and more significant.

PURPOSE OF SYMBOLS Symbols offer critical information about events, characters, and the author’s primary concerns in telling the story. Profound: having or showing great knowledge or insight Symbols can also be linked to foreshadowing and other literary concepts as well.

APPLICATION: MONSTROUS FEARS OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY A lot of the monsters that we look at are human based, but in the context of science & technology, this is not always the case. Oftentimes in science fiction natural creatures that have been altered are used to demonstrate the fear that scientific and technological ‘progress’ has corrupted the natural world

YOUR TASK Each of your groups will be given one piece of scientific or technological progress, which you will ultimately be using to develop your own symbolic monster with. *Consider the conventions of science fiction we have been discussing as you do this*

PRODUCT: I. Short 1 st person account; diary entry, reactionary newspaper article, etc. imagining seeing your technology for the first time and being terrified of it and its implications for society. (Consider what it would have been like to come across thing for the first time, with no prior knowledge or understanding) II. Infographic on impacts. Research how society changed in terms of social, cultural, interpersonal, or scientific impacts. Works cited, 3 sources III. Art based, unique, symbolic MONSTER based off your parts I. and II. products. Annotated (3 -5) with explanations of how your monster represents fears associated with your science or technology. UNIQUE (NOT a monster that already exists) Figurative Visually appealing: intentional colors, quality, evidence of drafting

Atomic Bomb Research: …. First hand account of Nagasaki bombing: …. Godzilla’s Size represents the fears of radiation and the destructive power of the bomb. Godzilla’s fire breath Godzilla coming from the ocean represents the fear of the bomb’s impact on the environment. Additionally the suddenness of the bomb falling.