Preternature, vol. 2, issue 2
Monstrophy: The Academic Study of Monsters
'Monstrophy' is a term referring to the academic study of monsters as
representational and conceptual categories, which has gained recent
currency in several related fields of study (literary and cultural
history, sociological theories of identity and difference, et al.), as
well as in a number of recent books and articles about monsters as
subjects of theoretical interpretation. Etymologically derived from Latin
''monstrum'' (meaning prodigy, ominous sign, monstrous creature or person,
abomination) and Greek ''sophia''(?????, wisdom), hybrid compounding of
monstrophy is not uncommon in disciplinary names, e.g. [[sociology]],
another Greek and Latin compound.) Monstrophy literally means "wisdom
about monsters," and in academic usage refers to the broader study of
monsters in society and history.
Monsters have been widely catalogued in their historical and ethnographic
contexts, and have been commonly included in cultural products such as
epic, folktale, fiction, and film, but have only begun to be studied
seriously as semiological markers indicating the seams of internal
cultural tension. Interpreters commonly note the "monstrous" as occupying
space at the borders of a society's conceptual categories, such as those
relating to sexual and behavioral transgression, or to inherent prejudice
and internal conflict (for instance, in race, gender, politics, and
religion). Monsters are rarely fully distinct from the "human," but are
often comprised of hybrid features of the human and non-human. This issue
of Preternature invites contributions that explore how the category of
"monster" is used to define and articulate what a certain group of people
articulates to itself to be properly human.
Contributions are welcome from any discipline, time period, or geographic
provenance, so long as the discussion highlights the cultural, literary,
religious, or historical significance of the topic.
Contributions should be roughly 8,000 - 12,000 words (with the possibility
of longer submissions in exceptional cases), including all documentation
and critical apparatus. If accepted for publication, manuscripts will be
required to adhere to the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition (style 1,
employing footnotes).
Preternature also welcomes original editions or translations of texts
related to the topic that have not otherwise been made available in recent
editions or in English.
Submissions are made online at: <www.preternature.org>.
Final Papers are due February 15, 2012
Queries about submissions, queries concerning books to be reviewed, or
requests to review individual titles may be made to the Editor:
Kirsten C. Uszkalo: [log in to unmask]
Inquiries about book reviews should be sent to the Book Review Editor:
Richard Raiswell: [log in to unmask]
For more on the journal, please consult <www.preternature.org>.
--
Richard Raiswell, Associate Editor, FICINO
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