SMGB TODAY Sports, Movies, TV Shows
The word “monster” can elicit a range of emotions from people. It may conjure up images of frightening, otherworldly creatures or evoke feelings of fear and unease. However, the concept of a monster goes beyond just fictional creatures in books and movies. It can also refer to human beings who have committed heinous acts, leaving a trail of destruction and terror in their wake. In this post, we’ll explore the idea of a monster and the ways in which it can manifest in our world.
Let’s start with the traditional definition of a monster – a large, terrifying creature that is often depicted as evil or unnatural. Monsters can be found in folklore and mythology from all over the world, from the Greek myth of Medusa to the Japanese legend of the kappa. These creatures are often used as symbols for the darker aspects of humanity, representing our fears, our secrets, and our desires.
But monsters aren’t just confined to stories and legends. They can also be found in real life, in the form of serial killers, war criminals, and other notorious individuals who have committed atrocities. These monsters are often seen as subhuman, lacking empathy and remorse for their actions. They are viewed as irredeemable, beyond the reach of compassion or understanding.
However, this view of monsters as fundamentally different from the rest of us is problematic. It allows us to distance ourselves from their actions, to write them off as aberrations that have nothing to do with us. But the truth is that the line between good and evil is not always clear-cut. We all have the capacity for both kindness and cruelty, and it is often circumstances that determine which side of that line we end up on.
It’s also worth noting that the label of “monster” is not always applied equally. People of color, for example, are more likely to be labeled as monsters than white individuals who commit similar crimes. This is due to a long history of dehumanization and demonization of non-white people in Western society, which has created a double standard when it comes to who gets to be seen as fully human and who is seen as a threat.
So what can we do about monsters – both real and fictional? One approach is to try to understand them better. This doesn’t mean excusing or justifying their actions, but rather recognizing the complex factors that contribute to their behavior. Many serial killers, for example, have a history of abuse and trauma that can help explain why they turned to violence. By understanding these factors, we can work to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future.
Another approach is to question the idea of a monster altogether. Is it really helpful or accurate to think of certain people as irredeemable, beyond the reach of empathy or understanding? Are we doing ourselves a disservice by writing off entire groups of people as inherently evil or subhuman? These are difficult questions to answer, but they are worth grappling with if we want to create a more compassionate and just society.
At the end of the day, the concept of a monster is a reminder of our own mortality and fallibility. It forces us to confront the darker aspects of ourselves and our society, and to strive for a better future. Whether we are dealing with fictional creatures in a book or real-life atrocities committed by human beings, we can always learn and grow from these experiences. The key is to approach them with an open mind and a willingness to listen and learn, rather than simply shutting them out as too terrifying or too different to understand.
