Monsters and Myths in the Making: An Interdisciplinary Graduate Student
Symposium

April 21, 2012

History Graduate Society

University of Florida

Keynote: Dr. W. Scott Poole, College of Charleston, author of *Monsters in
America: Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting* (2011).

 Vampires and werewolves breaking hearts, zombies overtaking the world, and
the Brothers Grimm solving mysteries, the undead and mythological beings
from the near and distance past permeate twenty-first century popular
culture. What drives human beings to cling to such figures? What purpose do
these tales serve? This symposium seeks to explore the development and
dissemination of archetypal figures and debates surrounding the
construction of monsters and myths. As the characters above suggest, these
monsters and myths can cross borders, spaces, and time in a global exchange
of folklore. Thus, what are the foundational archetypes from Europe and
beyond, and, why, once in the “new world” do these myths and monsters
persist throughout time?

 To continue this discussion, the University of Florida’s History Graduate
Society invites paper and panel proposals for an interdisciplinary
symposium on the construction of monsters and myths throughout the world
and across time. We welcome submissions from any discipline in the
humanities and social sciences. Paper proposals should be 150-200 words and
include a brief bio of the author. Panels should include abstracts for each
paper, again no more than 200 words, bios for each presenter, and a cover
sheet stating the title of the panel and its format. Abstracts and bios are
due by *24 February 2012*. Please e-mail abstracts and bios to
uflhgs@gmail.com

Applicants will be notified before *12 March 2012* if their paper/panel has
been accepted.

For additional information please contact the History Graduate Society at
uflhgs@gmai.xom

Possible topics include:

Monsters

Heroes

Villains

Myths

Folk tales and folk stories

Archetypes

Myth making

Oral traditions

Film and literary representations

Superstitions

Haunting/ hauntings

Ghosts/spirits/apparitions/haints

Witches/witchcraft

Sorcery
Legends