Monster? Alien? Alien Monster? Or just a strange, wee, beastie?

[capri0mni]

Okay. So those who've known me for a while, know that I am a proud supporter of Team!Monster.


Over the last few years, I've taken the etymology of the word "Monster" to heart so that it now has a deeper meaning to me than "A thing which is scary, because it is hateful." The word's root comes from the Latin for "omen," which was originally applied to animals (including human animals) who were born or stillborn with the "wrong" number of body parts (too few or too many), which were taken as a sign that the gods were preparing to punish people for their sins. Centuries later, the word was applied to fantastical / imaginary beings of mixed animal parts such as grotesques and Chimera.

So, for me, "Monster" has come to mean: "An entity (usually living), which cannot be made to fit into preconceived categories." And because humans have this cognitive quirk of understanding the world by fitting each part of it into categories, we take anything that can't fit neatly *somewhere* as a threat. And then, we tend to ascribe an active intent to frighten to the objects of our fear (And I think that's why, for example, so many people feel that gays, lesbians, gender queer, et alia, are a "threat to society" -- also interracial marriages, the disabled, among others).

Anyway, I love drawing monsters, and coming up with new combinations of creature features that surprise and amuse me. And when naarmamo rolls around, I let myself go to town.

This year, as I was drawing this creature:

I started out thinking I was drawing a monster version of a bird, because I was giving it one hind leg, instead of two, and giving it two more "legs," in a 'wrong' place, instead of wings.

But as I continued, I started thinking about how an animal might have evolved to have a single hind leg, and what sort of tail it would need to jump efficiently. I therefore, now, think of this being as an alien creature -- something that fits well somewhere in its native world (however, it seems to be carrying Earth!flowers, so maybe whether you're a "monster" or not depends on context).*

And then, I drew this one:

At first, I thought I was drawing an alien being, with a body structured like a sort of muscular amoeba, that can extend "limbs" and appendages at will... But as I continued, I couldn't figure out how its permanent, bony horns and teeth fit within its usual biology... So now, I'm thinking of this creature as a monster -- who would be a monster within its own world, as well.

And then I got to thinking: could there be a culture, human or otherwise, with no idea of, or need for "Monstrousness"? Could there be an alien way of thinking, that was not built around constructed, distinct, categories of things?

In any case, I think main the reason I'm proud to be on Team!Monster is that those of us who don't fit well within existing systems are in unique positions to fix what's broken about them -- or not, depending on spoons. But regardless, I think a world without monsters must be incredibly dull and lifeless...

*And isn't it ironic that I am now trying to categorize the uncategorizable?

Comments

[spiralsheep]

You'll excuse me not responding to the bulk of your post as we've had these discussions before but I think this (long) post is relevant to your interests (especially the discussion of asymmetricality:

http://shweta-narayan.livejournal.com/204154.html

[capri0mni]

Thanks for the link. I'll probably have to read it a few times through before I join in the discussion...

[raze]

Delighted to see more of your art and hear more monster solidarity. <3

[capri0mni]

And I'm delighted that I have you to be in solidarity with.

I love that "happy hound" icon of yours, but the first few times I saw it, my brain kept trying to shape it into a human child wearing a toque)...

I know these monsters of mine have stories and names, but I have no idea what they are. Maybe one day I'll make a gallery post of them as writing prompts for others.

[redsixwing]

I like your definition. It reminds me of one a DW-friend uses: a thing that won't or can't behave according to local norms, a thing that won't sit down and do as it's told.*

With that in mind, I'd think that being a monster is definitely contextual - so your three-armed flower-bearer isn't a monster among hir own, but would be on Earth; and your horned amoeba may yet find somewhere ze's pretty much ordinary.

Here's to monster appreciation posts. :)

*Sadly, that DW-friend is no longer active, or I'd link.

[capri0mni]

Here's to monster appreciation posts.

Hurrah! thanks for the appreciation of appreciation. :-)