Video Explores How Mythological Monsters Still Shape Our Sense of Right and Wrong

Mythological monsters have terrified, fascinated, and inspired us for centuries. But beneath the teeth and claws lies something much deeper… our own reflection.

In a fascinating video from Dr. Emily Zarka of the PBS series Monstrum, she explores how monsters throughout history have been used to shape morality and define the boundaries between good and evil.

Dr. Zarka explains that these creatures weren’t just born from superstition or fear, but from a cultural need to teach lessons about behavior, values, and consequences. As she puts it:

“Monsters serve as instructive metaphors to teach moral lessons or condemn and promote certain behaviors. …While those horror movies and spooky stories by the fire aren’t just there to scare us, they’re trying to teach us something, about how to behave, what not to do, and who to trust.”

Think about creatures like Krampus, the horned punisher of bad children. His legend wasn’t just meant to frighten kids into obedience, it reinforced the idea that moral wrongdoing carries a price.

These mythological beings created clear moral codes, helping communities define what it meant to be “good” or “evil.”

But Zarka also points out that the concept of “monsters” goes far beyond folklore. Sometimes, the real monsters are human. When fear and prejudice take over, society creates its own “others” to blame.

“Monster mythology isn’t only about what’s not human, but perhaps more crucially what it means to be accepted. …Colonizers often labeled indigenous peoples as savages or beasts to diminish and other them.

“Still today, marginalized groups are labeled as monstrous for their differences, whether that’s race, religion, gender, immigration, status, or sexuality. Monster continues to be used to justify discrimination and violence.”

That insight exposes how the stories we tell still shape how we see each other. Mythical monsters once taught us how to be good, but the human tendency to “monsterize” others has turned that lesson upside down.

Dr. Zarka’s exploration reminds us that the monsters of legend weren’t just about fear, they were mirrors showing us our darkest instincts and our brightest potential. Maybe, by understanding why we create monsters, we can learn how to stop becoming them ourselves.