Welcome to the Sip Salon where we gather to learn together through articles and discussion. No experts, just curious folks coming together to discuss topics. Whether you know a little or a lot, we hope to grow together in our understandings. With drinks.
This month, we tell stories about dragons, goblins, ghosts, and witches—but why? In his essay “Why We Invented Monsters,” Paul Trout argues that our minds, shaped through millions of years of vulnerability, carry deep-seated fears of being prey. He suggests these primal anxieties were filtered through imagination, memory, mythmaking—leading humans to invent monsters that embody both danger and desire.
In this salon, we will:
- Explore how ancient human experience (as prey species) may have coded fear into our imaginations, giving rise to monster myths across cultures.
- Discuss how monsters function as symbolic warning signs—the “monster” doesn't just terrify us; it shows us what we dread most.
- Consider connections between monster myth and the lingering fascination with witches, spectres, and other “othered” figures.
- Ask: when we imagine monsters today—on screen, in stories, in politics—what are they showing us about our fears, desires, and who we see as monstrous?
- Come prepared with your own favorite mythical creatures to share with the group. Whether is it's the classic vampire or a local legend, we look forward to scaring and learning about these together!
Join us for a conversation that bridges mythology, psychology, culture, and power. With drinks, curiosity, and room for speculation.
