Monster Theory Reading Culture

The focus on aesthetics, or more commonly known, the admiration of beauty, might seem abnormal when discussing monsters, after all, a monster is known for its lack of beauty.
Early myths portrayed the monster as something to be killed, a brute that may have resembled humankind, similarly as their divine beings did, however as opposed to being worshiped, they were consistently kept in the cemetery of crushed enemies. Over the years, the monsters of myths have moved from the iconic literary works onto the big screen of the cinema, permitting audiences to now see the creatures that were once only a culmination of descriptive phrases.
The steady visual alteration of the Phantom and other monsters in film, has now disturbed the long-held hypothesis that claims that a monster's body is basically an embodiment of disparity bringing about one outcome, fear. A scholar in monster theory, Jeffery Jerome Cohen composed a book titled, Monster Theory Reading Culture, where he discussed the seven theses of monster theory, including two that will be addressed …show more content…
The phantom’s mask was designed with one eye slit, presenting a less humanlike appearance than other adaptations’ masks. In the film, the phantom is viewed as the killer of an anonymous stagehand, however, there is a lack of verification given, especially after the film focuses on the Phantom’s lackey killing the rodent catcher, and even goes on to attack Harry, Christine’s love interest. The film closes with the lackey accidently breaking the chandelier as the Phantom impales himself on the chandelier saving Christine. The film’s ending supports the conclusion that the Phantom, who was set up to be the villain, ended becoming the tragic hero whose face labeled him a monster all