Aditi SharmaGraphic Designer FeedContact
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Critical Context Paper: Monsters as Metaphors 13/02/25

This essay investigates the evolution of monsters as cultural metaphors, tracing their symbolic meanings across myth, literature, and film. From ancient tales like Prometheus to Gothic classics such as Frankenstein and Dracula, monsters have historically embodied societal fears—whether they were anxieties about scientific progress, disease, or societal collapse.

As time progressed, so did our monsters. Godzilla reflected fears of nuclear destruction, while films like Metropolis and Blade Runner explored themes of labour exploitation. The essay also examines how modern works, such as The Shape of Water and Blade Runner 2049, portray monsters with empathy, using them as vehicles for critiquing marginalisation, ethical dilemmas, and social exclusion.

As part of my major design project, I translated this critical context paper into an editorial design piece, combining academic analysis with visual storytelling. The final publication used layout, typography, and image treatments to present complex ideas in an engaging, visually cohesive format, ensuring the academic content was accessible while staying true to the narrative’s themes.


Keywords:

Editorial Design, Critical Writing, Visual Communication, Academic Design, Typography, Layout, Image Treatment, Research, Conceptual Design, Social Reflection, Film Theory, Cultural Analysis, Visual Metaphors.