Monsters, Magic & Meaning: A Scholarly Take on Spooky Season

Today, we’re donning our academic robes and wizard hats to explore the spooky season from a scholarly perspective.What makes monsters so memorable? Why do ghost stories linger in our cultural consciousness? And how does Harry Potter cast such a long shadow over both pop culture and pedagogy?From Frankenstein to folklore, from haunted houses to Hogwarts, we’re unpacking the academic angles of Halloween — and having a little fun along the way.Today's guests include:Dr. William Hunter is Chair of the English, Philosophy, and Modern Language Department at PennWest and a scholar of magic in literature – especially the Harry Potter series. His research explores transformation, identity and narrative power across genres.Dr. Mark Aune is a professor of English at PennWest California whose research spans Shakespeare, British literature, film and cultural studies. A lifelong horror film fanatic, he has brought monsters to life in his monster movies course for the Honors program. Kaylee Kennedy is a sophomore at PennWest Edinboro majoring in Secondary Education with a concentration in English. She’s passionate about campus engagement – recently planning Halloween enrichment activities to bring students together through fun and learning.