WHY HUMANS NEED MONSTERS

Why do humans create monsters?From vampires and witches to serial killers and internet horror, every society creates stories about dangerous things lurking in the dark. But anthropology suggests these creatures are more than entertainment; they are reflections of cultural anxiety, survival instincts, morality, and collective fear.In this episode of Field Notes from the Dead, we explore:The evolutionary roots of fear storytellingWhy monsters appear in every cultureVampires, witches, and cryptids as social symbolsTrue crime and modern “digital monsters.”Why humans still gather around fear narratives todayBecause maybe monsters were never really about creatures in the dark.Maybe they were always about us.