Imaginary animals : the monstrous, the wondrous and the human /

Imaginary animals : the monstrous, the wondrous and the human /

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Bibliographic Details
Author / Creator:	Sax, Boria.
Imprint:	London : Reaktion Books, 2013. ©2013
Description:	278 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 26 cm
Language:	English
Subject:	Animals, Mythical. Animals -- Folklore. Animals, Mythical, in literature. Animals, Mythical, in art. Monsters. Cryptozoology. Animals. Animals, Mythical. Animals, Mythical, in art. Animals, Mythical, in literature. Cryptozoology. Monsters. Folklore.
Format:	Print Book
URL for this record:	http://pi.lib.uchicago.edu/1001/cat/bib/9751074

Hidden Bibliographic Details
ISBN:	9781780231730 1780231733
Notes:	Includes bibliographical references and index.
Summary:	Medieval authors placed fantastic creatures in the borders of manuscripts, since they mark the boundaries of our understanding. Tales throughout the world generally place fabulous beasts in marginal locations. According to apocalyptic visions of the Bible, they will also proliferate as we approach the end of time. Because they challenge our conceptual powers, fantastic creatures also seem to exist at the limits of language. Legends tell us that imaginary animals belong to a primordial time, before we had encompassed the world in names, categories and elaborate conceptual frameworks. This richly illustrated book shows how, despite their liminal role, dog-men, mermaids, and many other imaginary creatures are socially constructed through the same complex play of sensuality and imagination as "real" ones. It traces the history of imaginary animals from Palaeolithic art to the Harry Potter stories. These figures help us psychologically by giving form to our amorphous fears as "monsters", as well as embodying our hopes as "wonders."

Regenstein, Bookstacks

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Holdings details from Regenstein, Bookstacks
Call Number:	GR825 .S29 2013
c.1	Available Loan period: standard loan Scan and Deliver Request for Pickup Need help? - Ask a Librarian