Instructional Video30:26
Curated Video

Identifying features of the Gothic genre in the plot of ‘Frankenstein’

Pre-K - Higher Ed
Pupil outcome: I can identify features of the Gothic genre in the plot of 'Frankenstein' in 'Frankenstein'. Key learning points: - Gothic literature is literature that evokes feelings of mystery, fear and terror. - The horrifying events...
Instructional Video8:49
Mr. Beat

Amelia Earhart (Story Time with Mr. Beat)

6th - 12th
Here is the story of aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart.
Instructional Video12:54
PBS

Don’t Know Much About BEOWULF? Nobody Does!

12th - Higher Ed
Let’s face it. Between English classes, Lit classes, World Culture classes, and History classes, there’s no escaping The Epic Poem. THE ODYSSEY, THE ILIAD, THE AENEID, THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH, BEOWULF. At some point, we’re going to...
Instructional Video11:57
PBS

Don’t Let Them In! The Urban Legends of Black-Eyed Children

9th - Higher Ed
An urban legend that exploits our fears of an obstructed gaze and the deeply unsettling idea that the youngest of our species are out to destroy us, the lore of Black-Eyed Children, or Black-Eyed Kids, is a modern construction. But the...
Instructional Video2:34
Curated Video

Ray Bradbury

9th - Higher Ed
Awarded a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation, recognizing a lifetime of influential literary works, Ray Bradbury wrote from a desire to “live forever”. Through sci fi, fantasy, horror and mystery to themes of death, loneliness and the dark...
Instructional Video5:24
PBS

How Industrialization and Urbanization Changed Werewolf Legends

9th - Higher Ed
In the 19th century, the werewolf shifted from a feared monster to a symbol of literary fantasy, fueled by industrialization, urbanization, and the rise of science. Stories about werewolves became popular in Gothic literature, penny...
Instructional Video16:09
Curated Video

'The Twisted Tree': the novel as a Gothic text

Pre-K - Higher Ed
Pupil outcome: I can describe how 'The Twisted Tree' follows the conventions of a Gothic text. Key learning points: - The Gothic genre is characterised by the use of desolate, remote settings and macabre, mysterious or violent incidents....
Instructional Video11:32
PBS

How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse (with Dr. Z)

9th - Higher Ed
In this special episode, Dr. Zarka shows you what’s inside her “go bag,” a kit of survival supplies she keeps on hand at all times. In this episode you’ll find out how the horror genre can inspire real-world preparedness and take a look...
Instructional Video8:11
PBS

How Advances in Science Changed the Zombie Narrative

9th - Higher Ed
Films like 28 Weeks Later (2007), [REC] (2007), Quarantine (2008), and Deadgirl (2008) depict the zombie plague as a result of scientific misjudgment, reflecting society's growing anxieties around technology and experimentation. At the...
Instructional Video8:53
PBS

Consumerism and Social Critique in Romero's Dawn of the Dead

9th - Higher Ed
In 1978, George Romero released Dawn of the Dead, moving the zombie apocalypse to a shopping mall, symbolizing the growing influence of American consumerism and suburban life. This film continued his critique of society, with zombies...
Instructional Video2:36
PBS

Trolls in the 20th Century

9th - Higher Ed
At the turn of the 20th century, trolls transitioned from fairy tales into novels, most notably in science fiction and fantasy. J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings series brought trolls into the mainstream, where they...
Instructional Video9:25
PBS

Pontianak: The Vengeful, Violent Vampiric Ghost of Southeast Asia

9th - Higher Ed
The pontianak, or kuntilanak, has long been a staple of Malay horror. In addition to serving as an allegory for the tension between traditional and modern cultural and spiritual practices, these monsters gave name to a real city. In this...
Instructional Video3:54
PBS

Exotic Dangers: The Rise of Killer Plant Myths in the 19th Century

9th - Higher Ed
In the 19th century, advancements in trade and greenhouse technology enabled the global transport of plants, sparking fascination with exotic and sometimes dangerous flora. This led to a rise in fictional tales of carnivorous plants,...
Instructional Video4:50
PBS

Are Werewolves Transitioning From Monster to Metaphor?

9th - Higher Ed
As we continue to evolve in our understanding of nature and humanity, modern werewolf stories are exploring more sensitive and introspective themes, shifting away from the violent, tortured archetype of the past. The future of werewolf...
Instructional Video10:14
The Met

Second Shepherd's Play at The Cloisters, 1954

6th - 11th
A performance of the "Second Shepherd's Play" at The Cloisters museum and gardens, a medieval mystery play presenting a curious mixture of low folk comedy and medieval Christianity. The play is actually two separate stories presented...
Instructional Video6:55
PBS

Renaissance of the Werewolf in 1990s and Early 2000s Pop Culture

9th - Higher Ed
The 1990s saw a resurgence in werewolf popularity, particularly in video games, movies, and television. Games like Altered Beast and films such as Ginger Snaps revived and modernized werewolf lore, connecting transformations to themes...
Instructional Video5:42
PBS

Werewolves of War: From Nazi Propaganda to Post-War Pop Culture

9th - Higher Ed
After World War I, some German soldiers who refused to disband formed a group called "Werewolf," which later became an elite recruiting source for the Nazi regime during World War II. Werewolves were integrated into Nazi propaganda,...
Instructional Video7:40
PBS

The Evolution of Werewolves in Film

9th - Higher Ed
The dawn of the film industry influenced the depiction of werewolves in popular culture. Beginning with early 20th-century movies that incorporated werewolf lore often included a demonization of non-white populations. Later, the...