Universal Edition 46: Things that go bump in the night

T H I N G S T H AT G O B U M P I N T H E N I G H T THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT

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EDITION EDITION46 46

From The Editor

The Universal Team Interested in joining the team, reading previous editions or looking to submit some work?

Please contact Kingston Youth Services on P: 1300 369 436 E: youth.services@kingston.vic.gov.au

The City of Kingston proudly acknowledges the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land, and we pay our respect to their Elders, past and present and emerging as well as any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community members with us today.

Council acknowledges the Bunurong’s continuing relationship to the land and waterways and respects that their connection and spiritual identity is maintained through ancient ceremonies, songlines, dance, art and living culture.

Council pays tribute to the invaluable contributions of the Bunurong and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island elders who have guided and continue to guide the work we do.

UNIVERSAL EDITION 46

FREE

THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT

*Bump*. . . what was that!? . . .

Spooky season is upon us, and we can’t help but anticipate the Halloween creepies!

While Halloween can be frightening it can also be a time of great fun with friends, dressing up in costumes, watching scary movies, and telling ghost stories. This Halloween you might choose to watch some of the enthralling supernatural movies suggested inside, or maybe you can tour around Melbourne to visit some of our very own haunted sights! In this edition, the Universal Team takes you on quite a ride, helping you to debunk the supernatural, learn about real life monsters, or mythological creatures from several cultures.

Halloween is an ancient, traditionally religious celebration dedicated to remembering those who have died. Many cultures celebrate in their own ways.

The Irish and Scottish light bonfires and fireworks and eat barmbrack – which is like a scone. Americans often go trick-or-treating dressed in costumes while enjoying caramel apples and candy corn. Here in Australia, Halloween is not widely celebrated. Some suggest that this is because of the Aussie climate, with Halloween being linked to less daylight and Australian days getting longer at this time. Do you celebrate Halloween?

We’d also like you to give yourselves a pat on the back for surviving another lockdown! Now, in this transitory period of getting ‘back to normal,’ finding our feet again, and coming to terms with the months that have passed, we’d like to remind you to be gentle with yourselves. Covid-19 impacted everyone so differently, yet we are sure that each of us can empathise with one another’s struggles during this time. At Universal, we have this newfound appreciation of the little things, our community, and what we can be grateful for. Perhaps you do too?

We know that the last few months of 2021 are going to be wonderful!

Our doors are always open to new creatives and we’d love to share your work in future editions, so don’t hesitate to apply if you love to draw, write or design!

We truly appreciate you taking the time to read Edition 46 of Universal Magazine. Flip the page if you dare to see all things scary, and nice and full of pumpkin spice . .

Acknowledgement of Country

Cover Design by Naketra Mendes The views and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views, values and official position of the City of Kingston or any of its officials, representatives or employees Kingston Youth Services and the Universal team acknowledge the support of the Victorian Government

Contents

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Melbourne Hauntings

The Evolution of Monsters

Photography, words and design by Hannah Phemister

Words and design by Naketra Mendes

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Real World Monsters

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Scooby-Doo

Supernaturally Inclined Songs

Words and design by Rochelle Leslie

Photography, words and design by Danielle Capobianco

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What Is In The Cup?

Words and design by Sammar Bassal

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Movies With Supernatural Elements Words and design by Rochelle Leslie

Words and design by Rochelle Leslie

23 The Smiling Man Illustrated by Lila Ni

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Revisiting The Spiderwick Chronicles Words and design by Sammar Bassal

The Evolution of Monsters Words and Design by Naketra Mendes Monsters are fictional creatures that are characterised to be dangerous and often hideous in appearance. Over the years, the portrayal of monsters has evolved with changing human knowledge and culture. Here is an outline of the evolution of monsters over three time periods, the ancient era (before the 1800s), the classic era (1800s) and the modern era (1900s to present).

2100 B.C. Aqrabuamelu Mesopotamian Mythology Similar to a centaur (half-human half-horse), this creature is half-man half- scorpion that guarded the sun god Shamash. Found in the oldest surviving pieces of literature, the Babalonian story of the Epic of Gilgamesh, this creature could kill with a glance.

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700 to 420 B.C. Sirens Greek Mythology A half bird and half woman creature who lures sailors to their death by the sweet-ness of her song. As symbols of dan-gerous temptation, depictions of sirens have changed over the years; with their portrayal as half women and half fish in medieval era paintings, to modern day cinema such as in the Pirates of the Caribbean: On Strangers Tides.

1 B.C.

1200 A.C. Kraken Scandinavian Mythology A gigantic legendary sea monster that lives on the coast of Norway and Greenland. It is known to threaten large ships, by dragging them down to the depths of Davy Jones’s Locker. This creature is described to be similar to an octopus, with some accounts even describing crab-like features. Sailors would see other marine life fleeing to the surface just before The Kraken’s appearance, however, by this stage it would be too late to escape alive.

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1818 Frankenstein’s Monster Classic Era First introduced in the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (also known as The Modern Prometheus), Frankenstein’s Monster is a character that is assembled from old body parts and brought to life through lightning. Despite its large build, the monster had the mind of a child, resulting in mistreatment of its character.

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1897

1954

Count Dracula

Godzilla

Classic Era

Modern Era

This monster was first introduced in the 1897 novel, Dracula by Bram Stoker. Count Dracula is a vampire, who hunts for human blood, transferring the vampire disease to the victim. This character has various supernatural abilities such as superhuman strength, the ability to defy gravity, illusionary abilities and the ability to disappear and reappear out of thin air.

Godzilla is a giant prehistoric sea monster whose awakening was caused by a hydrogen bomb. First appearing in the 1954 Japanese movie, Godzilla, this monster’s signature weapon is known as the atomic heat beam, which destroys anything in its path. The movie was later remade in 1956 for American audiences by the name of Godzilla, the King of Monsters.

1995 Pennywise Modern Era Pennywise, also known as “It”, was first introduced in the Stephen King novel It, written in 1985. This shapeshifting monster often takes the shape of a dancing clown known as Pennywise. This monster feeds off humans, mainly children, as they are easier to scare and manipulate.

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1997 Voldemort Modern Era Lord Voldemort, also known as Tom Marvolo Riddle, is a character in the Harry Potter series written by J.K Rowling.

Known to be the most powerful dark wizard of all time, this villain did everything he could to become more powerful, including dividing his soul into eight fragments.

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MELBOURNE HAUNTINGS Words, Design and Photography by Hannah Phemister

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For centuries, civilisations have passed down myths of ‘ghosts’ existing among them.

Defined as the spirit of a dead person that can be visually or auditorily sensed,1 ghosts frequently feature in literature and media.

Appearing in classics from Shakespeare to Dickens, as well as many modern-day examples. Including Casper the Friendly Ghost, Harry Potter, and The Conjuring.

For all these stories that seek to entertain, there are just as many that seek to frighten us. The business of ghosts can be lucrative, with many historical sites rumoured to be haunted by those who have passed, and ghost tours running across hundreds of sites across the globe.

However, did you know just how many haunted sites there are all around us?

Though much younger than other cities in the world, Melbourne contains an enormous amount of history for its approximately one hundred and eighty-six years, including its fair share of hauntings.

From the Old Melbourne Gaol to Flinders Street Station, these are some of our city’s renowned hauntings:

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BLACK ROCK HOUSE Built by Charles Ebden in 1856, Black Rock House gave the name to the land where it is located. In an article published in 1910 in the Brighton Southern Cross newspaper, the caretaker of Black Rock House was stunned by a group of girls requesting to view the “haunted castle”. The girls were under the impression that the spirit of the late mistress haunted the premises, with a particular fixation on the cellar.2 Other stories hint at a secret passage leading from the cellar to a cave on the beach. Allegedly it was off-limits to children, as there were stories of boys who had died there.3 A house of secrets, Ghost and Paranormal Tours encourage visitors to understand the history of Black Rock House.

THE PRINCESS THEATRE A true architectural and cultural gem, the Princess Theatre was built in 1854.4 It is said that the ghost of the actor Fredrick Federici has haunted the building since 1888. Federici had travelled to Melbourne to perform in ‘Faust’. During the final scene of the play, Federici uttered the line “...it might be.” As he descended through the trapdoor, he suffered a heart attack. However, it was not until Monday that the public was made aware of the tragedy.5 Ever since the fateful night, strange happenings have occurred

in the theatre. Audience members have witnessed flashing lights, actors have felt someone or something brushing past them in deserted corridors. The ghost of Federici has been spotted numerous times, often taking notes and brushing back his hair.

Each opening night at the Princess Theatre, a seat is left empty in the dress circle for him. It is a sign of good luck if the ghost of Fredrick Federici makes an appearance.6 ABBOTSFORD CONVENT Situated on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people, Abbotsford Convent has a rich history. In the 1800s, four nuns from the Order of Good Shephard purchased Abbotsford House and St Heliers House - together making up the basis of the Abbotsford Convent.7 The Convent became the largest charitable institution by 1900 and served as a home and place of care for thousands of women and girls over time. However, for many, life at the Convent was an experience of ordeal and hardship. Girls were forced to work in the Good Shephard Laundries, which effectively served as prisons for them.8 Residents were not allowed to leave the grounds, and they worked without pay. Family members were separated into different wings of the buildings and punished for trying to

wave to each other. One account from an ex-resident describes how the Convent’s history has been remembered through rose coloured glasses, “...they didn’t do their best. They were cruel. We were always hungry and cold.”9 With that in mind, it is no wonder there have been numerous reports of visitors witnessing unexplained, ghostly happenings. Ghostly sightings have been reported on the Convent grounds one visitor witnessed a young blonde girl wearing a bonnet and white dress who disappeared when the visitor blinked.10 We may never know the accuracy of these tales, but with so many reports of strange experiences and visions, it seems only fair that there must be truth to the stories of Melbourne’s hauntings.

SOURCES: 1. https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/ghost 2. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/164404487 3. https://blogs.slv.vic.gov.au/our-stories/the-secrets-of-black-rockhouse/ 4. https://whatsonblog.melbourne.vic.gov.au/ghost-stories-frommelbournes-princess-theatre/ 5. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/ article/6107450?searchTerm=federici%20princess%20 theatre&searchLimits= 6. https://blogs.slv.vic.gov.au/such-was-life/federicis-ghost/ 7. https://abbotsfordconvent.com.au/about/history/ 8. https://maureenhelen.com/abbotsford-convent-melbourne/ 9. https://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=15140 10. https://www.reddit.com/r/Ghoststories/comments/ml8a7z/ghost_at_ abbotsford_convent/

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We dare you to read about the curse of

Plastic Pollution

Real World Monster

Why plastic pollution is the scariest monster of all and how we can protect our waterways Words, Design and Photography by Danielle Capobianco

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This quarter’s magazine theme inspired me to create my own imaginary monster.

As a child, unknown monsters under the bed or startling sounds in the dark used to be my biggest fear. As an adult, I’m now afraid of real-world threats. Nothing sounds scarier to me than a global danger that can destroy our entire planet. A monster that terrorises the environment, the wildlife and human existence. I decided to create a monster that personified plastic pollution. The concept captures a stranded human engulfed by plastic trash. When approaching this topic, it motivated me to explore my fears and gain a greater understanding of what plastic pollution is and how it can affect human life. Further inspiration for this ficitious monster came from Mary Shelley’s highly renown novel Frankenstein; or The Modern Prometheus.

Frankenstein raises existential questions about humanity, such as what sort of accountability scientists possess with the boundaries of their experimentation and knowing where to draw the line on what is morally right in our modern world. A similar question can be asked in our society about what responsibilities manufacturers and households have for the consequences (even unintended) of their production and consumption of plastic products.

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What is plastic pollution?

Since plastic was introduced into society only 70 years ago, it has taken over the modern world.

It is utilised in almost every sector. It is durable, sterile, light-weight, and offers diverse design capabilities. However, some of its features that make it so sought after also contribute to its harmful effect on the environment. When new plastic is produced, it is made to last up to 500 years before it naturally decomposes1. This is a blessing when plastic is consumed with its end-life in mind, but simultaneously a curse as plastic is predominantly recycled incorrectly.

When plastic enters the waterways, it breaks down into smaller pieces called microplastics2.

These pieces are smaller than a grain of rice and can cause many issues for the waterways and the wildlife that inhabit it3.

How does this affect us?

Many see plastic pollution as merely an environmental issue, however, after digging deeper it is clear this is a social issue too.

Humans live and work as one with the environment. Therefore, when pollution affects the environment, it subsequently affects us too. Oceans regulate our climate and generate most of the oxygen we breathe, while also supporting critical business-related industries and protecting biodiversity6. Furthermore, the long-term effects of microplastics on humans is widely under-researched and unknown2. If plastic pollution like this continues, the damages to the world as we know it will be irreversible.

Frightening facts!

A well-known phenomenon regarding plastic pollution is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch4.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a vortex of marine debris particles, located in the central North Pacific Ocean4. Scientists estimated 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic to be floating in The Patch, which is equivalent to 250 pieces for every human currently on earth5.

Research conducted by the United Nations Clean Seas Campaign in 2017, estimated that there are 51 trillion microplastic fragments in the ocean6.

This figure is 500 times more than the number of stars in our galaxy6! It’s difficult to know exactly how much plastic waste is entering the ocean yearly, however the United Nations campaign approximates 11 million tonnes, equivalent to one garbage truck load a minute6.

Sources: 1. https://www.wwf.org.au/news/blogs/the-lifecycle-of-plastics#gs.7iq6p5 2. https://link-springer-com.ezproxy-f.deakin.edu.au/content/pdf/10.1007/ s13280-021-01589-9.pdf 3. https://www.onearmy.earth/news/microplastics 4. https://theoceancleanup.com/great-pacific-garbage-patch/ 5. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-22939-w#citeas 6. https://www.cleanseas.org/ 7. https://yarrariver.org.au/ 8. https://yarrariver.org.au/volunteer/

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How can you help?

The Yarra Riverkeepers Association is a community led organisation that protects, cares, and speaks for the Yarra River7. The Yarra Riverkeepers describe the river as one of Victoria’s greatest natural resources. It expands its 242km length from the Great Diving Range to Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay7. Not only is it home to numerous unique plants and wildlife, but it is also a spiritual destination loved by Aboriginal Australians7. The Yarra Riverkeepers Association tackle the challenges of plastic pollution by bringing volunteers and project groups together to clear litter, promote ecological regeneration, and to educate others through advocacy8. I was intending to get involved in one of their numerous river conservation initiatives, however, the onset of COVID-19 lockdowns prevented this. Nevertheless, for anyone just as interested and passionate about this cause as I am, I encourage you to check out their website to learn something new or find out how you can get involved!

www.yarrariver.org.au

Polystyrene

Assorted microplastics

Single-use straws

Single-use water bottles

Single-use plastic bags

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Supernaturally Inclined Songs

A Nightmare on My Street DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince

Monster Mash Bobby “Boris” Pickett

Bewitched Steve Lawrence

Monsters Thelma Plum

Control Halsey

Necromancin Dancin Bear Ghost

Disturbia Rihanna

Oogie Boogie’s Song Ed Ivory, Ken Page

Ghost Busters Ray Parker Jr

Panic Room Au/Ra

Ghost Choir Louie Zong

People Are Strange Echo & The Bunnymen

Ghost Town The Specials

Purple People Eater Sheb Wooley

Halloween John Carpenter

Red Right Hand Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Heads Will Roll Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Somebody’s Watching Me Rockwell

Horror Movie The Skyhooks

Spooky Scary Skeletons (Remix) Andrew Gold Remix: The Living Skeleton

Hotel California Eagles I Saw a UFO Sneaky Sound System I’m your Boogie Man KC and the Sunshine Band Love Potion No. 9 The Clovers

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Stranger Things (Remix) Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein Remix: C418 Supernature Cerrone Superstition Stevie Wonder

The Devil Went Down to Georgia The Charlie Daniels Band The Headless Horseman Bing Crosby The Freaks Come Out Night Whodini The Monster Eminem ft Rihanna The Spook The Caravans The Twilight Zone The Ventures This is Halloween Danny Elfman This House is Haunted Alice Cooper Thriller Michael Jackson Welcome to My Nightmare Alice Cooper Werewolves of London Warren Zevon Witchy Woman Eagles Zombie The Cranberries Zombie Jamie T

WHAT IS IN THE CUP?

WHAT IS IN THE CUP?

WHAT IS IN THE CUP?

WHAT IS IN THE CUP?

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LOCH NESS MONSTER SCOT TISH FOLKLORE

HARPY GREEK/ROMAN MY THOLOGY

The Loch Ness Monster, or Nessie, is a creature said to inhabit the Loch Ness (a large fresh water lake) in the Scottish Highlands.

Harpies are a personification of storm winds. They are depicted as half human and half bird.

The creature gained worldwide attention in 1933 when photos and sonar readings came to light suggesting it existed. Nothing has been proven. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loch_Ness_ Monster

They are featured in Homeric Poems (Homer being the author of the Iliad and Odyssey).

The following depiction includes reference to the Harpy Eagle which was named after the myth. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harpy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harpy_eagle

KUNTIL ANAK INDONESIAN MY THOLOGY

VAMPIRE EUROPEAN FOLKLORE

The Kuntilanak usually takes the form of a pregnant woman who is unable to give birth. Alternatively, it is often described as a vampiric, vengeful female spirit.

In the 18th century Balkans and Eastern Europe, a popular belief in immortal beings rising from the dead began to spread. It caused mass-hysteria and lead to the term ‘Vampire’ being popularised.

The Kuntilanak is known as Pontianak in Malysian mythology and is also featured in singaporean mythology. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuntilanak

The charismatic and sophisticated vampire of modern fiction was born in 1819 with the publication of “The Vampyre” by the English writer John Polidori.

This depiction merges the idea of a sophisticated vampire with a bat.

Vampires are believed to have the ability to shapeshift into creatures including bats. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire

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WHAT IS IN THE CUP?

WHAT IS IN THE CUP?

WHAT IS IN THE CUP?

WHAT IS IN THE CUP?

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KRAKEN SCANDINAVIAN FOLKLORE

FAIRY EUROPEAN FOLKLORE

Kraken’s are enormous sea monsters that are typically depicted in the form of an octopus or squid.

Fairies do not have a single origin but come from a collection of sources. They can be found in the folklore of multiple European cultures including Celtic, Slavic and German.

The Kraken is said to terrorise sailors of the coasts of Norway and Greenland and is typically included in their tales. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kraken

Fairies are typically depicted in a humanoid form with wings, elongated ears and magic powers.

The depiction in the cup may be familiar to players of the Zelda franchise. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy

SELKIE CELTIC/NORSE MY THOLOGY

TSUKUMOGAMI JAPANESE FOLKLORE

Selkie’s have the ability to shape shift between a human and seal form.

A seal’s skin is put on to help with their transformation.

To answer the question, there is nothing in the cup. The creature is the cup.

They are found in folktales and mythology originating from the Northern Isles of Scotland. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selkie

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Tsukumogami are tools that have acquired a kami or spirit.

The idea of a tsukumogami or a yōkai of tools mostly spread in the Japanese middle ages. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsukumogami

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Movies with Supernatural Elements General Movies 1.

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Beetlejuice Casper the Ghost Coraline Corpse Bride E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Edward Scissorhands Frankenweenie Ghostbusters Godzilla Goosebumps Gremlins Harry Potter Hocus Pocus Hotel Transylvania Hubie Halloween Jaws Jurassic Park Kiki’s Delivery Service King Kong Lord of the Rings Matilda Monster House Men in Black Monsters Inc. Monsters vs Aliens ParaNorman Pirates of the Caribbean Scooby-Doo Shrek Spirited Away The Addams Family The Hunchback of Notre Dame The Witches Where the Wild Things Are X-Men

15yrs+ Recommended A Nightmare on Elm Street A Quiet Place Halloween Stranger Things (TV Show) Supernatural (TV Show)

Design by Rochelle Leslie

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REVISITING THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES Words by Sammar Bassal

The Spiderwick Chronicles is a fictional series written by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi (Tony also illustrated the series).

The original series was published between May 2003 – September 2004. A sequel was published from September 2007 – September 2009 and a movie based on the books was released in 20081.

The Spiderwick series is a personal throwback to supernatural stories, creatures and how they can be incorporated into the everyday.

Although the creatures themselves don’t exist, they have left magical impressions on me. I thought I would take the chance to re-shine the limelight on this story that was published 17 years ago.

The original series circles around the descendants of Arthur Spiderwick and their adventures after discovering his Chronicle titled ‘Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You’ after moving to his Estate in Maine (USA). The chronicle is a documentation of the supernatural creatures discovered and is sought after by an evil creature looking to learn and dominate others through the power of knowledge.

Information referenced from 1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spiderwick_Chronicles 2 https://spiderwick.fandom.com/wiki/Main_Page Images Sourced from: 1 https://thebookslooth.blogspot.com/2009/12/spiderwick-chronicles-by-holly-black. html?m=1 https://www.amazon.com.au/Nixies-Song-Beyond-Spiderwick-Chronicles-ebook/dp/ B000UZJQMS https://www.amazon.in/Wyrm-King-Beyond-Spiderwick-Chronicles-ebook/dp/ B001NLL2B6 https://www.amazon.in/Giant-Problem-Beyond-Spiderwick-Chronicles-ebook/dp/ B00125OKZI 2 https://geekdad.com/2013/05/the-spiderwick-chronicles-turns-10/ 3 https://spiderwick.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Characters 4 https://www.pinterest.com.au/denisedillon/things-i-love/ https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/823032900622957036/ https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/529524868659567916/ https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/428123508323634753/ https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/438397344951430336/ https://twitter.com/morikorii/status/1276228921894240262 https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/arthur-spiderwicks-field-guide-to-thefantastical-world-around-you-tony-diterlizzi/1007294723 https://www.amazon.com/Arthur-Spiderwicks-Field-Fantastical-Around/ dp/0689859414

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1 Cover designs of the initial serialisation of the story and sequel

3 The sibling protagonists of the original series descending from Arthur Spiderwick.

2 Cover designs released on the 10th Anniversary of the series. The covers are also illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi.

4 Pages from the ‘Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You’ Illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi

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Debunking the supernatural for over 50 years.

Scooby-Doo 28

Surely, you’ve heard of the show Scooby Doo. Almost everyone knows Scooby-Doo, the mystery solving children’s cartoon that has been around for over 50 years. For those needing a quick refresher on Scooby-Doo before we start, the ‘The Scooby Gang’ consists of Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy and their dog Scooby-Doo, who travel around in their van the Mystery Machine solving supernatural cases and unmasking the crooks behind them. While this show was a staple in my household growing up, it’s only recently that I actually stopped to wonder what makes it so good.

Something I’d now like to share with others.

Sure, there are several aspects that make the show great, like jokes, silly shenanigans and exciting chases. But what sticks out most is the show’s 3 main messages. Everything can be explained, the supernatural isn’t real, and the true monsters are people in disguise. No matter how crazy or scary a situation gets, the Scooby Gang always catch their creature, revealing them to be just another person with ill-intent and cheap tricks. Ghouls, Ghosts and Gremlins aren’t as scary when you know they’re just a man with a mask.

The genius of this show comes from combining humour and exciting chases alongside a breadcrumb trail of clues that help young viewers solve the mysteries with the characters. It teaches children to problem solve and overcome fears while staying enteraining. Each mystery is fully explained at the end of the episode to make sure no question is left unanswered, and it always reinforces the idea that everything is explainable. A wall climbing creature may turn out to be a man with suction cups, or a ship destroying pirate is really a person stealing boats for money.

Being designed for kids, the episodes aren’t complicated, but in the original Scooby-Doo series especially, each episode follows a similar simple structure. I’ve broken this structure down into 12 rough steps to explain each episodes’ ‘debunking the supernatural’ process. The 12 step order isn’t always exact but it’s close. So let’s go!

The 12 Steps 1. Introduction An introduction of the monster doing something dastardly, usually amidst or about to commit a crime.

2. The Scooby Gang Setup The Scooby gang being is shown at, or on their way to a location where they run into the monster problem.

3. Clue 1 / Suspect 1 The Scooby Gang then either find a clue or follow the monster, leading them into trouble and another person.

4. Explanation of the Monster The person they encounter will usually give them information on the monster and what has been happening in the area.

5. Chase 1 The monster turns up to chase the gang or Shaggy and Scooby specifically.

6. Clue 2 / Suspect 2 Around this time some of the gang go looking for or stumble upon another clue and/or suspect from around the area.

7. Chase 2 Once another clue has been found the monster returns for some more chases or in some cases even kidnaps one of the gang’s members, forcing the others to come to the rescue.

8. Clue 3 / Suspect 3 Usually post-chase or pre-rescue, a third clue or suspect is found, allowing the mystery to make more sense and narrow down suspects. On the odd occasion these are just random encounters too.

9. Clue 4 Often, this is a final clue to be found that brings the mystery together, eliminating all but one of the suspects. Sometimes though, the extra clue is not needed.

10. A Plan / Final Chase 3 Once the gang have an idea of who’s behind everything, they’ll set a plan to trap and unmask the monster. Usually this involves using Shaggy and Scooby as bait, followed by an entertaining chase.

In some episodes the final chase and capture happen accidentally.

11. Monster Capture After the monster is captured, they are always revealed to be one of the characters introduced in the episode 12. Explanation + Conclusion The gang explain the mystery, the clues they found, what they mean, and what the motives of the person were. Having finally solved the mystery by debunking the supernatural elements and sending the crook to jail, the Scooby gang return to their previous activities or head off to celebrate with some well-deserved snacks.

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Example Episode 1 “Jeepers It’s The Creeper” 1. Introduction A log is down over road, blocking a security guard’s car while a monster is revealed lurking nearby.

6. Chase 2 Shaggy and Scooby get chased again and run into the others.

2. The Scooby Gang Setup The Scooby Gang are shown in the Mystery Machine driving to a dance. They come across the stopped car, where they find the guard unconscious and the car ransacked.

7. Clue 3 / Suspect 3 They spot mysterious footprints found and follow the prints to a gorge with a roll out bridge. Inside they find a cave inhabited by ‘the hermit of the hills.’

3. Clue 1 / Suspect 1 The guard wakes and gives them a piece of blank paper while mumbling, “the flame will tell The Creeper.” Scooby finds the address of the guard’s employer, Mr Carswell the bank president, and the group head there with the guard for help.

While there, Mr Carswell asks if they have any clues on the culprit. The gang mention the piece of paper.

9. Clue 4 No final clue

4. Explanation of the Monster Mr Carswell then warns them of the phantom ‘The Creeper’ who has been robbing the bank and can walk through walls. He then tells them he’ll ‘take care of everything’ while they go to the dance.

5. Chase 1 The gang head to the dance but The Creeper follows them, turns off the power and chases Shaggy and Scooby while everyone else heads out.

Shaggy and Scooby run into the others, and they all get chased while passing the piece of paper between them as they run.

8. Clue 2 / Suspect 2 Scooby and Shaggy get separated. The others stumble upon a suspicious car and investigate it.

They find torn up negatives, showing there is a photo someone does not want to be seen.

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10. A Plan / Final Chase 3 They go back to the car where The Creeper appears and chases them all.

11. Monster Capture Scooby accidentally activates a machine that puts everyone in hay bales, including The Creeper who cannot escape. They unmask The Creeper and find it’s the bank president, Mr Carswell. The now conscious guard is also found tied up at his house.

12. Explanation + Conclusion Mr Carswell was stealing money. As the last person to leave the bank everyday, he would take money home from the safe in his briefcase. At night he would then return as The Creeper, pretending to phase through walls and ‘steal’ money that was already missing. The guard suspected him and installed an infrared camera that took pictures of him stealing. But the pictures needed to be exposed to heat for the image to show, so the president tried to stop the guard and destroy the photo before anyone else saw it. Because the Scooby gang found the photo first, he had to chase them down. They conclude by revealing the photo with a lighter and having Mr Carswell taken to jail.

The Example Episode 2 “Nowhere to Hyde” 1. Introduction Hyde robs a necklace from a jewellery store in a tall building.

2. The Scooby Gang Setup He escapes by hiding in the parked ‘Mystery Machine’, the gang’s van. The Scooby Gang get into the van and start driving. They jump out when they realise there’s a ghost in the back 3. Clue 1 / Suspect 1 AND 4. Explanation of the Monster They follow the ghost after he leaves to a house.

They fall through a trapdoor at the back, find a lab and a scientist Dr Jekyll, a suspect. He says he may turn into the ghost because of a family curse. He blacks out and wakes up next to his housekeeper, Helga, with a necklace in his pocket. The clue is the mud on his shoes, which is dry even though they’re in a swamp. The Scooby Gang decide to search for clues and answers.

5. Clue 2 / Suspect 2 Fred and the others find a clue. A partially burnt newspaper clipping about Helga as a gymnast that did stunts on tall buildings. Therefore, Helga could be dressing up as Hyde.

6. Chase 1 Hyde finds and chases Scooby and Shaggy until they run into the others.

7. Clue 3 They knock down an ironing board with the Hyde costume and a feather duster. They decide to search her room and find phosphorus paint and knockout drops under her bed.

8. Chase 2 Hyde kidnaps Shaggy. Scooby finds shaggy and a chase ensues and they escape.

9. Clue 4 Shaggy reveals he found a handful of suction cups in a random fruit bowl.

10. A Plan / Final Chase 3 Fred suggests they set a trap using Shaggy and Scooby as bait. Shaggy and Scooby are then chased by the monster.

11. Monster Capture They catch the monster Hyde.

It turns out to be Dr Jekyll.

12. Explanation + Conclusion Dr Jekyll stole the necklace for money to fund his research. He was trying to frame Helga with misleading clues, but the suction cups gave him away as Helga would not have needed them to scale a building, since she was an ex-gymnast.

My Final Thoughts As you can see, the flow of these episodes is easy to follow and understandable for young audiences.

The monsters are all shown to be people and the clues found are used to debunk any otherworldly occurrences. There is a reason Scooby-Doo has been around for so long and will likely stay. Hopefully it will continue teaching kids to overcome fears, think with logic, and enjoy the ride, long into the future.

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