Origins of Monsters: Image and Cognition in the First Age of Mechanical Reproduction

“Monsters,” supernatural creatures with bodies from multiple species, have been claimed to significantly influence human thought and imagery. However, this book presents an alternative view. Composite figurations were rare in prehistoric art but became widespread in ancient visual production with the rise of cities, elites, and trade networks. Author David Wengrow explores how these fantastic images originated and were transmitted, identifying patterns in human image-making and seeking connections between mind and culture.

Wengrow questions whether science or evolutionary psychology can explain the potency of such images and how institutions and technologies influence image-making. He compares the development and spread of fantastic imagery across prehistoric and ancient societies to understand how the visual imagination was shaped by historical and universal factors.

(This book may contain a sharpie mark on the top or bottom edge and may show mild signs of shelfwear.)