ATS2202 Monsters in popular culture
Faculty of Arts
ATS2202 Monsters in popular culture is a level 2, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Arts, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 at Caulfield and Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 2
- Caulfield, Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 4 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
Reviews
No reviews yetNo reviews yet. Be the first to review ATS2202.
Requisites
Before ATS2202
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After ATS2202
No unit lists ATS2202 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
Prerequisite: Twelve credit points of first-year Arts units.
Overview
In this unit, you will examine monsters such as vampires, zombies and demons in text and on screen. Using a comparative lens, you will investigate how the figures of these fictional creatures have been continuously re-adapted in popular culture as a means of expressing, interrogating and critiquing pressing issues of the age. For example: the fear of disease and pandemics; racism, the legacies of colonialism and genocide, the limits of tolerance and the promotion of an inclusive society; the complexities of the migrant experience and relationships between the generations; and gender and sexuality. You will explore contemporary reinterpretations of monster legends across the world in a variety of media, including folklore, fiction, film, television, anime, graphic novels, and manga. The unit will focus on one monster each time it is offered.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Caulfield | On campus |
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Weekly ReflectionsExercise25%
- In-class participation activitiesExercise15%
- EssayWritten30%
- Interactive oral assessmentDemonstration30%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Develop cultural literacy by critically and comparatively assessing diverse literary and screen expressions of the figure of the monster;
- 2
Critically analyse a range of popular culture to understand how the legend of the monster has evolved within diverse cultures and subcultures;
- 3
Critically evaluate and apply concepts and approaches from diverse disciplines in the Arts;
- 4
Communicate research effectively using critical writing skills.
Workload and teaching
- Tutorials24 hours
- Lectures12 hours
- Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning
- Teaching approachOnline learning
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Teaching approachProblem-based learning
- Teaching approachPeer assisted learning
- Teaching approachResearch activities
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
This unit engages students in enquiry-based learning, where they will be encouraged to use their own knowledge to develop and engage in a process of enquiry, study and research to identify areas to be investigated and an approach to doing so.
The unit will be delivered through Moodle and other online platforms, such as Zoom. Other online resources - Kahoot and Polleverywhere.com - will be used to enhance student learning.
This unit engages students in actively applying their knowledge, skills and attributes in interactive, collaborative and reflective activities.
This unit includes problem-based learning approaches, where students engage in research, integrate theory and practice and apply knowledge and skills to develop viable solutions in response to a problem or set of problems.
This unit will provide students with opportunities to work with peers in groups and pairs in class. They will have interactive discussions to deepen your knowledge and understanding of the topic, and reinforce your learning.
This unit allows students to develop their research skills by engaging in structured inquiry using a systematic approach and discipline-specific methodologies.
Where it fits
ATS2202 is part of 3 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Professor Rebecca Margolis
- Chief Examiners
- Professor Rebecca Margolis
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for ATS2202?
ATS2202 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is ATS2202 offered?
In 2026, ATS2202 runs in Semester 2 at Caulfield and Clayton.
How much work is ATS2202?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does ATS2202 have an exam?
No. ATS2202 has 4 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include ATS2202?
ATS2202 is part of Film and screen studies; Holocaust and genocide studies; and Jewish studies.