“This has all happened before”: Intergenerational Trauma, Tulpas, and Tackling Lovecraft’s Cultural Legacy in America in Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated
Monstrum January 31, 2023 DOI: 10.7202/1096037ar (opens in new tab) via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThe article analyzes how the animated series Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated addresses H.P. Lovecraft's problematic cultural legacy, particularly his racism, by using the concepts of intergenerational trauma and tulpas. It argues that the show reframes Lovecraftian horror to critique inherited prejudices and the cyclical nature of trauma in America, suggesting that confronting these monstrous legacies requires acknowledging their origins rather than simply defeating them. The analysis connects the series' narrative to broader sociological and historical discussions of how media can tackle and transform problematic cultural inheritances.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Art history Sociology |
| Key finding | Argues that Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated uses Lovecraftian horror and the concept of tulpas to represent intergenerational trauma and critique America's colonial legacy. |
Abstract
“This has all happened before”: Intergenerational Trauma, Tulpas, and Tackling Lovecraft’s Cultural Legacy in America in Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated. Un article de la revue Monstrum (Short-Form Horror: History, Pedagogy, and Practice) diffusée par la plateforme Érudit.