‘Monsters, Cryptids, and the Monstrous’ theme for this year’s Delta Symposium

Arkansas State University will host its 31st Delta Symposium starting Wednesday (April 8) on the A-State campus in Jonesboro. The three day event is themed “Monsters, Cryptids, and the Monstrous.” It’s coordinated by A-State’s Department of English, Philosophy and World Languages.

The event will begin with a a forum discussion about monsters and cryptids across various disciplines. Events will include a variety of presentations on the history and culture of the Delta.

Activities on Thursday (April 9) will culminate with an evening reading by Christopher Teuton in the Bradbury Art Museum. Teuton is a researcher and writer, and his work includes the award-winning book “Cherokee Stories of the Turtle Island Liars’ Club.”

Teuton will deliver the event’s keynote address, titled “Naming the Impossible: The Wondrous and the Monstrous in Cherokee Storytelling” on Friday (April 10)

Participants will present research on a range of topics. The schedule includes presentations by researchers, writers, poets, photographers and a wide range of scholars who focus on the regional history and culture.

This year’s theme allows presentations on a wide range of subjects. A special component of the symposium is a workshop titled “Oral History, Folklife and Heritage Sites” that will be offered. These sessions feature consultant Ian Hallagan and are designed to provide resources for those engaged in cultural programs in museums, libraries, historical societies, and other organizations.

“This year’s event stemmed from a wide interest in monsters and cryptids,” said Dr. Gregory Hansen, Delta Symposium co-coordinator. He noted that the topic has wide appeal and is evident in the popularity of movies such as “Sinners,” as well as a range of media.

Leslie Reed, who also coordinates the symposium, added, “Monsters have always been part of our history and culture — appearing in many forms, from those who search the woods for Bigfoot to the more metaphorical monsters we face in our everyday lives. By examining them, we gain a deeper understanding of what it truly means to be human.”

The full schedule is available at the symposium website, AState.edu/delta-symposium.