Collection
Cryptids
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a cryptid as “an animal (such as Sasquatch or the Loch Ness Monster) that has been claimed to exist but never proven to exist”.
Cryptids have found a home within pop culture as these humanoid creatures create mystery for viewers. From vampires to werewolves, aliens to ghosts, and even bigfoot in the Minnesota woods cryptids are everywhere, even in our news! Explore this curated collection with items from the MPR Archive ranging from 1972 through modern day.
(This collection was curated by Shandi Burrows, 2023-2024 Archives Fellow)
19 Collection Items
- Bigfoot believers to gather at 4th annual conference in Grand Rapids
MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer talked with Abe Del Rio, the founder of the Minnesota Bigfoot Research Team, which heads up the conference.
- Ask a Bookseller: "Dear Mothman"
In this episode of Ask a Bookseller, Emily Bright talks with Anna Hersh, of Wild Rumpus Books, on her book suggestion, Dear Mothman, by Robin Gow.
- Ghosts, murder, forbidden love roam northern Minnesota in Ojibwe writer's new novel
MPR’s John Enger interviews Native American author Dennis Staples about his first novel, This Town Sleeps. The story depicts the struggle of a gay Ojibwe man to accept a Native tradition where he rarely felt at home, while escaping a reservation he could never quite leave. It is told through the eyes of a twenty-something narrator, who bears a striking resemblance to Staples himself.
- Guthrie Theater brings 'Frankenstein' back to life
In the stage adaption of Mary Shelley’s classic story, the monster and his creator wrestle with timeless questions at the Guthrie Theater.
- Mike Hexum hunts for Bigfoot
MPR's John Enger goes on a hunt for Bigfoot with Mike Hexum.
- Justin Miner on ghost hunting
Justin Miner joins MPR’s Cathy Wurzer for an interview on Morning Edition. He talks about his personal experience with ghosts and some places in Minnesota that are haunted.
- A werewolf novel to sink your teeth into
In a Daily Circuit ‘Thriller Time’ segment, author Benjamin Percy breaks the trend of portraying werewolves as cuddly creatures in his newest novel, Red Moon. For the first time, the events of 9/11 are taking on the supernatural as werewolves (or Lycans, as Percy calls them) are intermingled with humans in an alternative universe.
- On Being: Monsters We Love - TV's pop culture theodicy
On Being’s Krista Tippett talks with Diane Wilson, professor of Media and Religion, about TV shows that make audiences empathize with bad and evil.
- Literary takes on vampires, robots and werewolves
On this Midmorning creature feature, hear excerpts of Kerri Miller interviewing authors Justin Cronin, Daniel Wilson and Glen Duncan
- Vampires and zombies and werewolves, oh my!
Hear two authors and a film critic talk about vampires, zombies and werewolves in this interview from Midmorning, hosted by Kerri Miller.