Emily Zarka
Emily Zarka | |
|---|---|
| Born | United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Ph.D. in English Literature, Arizona State University (2018) |
| Alma mater | University of Colorado Boulder |
| Occupation(s) | Scholar, writer, television host, educator |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Employer(s) | Arizona State University, PBS Digital Studios |
| Known for | Creator and host of Monstrum |
| Notable work | Monstrum (2019–present), Exhumed: A History of Zombies (2020) |
| Title | Creator, writer, and host of Monstrum |
| Website | Monstrum on PBS |
Emily Zarka is an American scholar, writer, and media personality, best known for her work as the creator, writer, and host of Monstrum, a PBS Digital Studios series exploring the cultural, historical, and symbolic significance of monsters. Zarka is also a scholar in the fields of Gothic literature, folklore, and horror, with a particular focus on the epistemological role of monsters in literary traditions.[1][2][3][4]
Early life and education
Zarka earned her Ph.D. in English Literature from Arizona State University in May 2018. Her doctoral dissertation, Monstrous Bodies of Knowledge: The Undead as Epistemological Tool in the Romantic Period.[5][6] In addition to her Ph.D., Zarka holds two undergraduate degrees from the University of Colorado Boulder: a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Science in journalism, both completed in May 2012.[7][8]
Career
Zarka is a faculty member in the English Department at Arizona State University, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in composition, literature, and the intersection of horror, folklore, and popular culture. As ASU's official "monster expert," she works to combine traditional academic methods with public scholarship, to make complex literary and cultural ideas more accessible through various media.[9][10]
In 2019, Zarka became the creator, writer, and host of Monstrum, a web series produced by PBS Digital Studios. The series explores the origins, meanings, and impact of monsters from mythology, folklore, and popular culture. Episodes of Monstrum address topics from historical creatures like the Kraken to more contemporary figures such as zombies, aiming to maintain academic rigor while offering fresh perspectives on the monstrous.[1]
In addition to Monstrum, co-wrote and hosted the PBS documentary Exhumed: A History of Zombies in 2020, which examines the zombie's cultural evolution from folklore to modern popular media.[11][10]
Articles
- Zarka, Emily. "The Evolution of the Modern-Day Zombie: What Tales of the Undead Say About Our Attitudes Toward Science." Slate, 18 Jan. 2018.
- Zarka, Emily. “The Sexualized Heroics of Rick and Michonne.” The Politics of Race, Gender and Sexuality in The Walking Dead: Essays on the Television Series and Comics, edited by Elizabeth Erwin and Dawn Keetley, McFarland & Company, 2018, pp. 119–128.
- Looser, Devoney, and Emily Zarka. “Annotated Bibliography on the Scholarship of Teaching Jane Austen.” Pedagogies Edition: Teaching Jane Austen, Romantic Circles Pedagogy Commons, April 2015. Romantic Circles.
References
- ^ a b Monstrum. Retrieved August 1, 2025 – via www.pbs.org.
- ^ Zrioka, Pete (October 28, 2024). "2 killer Halloween projects from ASU's monster expert | ASU News". news.asu.edu. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ^ "Explore folklore and legends with Monster Expert and PBS host Dr. Emily Zarka". WGCU PBS & NPR for Southwest Florida. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ^ "Emily Zarka - Scholar". Women Also Know History. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
- ^ "Emily Zarka | ASU Search". search.asu.edu. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ^ Zarka, Emily (2018). Monstrous Bodies of Knowledge: The Undead as Epistemological Tool in the Romantic Period (PhD). Arizona State University.
- ^ "C.V." Mysite. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ^ "Dr. Emily Zarka, PhD - SheSource Expert - Women's Media Center". womensmediacenter.com. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ^ "Emily Zarka". The Conversation. June 1, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ^ a b Terrill, Marshall. "Emily Zarka is the official 'brain trust' on zombies | ASU News". news.asu.edu. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ^ "Exhumed: A History of Zombies". PBS Western Reserve. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
External links
- Dr. Emily Zarka at Arizona State University – Official faculty profile page
- Monstrum on PBS
- Exhumed: A History of Zombies on PBS
- Emily Zarka at IMDb