I feel like I say something like "This is the coolest thing I've ever worked on" every time I share something the @digitalrelativity team has shipped.
And it's always true!
Finding fast and accessible ways to make this page super creepy was such a blast, as always!
Go find some ghosts!
#WestVirginia #paranormal #ghosts #mothman #cryptids #haunted
"Nothing today can take away this high note" I say to myself when accidentally I finally found my copy of The Mothman Prophecies by John Keel after I looked around for like a half hour in my small apartment the other day.
Pop Cryptid Spectator 20
Hi and welcome to the 20th, and last, edition of PCS. In nine months, this idea has run its course because, frankly, I can’t keep up. Everything is Pop Cryptid. I’ve certainly proven my point – the term “cryptid” now means “any weird and hidden creature”. In popular culture, it is rarely referred to in the context of a scientific effort to discover new species. I mean, when the President is referred to in this context, it’s game over.
That’s not to say that I won’t be writing about such topics in the future. I’ll certainly post more and on Modern Cryptozoology. But this PCS project is tapped; I’m moving on. Before I do, there are a few more things to $ay. So here goes.
In this final edition:
Nessie, Jr – Another cute cryptid movie
There’s a new movie on the way that will influence how small children think about lakes and the Loch Ness Monster. It’s called Nessie, Jr. and it appears to be another cutified cryptid depiction in the same family-friendly vein as several other past movies – Harry and the Hendersons, Smallfoot, Abominable, Pete’s Dragon, The Water Horse, Baby: Secret of a Lost Legend, etc. It’s fine. I don’t have a problem with it. It’s just so… meh.
But speaking of fiction…
Faking Bigfoot
I wrote a piece on the performance art dude who displayed a fake Bigfoot at the NY state fair as real. It really didn’t go over well with serious Bigfooters, who said this guy was “ruining” Bigfoot research. Nah, the ‘footers do that part on their own – with their awful TV shows, in-fighting, and efforts to gain attention for terrible evidence. Bigfoot hoaxes have been around since the very beginning. In fact, cryptid tales are chock-full of hoaxes to the point where you are hard-pressed to sift through the chaff to find any wheat. Yet, the hoaxes themselves are quite interesting and very much a pop cryptid phenomenon. It’s not about finding the creature, it’s mostly about hope of finding it in what we like to imagine is a world that still holds mystery. And, unfortunately, it is an awful lot about people thinking you found it and usually making bank from that. Check out this short review of a book on how the media created Nessie. By the way, I don’t know how much money this Bigfoot Remains joker pocketed from the gaff, but the gimmick has already been mostly forgotten. We’re so used to such hoaxers.
Champ at the Museum
The monster of Lake Champlain now has its own exhibit. Both Port Henry, NY and Burlington, VT have tributes to Champ as they vie for the official place of the creature. Now Burlington has another attraction besides the Champ memorial and the Lake Monsters team mascot. They have a dedicated spot in the museum. The shore-side Echo Leahy Center at Lake Champlain is perfectly situated to promote the beast. The kiddie-themed gift shop was already full of toys depicting Champ as a cute cryptid. It’s logical they would capitalize even more as well as offering an opportunity to draw kids into learning about the lake’s natural history. I haven’t seen the exhibit because it just opened, and I was there last year. But the museum follows the template of Loch Ness, and other cryptid-themed real and pop-up “museums” that draw in those interested in the topic. And they sell merch.
Do you sense a theme? I’m afraid that I’m pretty jaded on the pop cryptid theme as it relates to cashing in. But that’s the American way these days. Gosh, it’s all so predictable and boring…
Mothman says, “You Matter”
In more rather misappropriate uses of pop cryptids, Mothman is pictured on informational material regarding mental health distributed by a West Virginia police department. This seems cool but using an imaginary creature that was also known as an omen of doom seems slightly clueless. While the project director says that distributing the material at the WV State Fair has let them connect to average people, the “friendly cryptids letting them connect with kids and create conversations”. Ok, sure. But, if people know the story about how Mothman was related to one of the most tragic events in WV history, the collapse of the Silver Bridge, they might struggle with the message “You matter”. Maybe I’m overthinking it…
West Virginia leads all states in the in commodification of their town mascots, like Mothman, Sheepsquatch, Veggie Man, and the Flatwoods Monster.
Cryptids overexposed
I don’t know… it seems to me the mystery is all gone. Cryptids are everywhere. They aren’t hidden anymore. They are losing their mystique. As I’ve noted in other places, cryptids, being copyright-free, are easily adapted for use in consumer products and logos. As the pop cryptid model spreads, where cryptids are seen as fun emblems or symbols, you can bet you’ll see their use increasing.
New Mexico indoor football team reveals new name: New Mexico Chupacabras
For more on the crossover between cryptids and sports teams, see here.
Here are more cryptid related stories from the past month from my main blog:
The pop cryptid trend would not be icky if it wasn’t for the blatant overexposure and twisting of the concepts so that the original ideas behind them are now totally lost. In a way, this is what the Bigfooters hated about the NY State fake Bigfoot. It was disconnected from their vision and version of what a cryptid is. It mocked their view. Such things disregard the impact of the rich folklore and history by appealing to the casual fan and consumer who just know the stories from comics, games, mass distribution movies and Reddit groups. I can’t help but feel these depictions for the mass market are shallow and pathetic. Many people agree. I’m not sure it’s all that different from depicting other animals in anthropomorphic, cute, or exaggerated ways. This has also always been the way of things. It just took a longer time for beloved cryptids to become familiar enough to use in this way.
Another Bigfoot action figure, this one more pointy and menacing than usual Bigfoots. The Skookum.I’ve learned a lot in the few years that I’ve been examining cryptids in this new frame. I think it’s been highly useful, even if many cryptozoology-minded viewers thought it was dumb or reacted indignantly to what seemed like a cheapening of their belief system. I apologize if you felt aggrieved but, let’s face it, it’s NOT reasonable to view traditional cryptozoology as a useful field of study. You are not going to have success finding new species that correspond to Bigfoot, Nessie, Yeti, etc. However, you have a good chance of success in marketing these creatures’ images and talking about them in cultural terms.
A current wrap-up of trends
Some of the other trends I’ve seen lately:
All those trends say something important about cryptids. I’ve gotten the message – fun cryptid are great but serious interest in the complex folklore, the socio-economic and cultural effects, and the overall phenomena of cryptid encounters is unimportant to the masses. They want the scary, cute, funny, neatly packaged and easily digested popular fluff. But there are still several followers of “scientific” cryptozoology that only want a serious zoological (or supernatural) take on this subject and get angry with a lesser, “fluffier” treatment.
My view is the same as before – there is no value in an effort to search for mystery creatures as new species. It has not been successful and it CAN’T be, considering the modern times in which we exist. New species discovered by zoologists aren’t cryptids, even if they have the occasional help of citizen scientists. The contrived methodology of Heuvelman’s cryptozoology isn’t relevant. However, I’m all for expanding the field into relevant areas of anthropology, cultural studies – folklore, art, media, socio-economic, etc., psychology, wildlife biology, data science, etc. that will provide endless opportunities to research and analyze interest in cryptids. This was my position when I first envisioned the pop cryptid model and it applies just as much as ever. It’s likely to happen on its own.
For more, content and a fuller explanation of Pop goes the Cryptid, visit the subpage.
This has been the Pop Cryptid Spectator. My work here is done. Thanks for indulging me. Keep sending links and messages.
Now back to my regular blog.
Peace out, Bigfoots#Bigfoot #cryptids #cryptidtok #Cryptozoology #Mothman #Nessie #popCryptid #PopCryptidSpectator #popCryptids #popCulture #WeirdAppalachia
it's SHOP UPDATE DAY! turns out i have a fun unexpected dental surgery bill in a few days, so if you fancied telling your friends, cool! i've got whimsy, queer cryptids, ds9, the london tube, and ltd edition hollow knight/silksong art! hope you like it!
https://ko-fi.com/samikelsh/shop
#artshop #hollowknight #silksong #ds9 #cryptid #mothman #darkacademia #birds #autumn #art
"Appalachia Cryptids", my recent work depicting some of your favorite #cryptids. Created by hand using acrylic paint, Pentel brush pens and Posca paint pens. Go get a signed print at https://shawnlangley.myshopify.com & https://shawnlangleyart.etsy.com
Mothman has a reminder for y'all, too, please listen to it
#magic #fantasy #cryptid #mentalhealth #mothman #cute #furry #furryart #furryfandom #sfw
Pop Cryptid Spectator 19
Hello everyone. Welcome to a rundown of the most important pop cryptid information from the last month. Sure, there were a handful of poor Bigfoot and Nessie sightings, but those are so common that I hardly pay attention to them anymore. They don’t hold much value and fall off the radar in a week or so. My interest is in the social use of cryptids and the changing scope from potential zoological creatures to consumer and cultural examples. Those examples are sticking around.
In this edition:
Cryptids are the new coal
Recall in PCS 11, I included the story of the Vegetable Man, a bizarre hyperlocal legend from Fairmont, West Virginia. This year’s Veggie Man festival in mid-July was another rousing success. This remarkable quote came from a participant who wore the cryptid costume, Greg Popovich:
“I firmly believe cryptids are the new coal,” Popovich said. “They’re fantastic for West Virginia tourism and I just wanted to come out and show my support.”
The “new coal” refers to West Virginia as the heart of Appalachian coal country. Coal isn’t king these days for Appalachia. But cryptids might be. West Virginia eight cryptid festivals, including the top one in the eastern US, and a model for all the rest – the Mothman festival. He is saying that cryptids are bringing in the money to the state. Now, that’s an exaggeration, for sure, and it ignores all the negatives that came with coal mining and now the tourists. It indicates that the communities want to have their own emblematic characteristic. The cryptids of each town have become the genius loci – or spirit of place unique to that location. Once the concept is monetized, it will stick around, and probably proliferate. This we have seen as pop cryptids are alive and well in the consumer landscape. Here is the PDF of that paywalled article.
Build a Mothman XL
The original Mothman at Build-a-Bear was really popular. So, they decided to cash in on an even bigger one. People are buying, even though it will cost you $128. Not very original.
https://www.tiktok.com/@buildabear/video/7524726506917006606?_r=1&_t=ZT-8xzVYtwa9Lq
In other Mothman media – a new horror movie is in the works. This one looks to stick to the legend, the horror “creature feature” theme, and add modern effects. Director Austin Birtch said, “I think audiences are going to love seeing this throwback creature feature that honors a familiar legend with a fresh spin – especially as audiences show renewed appreciation for practical effects and character-driven storytelling.”
The Naga of Golden Gate Park
A giant metal sculpture of the Naga, a supernatural water serpent from Asia, has been installed in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. The creature is an obvious spectator draw. It will eventually be lit up in a stunning display. Naga lore is rich and ancient in Asian cultures, where it may be depicted as a human-snake, a snake with many heads, or a dragon.
Delta academic symposium chooses cryptid theme
Arkansas’ Department of English, Philosophy and World Languages has selected “Monsters, Cryptids, and the Monstrous” as the theme for their April 8-11, 2026 Delta Symposium. The event features presentations of scholarship and creative work that focuses on the Mississippi Delta area history and culture. I’m betting the Fouke Monster makes an appearance! Cryptid scholarship and monster studies are becoming a big deal as recognition grows regarding the importance of folklore and creature tales in society.
Bigfoot gets its own emoji
It’s about time! We have a ghost, aliens and flying saucers, and a dragon. Now we have a Big Hairy Monster. Curiously, it’s not been called Bigfoot, leaving it open to being a Yeti, Yeren, Skunk Ape, Almas, or any of the dozens of tall, bipedal, ape-like beings we all know and love. Of note, when you expand the emoji, it’s blurry, because of course it is.
Rochester Lion has Disappeared
If you were following along at my blog, you saw I was keeping track of the Rochester, New York mountain lion search. After the initial few days, the only additional sightings were from photoshopped marketing posts on Facebook for the local business. There was no further info on cat. My guess? It was someone’s pet. They lured it back home and kept the secret. But, who knows, maybe it will show up if it’s journeying around the east, looking for friends.
Encyclopedia of Confused Cryptids
I’ve done a review on a book from last year. It’s another cryptid encyclopedia – Bigfoot to Mothman: A Global Encyclopedia of Legendary Beasts and Monsters by Margo Demello, who is an anthrozoologist. If you are going to write an encyclopedia on a topic, you should be an expert. But this book is all over the place. It’s clearly about cryptids, as stated in the preface, yet half of it clearly isn’t about cryptids – it’s about legendary and magical monsters. It’s all very confusing but is a good example of how modern media is deliberately mixing Bigfoot and Wendigo. The second half of the book is “extinct, invented or mythical creatures similar to cryptids” including Cerberus, the Fresno Nightcrawler, the quagga, and the selkie. [What the actual hell do these have in common?]. Way to really mess with the idea of a “cryptid”. There are a many serious problems with this book. Check out the very short review here.
Thanks for reading.
Please continue to send me links to interesting news and content. I really appreciate that. Email sharon(at)sharonahill.com.
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Mail call from @CultTVman
The Mothman!
Pre-ordered it the moment I knew I could. I love cryptids and Mothman is native to my home state.
As tempted as I am to start this now ... I'm already building the Bride for Halloween, so I'll (try to) wait.
Justin Ferrell
Ben! (Boo!)
Aubrieta Rose
Sharon A. Hill
Sami Kelsh is a tired bear
b-rain
Shawn Langley
Rose(Starlight)
Spencer Wolfe
Huggably Gothic