Encountering the Wilderness: Myth, Liminal Space, and the Numinous in North American Cryptozoology

Abstract

Cryptozoology concerns animals whose existence has been documented in anecdotes and circumstantial evidence, but which have been rejected by mainstream scientific bodies. This thesis analyses and reveals the core philosophical goals of cryptozoology as a discipline and how the field constructs subjects within its purview. This employs methodological frameworks such as mythmaking, monster theory, the nature of physical space, and cultural epistemology to build a robust understanding of cryptozoological inquiry. This thesis also considers the history and development of a number of cryptids that serve as case studies. These case studies separate into two discrete groups: those with ties to Native American cultural concepts, and those developed after the colonisation of North America. The three case studies with Indigenous origins are the Windigo, the sasquatch, and the skinwalker. The three case studies derived from post-colonial culture are the Mothman, the Jersey Devil, and the Dover Demon.The final chapter of the thesis applies the methodological approach to each of these studies to characterise their philosophical, spiritual, and epistemological dimensions and identify trends in these constructions. This reveals the deep role on the legacy of colonialism in the development of many cryptids, with the unfamiliar landscape of North America bringing a sense of liminality of European conceptions of the space. The cryptid is the result of this process. Belief in these “hidden animals” allows individuals and communities to access the numinous through embodied experiences with the wilderness, during which they have direct encounters with these cryptids, which are influenced by their space and then impart themselves back onto it. The field thus serves as a bridge between myth and science, albeit a bridge not all hopefuls make it across. Ultimately, this thesis aims to characterise cryptozoology and contextualise its relationship with culture, science, and philosophy.