Daniel P Compora
Overview
overview
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Dr. Daniel P. Compora is a Professor in the Department of English at the University of Toledo who specializes in undergraduate education. An interdisciplinary scholar, Dr. Compora has publications in various areas, including literature, folklore, popular culture, and educational technology. Recent publications include the book chapters, "Nowhere is Safe: Suburban Terror in A Nightmare on Elm Street, Shocker, and Scream" (2023); “Toxic Nostalgia in Stephen King’s IT” (2022); “Dystopian Literature at a Distance” (2022); “Gothic Imaginings: The Folkloric Roots of Supernatural” (2016); and a history of literature in Ohio for the Dictionary of Midwest Literature, Volume 2 (2016). Peer-reviewed articles include, "Michigan's Monsters" (2023); "The Fantastic and the Real: Fairy Tale Films in the 21st Century“ (2022); and “The Ties That Bind: Familial Burdens in a Zombie Apocalypse” (2021).
Publications
selected publications
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Article (Faculty180)
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2024
Blue Öyster Cult’s “Godzilla”: An American Kaiju Anthem
. Humanities. Special Issue: Humanities (Open Access Journal) Godzilla at 70: The Giant Monster’s Legacy in Global Popular Culture:9. -
2021The Fantastic and the Real: Fairy Tale Films in the 21st Century. Dzieciństwo. Literatura i Kultura” (“Childhood: Literature and Culture”). 3:140-149.
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2021The Ties That Bind: Familial Burdens in a Zombie Apocalypse. Revenant. Special Issue:5000-6000 words.
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2014Michigan's Monstrous Trio. FOAFTale News: Newsletter of The International Society for Contemporary Legend Research. 2-4.
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2013Undead America: The Emergence of the Modern Zombie in American Culture. Supernatural Studies. 1:31-38.
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2006Ghostly Attractions: The Ghostlore of Television, College Campuses and Tourism. Contemporary Legends. 9:83-95.
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2006Ghostly Attractions: The Ghostlore of Television, College Campuses, and Tourism.. Contemporary Legend: The Journal of the International Society for Contemporary Legend Research. 9:83-95.
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2005The Legend of Dog Lady Island. FOAFTale News: Newsletter of The International Society for Contemporary Legend Research.
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2003Current Trends in Distance Education: An Administrative Model. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration. 6:2003.
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1998Computers and Writing: Using Technology to Improve Student Writing. Ohio Association of Two-Year Colleges Journal. 23:25-28.
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Book (Faculty180)
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2006Designing Effective Online Instruction : A Handbook for Web-Based Courses.. Rowman & Littlefield Education, 2006..
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Book Review (Web of Science)
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Chapter (Faculty180)
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2025
"Rocky: An Urban Fairy Tale"
. "All I wanna do is go the distance": Essays on the Rocky Franchise and Its Enduring Cultural Impact. McFarland. 220-236. -
2025
"Stephen King’s and Peter Staub’s Mythmaking: Jack Sawyer as an American Hero"
. Theorizing Stephen King. Amsterdam University Press. 103-119. -
2025
"The End is Near: Doomsday Conspiracy Theories and Apocalyptic Paranoia"
. The Lizard People Don't Want You to Read This: Essays on Conspiracy Theories in Popular Culture. McFarland. 80-92. -
2023Nowhere is Safe: Suburban Terror in A Nightmare on Elm Street, Shocker, and Scream. A Critical Companion to Wes Craven. Lexington Books.
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2022Dystopian Literature at a Distance. Teaching Literature in the Online Classroom. Modern Language Association (MLA). Approximately 5000 words..
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2022Toxic Nostalgia in Stephen King’s IT. Critical Perspectives on Stephen King’s IT. University of Mississippi Press. 22 pages Draft text.
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2016Gothic Imaginings: The Folkloric Roots of Supernatural. The Gothic Tradition in Supernatural : Essays on the Television Series.. Jefferson, North Carolina : McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, [2016]. 75-88.
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2016Ohio. Dictionary of Midwest Literature, Volume II. Indiana University Press. 627-646.
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2014Mythicizing Clark Kent: The Archetypes & Mythic Structure of Smallville. Mapping Smallville: Critical Essays on the Series and Its Characters. McFarland. 13-24.
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Dissertation (Faculty180)
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Lecture or Panel Discussion (Faculty180)
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2025
"41 Years Late: 1984 Has Arrived""
. Lecture for the University of Toledo Banned Books Vigil. -
2024
"Censoring Imagination: Is Science Fiction and Fantasy Bad for Us?"
. Lecture for the University of Toledo Banned Books Vigil. -
2024Suburban Nightmares: Teenage Terror and the Slasher Film. Lecture for the University of Toledo Library.
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2024Talking Baseball: Oral Traditions in America's Pastime. Christ the King Church: Lunch and Learn.
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2023
"From Playtime to Slaytime: The Creepy Phenomenon of Killer Dolls”
. Lecture for the University of Toledo Library. -
2022Stephen King, Scary Clowns, & Coulrophobia. Lecture for the University of Toledo Library.
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2019We’re Not Laughing At You? Cartoons and Disability. Disability and Society Research Group.
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2018Frankenstein’s Monster: From the Printed Page to Pop Culture Icon. One Hour Presentation.
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2013Halloween and Local Legends. The Schultz-Holmes Memorial Library.
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2012Harry Potter as Monomyth. Lecture series sponsored by the University of Toledo Libraries; the Toledo Lucas County Library; the National Library of Medicine; and the American Library Association.
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2012The Faustian Bargain and Other Devilish Deals. Devil's Bargain: A Hero's Trial, Temptation and Redemption.
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Presentation (Faculty180)
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2013
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Press (Faculty180)
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2025
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2025
"How Skeletons Became Associated with Halloween"
. History.com. -
2024"Are Mermaids Real? The History and Myths Behind Mermaid Culture". Today Show Website: Today.com.
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2024"Is the Mothman Real? The Legend Behind the Mythical Monster". Today Show Website: Today.com.
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2024"Do Crows Keep Appearing In Your Life? This Is What It Means". Higher Perspective: www.higherperspectives.com.
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2024
"From Ancient Egypt to Your Living Room: How Cats Conquered The World"
. Interesting Engineering. -
2024
"Meet the Mass Audubon Naturalist Who’s a Witness to Murder—The Crow Kind"
. The Boston Globe. -
2024
"The New Year’s Eve Kiss Tradition, Explained"
. Vogue Magazine Online. -
2024
"Why Do People Associate Eating Grapes on New Year's Eve With Good Luck?"
. Vogue Magazine Online. -
2024
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2024Why Do We Kiss at Midnight on New Year’s Eve?. Microsoft Network (www.msn.com).
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2023"Creepin' It Real". The Toledo Blade.
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2023
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2022Interview with WTOL 11 CBS. October 26, 2022.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgoDuIe7BMw.
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2022Interview with WTVG 13 ABC, October 24, 2022.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgoDuIe7BMw.
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2022The Spiritual Meaning Of Crows + What To Do If They Keep Appearing To You. MindBodyGreen.com.
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2021
This Is the Fascinating Origin of Baby New Year—and It Goes Back Much Further Than You Probably Think
. Reader's Digest (www.rd.com). -
2021
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2021Why Do We Kiss at Midnight on New Year’s Eve?. Reader's Digest (www.rd.com).
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2021Why We Share Stories of Local Ghosts. Discover Magazine (https://www.discovermagazine.com/).
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2010Various Columns and Reviews for SyfyPortal\Airlock Alpha. SyfyPortal.com; AirlockAlpha.com.
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2005Ghosts in the Halls and Skeletons in the Closet--Urban Legends on Campus. Independent Collegian.
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2005Kids Books Bewitch Adults. Independent Collegian.
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2003"Terrible Movie" Print Excites English Professor. Toledo Blade.
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2002Monroe Featured in Two Ghost Stories. Monroe Evening News.
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2002
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Review (Faculty180)
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2016Review of The Billionth Monkey. 91-93.
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2016Review of The Subprimes. 100.
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2015
featured in
- "Are Mermaids Real? The History and Myths Behind Mermaid Culture" Press (Faculty180)
- "Is the Mothman Real? The Legend Behind the Mythical Monster" Press (Faculty180)
- "Creepin' It Real" Press (Faculty180)
- "Do Crows Keep Appearing In Your Life? This Is What It Means" Press (Faculty180)
- "How One Playground Horror Story Reached Millions of Children Around the World" Press (Faculty180)
- "Terrible Movie" Print Excites English Professor Press (Faculty180)
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"Black Cat Facts: 11 Things to Know About Your Furry Friend "
Press (Faculty180) -
"From Ancient Egypt to Your Living Room: How Cats Conquered The World"
Press (Faculty180) -
"Keep Seeing Bees Everywhere? Here's What It Could Mean + What To Do, From Experts"
Press (Faculty180) -
"Meet the Mass Audubon Naturalist Who’s a Witness to Murder—The Crow Kind"
Press (Faculty180) -
"The New Year’s Eve Kiss Tradition, Explained"
Press (Faculty180) -
"Why Do People Associate Eating Grapes on New Year's Eve With Good Luck?"
Press (Faculty180) -
The Power of Story: A Legacy of Teaching and Storytelling
Press (Faculty180) -
This Is the Fascinating Origin of Baby New Year—and It Goes Back Much Further Than You Probably Think
Press (Faculty180) -
"How Skeletons Became Associated with Halloween"
Press (Faculty180) -
“Why The Clown from It Explains Evil in Our Society Like No One Else: There Are Many World Leaders Who Could Be Like Him" (Translated)
Press (Faculty180) - Ghosts in the Halls and Skeletons in the Closet--Urban Legends on Campus Press (Faculty180)
- Interview with WTOL 11 CBS. October 26, 2022. Press (Faculty180)
- Interview with WTVG 13 ABC, October 24, 2022. Press (Faculty180)
- Kids Books Bewitch Adults Press (Faculty180)
- Monroe Featured in Two Ghost Stories Press (Faculty180)
- Spooky Island Spectre Appears in Collection of Michigan Haunts Press (Faculty180)
- The Spiritual Meaning Of Crows + What To Do If They Keep Appearing To You Press (Faculty180)
- Various Columns and Reviews for SyfyPortal\Airlock Alpha Press (Faculty180)
- Why Black Cats Are Associated With Halloween and Bad Luck Press (Faculty180)
- Why Do We Kiss at Midnight on New Year’s Eve? Press (Faculty180)
- Why Do We Kiss at Midnight on New Year’s Eve? Press (Faculty180)
- Why We Share Stories of Local Ghosts Press (Faculty180)
Contact
full name
- Daniel P Compora