Five(ish) Fangirls Episode #344: Mazes and Monsters

 

*Content Warning, not for young ears! CW: mentions of drug use, child abuse, and suicide

In the post-Vietnam era, the United States was seeing a major cultural change. This included a surge of conservative ideals and concern about anything that might expose children to anything considered "demonic". This "Satanic Panic" would have ripple effects across many avenues including popular culture. We take a look at some of the events that made headlines, along with the made-for-TV film that was loosely "inspired" by one of them. 

 

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NEWS

Peter Scolari, Emmy-Winning ‘Bosom Buddies’ Actor, Dies at 66

 

RESOURCES

Wired Magazine (2008) Dungeon Master: The Life and Legacy of Gary Gygax

NY Times (1982) TV: Mazes and Monsters, Fantasy

Dungeons & Dragons: Satanic Panic | Retro Report (2016)

Skeptical Inquirer (1994) The Attacks on Role Playing Games

Polygon (2021) How a pending lawsuit changed the original Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set

The Disappearance of James Dallas Egbert III

The State News (1979)

Understanding the Satanic Panic | Prism of the Past

The Controversial History of Dungeons & Dragons

Tim Kask on TSR #4: The Steam Tunnel Incident

Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford: Demonizing Dungeons & Dragons

Could Dungeons and Dragons Help Fight Screen Addiction? | Retro Report on PBS

Is Dungeons & Dragons Evil? 60 Minutes 1985 Special

The Satanic Panic of the 1980’s vs Dungeons and Dragons

The Spoony Experiment review of Mazes & Monsters