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Crafted from smokeless fire, the shapeshifting jinni (known as ‘genie’ in the Western world) are far more important, and frightening, than pop culture would have us believe. Jinn are powerful, emotional beings capable of living for thousands of years. Usually invisible to the human eye, they can take any form to appear to humans. Once worshipped in ancient Arabic cultures, the jinni is now known for it’s wish-granting capabilities.

This episode explains how jinn became a popular character in fiction, while looking at how their origins continue to influence Islamic cultures today. From the Qur’an to The Thousand and One Nights, the story of Aladdin to I Dream of Jeannie and everything in between—the jinn are more than just a being trapped in a lamp who grants wishes. They’re powerful, intellectual entities whose stories are woven into ancient Islamic culture. #jinn #genie #aladdin #MonstrumPBS

Written and Hosted by: Emily Zarka
Director: David Schulte
Executive Producer: Amanda Fox
Producer: Stephanie Noone
Illustrator: Samuel Allen
Editor: Derek Borsheim
Produced by Spotzen for PBS Digital Studios.

The world is full of monsters, myths, and legends and Monstrum isn’t afraid to take a closer look. The show, hosted by Emily Zarka, Ph.D., takes us on a journey to discover a new monster in each new episode. Monstrum looks at humans unique drive to create and shape monster mythology through oral storytelling, literature, and film and digs deep into the history of those mythologies.

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El-Zein, Amira. Islam, Arabs, and the Intelligent World of the Jinn. Syracuse University Press, 2009.

Galland, M., translator. Arabian nights entertainments: consisting of one thousand and one stories, related by the Sultanees of the Indies, to divert the Sultan from the execution of a vow he had made to marry a lady every day and have her destroyed [sic]: morning to [r]evenge himself for the disloyalty of his [sic], &c.: containing an account of the customs, manners and religion of the [sic] nations, viz., Tartars, Persians and Indians: translated from the Arabian manuscript into French by M. Galland. Vol. 1, Printed for C. Cooke, c1800.

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Lane, Edward William. The Thousand and One Nights, Commonly Called, in England, The Arabian Nights’ Entertainments. Vol. 1, Illus. William Harvey. London: Charles Knight and Co. 1941.

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