Introduction

There is a link between horror and sexuality that has persisted for generations. Throughout history, monsters have been used as cautionary tales to deter young people from engaging in ill-advised love affairs. Among the most well-known folkloric spiders is Anansi, who originated in Ghana and became ubiquitous throughout West African, African American, and Caribbean cultures. In Native American folklore, spiders are often portrayed as tricksters, such as iktomo of the Sioux, Lakota, and Dakota tribes.