Poole's examples are well-chosen and well-explicated. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. See a complete Character List for Monster, as well as in-depth analysis of its most important characters. A masterful survey of our grim and often disturbing past, Monsters in America uniquely brings together history and culture studies to expose the dark obsessions that have helped create our national identity. If you will, a shining city on hill built on the bodies of natives, blacks, women, and anyone else we dont like very much. In her closing argument for the State, Petrocelli stresses the importance of the stolen cigarettes in proving who committed the crime. Study Guides, Friday afternoon, July 17th & December, 5 months later. Five months later, Steve is again writing in his notebook. For him, this place is the opposite of realhe has to do everything in front of strangers. He is at home with his parents and his brother Jerry. Please try again. Marilynne Robinson 10 Freely Available Essays! Jacques Ellul Books An Introductory Reading Guide. At the very end, Poole implies that for what has gone before, it could very well get worse. The jury returns verdicts of guilty for James King and not guilty for Steve Harmon. Consulting newspaper accounts, archival materials, personal papers, comic books, films, and oral histories, Poole adroitly illustrates how the creation of the monstrous "other" not only reflects society's fears but shapes actual historical behavior and becomes a cultural reminder of inhuman acts. Subject I have a lot of interest in and the author seems to have done a lot of work/research. Michelangelo Biographies Best Books on the Renaissance Artist! ! His transitions from movie metaphors to American social ills are often strained if not unconvincing. Michelle Shannon is licensed under a Excellent study of the machinery of monsters and their meaning Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! Before you get all "He's Anti-American!" Fifteen Important Theology Books of 2022!!! The atheist taught that inflicting suffering while enjoying the process is human nature. Monsters in America does a bang-up job of demonstrating how our culture helps us achieve some sort of understanding about our world and our lives. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2014. View all A well informed, thoughtful, and indeed frightening angle of vision to a persistent and compelling American desire to be entertained by the grotesque and the horrific. OBrien tells Steve he will have to testify on his own behalf and put some distance between himself and King. religious texts and newspaper accounts of "satanic panics" into a highly readable analysis of the concept of the devil in American cultural history. While real monsters do exist, the reality of our own monstrosities mirrors not a national heritage as much as our human heritage. Component 2: Summary. Academic, yet very accessible, I was fascinated by this book, and it holds a very special distinction as the only book I was required to buy for a college class that has Poole's book is fantastic, a terrific look at what makes monsters in film resonate in American culture. (1 page) Students will compose a summary of the chapter, highlighting the key elements of Poole's text. Our main man wonders how anyone can get used to the slammer. I had trouble finding a consistent narrative in a book that talked about sea monsters, Bigfoot, Universal Movie Monsters, Freak-shows, and several other topics, and never spending enough time on any of them to feel like I was more informed after reading. From early American ghost stories to Jordan Peeles Get Out (2017), Scott Poole expertly tracks the importance of monsters and monstrosity in American culture. However, this book was FABULOUS! (one code per order). I hoped to expand my interaction in the genre, albeit from an American point of view. ", Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. It felt more like I was reading a college midterm (not even open book), and less like strong literary criticism. [Pooles] book is sufficiently clear and engaging for general readers to enjoy and would make a worthwhile addition to undergraduate course in American history or culture. Monster was adapted into a movie of the same name in 2018. Component 2: Summary. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It's also a great way of introducing the idea that you can use different lenses/ways of writing to introduce and discuss topics. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Not only is it written in a fun, easy to relate to voice, but it is also chock full of info. The book made a few strong points, but ultimately it was a mediocre read. Dorothy Sayers Poems Five of Our Favorites! He states that he knows James King and Osvaldo Cruz, but only casually. Best Bob Dylan Books Biographies, Lyrics, and More! Written in an accessible, smart and entertaining way, this is a fantastic book. Contact us Dont have an account? Marshall1 Jenna Marshall Prof. Goff Writing 1010 12 September 2021 Summary Final In Scott Poole's essay Monsters in America Poole's main claim is that stories of monsters are associated with the troubled history of American history of racism, politics, class prejudice, gender disparity, and how society's fears can be equally showing of our divides. . Monsters in America has without a doubt earned a spot on my favorite books of 2011. Monster is usually used to reflect an individual's actions; especially, it shows for the wrong act of people. is available now and can be read on any device with the free Kindle app. Scott - For All Who Hunger - Feature Review, Mattix & Thomas, Eds - Christian Poetry in America Since, Copyright 2023 The Englewood Review of Books. Societal values impact individuals only as much as we understand an individuals values. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Whether your interest is literature, American history, popular culture, race and ethnicity, women's studies, or religion, you would be happy reading this book. Instead of representing the "us vs them" mentality, monsters are much closer so home: they are us. However, his interpretations and implications are nothing less than threatening to whatever status quo our authorities would prefer us to maintain. Hardback: Baylor University Press, 2011. Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. Even fewer scholars do so as adeptly and as entertainingly as W. Scott Poole. It is not just about film and fiction, but the cultural events that mirrored the works on the screen and in our nightmares. In fact, perhaps our own beliefs about monsters and their intractable nature help to produce the monsters we fear the most., I've had a question for a long time. Howard Thurman Books An Introductory Reading Guide. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. He also makes notes about his movie and about details he observes in court. Mrs. Henry testifies to being in the drugstore and seeing two young Black men arguing with the store owner. The different types of monsters, whether cultural, supernatural, or moral, all contribute to the meaning of American culture. It's a comprehensive look into ghoulish, weird, and woke world--10/10. March 4, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 American history comes at us dripping with gore, victims lying scattered on the ground, eldritch moonlight revealing creeping horrors you never learned from your eighth grade history textbook. Dracula (1931) is based on the fear of foreigners and disease. Christopher Columbus came to the Americas searching for gold, slaves, and monsters. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% Everything from Communists, feminists, and foreigners to Candyman, Dracula, and The Exorcist are examined for the social attitudes to evil that they illuminate (and that we may believe, consciously or subconsciously). I was pretty fascinated through this whole book. I am fiercely passionate about two things: History and Monsters. It is an alternative view of history through something that is not necessarily studied in such depth and over such a long period of time. Monsters in America. Other times Poole relies too heavily on social interpreters for his connections. Poole offers an insight on America's fascination with monsters. Its not a salacious book, either. W. Scott Poole is Professor of History at the College of Charleston, where he teaches courses on monsters, pop culture, and American history. 2023 Baylor University Press. No longer just something that goes bump in the night, Mr. Poole showcases that monsters have more meaning and shed more insight into society than one might have previously suspected. I loved this book. White Doe" disguised the true relationship between the European settlers and Native Americans. Date. Project MUSE promotes the creation and dissemination of essential humanities and social science resources through collaboration with libraries, publishers, and scholars worldwide. In some ways, this felt more like a book about racism and sexism on celluloid and in politics than a book about "Monsters." Poole's book is fantastic, a terrific look at what makes monsters in film resonate in American culture. creating and saving your own notes as you read. incredibly rewarding and fulfilling reading. Monsters in America has without a doubt earned a spot on my favorite books of 2011. "Sick," published by Abrams/Amulet). They Poole offers an insight on America's fascination with monsters. The pages are littered with characterizations which demonize only a conservative set of ideas. Even fewer scholars do so as adeptly and as entertainingly as W. Scott Poole. This book is a wonderful introduction to American history through the lens of monsters. is an important contribution, and it will be enjoyed by literary and cultural historians alike. Monsters refuse to be cordoned off in only one nationality, ethnicity, religion, or political mindset. I thought this was gonna be about different monsters from American folklore. What is it that rumbles in the American unconscious that relates to the figures we see on the screen. Not only is America guilty of creating its own horrors, failure to acknowledge monsters also creates them (23). Please try again. Discount, Discount Code Thanks to Poole's insights we see the ubiquity of the monster lurking in and around us. Indeed, Poole interprets the meaning of the meaning, reinterpreting historical narratives infusing past story with present perception: history is horror (22). Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! More importantly, what is the definition of a monster? But he also shows that the monstrous can be sympathetic, that it can also be used by the oppressed to speak back to the mainstream. All rights reserved. Another problem for Steve is that James King, a young Black hood, is Steves co-defendant. (254) 710-3164. Please wait while we process your payment. Yuckfest. Poole invites us into an important and enlightening, if disturbing, conversation about the very real monsters that inhabit the dark spaces of America's past. I highly recommend this for fans of the horror genre and anthropology. Evans states that King was his partner in the robbery and that Steve served as the lookout. Fyodor Dostoevsky Download all his Novels as Free Ebooks !!! Copyright Thats What She Read 2009-2013. After Steve hears the verdict, he turns to OBrien for a hug. Lovecraft in print. If you're looking for an introductory book to the subject, it's a great resource. Monsters in America: Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting, Review, Title Page, Copyright, Dedication, Epigraph, Preface: With a Warning to the Unsuspecting Reader, Introduction: The Bloody Chords of Memory. for a customized plan. | I suppose history could be read into just about any object. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% Thoughts: What makes a monster a monster? We can anticipate either alien salvation or judgment from beyond. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. As W. Scott Poole's text will serve as the conceptual framework for the course, this assignment seeks to promote regular critical engagement with the text. These summaries should not . By adding new discussions of the American West, Poole focuses intently on the Native American experience. Steve worries about why OBrien turned away from him after winning the case. "Rue Morgue" magazine called it "the best biography of H.P. Some of his writings can be accessed at www.warpandwoof.org. Fall 2022 Most Anticipated Books for Christian Readers! on me, relax. But honestly, most folks go to horror films for what they would say is the hell of it. Some people enjoy being scared, period. The book's unusual range is one of its contributions; its freshness of juxtaposition is another. I had to read this for a class (one I wasn't too stoked about, if I'm being honest) and went into it with a pretty closed mind. Associated with war, cleverness, and wit, it is no surprise that she favors Odysseus. Connect with him online at: C-Christopher-Smith.com, "This book will inspire, motivate and challenge anyone who cares a whit about the written word, the world of ideas, the shape of our communities. Flashbacks in Steves screenplay show Steve playing on the streets, listening to Mr. Sawicki, his film club mentor, and hanging out with James King and Osvaldo Cruz. Historian W. Scott Poole distinguishes himself by focusing on the American context, providing a history told through the personified expressions of our anxieties and fears. but on the whole, an engaging and thought provoking read. Poole wants to tell a story and take his readers on a journey, and he definitely does so. Reprinted by permission. Wendell Berry Poems Seven of Our Favorites! He is the author of several books, including a biography of H.P Lovecraft, which became a Bram Stoker award finalist, and Wasteland: The Great War and the Origins of Modern Horror. session with vampires and zombies, Poole plots America's past through its fears in this intriguing sociocultural history. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. The author radically departs from the notion that monsters are a metaphor for our fears through the ages. Wasteland: The Great War and the Origins of Modern Horror, On Monsters: An Unnatural History of Our Worst Fears. Through the two and a half weeks I took with this book, I have been citing it in conversation. Now and Always,The Trusted Content Your Research Requires, Now and Always, The Trusted Content Your Research Requires, Built on the Johns Hopkins University Campus. Steve testifies that he did not take part in the drugstore robbery or discuss it with anyone before it happened. Conflicting anxieties about race, class, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, science, and politics manifest as haunting beings among the populace. This isnt a book for the squeamish as Poole details how a horror film like Candyman is based in fact to a great deal. Instead of representing the "us vs them" mentality, monsters are much closer so home: they are us. From Victorian-era mad scientists to modern-day serial killers, new monsters appear as American society evolves, paralleling fluctuating challenges to the cultural status quo. Unless specifically stated in the review, I have purchased all books reviewed. This book is quite well researched, makes a few interesting connections, and is very accessible. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% Trick-or-treat! can only mean one thingHalloween. Poole stays far away from polemic and sticks to the facts. A masterful survey of our grim and often disturbing past, Monsters in America uniquely brings together history and culture studies to expose the dark obsessions that have helped create our national identity.Monsters are not just fears of the individual psyche, historian Scott Poole explains, but are concoctions of the public imagination, reactions to cultural influences, social change, and historical events. The book is rich in history, pop culture references, and analysis. He decides to make a movie about his experience. An excellent study for any student of history or media but also fun and accessible for any fan of monsters and the movies. Consulting newspaper accounts, archival materials, personal papers, comic books, films, and oral histories, Poole adroitly illustrates how the creation of the monstrous"other"not only reflects society's fears but shapes actual historical behavior and becomes a cultural reminder of inhuman acts.Monsters in America is now online at www.monstersinamerica.com. Monsters in America is W. Scott Pooles interpretive history. Indeed, the reader may struggle as I did with the leaps Poole makes between monster movies and American social ills. Evil brutes exist inside and outside American neighborhoods. Both belief about the supernatural and the supernatural itself creates creatures which slither into our thinking-being-behaving. Produced by Johns Hopkins University Press in collaboration with The Sheridan Libraries. The Best C.S. From Victorian-era mad scientists to modern-day serial killers. Poole argues that "Monstrous metaphors in American historical life have a way of becoming realthey are intertwined with attitudes and social structures that make the monster possible. The horrible treatment of indigenous peoples and slaverys practice is sin that stains Americas history. But then, I dislike any historical book that loses its sense of historical relativity as well as any book about phenomena that automatically assumes a phenomenon is false and therefore ripe for being disproved and easily rationalized away. Emily Dickinson Poems Seven of our Favorites! In a nutshell, monsters for Poole are metaphors / stand-ins for whoever is loathed or feared in a certain historical context. She continues to assert that Steve served as the lookout for the robbery and is as guilty as the others. Monsters in America argues that historical, political and social conditions produce narratives of horror and create "monsters." Choose one of the following periods 1.) damn good primer on monsters in America. He tells his story through handwritten notes and a typewritten screenplay. Suppose someone wanted to trace American history through the common coffee cup. The book takes you from the trenches at Ypres to the backlots of Universal Studios and introduces you to the artists, writers, and directors who shaped the world of horror we know today from their own encounter with the carnage of the Great War. Poole invites us into an important and enlightening, if disturbing, conversation about the very real monsters that inhabit the dark spaces of America's past. 62 reviews Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. This is an amazing book. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Purchasing 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Select a location to see product availability. Hafez Poems Five of Our Favorites from the Divan of Hafez, N.T. Would that Poole could have written a chapter on one of the liberal American horror shows: 50 million babies slaughtered through this countrys abortion industry. Dorothy Moore, a cousin of Kings, testifies that King was with her at the time of the robbery. With Monsters in America, W. Scott Poole has given us a guidebook for a journey into nightmare territory. Frankenstein (1931) happens when somebody tries to make a more perfect human. Newer movies like "Terminator," shows what happens when we place our trust in machines. On Being with Krista Tippett Top 10 Best Episodes! Petrocelli presents the charges against the defendants. Pooles book becomes a tired screed against those whose political-social viewpoints are antithetic to his own. Steve spends his time making movies about himself, often with Jerrys help. One Bear Place 97363, Waco, TX 76798-7363 After a minute elapses from the time David, Billy and Brent enter the store, a man, Jeff Miller, a local townsperson, flies into the market, bloodied and frantic. I'm just saying that throughout the country's history, there have been some pretty dark times. Pooles constant harangue against anything conservative is a thin criticism to begin, stretched beyond any semblance of recognition by the end of the book. , W. Scott Poole has given us a guidebook for a journey into nightmare territory. All opinions expressed are uniquely my own. If specters of the past still haunt our present, they may yet invade our future. I feel like three stars is generous for a book that did not bring me any new insights, but it was neither especially good nor especially bad. You'll also receive an email with the link. Petrocelli refers to the defendants as monsters in the community. She then calls two witnesses. Usually just called Athena, this goddess emerges from Zeus's head fully-grown and armed. OBrien follows and reminds the jury that the State has not proved any of its charges against Steve. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club thats right for you for free. Insightful and brilliant! This book is really good, a look at our monsters in a social conceptional way. Asa Briggs, Kings attorney, establishes that the police have no fingerprint evidence. Based on new findings and bursting with new interpretations, it offers newcomers and old fans of the America's great horror writer new insight into his life, work, and continuing influence. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. Poole summarizes, Perhaps our own beliefs about monsters and their intractable nature help to produce the monsters we fear the most (164). But Africans were still human and had their morals, yet the Europeans saw them as a type of monster during the slave trade era. Monsters in America does a bang-up job of demonstrating how our culture helps us achieve some sort of understanding about our world and our lives. You can view our. Definitely would recommend it as a quick read and dive into monster history, as well as a great resource to find other books the author recommends to look into more! If it bleeds, it reads. Poole states that, in actuality, that the Europeans saw the natives as uncivilized people and even believed them to be monsters. But real monsters collect different trophies; they are no laughing matter. Consulting newspaper accounts, archival materials, personal papers, comic books, films, and oral histories, Poole adroitly illustrates how the creation of the monstrous "other" not only reflects society's fears but shapes actual historical behavior and becomes a cultural reminder of inhuman acts. . Poole presents his findings methodically through well-documented facts and similar studies. This item: Monsters in America: Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting by W. Scott Poole Paperback $34.99 The Monster Theory Reader by Jeffrey Andrew Weinstock Paperback $45.11 On Monsters: An Unnatural History of Our Worst Fears by Stephen T. Asma Paperback $28.95 What other items do customers buy after viewing this item? For Poole Halloween means more trick than treat; we discover that the monsters are us. Wed love to have you back! In the follow-up to his first book, Satan in America, Poole has now turned his attention to the monsters that inhabit American cinema and American imaginations. is lively and entertaining throughout. Just watch any local news program and you'll see what I mean. He is the author of several books, including a biography of H.P Lovecraft, which became a Bram Stoker award finalist, and Wasteland: The Great War and the Origins of Modern Horror.
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