Marilynne Robinson 10 Freely Available Essays! From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. Briggs makes the first closing argument in the case. Dont have an account? However, this book was not only as easy read, but incredibly enlightening, eye-opening, and thrilling. I have an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Powells Books and IndieBound. Insightful and brilliant! Twelve Important Theology Books of 2020!!! Here we not only meet such monsters but also discover America's cultural monstrosity. Scholars will argue over interpretation because that is what scholars do. Associated with war, cleverness, and wit, it is no surprise that she favors Odysseus. If you're looking for an introductory book to the subject, it's a great resource. Friedrich Nietzsche believed we are the monsters. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% Monsters in America instead should acknowledge monsters exist in every culture, every tribe, every era. 2715 North Charles StreetBaltimore, Maryland, USA 21218. When meeting the natives, he saw their way of life as barbaric and uncivilized. After Steve hears the verdict, he turns to OBrien for a hug. But too often he ascribes American injustices with little more than a metaphorical connection to monster movies. It is super nasty, and blood ends up everywhere. I loved this book. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. (1 page) Students will compose a summary of the chapter, highlighting the key elements of Poole's text. Separated by significant eras in American history, a reader gets a clear picture of how the definition of a monster changes depending on the cultural and political events of an era. Monsters in America does a phenomenal job examining American history through the lens of monsters and the monstrous. Continue to start your free trial. Poole wants to tell a story and take his readers on a journey, and he definitely does so. Baylor Univ, $29.95 (296p) ISBN 978-1-60258-314-6 From 19th century sea serpents to our current obsession with vampires and zombies, history professor Poole (Satan in America) plots America's. It is a frightening world we live in, yet the horrific things in our literature and culture play a vital part in helping us reach some understanding, and even some peace about them. Its not a salacious book, either. by W. Scott Poole. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! The Monster feels completely alienated: "none among the myriads of men" will take pity on him. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. I highly recommend this for fans of the horror genre and anthropology. Emily Dickinson Poems Seven of our Favorites! Antiracism Books for Christians A Reading Guide, Thomas Merton Books An Intro Reading Guide. A masterful survey of our grim and often disturbing past. For me, there are intertwined. Petrocelli, OBrien, and Briggs make opening statements on the first day of Steves trial. Christopher Columbus came to the Americas searching for gold, slaves, and monsters. Whether your interest is literature, American history, popular culture, race and ethnicity, women's studies, or religion, you would be happy reading this book. The different types of monsters, whether cultural, supernatural, or moral, all contribute to the meaning of American culture. W. Scott Poole. Monsters in America is an important contribution, and it will be enjoyed by literary and cultural historians alike. Monster is told as a first-person account by Steve Harmon, a Black teenager on trial for felony murder in New York. From Victorian-era mad scientists to modern-day serial killers. Subscribe now. Bolden testifies that he bought cigarettes from Bobo Evans and that Evans told him about the robbery. See a complete Character List for Monster, as well as in-depth analysis of its most important characters. But honestly, most folks go to horror films for what they would say is the hell of it. Some people enjoy being scared, period. By the end of the book, Poole cautions that Americas monsters arent going away anytime soon. ", 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. Not only do they continue to live in our midst, but, as historian Scott Poole shows, these monsters are an important part of our pasta hideous obsession America cannot seem to escape. Victor sees the monster's point of view and agrees to create a mate for the monster. Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. I hated this book. Without cookies your experience may not be seamless. You can view our. The jail guards come in, and everyone lines up against the wall while they get rubber-gloved. FABULOUS! History is horror. Poole's examples are well-chosen and well-explicated. She coaches Steve on how to answer questions on the witness stand. Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon, Baylor University Press (January 15, 2014). Poole brings to life American horror stories by framing them within folk belief, religion, and popular culture, broadly unraveling the idea of the monster. This book is a wonderful introduction to American history through the lens of monsters. | Thanks to Poole's insights we see the ubiquity of the monster lurking in and around us. Books About Race in America; Coretta Scott . 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? OBrien follows and reminds the jury that the State has not proved any of its charges against Steve. Human beings made him declare "war" by treating him like an enemy. Pooles book becomes a tired screed against those whose political-social viewpoints are antithetic to his own. American Monsters: A History of Monster Lore, Legends, and Sightings in America - Kindle edition by Godfrey, Linda S.. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Poole stays far away from polemic and sticks to the facts. Pooles excoriation of one homogenous grouping belies the essence of the problem which is our human nature. All opinions expressed are uniquely my own. She continues to assert that Steve served as the lookout for the robbery and is as guilty as the others. Briggs presents his defense of King. Sales Date: 2018-07-13. Dorothy Sayers Poems Five of Our Favorites! The jury returns verdicts of guilty for James King and not guilty for Steve Harmon. creating and saving your own notes as you read. A.They would back the federal government against another state B.They would support, What issue was at the root of the nullification crisis of 1832, which turned many Virginia Republicans against Andrew Jackson? 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. New York: Theatre Communications Group, 2013. These summaries should not . I have read Mr. Poole's work before, so I knew I was in for a treat and I was right. Monsters in America: Study Guides, Friday afternoon, July 17th & December, 5 months later. Poole's examples are well-chosen and well-explicated. In 2016, he wrote the Bram Stoker Finalist _In the Mountains of Madness: The Life and Extraordinary Afterlife of H.P. In Monster, Walter Dean Myers tells the story of Steve Harmon's trial. In Virginia's sectional differences, what natural boundary marked the dividing line between the traditional thinkers and those desiring reforms to have greater representation? March 4, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 on 50-99 accounts. 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. (one code per order). And I don't have to mention the meaning of all the zombie movies. Specifically, he discusses how the stories like "Pocahontas" and "The. Wed love to have you back! Why are we scared of this person? is always a question behind each chapter and Poole is careful to never reduce it purely to matters of sociology or psychology while still using those tools of analysis. Poole states that, in actuality, that the Europeans saw the natives as uncivilized people and even believed them to be monsters. You can find more scary stories from him on Twitter: @monstersamerica. I appreciated that in this second edition he shows how our language of the monstrous has played a role in instances like the police shootings of unarmed black people and how visions of dread play into Donald Trump's rhetoric. His new book, forthcoming this fall and available for pre-order, is _Wasteland: The Great War and the Roots of Modern Horror_. 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. She asks the jury to recall how Steve conducted himself on the witness stand and to compare Steve with Sal Zinzi, Bobo Evans, and Osvaldo Cruz before they decide who is believable. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. With Monsters in America, W. Scott Poole has given us a guidebook for a journey into nightmare territory. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. Jacques Ellul Books An Introductory Reading Guide. He wrote in his journal. Instead of representing the "us vs them" mentality, monsters are much closer so home: they are us. OBrien reminds jurors of reasonable doubt and states firmly that Steves guilt has not been proven. (254) 710-3164. It is a frightening world we live in, yet the horrific things in our literature and culture play a vital part in helping us reach some understanding, and even some peace about them. You can view our. The defense rests after Sawickis testimony. For my own part, I have been studying and writing about Gothic horror for some years. Fall 2021 Most Anticipated Books for Christian Readers! Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. Novelist Sheri Holman calls the book "a subversive masterpiece.". Want 100 or more? This book is really good, a look at our monsters in a social conceptional way. I took copious notes in the margins, and will be using this book frequently as I continue to work on my own YA horror fiction (e.g. W. Scott Poole is Professor of History at the College of Charleston, where he teaches courses on monsters, pop culture, and American history. A must read for fans of horror and monsters! the bell witch, the roanaoke colony, etc.) Penn State folklorist Bill Ellis called the book "required reading for anyone who wants to understand the dark roots of America culture." Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2014. If you, like me, are both a person that loves old monster movies and cares about history, you'll find this book to be a fun read. All content is original and cannot be copied without permission. The fear of anything not considered normal or not well-understood e.g. Design by Booyah Creative. One Bear Place 97363, Waco, TX 76798-7363 Bram Stoker Award finalist W. Scott Poole is the author of numerous books and articles on monsters and mayhem in popular culture. From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. Paperback; 9781481308823; Published: July 2018; $34.99. 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. I feel like the author did a great job at deconstructing America's social issues and how they connect to the monsters/fears/entertainment of the time. does a bang-up job of demonstrating how our culture helps us achieve some sort of understanding about our world and our lives. Friday afternoon, July 17th & December, 5 months later. Chapters three and four in my copy of the book, for instance, are littered with questions: How did we get here? This is a logical leap! and What??! No historically reflective Christian would disagree with Pooles castigation of wrongdoings by some Americans. Steve spends his time making movies about himself, often with Jerrys help. Sabbath Books Best Reads for Christians on Rest and Sabbath! Call me crazy, but I don't think a historian's role ought to be the reaffirmation of modern feelings of superiority over everyone else who has ever lived. The strongest witness for the State is Richard Bobo Evans, who admits that he took part in the robbery. OBrien tells Steve that her job is to make him a human being in the eyes of the jury. I found it informative, fascinating, thought-provoking and well-written. This book is a wonderful introduction to American history through the lens of monsters. Enter your email address to subscribe to That's What She Read and receive notifications of new posts by email. Copyright 2023 That's What She Read. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. Wendell Berry Poems Seven of Our Favorites! You'll be billed after your free trial ends. Wed love to have you back! Evil brutes exist inside and outside American neighborhoods. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% Vampira) to explore the history of American sexuality, gender relations and the rebirth of the horror film in post-WW2 America. I hoped to expand my interaction in the genre, albeit from an American point of view. Monsters highlight both the positives and negatives in any society, and as such, require the reader to open ones mind and accept that the history taught in history books may not be the truth. Pallas Athena Roman name: Minerva. Author: W. Scott Poole Synopsis (Courtesy of Powell's Books ): "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. For Professors: Exam Copies. Which one would you like to know more about and why? The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. 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. I suppose history could be read into just about any object. )1980-present and discuss ways in which the monsters of the era are the products of historical change, conflict and context. We can anticipate either alien salvation or judgment from beyond. The history of the United States offers a chamber of horrors, with clergy transforming the Native American other into demonic beings, mad scientists turning state-funded laboratories into torture chambers, and the photographic revolution of the Victorian era turning toward a morbid fascination with the bodies of the dead and the creation of the category of 'gore.' 1945-1960 2.) 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. Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2012. He decides to make a movie about his experience. wish it felt more american- some of the trends were too broad, and I wish thered been more emphasis on early America (e.g. damn good primer on monsters in America. He wonders what OBrien saw. American history from the past to the present. A.Universal white male suffrage B.Public education C.Child labor D.Temperance. Numerous scholars explore the cultural and political implications of monster and horror films for the times from which they emerge. Few scholars connect such implications across broader expanses of time to reveal how intrinsically monsters and the horrific have been bound up in the history of America. Monstrosities exist in us and therefore they are all around us. From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. Harmon explains that in his cell. for a customized plan. Reprinted by permission. The little monsters who come to our doors for candy at Halloween are small reminders of our large problem. With Monsters in America, W. Scott Poole has given us a guidebook for a journey into nightmare territory. The Theology of the Early Christians 10 Free Classics! Mrs. Henry testifies to being in the drugstore and seeing two young Black men arguing with the store owner. Hades Roman name: Pluto. Pooles bibliography is an additional treat as it includes many excellent books for further reading or study - "1973 Nervous Breakdown: Watergate, Warhol, and the Birth of Post-Sixties America" and "Sacred Terror: Religion and Horror on the Silver Screen" were two titles that jumped out at me thats so full that one could even write their own treatment on the subject. The second edition of Monsters leads readers deeper into Americas tangled past to show how monsters continue to haunt contemporary American ideology. Monsters in America (2nd ed.) Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. SparkNotes PLUS 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. 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. ", In 2014 he published _Vampira: Dark Goddess of Horror_ that looked at the life of 1950s horror host Maila Nurmi (a.k.a. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. Excerpt. [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. Dracula (1931) is based on the fear of foreigners and disease. 20% Suppose someone wanted to trace American history through the common coffee cup. By adding new discussions of the American West, Poole focuses intently on the Native American experience. The book's unusual range is one of its contributions; its freshness of juxtaposition is another. Steve records suicidal thoughts and violent prison incidents. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. Social commentary may drive sub-text but money drives the movie. Best Johnny Cash Books Biographies and More! It's rarely happy news being reported. It was the first-ever Michael L. Printz Award recipient, an ALA Best Book, a Coretta Scott King Honor selection, and a National Book Award finalist. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Friedrich Nietzsche believed we are the monsters. 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. uniquely brings together history and culture studies to expose the dark obsessions that have helped create our national identity. While I appreciate and agree with his argument that monsters are "real" because their effects on history / on people's lives have been real, I dislike his assumption that people in the past were the obvious victims of prejudice and misplaced fear and that they were not insightful or intelligent enough to realize what they were truly afraid of. Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting. The image freezes as the screenplay ends. Browning's research, including extensive field work in New Orleans, has uncovered a subculture of . Dorothy Moore, a cousin of Kings, testifies that King was with her at the time of the robbery. Monsters in America Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting. 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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. After Steve testifies, OBrien puts Mr. Sawicki, his film teacher, on the stand. 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. It blends popular culture and American history to present a unique perspective oh why and how we create and perpetuate the monsters we fear most. If it bleeds, it reads. If you will, a shining city on hill built on the bodies of natives, blacks, women, and anyone else we dont like very much. He reminds the jury of the witnesses criminal records and contends that their unreliability casts reasonable doubt on Kings guilt. Enter your email below to sign up for our weekly newsletter& download your FREE copy of this ebook! (one code per order). By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. It's organized well also: a chapter on one specific type of monster and era makes for a really focused and easy to digest historical examination. (1 page) Students will compose a summary of the chapter, highlighting the key elements of Poole's text. Sawicki states that he believes in Steves honesty as a filmmaker and as a person. View all Michelle Shannon is licensed under a , Poole has now turned his attention to the monsters that inhabit American cinema and American imaginations. as uncivilized people and even believed them to be monsters. Monsters in America has without a doubt earned a spot on my favorite books of 2011. Classic Gratitude Poems Joy Harjo, Mary Oliver, MORE. Excellent study of the machinery of monsters and their meaning Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! Martin Luther King, Jr. His Prophetic Faith in 15 Quotes, Important Discipleship and Formation Books A Reading Guide Fall 2020, Frederick Buechner Books An Introductory Reading Guide. $24.99 Conflicting anxieties about race, class, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, science, and politics manifest as haunting beings among the populace. 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. From 19th century sea serpents to our current. That's What She Read by The brother of Zeus and Poseidon, Hades rules the underworld, the realm of the dead, with his wife, Persephone. Date. March 4, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 You can find more scary stories from him on Twitter: @monstersamerica. Numerous scholars explore the cultural and political implications of monster and horror films for the times from which they emerge. Few scholars connect such implications across broader expanses of time to reveal how intrinsically monsters and the horrific have been bound up in the history of America. In a nutshell, monsters for Poole are metaphors / stand-ins for whoever is loathed or feared in a certain historical context. Christopher Columbus came to the Americas searching for gold, slaves, and monsters. What could we extrapolate on the ways we lived and what we believed during each era? In this way he resembles Frankenstein, who alienates himself by pursuing forbidden knowledge. Steve also states that he was not at the drugstore on the day of the crime but was walking around thinking about his movie. Poole has set the bar ridiculously high for any future research exploring the locus of historical and cultural studies, particularly as it pertains to the horrific. Monsters In America challenges, enlightens, and, quite honestly, frightens in its prescient view of American history, as well as the seeming ubiquity of the monsters of our past and probable future. Willa Cather Short Stories Five Superb Stories to Read for FREE! (And as someone who lives with a history PhD and who briefly pursued graduate studies in history myself, I like to believe that I know from whence I speak.) The opening chapter introduces several motifs that will be present throughout the story. For the record, I'm *not* well versed on the horror genre due to my fear of almost every popular culture monster. Just about all the scarey things that crawl into popular media hail from the leaf-littered shadowy forests that haunt the American mind. He tells his story through handwritten notes and a typewritten screenplay. Honoring authors by not reading other reviews ahead of time, I anticipated simple engagement with monstrous intrigue of the horrendous and hideous. Project MUSE promotes the creation and dissemination of essential humanities and social science resources through collaboration with libraries, publishers, and scholars worldwide. If you've got an interest in horror, this is definitely worth a read. He rightly frets over our technology which ineffectively obscures the divine and so Americans create vampire stories which take Gods place (59): Americans are still attempting to apprehend mystery in the midst of supernatural confusion (11). 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. From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. | Then it is OBriens turn to present the defense of Steve. He decides to make a movie about his experience. It is lively and engaging and well researched. In "Monstrous beginnings," the introductory chapter of "Monsters in America: Our Historical, Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting" by W. Scott Poole, the author makes an argument, about how monsters were not only used as entertainment, but were also used as an excuse to, justify the offenses done to the Native Americans as well as the slaves brought from Africa by, the European settlers. I often use this in my Freshman Writing courses to show that writing doesn't have to be boring. All affiliate income is used to support the blog. What becomes disturbingly apparent is that most of Americas hatred of the Other is based in Christian religious belief. is an important contribution, and it will be enjoyed by literary and cultural historians alike. While Poole is an academic his book is anything but dry. Frankenstein (1931) happens when somebody tries to make a more perfect human. The book's unusual range is one of its contributions; its freshness of juxtaposition is another. Sex and violence are the recurring themes of the book, but Poole always provides context for why they recur so often. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. Written in an accessible, smart and entertaining way, this is a fantastic book. that Poole have used to describe the events of . Course Hero is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. It is lively and engaging and well researched. Imprint: Baylor University Press. SparkNotes PLUS Instead of representing the "us vs them" mentality, monsters are much closer so home: they are us. Free trial is available to new customers only. Eastern Orthodoxy Essential Books [A Reading List]. Penn State folklorist Bill Ellis called the book "required reading for . Sometimes it can end up there. When, meeting the natives, he saw their way of life as barbaric and uncivilized. Conflicting anxieties about race, class, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, science, and politics manifest as haunting beings among the populace. In his comments on the 1931 "Frankenstein" W. Scott Poole, relates that the idea of the "abnormal brain" that Fritz grabs for Henry Frankenstein being the cause of the monster's murderous mentality being a reflection of the "scientific rascism" of the day. on 50-99 accounts. This proven textbook also studies the social location of contemporary horror films, exploring, for example, how Get Out emerged from the context of the Black Lives Matter movement. Please use a different way to share. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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