American Monsters: A History of Monster Lore, Legends, and Sightings in Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. The Monster argues that his murderousness is not his fault. 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. damn good primer on monsters in America. 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 jail guards come in, and everyone lines up against the wall while they get rubber-gloved. Contact us If you're looking for an introductory book to the subject, it's a great resource. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. Monsters in America (2nd ed.) by W. Scott Poole (ebook) - eBooks.com It is lively and engaging and well researched. Poole states that, in actuality, that the Europeans saw the natives as uncivilized people and even believed them to be monsters. In the follow-up to his first book. IE- minorities = what we are anxious about / obsessed with = the monstrous = monsters. Best Johnny Cash Books Biographies and More! He compares himself with the other prisoners. I want to start out by saying that I absolutely love the notion behind this book. This isnt a book for the squeamish as Poole details how a horror film like Candyman is based in fact to a great deal. (Christopher James Blythe, Florida State University, (John W. Morehead, editor, www.TheoFantastique.com). If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. 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. Study Guides, Friday afternoon, July 17th & December, 5 months later. The horrible treatment of indigenous peoples and slaverys practice is sin that stains Americas history. Steve Harmon, a Black sixteen-year-old, sits in his jail cell and writes in his notebook. Wright Books An Introductory Reading Guide to The Theologians Work, Joy Harjo Poems Five of the Best Poems by the US Poet Laureate, John ODonohue Poems Four of our Favorites. Perhaps monsters are made in our society more purposefully than we realize. Victor sees the monster's point of view and agrees to create a mate for the monster. 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. 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. Monster's In America Flashcards | Quizlet Pooles excoriation of one homogenous grouping belies the essence of the problem which is our human nature. This is such an interesting and compelling about our connection to the monstrous and the monstrous' role in expressing national anxieties in our popular media. In Monsters in America, Scott Poole expertly weaves together folklore, media studies, and some of the more disturbing moments in American history to remind us of the vital roles monsters play in our culture. 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). See a complete Character List for Monster, as well as in-depth analysis of its most important characters. Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting. The pages are littered with characterizations which demonize only a conservative set of ideas. Chapter 17 And I don't have to mention the meaning of all the zombie movies. Purchasing This book is a wonderful introduction to American history through the lens of monsters. Bolden testifies that he bought cigarettes from Bobo Evans and that Evans told him about the robbery. He is also the author of _Monsters in America_ from Baylor University Press (2011)._Monsters_ explores the American fascination with vampires, zombies, serial killers and even sea serpents, showing how these creatures of our dark obsessions help us to understand the dark and foreboding places in American history. 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. Monsters in America: Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the He wrote in his journal. Synopsis: From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. Filmmakers create celluloid illusions with that in mind. A masterful survey of our grim and often disturbing past. Excellent study of the machinery of monsters and their meaning in American history. 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. Monstrosity - Monstrous Beginnings After readingMonsters in America, a reader will view monsters in a completely different light. Monster Summary and Study Guide | SuperSummary 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. "Sick," published by Abrams/Amulet). Best Leonard Cohen Books Biographies and Books by the Songwriter. Here we not only meet such monsters but also discover America's cultural monstrosity. 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. The Mist (2007) - Plot - IMDb Renews March 11, 2023 Not only is America guilty of creating its own horrors, failure to acknowledge monsters also creates them (23). From Victorian-era mad scientists to modern-day serial killers. 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. I found it informative, fascinating, thought-provoking and well-written. Suppose someone wanted to trace American history through the common coffee cup. Imprint: Baylor University Press. For him, this place is the opposite of realhe has to do everything in front of strangers. Michelangelo Biographies Best Books on the Renaissance Artist! Definitions of the monster, he adds, change over time and with each generation. 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. 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. Reading this for research for a paper I am writing for a creative nonfiction class for college, but what an interesting book regardless! 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. Sex and violence are the recurring themes of the book, but Poole always provides context for why they recur so often. In a nutshell, monsters for Poole are metaphors / stand-ins for whoever is loathed or feared in a certain historical context. Specifically, he discusses how the stories like "Pocahontas" and "The. He is also author of a number of books, including most recently How the Body of Christ Talks: Recovering the Practice of Conversation in the Church (Brazos Press, 2019). Monsters in America : W. Scott Poole : 9781481308823 - Book Depository Lovecraft in print. Michelle Shannon is licensed under a When, meeting the natives, he saw their way of life as barbaric and uncivilized. Course Hero is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university. Bram Stoker Award finalist W. Scott Poole is the author of numerous books and articles on monsters and mayhem in popular culture. His new book, forthcoming this fall and available for pre-order, is _Wasteland: The Great War and the Roots of Modern Horror_. 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. Wed love to have you back! 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. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. Frankenstein: The Monster Quotes | SparkNotes Interesting as a surface-level exploration of "Monster Theory". Read the chapter-by-chapter Summary & Analysis, a Full Book Summary, or Full Book Analysis of Monster. Free trial is available to new customers only. Browning's research, including extensive field work in New Orleans, has uncovered a subculture of . 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. I highly recommend this for fans of the horror genre and anthropology. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! The two defense counsels, OBrien and Briggs, establish that the witnesses are testifying for the State in return for reduced sentences. Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2014. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. Monsters are here to stay. The evidence that Poole provides . Steve records suicidal thoughts and violent prison incidents. is available now and can be read on any device with the free Kindle app. Shop the SparkNotes Collection | Barnes & Noble for a customized plan. You'll also receive an email with the link. 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Select a location to see product availability. They are manifestations of our society. The book's unusual range is one of its contributions; its freshness of juxtaposition is another. For the record, I'm *not* well versed on the horror genre due to my fear of almost every popular culture monster. Books About Race in America; Coretta Scott . Mark Eckel is Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Professor of Old Testament at Crossroads Bible College. From 19th century sea serpents to our current Publishers Weekly session with vampires and zombies, Poole plots America's past through its fears in this intriguing sociocultural history. Please use a different way to share. The little monsters who come to our doors for candy at Halloween are small reminders of our large problem. 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. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. It is not just about film and fiction, but the cultural events that mirrored the works on the screen and in our nightmares. All rights reserved. Monster is told as a first-person account by Steve Harmon, a Black teenager on trial for felony murder in New York. Discount, Discount Code Finally, in the new section "American Carnage," Poole challenges readers to assess what their own monster tales might be and how our sordid past horrors express themselves in our present cultural anxieties. In her closing argument for the State, Petrocelli stresses the importance of the stolen cigarettes in proving who committed the crime. The Theology of the Early Christians 10 Free Classics! (1 page) Students will compose a summary of the chapter, highlighting the key elements of Poole's text. I was pretty fascinated through this whole book. Contact us She coaches Steve on how to answer questions on the witness stand. She continues to assert that Steve served as the lookout for the robbery and is as guilty as the others. In some ways, this felt more like a book about racism and sexism on celluloid and in politics than a book about "Monsters." America, like all nations, is made up of monstrous human beings. SparkNotes PLUS Component 3: Vocabulary. Here's where you'll find analysis of the main themes, motifs, and symbols in Monster. From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. 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. I also think this could've used a second editor before being published as there are many typos and grammatical errors, as well as a few points that could've used some fact-checking. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Even fewer scholars do so as adeptly and as entertainingly as W. Scott Poole. A.Universal white male suffrage B.Public education C.Child labor D.Temperance. He argues that our myth of conquering the monster has made us particularly inclined to turn other groups of human beings into monsters and to justify their oppression or domination. 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. With Monsters in America, W. Scott Poole has given us a guidebook for a journey into nightmare territory. 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. Summary (final draft).docx - Name: Kim Hoan Tran Dr. Che Instead of representing the "us vs them" mentality, monsters are much closer so home: they are us. All rights reserved. Wed love to have you back! Monsters, he says, are "cultural constructions of the terrible that define what it is we subconsciously fear and what it is we're told to hate or love.". | You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. | Judging from the verbiage, Pooles sub-text for the American monster is conservative-Christian-white-heterosexual-Republican. St. Augustine Best Books on His Life and Work, Holy Sonnets John Donne Complete Text. 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. For my own part, I have been studying and writing about Gothic horror for some years. In this way he resembles Frankenstein, who alienates himself by pursuing forbidden knowledge. An excellent study for any student of history or media but also fun and accessible for any fan of monsters and the movies. Sophfronia Scott - The Seeker and the Monk [Review], James Atwood - Collateral Damage - Brief Review, Emily M.D. It's also a great way of introducing the idea that you can use different lenses/ways of writing to introduce and discuss topics. Monster: Full Book Summary | SparkNotes The jury returns verdicts of guilty for James King and not guilty for Steve Harmon. Poole offers an insight on America's fascination with monsters. Thanks to Poole's insights we see the ubiquity of the monster lurking in and around us. Poole explains his parameters of a monsters nature from the outside, in: monsters are a product of our collective hatreds outside the human psyche. By so delimiting his interpretation, Poole mirrors his stated concern for other theories that monster interpretations are reductive and overdeterminative (13-18). A.The James River B.The, Which was NOT an attempted reform movement in antebellum Virginia? The opening chapter introduces several motifs that will be present throughout the story. the bell witch, the roanaoke colony, etc.) Satan in America: The Devil We Know by W. Scott Poole - Goodreads Friday afternoon, July 17th & December, 5 months later. Instead it's more about the social function of the monsterous and why people believe what they believe and how different folkloric monsters became popular at different times in history. 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. You can find more scary stories from him on Twitter: @monstersamerica. Poole brings to life American horror stories by framing them within folk belief, religion, and popular culture, broadly unraveling the idea of the monster. More importantly, what is the definition of a monster? Fall 2022 Most Anticipated Books for Christian Readers! 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. I loved this book. "Angels, Monsters, and Jews: Intersections of Queer and Jewish Identity in Kushner's "Angels in America."" PMLA 113, no. However, this book was FABULOUS! This book is a wonderful introduction to American history through the lens of monsters. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. Want 100 or more? He tells his story through handwritten notes and a typewritten screenplay. Willa Cather Short Stories Five Superb Stories to Read for FREE! It is not a book on actual monsters but how Americans find monsters in different eras on social constructs. Just about all the scarey things that crawl into popular media hail from the leaf-littered shadowy forests that haunt the American mind. Monsters in America is an important contribution, and it will be enjoyed by literary and cultural historians alike. Which one would you like to know more about and why? 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. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. The old newspaper adage still holds true today. It felt more like I was reading a college midterm (not even open book), and less like strong literary criticism. Paperback; 9781481308823; Published: July 2018; $34.99. 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. Available Asa Briggs, Kings attorney, establishes that the police have no fingerprint evidence. Indeed, the reader may struggle as I did with the leaps Poole makes between monster movies and American social ills. Edna St. Vincent Millay Five of our Favorite Poems ! I heard the author on Coast to Coast, and even though he had that dry, flat Midwestern accent (sort of like Margaret Hamilton in "The Wizard of Oz") I knew I had to get the book. serial killers, each generation faced its own challenges and highlighted its fear within its own monsters. Good references in the book that I looked up to further read about horror movies and their importance to our sociological perspective. Mythology: Character List | SparkNotes This exciting work blends the study of horror films, comic books, religious texts and newspaper accounts of "satanic panics" into a highly readable analysis of the concept of the devil in American cultural history. Petrocelli presents the charges against the defendants. Not only is it written in a fun, easy to relate to voice, but it is also chock full of info. Poole states that, in actuality, that the Europeans saw the natives. Poole's examples are well-chosen and well-explicated. 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's examples are well-chosen and well-explicated. Both belief about the supernatural and the supernatural itself creates creatures which slither into our thinking-being-behaving. Jos Delgado, an employee of the drugstore, tells how he found Mr. Nesbitts body and noticed that cash and cigarettes were missing. These summaries should not . From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. After Steve hears the verdict, he turns to OBrien for a hug. James King has his own lawyer, Asa Briggs. Indians, the physically disabled, African-Americans, deep-sea animals or mammals, science is a powerful motivator and caused society to vilify those that do not fit the acceptable mold. 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. It was just way too "all over the place" for me. 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. Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2014. For Poole Halloween means more trick than treat; we discover that the monsters are us. Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2012. Hades Roman name: Pluto. Steve Harmon, a Black sixteen-year-old, sits in his jail cell and writes in his notebook. Poole seeks to undermine myths of American exceptionalism by locating monsters that he believes exist outside our psyche, in history. I have an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Powells Books and IndieBound. Thoughts on books, family, and life in one impressive package. Scholars will argue over interpretation because that is what scholars do. This is an amazing book. 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 think that what makes the book riveting is that despite the particular social factors and grisly historical events, the book is about the Other in media. Twelve Important Theology Books of 2020!!! Often fascinating attempt to look at monsters through the lens of American history, Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2011. You can find more scary stories from him on Twitter: @monstersamerica. as uncivilized people and even believed them to be monsters. This book is really good, a look at our monsters in a social conceptional way. 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 W. Scott Poole. Learn how your comment data is processed. The different types of monsters, whether cultural, supernatural, or moral, all contribute to the meaning of American culture. In Virginia's sectional differences, what natural boundary marked the dividing line between the traditional thinkers and those desiring reforms to have greater representation? 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? on 50-99 accounts. 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. creating and saving your own notes as you read. Review: Monsters in America by W. Scott Poole 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. Human beings made him declare "war" by treating him like an enemy. A masterful survey of our grim and often disturbing past, Monsters in. 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. Discount, Discount Code March 4, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. Wasteland: The Great War and the Origins of Modern Horror, On Monsters: An Unnatural History of Our Worst Fears. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. "The American past reads like something of a horror movie, maybe even a low-budget slasher. She identifies James King as being one of the two young men. He states that he knows James King and Osvaldo Cruz, but only casually. It is super nasty, and blood ends up everywhere. Briggs presents his defense of King. . Acknowledgements: Thank you to Kelly Hughes from Dechant-Hughes for my review copy! He also makes notes about his movie and about details he observes in court. A Midsummer Night's Dream (No Fear Shakespeare) by SparkNotes QUICK ADD Macbeth (No Fear Shakespeare) by SparkNotes QUICK ADD Hamlet (No Fear Shakespeare) by SparkNotes QUICK ADD Julius Caesar (No Fear Shakespeare) by SparkNotes QUICK ADD Othello (No Fear Shakespeare) by SparkNotes QUICK ADD Twelfth Night (No Fear Shakespeare) by SparkNotes Here we not only meet such monsters but also discover America's cultural monstrosity. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% 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. Poole suggests monsters are created by America to mask its own monstrosities or monsters exist which interpret American culture. Howard Thurman Books An Introductory Reading Guide. Excellent study of the machinery of monsters and their meaning in American history. Christopher Columbus came to the Americas searching for gold, slaves, and monsters. Salvatore Zinzi, a prisoner at the Rikers Island jail, testifies that another prisoner, Wendell Bolden, told him about the drugstore robbery. 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.' If it bleeds, it reads. Novelist Sheri Holman calls the book "a subversive masterpiece.". Pooles constant harangue against anything conservative is a thin criticism to begin, stretched beyond any semblance of recognition by the end of the book. Dont have an account? (Gary Laderman, Professor of American Religious History and Cultures, Emory University), (J. Gordon Melton, Director, Institute for the Study of American Religion).
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