Poole's examples are well-chosen and well-explicated. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. I have an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Powells Books and IndieBound. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! Please wait while we process your payment. Steve spends his time making movies about himself, often with Jerrys help. The jury returns verdicts of guilty for James King and not guilty for Steve Harmon. (1 page) Students will compose a summary of the chapter, highlighting the key elements of Poole's text. The Monthly Kindle Ebook Sale March 2023, 5 Essential Ebook Deals for Church Leaders 23 February 2023, 5 Essential Ebook Deals for Church Leaders 16 February 2023, Rumi Poems Eight of Our Favorites by the Sufi Mystic, Walt Whitman Poems 8 of our Favorites from Leaves of Grass, Alexander Pushkin Five Poems by the Russian Poet, Against Christian Nationalism: Essential Books [A Reading Guide]. 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. The guards take the bleeding dude away. Mr. Pooles evidence is as intriguing as it is informative. 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. Want 100 or more? These summaries should not exceed one page in length. 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. 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. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. 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Indeed, the reader may struggle as I did with the leaps Poole makes between monster movies and American social ills. Monstrosities exist in us and therefore they are all around us. Steve Harmon, a Black sixteen-year-old, sits in his jail cell and writes in his notebook. | After Steve testifies, OBrien puts Mr. Sawicki, his film teacher, on the stand. In his new preface and expanded conclusion, Pooles tale connects to the presentillustrating the relationship between current social movements and their historical antecedents. Then it is OBriens turn to present the defense of Steve. 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! Pooles excoriation of one homogenous grouping belies the essence of the problem which is our human nature. America, like all nations, is made up of monstrous human beings. The Monster argues that his murderousness is not his fault. Learn how your comment data is processed. For Poole Halloween means more trick than treat; we discover that the monsters are us. Excellent examination of horror movies evolution through the years and also how societal happenings influence the movies at the time they are made. the bell witch, the roanaoke colony, etc.) A masterful survey of our grim and often disturbing past, Monsters in. The atheist taught that inflicting suffering while enjoying the process is human nature. From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. I used this as a textbook for a themed English course: Monsters, Myths, and Magic. Reprinted by permission. 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. It was just way too "all over the place" for me. The book made a few strong points, but ultimately it was a mediocre read. Jos Delgado, an employee of the drugstore, tells how he found Mr. Nesbitts body and noticed that cash and cigarettes were missing. 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. Fifteen Important Theology Books of 2022!!! 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. 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Select a location to see product availability. Judging from the verbiage, Pooles sub-text for the American monster is conservative-Christian-white-heterosexual-Republican. 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. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. FREE Shipping on orders over $25.00 shipped by Amazon. Christopher Columbus came to the Americas searching for gold, slaves, and monsters. Here's where you'll find analysis of the main themes, motifs, and symbols in Monster. Insightful and brilliant! Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2017. 1945-1960 2.) From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. If one would like to get into the spirit of monster mania during Halloween, no better place to begin is with the books that generated monster madness: Dracula, Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and The Island of Dr. Moreau. Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. Trick-or-treat! can only mean one thingHalloween. Dorothy Sayers Where to Start with her Mystery Novels? Monster in America is a literature book by W. Scott Poole. Petrocelli presents the charges against the defendants. OBrien reminds jurors of reasonable doubt and states firmly that Steves guilt has not been proven. Project MUSE promotes the creation and dissemination of essential humanities and social science resources through collaboration with libraries, publishers, and scholars worldwide. 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. Briggs establishes that the police had shown photos of King to Mrs. Henry before she picked him out of a lineup. wish it felt more american- some of the trends were too broad, and I wish thered been more emphasis on early America (e.g. The image freezes as the screenplay ends. Thanks to Poole's insights we see the ubiquity of the monster lurking in and around us. All affiliate income is used to support the blog. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Monster is told as a first-person account by Steve Harmon, a Black teenager on trial for felony murder in New York. I was pretty fascinated through this whole book. He wrote in his journal Subscribe now. 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. Thoughts: What makes a monster a monster? Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Steve is about to stand trial for felony homicide. Our main man wonders how anyone can get used to the slammer. Excerpt. From Victorian-era mad scientists to modern-day serial killers. Please provide specific examples to support your answers. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. He decides to make a movie about his experience. Another problem for Steve is that James King, a young Black hood, is Steves co-defendant. The two defense counsels, OBrien and Briggs, establish that the witnesses are testifying for the State in return for reduced sentences. (254) 710-3164. The little monsters who come to our doors for candy at Halloween are small reminders of our large problem. By adding new discussions of the American West, Poole focuses intently on the Native American experience. Picked up on a whim, I certainly got the expected analysis of horror movies as a way for Americans to understand and react to their culture, but the author also makes the (very strong and well supported) argument that far from being a way to understand the world around us, monsters are also used by those in power to crush those without under their heel while also ignoring and excusing the fact that they're doing so. 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 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. An unexpected guilty pleasure! Purchasing It is lively and engaging and well researched. Twelve Important Theology Books of 2020!!! $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% I highly recommend this for fans of the horror genre and anthropology. . He tells his story through handwritten notes and a typewritten screenplay. Victor sees the monster's point of view and agrees to create a mate for the monster. The new edition extends this analysis to shed light on some of the darker developments in recent American political culture. March 4, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 When social conservatives oppose something, like - say -. OBrien gathers her papers and moves away, leaving Steve standing with outstretched arms. No historically reflective Christian would disagree with Pooles castigation of wrongdoings by some Americans. We are sorry. Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2012. . In some ways, this felt more like a book about racism and sexism on celluloid and in politics than a book about "Monsters." This book is a wonderful introduction to American history through the lens of monsters. Dont have an account? Steves parents are glad he is home, but the distance between Steve and his father is growing. The Theology of the Early Christians 10 Free Classics! A masterful survey of our grim and often disturbing past. Monsters in America instead should acknowledge monsters exist in every culture, every tribe, every era. 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.' The author explores American History and how people's fears and reactions to changes in society both affected and were affected by monsters in print and film. Sometimes it can end up there. that Poole have used to describe the events of . John Wesley Sermons - The 7 Best Sermons from the Founder of Methodism. Monsters in America is W. Scott Pooles interpretive history. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. The evidence that Poole provides . 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. Alien invasions prompt the authors apt comment, The otherness of the monster can embody the sum of all fears but also an escape from fear (131). Please use a different way to share. Subscribe now. by W. Scott Poole. 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. 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. The medical examiner states the time of Mr. Nesbitts death. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. Wed love to have you back! 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. 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. 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 American past reads like something of a horror movie, maybe even a low-budget slasher. (Christopher James Blythe, Florida State University, (John W. Morehead, editor, www.TheoFantastique.com). I hated this book. This book is really good, a look at our monsters in a social conceptional way. The author radically departs from the notion that monsters are a metaphor for our fears through the ages. Wendell Berry Poems Seven of Our Favorites! It's also a great way of introducing the idea that you can use different lenses/ways of writing to introduce and discuss topics. However, his interpretations and implications are nothing less than threatening to whatever status quo our authorities would prefer us to maintain. 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. Steve Harmon, a Black sixteen-year-old, sits in his jail cell and writes in his notebook. Conflicting anxieties about race, class, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, science, and politics manifest as haunting beings among the populace. St. Augustine Best Books on His Life and Work, Holy Sonnets John Donne Complete Text. Friedrich Nietzsche believed we are the monsters. Paperback; 9781481308823; Published: July 2018; $34.99. Evenhandedness exists in the books last sentence suggesting that liberal visions of social justice could create something worse (228). I do wish the author would've delved into certain subjects more as he did the last half of the book which was very compelling. The old newspaper adage still holds true today. I found it to be a perfect model for critical thinking about the social representations of various popular monsters, and the book led to wonderful class discussions. Unless specifically stated in the review, I have purchased all books reviewed. But Africans were still human and had their morals, yet the Europeans saw them as a type of monster during the slave trade era. He also doesn't shy away from the role of the monstrous in helping maintain oppressive regimes and the status quo. In the follow-up to his first book. "New light" evangelists of the eighteenth century, enslaved African Americans, demagogic politicians, and modern American film-makers have used the devil to damn their enemies, explain the nature of evil and injustice, mount social crusades, construct a national identity, and express anxiety about matters as . However, this book was not only as easy read, but incredibly enlightening, eye-opening, and thrilling. Monsters in America: Satan in America tells the story of America's complicated relationship with the devil. Sawicki states that he believes in Steves honesty as a filmmaker and as a person. Penn State folklorist Bill Ellis called the book "required reading for anyone who wants to understand the dark roots of America culture." Monsters in America has without a doubt earned a spot on my favorite books of 2011. Harmon explains that in his cell. It is lively and engaging and well researched. Specifically, he discusses how the stories like "Pocahontas" and "The. You'll also receive an email with the link. It looks like WhatsApp is not installed on your phone. This isnt a book for the squeamish as Poole details how a horror film like Candyman is based in fact to a great deal. 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. Best Johnny Cash Books Biographies and More! Poole states that, in actuality, that the Europeans saw the natives. Poole states that, in actuality, that the Europeans saw the natives as uncivilized people and even believed them to be monsters. All Rights Reserved. Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. The horrible treatment of indigenous peoples and slaverys practice is sin that stains Americas history. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. If it bleeds, it reads. for a customized plan. Hes never less than canny on the pop culture angle: Dracula and Frankenstein are almost everywhere in the book, his insights into the fear of zombies are sharp, the comparison of Patrick Bateman and Dexter Morgan is inspired, and the analysis of fifties icons like Vampira and the Addams family are very good. Monsters arrived in 2011and now they are back. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. Instead of representing the "us vs them" mentality, monsters are much closer so home: they are us. The different types of monsters, whether cultural, supernatural, or moral, all contribute to the meaning of American culture. FABULOUS! 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. 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. This book is quite well researched, makes a few interesting connections, and is very accessible. Pooles book becomes a tired screed against those whose political-social viewpoints are antithetic to his own. 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. The tendency to view American monsters as primarily psychological archetypes ignores how closely they have reflected actual historical events and actual historical victims.". The book reflects on the. Whats worse is how these monster images exist even until today. For my own part, I have been studying and writing about Gothic horror for some years. is an important contribution, and it will be enjoyed by literary and cultural historians alike. "Monsters in America" is a work that touches on the many facets of Horror in America. Course Hero is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university. We can anticipate either alien salvation or judgment from beyond. Scott - For All Who Hunger - Feature Review, Mattix & Thomas, Eds - Christian Poetry in America Since, Copyright 2023 The Englewood Review of Books. It's a comprehensive look into ghoulish, weird, and woke world--10/10. Bolden testifies that he bought cigarettes from Bobo Evans and that Evans told him about the robbery. Classic Gratitude Poems Joy Harjo, Mary Oliver, MORE. On Being with Krista Tippett Top 10 Best Episodes! Wed love to have you back! From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. 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. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. Willa Cather Short Stories Five Superb Stories to Read for FREE! on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% Marilynne Robinson 10 Freely Available Essays! [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. W. Scott Poole. Which one would you like to know more about and why? All content on this blog is protected under US copyright by Michelle Shannon. for a group? (Gary Laderman, Professor of American Religious History and Cultures, Emory University), (J. Gordon Melton, Director, Institute for the Study of American Religion). Dorothy Moore, a cousin of Kings, testifies that King was with her at the time of the robbery. When, meeting the natives, he saw their way of life as barbaric and uncivilized. | 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. He compares himself with the other prisoners. 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 Copyright 2023 That's What She Read. Monster is usually used to reflect an individual's actions; especially, it shows for the wrong act of people. 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.Pooles central argument in Monsters in America is that monster tales intertwine with Americas troubled history of racism, politics, class struggle, and gender inequality. Lewis Biography (And Other Biographies /Companion Guides)! Five months later, Steve is again writing in his notebook. Excellent study of the machinery of monsters and their meaning in American history. With Monsters in America, W. Scott Poole has given us a guidebook for a journey into nightmare territory. Interesting as a surface-level exploration of "Monster Theory". If specters of the past still haunt our present, they may yet invade our future. The book's unusual range is one of its contributions; its freshness of juxtaposition is another. Evil brutes exist inside and outside American neighborhoods. 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. new monsters appear as American society evolves, paralleling fluctuating challenges to the cultural status quo. Poole never assumes a 1-1 metaphor, but he does show how common themes (the reemergence of the vampire at different points in American history, for example) are useful shorthand for working through these anxieties. Read the chapter-by-chapter Summary & Analysis, a Full Book Summary, or Full Book Analysis of Monster. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. Contact us There was a problem loading your book clubs. Dorothy Sayers Poems Five of Our Favorites! 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. 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.
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