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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. Paperback; 9781481308823; Published: July 2018; $34.99. Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2017. Petrocelli, the State prosecutor, calls more witnesses to establish the facts of the crime. The Monster argues that his murderousness is not his fault. For Poole Halloween means more trick than treat; we discover that the monsters are us. However, this book was FABULOUS! 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. Another witness testifies that King is left-handed. It's a comprehensive look into ghoulish, weird, and woke world--10/10. Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. If it bleeds, it reads. [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. (Christopher James Blythe, Florida State University, (John W. Morehead, editor, www.TheoFantastique.com). Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. With Monsters in America, W. Scott Poole has given us a guidebook for a journey into nightmare territory. 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. 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. Subscribe now. Reprinted by permission. 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. 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. 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. Friedrich Nietzsche believed we are the monsters. Poole suggests monsters are created by America to mask its own monstrosities or monsters exist which interpret American culture. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. 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. He reminds the jury of the witnesses criminal records and contends that their unreliability casts reasonable doubt on Kings guilt. Dorothy Moore, a cousin of Kings, testifies that King was with her at the time of the robbery. Please use a different way to share. For him, this place is the opposite of realhe has to do everything in front of strangers. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), When you get the opportunity to see your daughter, @muse and their #willofthepeopleworldtour was by f, @evanescenceofficial has been around for twenty ye, When you havent seen your favorite band live in, When your partner is obsessed with the Alex Murdau, Monsters in America: Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting, https://bookshop.org/shop/thatswhatsheread, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Briggs presents his defense of King. 2023 Baylor University Press. 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? These summaries should not . 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. Poole's examples are well-chosen and well-explicated. While real monsters do exist, the reality of our own monstrosities mirrors not a national heritage as much as our human heritage. Detectives Karyl and Williams describe their arrival at the crime scene. For the record, I'm *not* well versed on the horror genre due to my fear of almost every popular culture monster. new monsters appear as American society evolves, paralleling fluctuating challenges to the cultural status quo. Lewis Biography (And Other Biographies /Companion Guides)! Monsters in America Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting. That being said, however, if you are a teacher who needs to get a class full of barely literate college freshmen to understand what it means to read / think about things in historical context, Poole's introduction, "The Bloody chords of Memory," is readable and accessible even for a group of resistant and vaguely engaged (at best) 18 year olds. 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. James King has his own lawyer, Asa Briggs. OBrien tells Steve that her job is to make him a human being in the eyes of the jury. Study Guides, Friday afternoon, July 17th & December, 5 months later. Synopsis: From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. The new edition extends this analysis to shed light on some of the darker developments in recent American political culture. 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. For Professors: Exam Copies. Reading this for research for a paper I am writing for a creative nonfiction class for college, but what an interesting book regardless! We've quickly looked at a wide variety of Native Cultures across the Americas. Sometimes it can end up there. W. Scott Poole is Professor of History at the College of Charleston. (one code per order). March 4, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 creating and saving your own notes as you read. 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. 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. 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. Continue to start your free trial. 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. This book is a wonderful introduction to American history through the lens of monsters. We are sorry. Produced by Johns Hopkins University Press in collaboration with The Sheridan Libraries. America, like all nations, is made up of monstrous human beings. 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. Another problem for Steve is that James King, a young Black hood, is Steves co-defendant. Contact us Renews March 11, 2023 Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. A must read for fans of horror and monsters! We can anticipate either alien salvation or judgment from beyond. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% 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. Steve is about to stand trial for felony homicide. Starting with the Puritan era and the fear of witches and ending with the modern-day fascination with the monsters within us, i.e. I am fiercely passionate about two things: History and Monsters. An excellent history of the American obsession with monsters, Poole analyzes our religious and nationalist beliefs to see how we have dealt with the Other in our long, horrifying existence as a nation. Even fewer scholars do so as adeptly and as entertainingly as W. Scott Poole. Spring 2021 Most Anticipated Books for Christian Readers! Sales Date: 2018-07-13. $24.99 Often fascinating attempt to look at monsters through the lens of American history, Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2011. Pooles book becomes a tired screed against those whose political-social viewpoints are antithetic to his own. Fall 2022 Most Anticipated Books for Christian Readers! Poole's examples are well-chosen and well-explicated. The book's unusual range is one of its contributions; its freshness of juxtaposition is another. Poole does justice to judgment; the focus of some horror films. Five months later, Steve is again writing in his notebook. Wendell Berry Poems Seven of Our Favorites! Conflicting anxieties about race, class, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, science, and politics manifest as haunting beings among the populace. The opening chapter introduces several motifs that will be present throughout the story. 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Select a location to see product availability. They are manifestations of our society. I love ghost stories and folklore because they reveal an aspect of history and popular thinking in an entertaining way. "The American past reads like something of a horror movie, maybe even a low-budget slasher. , Poole has now turned his attention to the monsters that inhabit American cinema and American imaginations. the bell witch, the roanaoke colony, etc.) 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. Penn State folklorist Bill Ellis called the book "required reading for . In this way he resembles Frankenstein, who alienates himself by pursuing forbidden knowledge. Get help and learn more about the design. Steve worries about why OBrien turned away from him after winning the case. In her closing argument for the State, Petrocelli stresses the importance of the stolen cigarettes in proving who committed the crime. Salvatore Zinzi, a prisoner at the Rikers Island jail, testifies that another prisoner, Wendell Bolden, told him about the drugstore robbery. After Steve hears the verdict, he turns to OBrien for a hug. is an important contribution, and it will be enjoyed by literary and cultural historians alike. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. Monsters in America is lively and entertaining throughout. The guards take the bleeding dude away. I found it informative, fascinating, thought-provoking and well-written. All content on this blog is protected under US copyright by Michelle Shannon. I hoped to expand my interaction in the genre, albeit from an American point of view. The fear of anything not considered normal or not well-understood e.g. Lovecraft in print. He also doesn't shy away from the role of the monstrous in helping maintain oppressive regimes and the status quo. 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. Societal values impact individuals only as much as we understand an individuals values. Monsters refuse to be cordoned off in only one nationality, ethnicity, religion, or political mindset. for a customized plan. Poole seeks to undermine myths of American exceptionalism by locating monsters that he believes exist outside our psyche, in history. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. Briggs establishes that the police had shown photos of King to Mrs. Henry before she picked him out of a lineup. Not only is it written in a fun, easy to relate to voice, but it is also chock full of info. 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. Monsters in America is W. Scott Pooles interpretive history. Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting. Written in an accessible, smart and entertaining way, this is a fantastic book. Steve records suicidal thoughts and violent prison incidents. Monster was adapted into a movie of the same name in 2018. Scott - For All Who Hunger - Feature Review, Mattix & Thomas, Eds - Christian Poetry in America Since, Copyright 2023 The Englewood Review of Books. 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. In a nutshell, monsters for Poole are metaphors / stand-ins for whoever is loathed or feared in a certain historical context. It felt more like I was reading a college midterm (not even open book), and less like strong literary criticism. In Virginia's sectional differences, what natural boundary marked the dividing line between the traditional thinkers and those desiring reforms to have greater representation? Excellent examination of horror movies evolution through the years and also how societal happenings influence the movies at the time they are made. 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. The little monsters who come to our doors for candy at Halloween are small reminders of our large problem. Interesting as a surface-level exploration of "Monster Theory". Subject I have a lot of interest in and the author seems to have done a lot of work/research. W. Scott Poole, Monsters arrived in 2011and now they are back. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. An unexpected guilty pleasure! Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! I thought this was gonna be about different monsters from American folklore. While some may believe that there was no conflict between the settlers and the natives, and that, they just coexisted peacefully. I have an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Powells Books and IndieBound. Human beings made him declare "war" by treating him like an enemy. "Angels, Monsters, and Jews: Intersections of Queer and Jewish Identity in Kushner's "Angels in America."" PMLA 113, no. White Doe" disguised the true relationship between the European settlers and Native Americans. 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. "Sick," published by Abrams/Amulet). Name: Kim Hoan Tran Dr. Che 07/08/2019 Summary Paper Summary of Monstrous Beginning In Monster in America written by W. Scott Poole, especially the chapter called "Monstrous Beginnings". Want 100 or more? Poole presents his findings methodically through well-documented facts and similar studies. 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. Its a story that begins with the history of the dark lady of late night horror and branches out into a discussion of the Beats, Bebop Jazz, the birth of rock and roll and the social protest movements of the 1960s. IE- minorities = what we are anxious about / obsessed with = the monstrous = monsters. Conflicting anxieties about race, class, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, science, and politics manifest as haunting beings among the populace. Wed love to have you back! 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. He wrote in his journal. Some of his writings can be accessed at www.warpandwoof.org. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. Mrs. Henry testifies to being in the drugstore and seeing two young Black men arguing with the store owner. Wed love to have you back! 335 Pages, 6.00 x 9.00 in. When meeting the natives, he saw their way of life as barbaric and uncivilized. In Monster, Walter Dean Myers tells the story of Steve Harmon's trial. The book is rich in history, pop culture references, and analysis. Mr. Pooles evidence is as intriguing as it is informative. There was a problem loading your book clubs. Sophfronia Scott - The Seeker and the Monk [Review], James Atwood - Collateral Damage - Brief Review, Emily M.D. Suppose someone wanted to trace American history through the common coffee cup. 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. A.The James River B.The, Which was NOT an attempted reform movement in antebellum Virginia? 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. On Being with Krista Tippett Top 10 Best Episodes! Petrocelli also calls an eyewitness, Mrs. Lorelle Henry, to the stand. It's rarely happy news being reported. is lively and entertaining throughout. 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. 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. . In his new preface and expanded conclusion, Pooles tale connects to the presentillustrating the relationship between current social movements and their historical antecedents. 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. Through the two and a half weeks I took with this book, I have been citing it in conversation. The scary tales found in the classic texts remind usno matter our nationality, ethnicity, or political persuasionthe monster is us. Learn how your comment data is processed. Dont have an account? History is horror. But real monsters collect different trophies; they are no laughing matter. 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. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. I found the book interesting and informative, it's brief but gives you just enough to perhaps to look further on your own. While Poole is an academic his book is anything but dry. 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. Poole brings to life American horror stories by framing them within folk belief, religion, and popular culture, broadly unraveling the idea of the monster. What is it that rumbles in the American unconscious that relates to the figures we see on the screen. Poole's connection of the monster to American history is a kind of Creature Features meets American cultural history. What becomes disturbingly apparent is that most of Americas hatred of the Other is based in Christian religious belief. 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. This book is a wonderful introduction to American history through the lens of monsters. For me, there are intertwined. 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! He wonders what OBrien saw. The old newspaper adage still holds true today. His footnotes have left me with a massive pile Poole walks readers through the American history of monsters, matching horror trends to American epochs, where it turns out our sociopolitical climate influences the monsters we laud and follow in fiction, film, and the media. All rights reserved. Highly recommended. Petrocelli refers to the defendants as monsters in the community. She then calls two witnesses. 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. 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. Which one would you like to know more about and why? Insightful and brilliant! Students will maintain a list of unfamiliar words they come across in the chapter. Pooles excoriation of one homogenous grouping belies the essence of the problem which is our human nature. Sabbath Books Best Reads for Christians on Rest and Sabbath! Analysis The monster tells Victor:"You must create a female for me with whom I can live in the interchange of those sympathies necessary for my being." Victor refuses and then later relents to the monster's wishes. Petrocelli, OBrien, and Briggs make opening statements on the first day of Steves trial. does a bang-up job of demonstrating how our culture helps us achieve some sort of understanding about our world and our lives. Poole states that, in actuality, that the Europeans saw the natives as uncivilized people and even believed them to be monsters. Purchasing 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. The Theology of the Early Christians 10 Free Classics! Monsters in America is lively and entertaining throughout. Monster is told as a first-person account by Steve Harmon, a Black teenager on trial for felony murder in New York. By the end of the book, Poole cautions that Americas monsters arent going away anytime soon. Indeed, the reader may struggle as I did with the leaps Poole makes between monster movies and American social ills. From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. 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. Victor sees the monster's point of view and agrees to create a mate for the monster. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. Poole agrees telling us early and often You are the main character in this terror-filled little tale (xviii). The medical examiner states the time of Mr. Nesbitts death. (Gary Laderman, Professor of American Religious History and Cultures, Emory University), (J. Gordon Melton, Director, Institute for the Study of American Religion). Frankenstein (1931) happens when somebody tries to make a more perfect human. Even fewer scholars do so as adeptly and as entertainingly as W. Scott Poole. Purchasing Eastern Orthodoxy Essential Books [A Reading List]. It's also a great way of introducing the idea that you can use different lenses/ways of writing to introduce and discuss topics. Definitions of the monster, he adds, change over time and with each generation. Steve spends his time making movies about himself, often with Jerrys help. 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. A.Slavery B.States' rights C.Internal improvements D.Westward expansion. 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. Please try again. Steve Harmon, a Black sixteen-year-old, sits in his jail cell and writes in his notebook. Thanks to Poole's insights we see the ubiquity of the monster lurking in and around us. 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. It is not just about film and fiction, but the cultural events that mirrored the works on the screen and in our nightmares. Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2014. 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 summarizes, Perhaps our own beliefs about monsters and their intractable nature help to produce the monsters we fear the most (164). Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Instead of representing the "us vs them" mentality, monsters are much closer so home: they are us. After Steve testifies, OBrien puts Mr. Sawicki, his film teacher, on the stand. Please wait while we process your payment. Just about all the scarey things that crawl into popular media hail from the leaf-littered shadowy forests that haunt the American mind. However, at times the overt political messages can be more aggressive than effective, the book frequently covers more breadth than depth, and I was left without a clear sense of how monsters in America (US, presumably, rather than hemispheric) differed from those in international nightmares--or how the globalization of monster culture influenced American culture.
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monsters in america sparknotes