IE- minorities = what we are anxious about / obsessed with = the monstrous = monsters. The tendency to view American monsters as primarily psychological archetypes ignores how closely they have reflected actual historical events and actual historical victims.". 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 earned a permanent place on my bookshelf now that the class is over. Definitions of the monster, he adds, change over time and with each generation. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. 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. Free trial is available to new customers only. You can find more scary stories from him on Twitter: @monstersamerica. All content on this blog is protected under US copyright by Michelle Shannon. Antiracism Books for Christians A Reading Guide, Thomas Merton Books An Intro Reading Guide. SparkNotes PLUS Steves lawyer, Kathy OBrien, urges Steve to take his situation seriously because this crime could put him in jail for twenty years or more. damn good primer on monsters in America. Reprinted by permission. He wrote in his journal. Discount, Discount Code Frankenstein (1931) happens when somebody tries to make a more perfect human. What would be made of the differences of the heavy, utilitarian coffee cups of the 1940s compared to the cups featuring Gary Larson cartoons so popular in the 1990s? From early American ghost stories to Jordan Peeles Get Out (2017), Scott Poole expertly tracks the importance of monsters and monstrosity in American culture. If you're looking for an introductory book to the subject, it's a great resource. Poole presents his findings methodically through well-documented facts and similar studies. Solely focused on the horrors, readers would think that no Christian or church stood against the aberration of Scriptural teaching; but such was the case with missionaries and abolitionists. I have read Mr. Poole's work before, so I knew I was in for a treat and I was right. Petrocelli, OBrien, and Briggs make opening statements on the first day of Steves trial. The new edition extends this analysis to shed light on some of the darker developments in recent American political culture. In Monster, Walter Dean Myers tells the story of Steve Harmon's trial. Here we not only meet such monsters but also discover America's cultural monstrosity. 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). 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. Christopher Columbus came to the Americas searching for gold, slaves, and monsters. Sometimes it can end up there. After readingMonsters in America, a reader will view monsters in a completely different light. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. 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! Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2014. Steve writes about his fear, anger, and pain and his rising sense of panic about the outcome of his trial. Another witness testifies that King is left-handed. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% 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. 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. All content is original and cannot be copied without permission. Monstrosities exist in us and therefore they are all around us. "Sick," published by Abrams/Amulet). For Poole Halloween means more trick than treat; we discover that the monsters are us. 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. 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. Honoring authors by not reading other reviews ahead of time, I anticipated simple engagement with monstrous intrigue of the horrendous and hideous. Petrocelli presents the charges against the defendants. Hades Roman name: Pluto. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading American Monsters: A History of Monster Lore, Legends, and Sightings in America. Some of his writings can be accessed at www.warpandwoof.org. Poole seeks to undermine myths of American exceptionalism by locating monsters that he believes exist outside our psyche, in history. A must read for fans of horror and monsters! 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. His footnotes have left me with a massive pile of additional books to read. Wendell Berry Poems Seven of Our Favorites! Monsters in America (2nd ed.) Steve calls the movie Monster because that is what the prosecutor has called him. Associated with war, cleverness, and wit, it is no surprise that she favors Odysseus. 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. The Monster feels completely alienated: "none among the myriads of men" will take pity on him. For the record, I'm *not* well versed on the horror genre due to my fear of almost every popular culture monster. Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes. for a customized plan. Emily Dickinson Poems Seven of our Favorites! Renews March 11, 2023 New York: Theatre Communications Group, 2013. The book's unusual range is one of its contributions; its freshness of juxtaposition is another. religious texts and newspaper accounts of "satanic panics" into a highly readable analysis of the concept of the devil in American cultural history. The history of America -- one fear, one monster, at a time. 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. 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. If specters of the past still haunt our present, they may yet invade our future. When meeting the natives, he saw their way of life as barbaric and uncivilized. The defense rests after Sawickis testimony. 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. A monster, in most cases, is something that challenges human morality or customs, or rather, a single group of people's moralities. He wrote in his journal Monsters in America has without a doubt earned a spot on my favorite books of 2011. I highly recommend this for fans of the horror genre and anthropology. Without cookies your experience may not be seamless. The book is rich in history, pop culture references, and analysis. 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. From 19th century sea serpents to our current. 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. View all In fact, perhaps our own beliefs about monsters and their intractable nature help to produce the monsters we fear the most., I've had a question for a long time. Monsters and American History W. Scott Poole offers many unique explanations for the creation and story telling of monsters in his essayMonsters in America.Poole examines the cultural history of the monster and how it intersects with American history. Dracula (1931) is based on the fear of foreigners and disease. He tells his story through handwritten notes and a typewritten screenplay. 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. Design by Booyah Creative. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. Books About Race in America; Coretta Scott . session with vampires and zombies, Poole plots America's past through its fears in this intriguing sociocultural history. wish it felt more american- some of the trends were too broad, and I wish thered been more emphasis on early America (e.g. Marilynne Robinson 10 Freely Available Essays! Poole offers an insight on America's fascination with monsters. Here's where you'll find important quotesfrom Monsterand explanations of them. Unfortunately, however, the writing just reads as super amateurish and unnatural--to the point where your brain feels exhausted after slogging through only a couple pages. Poole's connection of the monster to American history is a kind of Creature Features meets American cultural history. FABULOUS! 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. Eastern Orthodoxy Essential Books [A Reading List]. Mark Eckel is Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Professor of Old Testament at Crossroads Bible College. In a nutshell, monsters for Poole are metaphors / stand-ins for whoever is loathed or feared in a certain historical context. Petrocelli refers to the defendants as monsters in the community. She then calls two witnesses. Monsters in America does a phenomenal job examining American history through the lens of monsters and the monstrous. A masterful survey of our grim and often disturbing past, Monsters in. Sabbath Books Best Reads for Christians on Rest and Sabbath! Poole does justice to judgment; the focus of some horror films. From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. In the end, though, I could easily see assigning parts of this book to undergraduates. Component 2: Summary. A.The James River B.The, Which was NOT an attempted reform movement in antebellum Virginia? Dont have an account? More than mere metaphors, they are creations of human fears and human ignorance. Students will maintain a list of unfamiliar words they come across in the chapter. Reading this for research for a paper I am writing for a creative nonfiction class for college, but what an interesting book regardless! These monsters are created by multiple aspects of society and give meaning to the culture as well. Component 2: Summary. You can find more scary stories from him on Twitter: @monstersamerica. Penn State folklorist Bill Ellis called the book "required reading for . 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. 1 (1998): 90-102. This book is really good, a look at our monsters in a social conceptional way. When social conservatives oppose something, like - say -. is lively and entertaining throughout. Steve is about to stand trial for felony homicide. 2023 Baylor University Press. Bram Stoker Award finalist W. Scott Poole is the author of numerous books and articles on monsters and mayhem in popular culture. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! These summaries should not exceed one page in length. While Poole is an academic his book is anything but dry. The fear of anything not considered normal or not well-understood e.g. This was a great concept, but I struggled to even make it through the introduction. I found the book interesting and informative, it's brief but gives you just enough to perhaps to look further on your own. Instead of representing the "us vs them" mentality, monsters are much closer so home: they are us. It is lively and engaging and well researched. Sophfronia Scott - The Seeker and the Monk [Review], James Atwood - Collateral Damage - Brief Review, Emily M.D. Acknowledgements: Thank you to Kelly Hughes from Dechant-Hughes for my review copy! Go to BN.com to get your copy of these helpful resources. 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. One Bear Place 97363, Waco, TX 76798-7363 Thanks to Poole's insights we see the ubiquity of the monster lurking in and around us. Even fewer scholars do so as adeptly and as entertainingly as W. Scott Poole. Best Bob Dylan Books Biographies, Lyrics, and More! 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. He is at home with his parents and his brother Jerry. Then it is OBriens turn to present the defense of Steve. However, his interpretations and implications are nothing less than threatening to whatever status quo our authorities would prefer us to maintain. That's What She Read by 2715 North Charles StreetBaltimore, Maryland, USA 21218. Another problem for Steve is that James King, a young Black hood, is Steves co-defendant. If you will, a shining city on hill built on the bodies of natives, blacks, women, and anyone else we dont like very much. 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. Dorothy Sayers Where to Start with her Mystery Novels? $24.99 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. for a group? It's no secret that America is a little messed up. It felt more like I was reading a college midterm (not even open book), and less like strong literary criticism. Imprint: Baylor University Press. Classic Gratitude Poems Joy Harjo, Mary Oliver, MORE. Bolden testifies that he bought cigarettes from Bobo Evans and that Evans told him about the robbery. Conflicting anxieties about race, class, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, science, and politics manifest as haunting beings among the populace. Poole's examples are well-chosen and well-explicated. 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. It's rarely happy news being reported. [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. They are manifestations of our society. Monsters are here to stay. Sometimes it can end up there. We are sorry. But honestly, most folks go to horror films for what they would say is the hell of it. Some people enjoy being scared, period. He decides to make a movie about his experience. Monsters in America is an important contribution, and it will be enjoyed by literary and cultural historians alike. However, this book was FABULOUS! 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. Here's where you'll find analysis of the main themes, motifs, and symbols in Monster. With Monsters in America, W. Scott Poole has given us a guidebook for a journey into nightmare territory. Fyodor Dostoevsky Download all his Novels as Free Ebooks !!! 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. If you've got an interest in horror, this is definitely worth a read. $24.99 Unless specifically stated in the review, I have purchased all books reviewed. Monsters refuse to be cordoned off in only one nationality, ethnicity, religion, or political mindset. Monsters in America does a bang-up job of demonstrating how our culture helps us achieve some sort of understanding about our world and our lives. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. 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. Perhaps monsters are made in our society more purposefully than we realize. OBrien tells Steve he will have to testify on his own behalf and put some distance between himself and King. These summaries should not . March 4, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20