Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2012. Poole summarizes, Perhaps our own beliefs about monsters and their intractable nature help to produce the monsters we fear the most (164). Poole does justice to judgment; the focus of some horror films. Honoring authors by not reading other reviews ahead of time, I anticipated simple engagement with monstrous intrigue of the horrendous and hideous. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Poole has set the bar ridiculously high for any future research exploring the locus of historical and cultural studies, particularly as it pertains to the horrific. Monsters In America challenges, enlightens, and, quite honestly, frightens in its prescient view of American history, as well as the seeming ubiquity of the monsters of our past and probable future. Poole agrees telling us early and often You are the main character in this terror-filled little tale (xviii). Petrocelli, the State prosecutor, calls more witnesses to establish the facts of the crime. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. Edna St. Vincent Millay Five of our Favorite Poems ! Through the two and a half weeks I took with this book, I have been citing it in conversation. uniquely brings together history and culture studies to expose the dark obsessions that have helped create our national identity. Not only that, but Sandra Petrocelli, the State prosecutor, is a very good lawyer. The horrible treatment of indigenous peoples and slaverys practice is sin that stains Americas history. for a customized plan. Monsters In America challenges, enlightens, and, quite honestly, frightens in its prescient view of American history, . Contact us He wrote in his journal. Frontier wilderness beasts, Freddie Krueger, witches of Salem, alien invasions, and freak show oddities are some of the monstrous creatures. The image freezes as the screenplay ends. Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2021. is lively and entertaining throughout. The two defense counsels, OBrien and Briggs, establish that the witnesses are testifying for the State in return for reduced sentences. There he teaches courses on monsters, pop culture, and American history. Steve writes about his fear, anger, and pain and his rising sense of panic about the outcome of his trial. Hardback: Baylor University Press, 2011. In a nutshell, monsters for Poole are metaphors / stand-ins for whoever is loathed or feared in a certain historical context. This is an amazing book. Evenhandedness exists in the books last sentence suggesting that liberal visions of social justice could create something worse (228). "Angels, Monsters, and Jews: Intersections of Queer and Jewish Identity in Kushner's "Angels in America."" PMLA 113, no. 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. 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.' 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. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. Which one would you like to know more about and why? These summaries should not exceed one page in length. Free trial is available to new customers only. Best Leonard Cohen Books Biographies and Books by the Songwriter. In his new preface and expanded conclusion, Pooles tale connects to the presentillustrating the relationship between current social movements and their historical antecedents. Synopsis: From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. Separated by significant eras in American history, a reader gets a clear picture of how the definition of a monster changes depending on the cultural and political events of an era. Monsters 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. Poole is also a Professor of History at the College of Charleston where he teaches courses on monsters in American history, Satan in folk belief and pop culture and the history of religion and race in American life . This book is quite well researched, makes a few interesting connections, and is very accessible. Want 100 or more? 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. Monster is usually used to reflect an individual's actions; especially, it shows for the wrong act of people. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? Briggs presents his defense of King. The guards take the bleeding dude away. Get help and learn more about the design. Then it is OBriens turn to present the defense of Steve. 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. It is lively and engaging and well researched. 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). St. Augustine Best Books on His Life and Work, Holy Sonnets John Donne Complete Text. Poole has set the bar ridiculously high for any future research exploring the locus of historical and cultural studies, particularly as it pertains to the horrific. Monsters In America challenges, enlightens, and, quite honestly, frightens in its prescient view of American history, as well as the seeming ubiquity of the monsters of our past and probable future. Component 2: Summary. 2023 Project MUSE. 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. American history from the past to the present. Available Dorothy Sayers Where to Start with her Mystery Novels? Steve calls the movie Monster because that is what the prosecutor has called him. He is the author of several books, including a biography of H.P Lovecraft, which became a Bram Stoker award finalist, and. You can find more scary stories from him on Twitter: @monstersamerica. This item: Monsters in America: Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting by W. Scott Poole Paperback $34.99 The Monster Theory Reader by Jeffrey Andrew Weinstock Paperback $45.11 On Monsters: An Unnatural History of Our Worst Fears by Stephen T. Asma Paperback $28.95 What other items do customers buy after viewing this item? I have read Mr. Poole's work before, so I knew I was in for a treat and I was right. for a group? creating and saving your own notes as you read. 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. 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. Other times Poole relies too heavily on social interpreters for his connections. Steve tells his story through handwritten notes as in a journal and a typewritten screenplay. Here we not only meet such monsters but also discover America's cultural monstrosity. Steve Harmon, a Black sixteen-year-old, sits in his jail cell and writes in his notebook. 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's rarely happy news being reported. This is an important book that Id recommend very highly. What I discovered is that Poole should have written two books: his perspective on American history, another on monsters. Marilynne Robinson 10 Freely Available Essays! Poole presents his findings methodically through well-documented facts and similar studies. These summaries should not . on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% Henri Nouwen Books An Introductory Reading Guide. Read the chapter-by-chapter Summary & Analysis, a Full Book Summary, or Full Book Analysis of Monster. If specters of the past still haunt our present, they may yet invade our future. Poole's examples are well-chosen and well-explicated. If you've got an interest in horror, this is definitely worth a read. Monsters arrived in 2011and now they are back. Harmon explains that in his cell. Poole's examples are well-chosen and well-explicated. 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. Another problem for Steve is that James King, a young Black hood, is Steves co-defendant. Subject I have a lot of interest in and the author seems to have done a lot of work/research. Spring 2022 Most Anticipated Books for Christian Readers! American history comes at us dripping with gore, victims lying scattered on the ground, eldritch moonlight revealing creeping horrors you never learned from your eighth grade history textbook. Sometimes it can end up there. 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. Associated with war, cleverness, and wit, it is no surprise that she favors Odysseus. 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. It is not just about film and fiction, but the cultural events that mirrored the works on the screen and in our nightmares. 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. 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). 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. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. There was a problem loading your book clubs. Thanks to Poole's insights we see the ubiquity of the monster lurking in and around us. Insightful and brilliant! session with vampires and zombies, Poole plots America's past through its fears in this intriguing sociocultural history. Discount, Discount Code Often fascinating attempt to look at monsters through the lens of American history, Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2011. Thoughts: What makes a monster a monster? [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. On Being with Krista Tippett Top 10 Best Episodes! Here's where you'll find analysis of the main themes, motifs, and symbols in Monster. Howard Thurman Books An Introductory Reading Guide. Especially enlightening is the the animistic portrayal and subsequent fear of African-Americans that has permeated society since they were first brought to the Americas on slave ships. Sometimes it can end up there. One wishes for a consistency in commentary. Societal values impact individuals only as much as we understand an individuals values. The Monster argues that his murderousness is not his fault. Title and sub-title encouraged my interest in securing a copy of Monsters in America for review. the bell witch, the roanaoke colony, etc.) That's What She Read by Sawicki states that he believes in Steves honesty as a filmmaker and as a person. Satan in America tells the story of America's complicated relationship with the devil. America, like all nations, is made up of monstrous human beings. FREE Shipping on orders over $25.00 shipped by Amazon. Classic Gratitude Poems Joy Harjo, Mary Oliver, MORE. (Gary Laderman, Professor of American Religious History and Cultures, Emory University), (J. Gordon Melton, Director, Institute for the Study of American Religion). is an important contribution, and it will be enjoyed by literary and cultural historians alike. All content is original and cannot be copied without permission. Well-researched and insightful, the writing of the text is also energetic and engaging. 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! SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. I hated this book. 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. as uncivilized people and even believed them to be monsters. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. 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 thought this was gonna be about different monsters from American folklore. From early American ghost stories to Jordan Peeles Get Out (2017), Scott Poole expertly tracks the importance of monsters and monstrosity in American culture. History is horror. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. InMonsters in America,Scott Poole asks these thought-provoking questions while traveling through American history following the evolution of the monster over time. Lewis Biography (And Other Biographies /Companion Guides)! It was just way too "all over the place" for me. on 50-99 accounts. And I don't have to mention the meaning of all the zombie movies. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. OBrien tells Steve that her job is to make him a human being in the eyes of the jury. She identifies James King as being one of the two young men. Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes. What could we extrapolate on the ways we lived and what we believed during each era? It's also a great way of introducing the idea that you can use different lenses/ways of writing to introduce and discuss topics. I love ghost stories and folklore because they reveal an aspect of history and popular thinking in an entertaining way. Asa Briggs, Kings attorney, establishes that the police have no fingerprint evidence. He tells his story through handwritten notes and a typewritten screenplay. by Michelle | Nov 30, 2011 | Books Read in 2011, P Author | 0 comments, Title: Monsters in America: Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting, 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. SparkNotes PLUS Lovecraft_. W. Scott Poole. Unless specifically stated in the review, I have purchased all books reviewed. Poole stays far away from polemic and sticks to the facts. The atheist taught that inflicting suffering while enjoying the process is human nature. If you view everything that has happened in the last ten thousand years as an atrocity committed by (American) White Anglo-Saxon Protestant men against the wide-eyed, helpless, innocent (and rather stupid) non-male/non-white world in a concerted race (or gender where convenient) war and stolidly ignore all contrary evidence, the world is full of monsters. Visit the new website for more about the book, upcoming events, and to keep up with Scott Poole's blog. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. 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. Go to BN.com to get your copy of these helpful resources. Excerpt. Conflicting anxieties about race, class, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, science, and politics manifest as haunting beings among the populace. 2023 Baylor University Press. She continues to assert that Steve served as the lookout for the robbery and is as guilty as the others. For him, this place is the opposite of realhe has to do everything in front of strangers. 1945-1960 2.) Continue to start your free trial. He decides to make a movie about his experience. 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. Author W. Scott Poole takes a look at America's fascination with the macabre in his book. Renews March 11, 2023 Based on new findings and bursting with new interpretations, it offers newcomers and old fans of the America's great horror writer new insight into his life, work, and continuing influence. Highly recommended for horror or monster fans with an interest in American history; slightly less so for American history buffs with a hobby in monster entertainments. However, this book was FABULOUS! 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. 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. Steve is about to stand trial for felony homicide. Indeed, Poole interprets the meaning of the meaning, reinterpreting historical narratives infusing past story with present perception: history is horror (22). 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]. Both belief about the supernatural and the supernatural itself creates creatures which slither into our thinking-being-behaving. Stamped on American culture, the phrase brings to mind images of costumes, plastic masks, and parents holding the hands of little monsters as they collect candy calories. 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. Component 3: Vocabulary. The new edition extends this analysis to shed light on some of the darker developments in recent American political culture. In a nutshell, monsters for Poole are metaphors / stand-ins for whoever is loathed or feared in a certain historical context. Twelve Important Theology Books of 2020!!! 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. The jail guards come in, and everyone lines up against the wall while they get rubber-gloved. 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. The book won the John Cawelti prize from the Popular Culture Association for the best book published in pop culture history for 2011. Monsters in America is an important contribution, and it will be enjoyed by literary and cultural historians alike. Conflicting anxieties about race, class, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, science, and politics manifest as haunting beings among the populace. A masterful survey of our grim and often disturbing past. 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! Briggs makes the first closing argument in the case. While Poole is an academic his book is anything but dry. SparkNotes PLUS Emily Dickinson Poems Seven of our Favorites! 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. I hoped to expand my interaction in the genre, albeit from an American point of view. Yuckfest. religious texts and newspaper accounts of "satanic panics" into a highly readable analysis of the concept of the devil in American cultural history. An unexpected guilty pleasure! Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. When social conservatives oppose something, like - say -. Sales Date: 2018-07-13. You can view our. Paperback; 9781481308823; Published: July 2018; $34.99. Free trial is available to new customers only. But a third interpretive option exists. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Usually just called Athena, this goddess emerges from Zeus's head fully-grown and armed. The tendency to view American monsters as primarily psychological archetypes ignores how closely they have reflected actual historical events and actual historical victims.". You can find more scary stories from him on Twitter: @monstersamerica. It blends popular culture and American history to present a unique perspective oh why and how we create and perpetuate the monsters we fear most. Insightful and brilliant! Monster in America is a literature book by W. Scott Poole. Even fewer scholars do so as adeptly and as entertainingly as W. Scott Poole. Monsters in America does a phenomenal job examining American history through the lens of monsters and the monstrous. Buy now: [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ]. Monsters in America is an important contribution, and it will be enjoyed by literary and cultural historians alike. Pallas Athena Roman name: Minerva. It felt more like I was reading a college midterm (not even open book), and less like strong literary criticism. We are led to believe that bloody movies portray the sinister seditions of social conservativismthe ultimate grim reaper. Monsters in America has without a doubt earned a spot on my favorite books of 2011. serial killers, each generation faced its own challenges and highlighted its fear within its own monsters. The scary tales found in the classic texts remind usno matter our nationality, ethnicity, or political persuasionthe monster is us. Browning's research, including extensive field work in New Orleans, has uncovered a subculture of . Conflicting anxieties about race, class, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, science, and politics manifest as haunting beings among the populace. He reveals how monster stories went west to Sand Creek and Wounded Knee, bringing the preoccupation with monsters into the twentieth century through the American Indian Movement. 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. Poole offers an insight on America's fascination with monsters. 2715 North Charles StreetBaltimore, Maryland, USA 21218. Not only is America guilty of creating its own horrors, failure to acknowledge monsters also creates them (23). 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. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. 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. Not only is it written in a fun, easy to relate to voice, but it is also chock full of info. (one code per order). Omer-Sherman, Ranen. Friday afternoon, July 17th & December, 5 months later. incredibly rewarding and fulfilling reading. Monsters in America has without a doubt earned a spot on my favorite books of 2011. His footnotes have left me with a massive pile of additional books to read. Our main man wonders how anyone can get used to the slammer. [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. BUY . She tells the jury that James King and Steve Harmon, along with two other criminals, robbed a drugstore. A monster, in most cases, is something that challenges human morality or customs, or rather, a single group of people's moralities. I loved this book. The Theology of the Early Christians 10 Free Classics! 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 societys fears but shapes actual historical behavior and becomes a cultural reminder of inhuman acts.. Please wait while we process your payment. IE- minorities = what we are anxious about / obsessed with = the monstrous = monsters. Scott - For All Who Hunger - Feature Review, Mattix & Thomas, Eds - Christian Poetry in America Since, Copyright 2023 The Englewood Review of Books. Foregrounding the racism and injustice of the legal system, the novel is a crime story, a courtroom drama, and an account of a young teens search for identity. The Monster feels completely alienated: "none among the myriads of men" will take pity on him. Poole wants to tell a story and take his readers on a journey, and he definitely does so. He wrote in his journal | She explains that some jurors have decided against him just because he is young and Black, so Steve has to make the jury see him as different from the other defendants. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading American Monsters: A History of Monster Lore, Legends, and Sightings in America. Petrocelli refers to the defendants as monsters in the community. She then calls two witnesses. 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. 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.
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