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. Bolden testifies that he bought cigarettes from Bobo Evans and that Evans told him about the robbery. All rights reserved. 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. for a group? It was the first-ever Michael L. Printz Award recipient, an ALA Best Book, a Coretta Scott King Honor selection, and a National Book Award finalist. IE- minorities = what we are anxious about / obsessed with = the monstrous = monsters. We are sorry. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. All Rights Reserved. Subscribe now. Michelle Shannon is licensed under a Enter your email address to subscribe to That's What She Read and receive notifications of new posts by email. Indeed, the reader may struggle as I did with the leaps Poole makes between monster movies and American social ills. The image freezes as the screenplay ends. 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. on me, relax. He is the author of several books, including a biography of H.P Lovecraft, which became a Bram Stoker award finalist, and. 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. Victor sees the monster's point of view and agrees to create a mate for the monster. ! His transitions from movie metaphors to American social ills are often strained if not unconvincing. . Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes. From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. W. Scott Poole. You can find more scary stories from him on Twitter: @monstersamerica. Sophfronia Scott - The Seeker and the Monk [Review], James Atwood - Collateral Damage - Brief Review, Emily M.D. Spring 2021 Most Anticipated Books for Christian Readers! 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. I'm just saying that throughout the country's history, there have been some pretty dark times. Scholars will argue over interpretation because that is what scholars do. Salvatore Zinzi, a prisoner at the Rikers Island jail, testifies that another prisoner, Wendell Bolden, told him about the drugstore robbery. 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. OBrien gathers her papers and moves away, leaving Steve standing with outstretched arms. Often fascinating attempt to look at monsters through the lens of American history, Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2011. Design by Booyah Creative. "Rue Morgue" magazine called it "the best biography of H.P. ", Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. The pages are littered with characterizations which demonize only a conservative set of ideas. Sales Date: 2018-07-13. For my own part, I have been studying and writing about Gothic horror for some years. Steves lawyer, Kathy OBrien, urges Steve to take his situation seriously because this crime could put him in jail for twenty years or more. Petrocelli, OBrien, and Briggs make opening statements on the first day of Steves trial. Poole states that, in actuality, that the Europeans saw the natives. is available now and can be read on any device with the free Kindle app. The guards take the bleeding dude away. Want 100 or more? (one code per order). The atheist taught that inflicting suffering while enjoying the process is human nature. Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2017. 20% Conflicting anxieties about race, class, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, science, and politics manifest as haunting beings among the populace. 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. He also makes notes about his movie and about details he observes in court. I love ghost stories and folklore because they reveal an aspect of history and popular thinking in an entertaining way. Continue to start your free trial. These summaries should not exceed one page in length. But honestly, most folks go to horror films for what they would say is the hell of it. Some people enjoy being scared, period. Jacques Ellul Books An Introductory Reading Guide. If you've got an interest in horror, this is definitely worth a read. Monsters in America Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting. Unless specifically stated in the review, I have purchased all books reviewed. Sabbath Books Best Reads for Christians on Rest and Sabbath! Instead of representing the "us vs them" mentality, monsters are much closer so home: they are us. I want to start out by saying that I absolutely love the notion behind this book. Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. 2715 North Charles StreetBaltimore, Maryland, USA 21218. session with vampires and zombies, Poole plots America's past through its fears in this intriguing sociocultural history. Go to BN.com to get your copy of these helpful resources. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. Monster is a 1999 young adult novel by Walter Dean Myers. He wrote in his journal Whats worse is how these monster images exist even until today. "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 . If it bleeds, it reads. In a nutshell, monsters for Poole are metaphors / stand-ins for whoever is loathed or feared in a certain historical context. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. 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. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The history of America -- one fear, one monster, at a time. Monsters in America has without a doubt earned a spot on my favorite books of 2011. Free trial is available to new customers only. In the follow-up to his first book. Not only is it written in a fun, easy to relate to voice, but it is also chock full of info. FREE Shipping on orders over $25.00 shipped by Amazon. Friedrich Nietzsche believed we are the monsters. Vampira) to explore the history of American sexuality, gender relations and the rebirth of the horror film in post-WW2 America. Steve is about to stand trial for felony homicide. Petrocelli also calls an eyewitness, Mrs. Lorelle Henry, to the stand. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! Bram Stoker Award finalist W. Scott Poole is the author of numerous books and articles on monsters and mayhem in popular culture. Other times Poole relies too heavily on social interpreters for his connections. Marshall1 Jenna Marshall Prof. Goff Writing 1010 12 September 2021 Summary Final In Scott Poole's essay Monsters in America Poole's main claim is that stories of monsters are associated with the troubled history of American history of racism, politics, class prejudice, gender disparity, and how society's fears can be equally showing of our divides. Perhaps monsters are made in our society more purposefully than we realize. St. Augustine Best Books on His Life and Work, Holy Sonnets John Donne Complete Text. Fall 2021 Most Anticipated Books for Christian Readers! Satan in America tells the story of America's complicated relationship with the devil. Which one would you like to know more about and why? The brother of Zeus and Poseidon, Hades rules the underworld, the realm of the dead, with his wife, Persephone. In Monster, Walter Dean Myers tells the story of Steve Harmon's trial. A lot of people gave it poor reviews, maybe because they didn't like what the author plainly demonstrated, that the real monsters in America are the Americans, mainly the white Americans. See a complete Character List for Monster, as well as in-depth analysis of its most important characters. Classic Gratitude Poems Joy Harjo, Mary Oliver, MORE. Detectives Karyl and Williams describe their arrival at the crime scene. The book made a few strong points, but ultimately it was a mediocre read. Briggs presents his defense of King. His footnotes have left me with a massive pile of additional books to read. 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. James King has his own lawyer, Asa Briggs. 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. 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. 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. It's also a great way of introducing the idea that you can use different lenses/ways of writing to introduce and discuss topics. The book is rich in history, pop culture references, and analysis. Twelve Important Theology Books of 2020!!! March 4, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 It is not a book on actual monsters but how Americans find monsters in different eras on social constructs. Want 100 or more? Harmon explains that in his cell. Here we not only meet such monsters but also discover America's cultural monstrosity. | Renews March 11, 2023 $24.99 Monstrosities exist in us and therefore they are all around us. 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! Amazon has encountered an error. Steve calls the movie Monster because that is what the prosecutor has called him. I am fiercely passionate about two things: History and Monsters. Frankenstein (1931) happens when somebody tries to make a more perfect human. I often use this in my Freshman Writing courses to show that writing doesn't have to be boring. 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! If specters of the past still haunt our present, they may yet invade our future. But Africans were still human and had their morals, yet the Europeans saw them as a type of monster during the slave trade era. Lewis Biography (And Other Biographies /Companion Guides)! By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. 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. Forged from a partnership between a university press and a library, Project MUSE is a trusted part of the academic and scholarly community it serves. 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. Enter your email below to sign up for our weekly newsletter& download your FREE copy of this ebook! 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. Students will maintain a list of unfamiliar words they come across in the chapter. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club thats right for you for free. 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. Poole states that, in actuality, that the Europeans saw the natives as uncivilized people and even believed them to be monsters. Highly recommended." Jenn's Bookshelves "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. 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. 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? New York: Theatre Communications Group, 2013. Contact us 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. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. Monsters in America Project. Wed love to have you back! All content is original and cannot be copied without permission. There was a problem loading your book clubs. (254) 710-3164. [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. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. I was pretty fascinated through this whole book. Purchasing Lovecraft_. Wed love to have you back! 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. Societal values impact individuals only as much as we understand an individuals values. Date. OBrien reminds jurors of reasonable doubt and states firmly that Steves guilt has not been proven. Dorothy Sayers Poems Five of Our Favorites! Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. 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. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. He decides to make a movie about his experience. by W. Scott Poole. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. Excellent study of the machinery of monsters and their meaning Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. Just about all the scarey things that crawl into popular media hail from the leaf-littered shadowy forests that haunt the American mind. They are created to explain racism, cover up worse monstrosities and signal changes and the state of the nation at the time. 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. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. He tells his story through handwritten notes and a typewritten screenplay. new monsters appear as American society evolves, paralleling fluctuating challenges to the cultural status quo. Monsters highlight both the positives and negatives in any society, and as such, require the reader to open ones mind and accept that the history taught in history books may not be the truth. But real monsters collect different trophies; they are no laughing matter. An interesting and accessible overview of the link between American history and the monsters that fascinate them. Visit the new website for more about the book, upcoming events, and to keep up with Scott Poole's blog. She continues to assert that Steve served as the lookout for the robbery and is as guilty as the others. The Monster feels completely alienated: "none among the myriads of men" will take pity on him. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. W. Scott Poole is Professor of History at the College of Charleston. The horrible treatment of indigenous peoples and slaverys practice is sin that stains Americas history. Monsters in America: on 50-99 accounts. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. 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. , Poole has now turned his attention to the monsters that inhabit American cinema and American imaginations. There he teaches courses on monsters, pop culture, and American history. A monster, in most cases, is something that challenges human morality or customs, or rather, a single group of people's moralities. She tells the jury that James King and Steve Harmon, along with two other criminals, robbed a drugstore. 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. Regardless of the gruesome event, whether it's the Salem Witch Trials back in the 1600s or 9/11 just 10 years ago, one thing remains constant: Americans are obsessed with them. 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. When, meeting the natives, he saw their way of life as barbaric and uncivilized. Monsters in America is lively and entertaining throughout. 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. Continue to start your free trial. Through the two and a half weeks I took with this book, I have been citing it in conversation. 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. 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. Read the chapter-by-chapter Summary & Analysis, a Full Book Summary, or Full Book Analysis of Monster. Monsters in America is W. Scott Poole's interpretive history. Monster is told as a first-person account by Steve Harmon, a Black teenager on trial for felony murder in New York. The fear of anything not considered normal or not well-understood e.g. All affiliate income is used to support the blog. Thanks to Poole's insights we see the ubiquity of the monster lurking in and around us. (Greg Garrett, Faithful Citizenship blogger and author of, One Fine Potion: The Literary Magic of Harry Potter, (John David Smith, Charles H. Stone Distinguished Professor of American History, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte), W. Scott Poole is Professor of History at the College of Charleston. . This book is a wonderful introduction to American history through the lens of monsters. While some may believe that there was no conflict between the settlers and the natives, and that, they just coexisted peacefully. (The medical examiners evidence suggests that the shooter was probably right-handed.) 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. She identifies James King as being one of the two young men. Monsters are here to stay. Excellent study of the machinery of monsters and their meaning in American history. It's rarely happy news being reported. History is horror. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. 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. This is an amazing book. Newer movies like "Terminator," shows what happens when we place our trust in machines. 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. It is an alternative view of history through something that is not necessarily studied in such depth and over such a long period of time. Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. Monsters in America instead should acknowledge monsters exist in every culture, every tribe, every era. does a bang-up job of demonstrating how our culture helps us achieve some sort of understanding about our world and our lives. An unexpected guilty pleasure! What becomes disturbingly apparent is that most of Americas hatred of the Other is based in Christian religious belief. 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. From Victorian-era mad scientists to modern-day serial killers. 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. 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. 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 Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? is lively and entertaining throughout. FABULOUS! A.The James River B.The, Which was NOT an attempted reform movement in antebellum Virginia? Poole's connection of the monster to American history is a kind of Creature Features meets American cultural history. The book's unusual range is one of its contributions; its freshness of juxtaposition is another. Evenhandedness exists in the books last sentence suggesting that liberal visions of social justice could create something worse (228). Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. The book's unusual range is one of its contributions; its freshness of juxtaposition is another. OBrien tells Steve that her job is to make him a human being in the eyes of the jury. The Best C.S. Get help and learn more about the design. Definitions of the monster, he adds, change over time and with each generation. I found the book interesting and informative, it's brief but gives you just enough to perhaps to look further on your own. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% The man immediately begins screaming about something hidden in the mist that is attacking and killing people. Insightful and brilliant! From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. 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. If you're looking for an introductory book to the subject, it's a great resource. Edna St. Vincent Millay Five of our Favorite Poems ! March 4, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 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. 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. Just watch any local news program and you'll see what I mean. 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. This proven textbook also studies the social location of contemporary horror films, exploring, for example, how Get Out emerged from the context of the Black Lives Matter movement. For the record, I'm *not* well versed on the horror genre due to my fear of almost every popular culture monster. W. Scott Poole is Professor of History at the College of Charleston, where he teaches courses on monsters, pop culture, and American history. The kind of monsters depends on the era. Monster in America is a literature book by W. Scott Poole. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. Steves parents are glad he is home, but the distance between Steve and his father is growing. View all Suppose someone wanted to trace American history through the common coffee cup. Its cohesive, cursory, and has a smattering of typos. Available (Christopher James Blythe, Florida State University, (John W. Morehead, editor, www.TheoFantastique.com). From 19th century sea serpents to our current. One wishes for a consistency in commentary. Everything from Communists, feminists, and foreigners to Candyman, Dracula, and The Exorcist are examined for the social attitudes to evil that they illuminate (and that we may believe, consciously or subconsciously). 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. He states that he knows James King and Osvaldo Cruz, but only casually. 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. For me, there are intertwined. Component 2: Summary. that Poole have used to describe the events of . Jos Delgado, an employee of the drugstore, tells how he found Mr. Nesbitts body and noticed that cash and cigarettes were missing. Discount, Discount Code 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. 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. 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? BUY . You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Pooles excoriation of one homogenous grouping belies the essence of the problem which is our human nature.