)1980-present and discuss ways in which the monsters of the era are the products of historical change, conflict and context. The book's unusual range is one of its contributions; its freshness of juxtaposition is another. Monsters in America has without a doubt earned a spot on my favorite books of 2011. is available now and can be read on any device with the free Kindle app. 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. 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. Another problem for Steve is that James King, a young Black hood, is Steves co-defendant. It was just way too "all over the place" for me. OBrien tells Steve he will have to testify on his own behalf and put some distance between himself and King. Then it is OBriens turn to present the defense of Steve. Poole summarizes, Perhaps our own beliefs about monsters and their intractable nature help to produce the monsters we fear the most (164). 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. New York: Theatre Communications Group, 2013. 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. Dorothy Sayers Poems Five of Our Favorites! Amazon has encountered an error. Poole offers an insight on America's fascination with monsters. Monsters in America is lively and entertaining throughout. Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2012. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. This well-written and thought provoking book examines what scares us and what monsters in popular entertainment have to say about our fears and values in society. Steve Harmon, a Black sixteen-year-old, sits in his jail cell and writes in his notebook. Hafez Poems Five of Our Favorites from the Divan of Hafez, N.T. While Poole is an academic his book is anything but dry. Monsters in America does a phenomenal job examining American history through the lens of monsters and the monstrous. There was a problem loading your book clubs. 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. Pooles excoriation of one homogenous grouping belies the essence of the problem which is our human nature. Evans states that King was his partner in the robbery and that Steve served as the lookout. The pages are littered with characterizations which demonize only a conservative set of ideas. Design by Booyah Creative. Scott Poole's Monsters in America Examines Our Fears - Dread Central Monsters in America: Willa Cather Short Stories Five Superb Stories to Read for FREE! Steves lawyer, Kathy OBrien, urges Steve to take his situation seriously because this crime could put him in jail for twenty years or more. The guards take the bleeding dude away. [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. Frankenstein (1931) happens when somebody tries to make a more perfect human. The Best C.S. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. Students will maintain a list of unfamiliar words they come across in the chapter. 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. The Monster feels completely alienated: "none among the myriads of men" will take pity on him. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. religious texts and newspaper accounts of "satanic panics" into a highly readable analysis of the concept of the devil in American cultural history. Instead of representing the "us vs them" mentality, monsters are much closer so home: they are us. Here we not only meet such monsters but also discover America's cultural monstrosity. Monsters in America is W. Scott Pooles interpretive history. All content on this blog is protected under US copyright by Michelle Shannon. Anything outside the norm brought about the birth of a monster, which can differ depending on the social, economic, cultural, or political influences of the time. "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 . 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. We've quickly looked at a wide variety of Native Cultures across the Americas. Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2014. Petrocelli, OBrien, and Briggs make opening statements on the first day of Steves trial. 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. Steve is about to stand trial for felony homicide. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. However, this book was not only as easy read, but incredibly enlightening, eye-opening, and thrilling. Monster in America is a literature book by W. Scott Poole. He decides to make a movie about his experience. Before you get all "He's Anti-American!" One Bear Place 97363, Waco, TX 76798-7363 Another witness testifies that King is left-handed. 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. 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. FABULOUS! But real monsters collect different trophies; they are no laughing matter. Five months later, Steve is again writing in his notebook. Picked up on a whim, I certainly got the expected analysis of horror movies as a way for Americans to understand and react to their culture, but the author also makes the (very strong and well supported) argument that far from being a way to understand the world around us, monsters are also used by those in power to crush those without under their heel while also ignoring and excusing the fact that they're doing so. Usually just called Athena, this goddess emerges from Zeus's head fully-grown and armed. on me, relax. Petrocelli refers to the defendants as monsters in the community. She then calls two witnesses. All opinions expressed are uniquely my own. Steve also states that he was not at the drugstore on the day of the crime but was walking around thinking about his movie. 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 Get help and learn more about the design. What could we extrapolate on the ways we lived and what we believed during each era? I love ghost stories and folklore because they reveal an aspect of history and popular thinking in an entertaining way. With Monsters in America, W. Scott Poole has given us a guidebook for a journey into nightmare territory. She continues to assert that Steve served as the lookout for the robbery and is as guilty as the others. Evenhandedness exists in the books last sentence suggesting that liberal visions of social justice could create something worse (228). on 50-99 accounts. Go to BN.com to get your copy of these helpful resources. If specters of the past still haunt our present, they may yet invade our future. Probably more 3.5 stars. Would that Poole could have written a chapter on one of the liberal American horror shows: 50 million babies slaughtered through this countrys abortion industry. 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. Poole's examples are well-chosen and well-explicated. Petrocelli also calls an eyewitness, Mrs. Lorelle Henry, to the stand. 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. Yuckfest. 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. Free trial is available to new customers only. 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. What I discovered is that Poole should have written two books: his perspective on American history, another on monsters. 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. Angels in America Bibliography | GradeSaver More than mere metaphors, they are creations of human fears and human ignorance. Enter your email address to subscribe to That's What She Read and receive notifications of new posts by email. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Mary Oliver Essays 10 Prose Selections to Read for Free Online! Marilynne Robinson 10 Freely Available Essays! Poole seeks to undermine myths of American exceptionalism by locating monsters that he believes exist outside our psyche, in history. The two defense counsels, OBrien and Briggs, establish that the witnesses are testifying for the State in return for reduced sentences. Sales Date: 2018-07-13. Twelve Important Theology Books of 2021!!! This is an important book that Id recommend very highly. A must read for fans of horror 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. He wrote in his journal This isnt a book for the squeamish as Poole details how a horror film like Candyman is based in fact to a great deal. [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. In his new preface and expanded conclusion, Pooles tale connects to the presentillustrating the relationship between current social movements and their historical antecedents. Harmon explains that in his cell. 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. Review: MONSTERS IN AMERICA - Scott Poole - The Englewood Review Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2017. 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.. The medical examiner states the time of Mr. Nesbitts death. 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. Renews March 11, 2023 Continue to start your free trial. Best Bob Dylan Books Biographies, Lyrics, and More! By the end of the book, Poole cautions that Americas monsters arent going away anytime soon. I took copious notes in the margins, and will be using this book frequently as I continue to work on my own YA horror fiction (e.g. Thanks to Poole's insights we see the ubiquity of the monster lurking in and around us. He is the author of several books, including a biography of H.P Lovecraft, which became a Bram Stoker award finalist, and. Monster was adapted into a movie of the same name in 2018. Monsters, he says, are "cultural constructions of the terrible that define what it is we subconsciously fear and what it is we're told to hate or love.". Poole's examples are well-chosen and well-explicated. Monster Chapter 1 | Shmoop Please provide specific examples to support your answers. Steve tells his story through handwritten notes as in a journal and a typewritten screenplay. Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. Sometimes it can end up there. Sabbath Books Best Reads for Christians on Rest and Sabbath! It's also a great way of introducing the idea that you can use different lenses/ways of writing to introduce and discuss topics. Copyright Thats What She Read 2009-2013. Interesting as a surface-level exploration of "Monster Theory". Author: W. Scott Poole Synopsis (Courtesy of Powell's Books ): "Monsters are not just fears of the individual psyche, historian Scott Poole explains, but are concoctions of the public imagination, reactions to cultural influences, social change, and historical events. Monsters in America argues that historical, political and social conditions produce narratives of horror and create "monsters." Choose one of the following periods 1.) 1960-1980 3. 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. Ten Important Women Theologians To Start Reading. The author radically departs from the notion that monsters are a metaphor for our fears through the ages. 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. The fear of anything not considered normal or not well-understood e.g. Wendell Berry Poems Seven of Our Favorites! For him, this place is the opposite of realhe has to do everything in front of strangers. Poole stays far away from polemic and sticks to the facts. InMonsters in America,Scott Poole asks these thought-provoking questions while traveling through American history following the evolution of the monster over time. Free trial is available to new customers only. W. Scott Poole, Monsters arrived in 2011and now they are back. Poole brings to life American horror stories by framing them within folk belief, religion, and popular culture, broadly unraveling the idea of the monster. Monsters in America | PDF | Slavery | Racism - Scribd For me, there are intertwined. Henri Nouwen Books An Introductory Reading Guide. Excellent study of the machinery of monsters and their meaning in American history. I feel like three stars is generous for a book that did not bring me any new insights, but it was neither especially good nor especially bad. I suppose history could be read into just about any object. I'm just saying that throughout the country's history, there have been some pretty dark times. Victor sees the monster's point of view and agrees to create a mate for the monster. Poole brings to life American horror stories by framing them within folk belief, religion, and popular culture, broadly unraveling the idea of the monster. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% Hardback: Baylor University Press, 2011. (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. Monsters refuse to be cordoned off in only one nationality, ethnicity, religion, or political mindset. He states that he knows James King and Osvaldo Cruz, but only casually. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. Indeed, Poole interprets the meaning of the meaning, reinterpreting historical narratives infusing past story with present perception: history is horror (22). Conflicting anxieties about race, class, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, science, and politics manifest as haunting beings among the populace. Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. ", 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. Pooles book becomes a tired screed against those whose political-social viewpoints are antithetic to his own. Component 2: Summary. You can find more scary stories from him on Twitter: @monstersamerica. He tells his story through handwritten notes and a typewritten screenplay. Sometimes it can end up there. Paperback; 9781481308823; Published: July 2018; $34.99. 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. Monster and Poole.pdf - WRTG1010 . Monsters and American Spring 2021 Most Anticipated Books for Christian Readers! 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. She asks the jury to recall how Steve conducted himself on the witness stand and to compare Steve with Sal Zinzi, Bobo Evans, and Osvaldo Cruz before they decide who is believable. . Human beings made him declare "war" by treating him like an enemy. But a third interpretive option exists. Visit the new website for more about the book, upcoming events, and to keep up with Scott Poole's blog. 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. 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. 62 reviews Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. Monsters in America Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting. 20% 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. (254) 710-3164. Emily Dickinson Poems Seven of our Favorites! Monster is usually used to reflect an individual's actions; especially, it shows for the wrong act of people. Good references in the book that I looked up to further read about horror movies and their importance to our sociological perspective. It's a comprehensive look into ghoulish, weird, and woke world--10/10. Chapter 17 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. 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. SparkNotes PLUS These summaries should not exceed one page in length. The jail guards come in, and everyone lines up against the wall while they get rubber-gloved. W. Scott Poole is Professor of History at the College of Charleston. Poole presents his findings methodically through well-documented facts and similar studies. The scary tales found in the classic texts remind usno matter our nationality, ethnicity, or political persuasionthe monster is us. Bolden testifies that he bought cigarettes from Bobo Evans and that Evans told him about the robbery. Briggs establishes that the police had shown photos of King to Mrs. Henry before she picked him out of a lineup. From Victorian-era mad scientists to modern-day serial killers. , W. Scott Poole has given us a guidebook for a journey into nightmare territory. The history of America -- one fear, one monster, at a time. Whether your interest is literature, American history, popular culture, race and ethnicity, women's studies, or religion, you would be happy reading this book. Monsters in America is an important contribution, and it will be enjoyed by literary and cultural historians alike. Mark Eckel is Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Professor of Old Testament at Crossroads Bible College. From 19th century sea serpents to our current. for a group? Monsters in America (2nd ed.) by W. Scott Poole (ebook) - eBooks.com If you've got an interest in horror, this is definitely worth a read. 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. Poole never assumes a 1-1 metaphor, but he does show how common themes (the reemergence of the vampire at different points in American history, for example) are useful shorthand for working through these anxieties.

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