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All opinions expressed are uniquely my own. One Bear Place 97363, Waco, TX 76798-7363 Unless specifically stated in the review, I have purchased all books reviewed. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% Monsters in America argues that historical, political and social conditions produce narratives of horror and create "monsters." Choose one of the following periods 1.) 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. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. He compares himself with the other prisoners. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% (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. 20% Judging from the verbiage, Pooles sub-text for the American monster is conservative-Christian-white-heterosexual-Republican. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? Monsters in America has without a doubt earned a spot on my favorite books of 2011. We are sorry. The State rests its case. James King has his own lawyer, Asa Briggs. No historically reflective Christian would disagree with Pooles castigation of wrongdoings by some Americans. This book is a wonderful introduction to American history through the lens of monsters. I used this as a textbook for a themed English course: Monsters, Myths, and Magic. Subscribe now. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. Eastern Orthodoxy Essential Books [A Reading List]. The Best C.S. An unexpected guilty pleasure! Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. Poole does justice to judgment; the focus of some horror films. Willa Cather Short Stories Five Superb Stories to Read for FREE! From early American ghost stories to Jordan Peeles Get Out (2017), Scott Poole expertly tracks the importance of monsters and monstrosity in American culture. wish it felt more american- some of the trends were too broad, and I wish thered been more emphasis on early America (e.g. Chapters three and four in my copy of the book, for instance, are littered with questions: How did we get here? This is a logical leap! and What??! Anne Bradstreet Poems Five of our Favorites by the Puritan Poet! When social conservatives oppose something, like - say -. A masterful survey of our grim and often disturbing past. 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. 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 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. Simplistic and not incredibly thoughtful, but useful for my purposes, Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2012. Monsters arrived in 2011and now they are back. But he also shows that the monstrous can be sympathetic, that it can also be used by the oppressed to speak back to the mainstream. 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. March 4, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 March 4, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! 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. I found the book interesting and informative, it's brief but gives you just enough to perhaps to look further on your own. for a group? There was a problem loading your book clubs. Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting. Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. Societal values impact individuals only as much as we understand an individuals values. 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. Insightful and brilliant! I love ghost stories and folklore because they reveal an aspect of history and popular thinking in an entertaining way. In 2016, he wrote the Bram Stoker Finalist _In the Mountains of Madness: The Life and Extraordinary Afterlife of H.P. Bram Stoker Award finalist W. Scott Poole is the author of numerous books and articles on monsters and mayhem in popular culture. Honoring authors by not reading other reviews ahead of time, I anticipated simple engagement with monstrous intrigue of the horrendous and hideous. Just about all the scarey things that crawl into popular media hail from the leaf-littered shadowy forests that haunt the American mind. And I don't have to mention the meaning of all the zombie movies. He is the author of several books, including a biography of H.P Lovecraft, which became a Bram Stoker award finalist, and Wasteland: The Great War and the Origins of Modern Horror. Petrocelli presents the charges against the defendants. We can anticipate either alien salvation or judgment from beyond. Pooles constant harangue against anything conservative is a thin criticism to begin, stretched beyond any semblance of recognition by the end of the book. 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. [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. The fear of anything not considered normal or not well-understood e.g. Satan in America tells the story of America's complicated relationship with the devil. From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. does a bang-up job of demonstrating how our culture helps us achieve some sort of understanding about our world and our lives. Wasteland: The Great War and the Origins of Modern Horror, On Monsters: An Unnatural History of Our Worst Fears. It is lively and engaging and well researched. Monsters in America Project. 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. The horrible treatment of indigenous peoples and slaverys practice is sin that stains Americas history. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! I was thrilled to find a book that went with that mindset. for a group? Its cohesive, cursory, and has a smattering of typos. Dorothy Moore, a cousin of Kings, testifies that King was with her at the time of the robbery. 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. 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. A.They would back the federal government against another state B.They would support, What issue was at the root of the nullification crisis of 1832, which turned many Virginia Republicans against Andrew Jackson? Monsters in America is lively and entertaining throughout. . 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. Another witness testifies that King is left-handed. (one code per order). Buy now: [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ]. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. 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. Best Johnny Cash Books Biographies and More! Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. 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.". Baylor Univ, $29.95 (296p) ISBN 978-1-60258-314-6 From 19th century sea serpents to our current obsession with vampires and zombies, history professor Poole (Satan in America) plots America's. 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. From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. 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. 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 one would like to get into the spirit of monster mania during Halloween, no better place to begin is with the books that generated monster madness: Dracula, Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and The Island of Dr. Moreau. He wrote in his journal. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. Monstrosities exist in us and therefore they are all around us. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. I hated this book. The guards take the bleeding dude away. A.Slavery B.States' rights C.Internal improvements D.Westward expansion. The image freezes as the screenplay ends. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading American Monsters: A History of Monster Lore, Legends, and Sightings in America. Then it is OBriens turn to present the defense of Steve. Sophfronia Scott - The Seeker and the Monk [Review], James Atwood - Collateral Damage - Brief Review, Emily M.D. For Poole Halloween means more trick than treat; we discover that the monsters are us. Mrs. Henry testifies to being in the drugstore and seeing two young Black men arguing with the store owner. From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. With Monsters in America, W. Scott Poole has given us a guidebook for a journey into nightmare territory. religious texts and newspaper accounts of "satanic panics" into a highly readable analysis of the concept of the devil in American cultural history. I highly recommend this for fans of the horror genre and anthropology. Both belief about the supernatural and the supernatural itself creates creatures which slither into our thinking-being-behaving. 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. If you've got an interest in horror, this is definitely worth a read. 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 pages are littered with characterizations which demonize only a conservative set of ideas. Sometimes it can end up there. Subject I have a lot of interest in and the author seems to have done a lot of work/research. 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. You'll also receive an email with the link. 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. From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. Flashbacks in Steves screenplay show Steve playing on the streets, listening to Mr. Sawicki, his film club mentor, and hanging out with James King and Osvaldo Cruz. Continue to start your free trial. 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. Monster is a 1999 young adult novel by Walter Dean Myers. If you're looking for an introductory book to the subject, it's a great resource. With Monsters in America, W. Scott Poole has given us a guidebook for a journey into nightmare territory. 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! The Monster argues that his murderousness is not his fault. Lewis Biography (And Other Biographies /Companion Guides)! 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. Lovecraft_. Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2021. Please try again. Twelve Important Theology Books of 2021!!! W. Scott Poole, Monsters arrived in 2011and now they are back. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. 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. Hafez Poems Five of Our Favorites from the Divan of Hafez, N.T. He tells his story through handwritten notes and a typewritten screenplay. 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. Copyright Thats What She Read 2009-2013. Conflicting anxieties about race, class, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, science, and politics manifest as haunting beings among the populace. Here we not only meet such monsters but also discover America's cultural monstrosity. Hades Roman name: Pluto. Steve is about to stand trial for felony homicide. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. These summaries should not exceed one page in length. Excellent study of the machinery of monsters and their meaning in American history. 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. 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. 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. Penn State folklorist Bill Ellis called the book "required reading for . You can find more scary stories from him on Twitter: @monstersamerica. 2023 Baylor University Press. Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. Poole brings to life American horror stories by framing them within folk belief, religion, and popular culture, broadly unraveling the idea of the monster. Howard Thurman Books An Introductory Reading Guide. The atheist taught that inflicting suffering while enjoying the process is human nature. , Poole has now turned his attention to the monsters that inhabit American cinema and American imaginations. Synopsis: From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. Purchasing I suppose history could be read into just about any object. on 50-99 accounts. I suppose history could be read into just about any object. 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. Lovecraft in print. (And as someone who lives with a history PhD and who briefly pursued graduate studies in history myself, I like to believe that I know from whence I speak.) All content on this blog is protected under US copyright by Michelle Shannon. Want 100 or more? ! His transitions from movie metaphors to American social ills are often strained if not unconvincing. Why are we scared of this person? is always a question behind each chapter and Poole is careful to never reduce it purely to matters of sociology or psychology while still using those tools of analysis. New York: Theatre Communications Group, 2013. Specifically, he discusses how the stories like "Pocahontas" and "The. 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. Poole offers an insight on America's fascination with monsters. Amazon has encountered an error. While Poole is an academic his book is anything but dry. Date. For the record, I'm *not* well versed on the horror genre due to my fear of almost every popular culture monster. Well-written and engaging,Monsters in Americais a must-read for anyone fascinated by history or monsters or both. Conflicting anxieties about race, class, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, science, and politics manifest as haunting beings among the populace. All content is original and cannot be copied without permission. It is not a book on actual monsters but how Americans find monsters in different eras on social constructs. He also doesn't shy away from the role of the monstrous in helping maintain oppressive regimes and the status quo. 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? Excellent examination of horror movies evolution through the years and also how societal happenings influence the movies at the time they are made. Friedrich Nietzsche believed we are the monsters. 62 reviews Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. See a complete Character List for Monster, as well as in-depth analysis of its most important characters. The history of America -- one fear, one monster, at a time. 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). Jos Delgado, an employee of the drugstore, tells how he found Mr. Nesbitts body and noticed that cash and cigarettes were missing. Thoughts on books, family, and life in one impressive package. Monsters refuse to be cordoned off in only one nationality, ethnicity, religion, or political mindset. 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. While I appreciate and agree with his argument that monsters are "real" because their effects on history / on people's lives have been real, I dislike his assumption that people in the past were the obvious victims of prejudice and misplaced fear and that they were not insightful or intelligent enough to realize what they were truly afraid of. The Theology of the Early Christians 10 Free Classics! Insightful and brilliant! 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.
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