| Mrs. Henry testifies to being in the drugstore and seeing two young Black men arguing with the store owner. I found it informative, fascinating, thought-provoking and well-written. uniquely brings together history and culture studies to expose the dark obsessions that have helped create our national identity. March 4, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 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. One wishes for a consistency in commentary. the bell witch, the roanaoke colony, etc.) Evenhandedness exists in the books last sentence suggesting that liberal visions of social justice could create something worse (228). Poole presents his findings methodically through well-documented facts and similar studies. The little monsters who come to our doors for candy at Halloween are small reminders of our large problem. 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! 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. American history from the past to the present. for a group? I found the book interesting and informative, it's brief but gives you just enough to perhaps to look further on your own. Want 100 or more? Amazon has encountered an error. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. Date. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. 1960-1980 3. History is horror. 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. Sex and violence are the recurring themes of the book, but Poole always provides context for why they recur so often. Academic, yet very accessible, I was fascinated by this book, and it holds a very special distinction as the only book I was required to buy for a college class that has earned a permanent place on my bookshelf now that the class is over. 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. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. The book reflects on the. 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. 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. The history of America -- one fear, one monster, at a time. See a complete Character List for Monster, as well as in-depth analysis of its most important characters. 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). Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2021. 2023 Project MUSE. Frankenstein: The Monster Quotes | SparkNotes You can view our. Interesting as a surface-level exploration of "Monster Theory". He wrote in his journal Dorothy Sayers Where to Start with her Mystery Novels? "The American past reads like something of a horror movie, maybe even a low-budget slasher. Poole's connection of the monster to American history is a kind of Creature Features meets American cultural history. Dorothy Sayers Poems Five of Our Favorites! Conflicting anxieties about race, class, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, science, and politics manifest as haunting beings among the populace. When meeting the natives, he saw their way of life as barbaric and uncivilized. All opinions expressed are uniquely my own. Monsters in America (2nd ed.) by W. Scott Poole (ebook) - eBooks.com Insightful and brilliant! Continue to start your free trial. I want to start out by saying that I absolutely love the notion behind this book. Learn how your comment data is processed. Course Hero is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university. I feel like the author did a great job at deconstructing America's social issues and how they connect to the monsters/fears/entertainment of the time. All affiliate income is used to support the blog. Steve also states that he was not at the drugstore on the day of the crime but was walking around thinking about his movie. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. 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. In "Monstrous beginnings," the introductory chapter of "Monsters in America: Our Historical, Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting" by W. Scott Poole, the author makes an argument, about how monsters were not only used as entertainment, but were also used as an excuse to, justify the offenses done to the Native Americans as well as the slaves brought from Africa by, the European settlers. Sabbath Books Best Reads for Christians on Rest and Sabbath! Monsters refuse to be cordoned off in only one nationality, ethnicity, religion, or political mindset. Monsters in America - Baylor University Press Review: Monsters in America by W. Scott Poole SparkNotes PLUS These monsters are created by multiple aspects of society and give meaning to the culture as well. 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. Chapter 17 Poole summarizes, Perhaps our own beliefs about monsters and their intractable nature help to produce the monsters we fear the most (164). 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. But a third interpretive option exists. Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2012. 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. Subscribe now. In Virginia's sectional differences, what natural boundary marked the dividing line between the traditional thinkers and those desiring reforms to have greater representation? She identifies James King as being one of the two young men. He tells his story through handwritten notes and a typewritten screenplay. 20% Monster: Full Book Summary | SparkNotes Mythology: Character List | SparkNotes Jos Delgado, an employee of the drugstore, tells how he found Mr. Nesbitts body and noticed that cash and cigarettes were missing. It's no secret that America is a little messed up. 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. You can find more scary stories from him on Twitter: @monstersamerica. These summaries should not exceed one page in length. "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 . Briggs makes the first closing argument in the case. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. . Spring 2022 Most Anticipated Books for Christian Readers! Monsters in America | PDF | Slavery | Racism - Scribd An unexpected guilty pleasure! A.Universal white male suffrage B.Public education C.Child labor D.Temperance. Fifteen Important Theology Books of 2022!!! 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. Bolden testifies that he bought cigarettes from Bobo Evans and that Evans told him about the robbery. You'll also receive an email with the link. 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. Lovecraft in print. 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. BUY . 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. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% View all Evil brutes exist inside and outside American neighborhoods. Numerous scholars explore the cultural and political implications of monster and horror films for the times from which they emerge. Few scholars connect such implications across broader expanses of time to reveal how intrinsically monsters and the horrific have been bound up in the history of America. C. Christopher Smith is the founding editor of The Englewood Review of Books. Freedman, Jonathan. Review: MONSTERS IN AMERICA - Scott Poole - The Englewood Review 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.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. But then, I dislike any historical book that loses its sense of historical relativity as well as any book about phenomena that automatically assumes a phenomenon is false and therefore ripe for being disproved and easily rationalized away. In his new preface and expanded conclusion, Pooles tale connects to the presentillustrating the relationship between current social movements and their historical antecedents. Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. The book won the John Cawelti prize from the Popular Culture Association for the best book published in pop culture history for 2011. There he teaches courses on monsters, pop culture, and American history. OBrien tells Steve he will have to testify on his own behalf and put some distance between himself and King. Copyright 2023 That's What She Read. Monsters In America challenges, enlightens, and, quite honestly, frightens in its prescient view of American history, . OBrien follows and reminds the jury that the State has not proved any of its charges against Steve. From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. Monsters in America is an important contribution, and it will be enjoyed by literary and cultural historians alike. 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). serial killers, each generation faced its own challenges and highlighted its fear within its own monsters. The defense rests after Sawickis testimony. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% James King has his own lawyer, Asa Briggs. 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. Steve testifies that he did not take part in the drugstore robbery or discuss it with anyone before it happened. 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. Thoughts on books, family, and life in one impressive package. Simplistic and not incredibly thoughtful, but useful for my purposes, Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2012. In her closing argument for the State, Petrocelli stresses the importance of the stolen cigarettes in proving who committed the crime. 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. From 19th century sea serpents to our current. 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. Salvatore Zinzi, a prisoner at the Rikers Island jail, testifies that another prisoner, Wendell Bolden, told him about the drugstore robbery. is an important contribution, and it will be enjoyed by literary and cultural historians alike. It was just way too "all over the place" for me. Michelle Shannon is licensed under a He wrote in his journal. wish it felt more american- some of the trends were too broad, and I wish thered been more emphasis on early America (e.g. However, this book was not only as easy read, but incredibly enlightening, eye-opening, and thrilling. Monster Chapter 1 | Shmoop After readingMonsters in America, a reader will view monsters in a completely different light. I have read Mr. Poole's work before, so I knew I was in for a treat and I was right. OBrien gathers her papers and moves away, leaving Steve standing with outstretched arms. FABULOUS! Please use a different way to share. They are created to explain racism, cover up worse monstrosities and signal changes and the state of the nation at the time. 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 are here to stay. Title and sub-title encouraged my interest in securing a copy of Monsters in America for review. He also makes notes about his movie and about details he observes in court. Associated with war, cleverness, and wit, it is no surprise that she favors Odysseus. What I discovered is that Poole should have written two books: his perspective on American history, another on monsters. 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. (one code per order). Evans states that King was his partner in the robbery and that Steve served as the lookout. Scott Poole's Monsters in America Examines Our Fears - Dread Central He reminds the jury of the witnesses criminal records and contends that their unreliability casts reasonable doubt on Kings guilt. Fyodor Dostoevsky Download all his Novels as Free Ebooks !!! Buy now: [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ]. is available now and can be read on any device with the free Kindle app. The fear of anything not considered normal or not well-understood e.g. That's What She Read by Please provide specific examples to support your answers. is lively and entertaining throughout. Project MUSE - Monsters in America on 50-99 accounts. It's also a great way of introducing the idea that you can use different lenses/ways of writing to introduce and discuss topics. Poole's connection of the monster to American history is a kind of Creature Features meets American cultural history. Monsters in America: Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the 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. Enter your email below to sign up for our weekly newsletter& download your FREE copy of this ebook! Even fewer scholars do so as adeptly and as entertainingly as W. Scott Poole. I was thrilled to find a book that went with that mindset. This book is a wonderful introduction to American history through the lens of monsters. If you're looking for an introductory book to the subject, it's a great resource. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Often fascinating attempt to look at monsters through the lens of American history, Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2011. Monster and Poole.pdf - WRTG1010 . Monsters and American Reading this for research for a paper I am writing for a creative nonfiction class for college, but what an interesting book regardless! Best Bob Dylan Books Biographies, Lyrics, and More! Monster Chapter Summaries - eNotes.com Discount, Discount Code 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. Dorothy Moore, a cousin of Kings, testifies that King was with her at the time of the robbery. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. Wed love to have you back! Satan in America: The Devil We Know by W. Scott Poole - Goodreads Well-researched and insightful, the writing of the text is also energetic and engaging. Lovecraft_. I love ghost stories and folklore because they reveal an aspect of history and popular thinking in an entertaining way. It is super nasty, and blood ends up everywhere. Some of his writings can be accessed at www.warpandwoof.org. At times in the book a movie director is taken at his word, the reason for his film given authorial intent. 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. Purchasing Design by Booyah Creative. Poole offers an insight on America's fascination with monsters. Paperback; 9781481308823; Published: July 2018; $34.99. What could we extrapolate on the ways we lived and what we believed during each era? Starting with the Puritan era and the fear of witches and ending with the modern-day fascination with the monsters within us, i.e. Monsters in America Project. 335 Pages, 6.00 x 9.00 in. Name: Kim Hoan Tran Dr. Che 07/08/2019 Summary Paper Summary of Monstrous Beginning In Monster in America written by W. Scott Poole, especially the chapter called "Monstrous Beginnings". Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. This book is really good, a look at our monsters in a social conceptional way. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over.