monsters in america sparknotes monsters in america sparknotes

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. OBrien reminds jurors of reasonable doubt and states firmly that Steves guilt has not been proven. John Wesley Sermons - The 7 Best Sermons from the Founder of Methodism. What becomes disturbingly apparent is that most of Americas hatred of the Other is based in Christian religious belief. Monster in America is a literature book by W. Scott Poole. W. Scott Poole. Spring 2022 Most Anticipated Books for Christian Readers! In her closing argument for the State, Petrocelli stresses the importance of the stolen cigarettes in proving who committed the crime. Dorothy Moore, a cousin of Kings, testifies that King was with her at the time of the robbery. Then it is OBriens turn to present the defense of Steve. At the very end, Poole implies that for what has gone before, it could very well get worse. . Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! Poole brings to life American horror stories by framing them within folk belief, religion, and popular culture, broadly unraveling the idea of the monster. OBrien follows and reminds the jury that the State has not proved any of its charges against Steve. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. Pooles book becomes a tired screed against those whose political-social viewpoints are antithetic to his own. The strongest witness for the State is Richard Bobo Evans, who admits that he took part in the robbery. Willa Cather Short Stories Five Superb Stories to Read for FREE! Well-researched and insightful, the writing of the text is also energetic and engaging. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. 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. Which one would you like to know more about and why? The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. IE- minorities = what we are anxious about / obsessed with = the monstrous = monsters. On Being with Krista Tippett Top 10 Best Episodes! 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. You can find more scary stories from him on Twitter: @monstersamerica. I loved this book. Dorothy Sayers Where to Start with her Mystery Novels? It's a comprehensive look into ghoulish, weird, and woke world--10/10. 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. Please wait while we process your payment. He rightly frets over our technology which ineffectively obscures the divine and so Americans create vampire stories which take Gods place (59): Americans are still attempting to apprehend mystery in the midst of supernatural confusion (11). Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Monster is usually used to reflect an individual's actions; especially, it shows for the wrong act of people. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. Students will maintain a list of unfamiliar words they come across in the chapter. 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. Sabbath Books Best Reads for Christians on Rest and Sabbath! Discount, Discount Code Browning's research, including extensive field work in New Orleans, has uncovered a subculture of . Monsters in America. It is super nasty, and blood ends up everywhere. We can anticipate either alien salvation or judgment from beyond. The State rests its case. Component 2: Summary. New York: Theatre Communications Group, 2013. One Bear Place 97363, Waco, TX 76798-7363 Wendell Berry Poems Seven of Our Favorites! on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% 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. FREE Shipping on orders over $25.00 shipped by Amazon. Poole summarizes, Perhaps our own beliefs about monsters and their intractable nature help to produce the monsters we fear the most (164). And I don't have to mention the meaning of all the zombie movies. All rights reserved. Hardback: Baylor University Press, 2011. Eastern Orthodoxy Essential Books [A Reading List]. 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. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. 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. 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. | I thought this was gonna be about different monsters from American folklore. Dont have an account? Poole stays far away from polemic and sticks to the facts. 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. A must read for fans of horror and monsters! This is an amazing book. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Another witness testifies that King is left-handed. It is not just about film and fiction, but the cultural events that mirrored the works on the screen and in our nightmares. A monster, in most cases, is something that challenges human morality or customs, or rather, a single group of people's moralities. Thoughts: What makes a monster a monster? ", 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 book reflects on the. If it bleeds, it reads. Poole agrees telling us early and often You are the main character in this terror-filled little tale (xviii). 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. The book's unusual range is one of its contributions; its freshness of juxtaposition is another. Best Bob Dylan Books Biographies, Lyrics, and More! A.Slavery B.States' rights C.Internal improvements D.Westward expansion. Poole offers an insight on America's fascination with monsters. Reprinted by permission. 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. For me, there are intertwined. 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. 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. But real monsters collect different trophies; they are no laughing matter. Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2012. Before you get all "He's Anti-American!" [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. Poole's examples are well-chosen and well-explicated. You'll also receive an email with the link. View all The author radically departs from the notion that monsters are a metaphor for our fears through the ages. Mary Oliver Essays 10 Prose Selections to Read for Free Online! 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. 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. Poole walks readers through the American history of monsters, matching horror trends to American epochs, where it turns out our sociopolitical climate influences the monsters we laud and follow in fiction, film, and the media. Monsters In America challenges, enlightens, and, quite honestly, frightens in its prescient view of American history, . Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. Steve Harmon, a Black sixteen-year-old, sits in his jail cell and writes in his notebook. Not only is it written in a fun, easy to relate to voice, but it is also chock full of info. Usually just called Athena, this goddess emerges from Zeus's head fully-grown and armed. Poole's book is fantastic, a terrific look at what makes monsters in film resonate in American culture. March 4, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 While Poole is an academic his book is anything but dry. Purchasing For my own part, I have been studying and writing about Gothic horror for some years. Project MUSE promotes the creation and dissemination of essential humanities and social science resources through collaboration with libraries, publishers, and scholars worldwide. 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. 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. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. session with vampires and zombies, Poole plots America's past through its fears in this intriguing sociocultural history. Sawicki states that he believes in Steves honesty as a filmmaker and as a person. 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. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. He is the author of several books, including a biography of H.P Lovecraft, which became a Bram Stoker award finalist, and. It is lively and engaging and well researched. For the record, I'm *not* well versed on the horror genre due to my fear of almost every popular culture monster. All rights reserved. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. that Poole have used to describe the events of . Books About Race in America; Coretta Scott . Youve successfully purchased a group discount. Human beings made him declare "war" by treating him like an enemy. Christopher Columbus came to the Americas searching for gold, slaves, and monsters. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! 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. Analysis The monster tells Victor:"You must create a female for me with whom I can live in the interchange of those sympathies necessary for my being." Victor refuses and then later relents to the monster's wishes. Suppose someone wanted to trace American history through the common coffee cup. Both belief about the supernatural and the supernatural itself creates creatures which slither into our thinking-being-behaving. I had trouble finding a consistent narrative in a book that talked about sea monsters, Bigfoot, Universal Movie Monsters, Freak-shows, and several other topics, and never spending enough time on any of them to feel like I was more informed after reading. Probably more 3.5 stars. (Christopher James Blythe, Florida State University, (John W. Morehead, editor, www.TheoFantastique.com). Its not a salacious book, either. Excellent study of the machinery of monsters and their meaning in American history. Sometimes it can end up there. Scholars will argue over interpretation because that is what scholars do. If specters of the past still haunt our present, they may yet invade our future. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. If you will, a shining city on hill built on the bodies of natives, blacks, women, and anyone else we dont like very much. Its cohesive, cursory, and has a smattering of typos. Dont have an account? Best Johnny Cash Books Biographies and More! These summaries should not . Monster was adapted into a movie of the same name in 2018. Frankenstein (1931) happens when somebody tries to make a more perfect human. Produced by Johns Hopkins University Press in collaboration with The Sheridan Libraries. (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.) Now and Always,The Trusted Content Your Research Requires, Now and Always, The Trusted Content Your Research Requires, Built on the Johns Hopkins University Campus. In 2016, he wrote the Bram Stoker Finalist _In the Mountains of Madness: The Life and Extraordinary Afterlife of H.P. From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Dorothy Sayers Poems Five of Our Favorites! In the end, though, I could easily see assigning parts of this book to undergraduates. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. 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. 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). We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. 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. Petrocelli refers to the defendants as monsters in the community. She then calls two witnesses. Highly recommended. She continues to assert that Steve served as the lookout for the robbery and is as guilty as the others. This is an important book that Id recommend very highly. Monsters in America is lively and entertaining throughout. "Rue Morgue" magazine called it "the best biography of H.P. Poole's connection of the monster to American history is a kind of Creature Features meets American cultural history. 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! Some of his writings can be accessed at www.warpandwoof.org. 62 reviews Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. Steves parents are glad he is home, but the distance between Steve and his father is growing. 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.Pooles central argument in Monsters in America is that monster tales intertwine with Americas troubled history of racism, politics, class struggle, and gender inequality. 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. 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. Marilynne Robinson 10 Freely Available Essays! The Monster feels completely alienated: "none among the myriads of men" will take pity on him. The image freezes as the screenplay ends. Please try again. (one code per order). But honestly, most folks go to horror films for what they would say is the hell of it. Some people enjoy being scared, period. Enter your email address to subscribe to That's What She Read and receive notifications of new posts by email. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. 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. Well-written and engaging,Monsters in Americais a must-read for anyone fascinated by history or monsters or both. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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 invites us into an important and enlightening, if disturbing, conversation about the very real monsters that inhabit the dark spaces of America's past. If you're looking for an introductory book to the subject, it's a great resource. I'm just saying that throughout the country's history, there have been some pretty dark times. 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. 1960-1980 3. At times in the book a movie director is taken at his word, the reason for his film given authorial intent. Monsters in America is an important contribution, and it will be enjoyed by literary and cultural historians alike. 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. Steve writes about his fear, anger, and pain and his rising sense of panic about the outcome of his trial. The book is rich in history, pop culture references, and analysis. as uncivilized people and even believed them to be monsters. One wishes for a consistency in commentary. Newer movies like "Terminator," shows what happens when we place our trust in machines. Poole's examples are well-chosen and well-explicated. In 2009, Poole published _Satan in America: The Devil We Know__ (Rowman and Littlefield), a cultural history of the image of Satan in American religion, history and popular culture. By adding new discussions of the American West, Poole focuses intently on the Native American experience. By the end of the book, Poole cautions that Americas monsters arent going away anytime soon. (Gary Laderman, Professor of American Religious History and Cultures, Emory University), (J. Gordon Melton, Director, Institute for the Study of American Religion). on 50-99 accounts. 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. Instead of representing the "us vs them" mentality, monsters are much closer so home: they are us. Please wait while we process your payment. The little monsters who come to our doors for candy at Halloween are small reminders of our large problem. . I have an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Powells Books and IndieBound. The pages are littered with characterizations which demonize only a conservative set of ideas. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! Copyright 2023 That's What She Read. An excellent study for any student of history or media but also fun and accessible for any fan of monsters and the movies. Here's where you'll find analysis of the main themes, motifs, and symbols in Monster. 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. Synopsis: From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. Anne Bradstreet Poems Five of our Favorites by the Puritan Poet! Monsters in America is W. Scott Pooles interpretive history. Excellent study of the machinery of monsters and their meaning in American history. FABULOUS! 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. Please use a different way to share. Five months later, Steve is again writing in his notebook. Not only is it written in a fun, easy to relate to voice, but it is also chock full of info. 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. 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. Available He states that he knows James King and Osvaldo Cruz, but only casually. Monstrosities exist in us and therefore they are all around us. Steve calls the movie Monster because that is what the prosecutor has called him. The man immediately begins screaming about something hidden in the mist that is attacking and killing people. 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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I am fiercely passionate about two things: History and Monsters. 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. Edna St. Vincent Millay Five of our Favorite Poems ! For Professors: Exam Copies. She tells the jury that James King and Steve Harmon, along with two other criminals, robbed a drugstore. InMonsters in America,Scott Poole asks these thought-provoking questions while traveling through American history following the evolution of the monster over time. Monsters in America (2nd ed.) Martin Luther King, Jr. His Prophetic Faith in 15 Quotes, Important Discipleship and Formation Books A Reading Guide Fall 2020, Frederick Buechner Books An Introductory Reading Guide. 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. Paperback; 9781481308823; Published: July 2018; $34.99. (one code per order). Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. 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. "Angels, Monsters, and Jews: Intersections of Queer and Jewish Identity in Kushner's "Angels in America."" PMLA 113, no. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. 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. This was a great concept, but I struggled to even make it through the introduction. Insightful and brilliant! An unexpected guilty pleasure! Penn State folklorist Bill Ellis called the book "required reading for . Victor sees the monster's point of view and agrees to create a mate for the monster. Harmon explains that in his cell. Hades Roman name: Pluto. Steve is about to stand trial for felony homicide. Please try again. Jos Delgado, an employee of the drugstore, tells how he found Mr. Nesbitts body and noticed that cash and cigarettes were missing. Author W. Scott Poole takes a look at America's fascination with the macabre in his book. 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? 1 (1998): 90-102. damn good primer on monsters in America. Trick-or-treat! can only mean one thingHalloween. Monsters in America Project. From 19th century sea serpents to our current. The medical examiner states the time of Mr. Nesbitts death. Poole states that, in actuality, that the Europeans saw the natives. It felt more like I was reading a college midterm (not even open book), and less like strong literary criticism. The Monster argues that his murderousness is not his fault. "The American past reads like something of a horror movie, maybe even a low-budget slasher. It's no secret that America is a little messed up. It was just way too "all over the place" for me. After readingMonsters in America, a reader will view monsters in a completely different light. 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. 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. In Monster, Walter Dean Myers tells the story of Steve Harmon's trial.