monsters in america sparknotes

John Wesley Sermons - The 7 Best Sermons from the Founder of Methodism. He tells his story through handwritten notes and a typewritten screenplay. , Poole has now turned his attention to the monsters that inhabit American cinema and American imaginations. IE- minorities = what we are anxious about / obsessed with = the monstrous = monsters. uniquely brings together history and culture studies to expose the dark obsessions that have helped create our national identity. 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. Sex and violence are the recurring themes of the book, but Poole always provides context for why they recur so often. Petrocelli, the State prosecutor, calls more witnesses to establish the facts of the crime. Continue to start your free trial. for a group? Monster is a 1999 young adult novel by Walter Dean Myers. Spring 2021 Most Anticipated Books for Christian Readers! . Books About Race in America; Coretta Scott . 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. 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. He wrote in his journal Discount, Discount Code 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. It looks like WhatsApp is not installed on your phone. Friedrich Nietzsche believed we are the monsters. I thought this was gonna be about different monsters from American folklore. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Frontier wilderness beasts, Freddie Krueger, witches of Salem, alien invasions, and freak show oddities are some of the monstrous creatures. Briggs establishes that the police had shown photos of King to Mrs. Henry before she picked him out of a lineup. The book reflects on the. 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. W. Scott Poole is Professor of History at the College of Charleston. Dorothy Sayers Poems Five of Our Favorites! His footnotes have left me with a massive pile 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. It's no secret that America is a little messed up. One Bear Place 97363, Waco, TX 76798-7363 SparkNotes PLUS 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. For my own part, I have been studying and writing about Gothic horror for some years. Indeed, Poole interprets the meaning of the meaning, reinterpreting historical narratives infusing past story with present perception: history is horror (22). Monsters in America does a phenomenal job examining American history through the lens of monsters and the monstrous. "The American past reads like something of a horror movie, maybe even a low-budget slasher. He decides to make a movie about his experience. 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. Satan in America tells the story of America's complicated relationship with the devil. Henri Nouwen Books An Introductory Reading Guide. Briggs makes the first closing argument in the case. 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. It's rarely happy news being reported. In 2016, he wrote the Bram Stoker Finalist _In the Mountains of Madness: The Life and Extraordinary Afterlife of H.P. It's also a great way of introducing the idea that you can use different lenses/ways of writing to introduce and discuss topics. 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. Asa Briggs, Kings attorney, establishes that the police have no fingerprint evidence. This isnt a book for the squeamish as Poole details how a horror film like Candyman is based in fact to a great deal. It is lively and engaging and well researched. All rights reserved. Best Bob Dylan Books Biographies, Lyrics, and More! 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. I appreciated that in this second edition he shows how our language of the monstrous has played a role in instances like the police shootings of unarmed black people and how visions of dread play into Donald Trump's rhetoric. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% (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.) for a group? He also makes notes about his movie and about details he observes in court. The new edition extends this analysis to shed light on some of the darker developments in recent American political culture. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. In a nutshell, monsters for Poole are metaphors / stand-ins for whoever is loathed or feared in a certain historical context. 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. 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. Edna St. Vincent Millay Five of our Favorite Poems ! Steves lawyer, Kathy OBrien, urges Steve to take his situation seriously because this crime could put him in jail for twenty years or more. From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. Want 100 or more? Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. serial killers, each generation faced its own challenges and highlighted its fear within its own monsters. for a customized plan. The jail guards come in, and everyone lines up against the wall while they get rubber-gloved. Penn State folklorist Bill Ellis called the book "required reading for . Component 2: Summary. In Monster, Walter Dean Myers tells the story of Steve Harmon's trial. An excellent study for any student of history or media but also fun and accessible for any fan of monsters and the movies. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. The history of the United States offers a chamber of horrors, with clergy transforming the Native American other into demonic beings, mad scientists turning state-funded laboratories into torture chambers, and the photographic revolution of the Victorian era turning toward a morbid fascination with the bodies of the dead and the creation of the category of 'gore.' Amazon has encountered an error. Free trial is available to new customers only. "Rue Morgue" magazine called it "the best biography of H.P. Dont have an account? Emily Dickinson Poems Seven of our Favorites! 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 Monstrosities exist in us and therefore they are all around us. The book won the John Cawelti prize from the Popular Culture Association for the best book published in pop culture history for 2011. Definitions of the monster, he adds, change over time and with each generation. I want to start out by saying that I absolutely love the notion behind this book. Mrs. Henry testifies to being in the drugstore and seeing two young Black men arguing with the store owner. 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. Discount, Discount Code (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. I love ghost stories and folklore because they reveal an aspect of history and popular thinking in an entertaining way. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. With Monsters in America, W. Scott Poole has given us a guidebook for a journey into nightmare territory. Thanks to Poole's insights we see the ubiquity of the monster lurking in and around us. 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. 1960-1980 3. Freedman, Jonathan. Scott - For All Who Hunger - Feature Review, Mattix & Thomas, Eds - Christian Poetry in America Since, Copyright 2023 The Englewood Review of Books. In Virginia's sectional differences, what natural boundary marked the dividing line between the traditional thinkers and those desiring reforms to have greater representation? 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. With Monsters in America, W. Scott Poole has given us a guidebook for a journey into nightmare territory. We are led to believe that bloody movies portray the sinister seditions of social conservativismthe ultimate grim reaper. I also think this could've used a second editor before being published as there are many typos and grammatical errors, as well as a few points that could've used some fact-checking. What is it that rumbles in the American unconscious that relates to the figures we see on the screen. She coaches Steve on how to answer questions on the witness stand. new monsters appear as American society evolves, paralleling fluctuating challenges to the cultural status quo. Poole's examples are well-chosen and well-explicated. In a nutshell, monsters for Poole are metaphors / stand-ins for whoever is loathed or feared in a certain historical context. You can view our. Instead of representing the "us vs them" mentality, monsters are much closer so home: they are us. She tells the jury that James King and Steve Harmon, along with two other criminals, robbed a drugstore. Evans states that King was his partner in the robbery and that Steve served as the lookout. 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. For the record, I'm *not* well versed on the horror genre due to my fear of almost every popular culture monster. Other times Poole relies too heavily on social interpreters for his connections. 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. Poole summarizes, Perhaps our own beliefs about monsters and their intractable nature help to produce the monsters we fear the most (164). If it bleeds, it reads. These summaries should not exceed one page in length. Pooles book becomes a tired screed against those whose political-social viewpoints are antithetic to his own. 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. Here we not only meet such monsters but also discover America's cultural monstrosity. You can find more scary stories from him on Twitter: @monstersamerica. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. Filmmakers create celluloid illusions with that in mind. I have read Mr. Poole's work before, so I knew I was in for a treat and I was right. Date. incredibly rewarding and fulfilling reading. Monsters in America has without a doubt earned a spot on my favorite books of 2011. Wed love to have you back! Reading this for research for a paper I am writing for a creative nonfiction class for college, but what an interesting book regardless! . C. Christopher Smith is the founding editor of The Englewood Review of Books. They Poole offers an insight on America's fascination with monsters. Conflicting anxieties about race, class, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, science, and politics manifest as haunting beings among the populace. Not only that, but Sandra Petrocelli, the State prosecutor, is a very good lawyer. More than mere metaphors, they are creations of human fears and human ignorance. She continues to assert that Steve served as the lookout for the robbery and is as guilty as the others. Penn State folklorist Bill Ellis called the book "required reading for anyone who wants to understand the dark roots of America culture." Petrocelli, OBrien, and Briggs make opening statements on the first day of Steves trial. Copyright Thats What She Read 2009-2013. 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. Steve calls the movie Monster because that is what the prosecutor has called him. OBrien follows and reminds the jury that the State has not proved any of its charges against Steve. The brother of Zeus and Poseidon, Hades rules the underworld, the realm of the dead, with his wife, Persephone. 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. The image freezes as the screenplay ends. The kind of monsters depends on the era. I was thrilled to find a book that went with that mindset. On Being with Krista Tippett Top 10 Best Episodes! The jury returns verdicts of guilty for James King and not guilty for Steve Harmon. She identifies James King as being one of the two young men. All content on this blog is protected under US copyright by Michelle Shannon. Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting. 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. This book is a wonderful introduction to American history through the lens of monsters. Both belief about the supernatural and the supernatural itself creates creatures which slither into our thinking-being-behaving. Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2014. Thoughts on books, family, and life in one impressive package. Fall 2021 Most Anticipated Books for Christian Readers! Simplistic and not incredibly thoughtful, but useful for my purposes, Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2012. 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. Sabbath Books Best Reads for Christians on Rest and Sabbath! The defense rests after Sawickis testimony. Thanks to Poole's insights we see the ubiquity of the monster lurking in and around us. 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. 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. 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". 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. by W. Scott Poole. The atheist taught that inflicting suffering while enjoying the process is human nature. (Christopher James Blythe, Florida State University, (John W. Morehead, editor, www.TheoFantastique.com). The horrible treatment of indigenous peoples and slaverys practice is sin that stains Americas history. Petrocelli refers to the defendants as monsters in the community. She then calls two witnesses. The book's unusual range is one of its contributions; its freshness of juxtaposition is another. 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. 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! Synopsis: From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. Christopher Columbus came to the Americas searching for gold, slaves, and monsters. Read the chapter-by-chapter Summary & Analysis, a Full Book Summary, or Full Book Analysis of Monster. The book made a few strong points, but ultimately it was a mediocre read. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. | Our main man wonders how anyone can get used to the slammer. Yuckfest. Poole states that, in actuality, that the Europeans saw the natives as uncivilized people and even believed them to be monsters. on 50-99 accounts. 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 scary tales found in the classic texts remind usno matter our nationality, ethnicity, or political persuasionthe monster is us. Then it is OBriens turn to present the defense of Steve. These monsters are created by multiple aspects of society and give meaning to the culture as well. This is an important book that Id recommend very highly. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. I'm just saying that throughout the country's history, there have been some pretty dark times. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. They are created to explain racism, cover up worse monstrosities and signal changes and the state of the nation at the time. [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. They are manifestations of our society. Friedrich Nietzsche believed we are the monsters. Thoughts: What makes a monster a monster? 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. 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. 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. Probably more 3.5 stars. Best Johnny Cash Books Biographies and More! OBrien gathers her papers and moves away, leaving Steve standing with outstretched arms. 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. Well-researched and insightful, the writing of the text is also energetic and engaging. It is not a book on actual monsters but how Americans find monsters in different eras on social constructs. If you view everything that has happened in the last ten thousand years as an atrocity committed by (American) White Anglo-Saxon Protestant men against the wide-eyed, helpless, innocent (and rather stupid) non-male/non-white world in a concerted race (or gender where convenient) war and stolidly ignore all contrary evidence, the world is full of monsters. All rights reserved. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. Hades Roman name: Pluto. Monsters in America (2nd ed.) Monsters in America instead should acknowledge monsters exist in every culture, every tribe, every era. 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. Through the two and a half weeks I took with this book, I have been citing it in conversation. The book's unusual range is one of its contributions; its freshness of juxtaposition is another. 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.Monsters in America is now online at www.monstersinamerica.com. Excellent study of the machinery of monsters and their meaning in American history. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. All affiliate income is used to support the blog. 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. Wed love to have you back! Written in an accessible, smart and entertaining way, this is a fantastic book. The different types of monsters, whether cultural, supernatural, or moral, all contribute to the meaning of American culture. 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. I am fiercely passionate about two things: History and Monsters. It is lively and engaging and well researched. ", 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. Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2012. Monsters in America: Christopher Columbus came to the Americas searching for gold, slaves, and monsters. By adding new discussions of the American West, Poole focuses intently on the Native American experience. He wrote in his journal. This was a great concept, but I struggled to even make it through the introduction. 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. However, this book was FABULOUS! Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! 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. 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. Eastern Orthodoxy Essential Books [A Reading List]. damn good primer on monsters in America. A.Universal white male suffrage B.Public education C.Child labor D.Temperance. 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. Even fewer scholars do so as adeptly and as entertainingly as W. Scott Poole. The opening chapter introduces several motifs that will be present throughout the story. Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2017. 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. (one code per order). A masterful survey of our grim and often disturbing past. Here we not only meet such monsters but also discover America's cultural monstrosity. Lewis Biography (And Other Biographies /Companion Guides)!