monsters in america sparknotes
Everything from Communists, feminists, and foreigners to Candyman, Dracula, and The Exorcist are examined for the social attitudes to evil that they illuminate (and that we may believe, consciously or subconsciously). March 4, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 All Rights Reserved. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Author W. Scott Poole takes a look at America's fascination with the macabre in his book. 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. ", 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. Briggs establishes that the police had shown photos of King to Mrs. Henry before she picked him out of a lineup. I hated this book. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% (Gary Laderman, Professor of American Religious History and Cultures, Emory University), (J. Gordon Melton, Director, Institute for the Study of American Religion). Insightful and brilliant! Not only is it written in a fun, easy to relate to voice, but it is also chock full of info. Through the two and a half weeks I took with this book, I have been citing it in conversation. We can anticipate either alien salvation or judgment from beyond. American Monsters: A History of Monster Lore, Legends, and Sightings in America - Kindle edition by Godfrey, Linda S.. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. I suppose history could be read into just about any object. With Monsters in America, W. Scott Poole has given us a guidebook for a journey into nightmare territory. OBrien tells Steve that her job is to make him a human being in the eyes of the jury. OBrien tells Steve he will have to testify on his own behalf and put some distance between himself and King. While real monsters do exist, the reality of our own monstrosities mirrors not a national heritage as much as our human heritage. Christopher Columbus came to the Americas searching for gold, slaves, and monsters. Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2021. Sabbath Books Best Reads for Christians on Rest and Sabbath! 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. Evil brutes exist inside and outside American neighborhoods. Get help and learn more about the design. 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. All rights reserved. It looks like WhatsApp is not installed on your phone. The Monster argues that his murderousness is not his fault. All content on this blog is protected under US copyright by Michelle Shannon. Excellent examination of horror movies evolution through the years and also how societal happenings influence the movies at the time they are made. You can find more scary stories from him on Twitter: @monstersamerica. After a minute elapses from the time David, Billy and Brent enter the store, a man, Jeff Miller, a local townsperson, flies into the market, bloodied and frantic. He also makes notes about his movie and about details he observes in court. Poole's examples are well-chosen and well-explicated. Dorothy Moore, a cousin of Kings, testifies that King was with her at the time of the robbery. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. His new book, forthcoming this fall and available for pre-order, is _Wasteland: The Great War and the Roots of Modern Horror_. 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. Petrocelli, OBrien, and Briggs make opening statements on the first day of Steves trial. ! His transitions from movie metaphors to American social ills are often strained if not unconvincing. wish it felt more american- some of the trends were too broad, and I wish thered been more emphasis on early America (e.g. Ten Important Women Theologians To Start Reading. Poole wants to tell a story and take his readers on a journey, and he definitely does so. In his comments on the 1931 "Frankenstein" W. Scott Poole, relates that the idea of the "abnormal brain" that Fritz grabs for Henry Frankenstein being the cause of the monster's murderous mentality being a reflection of the "scientific rascism" of the day. You can view our. Antiracism Books for Christians A Reading Guide, Thomas Merton Books An Intro Reading Guide. Briggs presents his defense of King. (Christopher James Blythe, Florida State University, (John W. Morehead, editor, www.TheoFantastique.com). for a customized plan. Michelle Shannon is licensed under a And I don't have to mention the meaning of all the zombie movies. Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting. Instead of representing the "us vs them" mentality, monsters are much closer so home: they are us. But a third interpretive option exists. Dont have an account? Students will maintain a list of unfamiliar words they come across in the chapter. Reading this for research for a paper I am writing for a creative nonfiction class for college, but what an interesting book regardless! In this way he resembles Frankenstein, who alienates himself by pursuing forbidden knowledge. This is an important book that Id recommend very highly. When, meeting the natives, he saw their way of life as barbaric and uncivilized. Hafez Poems Five of Our Favorites from the Divan of Hafez, N.T. Societal values impact individuals only as much as we understand an individuals values. You can view our. does a bang-up job of demonstrating how our culture helps us achieve some sort of understanding about our world and our lives. Highly recommended. For Poole Halloween means more trick than treat; we discover that the monsters are us. In 2016, he wrote the Bram Stoker Finalist _In the Mountains of Madness: The Life and Extraordinary Afterlife of H.P. Indeed, Poole interprets the meaning of the meaning, reinterpreting historical narratives infusing past story with present perception: history is horror (22). Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes. 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. Lovecraft in print. . Poole's connection of the monster to American history is a kind of Creature Features meets American cultural history. Human beings made him declare "war" by treating him like an enemy. These summaries should not . Monsters in America. Interesting as a surface-level exploration of "Monster Theory". The new edition extends this analysis to shed light on some of the darker developments in recent American political culture. , Poole has now turned his attention to the monsters that inhabit American cinema and American imaginations. It is not just about film and fiction, but the cultural events that mirrored the works on the screen and in our nightmares. Wed love to have you back! Probably more 3.5 stars. Twelve Important Theology Books of 2020!!! Conflicting anxieties about race, class, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, science, and politics manifest as haunting beings among the populace. However, at times the overt political messages can be more aggressive than effective, the book frequently covers more breadth than depth, and I was left without a clear sense of how monsters in America (US, presumably, rather than hemispheric) differed from those in international nightmares--or how the globalization of monster culture influenced American culture. Henri Nouwen Books An Introductory Reading Guide. InMonsters in America,Scott Poole asks these thought-provoking questions while traveling through American history following the evolution of the monster over time. by W. Scott Poole. 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. as uncivilized people and even believed them to be monsters. Renews March 11, 2023 on me, relax. The different types of monsters, whether cultural, supernatural, or moral, all contribute to the meaning of American culture. While Poole is an academic his book is anything but dry. Dorothy Sayers Poems Five of Our Favorites! 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. 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. Free trial is available to new customers only. 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). The old newspaper adage still holds true today. Monsters in America is lively and entertaining throughout. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! He wrote in his journal. W. Scott Poole. After readingMonsters in America, a reader will view monsters in a completely different light. 1945-1960 2.) Monsters in America is W. Scott Poole's interpretive history. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% BUY . Best Bob Dylan Books Biographies, Lyrics, and More! Monsters are here to stay. The book reflects on the. Evans states that King was his partner in the robbery and that Steve served as the lookout. 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. The pages are littered with characterizations which demonize only a conservative set of ideas. Fyodor Dostoevsky Download all his Novels as Free Ebooks !!! 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.". By the end of the book, Poole cautions that Americas monsters arent going away anytime soon. However, this book was FABULOUS! Monsters arrived in 2011and now they are back. Wed love to have you back! You'll be billed after your free trial ends. Course Hero is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university. 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. Subscribe now. 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. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! Steves parents are glad he is home, but the distance between Steve and his father is growing. Lovecraft_. Component 2: Summary. Copyright Thats What She Read 2009-2013. 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. 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. I suppose history could be read into just about any object. Written in an accessible, smart and entertaining way, this is a fantastic book. 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. They are manifestations of our society. 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. Wright Books An Introductory Reading Guide to The Theologians Work, Joy Harjo Poems Five of the Best Poems by the US Poet Laureate, John ODonohue Poems Four of our Favorites. Fifteen Important Theology Books of 2022!!! He compares himself with the other prisoners. American history from the past to the present. Dracula (1931) is based on the fear of foreigners and disease. Synopsis: From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. St. Augustine Best Books on His Life and Work, Holy Sonnets John Donne Complete Text. Insightful and brilliant! 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. In the follow-up to his first book. Good references in the book that I looked up to further read about horror movies and their importance to our sociological perspective. That being said, however, if you are a teacher who needs to get a class full of barely literate college freshmen to understand what it means to read / think about things in historical context, Poole's introduction, "The Bloody chords of Memory," is readable and accessible even for a group of resistant and vaguely engaged (at best) 18 year olds. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Visit the new website for more about the book, upcoming events, and to keep up with Scott Poole's blog. Unless specifically stated in the review, I have purchased all books reviewed. 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 am fiercely passionate about two things: History and Monsters. Freedman, Jonathan. Steve worries about why OBrien turned away from him after winning the case. 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. Usually just called Athena, this goddess emerges from Zeus's head fully-grown and armed. 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. on 50-99 accounts. Amazon has encountered an error. OBrien reminds jurors of reasonable doubt and states firmly that Steves guilt has not been proven. Here we not only meet such monsters but also discover America's cultural monstrosity. It's no secret that America is a little messed up. There was a problem loading your book clubs. 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. It's a comprehensive look into ghoulish, weird, and woke world--10/10. Monsters in America argues that historical, political and social conditions produce narratives of horror and create "monsters." Choose one of the following periods 1.) Here's where you'll find important quotesfrom Monsterand explanations of them. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Another problem for Steve is that James King, a young Black hood, is Steves co-defendant. He argues that our myth of conquering the monster has made us particularly inclined to turn other groups of human beings into monsters and to justify their oppression or domination. Here we not only meet such monsters but also discover America's cultural monstrosity. Component 2: Summary. Contact us Sawicki states that he believes in Steves honesty as a filmmaker and as a person. If you've got an interest in horror, this is definitely worth a read. 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. 2715 North Charles StreetBaltimore, Maryland, USA 21218. The author radically departs from the notion that monsters are a metaphor for our fears through the ages. Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon, Baylor University Press (January 15, 2014). Excellent study of the machinery of monsters and their meaning in American history. For my own part, I have been studying and writing about Gothic horror for some years. 20% W. Scott Poole is Professor of History at the College of Charleston. Steve spends his time making movies about himself, often with Jerrys help. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. 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. IE- minorities = what we are anxious about / obsessed with = the monstrous = monsters. From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. Steve is about to stand trial for felony homicide. Lewis Biography (And Other Biographies /Companion Guides)! She asks the jury to recall how Steve conducted himself on the witness stand and to compare Steve with Sal Zinzi, Bobo Evans, and Osvaldo Cruz before they decide who is believable. An excellent study for any student of history or media but also fun and accessible for any fan of monsters and the movies. Detectives Karyl and Williams describe their arrival at the crime scene. There he teaches courses on monsters, pop culture, and American history. 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. Not only that, but Sandra Petrocelli, the State prosecutor, is a very good lawyer. More importantly, what is the definition of a monster? for a group? 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. A.Slavery B.States' rights C.Internal improvements D.Westward expansion. "Rue Morgue" magazine called it "the best biography of H.P. 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. The horrible treatment of indigenous peoples and slaverys practice is sin that stains Americas history. Please try again. SparkNotes PLUS 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. Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. The history of America -- one fear, one monster, at a time. but on the whole, an engaging and thought provoking read. 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. The man immediately begins screaming about something hidden in the mist that is attacking and killing people. If it bleeds, it reads. Bolden testifies that he bought cigarettes from Bobo Evans and that Evans told him about the robbery. From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. Satan in America tells the story of America's complicated relationship with the devil. It felt more like I was reading a college midterm (not even open book), and less like strong literary criticism. Steve testifies that he did not take part in the drugstore robbery or discuss it with anyone before it happened. Filmmakers create celluloid illusions with that in mind. 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. serial killers, each generation faced its own challenges and highlighted its fear within its own monsters. 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. He wrote in his journal Component 3: Vocabulary. Anne Bradstreet Poems Five of our Favorites by the Puritan Poet! When meeting the natives, he saw their way of life as barbaric and uncivilized. He decides to make a movie about his experience. "Angels, Monsters, and Jews: Intersections of Queer and Jewish Identity in Kushner's "Angels in America."" PMLA 113, no. I think that what makes the book riveting is that despite the particular social factors and grisly historical events, the book is about the Other in media. that Poole have used to describe the events of . Suppose someone wanted to trace American history through the common coffee cup. Steve also states that he was not at the drugstore on the day of the crime but was walking around thinking about his movie. A.The James River B.The, Which was NOT an attempted reform movement in antebellum Virginia? Poole's examples are well-chosen and well-explicated. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. Honoring authors by not reading other reviews ahead of time, I anticipated simple engagement with monstrous intrigue of the horrendous and hideous. Enter your email address to subscribe to That's What She Read and receive notifications of new posts by email. Conflicting anxieties about race, class, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, science, and politics manifest as haunting beings among the populace. Poole agrees telling us early and often You are the main character in this terror-filled little tale (xviii). Steve calls the movie Monster because that is what the prosecutor has called him. 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". 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. Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2014. 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. Pooles excoriation of one homogenous grouping belies the essence of the problem which is our human nature. That's What She Read by Penn State folklorist Bill Ellis called the book "required reading for anyone who wants to understand the dark roots of America culture." Its cohesive, cursory, and has a smattering of typos. Pooles constant harangue against anything conservative is a thin criticism to begin, stretched beyond any semblance of recognition by the end of the book. Reprinted by permission. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. 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. The evidence that Poole provides . Poole suggests monsters are created by America to mask its own monstrosities or monsters exist which interpret American culture. Best Leonard Cohen Books Biographies and Books by the Songwriter. All opinions expressed are uniquely my own.
