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. Good references in the book that I looked up to further read about horror movies and their importance to our sociological perspective. ! His transitions from movie metaphors to American social ills are often strained if not unconvincing. | You can view our. W. Scott Poole is Professor of History at the College of Charleston. 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. Discount, Discount Code 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. Highly recommended for horror or monster fans with an interest in American history; slightly less so for American history buffs with a hobby in monster entertainments. I have read Mr. Poole's work before, so I knew I was in for a treat and I was right. Michelangelo Biographies Best Books on the Renaissance Artist! The atheist taught that inflicting suffering while enjoying the process is human nature. Just about all the scarey things that crawl into popular media hail from the leaf-littered shadowy forests that haunt the American mind. Imprint: Baylor University Press. 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. But a third interpretive option exists. The book's unusual range is one of its contributions; its freshness of juxtaposition is another. Renews March 11, 2023 I. Poole is also a Professor of History at the College of Charleston where he teaches courses on monsters in American history, Satan in folk belief and pop culture and the history of religion and race in American life . 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. Scott - For All Who Hunger - Feature Review, Mattix & Thomas, Eds - Christian Poetry in America Since, Copyright 2023 The Englewood Review of Books. While some may believe that there was no conflict between the settlers and the natives, and that, they just coexisted peacefully. Spring 2022 Most Anticipated Books for Christian Readers! "Monsters in America" is a work that touches on the many facets of Horror in America. Simplistic and not incredibly thoughtful, but useful for my purposes, Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2012. I hated this book. Acknowledgements: Thank you to Kelly Hughes from Dechant-Hughes for my review copy! Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2012. $24.99 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.". Highly recommended. Monster is told as a first-person account by Steve Harmon, a Black teenager on trial for felony murder in New York. He also makes notes about his movie and about details he observes in court. 2023 Baylor University Press. I have an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Powells Books and IndieBound. wish it felt more american- some of the trends were too broad, and I wish thered been more emphasis on early America (e.g. 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. Monsters refuse to be cordoned off in only one nationality, ethnicity, religion, or political mindset. . As W. Scott Poole's text will serve as the conceptual framework for the course, this assignment seeks to promote regular critical engagement with the text. Associated with war, cleverness, and wit, it is no surprise that she favors Odysseus. 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. FREE Shipping on orders over $25.00 shipped by Amazon. America, like all nations, is made up of monstrous human beings. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% I hoped to expand my interaction in the genre, albeit from an American point of view. Amazon has encountered an error. Ten Important Women Theologians To Start Reading. Marilynne Robinson 10 Freely Available Essays! She coaches Steve on how to answer questions on the witness stand. Christopher Columbus came to the Americas searching for gold, slaves, and monsters. Michelle Shannon is licensed under a A monster, in most cases, is something that challenges human morality or customs, or rather, a single group of people's moralities. What would be made of the differences of the heavy, utilitarian coffee cups of the 1940s compared to the cups featuring Gary Larson cartoons so popular in the 1990s? 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. InMonsters in America,Scott Poole asks these thought-provoking questions while traveling through American history following the evolution of the monster over time. Suppose someone wanted to trace American history through the common coffee cup. Howard Thurman Books An Introductory Reading Guide. These summaries should not . . Poole presents his findings methodically through well-documented facts and similar studies. Anne Bradstreet Poems Five of our Favorites by the Puritan Poet! Monsters In America challenges, enlightens, and, quite honestly, frightens in its prescient view of American history, . Whats worse is how these monster images exist even until today. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. New York: Theatre Communications Group, 2013. OBrien gathers her papers and moves away, leaving Steve standing with outstretched arms. 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. Poole never assumes a 1-1 metaphor, but he does show how common themes (the reemergence of the vampire at different points in American history, for example) are useful shorthand for working through these anxieties. 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Dracula (1931) is based on the fear of foreigners and disease. Spring 2021 Most Anticipated Books for Christian Readers! Evil brutes exist inside and outside American neighborhoods. When social conservatives oppose something, like - say -. The scary tales found in the classic texts remind usno matter our nationality, ethnicity, or political persuasionthe monster is us. 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.The James River B.The, Which was NOT an attempted reform movement in antebellum Virginia? the bell witch, the roanaoke colony, etc.) 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). 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. 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. Not only is it written in a fun, easy to relate to voice, but it is also chock full of info. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. Component 2: Summary. These monsters are created by multiple aspects of society and give meaning to the culture as well. 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. They are manifestations of our society. 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. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of "Monster" by Walter Dean Myers. In the end, though, I could easily see assigning parts of this book to undergraduates. 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! Monster was adapted into a movie of the same name in 2018. Fyodor Dostoevsky Download all his Novels as Free Ebooks !!! Bram Stoker Award finalist W. Scott Poole is the author of numerous books and articles on monsters and mayhem in popular culture. Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes. A Midsummer Night's Dream (No Fear Shakespeare) by SparkNotes QUICK ADD Macbeth (No Fear Shakespeare) by SparkNotes QUICK ADD Hamlet (No Fear Shakespeare) by SparkNotes QUICK ADD Julius Caesar (No Fear Shakespeare) by SparkNotes QUICK ADD Othello (No Fear Shakespeare) by SparkNotes QUICK ADD Twelfth Night (No Fear Shakespeare) by SparkNotes I found it informative, fascinating, thought-provoking and well-written. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. The old newspaper adage still holds true today. Buy now: [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ]. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. All content on this blog is protected under US copyright by Michelle Shannon. Petrocelli also calls an eyewitness, Mrs. Lorelle Henry, to the stand. From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. For my own part, I have been studying and writing about Gothic horror for some years. The guards take the bleeding dude away. is lively and entertaining throughout. 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. (1 page) Students will compose a summary of the chapter, highlighting the key elements of Poole's text. Frontier wilderness beasts, Freddie Krueger, witches of Salem, alien invasions, and freak show oddities are some of the monstrous creatures. Definitions of the monster, he adds, change over time and with each generation. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. FABULOUS! C. Christopher Smith is the founding editor of The Englewood Review of Books. I am fiercely passionate about two things: History and Monsters. In a nutshell, monsters for Poole are metaphors / stand-ins for whoever is loathed or feared in a certain historical context. The opening chapter introduces several motifs that will be present throughout the story. Please try again. Sometimes it can end up there. Fall 2022 Most Anticipated Books for Christian Readers! I'm just saying that throughout the country's history, there have been some pretty dark times. Friday afternoon, July 17th & December, 5 months later. Human beings made him declare "war" by treating him like an enemy. 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! 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. Through the two and a half weeks I took with this book, I have been citing it in conversation. Unless specifically stated in the review, I have purchased all books reviewed. What is it that rumbles in the American unconscious that relates to the figures we see on the screen. Insightful and brilliant! 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. However, his interpretations and implications are nothing less than threatening to whatever status quo our authorities would prefer us to maintain. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club thats right for you for free. 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. BUY . 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. Monsters in America Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting. Its a story that begins with the history of the dark lady of late night horror and branches out into a discussion of the Beats, Bebop Jazz, the birth of rock and roll and the social protest movements of the 1960s. Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. 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 masterful survey of our grim and often disturbing past, Monsters in. Mary Oliver Essays 10 Prose Selections to Read for Free Online! Emily Dickinson Poems Seven of our Favorites! This isnt a book for the squeamish as Poole details how a horror film like Candyman is based in fact to a great deal. Steve Harmon, a Black sixteen-year-old, sits in his jail cell and writes in his notebook. The atheist taught that inflicting suffering while enjoying the process is human nature. He decides to make a movie about his experience. 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. Sales Date: 2018-07-13. Best Bob Dylan Books Biographies, Lyrics, and More! "The American past reads like something of a horror movie, maybe even a low-budget slasher. Petrocelli presents the charges against the defendants. For Poole Halloween means more trick than treat; we discover that the monsters are us. ", In 2014 he published _Vampira: Dark Goddess of Horror_ that looked at the life of 1950s horror host Maila Nurmi (a.k.a. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! does a bang-up job of demonstrating how our culture helps us achieve some sort of understanding about our world and our lives. Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. Design by Booyah Creative. Anything outside the norm brought about the birth of a monster, which can differ depending on the social, economic, cultural, or political influences of the time. Harmon explains that in his cell. 2715 North Charles StreetBaltimore, Maryland, USA 21218. Steve records suicidal thoughts and violent prison incidents. 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. It's also a great way of introducing the idea that you can use different lenses/ways of writing to introduce and discuss topics. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. 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. For him, this place is the opposite of realhe has to do everything in front of strangers. The book's unusual range is one of its contributions; its freshness of juxtaposition is another. Excellent study of the machinery of monsters and their meaning in American history. The book's unusual range is one of its contributions; its freshness of juxtaposition is another. The brother of Zeus and Poseidon, Hades rules the underworld, the realm of the dead, with his wife, Persephone. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. Component 2: Summary. View all Detectives Karyl and Williams describe their arrival at the crime scene. Subject I have a lot of interest in and the author seems to have done a lot of work/research. OBrien tells Steve that her job is to make him a human being in the eyes of the jury. Steve calls the movie Monster because that is what the prosecutor has called him. Wasteland: The Great War and the Origins of Modern Horror, On Monsters: An Unnatural History of Our Worst Fears. 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. new monsters appear as American society evolves, paralleling fluctuating challenges to the cultural status quo. In the follow-up to his first book. Mr. Pooles evidence is as intriguing as it is informative. 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. Project MUSE promotes the creation and dissemination of essential humanities and social science resources through collaboration with libraries, publishers, and scholars worldwide. She tells the jury that James King and Steve Harmon, along with two other criminals, robbed a drugstore. In a nutshell, monsters for Poole are metaphors / stand-ins for whoever is loathed or feared in a certain historical context. Jos Delgado, an employee of the drugstore, tells how he found Mr. Nesbitts body and noticed that cash and cigarettes were missing. 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. 1945-1960 2.) 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. Synopsis: From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. Written in an accessible, smart and entertaining way, this is a fantastic book. Please provide specific examples to support your answers. This well-written and thought provoking book examines what scares us and what monsters in popular entertainment have to say about our fears and values in society. They Poole offers an insight on America's fascination with monsters. 1960-1980 3. A.Slavery B.States' rights C.Internal improvements D.Westward expansion. The second edition of Monsters leads readers deeper into Americas tangled past to show how monsters continue to haunt contemporary American ideology. but on the whole, an engaging and thought provoking read. Specifically, he discusses how the stories like "Pocahontas" and "The. 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. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. He wrote in his journal Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. This is an important book that Id recommend very highly. Monsters in America. Course Hero is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university. Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting. uniquely brings together history and culture studies to expose the dark obsessions that have helped create our national identity. Excellent examination of horror movies evolution through the years and also how societal happenings influence the movies at the time they are made. Before you get all "He's Anti-American!" Pooles constant harangue against anything conservative is a thin criticism to begin, stretched beyond any semblance of recognition by the end of the book. 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. This book is a wonderful introduction to American history through the lens of monsters. 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.