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. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. Monsters in America instead should acknowledge monsters exist in every culture, every tribe, every era. Copyright 2023 That's What She Read. Buy now: [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ]. But too often he ascribes American injustices with little more than a metaphorical connection to monster movies. Get help and learn more about the design. History is horror. Monster is a 1999 young adult novel by Walter Dean Myers. Poole agrees telling us early and often You are the main character in this terror-filled little tale (xviii). 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. Another problem for Steve is that James King, a young Black hood, is Steves co-defendant. Monsters in America is an important contribution, and it will be enjoyed by literary and cultural historians alike. A masterful survey of our grim and often disturbing past, Monsters in. During the robbery, Aguinaldo Nesbitt, the fifty-five-year-old owner of the store, was killed. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. She coaches Steve on how to answer questions on the witness stand. White Doe" disguised the true relationship between the European settlers and Native Americans. 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. Poole stays far away from polemic and sticks to the facts. 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. In a nutshell, monsters for Poole are metaphors / stand-ins for whoever is loathed or feared in a certain historical context. "New light" evangelists of the eighteenth century, enslaved African Americans, demagogic politicians, and modern American film-makers have used the devil to damn their enemies, explain the nature of evil and injustice, mount social crusades, construct a national identity, and express anxiety about matters as . damn good primer on monsters in America. Read the chapter-by-chapter Summary & Analysis, a Full Book Summary, or Full Book Analysis of 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. While some may believe that there was no conflict between the settlers and the natives, and that, they just coexisted peacefully. 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. I thought this was gonna be about different monsters from American folklore. The Monster feels completely alienated: "none among the myriads of men" will take pity on him. An unexpected guilty pleasure! Not only is it written in a fun, easy to relate to voice, but it is also chock full of info. Suppose someone wanted to trace American history through the common coffee cup. While real monsters do exist, the reality of our own monstrosities mirrors not a national heritage as much as our human heritage. Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. 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. Sophfronia Scott - The Seeker and the Monk [Review], James Atwood - Collateral Damage - Brief Review, Emily M.D. Insightful and brilliant! 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). 20% Starting with the Puritan era and the fear of witches and ending with the modern-day fascination with the monsters within us, i.e. What becomes disturbingly apparent is that most of Americas hatred of the Other is based in Christian religious belief. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% After Steve testifies, OBrien puts Mr. Sawicki, his film teacher, on the stand. Vampira) to explore the history of American sexuality, gender relations and the rebirth of the horror film in post-WW2 America. They are created to explain racism, cover up worse monstrosities and signal changes and the state of the nation at the time. Insightful and brilliant! OBrien reminds jurors of reasonable doubt and states firmly that Steves guilt has not been proven. If you've got an interest in horror, this is definitely worth a read. (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 hated this book. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! 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. You can find more scary stories from him on Twitter: @monstersamerica. Poole brings to life American horror stories by framing them within folk belief, religion, and popular culture, broadly unraveling the idea of the monster. For the record, I'm *not* well versed on the horror genre due to my fear of almost every popular culture monster. Emily Dickinson Poems Seven of our Favorites! 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. 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. Monsters in America is an important contribution, and it will be enjoyed by literary and cultural historians alike. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. The medical examiner states the time of Mr. Nesbitts death. However, this book was FABULOUS! At times in the book a movie director is taken at his word, the reason for his film given authorial intent. I found it informative, fascinating, thought-provoking and well-written. Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. for a customized plan. The tendency to view American monsters as primarily psychological archetypes ignores how closely they have reflected actual historical events and actual historical victims.". It's a comprehensive look into ghoulish, weird, and woke world--10/10. 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. This book is really good, a look at our monsters in a social conceptional way. You can view our. When social conservatives oppose something, like - say -. 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. 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. 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. All affiliate income is used to support the blog. Our main man wonders how anyone can get used to the slammer. He is the author of several books, including a biography of H.P Lovecraft, which became a Bram Stoker award finalist, and. OBrien gathers her papers and moves away, leaving Steve standing with outstretched arms. This book is a wonderful introduction to American history through the lens of monsters. There he teaches courses on monsters, pop culture, and American history. Poole does justice to judgment; the focus of some horror films. This isnt a book for the squeamish as Poole details how a horror film like Candyman is based in fact to a great deal. Through the two and a half weeks I took with this book, I have been citing it in conversation. Please wait while we process your payment. Steve Harmon, a Black sixteen-year-old, sits in his jail cell and writes in his notebook. Specifically, he discusses how the stories like "Pocahontas" and "The. SparkNotes PLUS Available Course Hero is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university. Before you get all "He's Anti-American!" This is an amazing book. The man immediately begins screaming about something hidden in the mist that is attacking and killing people. In his new preface and expanded conclusion, Pooles tale connects to the presentillustrating the relationship between current social movements and their historical antecedents. Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2014. "Sick," published by Abrams/Amulet). 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. Steve spends his time making movies about himself, often with Jerrys help. She identifies James King as being one of the two young men. 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. Excellent study of the machinery of monsters and their meaning in American history. See a complete Character List for Monster, as well as in-depth analysis of its most important characters. These summaries should not . Visit the new website for more about the book, upcoming events, and to keep up with Scott Poole's blog. Subscribe now. Poole's examples are well-chosen and well-explicated. Monster in America is a literature book by W. Scott Poole. FREE Shipping on orders over $25.00 shipped by Amazon. 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. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. He also makes notes about his movie and about details he observes in court. Scott - For All Who Hunger - Feature Review, Mattix & Thomas, Eds - Christian Poetry in America Since, Copyright 2023 The Englewood Review of Books. He decides to make a movie about his experience. Monsters refuse to be cordoned off in only one nationality, ethnicity, religion, or political mindset. We are sorry. Fall 2021 Most Anticipated Books for Christian Readers! He tells his story through handwritten notes and a typewritten screenplay. OBrien follows and reminds the jury that the State has not proved any of its charges against Steve. Steve also states that he was not at the drugstore on the day of the crime but was walking around thinking about his movie. One wishes for a consistency in commentary. 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. 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.
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