Penn State folklorist Bill Ellis called the book "required reading for anyone who wants to understand the dark roots of America culture." 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. They Poole offers an insight on America's fascination with monsters. The man immediately begins screaming about something hidden in the mist that is attacking and killing people. Emily Dickinson Poems Seven of our Favorites! 1 (1998): 90-102. Monsters in America instead should acknowledge monsters exist in every culture, every tribe, every era. Conflicting anxieties about race, class, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, science, and politics manifest as haunting beings among the populace. Lovecraft_. From early American ghost stories to Jordan Peeles Get Out (2017), Scott Poole expertly tracks the importance of monsters and monstrosity in American culture. Classic Gratitude Poems Joy Harjo, Mary Oliver, MORE. It felt more like I was reading a college midterm (not even open book), and less like strong literary criticism. (1 page) Students will compose a summary of the chapter, highlighting the key elements of Poole's text. session with vampires and zombies, Poole plots America's past through its fears in this intriguing sociocultural history. An unexpected guilty pleasure! After Steve hears the verdict, he turns to OBrien for a hug. Monsters in America does a phenomenal job examining American history through the lens of monsters and the monstrous. 20% Steve also states that he was not at the drugstore on the day of the crime but was walking around thinking about his movie. What I discovered is that Poole should have written two books: his perspective on American history, another on monsters. What becomes disturbingly apparent is that most of Americas hatred of the Other is based in Christian religious belief. He compares himself with the other prisoners. C. Christopher Smith is the founding editor of The Englewood Review of Books. Bloodshed and hatred are universals in human nature and Pooles book is a very unsettling history of its American manifestation. White Doe" disguised the true relationship between the European settlers and Native Americans. The book made a few strong points, but ultimately it was a mediocre read. I thought this was gonna be about different monsters from American folklore. However, this book was FABULOUS! Which one would you like to know more about and why? 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. 1960-1980 3. Monster is told as a first-person account by Steve Harmon, a Black teenager on trial for felony murder in New York. for a customized plan. From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. Steve records suicidal thoughts and violent prison incidents. 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. The author radically departs from the notion that monsters are a metaphor for our fears through the ages. 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. When meeting the natives, he saw their way of life as barbaric and uncivilized. The pages are littered with characterizations which demonize only a conservative set of ideas. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. 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. Steve tells his story through handwritten notes as in a journal and a typewritten screenplay. "Rue Morgue" magazine called it "the best biography of H.P. Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes. I wasn't ready for the overtly sociological approach of the book, and was expecting a history, as alluded to in the title of the 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. Hafez Poems Five of Our Favorites from the Divan of Hafez, N.T. Monster: Study Guide | SparkNotes Browning's research, including extensive field work in New Orleans, has uncovered a subculture of . Sawicki states that he believes in Steves honesty as a filmmaker and as a person. 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. Angels in America Bibliography | GradeSaver In a nutshell, monsters for Poole are metaphors / stand-ins for whoever is loathed or feared in a certain historical context. I used this as a textbook for a themed English course: Monsters, Myths, and Magic. Monsters in America | PDF | Slavery | Racism - Scribd 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. Fall 2022 Most Anticipated Books for Christian Readers! Please wait while we process your payment. Steve worries about why OBrien turned away from him after winning the case. Antiracism Books for Christians A Reading Guide, Thomas Merton Books An Intro Reading Guide. Continue to start your free trial. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! In Monster, Walter Dean Myers tells the story of Steve Harmon's trial. (254) 710-3164. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% , W. Scott Poole has given us a guidebook for a journey into nightmare territory. She identifies James King as being one of the two young men. Monster's In America Flashcards | Quizlet 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. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. Conflicting anxieties about race, class, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, science, and politics manifest as haunting beings among the populace. March 4, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 Thanks to Poole's insights we see the ubiquity of the monster lurking in and around us. (one code per order). Monsters in America (2nd ed.) The defense rests after Sawickis testimony. Excellent study of the machinery of monsters and their meaning in American history. 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. Poole brings to life American horror stories by framing them within folk belief, religion, and popular culture, broadly unraveling the idea of the monster. Copyright Thats What She Read 2009-2013. On Being with Krista Tippett Top 10 Best Episodes! The atheist taught that inflicting suffering while enjoying the process is human nature. Poole wants to tell a story and take his readers on a journey, and he definitely does so. A.Universal white male suffrage B.Public education C.Child labor D.Temperance. Poole's connection of the monster to American history is a kind of Creature Features meets American cultural history. uniquely brings together history and culture studies to expose the dark obsessions that have helped create our national identity. 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. Sophfronia Scott - The Seeker and the Monk [Review], James Atwood - Collateral Damage - Brief Review, Emily M.D. Conflicting anxieties about race, class, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, science, and politics manifest as haunting beings among the populace. Dorothy Sayers Poems Five of Our Favorites! Free trial is available to new customers only. She coaches Steve on how to answer questions on the witness stand. Want 100 or more? 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. From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. For the record, I'm *not* well versed on the horror genre due to my fear of almost every popular culture monster. Subscribe now. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), When you get the opportunity to see your daughter, @muse and their #willofthepeopleworldtour was by f, @evanescenceofficial has been around for twenty ye, When you havent seen your favorite band live in, When your partner is obsessed with the Alex Murdau, Monsters in America: Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting, https://bookshop.org/shop/thatswhatsheread, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Even fewer scholars do so as adeptly and as entertainingly as W. Scott Poole. Unless specifically stated in the review, I have purchased all books reviewed. The Best C.S. This book is a wonderful introduction to American history through the lens of monsters. Chapter 17 Monster Summary and Study Guide | SuperSummary There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please provide specific examples to support your answers. Sabbath Books Best Reads for Christians on Rest and Sabbath! Poole agrees telling us early and often You are the main character in this terror-filled little tale (xviii). The fear of anything not considered normal or not well-understood e.g. Get help and learn more about the design. For him, this place is the opposite of realhe has to do everything in front of strangers. 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. She tells the jury that James King and Steve Harmon, along with two other criminals, robbed a drugstore. SparkNotes PLUS James King has his own lawyer, Asa Briggs. Our main man wonders how anyone can get used to the slammer. OBrien tells Steve he will have to testify on his own behalf and put some distance between himself and King. Insightful and brilliant! 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 a group? Christopher Columbus came to the Americas searching for gold, slaves, and monsters. He also doesn't shy away from the role of the monstrous in helping maintain oppressive regimes and the status quo. Please try again. In fact, perhaps our own beliefs about monsters and their intractable nature help to produce the monsters we fear the most., I've had a question for a long time. Poole presents his findings methodically through well-documented facts and similar studies. W. Scott Poole is Professor of History at the College of Charleston, where he teaches courses on monsters, pop culture, and American history. Well-researched and insightful, the writing of the text is also energetic and engaging. 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. Monstrosity - Monstrous Beginnings Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2012. Component 2: Summary. 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. 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. And I don't have to mention the meaning of all the zombie movies. That's What She Read by 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. Steve testifies that he did not take part in the drugstore robbery or discuss it with anyone before it happened. 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