Read the chapter-by-chapter Summary & Analysis, a Full Book Summary, or Full Book Analysis of Monster. Enter your email below to sign up for our weekly newsletter& download your FREE copy of this ebook!
Monsters in America: Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the [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. SparkNotes PLUS Copyright Thats What She Read 2009-2013. Steve calls the movie Monster because that is what the prosecutor has called him. Monsters In America challenges, enlightens, and, quite honestly, frightens in its prescient view of American history, . 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. Poole stays far away from polemic and sticks to the facts. (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.) (Gary Laderman, Professor of American Religious History and Cultures, Emory University), (J. Gordon Melton, Director, Institute for the Study of American Religion). 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. All opinions expressed are uniquely my own. 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. Well-researched and insightful, the writing of the text is also energetic and engaging. 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. Through the two and a half weeks I took with this book, I have been citing it in conversation. Poole's examples are well-chosen and well-explicated. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. You can find more scary stories from him on Twitter: @monstersamerica. You can view our. 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. An excellent study for any student of history or media but also fun and accessible for any fan of monsters and the movies. 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. I suppose history could be read into just about any object. 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. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. More than mere metaphors, they are creations of human fears and human ignorance. OBrien reminds jurors of reasonable doubt and states firmly that Steves guilt has not been proven. I found it informative, fascinating, thought-provoking and well-written. Mr. Pooles evidence is as intriguing as it is informative. Detectives Karyl and Williams describe their arrival at the crime scene. 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. You can find more scary stories from him on Twitter: @monstersamerica. March 4, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 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. Component 2: Summary.
Scott Poole's Monsters in America Examines Our Fears - Dread Central In a nutshell, monsters for Poole are metaphors / stand-ins for whoever is loathed or feared in a certain historical context. Spring 2022 Most Anticipated Books for Christian Readers! (1 page) Students will compose a summary of the chapter, highlighting the key elements of Poole's text. [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. | Insightful and brilliant!
The strongest witness for the State is Richard Bobo Evans, who admits that he took part in the robbery. If you, like me, are both a person that loves old monster movies and cares about history, you'll find this book to be a fun read. on 50-99 accounts. Poole's connection of the monster to American history is a kind of Creature Features meets American cultural history. Pallas Athena Roman name: Minerva. 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. 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. uniquely brings together history and culture studies to expose the dark obsessions that have helped create our national identity. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. Subject I have a lot of interest in and the author seems to have done a lot of work/research. Sometimes it can end up there. 1945-1960 2.) 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. Dorothy Moore, a cousin of Kings, testifies that King was with her at the time of the robbery. Renews March 11, 2023 He wrote in his journal Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. Probably more 3.5 stars. It's rarely happy news being reported. Poole brings to life American horror stories by framing them within folk belief, religion, and popular culture, broadly unraveling the idea of the monster. W. Scott Poole. Wed love to have you back! Dorothy Sayers Where to Start with her Mystery Novels? 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. By the end of the book, Poole cautions that Americas monsters arent going away anytime soon. IE- minorities = what we are anxious about / obsessed with = the monstrous = monsters.
Monster Culture - University at Buffalo Monster is a 1999 young adult novel by Walter Dean Myers. Sometimes it can end up there.
Monster Summary and Study Guide | SuperSummary While some may believe that there was no conflict between the settlers and the natives, and that, they just coexisted peacefully. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Subscribe now. Highly recommended. Best Leonard Cohen Books Biographies and Books by the Songwriter. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. 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. 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. 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. Enter your email address to subscribe to That's What She Read and receive notifications of new posts by email. Not only is America guilty of creating its own horrors, failure to acknowledge monsters also creates them (23). The little monsters who come to our doors for candy at Halloween are small reminders of our large problem. Definitely would recommend it as a quick read and dive into monster history, as well as a great resource to find other books the author recommends to look into more! A masterful survey of our grim and often disturbing past. Monster is usually used to reflect an individual's actions; especially, it shows for the wrong act of people. Sophfronia Scott - The Seeker and the Monk [Review], James Atwood - Collateral Damage - Brief Review, Emily M.D. Monstrosities exist in us and therefore they are all around us. I am fiercely passionate about two things: History and Monsters. It was just way too "all over the place" for me. 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. 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. While real monsters do exist, the reality of our own monstrosities mirrors not a national heritage as much as our human heritage. No historically reflective Christian would disagree with Pooles castigation of wrongdoings by some Americans. There was a problem loading your book clubs. Fyodor Dostoevsky Download all his Novels as Free Ebooks !!! In this way he resembles Frankenstein, who alienates himself by pursuing forbidden knowledge. Frontier wilderness beasts, Freddie Krueger, witches of Salem, alien invasions, and freak show oddities are some of the monstrous creatures. 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.
Frankenstein: The Monster Quotes | SparkNotes The scary tales found in the classic texts remind usno matter our nationality, ethnicity, or political persuasionthe monster is us. Poole explains his parameters of a monsters nature from the outside, in: monsters are a product of our collective hatreds outside the human psyche. By so delimiting his interpretation, Poole mirrors his stated concern for other theories that monster interpretations are reductive and overdeterminative (13-18). The Monthly Kindle Ebook Sale March 2023, 5 Essential Ebook Deals for Church Leaders 23 February 2023, 5 Essential Ebook Deals for Church Leaders 16 February 2023, Rumi Poems Eight of Our Favorites by the Sufi Mystic, Walt Whitman Poems 8 of our Favorites from Leaves of Grass, Alexander Pushkin Five Poems by the Russian Poet, Against Christian Nationalism: Essential Books [A Reading Guide]. Asa Briggs, Kings attorney, establishes that the police have no fingerprint evidence. I loved this book. After Steve testifies, OBrien puts Mr. Sawicki, his film teacher, on the stand. Copyright 2023 That's What She Read. He wonders what OBrien saw. The kind of monsters depends on the era. The horrible treatment of indigenous peoples and slaverys practice is sin that stains Americas history. Lewis Biography (And Other Biographies /Companion Guides)! is an important contribution, and it will be enjoyed by literary and cultural historians alike. The Monster argues that his murderousness is not his fault. Wendell Berry Poems Seven of Our Favorites!
Monsters in America: Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the 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. Acknowledgements: Thank you to Kelly Hughes from Dechant-Hughes for my review copy! 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. 20% Steves lawyer, Kathy OBrien, urges Steve to take his situation seriously because this crime could put him in jail for twenty years or more. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. I have an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Powells Books and IndieBound. Imprint: Baylor University Press. Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. The author radically departs from the notion that monsters are a metaphor for our fears through the ages. Best Johnny Cash Books Biographies and More! We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Bloodshed and hatred are universals in human nature and Pooles book is a very unsettling history of its American manifestation. I'm just saying that throughout the country's history, there have been some pretty dark times. I used this as a textbook for a themed English course: Monsters, Myths, and Magic. Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2014. Michelangelo Biographies Best Books on the Renaissance Artist! Pooles constant harangue against anything conservative is a thin criticism to begin, stretched beyond any semblance of recognition by the end of the book. Evil brutes exist inside and outside American neighborhoods. Excerpt. Amazon has encountered an error. Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2014. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. If you've got an interest in horror, this is definitely worth a read. All content is original and cannot be copied without permission. 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. She identifies James King as being one of the two young men. They are manifestations of our society. A.Universal white male suffrage B.Public education C.Child labor D.Temperance. Howard Thurman Books An Introductory Reading Guide. Lovecraft in print. Usually just called Athena, this goddess emerges from Zeus's head fully-grown and armed. 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. damn good primer on monsters in America. 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 . Learn how your comment data is processed. Spring 2021 Most Anticipated Books for Christian Readers! Not only is it written in a fun, easy to relate to voice, but it is also chock full of info. Excellent study of the machinery of monsters and their meaning Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! 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. In "Monstrous beginnings," the introductory chapter of "Monsters in America: Our Historical, Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting" by W. Scott Poole, the author makes an argument, about how monsters were not only used as entertainment, but were also used as an excuse to, justify the offenses done to the Native Americans as well as the slaves brought from Africa by, the European settlers. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% A must read for fans of horror and monsters! is available now and can be read on any device with the free Kindle app. I have read Mr. Poole's work before, so I knew I was in for a treat and I was right. on 50-99 accounts. as uncivilized people and even believed them to be monsters. Twelve Important Theology Books of 2020!!! He compares himself with the other prisoners. Steve tells his story through handwritten notes as in a journal and a typewritten screenplay. 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. Good references in the book that I looked up to further read about horror movies and their importance to our sociological perspective. Mark Eckel is Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Professor of Old Testament at Crossroads Bible College. Steve is about to stand trial for felony homicide. Course Hero is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university. But he also shows that the monstrous can be sympathetic, that it can also be used by the oppressed to speak back to the mainstream.