monsters in america sparknotes

Here's where you'll find important quotesfrom Monsterand explanations of them. While real monsters do exist, the reality of our own monstrosities mirrors not a national heritage as much as our human heritage. 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. From 19th century sea serpents to our current. OBrien follows and reminds the jury that the State has not proved any of its charges against Steve. The guards take the bleeding dude away. Sometimes it can end up there. Steves lawyer, Kathy OBrien, urges Steve to take his situation seriously because this crime could put him in jail for twenty years or more. Copyright Thats What She Read 2009-2013. This book is quite well researched, makes a few interesting connections, and is very accessible. Dorothy Sayers Poems Five of Our Favorites! All Rights Reserved. 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. Steve calls the movie Monster because that is what the prosecutor has called him. And I don't have to mention the meaning of all the zombie movies. Poole's book is fantastic, a terrific look at what makes monsters in film resonate in American culture. 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. Insightful and brilliant! I hoped to expand my interaction in the genre, albeit from an American point of view. Thanks to Poole's insights we see the ubiquity of the monster lurking in and around us. Penn State folklorist Bill Ellis called the book "required reading for anyone who wants to understand the dark roots of America culture." 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). (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.) But Africans were still human and had their morals, yet the Europeans saw them as a type of monster during the slave trade era. History is horror. Poole's examples are well-chosen and well-explicated. Petrocelli, the State prosecutor, calls more witnesses to establish the facts of the crime. (Gary Laderman, Professor of American Religious History and Cultures, Emory University), (J. Gordon Melton, Director, Institute for the Study of American Religion). TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. It blends popular culture and American history to present a unique perspective oh why and how we create and perpetuate the monsters we fear most. "The American past reads like something of a horror movie, maybe even a low-budget slasher. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Want 100 or more? Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. After Steve testifies, OBrien puts Mr. Sawicki, his film teacher, on the stand. 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. Monsters in America Project. 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. A.Slavery B.States' rights C.Internal improvements D.Westward expansion. new monsters appear as American society evolves, paralleling fluctuating challenges to the cultural status quo. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Reading this for research for a paper I am writing for a creative nonfiction class for college, but what an interesting book regardless! The opening chapter introduces several motifs that will be present throughout the story. The medical examiner states the time of Mr. Nesbitts death. I used this as a textbook for a themed English course: Monsters, Myths, and Magic. Continue to start your free trial. (254) 710-3164. for a customized plan. But a third interpretive option exists. Monsters refuse to be cordoned off in only one nationality, ethnicity, religion, or political mindset. Wasteland: The Great War and the Origins of Modern Horror, On Monsters: An Unnatural History of Our Worst Fears. While Poole is an academic his book is anything but dry. Friedrich Nietzsche believed we are the monsters. Spring 2021 Most Anticipated Books for Christian Readers! They Poole offers an insight on America's fascination with monsters. 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. Usually just called Athena, this goddess emerges from Zeus's head fully-grown and armed. Especially enlightening is the the animistic portrayal and subsequent fear of African-Americans that has permeated society since they were first brought to the Americas on slave ships. 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. America, like all nations, is made up of monstrous human beings. The State rests its case. The defense rests after Sawickis testimony. The Monster argues that his murderousness is not his fault. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. Paperback; 9781481308823; Published: July 2018; $34.99. More importantly, what is the definition of a monster? Poole does justice to judgment; the focus of some horror films. 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. Want 100 or more? Youve successfully purchased a group discount. Some of his writings can be accessed at www.warpandwoof.org. If specters of the past still haunt our present, they may yet invade our future. 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. Here we not only meet such monsters but also discover America's cultural monstrosity. Free trial is available to new customers only. The kind of monsters depends on the era. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. Briggs establishes that the police had shown photos of King to Mrs. Henry before she picked him out of a lineup. The author radically departs from the notion that monsters are a metaphor for our fears through the ages. In a nutshell, monsters for Poole are metaphors / stand-ins for whoever is loathed or feared in a certain historical context. Steves parents are glad he is home, but the distance between Steve and his father is growing. Design by Booyah Creative. The man immediately begins screaming about something hidden in the mist that is attacking and killing people. It's rarely happy news being reported. Indeed, the reader may struggle as I did with the leaps Poole makes between monster movies and American social ills. Suppose someone wanted to trace American history through the common coffee cup. Even fewer scholars do so as adeptly and as entertainingly as W. Scott Poole. The horrible treatment of indigenous peoples and slaverys practice is sin that stains Americas history. by W. Scott Poole. Marilynne Robinson 10 Freely Available Essays! Twelve Important Theology Books of 2020!!! I was thrilled to find a book that went with that mindset. We are sorry. 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. Monsters arrived in 2011and now they are back. No historically reflective Christian would disagree with Pooles castigation of wrongdoings by some Americans. The brother of Zeus and Poseidon, Hades rules the underworld, the realm of the dead, with his wife, Persephone. Its not a salacious book, either. Unless specifically stated in the review, I have purchased all books reviewed. Antiracism Books for Christians A Reading Guide, Thomas Merton Books An Intro Reading Guide. On Being with Krista Tippett Top 10 Best Episodes! I would love something like this for the UK. 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. He reveals how monster stories went west to Sand Creek and Wounded Knee, bringing the preoccupation with monsters into the twentieth century through the American Indian Movement. (The medical examiners evidence suggests that the shooter was probably right-handed.) 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. 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. Well-written and engaging,Monsters in Americais a must-read for anyone fascinated by history or monsters or both. 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 . Sawicki states that he believes in Steves honesty as a filmmaker and as a person. Other times Poole relies too heavily on social interpreters for his connections. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! It felt more like I was reading a college midterm (not even open book), and less like strong literary criticism. Wendell Berry Poems Seven of Our Favorites! Discount, Discount Code Monster is a 1999 young adult novel by Walter Dean Myers. I was pretty fascinated through this whole book. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. It is lively and engaging and well researched. He tells his story through handwritten notes and a typewritten screenplay. The tendency to view American monsters as primarily psychological archetypes ignores how closely they have reflected actual historical events and actual historical victims.". 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). Visit the new website for more about the book, upcoming events, and to keep up with Scott Poole's blog. Synopsis: From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. 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. 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. However, this book was FABULOUS! 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 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. 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. 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. (1 page) Students will compose a summary of the chapter, highlighting the key elements of Poole's text. Poole seeks to undermine myths of American exceptionalism by locating monsters that he believes exist outside our psyche, in history. Steve is about to stand trial for felony homicide. OBrien reminds jurors of reasonable doubt and states firmly that Steves guilt has not been proven. uniquely brings together history and culture studies to expose the dark obsessions that have helped create our national identity. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. All affiliate income is used to support the blog. Five months later, Steve is again writing in his notebook. Often fascinating attempt to look at monsters through the lens of American history, Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2011. Monster is told as a first-person account by Steve Harmon, a Black teenager on trial for felony murder in New York. 1 (1998): 90-102. Please wait while we process your payment. Conflicting anxieties about race, class, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, science, and politics manifest as haunting beings among the populace. The jury returns verdicts of guilty for James King and not guilty for Steve Harmon. Victor sees the monster's point of view and agrees to create a mate for the monster. SparkNotes PLUS Our main man wonders how anyone can get used to the slammer. His new book, forthcoming this fall and available for pre-order, is _Wasteland: The Great War and the Roots of Modern Horror_. Monster is a 1999 young adult novel by Walter Dean Myers. Classic Gratitude Poems Joy Harjo, Mary Oliver, MORE. 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. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. These summaries should not exceed one page in length. It was the first-ever Michael L. Printz Award recipient, an ALA Best Book, a Coretta Scott King Honor selection, and a National Book Award finalist. What could we extrapolate on the ways we lived and what we believed during each era? 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. I thought this was gonna be about different monsters from American folklore. Monsters in America has without a doubt earned a spot on my favorite books of 2011. Subject I have a lot of interest in and the author seems to have done a lot of work/research. A monster, in most cases, is something that challenges human morality or customs, or rather, a single group of people's moralities. Novelist Sheri Holman calls the book "a subversive masterpiece.". This is such an interesting and compelling about our connection to the monstrous and the monstrous' role in expressing national anxieties in our popular media. Just watch any local news program and you'll see what I mean. Steve spends his time making movies about himself, often with Jerrys help. 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. Friedrich Nietzsche believed we are the monsters. 20% By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. A lot of people gave it poor reviews, maybe because they didn't like what the author plainly demonstrated, that the real monsters in America are the Americans, mainly the white Americans. 335 Pages, 6.00 x 9.00 in. St. Augustine Best Books on His Life and Work, Holy Sonnets John Donne Complete Text. For him, this place is the opposite of realhe has to do everything in front of strangers. They are manifestations of our society. An excellent study for any student of history or media but also fun and accessible for any fan of monsters and the movies. New York: Theatre Communications Group, 2013. Steve records suicidal thoughts and violent prison incidents. Willa Cather Short Stories Five Superb Stories to Read for FREE! American history from the past to the present. Free trial is available to new customers only. Enter your email address to subscribe to That's What She Read and receive notifications of new posts by email. Poole's examples are well-chosen and well-explicated. 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. wish it felt more american- some of the trends were too broad, and I wish thered been more emphasis on early America (e.g. Scott - For All Who Hunger - Feature Review, Mattix & Thomas, Eds - Christian Poetry in America Since, Copyright 2023 The Englewood Review of Books. Before you get all "He's Anti-American!" Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. 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.

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