monsters in america sparknotes

Renews March 11, 2023 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. Enter your email below to sign up for our weekly newsletter& download your FREE copy of this ebook! Steve tells his story through handwritten notes as in a journal and a typewritten screenplay. Associated with war, cleverness, and wit, it is no surprise that she favors Odysseus. Monster is usually used to reflect an individual's actions; especially, it shows for the wrong act of people. OBrien gathers her papers and moves away, leaving Steve standing with outstretched arms. OBrien reminds jurors of reasonable doubt and states firmly that Steves guilt has not been proven. 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. We can anticipate either alien salvation or judgment from beyond. Poole brings to life American horror stories by framing them within folk belief, religion, and popular culture, broadly unraveling the idea of the monster. Filmmakers create celluloid illusions with that in mind. Bloodshed and hatred are universals in human nature and Pooles book is a very unsettling history of its American manifestation. Newer movies like "Terminator," shows what happens when we place our trust in machines. Project MUSE promotes the creation and dissemination of essential humanities and social science resources through collaboration with libraries, publishers, and scholars worldwide. 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. 335 Pages, 6.00 x 9.00 in. The Theology of the Early Christians 10 Free Classics! Steve worries about why OBrien turned away from him after winning the case. Other times Poole relies too heavily on social interpreters for his connections. His new book, forthcoming this fall and available for pre-order, is _Wasteland: The Great War and the Roots of Modern Horror_. At times in the book a movie director is taken at his word, the reason for his film given authorial intent. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% does a bang-up job of demonstrating how our culture helps us achieve some sort of understanding about our world and our lives. Go to BN.com to get your copy of these helpful resources. She asks the jury to recall how Steve conducted himself on the witness stand and to compare Steve with Sal Zinzi, Bobo Evans, and Osvaldo Cruz before they decide who is believable. Excellent study of the machinery of monsters and their meaning in American history. The history of America -- one fear, one monster, at a time. This book is quite well researched, makes a few interesting connections, and is very accessible. 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. "Rue Morgue" magazine called it "the best biography of H.P. Here we not only meet such monsters but also discover America's cultural monstrosity. Steve is about to stand trial for felony homicide. I was pretty fascinated through this whole book. 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 . With Monsters in America, W. Scott Poole has given us a guidebook for a journey into nightmare territory. Study Guides, Friday afternoon, July 17th & December, 5 months later. The atheist taught that inflicting suffering while enjoying the process is human nature. Here we not only meet such monsters but also discover America's cultural monstrosity. is available now and can be read on any device with the free Kindle app. the bell witch, the roanaoke colony, etc.) I found it to be a perfect model for critical thinking about the social representations of various popular monsters, and the book led to wonderful class discussions. 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. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Bram Stoker Award finalist W. Scott Poole is the author of numerous books and articles on monsters and mayhem in popular culture. An unexpected guilty pleasure! 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. 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. If you're looking for an introductory book to the subject, it's a great resource. Wasteland: The Great War and the Origins of Modern Horror, On Monsters: An Unnatural History of Our Worst Fears. Penn State folklorist Bill Ellis called the book "required reading for anyone who wants to understand the dark roots of America culture." Conflicting anxieties about race, class, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, science, and politics manifest as haunting beings among the populace. This exciting work blends the study of horror films, comic books, religious texts and newspaper accounts of "satanic panics" into a highly readable analysis of the concept of the devil in American cultural history. You'll also receive an email with the link. 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. Monster in America is a literature book by W. Scott Poole. creating and saving your own notes as you read. Starting with the Puritan era and the fear of witches and ending with the modern-day fascination with the monsters within us, i.e. 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. Indeed, Poole interprets the meaning of the meaning, reinterpreting historical narratives infusing past story with present perception: history is horror (22). (The medical examiners evidence suggests that the shooter was probably right-handed.) $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% 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. He states that he knows James King and Osvaldo Cruz, but only casually. 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. 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. A monster, in most cases, is something that challenges human morality or customs, or rather, a single group of people's moralities. Dorothy Sayers Where to Start with her Mystery Novels? The brother of Zeus and Poseidon, Hades rules the underworld, the realm of the dead, with his wife, Persephone. 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. Subject I have a lot of interest in and the author seems to have done a lot of work/research. Petrocelli also calls an eyewitness, Mrs. Lorelle Henry, to the stand. I highly recommend this for fans of the horror genre and anthropology. Enter your email address to subscribe to That's What She Read and receive notifications of new posts by email. Not only is it written in a fun, easy to relate to voice, but it is also chock full of info. A masterful survey of our grim and often disturbing past, Monsters in. Component 2: Summary. I love ghost stories and folklore because they reveal an aspect of history and popular thinking in an entertaining way. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. Please provide specific examples to support your answers. 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. Its cohesive, cursory, and has a smattering of typos. After Steve hears the verdict, he turns to OBrien for a hug. 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. Sales Date: 2018-07-13. Lewis Biography (And Other Biographies /Companion Guides)! Insightful and brilliant! 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. Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. 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. Steve Harmon, a Black sixteen-year-old, sits in his jail cell and writes in his notebook. Renews March 11, 2023 Please wait while we process your payment. 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. Detectives Karyl and Williams describe their arrival at the crime scene. The kind of monsters depends on the era. In a nutshell, monsters for Poole are metaphors / stand-ins for whoever is loathed or feared in a certain historical context. Steve calls the movie Monster because that is what the prosecutor has called him. He argues that our myth of conquering the monster has made us particularly inclined to turn other groups of human beings into monsters and to justify their oppression or domination. The book is rich in history, pop culture references, and analysis. "Monsters in America" is a work that touches on the many facets of Horror in America. Sabbath Books Best Reads for Christians on Rest and Sabbath! The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. St. Augustine Best Books on His Life and Work, Holy Sonnets John Donne Complete Text. Thanks to Poole's insights we see the ubiquity of the monster lurking in and around us. Willa Cather Short Stories Five Superb Stories to Read for FREE! The two defense counsels, OBrien and Briggs, establish that the witnesses are testifying for the State in return for reduced sentences. 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 societys fears but shapes actual historical behavior and becomes a cultural reminder of inhuman acts.. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. Conflicting anxieties about race, class, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, science, and politics manifest as haunting beings among the populace. Evans states that King was his partner in the robbery and that Steve served as the lookout. Excellent study of the machinery of monsters and their meaning Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% What becomes disturbingly apparent is that most of Americas hatred of the Other is based in Christian religious belief. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. | I have read Mr. Poole's work before, so I knew I was in for a treat and I was right. Mr. Pooles evidence is as intriguing as it is informative. 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. Steve spends his time making movies about himself, often with Jerrys help. It looks like WhatsApp is not installed on your phone. Course Hero is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university. Just watch any local news program and you'll see what I mean. The medical examiner states the time of Mr. Nesbitts death. Yuckfest. W. Scott Poole. Please use a different way to share. Through the two and a half weeks I took with this book, I have been citing it in conversation. Poole's connection of the monster to American history is a kind of Creature Features meets American cultural history. Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon, Baylor University Press (January 15, 2014). Copyright Thats What She Read 2009-2013. uniquely brings together history and culture studies to expose the dark obsessions that have helped create our national identity. damn good primer on monsters in America. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. 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. Fifteen Important Theology Books of 2022!!! Christopher Columbus came to the Americas searching for gold, slaves, and 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. Fall 2022 Most Anticipated Books for Christian Readers! Monsters in America Project. Sawicki states that he believes in Steves honesty as a filmmaker and as a person. Suppose someone wanted to trace American history through the common coffee cup. Monsters in America is W. Scott Poole's interpretive history. The history of the United States offers a chamber of horrors, with clergy transforming the Native American other into demonic beings, mad scientists turning state-funded laboratories into torture chambers, and the photographic revolution of the Victorian era turning toward a morbid fascination with the bodies of the dead and the creation of the category of 'gore.' An interesting and accessible overview of the link between American history and the monsters that fascinate them. (Christopher James Blythe, Florida State University, (John W. Morehead, editor, www.TheoFantastique.com). $24.99 Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. Steves lawyer, Kathy OBrien, urges Steve to take his situation seriously because this crime could put him in jail for twenty years or more. C. Christopher Smith is the founding editor of The Englewood Review of Books. These monsters are created by multiple aspects of society and give meaning to the culture as well. Steve also states that he was not at the drugstore on the day of the crime but was walking around thinking about his movie. We are sorry. His footnotes have left me with a massive pile of additional books to read. 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. A must read for fans of horror and monsters! Steve testifies that he did not take part in the drugstore robbery or discuss it with anyone before it happened. The jail guards come in, and everyone lines up against the wall while they get rubber-gloved. Continue to start your free trial. 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. We are led to believe that bloody movies portray the sinister seditions of social conservativismthe ultimate grim reaper. 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. All opinions expressed are uniquely my own. One wishes for a consistency in commentary. This is an amazing book. Monstrosities exist in us and therefore they are all around us. Poole argues that "Monstrous metaphors in American historical life have a way of becoming realthey are intertwined with attitudes and social structures that make the monster possible. 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. These summaries should not . Indeed, the reader may struggle as I did with the leaps Poole makes between monster movies and American social ills. by Michelle | Nov 30, 2011 | Books Read in 2011, P Author | 0 comments, Title: Monsters in America: Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting, 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. Poole offers an insight on America's fascination with monsters. But real monsters collect different trophies; they are no laughing matter. She continues to assert that Steve served as the lookout for the robbery and is as guilty as the others. Ten Important Women Theologians To Start Reading. A well informed, thoughtful, and indeed frightening angle of vision to a persistent and compelling American desire to be entertained by the grotesque and the horrific. March 4, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 Acknowledgements: Thank you to Kelly Hughes from Dechant-Hughes for my review copy! 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. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. 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. . Dorothy Sayers Poems Five of Our Favorites! Both belief about the supernatural and the supernatural itself creates creatures which slither into our thinking-being-behaving. Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. Bolden testifies that he bought cigarettes from Bobo Evans and that Evans told him about the robbery. They are created to explain racism, cover up worse monstrosities and signal changes and the state of the nation at the time. Subscribe now. I hoped to expand my interaction in the genre, albeit from an American point of view. 20% She coaches Steve on how to answer questions on the witness stand. It was just way too "all over the place" for me. Date. (one code per order). on 50-99 accounts. Suppose someone wanted to trace American history through the common coffee cup. You can view our. 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. W. Scott Poole is Professor of History at the College of Charleston, where he teaches courses on monsters, pop culture, and American history. 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. I loved this book. This book is a wonderful introduction to American history through the lens of monsters. Monsters highlight both the positives and negatives in any society, and as such, require the reader to open ones mind and accept that the history taught in history books may not be the truth. 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. Marilynne Robinson 10 Freely Available Essays! Wed love to have you back! The Best C.S. Poole wants to tell a story and take his readers on a journey, and he definitely does so. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. I suppose history could be read into just about any object. This book is really good, a look at our monsters in a social conceptional way. session with vampires and zombies, Poole plots America's past through its fears in this intriguing sociocultural history. That's What She Read by These summaries should not exceed one page in length. Spring 2021 Most Anticipated Books for Christian Readers! 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. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. All content on this blog is protected under US copyright by Michelle Shannon. Mary Oliver Essays 10 Prose Selections to Read for Free Online! I thought this was gonna be about different monsters from American folklore. 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 stays far away from polemic and sticks to the facts. 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. Contact us I also think this could've used a second editor before being published as there are many typos and grammatical errors, as well as a few points that could've used some fact-checking. Briggs establishes that the police had shown photos of King to Mrs. Henry before she picked him out of a lineup. Analysis The monster tells Victor:"You must create a female for me with whom I can live in the interchange of those sympathies necessary for my being." Victor refuses and then later relents to the monster's wishes. Monsters in America has without a doubt earned a spot on my favorite books of 2011. Author: W. Scott Poole Synopsis (Courtesy of Powell's Books ): "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 is lively and engaging and well researched. Social commentary may drive sub-text but money drives the movie. Conflicting anxieties about race, class, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, science, and politics manifest as haunting beings among the populace. Poole states that, in actuality, that the Europeans saw the natives. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. You'll also receive an email with the link. Written in an accessible, smart and entertaining way, this is a fantastic book. Forged from a partnership between a university press and a library, Project MUSE is a trusted part of the academic and scholarly community it serves. 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. SparkNotes PLUS Pooles book becomes a tired screed against those whose political-social viewpoints are antithetic to his own. Hades Roman name: Pluto. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Dracula (1931) is based on the fear of foreigners and disease. From 19th century sea serpents to our current. Judging from the verbiage, Pooles sub-text for the American monster is conservative-Christian-white-heterosexual-Republican. Reading this for research for a paper I am writing for a creative nonfiction class for college, but what an interesting book regardless! This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. 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. In her closing argument for the State, Petrocelli stresses the importance of the stolen cigarettes in proving who committed the crime. Victor sees the monster's point of view and agrees to create a mate for the monster. The little monsters who come to our doors for candy at Halloween are small reminders of our large problem. Conflicting anxieties about race, class, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, science, and politics manifest as haunting beings among the populace. 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? I want to start out by saying that I absolutely love the notion behind this book. For him, this place is the opposite of realhe has to do everything in front of strangers. Whats worse is how these monster images exist even until today. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% 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. 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. The book reflects on the. By adding new discussions of the American West, Poole focuses intently on the Native American experience. 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. Friday afternoon, July 17th & December, 5 months later. 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. After readingMonsters in America, a reader will view monsters in a completely different light. This book is a wonderful introduction to American history through the lens of monsters. 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. Produced by Johns Hopkins University Press in collaboration with The Sheridan Libraries. While Poole is an academic his book is anything but dry.

Raina Huang Boyfriend Jun, Articles M