Steve writes about his fear, anger, and pain and his rising sense of panic about the outcome of his trial. Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2021. Steve testifies that he did not take part in the drugstore robbery or discuss it with anyone before it happened. However, his interpretations and implications are nothing less than threatening to whatever status quo our authorities would prefer us to maintain. Poole's examples are well-chosen and well-explicated. 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. Monsters refuse to be cordoned off in only one nationality, ethnicity, religion, or political mindset. She continues to assert that Steve served as the lookout for the robbery and is as guilty as the others. OBrien follows and reminds the jury that the State has not proved any of its charges against Steve. Monsters in America has without a doubt earned a spot on my favorite books of 2011. Poole's connection of the monster to American history is a kind of Creature Features meets American cultural history. 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. Reprinted by permission. You'll also receive an email with the link. Social commentary may drive sub-text but money drives the movie. All content on this blog is protected under US copyright by Michelle Shannon. Penn State folklorist Bill Ellis called the book "required reading for anyone who wants to understand the dark roots of America culture." 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. If it bleeds, it reads. 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. 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. 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. He is also the author of _Monsters in America_ from Baylor University Press (2011)._Monsters_ explores the American fascination with vampires, zombies, serial killers and even sea serpents, showing how these creatures of our dark obsessions help us to understand the dark and foreboding places in American history. I appreciated that in this second edition he shows how our language of the monstrous has played a role in instances like the police shootings of unarmed black people and how visions of dread play into Donald Trump's rhetoric. Conflicting anxieties about race, class, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, science, and politics manifest as haunting beings among the populace. InMonsters in America,Scott Poole asks these thought-provoking questions while traveling through American history following the evolution of the monster over time. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. Here's where you'll find analysis of the main themes, motifs, and symbols in Monster. Steves parents are glad he is home, but the distance between Steve and his father is growing. The atheist taught that inflicting suffering while enjoying the process is human nature. serial killers, each generation faced its own challenges and highlighted its fear within its own monsters. 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. He reminds the jury of the witnesses criminal records and contends that their unreliability casts reasonable doubt on Kings guilt. Study Guides, Friday afternoon, July 17th & December, 5 months later. There he teaches courses on monsters, pop culture, and American history. Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2014. If you will, a shining city on hill built on the bodies of natives, blacks, women, and anyone else we dont like very much. Trick-or-treat! can only mean one thingHalloween. Salvatore Zinzi, a prisoner at the Rikers Island jail, testifies that another prisoner, Wendell Bolden, told him about the drugstore robbery. 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. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. One wishes for a consistency in commentary. Petrocelli refers to the defendants as monsters in the community. She then calls two witnesses. Just watch any local news program and you'll see what I mean. (Christopher James Blythe, Florida State University, (John W. Morehead, editor, www.TheoFantastique.com). Renews March 11, 2023 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. The State rests its case. "The American past reads like something of a horror movie, maybe even a low-budget slasher. Subject I have a lot of interest in and the author seems to have done a lot of work/research. The book is rich in history, pop culture references, and analysis. She tells the jury that James King and Steve Harmon, along with two other criminals, robbed a drugstore. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Stamped on American culture, the phrase brings to mind images of costumes, plastic masks, and parents holding the hands of little monsters as they collect candy calories. 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. Monsters in America Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting. I suppose history could be read into just about any object. This is an important book that Id recommend very highly. Monsters In America challenges, enlightens, and, quite honestly, frightens in its prescient view of American history, . I love ghost stories and folklore because they reveal an aspect of history and popular thinking in an entertaining way. I thought this was gonna be about different monsters from American folklore. Instead of representing the "us vs them" mentality, monsters are much closer so home: they are us. He is also author of a number of books, including most recently How the Body of Christ Talks: Recovering the Practice of Conversation in the Church (Brazos Press, 2019). She explains that some jurors have decided against him just because he is young and Black, so Steve has to make the jury see him as different from the other defendants. He states that he knows James King and Osvaldo Cruz, but only casually. 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. Vampira) to explore the history of American sexuality, gender relations and the rebirth of the horror film in post-WW2 America. Poole brings to life American horror stories by framing them within folk belief, religion, and popular culture, broadly unraveling the idea of the monster. The medical examiner states the time of Mr. Nesbitts death. I often use this in my Freshman Writing courses to show that writing doesn't have to be boring. Michelangelo Biographies Best Books on the Renaissance Artist! "Angels, Monsters, and Jews: Intersections of Queer and Jewish Identity in Kushner's "Angels in America."" PMLA 113, no. Steve spends his time making movies about himself, often with Jerrys help. Conflicting anxieties about race, class, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, science, and politics manifest as haunting beings among the populace. Jacques Ellul Books An Introductory Reading Guide. Steve is about to stand trial for felony homicide. 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. 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. I seem to be having bad luck with books lately, but the writing style just didnt connect with me. Available Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. OBrien reminds jurors of reasonable doubt and states firmly that Steves guilt has not been proven. The author radically departs from the notion that monsters are a metaphor for our fears through the ages. When meeting the natives, he saw their way of life as barbaric and uncivilized. The scary tales found in the classic texts remind usno matter our nationality, ethnicity, or political persuasionthe monster is us. Best Johnny Cash Books Biographies and More! W. Scott Poole is Professor of History at the College of Charleston. We are sorry. In 2016, he wrote the Bram Stoker Finalist _In the Mountains of Madness: The Life and Extraordinary Afterlife of H.P. I have read Mr. Poole's work before, so I knew I was in for a treat and I was right. 62 reviews Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. The different types of monsters, whether cultural, supernatural, or moral, all contribute to the meaning of American culture. Project MUSE promotes the creation and dissemination of essential humanities and social science resources through collaboration with libraries, publishers, and scholars worldwide. Human beings made him declare "war" by treating him like an enemy. For him, this place is the opposite of realhe has to do everything in front of strangers. Poole's examples are well-chosen and well-explicated. If you're looking for an introductory book to the subject, it's a great resource. Lovecraft in print. Monsters in America: [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. This was a great concept, but I struggled to even make it through the introduction. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. The tendency to view American monsters as primarily psychological archetypes ignores how closely they have reflected actual historical events and actual historical victims.". Fifteen Important Theology Books of 2022!!! 335 Pages, 6.00 x 9.00 in. FABULOUS! However, this book was not only as easy read, but incredibly enlightening, eye-opening, and thrilling. 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. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. on 50-99 accounts. An unexpected guilty pleasure! Asa Briggs, Kings attorney, establishes that the police have no fingerprint evidence. [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. This book is a wonderful introduction to American history through the lens of monsters. The old newspaper adage still holds true today. Even fewer scholars do so as adeptly and as entertainingly as W. Scott Poole. 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. Emily Dickinson Poems Seven of our Favorites! Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. Go to BN.com to get your copy of these helpful resources. Excellent study of the machinery of monsters and their meaning in American history. Briggs establishes that the police had shown photos of King to Mrs. Henry before she picked him out of a lineup. Satan in America tells the story of America's complicated relationship with the devil. After Steve testifies, OBrien puts Mr. Sawicki, his film teacher, on the stand. Written in an accessible, smart and entertaining way, this is a fantastic book. new monsters appear as American society evolves, paralleling fluctuating challenges to the cultural status quo. Its not a salacious book, either. Societal values impact individuals only as much as we understand an individuals values. The Monster feels completely alienated: "none among the myriads of men" will take pity on him. Not only is America guilty of creating its own horrors, failure to acknowledge monsters also creates them (23). 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). I used this as a textbook for a themed English course: Monsters, Myths, and Magic. Author W. Scott Poole takes a look at America's fascination with the macabre in his book. But then, I dislike any historical book that loses its sense of historical relativity as well as any book about phenomena that automatically assumes a phenomenon is false and therefore ripe for being disproved and easily rationalized away. does a bang-up job of demonstrating how our culture helps us achieve some sort of understanding about our world and our lives. The strongest witness for the State is Richard Bobo Evans, who admits that he took part in the robbery. Monster is told as a first-person account by Steve Harmon, a Black teenager on trial for felony murder in New York. 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. The kind of monsters depends on the era. 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. 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. 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. Pooles book becomes a tired screed against those whose political-social viewpoints are antithetic to his own. Poole offers an insight on America's fascination with monsters. The second edition of Monsters leads readers deeper into Americas tangled past to show how monsters continue to haunt contemporary American ideology. , W. Scott Poole has given us a guidebook for a journey into nightmare territory. Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting. See a complete Character List for Monster, as well as in-depth analysis of its most important characters. Michelle Shannon is licensed under a In his comments on the 1931 "Frankenstein" W. Scott Poole, relates that the idea of the "abnormal brain" that Fritz grabs for Henry Frankenstein being the cause of the monster's murderous mentality being a reflection of the "scientific rascism" of the day. (one code per order). Sometimes it can end up there. 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. Monsters, he says, are "cultural constructions of the terrible that define what it is we subconsciously fear and what it is we're told to hate or love.". He wrote in his journal. 2715 North Charles StreetBaltimore, Maryland, USA 21218. After readingMonsters in America, a reader will view monsters in a completely different light. Even fewer scholars do so as adeptly and as entertainingly as W. Scott Poole. Acknowledgements: Thank you to Kelly Hughes from Dechant-Hughes for my review copy! I hated this book. 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. 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. 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. Petrocelli also calls an eyewitness, Mrs. Lorelle Henry, to the stand. The author radically departs from the notion that monsters are a metaphor for our fears through the ages. He also doesn't shy away from the role of the monstrous in helping maintain oppressive regimes and the status quo. 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. There was a problem loading your book clubs. Henri Nouwen Books An Introductory Reading Guide. 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. for a group? Evans states that King was his partner in the robbery and that Steve served as the lookout. 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. Subscribe now. Not only is it written in a fun, easy to relate to voice, but it is also chock full of info. Monsters in America. We are led to believe that bloody movies portray the sinister seditions of social conservativismthe ultimate grim reaper. Insightful and brilliant! religious texts and newspaper accounts of "satanic panics" into a highly readable analysis of the concept of the devil in American cultural history. OBrien tells Steve that her job is to make him a human being in the eyes of the jury. 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. Connect with him online at: C-Christopher-Smith.com, "This book will inspire, motivate and challenge anyone who cares a whit about the written word, the world of ideas, the shape of our communities. 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. Marshall1 Jenna Marshall Prof. Goff Writing 1010 12 September 2021 Summary Final In Scott Poole's essay Monsters in America Poole's main claim is that stories of monsters are associated with the troubled history of American history of racism, politics, class prejudice, gender disparity, and how society's fears can be equally showing of our divides. Well-researched and insightful, the writing of the text is also energetic and engaging. Wed love to have you back! on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% Whats worse is how these monster images exist even until today. BUY . On Being with Krista Tippett Top 10 Best Episodes! Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Lovecraft_. Our main man wonders how anyone can get used to the slammer. Steve calls the movie Monster because that is what the prosecutor has called him. 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. Poole seeks to undermine myths of American exceptionalism by locating monsters that he believes exist outside our psyche, in history. Read the chapter-by-chapter Summary & Analysis, a Full Book Summary, or Full Book Analysis of Monster. It is not a book on actual monsters but how Americans find monsters in different eras on social constructs. Whether your interest is literature, American history, popular culture, race and ethnicity, women's studies, or religion, you would be happy reading this book. The man immediately begins screaming about something hidden in the mist that is attacking and killing people. Poole does justice to judgment; the focus of some horror films. Synopsis: From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. A masterful survey of our grim and often disturbing past. Monsters in America is lively and entertaining throughout. SparkNotes PLUS Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. Five months later, Steve is again writing in his notebook. 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! New York: Theatre Communications Group, 2013. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. Willa Cather Short Stories Five Superb Stories to Read for FREE! 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. Renews March 11, 2023 Visit the new website for more about the book, upcoming events, and to keep up with Scott Poole's blog. (254) 710-3164. In a nutshell, monsters for Poole are metaphors / stand-ins for whoever is loathed or feared in a certain historical context. session with vampires and zombies, Poole plots America's past through its fears in this intriguing sociocultural history. 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. It's also a great way of introducing the idea that you can use different lenses/ways of writing to introduce and discuss topics. 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. An unexpected guilty pleasure! 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. Monsters in America does a phenomenal job examining American history through the lens of monsters and the monstrous. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Dallas Willard Books Seven Essential Titles to Read! uniquely brings together history and culture studies to expose the dark obsessions that have helped create our national identity. His footnotes have left me with a massive pile 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. 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 loved this book. 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. He decides to make a movie about his experience. Best Leonard Cohen Books Biographies and Books by the Songwriter. SparkNotes PLUS James King has his own lawyer, Asa Briggs. More importantly, what is the definition of a monster? Which one would you like to know more about and why? Sophfronia Scott - The Seeker and the Monk [Review], James Atwood - Collateral Damage - Brief Review, Emily M.D. Classic Gratitude Poems Joy Harjo, Mary Oliver, MORE. But honestly, most folks go to horror films for what they would say is the hell of it. Some people enjoy being scared, period. Copyright 2023 That's What She Read. He rightly frets over our technology which ineffectively obscures the divine and so Americans create vampire stories which take Gods place (59): Americans are still attempting to apprehend mystery in the midst of supernatural confusion (11). I suppose history could be read into just about any object. Bolden testifies that he bought cigarettes from Bobo Evans and that Evans told him about the robbery. Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. The jail guards come in, and everyone lines up against the wall while they get rubber-gloved. Title and sub-title encouraged my interest in securing a copy of Monsters in America for review. From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. Please provide specific examples to support your answers. Chapters three and four in my copy of the book, for instance, are littered with questions: How did we get here? This is a logical leap! and What??! IE- minorities = what we are anxious about / obsessed with = the monstrous = monsters. ", Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon.