Reading this for research for a paper I am writing for a creative nonfiction class for college, but what an interesting book regardless! Poole's connection of the monster to American history is a kind of Creature Features meets American cultural history. I love ghost stories and folklore because they reveal an aspect of history and popular thinking in an entertaining way. The guards take the bleeding dude away. This book is a wonderful introduction to American history through the lens of monsters. 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. Monsters in America is an important contribution, and it will be enjoyed by literary and cultural historians alike. Excellent study of the machinery of monsters and their meaning Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! Victor sees the monster's point of view and agrees to create a mate for the monster. Pooles constant harangue against anything conservative is a thin criticism to begin, stretched beyond any semblance of recognition by the end of the book. An excellent history of the American obsession with monsters, Poole analyzes our religious and nationalist beliefs to see how we have dealt with the Other in our long, horrifying existence as a nation. Steve is about to stand trial for felony homicide. Classic Gratitude Poems Joy Harjo, Mary Oliver, MORE. Freedman, Jonathan. Monster is told as a first-person account by Steve Harmon, a Black teenager on trial for felony murder in New York. One Bear Place 97363, Waco, TX 76798-7363 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. Renews March 11, 2023 (Christopher James Blythe, Florida State University, (John W. Morehead, editor, www.TheoFantastique.com). He also makes notes about his movie and about details he observes in court. (1 page) Students will compose a summary of the chapter, highlighting the key elements of Poole's text. Sex and violence are the recurring themes of the book, but Poole always provides context for why they recur so often. 1 (1998): 90-102. Monsters in America. Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes. What could we extrapolate on the ways we lived and what we believed during each era? A.Universal white male suffrage B.Public education C.Child labor D.Temperance. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. The kind of monsters depends on the era. 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. After Steve testifies, OBrien puts Mr. Sawicki, his film teacher, on the stand. 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. Amazon has encountered an error. There he teaches courses on monsters, pop culture, and American history. Frankenstein (1931) happens when somebody tries to make a more perfect human. Poole summarizes, Perhaps our own beliefs about monsters and their intractable nature help to produce the monsters we fear the most (164). FABULOUS! Monsters in America Project. Hardback: Baylor University Press, 2011. It is not a book on actual monsters but how Americans find monsters in different eras on social constructs. 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. White Doe" disguised the true relationship between the European settlers and Native Americans. 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. After a minute elapses from the time David, Billy and Brent enter the store, a man, Jeff Miller, a local townsperson, flies into the market, bloodied and frantic. After readingMonsters in America, a reader will view monsters in a completely different light. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! I heard the author on Coast to Coast, and even though he had that dry, flat Midwestern accent (sort of like Margaret Hamilton in "The Wizard of Oz") I knew I had to get the book. 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. From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. OBrien tells Steve he will have to testify on his own behalf and put some distance between himself and King. Poole does justice to judgment; the focus of some horror films. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Steves lawyer, Kathy OBrien, urges Steve to take his situation seriously because this crime could put him in jail for twenty years or more. 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. that Poole have used to describe the events of . 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. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. W. Scott Poole, Monsters arrived in 2011and now they are back. | 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. 335 Pages, 6.00 x 9.00 in. Excerpt. Design by Booyah Creative. Monster is usually used to reflect an individual's actions; especially, it shows for the wrong act of people. One wishes for a consistency in commentary. He also doesn't shy away from the role of the monstrous in helping maintain oppressive regimes and the status quo. Monster in America is a literature book by W. Scott Poole. Not only do they continue to live in our midst, but, as historian Scott Poole shows, these monsters are an important part of our pasta hideous obsession America cannot seem to escape. Monsters in America has without a doubt earned a spot on my favorite books of 2011. Our main man wonders how anyone can get used to the slammer. From early American ghost stories to Jordan Peeles Get Out (2017), Scott Poole expertly tracks the importance of monsters and monstrosity in American culture. 2023 Project MUSE. Vampira) to explore the history of American sexuality, gender relations and the rebirth of the horror film in post-WW2 America. Get help and learn more about the design. Bram Stoker Award finalist W. Scott Poole is the author of numerous books and articles on monsters and mayhem in popular culture. I have read Mr. Poole's work before, so I knew I was in for a treat and I was right. Subscribe now. Continue to start your free trial. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. 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. Steve testifies that he did not take part in the drugstore robbery or discuss it with anyone before it happened. 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. Frontier wilderness beasts, Freddie Krueger, witches of Salem, alien invasions, and freak show oddities are some of the monstrous creatures. 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. Not only is it written in a fun, easy to relate to voice, but it is also chock full of info. It is an alternative view of history through something that is not necessarily studied in such depth and over such a long period of time. The evidence that Poole provides . Other times Poole relies too heavily on social interpreters for his connections. IE- minorities = what we are anxious about / obsessed with = the monstrous = monsters. Thanks to Poole's insights we see the ubiquity of the monster lurking in and around us. Here's where you'll find important quotesfrom Monsterand explanations of them. 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Select a location to see product availability. 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. It is super nasty, and blood ends up everywhere. 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. Steve Harmon, a Black sixteen-year-old, sits in his jail cell and writes in his notebook. Produced by Johns Hopkins University Press in collaboration with The Sheridan Libraries. For me, there are intertwined. Dont have an account? Written in an accessible, smart and entertaining way, this is a fantastic book. Free trial is available to new customers only. Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2014. Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2014. Poole brings to life American horror stories by framing them within folk belief, religion, and popular culture, broadly unraveling the idea of the monster. 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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading American Monsters: A History of Monster Lore, Legends, and Sightings in America. Michelle Shannon is licensed under a Trick-or-treat! can only mean one thingHalloween. It felt more like I was reading a college midterm (not even open book), and less like strong literary criticism. I hoped to expand my interaction in the genre, albeit from an American point of view. This was a great concept, but I struggled to even make it through the introduction. Steve spends his time making movies about himself, often with Jerrys help. does a bang-up job of demonstrating how our culture helps us achieve some sort of understanding about our world and our lives. for a customized plan. Subscribe now. Salvatore Zinzi, a prisoner at the Rikers Island jail, testifies that another prisoner, Wendell Bolden, told him about the drugstore robbery. Contact us "Angels, Monsters, and Jews: Intersections of Queer and Jewish Identity in Kushner's "Angels in America."" PMLA 113, no. In Monster, Walter Dean Myers tells the story of Steve Harmon's trial. Monsters in America is lively and entertaining throughout. Well-researched and insightful, the writing of the text is also energetic and engaging. 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.
