monsters in america sparknotes
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 American past reads like something of a horror movie, maybe even a low-budget slasher. 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). 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??! Dorothy Moore, a cousin of Kings, testifies that King was with her at the time of the robbery. The second edition of Monsters leads readers deeper into Americas tangled past to show how monsters continue to haunt contemporary American ideology. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. 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. I loved this book. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. While Poole is an academic his book is anything but dry. Poole seeks to undermine myths of American exceptionalism by locating monsters that he believes exist outside our psyche, in history. Paperback; 9781481308823; Published: July 2018; $34.99. See a complete Character List for Monster, as well as in-depth analysis of its most important characters. The pages are littered with characterizations which demonize only a conservative set of ideas. I wasn't ready for the overtly sociological approach of the book, and was expecting a history, as alluded to in the title of the book. 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). At the very end, Poole implies that for what has gone before, it could very well get worse. Instead of representing the "us vs them" mentality, monsters are much closer so home: they are us. The Monster argues that his murderousness is not his fault. 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. Fyodor Dostoevsky Download all his Novels as Free Ebooks !!! Judging from the verbiage, Pooles sub-text for the American monster is conservative-Christian-white-heterosexual-Republican. All Rights Reserved. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. In Virginia's sectional differences, what natural boundary marked the dividing line between the traditional thinkers and those desiring reforms to have greater representation? John Wesley Sermons - The 7 Best Sermons from the Founder of Methodism. Excellent study of the machinery of monsters and their meaning in American history. 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. creating and saving your own notes as you read. Dont have an account? The scary tales found in the classic texts remind usno matter our nationality, ethnicity, or political persuasionthe monster is us. The opening chapter introduces several motifs that will be present throughout the story. 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. Antiracism Books for Christians A Reading Guide, Thomas Merton Books An Intro Reading Guide. This is an important book that Id recommend very highly. He reminds the jury of the witnesses criminal records and contends that their unreliability casts reasonable doubt on Kings guilt. Monsters in America argues that historical, political and social conditions produce narratives of horror and create "monsters." Choose one of the following periods 1.) C. Christopher Smith is the founding editor of The Englewood Review of Books. Here we not only meet such monsters but also discover America's cultural monstrosity. Ten Important Women Theologians To Start Reading. The evidence that Poole provides . 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. Michelangelo Biographies Best Books on the Renaissance Artist! 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 April 15, 2012. There he teaches courses on monsters, pop culture, and American history. 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. is an important contribution, and it will be enjoyed by literary and cultural historians alike. However, this book was not only as easy read, but incredibly enlightening, eye-opening, and thrilling. Whether your interest is literature, American history, popular culture, race and ethnicity, women's studies, or religion, you would be happy reading this book. Finally, in the new section "American Carnage," Poole challenges readers to assess what their own monster tales might be and how our sordid past horrors express themselves in our present cultural anxieties. Dallas Willard Books Seven Essential Titles to Read! These monsters are created by multiple aspects of society and give meaning to the culture as well. The image freezes as the screenplay ends. Monsters in America has without a doubt earned a spot on my favorite books of 2011. Omer-Sherman, Ranen. Newer movies like "Terminator," shows what happens when we place our trust in machines. Twelve Important Theology Books of 2021!!! Poole's connection of the monster to American history is a kind of Creature Features meets American cultural history. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. All content is original and cannot be copied without permission. I suppose history could be read into just about any object. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Indeed, the reader may struggle as I did with the leaps Poole makes between monster movies and American social ills. 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? By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. Best Johnny Cash Books Biographies and More! 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. Poole presents his findings methodically through well-documented facts and similar studies. It's also a great way of introducing the idea that you can use different lenses/ways of writing to introduce and discuss topics. 1960-1980 3. If specters of the past still haunt our present, they may yet invade our future. (one code per order). Bolden testifies that he bought cigarettes from Bobo Evans and that Evans told him about the robbery. 2715 North Charles StreetBaltimore, Maryland, USA 21218. I used this as a textbook for a themed English course: Monsters, Myths, and Magic. Please wait while we process your payment. Steve calls the movie Monster because that is what the prosecutor has called him. Our main man wonders how anyone can get used to the slammer. 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. You can view our. Dracula (1931) is based on the fear of foreigners and disease. Lovecraft_. This item: Monsters in America: Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting by W. Scott Poole Paperback $34.99 The Monster Theory Reader by Jeffrey Andrew Weinstock Paperback $45.11 On Monsters: An Unnatural History of Our Worst Fears by Stephen T. Asma Paperback $28.95 What other items do customers buy after viewing this item? The old newspaper adage still holds true today. Monster presents through the obvious things, for example, krakens or werewolves. 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. Excellent study of the machinery of monsters and their meaning Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! While some may believe that there was no conflict between the settlers and the natives, and that, they just coexisted peacefully. Course Hero is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university. 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 readingMonsters in America, a reader will view monsters in a completely different light. Title and sub-title encouraged my interest in securing a copy of Monsters in America for review. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of "Monster" by Walter Dean Myers. Insightful and brilliant! You'll also receive an email with the link. In this way he resembles Frankenstein, who alienates himself by pursuing forbidden knowledge. Thoughts on books, family, and life in one impressive package. Please provide specific examples to support your answers. Freedman, Jonathan. He decides to make a movie about his experience. W. Scott Poole. Copyright Thats What She Read 2009-2013. Free trial is available to new customers only. Sales Date: 2018-07-13. 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. Petrocelli, OBrien, and Briggs make opening statements on the first day of Steves trial. . For Poole Halloween means more trick than treat; we discover that the monsters are us.