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. They are created to explain racism, cover up worse monstrosities and signal changes and the state of the nation at the time. Insightful and brilliant! Please wait while we process your payment. He wrote in his journal Without cookies your experience may not be seamless. Written in an accessible, smart and entertaining way, this is a fantastic book. Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. Five months later, Steve is again writing in his notebook. On Being with Krista Tippett Top 10 Best Episodes! Steve tells his story through handwritten notes as in a journal and a typewritten screenplay. 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. 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. For him, this place is the opposite of realhe has to do everything in front of strangers. Component 2: Summary. This book is quite well researched, makes a few interesting connections, and is very accessible. Not only is it written in a fun, easy to relate to voice, but it is also chock full of info. The book's unusual range is one of its contributions; its freshness of juxtaposition is another. Evenhandedness exists in the books last sentence suggesting that liberal visions of social justice could create something worse (228). The Monster argues that his murderousness is not his fault. March 4, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 The book made a few strong points, but ultimately it was a mediocre read. Well-researched and insightful, the writing of the text is also energetic and engaging. Excellent study of the machinery of monsters and their meaning in American history. 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. Henri Nouwen Books An Introductory Reading Guide. And I don't have to mention the meaning of all the zombie movies. One Bear Place 97363, Waco, TX 76798-7363
Evans states that King was his partner in the robbery and that Steve served as the lookout. (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.) 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. Component 3: Vocabulary. Bolden testifies that he bought cigarettes from Bobo Evans and that Evans told him about the robbery. 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. If you've got an interest in horror, this is definitely worth a read. Interesting as a surface-level exploration of "Monster Theory". 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. Petrocelli also calls an eyewitness, Mrs. Lorelle Henry, to the stand. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. Monsters in America is an important contribution, and it will be enjoyed by literary and cultural historians alike. 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.". Steve Harmon, a Black sixteen-year-old, sits in his jail cell and writes in his notebook. Thoughts on books, family, and life in one impressive package. Hades Roman name: Pluto. 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. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. 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! incredibly rewarding and fulfilling reading. Monsters in America has without a doubt earned a spot on my favorite books of 2011. 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. Another witness testifies that King is left-handed. It looks like WhatsApp is not installed on your phone. OBrien tells Steve he will have to testify on his own behalf and put some distance between himself and King. 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. Read the chapter-by-chapter Summary & Analysis, a Full Book Summary, or Full Book Analysis of Monster. Dorothy Moore, a cousin of Kings, testifies that King was with her at the time of the robbery. 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. Simplistic and not incredibly thoughtful, but useful for my purposes, Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2012. James King has his own lawyer, Asa Briggs. Friedrich Nietzsche believed we are the monsters. 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. 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). 2023 Baylor University Press. Mark Eckel is Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Professor of Old Testament at Crossroads Bible College. 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.Pooles central argument in Monsters in America is that monster tales intertwine with Americas troubled history of racism, politics, class struggle, and gender inequality. A.Universal white male suffrage B.Public education C.Child labor D.Temperance. IE- minorities = what we are anxious about / obsessed with = the monstrous = monsters. The history of America -- one fear, one monster, at a time. Societal values impact individuals only as much as we understand an individuals values. I was pretty fascinated through this whole book. Poole's connection of the monster to American history is a kind of Creature Features meets American cultural history. He tells his story through handwritten notes and a typewritten screenplay. His footnotes have left me with a massive pile of additional books to read. Monsters in America: Steve calls the movie Monster because that is what the prosecutor has called him. Contact us 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. Steve is about to stand trial for felony homicide. 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. She continues to assert that Steve served as the lookout for the robbery and is as guilty as the others. Pooles book becomes a tired screed against those whose political-social viewpoints are antithetic to his own. (Christopher James Blythe, Florida State University, (John W. Morehead, editor, www.TheoFantastique.com). Poole wants to tell a story and take his readers on a journey, and he definitely does so. 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.. Monsters in America is lively and entertaining throughout. I seem to be having bad luck with books lately, but the writing style just didnt connect with me. 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). By the end of the book, Poole cautions that Americas monsters arent going away anytime soon. Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2012. Its cohesive, cursory, and has a smattering of typos. Definitions of the monster, he adds, change over time and with each generation. Steve spends his time making movies about himself, often with Jerrys help. 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. BUY . I have read Mr. Poole's work before, so I knew I was in for a treat and I was right. He also makes notes about his movie and about details he observes in court. 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. An unexpected guilty pleasure! Enter your email below to sign up for our weekly newsletter& download your FREE copy of this ebook! In the follow-up to his first book, Satan in America, Poole has now turned his attention to the monsters that inhabit American cinema and American imaginations. wish it felt more american- some of the trends were too broad, and I wish thered been more emphasis on early America (e.g. For the record, I'm *not* well versed on the horror genre due to my fear of almost every popular culture monster. Monsters in America instead should acknowledge monsters exist in every culture, every tribe, every era. Sophfronia Scott - The Seeker and the Monk [Review], James Atwood - Collateral Damage - Brief Review, Emily M.D.