Anatomy of a Beast: Obsession and Myth on the Trail of Bigfoot by Michael McLeod

Abstract

 OHQ vol. 111, no. 1 matched charts confuse some of the assertions in the concluding chapter. In spite of these limits, the importance of Radke-Moss’s extensive research into campus life of land-grant institutions recommends this book to historians of education, women, and theWest.Particularly with the chapters on gendered space,women and sport,coursework, and suffrage activism,her findings reveal a history of women students forging their place in a “bright epoch” in coeducation. Kimberly Jensen Western Oregon University Anatomy of a Beast: Obsession and Myth on the Trail of Bigfoot by Michael McLeod University of California Press, Berkeley, 2009. Photographs, notes, bibliography, index. 238 pages. $24.95 cloth. Anatomy of a Beast offers yet another condescending treatment of the sasquatch question. One is compelled to inquire from whence the author’s motivation arises to undertake such a book? McLeod addresses this and initially strikes a sympathetic cord, but soon a notable shift to a cynical line of skepticism is perceived. It becomes clear that he has already made up his mind. McLeod openly bears his bias with the rhetorical question, “if people can delude themselves into believing in the existence of an eight-foot tall apeman, what on earth might they be thinking about truly important matters ?” (p. 5). Obviously, McLeod is plagued by the very failing with which he faults all who would take this subject seriously — “a state of mind that can only be explained by the adage that people believe what they want” (p. 103). His professed interest “lies in the people behind the legend” (p. 5). The book is indeed largely biographical and therefore the title — Anatomy of a Beast — is intended metaphorically , or is potentially misleading. This book does not address the fundamental question on the minds of most readers, that of whether in fact a biological species lurks behind the cultural trappings of the legend of Bigfoot. To be sure, McLeod offers no qualifications or expertise to address the matters attending that question, nor does he appeal to those possessing such credentials.In spite of acknowledging Meldrum being“Krantz’s heir apparent, as the world’s preeminent Bigfoot scientist,” he neither made efforts to interview him nor cites or makes bibliographic reference to his published works, including Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science (p.149).One can only assume that the nod was merely a facetious one. Other significant scholarly contributions are missing from the select bibliography,such as Bindernagel’sNorth America’s Great Ape: The Sasquatch. McLeod’s lack of discernment is betrayed by remarks made whenever he unavoidably stumbles up against evidentiary matters.When confronted with Green’s original footprint casts, he quips: “To me they looked like clown feet, squared off at the toes, with no arch” (p. 12). An honest assessment, made by one oblivious to the very anatomical distinctions that lend credibility to the casts as the trace of the beast. He characterizes Krantz’s lucid and thorough treatment of the footprint evidence as a “bewildering jumble” while disparaging the late professor as “one gone absolutely mad over hominid footprints” (p. 74). When addressing another sort of trace evidence — the Skookum imprint — McLeod attempts to mask his ignorance with puzzlement. He rhetorically wonders“how anyone could accept such impossible evidence” (p. 152). This lack of scientific acumen is glaringly evident when he perpetuates the misconception that Gigantopithecus would of necessity be forced to brave an arctic tundra to make a crossing to North America. He asks us to imagine “breeding-sized groups of enormous bamboo-eating knuckle-walking apes dragging themselves tens of thousands of miles through own a piece of oregon history Purchase historic photos online at shop.ohs.org or in the new Museum Store. OrHi 3587, Mitchell Point Tunnel, Old Columbia River Highway  OHQ vol. 111, no. 1 an arid frozen wasteland”(p. 152). He is apparently unaware of the cyclic existence throughout the Pliocene of dense uninterrupted forests spanning from present-day southern China to British Columbia, a contiguous habitat through which many species extended their range between continents. The trail culminates with the PattersonGimlin film clip, depicting a Bigfoot in northern California’s wilderness. The author’s a priori assumption that “after...