'Frankenstein' Through the Lens of Cultural Studies

Hello Readers!

This blog is a response to the task given by Prof. Dilip Barad as an assignment where I have chosen a topic 'Frankenstein' through the lens of Cultural Studies.

Academic Details:

Name : Rinkal Dangar 

Roll no : 18

Enrollment no : 4069206420220007

Paper Name : Cultural Studies

Paper no : 205

Paper code: 22410

Topic: 'Frankenstein' Through the Lens of Cultural Studies

Submitted to : Smt. SBGardi, department of English MKBU

Dated on : 27/11/2023

E-Mail : dangarrinkal0609@gmail.com

Introduction:

 Introduction of 'Frankenstein':

"Frankenstein," written by Mary Shelley and published in 1818, is a classic Gothic novel that explores themes of scientific experimentation, hubris, and the consequences of playing god. The story follows Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a sentient creature through unconventional means. As the narrative unfolds, it delves into the moral implications of unchecked scientific ambition and the tragic outcomes of alienation and rejection. Shelley's "Frankenstein" remains a seminal work in both science fiction and horror literature.

Key facts about 'Frankenstein':

Author: Mary Shelley

Publication Year: 1818

Genre: Gothic fiction, science fiction, horror

Main Characters: Victor Frankenstein (scientist), the Creature (his creation), Elizabeth Lavenza (Victor's adopted sister), and others.

Themes: Ambition, knowledge, the consequences of playing god, nature vs. nurture, isolation, and revenge.

Influence: Considered one of the earliest works of science fiction, "Frankenstein" has had a profound impact on popular culture and has inspired numerous adaptations in literature, film, and other media.

Historical Context: Written during the Romantic era, the novel reflects the scientific and philosophical debates of the time, including concerns about the ethical implications of scientific discovery.

Significance: "Frankenstein" is often studied for its exploration of ethical dilemmas related to scientific progress and its enduring relevance in discussions about the ethical boundaries of experimentation and creation.

Introduction of Writer:

Mary Shelley (1797-1851) was an English novelist, best known for her groundbreaking work "Frankenstein." Born Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, she was the daughter of Mary Wollstonecraft, a prominent free she eloped with the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, marrying him in 1816 after the death of his first wife. The couple, along with Lord Byron and others, spent a summer near Lake Geneva, where Mary conceived the idea for "Frankenstein."

Her most famous work, "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus," was published anonymously in 1818. Beyond "Frankenstein," Mary Shelley wrote other novels, short stories, and biographies. She navigated personal tragedies, including the deaths of her husband and several children, and continued to contribute to literary and social discussions. Mary Shelley's legacy endures not only for her pioneering contributions to science fiction but also for her exploration of profound ethical and philosophical questions in her writing.

What does Cultural Studies mean?

The word "culture" itself is so difficult to pin down, and when it comes to Cultural Studies, "Cultural Studies" is not so much a discrete approach at all but rather a set of practices.

As Patrick Brantlinger has pointed out, Cultural Studies is not "a tightly coherent, unified movement with a fixed agenda, but a "loosely coherent group of tendencies, issues and questions". Cultural Studies is completed of elements of Marxism, poststructuralism and postmodernism, Feminism, Gender Studies, anthropology, sociology, race and ethnic studies, film theory, urban studies, public policy, popular culture, and postcolonial studies: those fields that concentrate on social and cultural forces that either create community or cause division and alienation.

Culture:

What 'Culture' has meant before:

'Culture' derives from 'cultura' and 'colere' meaning 'to cultivate'. 

It also means 'to honor' and 'protect'. 

By the nineteenth century in Europe it meant the habits, customs and taste of the upper classes.

What 'culture' means now in Cultural Studies:

Culture is the mode of generating meanings and ideas.

This 'mode' is a negotiation over which meanings are valid.

Meanings are governed by power relations.

Elite culture controls meanings because it controls the terms of the debate.

Non elite views on life and art are rejected as 'tasteless', 'Useless' or even stupid by the elite.

What this implies is certain components of culture get more visibility and significance.

'Frankenstein' through the lens of Cultural Studies:

From literature to consumer products, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein has evolved across various mediums. Initially a revolutionary creation challenging societal norms, it now grapples with commercialization. In today's culture, it serves as a metaphor for our technology-driven society, addressing scientific and political concerns. The Creature, embodying societal paradoxes, reflects Shelley's own struggle between revolutionary ideals and fear of the masses. As a symbol of defiance and survival, the Creature's story unfolds through various adaptations, emphasizing its enduring relevance in contemporary discussions.

1. Revolutionary Births:

Born like its creator in an age of revolution, Frankenstein challenged accepted ideas of its day. As it has become increasingly commodified by modern consumer culture, one wonders whether its original revolutionary spirit and its critique of scientific, philosophical, political, and gender issues have become obscured, or whether instead its continuing transformation attests to its essential oppositional nature. Frankenstein is "a vital metaphor, peculiarly appropriate to a culture dominated by a consumer technology, neurotically obsessed with 'getting in touch' with its authentic self and frightened at what it is discovering"

References to Frankenstein abound, from describing Saddam Hussein as an "American-created Frankenstein" to warnings about genetically engineered "Frankenfoods," test-tube babies, and cloning. This exploration delves into the novel's political and scientific dimensions, followed by an overview of its remarkable journey through popular adaptations in fiction, drama, film, and television. Few novels navigate such critical contemporary concerns while simultaneously offering Saturday afternoon entertainment across generations.

The Creature as Proletarian:

Mary Shelley, amid the tumultuous era in Britain, engaged with radical thinkers like Thomas Paine and William Blake, her family steeped itself in revolutionary ideals. Percy Shelley, labeled a dangerous radical for labor reform, faced government surveillance. In Frankenstein, Johanna M. Smith notes the oscillation between "fear of vengeful revolution and sympathy for the suffering poor," reflecting Mary Shelley's internal conflict. The Creature, akin to her father's concerns, embodies a political and moral paradox, simultaneously innocent and a ruthless murderer.

Monsters like the Creature embody paradoxes, challenging "the establishment" while symbolizing survival. Society's ability to capture and destroy monsters provides reassurance. This duality explains the surge of Frankenstein-as-mutant movies during the Cold War. The Creature's rebellious nature traces back to his radical literary education, reading works like Paradise Lost, Plutarch's Lives, and Goethe's The Sorrows of Young Werther. Despite his idealistic education, the Creature's tragic second birth into a culture unwilling to accept him leaves him unable to reform society, highlighting the poignant gap between understanding great writings about freedom and inhabiting an unwelcoming world.

"Race of Devils"

Mary Shelley, amid the tumultuous era in Britain, engaged with radical thinkers like Thomas Paine and William Blake, her family steeped itself in revolutionary ideals. Percy Shelley, labeled a dangerous radical for labor reform, faced government surveillance. In Frankenstein, Johanna M. Smith notes the oscillation between "fear of vengeful revolution and sympathy for the suffering poor," reflecting Mary Shelley's internal conflict. The Creature, akin to her father's concerns, embodies a political and moral paradox, simultaneously innocent and a ruthless murderer.

Monsters like the Creature embody paradoxes, challenging "the establishment" while symbolizing survival. Society's ability to capture and destroy monsters provides reassurance. This duality explains the surge of Frankenstein-as-mutant movies during the Cold War. The Creature's rebellious nature traces back to his radical literary education, reading works like Paradise Lost, Plutarch's Lives, and Goethe's The Sorrows of Young Werther. Despite his idealistic education, the Creature's tragic second birth into a culture unwilling to accept him leaves him unable to reform society, highlighting the poignant gap between understanding great writings about freedom and inhabiting an unwelcoming world.

From Natural Philosophy to Cyborg:

In our era dominated by genetic engineering and cloning, Frankenstein gains renewed relevance. During the Romantic period, the shift from natural philosophy to biology, a central theme in the novel, became pivotal. 

Today's fertility science, genetic engineering, in vitro fertilization, and life-prolonging methods pose philosophical challenges. Couples undergoing fertility treatments grapple with choices like "selective reduction" and potential risks of premature births, prompting questions about the ethical limits of science. Cultural critic Laura Kranzler notes Victor's creation parallels modern reproductive technologies, highlighting a masculine desire to control female reproductive processes. Frankenstein's warnings about scientific hubris endure as science continues to blur the boundaries between life and death, viability and selective reduction, and living and life support.

2. The Frankenphme in Popular Culture: Fiction, Drama, Film, Television:

In the Routledge Literary Sourcebook on Frankenstein, Timothy Morton introduces "Frankenphemes" derived from phonemes (sonic elements) and graphemes (visual elements), serving as cultural elements inspired by or echoing Shelley's novel. These Frankenphemes manifest in diverse forms, from the encoding of race and class in historical speeches to contemporary debates on genetically engineered foods. They permeate fiction, media, and global culture. The extensive presence of Frankenphemes is evident in countless retellings, parodies, and adaptations across popular fiction, drama, film, and television.

Frankenstein's profound impact is acknowledged by Peter Haining, who deems it the "single greatest horror story novel ever written." Herman Melville's 1855 story "The Bell-Tower" marks an early attempt inspired by Frankenstein, where a Renaissance Italian scientist's creation turns against him. Villiers de L'Isle Adam introduces the first tale of a female monster in "The Future Eve" (1886), portraying an American inventor fashioning an artificial woman.

WC Morrow's "The Surgeon's Experiment" (1887) explores reviving a headless corpse, while Jack London's "A Thousand Deaths" (1897) delves into gruesome science fiction. HP Lovecraft's "The Reanimator" (1921–22) follows, becoming a cult classic film. Frankenstein's influence extends to illustrated editions for children, politicized adaptations like Bulgakov's satire, and diverse erotica, including gay- and lesbian-oriented works. Unclassifiable tales, like Theodore Leberthon's "Demons of the Film Colony" (1932), add intriguing dimensions.

Moving to the stage, the Creature gains heightened horror, and Victor shoulders less blame. Stage adaptations focus on key scenes like creation, the bridal night, and the Creature's destruction. Richard Brinsley Peake's "Presumption" (1823) stands as the first theatrical presentation based on Frankenstein, setting the stage for subsequent dramatic interpretations.

Mary Shelley herself attended the play and verified its authenticity. However, this "serious" drama quickly gave rise to parodies. In 1823, "Frnnkenstitch," a burlesque, portrayed a tailor as the "Needle Prometheus," sewing a body from nine corpses. Franke-n-steam followed, featuring a student reviving a bailiff's corpse. In 1826, "The Deal Among the Players" at the Opera Glass in London showcased Frankenstein, Faust, and the Vampire. Later, in 1847, "The Man in the Moon" added a science fiction twist to Hamlet, with the Creature emerging from Hell.

In modern times, Frankenstein has graced many stages. "Frankenstein and His Bride" played at Strip City in 1950s Los Angeles. HR Pufnstuf's 1972 US tour featured Witchiepoo creating a Frankenstein monster. The iconic "Rocky Horror Show" premiered in 1973, with various revivals and a film adaptation directed by Jim Sharman in 1975. The plot involves Brad and Janet encountering the eccentric Frank-N-Furter, who creates a perfect male lover named Rocky Horror. The story unfolds with seductions, leading to Frank-N-Furter's demise when servants, led by Riff Raff, revolt. VH1's "I Love the 70s" series keeps these characters alive in our memories.

Film Adaptations:

The Frankenstein Omnibus includes the 1931 James Whale film screenplay, the most famous adaptation. Whale's version, influenced by early German films, deviates from the novel, introducing a criminal brain and simplifying the creature. The film reflects the era's biological determinism. Bride of Frankenstein (1935) shifts to comedy, parody, and satire, exploring societal themes. Kenneth Branagh's 1994 adaptation diverges from the novel, emphasizing Victor and Elizabeth's love affair.

Other film adaptations include a French twist in "Tortola contre Frankensburg" (1952), a Mexican clash in "Frankenstein, el Vampiro y Compañía" (1962), and a Japanese showdown in "Furqnkenshutain tai chiteiknijt Baragon" (1965). Hammer Studios' "The Curse of Frankenstein" (1957) led to a series, while "Young Frankenstein" (1974) by Mel Brooks humorously explores the Frankensteinian/Freudian opposition. Andy Warhol's avant-garde "Frankenstein" (1974) and the blaxploitation film "Blackenstein" (1973) add unique twists. "Frankenstein Unbound" (1990) combines time travel and societal critique.

Conclusion:

Shelley's work, examined through this lens, reveals the novel's resonance in discussions of race, class, and societal norms. The Creature, embodying political paradoxes, reflects Shelley's own internal conflicts and societal anxieties. The novel's adaptability across various mediums highlights its enduring relevance, addressing themes of scientific hubris and the consequences of unchecked ambition. In a world dominated by genetic engineering and cloning, "Frankenstein" continues to provoke discussions about the ethical boundaries of scientific experimentation.

From its literary roots to various adaptations in film, drama, and other media, "Frankenstein" has left an indelible mark on popular culture. The Creature, often portrayed as a symbol of defiance and survival, challenges established norms while symbolizing the dualities inherent in societal structures. As the novel traverses time and cultural shifts, it prompts ongoing reflections on the intersections of science, ethics, and humanity. Mary Shelley's legacy endures not only for her contributions to science fiction but also for her exploration of profound ethical and philosophical questions, making "Frankenstein" a literary masterpiece.

Thanks for reading!