This blog was created for the English 590.04H class (Honors Seminar in Romantic Literature: Gothicism and Dark Romanticism) at The Ohio State University, spring quarter 2012
You guys have a great comic - I give props to you for the idea. Anyone think we should start a Gothic Literature meme?
Anyway, why do you think society has such a misconstrued notion of Frankenstein's monster? Instead of being the intelligent being with agency that he is in the novel, modern society makes him out to be a killing machine who is unable to speak. Perhaps this has something to do with society's reluctance to sympathize with its villains.
Another interesting aspect of this character transformation is discussed here: (http://www.librarypoint.org/history_of_classic_monsters_frankensteins_creature). Apparently early film's limitations helped transform society's idea of Frankenstein and his monster.
What I find extremely telling about Shelley's characterization of the Monster is that he does not act like a "monster" until he experiences human interaction. Society imposes its own beliefs about what constitutes a "normal" appearance, and any departure from that is considered freakish, therefore frightening. After this experience he takes his rage at Victor out on innocent people.
I love this comic, especially your picture choice for "What I Think I do." The monster portrayed in this picture is not threatening at all. On the contrary he looks gentle, and frankly, I just want to give him a hug he's so cute. I think that what makes the picture is the superimposed Superman symbol on his shirt. The creature has super-human strength and abilities. If he had not been shunned by society, he could have feasibly become a "Superman" figure, using his abilities for good. This concept is interesting in relation to the "What I Really Do" photo in that we see how much he is the product of his society. With the caption "I'm so misunderstood," he could be that same creature he sees himself as, however, do to society's treatment of him as a monster, that is what he becomes.
You guys have a great comic - I give props to you for the idea. Anyone think we should start a Gothic Literature meme?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, why do you think society has such a misconstrued notion of Frankenstein's monster? Instead of being the intelligent being with agency that he is in the novel, modern society makes him out to be a killing machine who is unable to speak. Perhaps this has something to do with society's reluctance to sympathize with its villains.
Another interesting aspect of this character transformation is discussed here: (http://www.librarypoint.org/history_of_classic_monsters_frankensteins_creature). Apparently early film's limitations helped transform society's idea of Frankenstein and his monster.
What I find extremely telling about Shelley's characterization of the Monster is that he does not act like a "monster" until he experiences human interaction. Society imposes its own beliefs about what constitutes a "normal" appearance, and any departure from that is considered freakish, therefore frightening. After this experience he takes his rage at Victor out on innocent people.
ReplyDeleteI love this comic, especially your picture choice for "What I Think I do." The monster portrayed in this picture is not threatening at all. On the contrary he looks gentle, and frankly, I just want to give him a hug he's so cute. I think that what makes the picture is the superimposed Superman symbol on his shirt. The creature has super-human strength and abilities. If he had not been shunned by society, he could have feasibly become a "Superman" figure, using his abilities for good. This concept is interesting in relation to the "What I Really Do" photo in that we see how much he is the product of his society. With the caption "I'm so misunderstood," he could be that same creature he sees himself as, however, do to society's treatment of him as a monster, that is what he becomes.
ReplyDelete