Hey guys, so I know we’re all busy getting ready for finals
(and some of us for graduation) but I hope you get a chance to read this before
Thursday, since this is basically a preview to our presentation on Thursday.
My group decided that we wanted to do a modern rendition of Frankenstein in the style of The Office,
a TV show that I’m sure many of you are familiar with. There was so much going
on internally that we felt The Office’s style of having characters do
asides/monologues commenting on what was going on would be perfect for Frankenstein.
In creating the modern rendition of Frankenstein, there were a few things that I felt either changed or
enhanced perceptions that I had from reading the novel. First off, there was
Dr. Frankenstein’s construction of the Creature. It wasn’t really given a
specific reason in the novel as far as I recall, it was simply science for
science’s sake. When we modernized it however, during Dr. Frankenstein’s
monologue about why he created the Creature, I found him very lacking in good
reasons. We struggled with a purpose for making the Creature precisely the way
that he did. This enhanced my previous views of Dr. Frankenstein. Being a
fellow scientist, I was rather angry and annoyed with Dr. Frankenstein for
lacking in a plan after creating the Creature. There should have been a plan
and a goal, and when those weren’t met there should have been a backup plan.
Dr. Frankenstein also had a pretty hard time accepting responsibility in the
novel, and in our video he also runs away after the Creature is completed. Dr.
Frankenstein’s carelessness is greatly emphasized in our version, since as the
story progresses onward the Creature kills more and more people.
However, I also ended up feeling much more sympathetic for
the Creature (Dave in our video). After his birth/creation, Dave ends up living
in the basement of the company building that Dr. Frankenstein created him in.
Instead of eating berries and other natural foods, he’s forced to eat out of
the vending machines instead. Although this is a rather small detail, when I
really thought about the way Dave would have to survive there, I found it to be
a rather pitiful existence. In having to “create” our own Creature for the
modernized version, I actually felt pretty bad for him, something that I hadn’t
felt as much in the novel.
Also, it took us a while to really think about what “love”
would be in Frankenstein. There was
the obvious inclusion of Dr. Frankenstein and Elizabeth’s relationship, the
most obvious topic of “love” that we could discuss. We kept this in our video,
but we decided to make Dr. Frankenstein a woman (Kate B), adding a little bit
of modern controversial love issues into the mix. But what was love for Dave?
In our version of Frankenstein, we
decided to change the “wedding night” scene from the novel. A drunken Elizabeth
comes to the company building in search of Dr. Frankenstein, and in her
drunkenness throws herself all over Dave. This presents an interesting
situation for Dave, something that the Creature from the novel didn’t have to
face. Here, for the first time, there is a human being who not only is touching
him, but is willingly touching him
(in her drunken state at least). Dave talks about feeling wanted in his
monologue, as he struggles with the decision of whether or not to take
advantage of the situation.
In the end, as the company building burns down with Dr.
Frankenstein and Dave both inside, Dave has one final monologue in which he
talks about what we decided love meant for him. Love for Dave was ultimately
understanding and acceptance from human beings. He talks about how other humans
don’t understand how lucky they really are to receive this on a daily basis.
The fact that other people will walk by you, and maybe even flash you a smile
as you walk to class or to work rather than scream and run away from you. That
basic lack of rejection as a fellow living creature is the smallest iota of
love, and is something that Dave never truly received.
I hope you guys enjoy our video on Thursday!
This project sounds great! I particularly find your decision to get Elizabeth drunk and pursue the monster (Dave) interesting. This sole instance of human interaction parallels the creature's conversation with the old man in the novel, as being drunk can often leave one in a "blind" state. However, I think that it's important that in the novel, the creature is the one seeking the human interaction whereas in your depiction, the human is coming freely to him of her own volition. This difference is intriguing and I'm interested in seeing what it means to the monster in your video.
ReplyDeleteFirst, I really enjoyed your group's final project. Great job. And great job on this post and insight as well.
ReplyDeleteI think both your post and the video point out that Frankenstein really did not know what he was doing when he attempted to create life. The video also points out the irony in Frankenstein's decision to create life because she is incredibly excited to be the first person to create a human. What is the point of creating something that already exists? The only possibility seems to be an obsession with gaining power. The selfish reasons ultimately lead to Frankenstein's downfall. It warns scientists that they need to be deliberate in their research and experiments and to consider the consequences before actually starting work so that they are less likely to be destructive in their work.
A major theme from “Frankenstein” is exactly this warning against humans trying to “play God”. As Julie and Bryan pointed out, another way you can take this warning is as a reminder to scientists to be thorough, planned, and have reasons for their projects. To me, this sets up a bit of a interesting contradiction: humans shouldn’t play God because God is beyond human reason as an inexplicable and all-powerful force in the world, yet human reason and science are necessary in that same world of knowledge. Both God in his omnipotence and reason in its availability and necessity seem to be advocated for here, despite the fact that they can’t really go hand in hand. Bryan, it’s interesting to me that you can offer this “fellow scientist” perspective of needing a reason for Dr. Frankenstein’s project; meanwhile many readers at the time may have been discouraged by science and reason after reading such a horrific tale about the dangers involved with it. It would be interesting to compare which character (Dr. Frankenstein or the Creation) modern audiences sympathize more with to the Romantic audience’s sympathy.
ReplyDeleteGreat job on your project, it was an enjoyable video!
I really enjoyed this video, and it was clear your group put a lot of time and effort into making it. What I liked most about your interpretation of Frankenstein, was the choice to use all the characters' voices for "Dave" the Creature. Kate's explanation of this after the video was really interesting to me. Having the conceit be that there is a "monster in all of us" is a fascinating take on the novel. It actually reminded me of Heart of Darkness, that there is darkness inside all human beings, which is the true "Horror" of the novel. In this way, the Creature is a personification of the internal monster that is present in everyone: if it is cultivated, it serves no danger, but if it is allowed free reign, there are devastating consequences. Overall, you all did a great job and I really enjoyed your work!
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