Cultural Studies and Frankenstein
Hello readers, welcome to this blog focused on a thinking activity exploring Cultural Studies and Frankenstein. This activity, assigned by Dr. Dilip Barad sir, aims to deepen students' thought processes on this fascinating topic. In this blog, I delve into various aspects of Frankenstein through the lens of cultural studies, discussing key themes in depth.
Part 1: Revolutionary Births
Discussion Topics :-
1. The Creature as Proletarian
Mary Shelley lived in a time of great social and political turmoil, influenced by radical thinkers like her parents and Thomas Paine. The creature in Frankenstein embodies the struggles of the oppressed, illuminating themes of class struggle and revolutionary tension.
The social and political upheavals of Mary Shelley's era had a significant impact on her novel Frankenstein. She was exposed to revolutionary ideas that challenged authority and societal structures since she was raised by parents who were well-known radical thinkers. Her father, William Godwin, was a political philosopher, and her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, was an early supporter of women's rights. The intellectual climate in which she wrote was also influenced by individuals such as Thomas Paine, who fought for social equality and human rights.
The creature in Frankenstein represents the suffering of the downtrodden and disenfranchised, capturing the anguish, rage, and loneliness that people denied access to society's benefits frequently experience. Shelley echoes the themes of class strife and revolutionary potential by using the creature's agony and rejection as a compelling metaphor for the problems of the working class and the dispossessed. The creature's social rejection and ensuing fury reflect the revolutionary tensions of Shelley's day and show how marginalisation and abuse can spark rebellion. Shelley thus provides a significant reflection on social injustice and the repercussions of denying humanity to those who society considers to be "other" through the creature.
Reflect: How does the Creature’s paradoxical nature simultaneously an innocent and a vengeful force comment on societal fears of revolution and sympathy for the suffering masses?
Being both an innocent person and a vindictive force, the Creature in Frankenstein represents a paradoxical contradiction. He represents humanity's innate compassion and the inherent kindness that is frequently repressed by societal injustice. At first, he is naive, inquisitive, and full of a desire for connection. Readers are moved by his tenderness and yearning for acceptance, which capture the fundamental humanity of the downtrodden and disenfranchised masses. However, his innocence turns into vengeance as he endures constant rejection and violence, underscoring the potentially devastating effects of ongoing pain and dehumanisation.
This dichotomy reflects the fear of revolution in society. On the one hand, there is empathy for people who are oppressed and endure unfair treatment, just as the suffering of the Creature speaks to those who are persecuted. On the other hand, his use of violence in reaction to abuse and rejection inspires a fear of insurrection, mirroring the terror of the oppressed masses rebelling against their oppressors. Shelley examines the intricate mechanics of revolution through the Creature's metamorphosis, showing how individuals who start out as victims can become disruptive forces that threaten social order through marginalisation and isolation. As a result, the Creature's nature makes observations about the delicate balance between compassion for the suffering masses and the anxiety that could arise if that suffering is disregarded.
2. A Race of Devils
The Creature's depiction draws from cultural anxieties surrounding the "Other," be it racial or otherwise. The novel explores issues of race and imperialism, with characters like Victor Frankenstein embodying a guilty, colonial mindset.
Reflect: How does Shelley’s narrative engage with concepts of race and empire, and how might these issues be relevant today in global discourses on race and privilege?
By portraying the Creature as a "Other," who is despised and feared due to his appearance and perceived difference, Shelley's Frankenstein delicately addresses issues of race and empire. His seclusion and physical characteristics, which define his otherness, reflect the marginalisation experienced by racial and ethnic groups that have traditionally been dehumanised by imperial powers. A colonial mindset, in which the creator pursues power and knowledge without taking responsibility for the results, can be shown in Victor Frankenstein's creation of the Creature and his instant revulsion and abandoning of it. Similar to colonial nations' fear-based rejection of different cultures and races, Victor's rejection of his creation reveals a fear of the unknown and the unfamiliar.
In this way, Frankenstein foreshadows conversations about racialised "othering" and the hypocrisy of colonial mindsets that despise accountability for the lives they affect in favour of conquering and controlling. Similar to the cycle of oppression and resistance frequently observed in colonial history, the Creature's spiral into violence as a result of abandonment highlights how isolation and alienation can have negative effects. As discussions about privilege, race, and power dynamics continue to develop globally, these themes are still pertinent today.
Systemic racism, marginalisation, and exclusion are issues that have a modern equivalent to Shelley's investigation of the "Other." The legacy of colonialism, where privilege and power are unequally distributed and marginalised communities continue to face both direct and indirect forms of exclusion, is frequently brought up in contemporary discourse. By highlighting the significance of inclusiveness, empathy, and accountability principles that are crucial to resolving racial injustices in the modern world, Shelley's story serves as a warning about the perils of denying responsibility for individuals who are "othered" by society.
3. From Natural Philosophy to Cyborg
In the age of genetic engineering and biotechnology, Frankenstein becomes increasingly pertinent. The novel questions the moral and ethical boundaries of scientific discovery, a theme that resonates in contemporary debates about cloning, genetically modified births and artificial intelligence.
Reflect: How do modern scientific advancements parallel the novel's cautionary tale of human hubris, and what lessons can we learn from it?
Frankenstein's warning themes are brought to life by contemporary developments in genetic engineering, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence, which emphasise the moral dangers of pushing scientific limits without taking long-term effects into account. Victor's unrelenting quest for knowledge in Frankenstein, devoid of morality or accountability, results in disastrous consequences that serve as a cautionary tale about unbridled ambition. His inability to anticipate the ethical obligations that come with scientific authority reveals a perennial fear of human arrogance, which is particularly pertinent given how quickly science is developing today.
Biotechnological innovations like genetically modified organisms, CRISPR gene editing, and cloning offer amazing potential for improving human potential and healing illnesses. Nevertheless, they also bring up moral questions regarding the creation of life, modification of genetic codes, and disruption of natural evolution. Debates concerning cloning and "designer babies," which arouse anxieties about dehumanisation, social inequity, and unforeseen repercussions, are reminiscent of the tale of Victor Frankenstein and his Creature. The question is raised, just like in Frankenstein: at what point does the ambition to manipulate nature become dangerous overreach?
The book serves as a reminder of the value of moral accountability and forethought in scientific pursuits. Victor's journey serves as an example of the perils of pursuing knowledge purely for prestige or self-actualization, disregarding the wider effects on society and the impacted individuals. Frankenstein therefore exhorts us to give prudence, compassion, and responsibility top priority in scientific research, particularly as we make decisions that will affect humanity's destiny. By keeping in mind Shelley's caution, we can work towards innovations that are both creative and ethically sound, seeking to develop humanity while respecting moral limits.
Part 2: The Frankenpheme in Popular Culture
First Film Adaptation and Popular Retellings
Reflect on the first cinematic adaptation of Frankenstein and how the novel has been retold in countless films, parodies, and adaptations. Why do you think Frankenstein has had such a lasting impact on popular culture? Consider how the novel’s themes have been appropriated to address modern anxieties about technology and humanity.
The novel's development into a timeless cultural icon began with Edison Studios' first motion picture production of Frankenstein in 1910. Since then, a wide variety of films, parodies, and adaptations have been made based on Frankenstein, all of which reinterpret Mary Shelley's ideas to speak to the changing anxieties of many generations. The universal themes of the book the pursuit of knowledge, the ethical implications of creation, and the perils of alienation are what give it its enduring influence. As society struggles with new ethical issues brought on by scientific and technological innovation, these concepts strike a deep chord.
Frankenstein has evolved into a framework in popular culture to examine concerns about humans and technology. Fears regarding genetic manipulation, cloning, and artificial intelligence are echoed by the Creature's artificial origin and acceptance struggle, as these developments call into question what it means to be human. These fears are frequently heightened by films and adaptations, which highlight the hazy lines separating creator and creation. Frankenstein exposes viewers to the moral conundrums of "playing god," the dangers of alienating things we do not completely comprehend, and the possible repercussions of technology beyond our complete control.
Frankenstein's powerful portrayal of the "Other" is another factor contributing to its enduring cultural influence. Shunned and feared, the Creature symbolises society's propensity to reject people who are different, an issue that comes up in conversations about social justice, empathy, and discrimination. Frankenstein continues to serve as a prism through which we might assess our social obligations as well as our technological aspirations. Because it raises ageless issues regarding the potential and boundaries of human creativity, Shelley's book survives and forces us to think carefully about how we treat our creations and, consequently, one another.
Think and Discuss: How have various retellings of Frankenstein reshaped its message for new audiences? How do these adaptations either retain or transform the novel’s original critique of scientific ambition and social exclusion?
The Creature is presented as both a tragic figure and a monster in early film versions, including James Whale's Frankenstein (1931), highlighting society's fear of the unknown and misinterpreted "Other." This and many subsequent versions reflected a post-industrial fear of technology, power, and technological breakthroughs beyond human control, while maintaining Shelley's condemnation of scientific arrogance and emphasising the Creature as a threat. Here, Frankenstein turns into a story about the perils of unbridled science, encapsulating societal anxieties following the swift advancement of technology and industry.
The novel's topics have been further altered by contemporary adaptations, which now examine concerns with genetic engineering, artificial intelligence, and digital spying. The Frankenstein tale is reimagined in futuristic settings in films like Ex Machina and Blade Runner, which emphasise the moral ramifications of artificial intelligence and the ethical dilemmas of creating life. These modifications take Shelley's queries to a new level, posing the problems of whether intelligent beings have rights and the ability for autonomy in addition to whether artists have control over their works. By doing this, they demonstrate a growing awareness of the moral obligations of creators and the ethical limits of research.
Other adaptations have emphasised the social exclusion element more, highlighting concerns of alienation and discrimination through the Creature's story. For example, some retellings examine how the Creature is driven to violence by societal rejection rather than by natural "monstrosity," which resonates with current discussions about the effects of racism, social isolation, and the need for empathy.
Frankenstein's original critique is both preserved and altered in retellings. While adapting it to other contexts, such as industrialisation, artificial intelligence, or genetic engineering, they keep Shelley's caution about the moral limits of scientific advancement. By altering the plot, these adaptations make Frankenstein relevant to every new generation while posing ongoing questions to viewers about the morality of creation, the human desire for knowledge, and how society shapes the lives of those who are different.
Reference :-
Barad, Dilip. (2024). Thinking Activity: A Cultural Studies Approach to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. 10.13140/RG.2.2.24589.76005. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/385485826_Thinking_Activity_A_Cultural_Studies_Approach_to_Mary_Shelley's_Frankenstein
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