Check off these steps as you go:
- Accept invitation in your email to join this blog as a contributor.
- Meet in your group, and start your research by exploring the background info and research starters on FrankenStudent
Brainstorm ideas and decide on a narrow topic to research.
“Influences of Frankenstein on popular culture” is our broad topic. You will choose a narrower focus within that topic. Examples: Frankenstein in Comics, Frankenstein and Halloween, Frankenstein’s Derivative Works, Evolution of Horror fiction, etc.
___an interesting title.
___an overview/summary that states a thesis involving your narrowed topic. Example thesis statement: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein marked the beginning of an entire new genre in fiction that we now call Horror. Or: Frankenstein’s monster has been the most popular Halloween motif since the beginning of American celebrations of the holiday.
___examples, evidence and support for your claim, (give credit to your sources!)
___relevant images and links
___concluding remarks
NOTE: Although this will not be a formal essay, it should include the same elements, just presented in a more entertaining format.
When all submissions are in, the class will review the blog and vote on the most original/interesting/well-presented/entertaining blog post, and that group will receive 10 extra credit points!!
Centuries of Horror
ReplyDeleteHorror has perhaps the most interesting relationship with literature of all the forms of genre fiction
- Horror constantly has the most dispersion heaped upon it of any form of genre fiction
- One author that is firmly rooted to horror is Edgar Allen Poe
- Horror has proven to be a popular form of fiction in many cultures
- Lord of the flies is a horror novel and is required to be read in the American Educational system.
- Horror fiction has it roots in folklore and religious traditions, focusing on death, the afterlife, evil, the demonic and the principle of evil embodied in the devil
18th Century
- First time a modern novel incorporated elements of the super natural instead of pure realism
- First edition was published disguised as an actual medieval romance.
- Many found it anachronistic reactionary
- Most horror fiction of this era was written by women and marketed a female audience
19th Century
- Blossomed into horror literature
- Influential works and characters we still use today
- Each of the novels crated and icon of horror seen in modern re-images
20th Century
- Cheap paper backs and periodicals led to a boom in horror
- Comic horror
- Early cinema was inspired by many aspects of horror lit.
- Horror comic, slasher films and splatter films were a hit
- Many modern novels of the living dead
- Last novel “I Am Legend” influenced and entire genre of apocalyptic zombie fiction
- Stories of zombies “Cool Air”, “In the Vault”, “The Outsider”
- Horror cinema started a strong tradition of horror films
Well Known
- Frankenstein
- Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque
- Dracula
- The Strand Case of Dr, Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
- The Yellow Wall Paper
- The Monkey’s Paw
Bibliography
"Horror fiction - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2013. .
"Genre Fiction As Literature - Horror." The Interactive Media Lab at the University of Florida - Student projects - Spring 2013. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2013. .
"Genre Fiction As Literature - Horror." The Interactive Media Lab at the University of Florida - Student projects - Spring 2013. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2013.
Pictures
Frankenstein
"bride-of-frankenstein-boris-karloff-1935." SecureWorld Post- Security News. Multiple Choices. One Location. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2013. .
Stephen king
"Stephen King to release sequel to “The Shining”; speak at UMass Lowell – Culture Shock - BDN Maine Blogs." Culture Shock - BDN Maine Blogs - Arts, entertainment, food, pop culture and other cool stuff from the 207. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2013. .
Edgar Allen Poe
"And All I Lov’d — I Lov’d Alone: A Tribute to Edgar Allan Poe | The Blood Sprayer." Horror Movie News, Reviews, and Interviews | The Blood Sprayer. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2013. .
Frankenstein introduced the idea of creating a human without the use of reproduction. The study of DNA has been going on for years. Recently, we have cloned a sheep. Although the clone wasn't successful in the long run, it was a success in that it showed us as humans; we are capable of creating life with science and not sex. Today, we can recreate the genes needed for life. We can essentially create humans. But can we reanimate dead matter? Frankenstein isn't like the biology we know today.
ReplyDeleteFrankenstein is life after death, the biology we know today is life before death. Once something dies we can’t magically bring it back to life. But some parasites take control of their hosts (usually insects) and force them to do things that they are not willing to do for the gain of the parasites, even after the insects have passed on. This is the only instance where nature “reanimates” the dead. But can science recreate what these parasitic creatures have already mastered? The idea of reanimating the dead has been around for a while, popularized by movies about government experiments or a world ending disease. But the first instance of reanimation of the dead was first popularized in Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein. In the book Victor created a monster by combining dead body parts and using electricity to energize the dead heartbeat. This resulted in tragedy and murder as the monster kills Victor's family due to the monsters insecurities and rage. This scenario startles people, not because of the fact that the undead monster killed its creator’s family, but because we don’t know what would happen if a dead human is reanimated and brought into a life-like state. We don’t even know if it would be humane to alter nature’s cruel laws.
Nature has these laws for a reason. If there was no death there would be no meaning to life. We will eventually become bored with ourselves and spend eternity growing rotting as a couch potato. The world would also be a more crowded place. There would be no decrease in population so we would end up only growing exponentially. But if we could reanimate the dead and have no consequences, then would it be a revelation that would change the world? We could have a conversation with our grandpas again, or our sons that were killed overseas, or the mother that was killed in a car accident. Or it could bring back extinct species from thousands of years ago. It would be something that would change how we will look at the world. Best case scenario, we end up having play dates with John F. Kennedy and our pet T-Rex. Worst case scenario, we create a monster like the one in Frankenstein and cause an international disaster. But we aren’t exactly that close to reanimation. We still don’t know where to begin to bring things back to life. Some experiments have been able to bring back mice. And defibrillators can bring back humans, but only if the patients are immediately shocked. If given too long the patients become brain dead and don’t have any chance of reanimation. Today there is no way to bring back a brain dead person. But maybe in time when there are breakthroughs in biology we will be able to reanimate the dead. But for now death is the final stop on this world. There is no return once you are declared dead.
Bibliography:
http://www.damninteresting.com/reanimated-rodents-and-the-meaning-of-life/
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/03/business/03jolt.html?ei=5088&en=84d7afacd0fd7943&ex=1272772800&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=all&position=
https://drive.google.com/a/waylandunion.org/?tab=wo#my-drive
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ReplyDeletehttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1NL3x773U8iRNNdk9FOkbpGt0maxApXgsWJp_nEqqo1U/edit?usp=sharing
ReplyDeleteThe Halloween History of the Frankenstein Monster
ReplyDeleteThere are many ways in which Frankenstein influenced Halloween and changed if forever. Halloween is a special holiday, especially in the United States. Frankenstein shaped Halloween into the Halloween that we all know. Frankenstein is portrayed differently on Halloween than he is in the book. Frankenstein had an impact on the appearance of Halloween and he gave ideas for all the Halloween based attractions. Halloween was changed by Frankenstein and it continues to be impacted by him to this day.
During Halloween people have a different idea of who the creature is and what he looks like. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein she writes about a man, Victor Frankenstein, who creates a creature from dead body parts. The monster’s name is not really Frankenstein but many people make this mistake and dress up as the creature and call themselves Frankenstein during Halloween. That is why they dress up for Halloween as the creature and call themselves Frankenstein. Mary Shelley never intended for it to happen, it was just how the public interpreted it. It has changed how people see Frankenstein especially during Halloween.
Frankenstein had a big impact on the appearance of Halloween as well. Many costumes made for Halloween were made with Frankenstein in mind. They used his looks to make their own scary and horrifying costumes for Halloween. Frankenstein was one of the first costumes worn when wearing costumes became popular in the United States around the 1930’s. The costumes of Halloween have been and will forever be influenced by Frankenstein.
One of the best things about Halloween is all of the attractions. A Halloween party is almost a sure thing every year, and at every party there is more than likely at least one person in a Frankenstein costume. Frankenstein is such a popular character to be in Halloween. A party isn’t the only thing to go to during Halloween though. Because of Frankenstein people have a special place to visit for Halloween. The Frankenstein castle, the place where Mary Shelley got her inspiration for the story, is a great place to go see during Halloween. Frankenstein gave people things to see and places to go for Halloween.
Frankenstein will forever be known, and will for ever be a popular character, especially during Halloween. He shaped it into the Halloween that we know today. He has had a lasting impact on Halloween ever since it became popular and an official holiday. Frankenstein’s foot print will last on Halloween forever because of its huge influence on it.
Works Cited
Thoreson, Jeff. "A Frankenstein Halloween." Travel Videos, Shows, and Guides - Travel Channel. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2013. .
obligation, the end of the 12th century they had become holy days of. "Halloween - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2013. .
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Brandon K, Danyon V, Rachel V
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ReplyDeleteKayl, Shane, Josh, Benjamin, Thomas
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