Frankenstein began as the nightmare of an unwed teenage mother in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1816. At a time when the moral universe was shifting and advances in scientific knowledge promised humans dominion over that which had been God's alone, Mary Shelley envisioned a story of human presumption and its misbegotten consequences. Two centuries later, that story is still constantly retold and reinterpreted, from Halloween cartoons to ominous allusions in the public debate, capturing and conveying meaning central to our ...
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Frankenstein began as the nightmare of an unwed teenage mother in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1816. At a time when the moral universe was shifting and advances in scientific knowledge promised humans dominion over that which had been God's alone, Mary Shelley envisioned a story of human presumption and its misbegotten consequences. Two centuries later, that story is still constantly retold and reinterpreted, from Halloween cartoons to ominous allusions in the public debate, capturing and conveying meaning central to our consciousness today and our concerns for tomorrow. From Victorian musical theater to Boris Karloff with neck bolts, to invocations at the President's Council on Bioethics, the monster and his myth have inspired everyone from cultural critics to comic book addicts. This is a lively and eclectic cultural history, illuminated with dozens of pictures and illustrations, and told with skill and humor. Susan Tyler Hitchcock uses film, literature, history, science, and even punk music to help us understand the meaning of this monster made by man.
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FRANKENSTEIN, A CULTURAL HISTORY provides a good, general overview of Mary Shelly's creature from its literary conception to the internationally-recognized icon it would become by the end of the 20th century. If you already know the details of that fateful summer at Lake Geneva and the history of the Universal films, you will already have heard it all, but there are still a couple of nice little surprises along the way, such as Dick Briefer's usually-overlooked 'Frankenstein' comic book getting a page or two. And, even more incredibly, discussion of the psychotronically- flavored film FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE SPACE MONSTER. Not bad for a somewhat academic volume! Some reviews I've read recently have pointed out several factual errors, but as I collect things Frankenstein, I was still pleased to add the book to my collection. Great cover, too!