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timgrubbs 's review for:
Frankenstein: A Cultural History
by Susan Tyler Hitchcock
A wonderful and informative work on a major figure from pop culture that goes back two centuries…
Frankenstein: A Cultural History by Susan Tyler Hitchcock is a look back of the development and popularity of the Modern Prometheus.
Just as a child is to a parent, the novel Frankenstein is intrinsically linked to its “mother” Mary Shelley (though she was unmarried when she wrote it originally). The first third of the novel opens our eyes to the young creator of the entire science genre, the world she grew up in (and the significant influence various imposition had on her work), as well as the effect the novel’s success had on her.
This section is wonderful in the way it covers its initial publication…and later going out of print relatively early. This was followed by stage play adaptations of dubious accuracy, parody or pastiche stories trying to mimic the popularity, and even the use of Frankenstein in political cartoons. Fortunately, the book went back into print and established Mary as the writer (as previously it was anonymous…because of…bad reasons).
The next “wave” of Frankenstein’s popularity would be in moving pictures, but far earlier than you may think. In fact the first known “movie” was due to the work of a scientist about as bad as Victor Frankenstein himself, Thomas Edison. This was followed by other minor films before the universal film set the standard that we all know and love. Of course this only gave rise to MORE Frankenstein movies…and off brand rip offs. Oddly, Frankenstein also returned to being used in police cartoons (with the monster sadly always being portrayed as “bad”). There were even scientific debates associating Frankenstein with the cloning debate and other “science run amok”, even though the “Monster” was hardly at fault since the true culprit was Victor his creator (the true Monster if you ask any Frankenstein-o-phile out there).
Naturally the book also covers his popularity in other mediums and genres, notably comics (such as the one published by Marvel) and comedy (courtesy of the Munsters and Young Frankenstein).
While the creature may have long been misunderstood and the novel often up for debate regarding its “true meaning” (with many theories suggested depending on what generation was discussing it), it remains a major and influential work…even if folks only know it from one of its MANY (MANY!!!) adaptations.
Highly recommend for those with an interest in science fiction history, universal monsters, or the way a creation can sometimes take on a life of its own and become something else (much like the Creature).
Frankenstein: A Cultural History by Susan Tyler Hitchcock is a look back of the development and popularity of the Modern Prometheus.
Just as a child is to a parent, the novel Frankenstein is intrinsically linked to its “mother” Mary Shelley (though she was unmarried when she wrote it originally). The first third of the novel opens our eyes to the young creator of the entire science genre, the world she grew up in (and the significant influence various imposition had on her work), as well as the effect the novel’s success had on her.
This section is wonderful in the way it covers its initial publication…and later going out of print relatively early. This was followed by stage play adaptations of dubious accuracy, parody or pastiche stories trying to mimic the popularity, and even the use of Frankenstein in political cartoons. Fortunately, the book went back into print and established Mary as the writer (as previously it was anonymous…because of…bad reasons).
The next “wave” of Frankenstein’s popularity would be in moving pictures, but far earlier than you may think. In fact the first known “movie” was due to the work of a scientist about as bad as Victor Frankenstein himself, Thomas Edison. This was followed by other minor films before the universal film set the standard that we all know and love. Of course this only gave rise to MORE Frankenstein movies…and off brand rip offs. Oddly, Frankenstein also returned to being used in police cartoons (with the monster sadly always being portrayed as “bad”). There were even scientific debates associating Frankenstein with the cloning debate and other “science run amok”, even though the “Monster” was hardly at fault since the true culprit was Victor his creator (the true Monster if you ask any Frankenstein-o-phile out there).
Naturally the book also covers his popularity in other mediums and genres, notably comics (such as the one published by Marvel) and comedy (courtesy of the Munsters and Young Frankenstein).
While the creature may have long been misunderstood and the novel often up for debate regarding its “true meaning” (with many theories suggested depending on what generation was discussing it), it remains a major and influential work…even if folks only know it from one of its MANY (MANY!!!) adaptations.
Highly recommend for those with an interest in science fiction history, universal monsters, or the way a creation can sometimes take on a life of its own and become something else (much like the Creature).