Frankenstein

Today we watched the film Frankenstein, which is based off the novel known as Frankenstein or Prometheus Unbound. A major theme in this class is the effect that technology has on us as people, and what the proper use of technology should be.

In the beginning of the film, Dr. Frankenstein the ambitious scientist demonstrates his expansive mind and hunger for knowledge by assembling a body out of various dead body parts and using complex machinery to bring it to life. He is deeply connected to his work, to the point that he values this technological "progress" over spending time with his wife (although they weren't YET married). Many of the people around the doctor call him crazy, but in his own eyes he's just a man with big ideas. What struck me is the transformation of his creation. To Dr. Frankenstein, the "monster" was a breakthrough in science, a true miracle. Over time, due to the actions of Igor and others, the creation became depraved and turned hostile. Many see this film as dystopian, but I see it as something a little less bleak. I see this film as something between prevail and dystopian. Because of curiosity, ambition, dedication, and technology, Dr. Frankenstein was able to make his dreams come true and accomplish something truly amazing. It was not by his own will that this creation turned against him, nor was it due to his own actions. Dr. Frankenstein was able to feel like he was truly a god, and would surely be honored amongst scientists if it were not for the corruption of his creation. The role of technology seemed fairly minor in this film, as it was not the technology that made Frankenstein's monster dangerous, but the people around it. There was evidence that the monster had potential to be good, but it was eventually ruined.