dr peter marks department of english, university of sydney

Dr Peter MarksDepartment of English, University of Sydney

‘Texts in Time’

‘In this elective students compare how the treatment of similar content in a pair of texts composed in different times and contexts may reflect changing values and perspectives.’

Frankenstein1818 (first edition)1823 (second edition)1831 (third edition: revised)

‘The most striking thematic differences between the two published versions concern the role of fate, the degree of Frankenstein’s responsibility for his actions, the representations of nature,the role of Clerval, and the representation of the family.’ (p.160)

Anne Kellor, in Norton Critical Edition of Frankenstein (1996)

BladerunnerOriginal American theatre release (1982)‘International Cut’ (1983)Television version (1986)‘Director’s Cut’ (1993)‘The Final Cut’ (2007)

FrankensteinMary Shelley’s manuscript, as well as the version with Percy Bysshe Shelley’s 5,000 emendations, published by Oxford University Press (October 2008) as The Original Frankenstein

Bladerunner1968 Philip K. Dick novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Original treatment and screenplays by Hampton Fancher

Dangerous DaysMechanismoBladerunner (from William Burroughs’ novel)

Fancher replaced by David Peoplescompletes script in accordance with Ridley Scott’s ‘vision’

Both texts consider creation/ originsbeginnings/endingsboundaries of human/non-human (biological/technological)

Link between complex creation of texts themselvesand content of texts

Creations confront their creatorsQ: why all creators men?Q: why female characters subordinate?

Creations recognise themselves as failed, botched creationsNot allowed rights of the fully human

Question their makersWhen answers inadequate, threaten to destroy their creators

Relationships between creators and created

PrometheusFall of Adam and EveFall of Satan

Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus

‘Did I request thee, Maker, from my clayTo mould me man? Did I solicit theeFrom darkness to promote me?’

Adam, in Milton’s Paradise Lost

Scientist as Promotheus

Knowledge is power (Francis Bacon)Frankenstein prototype ‘mad scientist’

Frankenstein’s scientific triumph to animate the monsterFrankenstein first ‘science fiction’ text?

Fails to see philosophical/ moral dimensions of creationQ: What does it mean to be human?

Monster more than animated fleshTo be human (even a monstrous human)

have consciousness (self-awareness)have desires (including companionship)be capable of development, change

experiencereflectioneducation

‘Misery made me a fiend. Make me happy, and I shall be virtuous again.’

‘I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel.’

Satan: ‘I will not serve.’

Replicants as slave labour Off-worldManufactured products of Tyrell CorporationEconomic motivation in 4-year life span?

endless up-grading= endless incomeTyrell: inventor and entrepreneur

Frankenstein’s monster ‘useless’ (only proves a scientific theory)

Roy Batty as rebel angel Orc

‘Fiery the Angels rose,And as they rose deep thunder roll’dAround their shores:Indignant burning with the fires of Orc.’

From William Blake, ‘America: A Prophecy’

Roy Batty: Fiery the Angels fell. Deep thunder rolled around their shores, burning with the fires of Orc.’

Humans damaged/ deficient

Roy Batty intellectually, physically, morally, aesthetically, ‘spiritually’ most ‘evolved’ character’?

Tyrell Corporation slogan: ‘More human than human’Does replicants’ 4-year life span signals fear of post-human world?

Fear of the future?Fear of the ‘other’?

FearDestructive as well as creative power of knowledgeOutsider, alienEnvironmental degradation Technology: takeover by/ integration with(in)End, boundaries and/or Limitations of humanity

Qs: Is the monster human? Is Deckard a replicant?

Q: What does it mean to be human?