Frankenstein on FilmChristopher Yim, Patrick Yau, Robert Yang

How has Frankenstein become such an icon of popular culture?

Frankenstein has become such an icon of popular culture because of the various themes the story of Frankenstein tackles.

Alienation/isolation/abandonment Feeling everyone has Empathy One of the most thought provoking themes discussed in the story is

the idea of birth and creation. In the story, Victor Frankenstein creates a life form without a

woman, which challenges people’s idea of the creation of life. Victor Frankenstein takes over the roles of women’s job of giving

birth and God’s job of creating things This theme has endured through centuries because man has

always tried to challenge and defy nature. Test-tube babies Cloned Sheep Artificial intelligence

When was the first stage production of Frankenstein? Various Frankenstein film productions First stage production of the

Frankenstein was in 1910 Life without soul, 1915 (by Joseph W.

Smiley) A films series by Universal Studios: Frankenstein (1931) Bride of Frankenstein (1935) Son of Frankenstein (1939) The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942)

First film production (Frankenstein) First motion picture adaptation of

Frankenstein From Universal pictures Produced by, James Whale and adapted

from the play by Peggy Webling

Difference from the book?

 Difference between the book and the film: In the book the creature taught himself how to read, but in

the film the creature is completely mute except for some grunts and growls

In the novel Frankenstein has no assistant, but in the movie, there is a deformed (hunchbacked) assistant called Fritz

In the text, the creature's savage behavior is due to constantly being neglected because of his inhuman appearance, during the film, the reason why he is savage is because Fritz, provides a "Criminal Brain" to be used for the creature

The movie does not mention the fact that the creature request Frankenstein to make a female counterpart for him.

What trends in science was Hollywood’s 1931 version of Frankenstein reacting against?

The ‘mad scientist’ Accidental creation of

Monster