500 words 20 hrs

Clips from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Blade Runner

I. How to View These Films

1. Below this folder, your folder for week four contains edited versions of two films. Though uploaded as single files, you will notice the jumps in the films. The notes that follow, along with my lecture notes for this week, are to help you focus on those scenes most pertinent to our literary analysis of Mary Shelley's novel.

WITH THIS IN MIND, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU READ THE NOTES AND WATCH THE LECTURES ABOUT THE FILMS PRIOR TO VIEIWING THEM.

Our library does have complete copies of both films, and they are also widely available, if you would prefer to view the films in their entirety.

Synopsis of both films are also available on Wikipedia.

Blade Runner: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blade_Runner

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Shelley%27s_Frankenstein_(film)

II. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994)

1. Though Kenneth Branagh (the director) heralded his film as a return to Shelley’s text, several intriguing differences do exist.

A. Early in the film, note how Walton has become even more monomaniacal. He is willing to sacrifice every member of his crew to achieve his goal. Victor, in contrast, is more humble and cautionary.

B. The equipment used by Victor in his creation of the creature references a sexual act. Branagh intends us to view Victor as the creature’s biological father, and the act of creation as one of monstrous, unnatural reproduction.

C. The treatment of the DeLacey family and the scene in which the Creature confronts Victor in the ice cave are both thematically close to Shelley's novel. Branagh does put his own twist on these, though, for example, with the Creature questioning Victor about the existence of his soul.

D. Walton does learn from Victor’s tale.

i. He defends the right of the creature to attend his “father’s” funeral.

ii. At the funeral he demonstrates his learning by reading a conflation of two passages from Ecclesiastes 1:18 and 12:14: “He that increases knowledge increases sorrow.”

iii. He begs the creature to return to human society as a part of his crew.

III. Blade Runner (1982)

1. Directed by Ridley Scott. Loosely based on Philip K. Dick's 1968 novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

2. Blade Runner has gone through seven versions including its original 1982 release. This course uses the 1992 "Director-Approved Cut."

A. Early in the film note especially the reason why Tyrell gives the replicants memories. This is to control them better. To make them better slaves.

B. As with Victor and the Creature in Frankenstein, Roy's confrontation with Tyrell explicitly raises the issue of a creator's responsibility in Blade Runner. What is the responsibility of a creator towards a creation? Compare Tyrell's treatment of Roy to the treatment of the creature in Shelley's novel, as well as to the creature's treatment in Whale's and Branagh's films. Note especially Tyrell's pride in creating Roy as more human than human. Yet he has only given Roy a four-year lifespan. Note also the setting in which Roy confronts Tyrell. The Gothic mood created by the myriad candles and elaborate bedding is in direct reference to Mary Shelley's novel.

C. Note that Roy does not kill Deckard when given the chance. More than a possibly redemptive act for both himself and Deckard, Roy's choice shows that he is not a mere puppet of the Tyrell corporation ruled by implanted memories. Rather, he, like the Creature, is his own living being.

ASSIGNMENT: A key question at the end of Shelley's novel is whether or not Walton learns anything from Victor's tale. Discuss an example of scientific research that you have encountered in your everyday life; this might be something with which you are familiar, for example, from one of your other classes at UTD. Students in past semesters, for example, dealt with stem cell research, cloning, the development of vaccines, and so on. How might Victor's call for caution apply to your example? How might we need to be cautious, for example, in development of vaccines such as the ones developed for the current pandemic? Moreover, how has or would the application of caution (for example, guidelines for how research is conducted, how experimental trials are conducted, and so on) lead to a better result in our pursuit of knowledge? Focus on the novel in your response. The film clips assigned for this week will instead be part of the first exam. Contact me or your TA with any questions about this prompt.

GRADING:

10 - 8 points: The response uses specific examples from the week's reading in response to the prompt. Where direct quotes are used, they are cited by Shelley's last name and page number; for example, (Shelley 200). Examples that are used clearly and insightfully support your ideas. Organization of ideas is clear and logical. In short, both ideas and examples are strong, and the response is largely free of spelling, grammar, and similar errors.

7 - 6 points: Meets all of the above criteria for 10 - 8 points, but either ideas or examples could use more development.

5 - 4 points: Both ideas and examples need more development. Citation is present but unevenly done. Spelling and similar errors become more widespread.

3 - 2 points: In addition to ideas and examples needing more development, organization is unclear and ideas are difficult to follow. Citation is present but unevenly done. Spelling and grammar errors become more widespread.

1 - 0 points: The response does not respond to the assignment. Organization is unclear and citation is missing.