American Studies

Thesis

The Making of the Modern Frankenstein: Analysis and Perspectives Throughout the Past Two Centuries in Popular Media

This thesis goes in depth exploring the evolution of the Frankenstein story throughout the two hundred years since its original publication. It examines the historical context of the original novel and traces its legacy through theater and eventually film adaptations in the US. This analysis will mainly focus on how cinema has further reshaped the narrative of Frankenstein, allowing the story and characters to fit into the modern cultural contexts. Several original characters have contributed in their own right to the modern narrative, having proceeded beyond its original place and time. This includes the characters of Victor Frankenstein, the women in this story, Igor, and the Monster. By comparing the original novel to film versions throughout the hundred years since it has entered into Hollywood, it will provide a comparative analysis of Frankenstein throughout time. It showcases how Frankenstein has used these characters to retain the story’s structure, allowing new and inventive voices to be heard– highlighting feminist, queer, and BIPOC perspectives– while also simultaneously marginalizing the disabled voice. Yet, the two main disabled characters- the Monster and Igor– are central to the narrative framework of Frankenstein; it still remains a voice that is still exploited in Hollywood under the guise of capitalism. Ultimately, this project aims to understand how each of these characters has been used in this narrative, helping to maintain the story’s structure while liberating new voices– and still failing to prioritize the disabled voice, which has always been core to the Frankenstein story.