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Frankenstein and Images Conjured by the Gothic

Perhaps the most iconic of the gothic aspects in Frankenstein is that regarding the supernatural;   for most, the mere title Frankenstein conjures images of the monster himself, as well as the theatric way in which the monster came to be. The intermingling of science and the raising of the dead described by Mary Shelley brings to mind flashes of lightning and electricity, an uproar of laughter coming from the mad scientist himself, and the hideous face of the product of it all. The classic literary device of raising the dead and its clear ties to the supernatural aspect of gothic literature, for this reason, is what resonates the most with me. What’s more, however, is that this literary device is a vehicle used to touch on more human issues. Madness, a theme common to gothic literature, is exhibited by the protagonist of the story, using his experiences with the supernatural as a catalyst for this.   The gloomy settings featured in the novel Frankenstein are also typical

Projections of the Future

2028: If Net Neutrality remains consistent and the internet as we have grown to know it for the past few years stays the same, I think that the use of social media platforms like Instagram will continue to be useful-- if not, integral-- ways for artists like myself to get their work out there. I also think that virtual reality will become a more common phenomenon, especially given that Ringling just announced the emergence of a virtual reality major. 2038: Adobe programs will ideally become more accessible both monetarily and in regards to how they are programmed/their user-friendliness. Virtual reality is perhaps something that is incorporated into our daily lives, or at least something that doesn't sound nearly as outlandish as it does to us now. 2048: Virtual reality can be incorporated perhaps into schooling, creating more job opportunities for artists who are involved. 2058: As technology develops I feel that opportunities for artists will continue to grow; of course th

Assessment

More than anything, I think my reaction to the text is fascination. It took a minute to process and try to gain some understanding of how the society described in this story worked, in addition to trying to imagine how it might parallel a situation in the real world, but it was undoubtedly interesting, and I'd go so far as to say it made me want to know more about this fictional universe and its workings. There is clearly a long history between the two species described in this book, with a dynamic that feels parasitic and oppressive towards the Terrans, so perhaps the general theme of oppression could be related to the oppression people experience in the real world. Aside from fascination, though, I also feel pretty disturbed. Most of the imagery described was bloody and unpleasant, and coming to terms with that in addition to the whole structure of the society described made it even more disturbing. For most of it I couldn't help but picture T'Gatoi as something akin t