Monster Waltz

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Monster Waltz

• Frankenstein, the Novel, and the Existential
  Challenge of Technology
• By
• Bonnie Johnston

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We make ourselves in making the world through
technology.A. Feenberg
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Technological designing is ontological
designing.A. Feenberg

• ontological

• If the novel is an art and not merely a
  literary game, the reason is that the discovery
  of prose is its ontological mission, which no art
  but the novel can take on entirely.
• M. Kundera

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When we create ourselves, how can we be sure what
it is we are creating?
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Victor Frankenstein

• creates the Creature,

• and in using his knowledge of Science, defeats
  Nature.

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The Creature is everything Victor Frankenstein is
not

• Victor Frankenstein
• Likes to be alone
• Chooses solitude and isolation
• Is irritated by family, even in grief

• The Creature
• Wants to be with others.
• Expresses love and compassion towards others.
• Is miserable alone.

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The Creatures first act of life is to

• grin and reach out to his Creator.

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Only to be rejected by his irresponsible
Creator
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Victor Frankenstein immediately rejects the
Creature upon its consciousness

• because of its yellow and watering eyes, its
  yellow and shrivelled complexion and its

thin black lips
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Who is the monster?
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Do intractable properties in the things
themselves lead to unavoidable social
responses?L. Winner
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- Interlude -
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(Technological) Determinisim and the Author(ity)
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Narration and Voice
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Structure and Narrative
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Editing
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Rewriting
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- Fin -
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The Power of Narrative

• Metaphor
• The Creature as Technology
• Affective
• The Creature is also a character, one which the
  author hopes you will identify elements of
  yourself with.

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Agency and Technology

• Look what the Creature does on his own in two
  years after being rejected
• Finds a cloak and runs away
• Finds clothing, food, shelter, fire, safety
• Learns languages (French and German)
• Learns how to read and write
• Discovers his heart is filled with love and
  compassion

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• Its not a question of do monsters exist
• or can a monster have a mother?
• Its
• How does a monsters mother feel?
• A. Carter

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Frankenstein says just before his death

• I may still be misled by passion.

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The Creature says soon afterwards

• I was the slave, not the master, of an impulse
  which I detested, yet could not disobey.

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Who is the Master, who is the Servant

• when one is misled by passions?

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We make ourselves in making technology

• Misled by passions
• The Creature
• Like its Creator

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A-hem!

• Its all very nice to tie it all up in neat
  little thematic categories, isnt it?

• Who are you?

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So you have forgotten about me once again

• Me
• dear Reader

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Reading myself into the narrative

• I find
• Interaction
• Dynamism
• I find
• Victor Frankenstein and the Creature
• in a poststructuralist waltz!

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I created you, now I hate you!
I need you for love! I desire love and fellowship!
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I like you but must think of the future of
Mankind!
I hate you for not taking care of me!
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I need to kill you!
Ive finally got your attention!
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On their deathbeds
My creatorthe select Specimen of all that is
worthy Of love and admiration
Return as heroes who have fought and conquered!
(he still hasnt learned!)
(he really loved him!)
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And finally,

• As Walton laments, Everyone needs a friend.
• In an empty and lonely universe
• a universe where man replaces god
• we still just want to have a friend.

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References/Sources/Credits

• Carter, A., (1997). Shaking a Leg Collected
  Writings. Middlesex, EnglandPenguin Books.
• Feenberg, A.. From Essentialism to
  Constructivism Philosophy of Technology at the
  Crossroads. Retrieved May 30, 2005 from
  http//www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/feenberg/talk4.h
  tml
• Kundera, M., (1993). Testaments Betrayed. New
  York HarperPerennial.
• Murphie, A. Potts, J., (2003). Culture and
  Technology. New York Palgrave Macmillan.
• Shelley, M. (1998) Frankenstein. Cambridge CUP.
• Shelley, M. Preface to Frankenstein, in
  Frankenstein, (1998) Cambridge CUP.
• Clipart from MicroSoft and Hershey's
• Photographer extraordinaire Gilles Assier