Why Frankenstein?

Why Frankenstein? For two reasons:

First, we originally wanted our project to draw the interest of unlikely readers. We wanted something that might entice someone to read one or more of the cannonized classics, someone who would not usually be inclined to reading literature. To do this, we decided to work with one of these classics somehow in our project. Frankenstein fit the "classics" profile, and we thought to remix a familiar popular (but not accurate to the book) story to generate interest in the original.

We decided to stick with Frankenstein when we realized how well the story lent itself as a metaphor for remix. Anyone who creates a remix does something very similar to Dr. Frankenstein ; who collects disparate body parts, assembles them and gives them new life. Both the remixer and Dr. Frankenstein take something old and make it new.

Our metaphorical Frankenstein:

  • Arctic Explorer = the end user, someone who sees something in a new way because of a remix
  • Dr. Frankenstein = the remixer
  • Frankenstein's Monster = the remix
  • Reused Body Parts-reused ideas/videos/sounds/words used to create a remix
  • Arctic-The Brave New World of the digital age-sometimes we go exploring for one reason and learn something quite different than what we expected
  • Dr. Frankenstein's Lab-The tools we use to create remix
  • The Lightening (used to give the Monster life)-technology and the internet; used to give creations life and vitality
Frankenstein also fits our project well because the body parts that Dr. Frankenstein used belonged to other people. This brings in the copyright and fair use issues. Should Dr. Frankenstein have dug up other people's bodies without their permission? Probably not. But what he created ended up having some redeeming qualities, and perhaps he could have gotten permission to use those body parts in the first place.

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