Thesis V seems particularly relevant to Frankenstein, as the text can be read as a critique of the monstrous possibilities of science. Even today, we live in a moment that both fears and desires scientific progress, and we see the same policing in pop culture (heck, couldn't you argue that the Clone Troopers are the monstrous children of the science of cloning?).
This is slightly alarming. In my opinion science is limitless, almost anything can be discoverable and possible with time. The first time I heard about some sort of cloning is that a fertility clinic offer parents the opportunity to choose the eye and hair color of their newborns. This is so wicked, yet so cool at the same time.
ReplyDeleteLol at that picture! But your point on even our reaction to modern science if painfully true--if this global pandemic can teach us anything, (and climate change) it's that people for some reason don't want to listen to the facts that scientists are screaming at them, and think they for some reason know better. I think currently our fears are outweighing our progress scientifically--there needs to be a good balance!
ReplyDeleteThe pictures have totally caught my attention today. How shallow of me. But I do really like your point that we want science to be a savior, yet we are also fearful of its possibilities. I think especially older generations are hesitant about what "progress" is really doing despite the fact that is has caused so much good in their life times. I mean I get it, we are all scared of the robot AI take over sure. But are we also scared deep down that we just simply wont be able to keep up with the innovation and at some point be left behind with not more relevance? Perhaps that is the true underlying fear of older generations, where as younger ones tend to be a bit naive of the power of innovation. But that is diatribe for another time.
ReplyDeleteoof, it is hard for me to hop into this conversation this week, after reading that calls to poison hotlines are up after people who don't trust science really have been swallowing disinfectants to "cure" themselves. But I shall try...
ReplyDeleteThis conversation always takes me back to GATTACA, which I do think is one of the best utopian movies ever. It does such a great job of handling this "policing" that you mention and keeping the focus on the necessity of the human spirit. I have personally never read this text in a way that makes me fearful of science; rather, it makes me fearful of those who don't believe in humanity! But of course, I'm not inclined to fear science, and I do realize that predisposes me to a particular reading...
I love Gattaca! It's a good point that the text might not be so much about the dangers of science, but rather the intersection of science and humanity. So many "warnings" about scientific progress seem to stem from a fear of deteriorating humanity (though in some cases, like I Robot, the technology literally kills humanity). And then there are movies like Her, which seem to push back against canned ideas about where and how science and humanity intersect.
ReplyDeleteThere is definitely a parallel here between man using science for new creations that get way out of hand and the story of Frankenstein. The difference, I think, is that many of our stories that emphasize a fear of science tend to begin with scientists using their creation to solve some sort of problem or a technology that eases lives in some way. Going back to Sadie's post, I think Victor's goal was more so self-gratification than creating some gift for humanity. Science-fearing stories, in my mind, tend to warn humans against playing god. While there is an element of science=danger in Frankenstein, I think the main takeaway from that part of the novel is more so not obsessing over being impressive.
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