Food Creations - Frankenstein vs. RUR

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7W0we5zUKo

LAST BLOG POST: Light of Thy Countenance

Literature has no solid definition, and there are many different texts that can be argued to be defined as literature or not. Alan Moore’s graphic novel Light of Thy Countenance is in that category. The novel is mostly pictures with words filled in here and there to add to the images and help the story along. It could be argued easily either way whether this book is literature or not. This book has the characteristics of being thought of as literature, but I would completely understand an argument saying that a picture book is no such thing as literature.

In my opinion, this book is literature. It is telling a story with meaning and is representing something bigger that people need their eyes opened up to. What I am referring to is the fact that television has taken over people’s lives and has also replaced God in many homes. I feel that a message this strong being told through even something such as a graphic novel is definitely considered literature. Light of Thy Countenance is a very interesting book for all readers. It really makes you think about the world and not only where we are headed with technology, but where it is taking us. This book points out how technology is becoming a bigger and bigger part of everyone’s daily lives. It’s almost as if we are relying on it, and people need to see what is happening.

Alan Moore has used such a simple thing as a graphic novel to point out such a huge thing as technology. To me this is an allusion to the idea of technology taking over, such as was in Frankenstein and R.U.R. This concept is very important to be seen by everyone because today it is becoming a reality. Every day I see people constantly on their phone, computer, or watching television. We are becoming dependent on the latest technologies and are barely able to live without them. I will admit that I am one of these tech junkies. Through Alan Moore’s literary graphic novel, we should all be able to see that sometimes we just need to step away from our technological devices and appreciate the finer things in life, such as books!

Blade Runner

In the two texts and the movie, Blade Runner, R.U.R., and Frankenstein, each story involves a robot or inhuman creature being used as slave labor or as something the creator wants. Each being is made to replace or do the job of a human being, because humans are thought to be imperfect and flawed.

All three of these pieces point out the imperfections of man and the possibilities to fix them. Obviously none of them work, which just goes to show that humans shouldn’t try to meddle in things bigger than themselves, especially something as huge as re-creation. There was always some sort of problem that couldn’t be repaired. One of the main problems or advantages for the creatures was that they had no souls or emotions. This was a problem because they felt no pain, and didn’t care if they harmed anyone. This was also an advantage for the beings because they didn’t have to worry about being afraid to do anything, and didn’t have to think about emotions affecting their lives.

When Roy decides to spare Deckard at the end of the movie, I was very shocked. I thought that the reason Roy spared him was because he saw what Deckard had (the gift of being human) and that he should be able to live on and appreciate that gift. Also at the same time I think Roy saw the fear in Deckard and how that was affecting his life, making him a slave to his own emotions. It seems as though throughout the movie, the robots realized that the humans constantly lived in fear for their lives. They realized how much better off they were because they didn’t have to worry about things such as emotions and feelings and anything to do with the soul, which just completely complicates life. (Keep in mind I had these opinions before you told us about the Director’s Cut and how the story should really be)

Frankenstein Brainstorming

“If I could banish disease from the human frame, and render man invulnerable to any but a violent death!” (Frankenstein 23) Victor wants to create a new form of human because human beings are weak and fragile and easily affected by diseases. He wants to make something stronger. Robots/inhuman beings would be more powerful and be able to survive a lot easier.

“My attention was fixed upon every object the most insupportable to the delicacy of the human feelings. I saw how the fine form of man was degraded and wasted.” (Frankenstein 34) Victor sees how delicate man is and how much is wasted on illness and weaknesses. He wants to find a way to use the human body to make something better.

“But now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart.” (Frankenstein 39) Once the monster is created, Victor regrets ever making him. He is disgusted by the thing and cannot bear to look at it. I think he realizes that things should not be made as he has done.

“This was the commencement of a nervous fever, which confined me for several months. During all that time Henry was my only nurse.” (Frankenstein 43) The first part of this quote is pointing out the weakness of man and that the human body can be taken out so easily. This was the original reasoning for Victor to create the monster, which is what ultimately led to him getting sick. The second part of this quote to me is illuminating caring and friendships that humans have for each other that inhuman beings cannot have. This is one of the better, more important things that humans are able to have.

“Robots do not cling to life. They can’t. They don’t have the means-no soul, no pleasures.” (RUR 12) Robots are unable to feel emotions or feelings of any kind. They cannot feel love or appreciation of life. This is another thing that humans hold over robots.

Frankenstein: Human vs. Inhuman

Robots and monsters are unable to feel. They cannot comprehend what it is to be in love, and there is no way for them too. They have no souls, therefore they have no true emotions or understanding of the world. From the book R.U.R. By Karel Capek, it is explained by a character that, “They’re only Robots. They have no will of their own, no passion, no history, no soul.” It is obvious from this quote that Robots have no emotions at all of life or the meaning of being alive. They are soulless creatures who have no meaning in life other than to serve humans. Robots have no opportunities to be happy, sad, angry or in love because it is simply impossible for them. They simply cannot live the way humans are able to.

Humans have so many more freedoms and natural rights. We are able to have true emotions and feel much more than inhuman beings. This can be thought of as a good thing or a bad thing, but in this case I will lean more toward the positive spectrum. We as humans are able to feel love and happiness and joy in life. From Mary Shelley’s book Frankenstein, “Delighted and surprised, I embraced her.” This quote is showing that human beings are able to have true happy emotions, of which monsters cannot.

Inhuman creatures were created to perfect the human being. In R.U.R. It is stated that, “The human machine...was hopelessly imperfect. It needed to be done away with once and for all.” Capek is saying that scientists are trying to make the perfect man, because we obviously have so many problems existing within us and about us that cannot be fixed. Out of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, “If I could banish disease from the human frame, and render man invulnerable to any but a violent death!” Victor wanted to make a man without flaws, that wouldn’t be affected by silly illnesses and die easily. There are so many defects of man, and he wanted to mend them.

I feel that these three topics I have chosen go very well together. I am showing the difference between being human versus nonhuman, and including the reasons for the creation of the latter. The evidence I have found for them I feel is quite helpful to support my claim.

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

Ambrose Bierce has an interesting way of writing his story An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge. He separates the story into three different sections, each with a different point of view and knowledge. The first section is very vague, and in the third person point of view. But as it goes on, towards the end of the section, the narrator gets into the head of the man being hanged. He knows what he sees, hears and thinks. The transition between the two point of views is very drastic and confusing, only separated by a space between two paragraphs, there is no warning. This change is somewhat disorienting to the reader but very intriguing because you wonder how he all of a sudden accumulated this knowledge!

The second section of the story gives you some background on the man being hanged. You see a bit into the man’s life, and how he got into the situation of being hanged. To me as a reader, this is very helpful; the whole time I was reading the first section of the man being hanged, I was wondering what he did to get there. You don’t get any incite into the minds of any of the characters, but you do hear their conversation. This part of the story occurs before the hanging, and in my mind should be put in the first section. A possibility for why Bierce put the sections in this order is to draw the reader in more and get their attention, which definitely worked.

In the third section, you know exactly what is going on with the main character. You know his thoughts and everything that is happening with him. This is very helpful to readers because you get very into his actions, and can’t wait to read on and find out the outcome. This point of view is also difficult for some readers because you have no clue what is going outside of the character’s experience. You aren’t sure where the people are that are chasing him and when he is going to get caught. Things from this section are mixed up chronologically. Some things happen before the first section and the last paragraph is the very end of the story, along with the man’s life.

Poetry in Popular Culture

In the movie Billy Madison, Hamlet’s poem To Be, or Not To Be is referenced. Two of the characters are competing in an academic decathlon. I think it’s very important and meaningful that this poem is used in this situation. It shows that poetry is very important to the academic world and that everyone can use it. Although Adam Sandler’s character is making fun of the poem in a way, it does show some significance of the poem and poetry in general. To me, it symbolizes the importance of knowing and understanding at least some forms of poetry and that that knowledge can be used in many situations.