Building the Perfect Beast

Synopsis: Presents a wide range of views about the importance and possible meaning of the Creature in Mary Shelley’s novel ‘Frankenstein’. Identifies the mythic status that the work seems to have acquired in contemporary western culture and examines: the connection between science and technology and the story of Frankenstein; the idea of birth and the relationship between parents and children; issues of responsibility; the degree to which a ‘look’ creates social exclusion; a specifically gendered reading of the text; readings of Frankenstein historically (as a debate on Rousseau’s ideas of the noble savage, a mataphor for the French revolution, Eve’s narrative, etc.); the decision to create and then destroy culture. Also looks at ways the novel and its characters and ideas have been transformed since it was originally written.
Series: Approaching Literature, Course A210
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Medium: Video; Videocassette. Standard formats. col. 49 min.
Year of production: 1996
Availability: Off-air recording licence
Subjects: English language and literature
Keywords: Fiction in English; Shelley, Mary; writers - English

Name: Open University Worldwide
Web: http://www.ouw.co.uk External site opens in new window
Phone: +44 (0) 1908 274066
Address: Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA
Notes: NB. As of May 2016 Open University Worldwide are no longer distributing DVDs. They have posted this message on their website: ‘Unfortunately Open University Worldwide Limited has decided that product sales are no longer viable given the reduced funding to Higher Education institutions and diminishing demand for the products we have traditionally stocked. At present the Open University Students Association (OUSA) will continue to sell the "Good Study Guide", and we are in discussion with other possible distributors to continue to make The Open University’s products available for purchase. As soon as we have any information on other channels of distribution we will update this notice’. Some products are still available via second hand dealers on Amazon.co.uk

This record has been viewed 330 times.

British Universities Film & Video Council