ENC3312 Blog

I really enjoyed the structure of the content and the class for this week. Surprisingly enough, my favorite part of this week was creating the paper proposal outlining the topics for my final research paper. The reason I enjoyed this so much is because I was able to create a prompt that I am interested in and directly relates to me, which I then proceeded to spend hours studying on, learning about the queer Gothic and its relevance in 19th century England. The most interesting homework assignment for this week was watching "Mad Monster Party". I have always been a huge fan of animation, especially animated horror. This film is a stock motion creation that was originally developed in 1967. I have always found stock motion to be quite unsettling, however, the plot of this film was also very humorous and confusing at the same time. There is a lot to take away from viewing art from a different era, which also allowed me to think more deeply upon the topic of parody and satire a...

Throughout recent years, parody and satire as a medium for representation have found a commonplace in culture. Many people share conflicting opinions on the legitimacy and existence of parodies, and whether or not they should be studied or appreciated. Personally, I believe that parodies and satire provide important insights into the past while taking a look at the classical studies. Culture is constantly changing and evolving, and some classics lose their value in time, as many students do not share the same values and beliefs that people had in the past. However, with parodies, students and younger people can have a fresh and young outlook that can make classical literature interesting or appealing to them, such as remakes of older films taking a comedic spin on a topic that was meant to be serious. Another example would be the growing meme culture that seems to be present in the current generation. Many younger children and teens may see a meme, and question where it may have come f...

This week of the class was even better than the last. At first, I thought that having lecture every day was going to be a tiresome task, but I was proven wrong. This is my first time reading through Frankenstein , and I have to say I really enjoyed it. I ended up reading the entire book in a single setting. I think that the discussions that we are having over the Zoom meetings are also engaging and add on to my understanding of the novel. Aside from reading the book, I found "Making Monsters: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" to be a very interesting piece of writing. Although the language was a bit challenging to understand, I enjoyed getting a deeper look at Gothic tradition and modern mythology, as well as the rethinking of the Gothic genre. One part of the reading that stood out to me was when the author made the argument that Shelley capitalized on the idea that it is people, more than monsters or ghosts, that terrify other people.

Detective Report: On June 6, 2010 at approximately 10:37 pm, the police department received a call from a witness reporting a possible murder occurring at the nearby parking garage on Freedmont Avenue. According to the eyewitness, there was male figure, approximately 4 feet in height fleeing from the scene. The suspect was shirtless and wearing only underwear. Police arrived on scene approximately 15 minutes after the incident was reported. The victim's name was Mark Smith, a mechanic working at Scooter's garage. He suffered multiple stab wounds to the neck, upper and lower body that resulted in his death. Left at the scene was a strange message, written in a foreign language that has yet to be deciphered my translation experts. Additionally, forensic evidence shows that there may have been more than one murder suspect, undisclosed by the eyewitness. No further details are known at this time. Coroner Report: Mr. Mark Smith of 1128 Candy Road was brought in today, and an i...

So far, I really enjoy this class and the way that is structured. The choice to center the content around the original Frankenstein novel by Mary Shelley is also a very interesting choice. This novel reflects one of the most original appearances of horror as we know it in contemporary culture, and it was written in a time in which women did not have the same privileges as men. I found the lecture video that we were required to watch on Wednesday to be the most captivating content that we have been exposed to so far. Connecting a piece of art to the time in which it was written is of great importance, as it provides a closer look at the culture surrounding the era as well as the inspiration for creating it. The readings were a bit tougher than what I am used to, and although lengthy and filled with language I am unfamiliar with, it is fascinating to see the way in which people dealt with certain situations back in the day. I also really connected with Wollstonecraft’s letter that she ...

            My first exposure the Frankenstein’s Monster was from the original Scooby Doo cartoons that I used to watch as a kid. However, my memory of his portrayal is quite vague, and therefore, my most recent memory in which the “monster” made an appearance in contemporary art would have to be in Van Helsing . He is one of the first characters that the viewer is introduced to at the beginning of the film, and is displayed as a victim, somebody who did not choose to be brought into the world, but was instead created by a monster. The people of the town formed together to lynch the creature, based solely off the fact that he was different, taking on a misshaped and unpleasant form. On the contrary, Frankenstein’s monster was more of a peaceful and mentally disturbed outcast, and not the villain he was made out to be. I do not have much familiarity with the creature prior to this class, never having the chance to read the original...