Monstrosity, Sex, and Gender

SE PowerPoint Presentation

By: Jason Jewell

Edited by: Dr. Kay Picart, Kristen Millen, and Donna Gallagher

Objectives (1)

• To analyze the role of monstrosity, sex, and gender in The Bride of Frankenstein and Frankenstein Created Woman using the Picart articles “(Un)Veiling the Bride” and “(Re)Creating Woman.”

• To examine representations of the “third shadow” – the feminine-as-monstrous.

Objectives (2)

• To assess the role of sexuality in the two films and its relation to the parthenogenetic theme of the Frankenstein myth.

• To examine other cool stuff in Bride and FCW.– Representations of class– Religious themes– Fun production history

The “Third Shadow” (1)

• Q: How is the term “shadow” used by Jung, and later by Rushing and Frentz? (p. 260)

The “Third Shadow” (2)

• Rushing and Frentz describe two shadows.– The _______: the ego sharply sets itself

against the Other.– The __________: the psyche splinters when

the ego tries to assert absolute control over the Other

• According to R & F, the splintering can stop only when the _____is recognized as part of the ____.

Prologue Scene Discussion

• How is Mary Shelley portrayed?– This portrayal may result from a misreading of

what?

Wedding Scene Discussion (1)

• Who is the monster now?

• How is the male monster portrayed?

• How is the female monster portrayed?

Wedding Scene Discussion (2)

• Who is the monster now?

Source: www.filmsite.org

Creator/Created

• Bride clearly shows us how the monstrous is identified with its creator. (How so?)

Homunculi Scene Discussion (1)

• Does this scene reinforce the male power structure or the parthenogenetic theme?

• Pretorius keeps the king and queen apart—to prevent heterosexual procreation?

Source: meineseite.I-one.at/frankenstein

Lab Scene Discussion

• Q: How is the twisted relationship between Henry and Pretorius highlighted in this scene?

Religion in Bride (1)

• Moral purpose of Frankenstein?

• Faustian elements?

• Christological themes?

Class in Bride (1)

Question: How is class characterized in Bride?

Ambiguous Film Settings (1)

• When and where are these films set?!– Bride

– FCW

Ambiguous Film Settings (2)

• When and where are these films set?!

• Bride– Begins in 1816 England (prologue) before

shifting to ________?

Relationships in FCW (1)

• How does the Frankenstein/Hertz relationship, like the Henry/Pretorius one in Bride, bring out the parthenogenetic theme?

Source:www.horrordvds.com

Relationships in FCW (2)

• How does Christina relate to others?

Christina as Other (1)

• How is Christina portrayed as the Other in FCW?

• Is the viewer able to identify with her?

FCW’s Third Shadow

• How does FCW deal with the “third shadow”?