Final Group Project Exam

Links to FaceBook Profiles
Victor Frankenstein:http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000767984500
Creature:http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000781184226

Responsible for Entries Made on 3/11/10-3/13/10

ENL 003 Post #8

Alan Moore’s “Light of Thy Countenance” is an intriguing graphic novel that seems to blur the line between literature and art with its insightful and powerful take on the history of television. As for whether it is a literary text, it can objectively be considered as such due to satisfying all five frameworks that define literature. Being adapted from Alan Moore’s story, the language definitely retains its literary origin as it requires interpretation, due its ambiguous and poetic diction, to understand many of his descriptive metaphors. Aesthetics is also shown as it presents an argument with different modes of thought, produced by the combination of heavy chunks of text with an illustrative and symbolic backdrop. With the entire novel exposing the visual yet unexamined evils of television, social critique is more than met as its reveals the foothold it has made in many lives. Although its form initially comes off as rather haphazard, the graphic novel does possess a distinct plot as we are thrust into just one of the many worlds that television has to power to create and destroy. This is cleverly followed by the essence that is television presenting itself to the reader and acknowledging its own history through direct narration. As for outlaw language, both the text and imagery do not shy away from portraying some of the more explicit and darker realities that people have succumbed to since television’s arrival.
I personally think that this graphic novel has much to offer to the reader as it is both engaging and entertaining while bringing to light the serious issue of how our lives are swayed by television’s seemingly endless facades of fiction. Although Moore’s argument appears to be a bit dated due to the evolution of televised programming and emergence of new media, with the internet beginning to assume its mantle, it is still relevant in demonstrating how a single invention can become an all encompassing force of subtle control. As for the presence of the illustrations that accompany the story, I believe that they accentuate the story by dividing it into appropriate sections and recreating firsthand many of the allusions made by Moor, with some directly recreating the scene in question; a clever concept that could not be replicated with words alone. Although the literary aspect of the graphic novel is suitably text heavy to convey the tale of television’s path to power on its own, it would certainly make less of an impression due to the powerful imagery Felipe Massafera brings in this disturbing yet compelling adaption of Moore’s brilliant social critique.

ENL 003 Post #7

The cyberpunk film Blade Runner draws many parallels, both in plot and theme, with the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and the play R.U.R. by Karel Capek. In comparison to Frankenstein, the creature and replicants are very similar in the potential their creators grant them, constructing them with the physical aptitude to outdo any normal human. Although both artificial humans demonstrate their raw power in intimidation and murder throughout the story, Victor’s creation and the replicants are also intellectually gifted, suggested by the text to even outshine their creator. This is shown in Frankenstein by the creature’s astute deciphering of Victor’s location and actions and by the rogue replicant leader Roy as he manages to checkmate the head of the Tyrell Corporation in the elevator. Another similarity is seen in how these scientific failures are dealt with hunting and termination, a vain tactic against the creature that eventually kills Victor and the way of the law that Deckard must follow in “retiring” the rogue replicants.
This film also shares several connections with R.U.R., most notably the human appearance of the androids and their original purpose. As Rossum’s robots and the replicants are nearly indistinguishable physically from human beings, it introduces an unnatural element into both stories as science has progressed to the point whereas flesh and blood can be synthesized. The robots and the replicants also share a purpose of labor, with Domin mass producing Rossum’s work to liberate man toil and the Tyrell Corporation providing a source of menial work for space colonization. However, it is from this exploited disposition that the robots and replicants are able to become self-aware and develop human emotions towards their own situation and each other.
As one of the most memorable scenes in the film, Roy’s decision to spare Deckard during their final showdown provides much insight into many of the replicant’s motivations. Informing Deckard of the overwhelming fears replicants feel due to their ignoble origin and predetermined life span, Roy effectively shows the humanity that he has achieved in just a few years despite it being denied to him as he was treated as a slave to toil on foreign planets. Although Roy acknowledges that he has made a difference in sparing Deckard’s life, a sign that he held compassion towards all life, he laments his own impending expiration since all of the unique evolution he has realized in his short life will go unnoticed by the world that only views him as a rogue replicant that can easily be replaced.

ENL 003 Post #6

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and Rossum’s Universal Robots by Karel Capek both portray the darker side of progress. The character’s Victor and Domin become obsessed with rearranging the natural order of life. The primordial soup of genetic material created by Old Rossum draws parallels with the genetic pool of cadavers procured by Victor. Spiritual evolution appears in both as Victor realizes his folly in trying to seize a role reserved for the divine whereas Alquist assumes that privileged position on Earth in assigning the new world a prototype romantic pair. Both novels also illustrate that humans can become slaves to their ideas, metaphorically and literally as Victor serves his creation out of fear of reprisal and Radius declares Alquist a potential builder in the new world.
The role of women in both works is bias or at least socially commentary since both principle females, Elizabeth and Helena, are rather submissive and only work to make the artificial life more menacing. This is seen in Elizabeth’s vulnerability to the creature and Helena’s instigation of free will in the robots. The potential for a new race of monsters is considered by both principle characters, although Victor only briefly entertains the idea whereas Domin’s vision seems to ironically be the only hopeful conclusion. Both catastrophes begin with our leading male character attempting to recover a sense of innocence, Victor trying to undo the pain of loss by resurrecting a body composed of death and Domin trying to restore the blissful freedom humanity enjoyed in the Garden of Eden.
The achievement of humanity in the creature and the robots is reversed as the creature can at first only understand the world surrounding him on bodily experiences but later learns to absorb, repeat, and elaborate on knowledge; while the robots began with the impressive capacity to recognize and repeat vast amounts of information yet finally understand it only after Dr. Gall’s tampering allows them to ponder there experiences. During certain parts in both pieces, the proprietors decide to negotiate with their creations since they now have a noticeable foothold on the situation, as the creature proves to be a virtual immortal and the robots realize their physical superiority. The exact science of how Victor’s creature was imbued with life and Old Rossum’s formula concocted are only vaguely touched upon, implying that it is forbidden knowledge. These tie in with the notion of the cautionary claims.

ENL 003 Post #5

The broad topic I am planning to use for this essay is innocence lost. The first piece of evidence from the text is Victor’s difficult recollection of his mother’s death from scarlet fever (pg.27). Victor describes that this was the first instance of real pain that he ever experienced in his relatively privileged and peaceful life. Victor also attributes this overwhelming absence in his life to the forces of evil; despite death being a natural part of the human cycle, even if by disease. It is from this introduction into the pains of humanity that Victor’s interest in trying to create life epitomizes and his remaining innocence is gradually yet surely corrupted.
Another example is found in the creature’s description of his meeting with the cottagers (pg. 110). The creature, prior to this futile endeavor, regularly entertained the idea of his introduction to his unsuspecting companions, imagining that he would overshadow his monstrous visage with his gentle and cultured soul. This is the creature’s first instance of faith in humanity, having previously frightened an old man and no longer fueled by sensual instincts. Though the creature demonstrated heartfelt intentions in trying to attain this camaraderie, the cottager’s reception of shock and loathe further diminish his faith in compassion and his already weakened virtue.
The third case is seen in Captain Walton’s joyful befriending of Victor (pg. 16). Having been virtually isolated in the arctic voyage due to his intellect and authority, Walton describes in his early letters to his sister that only a true friend would restore his morale in such a desolate environment. Although Walton made no effort in securing a companion, his befriending of the rescued stranger was of his own volition. Victor’s natural and attuned friendship does restore Walton’s happiness, yet it culminates with the burdening of his friend’s dark history as well as his troubling decline in health.
These three examples for the essay all share the underlying theme of actions meant to resolve turmoil only exacerbating it. The first evidence with Victor seems the most different as his goal to restore the peace that death removes by creating life is an abnormal pursuit. The creature’s and Walton’s approach to regaining virtue through others are more noble, since both seem reasonable for individuals facing seclusion. The first two pieces, however, seem to compliment each other in that Victor’s plea for salvaging innocence is demonized in a human whereas the creature’s efforts to achieve happiness that is ascribed is humanized in a demon. Walton’s case serves to tie the theme to normality in that a desire to restore trust in humanity does not need to result out of amazing circumstances.

ENL 003 Post #4

The short story “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce details the execution of a Southern man by Union troops. Though the reader is eventually given a cause and a conclusion, it is Bierce’s effective use of transitions in narration and chronology that guides a particular first impression of the text. With a cold opening in third person objective, the reader is thrust into the story as the narrator denies us an explanation from either exposition or internality, leaving us to only absorb the facts of the grim scene. This distant approach also prevents any identification with the characters since no thoughts or feelings are explicitly addressed. However, the perspective appropriately shifts to third person subjective just as Peyton pensively looks at the river below. Exploring his final thoughts the reader can sympathize with Peyton as they are unselfish and human, picturing his dear family and desperately reasoning he could free himself.
Another fitting transition occurs, this time chronological, as the sergeant steps aside from the board holding Peyton up. Focusing on the past we are finally given the protagonist’s name as well as background, giving us insight into the motivation of the crime that would cost him his life. Again, the reader can sympathize with Peyton as he was without an opportunity to defend his viewpoint in battle and only disobeyed orders to support the cause he passionately believed in. This creates a bittersweet feeling since the reader is given a glimpse into Peyton’s life right before it comes to a close.
The chronology suitably shifts to the present as Peyton is dropped from Owl Creek bridge. The reader, however, is reprieved from parting with him as Peyton is described to have barely survived due to the rope breaking and dropping him into the river below. From here the narration adopts a suspenseful and daring tone as the limited perspective constantly informs us of Peyton’s thoughts while facing overwhelming odds eluding the troops overseeing his execution. Though the reader becomes immersed in the hectic nature of Peyton’s escape, the perspective abruptly returns to third person objective revealing that he was hung and his escape was merely a vicarious fantasy. The limited perspective concealed the truth of Peyton’s execution, his thoughts and emotions falsely suggesting that his escape plan had worked, giving the conclusion the impression of a twist ending.

ENL 003 Post #3

The poem “Suicide’s Note” by Langston Hughes recounts the brief but compelling reason behind a man’s decision to end his life. Portrayed by Machinima Poetry Theater using the videogame Halo 3 and the song “Mad World”, this video tribute effectively conveys the forlorn tone inherent in the poem as well as presents the text in an engaging style. Also, using the Halo character and setting to express the actions described by Hughes, it seems to improve the poem from a narrative perspective since the audience can use the series’ mythos to fill in the story behind the suicide note. However, due to the complex storyline of strife, humanity, and technology associated with the Halo franchise and the song “Mad World” describing a chaotic world through the eyes of a teenager, it foregoes the anonymity that was originally associated with the original text only allowing us a glimpse. Applying this background the poem appears to have an anti-war outlook, showing a lone soldier standing post that, after finding himself a stranger in a strange land, examines a river and, tantalized by its tranquil temperament, drowns himself in it to find peace. In these respects, the video heavily diverges from the tone and emotions one perceives when reading Hughes’ poem by itself.
As for an example of poetry referenced in popular culture, in the classic “Simpsons” episode “Old Money”, Grampa recites a portion from the poem “If” by Rudyard Kipling as he tries to convince Homer that gambling his inheritance is for the greater good. Aside from bringing an element of culture into the moment, the quote admirably gives insight into Grampa’s decision and presents a rather uplifting message for his son regarding experience. However, the humor quickly follows as Homer immediately dismisses it as foolish and pulls his father’s bet. In my opinion it makes the scene memorable by telling a relatively realistic lesson about maturity and reinforces the humor as the flaw within the poem’s logic is quickly pointed out. Also, it brings a smile to older viewers familiar with Kipling’s poem and playfully urges younger viewers to read it.