Frankenweenie

The adaptation of the gothic classic "Frankenstein" took form in the 2012 moving picture of "Frankenweenie". "Frankenweenie"and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein have parallels in their plots, yet simultaneously are different. Both share the same backstory, the main character being Victor Frankenstein, and the themes of resurrection with the consequences of playing God. 

Victor Frankenstein:

Taking after the original Victor Frankenstein, the Victor in "Frankenweenie" has an unconditional love and fascination with science, seeing as he was interested in joining and winning the science competition. He is inspired by his mentor by using electrical currents to jolt the isolated frog legs -- an experiment that can help him win the science fair. He tests this out on his late dog, Sparky, without giving a second-thought to the potential consequences of resurrecting his only friend (the void of loneliness being another parallel to Shelley's Frankenstein). Victor is portrayed in the scene of the resurrection as a mad scientist, determined in succeeding and bringing his dog back to life. His longing for his companion is similar to Shelley's Victor and his longing for his mother. 

Consequences: 

The consequences of Victor's actions act as a significant role in both versions, as it is his punishment for playing God. In "Frankenweenie", Victor's classmates find out how to resurrect their dead pets, and it turns out disastrous. The most important part of the experiment and it's success is the true bond between the two -- the kids were only doing it out of greed. The significance of nurture and care is reinstalled, relating to Shelley's original and the ethics of parenthood. Shelley's Victor is haunted by his own creation, threatened to apologize and create another life to accompany the creature. 

Atmosphere:

"Frankenweenie" and Frankenstein both follow gothic literature and it's themes, creating an eerie and creepy mood to the adaptation. "Frankenweenie" is edited in black and white, and it's characters are illustrated with sunken eyes and frail bodies. Tim Burton, who created the film, has a specific style of illustration, and is known for his gothic and dark films. 

Aesthetic Movement in Europe

Oscar Wilde: 1854 - 1900

1) As a rebel against traditional Victorian traditions, the Aesthetic movement viewed art as an enjoyable pleasure without the heavy morals and values that Victorian art pushes. Wilde believed that art should be appreciated purely or it's aesthetics, and it greatly influenced Oscar Wilde's life -- especially his writing. Within "The Picture of Dorian Gray" the Aesthetic movement is seen through every page of the book, as it acknowledges how art should not be used as an explanation of the artist. 

2) A dandy is a man who draws a lot of importance towards his outer appearance, and how refined he is. 

3) The preface of the novel almost acts as a warning sign -- a caution for those who look at art to find the reflection of the artist. Wilde believed in the Aesthetic Movement which values art for its beauty rather than its deeper meaning. Coinciding with the events that were occurring during the time "The Picture of Dorian Gray" was realized, the preface was created to say that none of his writings and works could be held against him as it was purely for arts sake, and is used to tell a story, not HIS story. 

Collage

"The death of a beautiful woman is, unquestionably, the most poetical topic in the world."- Edgar Allan Poe

Poe and his inspiration drawn from the tragic death of his lover showcase through his several writings about death. It is undeniable that one of his most common motifs is the death of beautiful woman, reoccurring in many of his famous works such as 'Annabel Lee' and 'Ligiea'. His fascination drives the gothic literature movement, turning conventionally morbid topics into captivating and beautiful writing. Within Poe's 'Annabel Lee', the narrators yearning for his deceased lover is riddled with misery and longing seen here, "A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling my beautiful Annabel Lee, [...] chilling and killing my Annabel Lee, [...] And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side of my darling -- my darling -- my life and my bride, in her sepulchre by the sea--- in her tomb by the sounding sea." I drew inspiration from 'Annabel Lee' for my collage as the poem struck out to me as the most tragic of Poe's works. The motif of the sea is seen through my collage as the background, as within the poem, the speaker sits by the sea next to her tomb. I also incorporated the clouds into the picture as a symbolism of her illness, and how the wind 'chilled' Annabel Lee. The photo of the woman is centered in the middle of the photo, and filtered in black and white to symbolise death; her expression and the filter creates a paleness to her face -- she is lifeless without colour. The picture of the woods reminded me of the eeriness that Poe is able to create through his writing; the photo fit the author's aesthetic so well. The two photos within the white circles is also two of Poe's most common motifs: substance abuse and the heart. 

The Black Cat

What might the narrator be repressing? Remember that the unconscious mind consists of repressed wounds, fears, unresolved conflicts and guilt desires. 

A reoccurring theme in Poe's writing is the use of animals to represent characters' greatest fears and trauma that haunt them. Within "The Black Cat" the narrators source of stress and rage comes from his black cat, in which fuels his impulsive behavior. The cat drives the narrator into a psychotic state where he is constantly battling between his sanity and insanity-- a motif of "good" and "bad". 

The narrator has a love and adoration for animals; a 'deep love' that has been around since the very day he was born. The story goes on to tell of his married life, and how the narrator had owned several pets, but the one he cherishes most is Pluto, a black cat. The narrator has an unconditional love for Pluto, recalling how they were "the best of friends", and how they would always play with each other. The narrator states in this stanza how his life began to chance as soon as he started to drink heavily -- that of which turned into a 'disease'. A volta in the story shifts the mood from happy and fairytale-like to dark and sinister once starting to describe his sudden aggressiveness. Although physically abusive to his wife, the narrator never once laid a hand on Pluto. However, one night, the narrator felt such intense rage that he gauges out one of Pluto's eyes, comparable to that of an evil eye. The narrator then hangs the cat and finds a new cat where rather than the cat being afraid of the narrator, the narrator is terrified of the animal. In the attempt of axing his new cat, the narrator ends up killing his wife instead. At the end of the story, the wall where he buries his wife is torn down by police revealing the dead body, and Pluto's hissing face one top of his wife's head. 

Highlighting the main points of the story, the narrator constantly rationalizes his actions, saying that he is far from "mad" or "insane". He has a sense of self-awareness understanding that his actions are far from loving, but rather out of fear and anger. The narrator is possessive of the cat, stating how "the cat didn't like my wife. It loved me alone." When looking at symbolism, this possessive love for the cat metaphorical for his love for alcohol. He admits the change in his character right from the beginning of the story, as if he became a different person when the "cat" was around. The narrator is constantly worried and fearful of this cat that he resorts to violence to act out on his feelings. The narrator is repressing his anger at his alcoholism, aware of how different he becomes once he drinks. The anxiety about the cat is driven by his drinking, making him unreliable as a narrator and feeds the cat's symbolism. 

"Annabel Lee" Adaptation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q-q02CKo9c

"Annabel Lee", a poem written by the infamous Edgar Allan Poe, has inspired many to create their own adaptations of his chilling writing. Although I have studied several of these adaptations, Gizem Senel's dramatic reading of the poem captivated me like no other.

It is extremely difficult to recreate the authenticity of Poe's writing, however, Senel is able to enchant the reader with her impeccable editing skills to add in imagery as background for the reading. The haunting atmosphere of "Annabel Lee" is not only seen through the imagery, but the tone of Senel's voice emphasizing the yearning of the narrator for his love.

The narrators unconditional love for his partner yields the poem's romantic mood, yet simultaneously insinuates a possessive and unsettling tone while reading; this is captured brilliantly by Gizem Senel. Senel features in the video, reading the poem while maintaining eye-contact with the camera throughout. The narrator is telling their story and bearing their soul to the reader, seen through the one-on-one "interaction" between both reader and Senel. As the reader listens, the poem's true sorrow shadowed by the feeling of love is seen through the pain in Senel's eyes, the furrow of her brows, and eminent frown that grows throughout the video.

Edgar Allen Poe's Infamous Death

The death of Edgar Allen Poe remains both tragedy and a mystery to the literary world. Poe’s last moments on Earth were ones that are not entirely conclusive, and his cause of death is highly debated to this day. The construction of the timeline of events leading up to Poe’s death confirms his whereabouts, dates, and the potential reasons as to why those were his final days.

Edgar Allen Poe left New York and traveled to Philadelphia in 1849, where he stayed to visit his friend John Sartain. After visiting his friend, Poe then left Philadelphia in July to Richmond where he stayed in efforts to stop his extreme drinking habits. It is known that Poe had resided in a hotel named “Swan Tavern Hotel”, where he also reignited a romantic flame with an old lover Sarah Royster Shelton. Poe had planned to marry her in the forthcoming months. Again, Poe left for Richmond for the last time in September of 1849, where he visited his friend James P. Moss. When leaving Richmond to travel to New York, he apparently had taken the wrong train and ended up in Baltimore. A month later, he was found in Gunner’s Hall, an abandoned house, where he was falling in and out of consciousness. Poe was brought to the hospital where he was announced dead three days later on the 7^th of October.

It is greatly assumed that the unconsciousness of Poe was all due to his heavy drinking habits, seen and highly known through his poems and the nature of his writing. Poe is renowned for his works mostly, if not all, written while intoxicated all because of his hardships growing up.

Edgar Allen’s Poe death is oddly fitting to the nature of his writings, and the gothic style he arguably created. The events leading up to the end of his life have influenced his writing massively, and his death adds to the enigma of Poe.  The terror and bone-chilling stories he created will forever leave a mark on the world of literature.