Until the 21th century, Frankenstein is still a famous story which is a combination of horrific and scientific. Through this story, it shows the eager on exploration and control of technology through our human ability. The story of Frankenstein shows an expert scientist who challenge the nature and made a ‘human’ using dead body. It is not only shows that the behavior of a mad scientist but also tells the fatal result of human who misuse technology and science. Which is foresee of nowadays world of science. Because of human mind’s selfishness and neglect the result what they do. Our world is now badly affected by our over use of technology.
What will our world becomes when the technology lose control? Alisa Burns’s “Frankenstein of the Future” gives out questions on this scenery. Through the human intelligences, we invented many new machines and things which used to fulfill the dreams of a better living standard. Start from the invention of computer in 50’s, the technological boom brings the science and technology environment into the sharp. We give the machines human mind using the bases of human intelligences, will those machines replace our power on our society? We can’t be blind by the benefit and quality of the machine but take control of them, we should try to more independent on ourselves rather then machines. She also takes “AI” as an example on what the situation will be when we neglect the gradual occupation by the machine.
Frankenstein is not only a literature creation, it also tells many questions which related to science and brings out consideration of the on behind problems when we misuse science. Frankenstein is treated as a monster. Why it is a monster but not a technology invention? We may think that technology and human are two different hales, just like the man and the monster in the story. But indeed they are closely related with each other. The scientist- Victor was fascinated by the miracle power of electricity and science to relive a once living organism. Apart from the science invention and the seeking of knowledge in technology, the standard of moral should be the most important part to concern. Both of them should be balance, other wise disadvantage may come out. Just like Victor Frankenstein, he may not predict the danger and bad effects because of his monster creation. When we neglect the hidden result of over use of technology, bad effect will feedback to us. Just like nuclear weapon and cloning, which rise out a lot of problems to out society.
On the other hand, there is no doubt that technology invention gives convenient and better lives for us. There are various things and products which are really benefit to our lives. Such as i-phone and computer. They develop a fast and convenient way to skip away the distance between our communication. If we haven’t got computer, imagine we can’t communicate through MSM and e mail, what will our world becomes? May be our culture development won’t comes to today’s environment. It may become very difficult to share our ideas in a speedy way. If we haven’t got mobile phones, it may become very hard to keep contact with the others but only roughly through letters or verbal. The new technology appears are basically because of our eager to change and learn. What we learn and teach is determine what we invent. As Luke Fernandez said that : “human invention are controlling the way people teach and learn, especially when it comes to media technologies…” ( Luke Fernandez: “Frankenstein in the University” , line 30). The situation is inter-related as we will used to seek more knowledge from the invention. Also what we learn from books will urge us to take more invention as we want to explore from them. The monster in the story was created by the mad scientist Victor Frankenstein, the monster claimed that Victor is his creator but he is the master of him. Which represents the un- control of technology, even we are under control by technology. So how can we maintain a suitable position with technology? That’s the most important question that we need to concern.
“People celebrate the act of creating new inventions, but aren’t particularly concerned about what happens next.” “We don't want to take responsibility for our technological innovation, we just want to celebrate our ingenuity in achieving them.” ( Jon Katz: “The Unabomber's Legacy, Part II”) Katz takes the example from Frankenstein. After the ‘invent’ of the monster, Victor Frankenstein feels the successful from being handover the power of technology and the ability to birth a new life. But he didn’t consider any effect that the monster might bring out. He didn’t imagine how the monster will be, what it will do as he given a new life to it. Like the attitude of people on technology nowadays. They just eager to seek the result of their work. They claim that they are seeking the truth for the people, for humanity civilization and knowledge. But they have never consider the effect after their ‘seek of reality’.
People are not use technology properly, they may use their time to produce invention but not for the good of people. Such as the production of weapons for wars to destroy each other’s country. Some people may say that technology is not good for our society. If you consider it carefully, it is not the duty of technology but on the way we use. So it depends on how we use them. But there is no doubt that the story of Frankenstein, the popular culture and imagination of the society helps to explore our technology and imagination on science, thus helps to improve the world technology.
References:
“Frankenstein of the future” Alisa Burns, October 2002, http://www.wsu.edu/~delahoyd/frank.comment4.html
“Frankenstein: The Man and the Monster” Suzanna Storment, October 2002
http://www.wsu.edu/~delahoyd/frank.comment3.html
“Frankenstein in the university” Luke Fernandez,
http://campustechnology.com/Articles/2008/05/Frankenstein-in-the-University.aspx?Page=1
“The Unabomber's Legacy, Part II” Jon Katz,
http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/1998/04/11819
“The curse of Frankenstein: visions of technology and society in the debate over new reproductive technologies.” Bloomfield, BP and Vurdubakis, 2003, Lancaster University
http://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/6839/
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You stated the relationship between Frankenstein and recent technology, in which people have to use technology in a proper way. Otherwise, human would have to bear the bad outcome. You used variety of references to support your point, yet you are not asked to write an essay. You are supposed to write a concise summary of your findings and to criticize the articles that you have chosen. You have to read the instruction of your assignment carefully next time! :(
ReplyDeleteHowever, I appreciate that you mentioned both positive and negative impacts of recent technology which raise our concerns on science and technology.
After reading your annotated webliography, I appreciated that you have linked the recent technology with Frankenstein. Also you have examined the merit and threats caused by the recent technology in our society. However, seems that you have presented your work in an improper way. Because in this assignment, we should research for the topic we have assigned and summarized each of them, then sum up as a webliography. I appreciate your work and you are capable to make it in a much more clear way.
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