Frankenstein: A Modern Metaphore

Towards the end of the 18th century, as the French Revolution was forcing Europe to reexamine older and more traditional ideas and politics, another revolt began to influence art, literature, and music. This was the Romantic Movement, and it challenged the intellectual underpinnings of the Enlightenment. Whereas the Enlightenment espoused rational thought and explanation of all phenomena through natural and measurable means, Romanticism focused on emotion, inspiration, horror, and the mystery of the supernatural. In her chilling tale of loss and loneliness, Mary Shelley captures the hopes, fears, and ideals of the Romantic Movement. Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus is an example of how our culture began to express these new ideas in a dark an horrific setting.

Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein

Frankenstein was written by Shelley in 1817 after making a mutual agreement between her, her poet husband Percy Shelley, and his contemporary Lord Byron to write ghost stories. Although initially published anonymously (and despite initially unkind critical reception), Shelley's tale quickly gained popular success. The story of Victor Frankenstein's blind ambition to create the unthinkable, and the ultimate and tragic consequences which followed, spoke to many uncertainties that people harbored during this time of increasing technological change. The Romantic Movement, later countered by Realsim, sought to curtail the advent of man's control over his environment - instead encouraging us to appreciate the aesthetic beauty of our environment and embrace our place within it.

Illustration for the 1831 edition by Theodore von Holst

Modern day Frankenstein

Shelley uses the creation of Frankenstein's monster as a metaphorical warning, likening the quest for scientific knowledge and its consequent power to the doctor's obsession with his dominion over the natural world. Indeed, the titular reference to "Modern Prometheus" is an allusion to the god of Greek myth that endowed humans with life and stole fire from the heavens to give to man, resulting in severe punishment by Zeus. She also seems to promote the idea that the quest for power that may be considered "god-like" is blasphemous. Victor becomes at first interested, and later obsessed, but ultimately destroyed by his desire for this sort of power. The creature, conversely, appears to be an embodiment of Shelley's prediction of our future: power without knowledge, reckless and destructive. As of the writing, man had yet to give birth to the monster of the industrial revolution, and the unknown terrors that might (and perhaps did) accompany it. Shelley's work stands as a bleak reminder of the wisdom of humility, and may give the truly wise the foresight to consider the consequences of blindly-ambitious scientific endeavor. 

Image of an atomic blast, an example of a truly disastrous technological advancement.

Despite my own belief that the quest for knowledge is entwined with our destiny as a species, I subscribe to the notion that we collectively share the responsibility of what we create. History has taught us that achieving technologies without fully understanding them can prove disastrous. Examples of this can be found in our experiences with nuclear weaponry, environmental pollution, or biological warfare. Even Alfred Nobel, creator of dynamite, is known to have suffered mixed emotions about his powerful invention being put to use as a weapon. To this end, he established the Nobel prize to promote responsible scientific progress. Similarly, we must be sure to establish a method of discovery with an inherent caution, a dedication to understand and attempt to control the consequences of our exploration of our universe.

The Eiffel Tower's Iconic Architecture

The Eiffel Tower is among the most recognized structures in the world.  Built to commemorate the Exposition Universelle in 1889, it towers above the rooftops of Paris - most of which are limited by zoning restrictions to seven stories.  Although it was heavily criticized at the time of construction, the tower has become an icon for Paris and all of France.  A marvel of its time, it is a look back to the industrializing world around the beginning of the 20th century.

Poster from Exposition Universelle

Marking the 100th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, considered the beginning of the French Revolution, the Exposition Universelle was a World's Fair meant to exhibit the foremost technological innovations.  A contest was held to design a tower that would span 125 meters across at the base and stand 300 meters tall.  Of 107 entries, it was that of Gustave Eiffel that won.  Eiffel's two chief engineers, Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier, designed a lattice-work structure based on wind-resistance, rather than aesthetics.  The trio hired architect Stephen Sauvestre to improve the tower's appearance, and he added the large characteristic arches which we observe today.  Erected in an impressively short 22 months, the tallest building in the world served as an entrance to the fair by the time it opened on May 6th, 1889.

 Above is a picture of the mastermind, Gustave Eiffel, with a picture to the right taken shortly after construction began.  It exemplifies the numerous hands and hours that were used during this project.

The construction is of puddle iron, a high-strength material used by Eiffel previously on bridges he'd built.  The curvature of the four lattices to meet at the top is designed in such a way that the force of winds is evenly distributed throughout the structure, making it extremely sturdy.  In winds the top of the tower moves only 6 cm.  In contrast, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, MO moves three times as much and is less than two-thirds as tall.  Despite its efficiency of design, the 'skeletal' and utilitarian appearance of the tower was the object of heavy ridicule in the press and within the community.  Painters, sculptors, and architects openly collaborated "to protest ...in the name of French art and history under threat, against the erection in the very heart of our capital, of the useless and monstrous Eiffel Tower."  Eiffel countered, "Are we to believe that because one is an engineer, one is not preoccupied by beauty in one's constructions?" and that "the very conditions which give strength also conform to the hidden rules of harmony."  This view eventually won the day, as the tower was a smashing success at the fair, receiving over 2 million visitors during the six-month event.  

An aerial view at night shows just how aesthetically pleasing the tower can be.

Even today the Eiffel Tower may be seen from miles away and is huge tourist attraction yearly.

The elegant and simple design of this monument is truly a thing of beauty.  The absence of over-indulgent decor, embellished sculpture, or even finish work to cover the girders is in stark contrast to the surrounding Parisian architecture.  It can be argued that the tower was an arbiter of a new age, a metaphor of the slow and inevitable tide of technology washing away the traditionalist practices of an earlier time.  It is this simplicity that draws the eye to the tower, standing as a silent and immovable tribute to the industrial revolution. 

Belle Epoque: The Impact on Biology and Medinine Today

During the latter half of the 19th century the world began to change very quickly. As telegraphs and locomotives became commonplace, communication and travel became possible as never before. Scientific methodology and knowledge gained prestige in the eyes of modern society and research was pursued with newfound gusto. Consequently, this was a period of time that gave rise to many scientific advances that would eventually form our understanding of the natural world. Certainly not smallest among these was a deeper understanding of organisms, biology, and the processes by which life on our planet came to be.

Investigations into the origin of life began to take shape as experimental science and empiricism began to gain popularity with scholars, who had to reconcile the previously-accepted biblical age of Earth with newly-understood geological evidence to the contrary. Thus, naturalists began the endeavor of explaining geologic processes, including James Hutton and Charles Lyell. Among those influenced by this work was Charles Darwin, whose investigations of the variations of animal species culminated in the publishing of his work On the Origin of Species in 1859. In this work, Darwin explained the process of natural selection, but was unable to specify the exact way in which species changed from one generation to the next. This was done in 1865 by Gregor Mendel, who proved that physical traits are passed down from one generation to the next in a predictable manner. This, along with similar work done by Hugo Marie de Vries, formed the beginnings of the field of genetics.

A title page of the 1859 edition of The Origin of Species

Charles Darwin

A diagram of Mendel's work: dominant and recessive phenotypes.

A water pump in London similar to the one contaminated.

Another forward leap in knowledge occurred during this time period in the field of disease research and prevention. Prior the mid-19th century infections were attributed to the inhalation or ingestion of "miasma," which was vaguely defined as bad air from decomposing organic matter. Prompted by a cholera outbreak in London in 1854, John Snow demonstrated this to be false, and stopped the outbreak by identifying a single infectious water pump. Louis Pasteur also developed the field microbiology by systematically proving that fermentation and bacterial growth were caused by micro-organisms, as opposed to the accepted principle of spontaneous generation. It was these studies, conducted in the 1860s and 1870s, that led Pasteur to develop vaccines, immunizations, and a method to extend the shelf life of perishable foods like beer and milk. He was also instrumental in causing physicians to sterilize their hands and equipment between patients. Another notable figure is Robert Koch, who identified the causative agents of anthrax and tuberculosis. During the mid-19th century, tuberculosis was responsible for 1 out of every 7 deaths. Koch also furthered the field of microbiology by developing a series of postulates to identify the relationship between a microbe and it's resulting disease. Using them, Koch's students found the organisms that cause bubonic plague, typhoid, pneumonia, syphilis, and many more.

The Institute of Pasteur de Lille, which honors Louis Pasteur and his many great accomplishments.

 The concepts pioneered by these and others in the fields of medicine and biology form an immeasurably crucial part of our understanding of medical science today. This understanding is responsible for the development of cures to diseases, vaccines, and gene therapies. Millions of people around the globe have been helped or saved by the technologies that were being discovered in the late 19th century.

John Locke and Modern Society

Throughout the history of the human experience, several key periods were crucial to the dissemination of philosophies, ideas, and culture throughout various nations and societies.  It can be argued strongly that progress, both social and technological, is dependent upon this exchange.  One such crucial moment in our recent past which has most fundamentally impacted our everyday lives is the Enlightenment, also referred to as the Age of Reason.  It was during this period (c.a. 1715-1800) that the world experienced many revolutionary ideas, some quite literal.  The basis for this perception-altering thinking was in itself the reason it simultaneously appealed to so many and was met with such resistance by others: academics and philosophers began to ascribe authority to reason and logic as opposed to a caste-like aristocratic tradition and religious dogma.  Among the myriad of thinkers, inventors, scientists and statesmen that took part in this movement, few things have affected the lives of so many as the principles championed by English philosopher and physician John Locke.

A painting of John Locke, a man who revolutionized the democratic government.

 One foundation of Locke's philosophies was the idea of tabula rasa, which roughly translates into English as "blank slate."  This idea, while not unique to Locke, was brought to the forefront of mainstream consciousness by his work An Essay Concerning Human Understanding.  This concept describes the human psyche as blank at birth, freeing each person to determine their own personality, morality, and value by their individual experiences and actions.  This epistemological view was in contrast to the belief in an inherent human nature, which many believed was attributed to heredity, race, gender, and so on.  This has most notably been an influence in modern thinking in the fields of social sciences such as psychology.  Beginning around the turn of the century, we began to view the idea that genes determined personality characteristics as "racist," or "sexist."  This view has its roots in the belief that all humans posses tabula rasa at birth - a fact which attributes Lockean philosophies to the roots of the Civil Rights Movement, women's suffrage, and countless other human rights events in recent history.

  Locke influenced the founding fathers while drafting the Constitution.

A consequence of Locke's firm belief in our all being given this "blank slate" at birth was that, logically, we were all born equal.  This led Locke to develop the concept of natural rights, rights which he believed were possessed by every person and could not be invalidated or surrendered by social or legal contract.  Locke originally conceived of these rights as "life, liberty, and estate," but many are familiar with our American adaptation: "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."  This idea was quickly adopted by such revolutionaries as Francis Hutcheson, Voltaire, and Thomas Jefferson.  It was upon the claim of violations of these rights that the Atlantic Revolutions were founded, which included the American, French, and Latin-American Revolutions.  Even today, the recent democratic revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt are built on the popular uprisings and demand of freedom from the oppression of these rights.  Locke also derived from every person's right to liberty the liberty of their own conscience - which led to his advocacy of the separation of church and state.  This concept also was adapted by nearly all subsequent democratic revolutions, and is likewise the cornerstone upon which many recent revolutionary skirmishes rest.

 It was Locke's ideas that inspired revolutions, such as those in France (below) and America (right), in order to gain more rights for the people.

 

These are just a few of the contributions John Locke made to our modern society.  Locke brought into focus many of the ideals and principles we take for granted today.  Every citizen of every 1st-world nation has felt, even vicariously, the effects of his influence.  He is truly one of the most important figures of the Enlightenment.

The Abduction of Europa: A Classic Example of Baroque Style

The Baroque movement was a pivotal time for art in the western world.  Following the period famously known as the Renaissance, the Baroque masters utilized many artistic tools popularized during the Renaissance such as the use of various blending techniques and perspective to create the illusion of a third dimension in their work.  However, the Catholic Reformation brought about cultural changes that are reflected in many ways by the way Baroque artists diverted from their predecessors.  Whereas Renaissance artists often depicted calm scenes indicative of the rationality so vaunted by the movement, the Baroque style is characterized by the dramatic use of light and dark values, bold hues, and extensive use of movement to create emotional action scenes.  The Abduction of Europa, painted by Rembrandt in 1632, is a classic example of these qualities.

  This is a self portrait of Rembrandt, who introduced the "d" to his name in 1633, after dropping his family name in 1632.

To the right is Rembrandt's The Abduction of Europa.

In The Abduction of Europa, Rembrandt paints the climatic scene from Ovid’s classical Roman myth about the god Zeus assuming the form of a white bull and enticing the young and beautiful maiden Europa to climb upon his back, whereupon he took her to the island of Crete.  Rembrandt makes excellent use of foreshortening and perspective, as well as chiaroscuro, to create a realistic window into this classic story.  Rembrandt captures the movement in the scene, using the shoreline and the cityscape in the background to create lines sloping upward and opposite the direction of Zeus and Europa.  The city in the background may represent Amsterdam, the city in which Rembrandt lived at the time of the paintings completion.  Europa herself is looking back helplessly at the women from whom she has just been taken.  Her friends on the shore, displaying various levels of distress, are clasping their hands, throwing up their arms in horror, and cringing next to the wagon.  This is clearly a very emotional moment.  Adding to this is the stark contrast in values in the scene.  One may question whether Rembrandt was sympathetic to Zeus’ side of the story, since the dark use of values lends an ominous quality to the woods.  Also, the bull and woman are riding towards the obvious light source, which is traditionally used to represent good or positive things.

Pictured above is The Abduction of Europa by Titian which Rembrandt modeled his painting after.

During his early years, Rembrandt painted many biblical and classic mythological scenes.  This was most likely a carryover from the popularization of such painting during the Renaissance, when a renewed interest in the cultural and intellectual advancements of the ancients spurred depictions of many of these legends.  It was also during this time that religious themes and morals were in favor.  For this reason we may surmise that Rembrandt might have been illustrating a warning to other would-be-tempted maidens; Europa is decidedly unhappy with her decision to ride the bull.  This seems to be in direct contrast to the aforementioned use of values to indicate a good destination.  Perhaps Rembrandt was making a social or religious statement.

Personally, I find the color values and dramatic variation of hues very engaging.  I empathize with Europa, fearful at being whisked away from the familiar by a force stronger than herself.  The lack of control is scary, but also exhilarating.  The cityscape in the background looks dreary and uninviting, as does the shoreline forest.  In contrast the bull is a perfect representation of power and light.

In conclusion, Rembrandt’s depiction of this classic Roman myth is not only a true example of the Baroque style, but also serves to give us insight into the cultural predilections following the Renaissance period and the Catholic Reformation.  This period, like so many others, was a necessary link in the chain that will result in the various styles, techniques, and formats that we may enjoy in the art world today.

Nicholas Copernicus is greatly known to introduce the heliocentric theory, stating that the Sun, not the Earth, was the center of the universe.  Going off of the Copernicus theory, Giordiano Bruno threw out the idea that the Sun is a star containing its own planets.  After being accused of heresay by the Roman Inquisition, Bruno was later burned at the stake.  Johannes Kepler later came out with his idea that the planets had an elliptical, not circular, orbit around the Sun.  With this knowledge, he was able to decipher the orbital period of the planets.  Galileo Galilei improved the first model of the telescope and pointed it up towards the sky for the first time, which led him to eventually discovering the moons of Jupiter.  Galileo was put under house arrest and was forced to write a retraction statement.  If it was not for astronomers such as these risking their lives and reputations to bring upon us their great knowledge, we would not have accomplished the milestones we can currently boast about. 

To the left is a picture of Bruno at his court appearance with the Roman Inquisition before he was found guilty.

To the right is the Copernican system that Copernicus envisioned showing the Sun was the center of the universe.










It wasn't until almost sixty years ago that the "Space Race" between the Soviet Union and the United States began.  The initial research done by astronomers in the 16th century was ignored for a couple hundred years before it became a major asset in our voyages into space.  Sputnit, Explorer 1, and the Mercury Program were the first objects that were put into space and would not have been possible had it not been for Isaac Newton's theories on gravitation.  Newton's Laws of Motion also allow us to solve for orbital insertion, speed, and altitude, to determine how fast and how high a shuttle must go to achieve orbit.  Newton invented calculus, which applies to nearly every facet of our lives, such as manufacturing, economics, statistics, space, etc.  Today, Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion are used everyday by space stations to search for exoplanets.  It was recently introduced that the Jupiter moons discovered by Galileo many years ago will be explored by NASA and the European space agencies by 2020, called the Europa Jupiter System Mission.

The video clip is the launch of the shuttle carrying the first man to walk on the moon.

Throughout the span of our history, the process of discovery has been fraught with disbelief, criticism, even danger.  The forward-thinkers of the renaissance did not escape this fate, but opened up a new era of scientific thought that would make our modern world possible.  Because of the courage and innovation of figures such as these, our society has become accepting of the necessity of the occasional paradigm shift.  The early masters of the physical sciences taught us that, despite conflicts with religious or societal conventions, the failure of our accepted models to match observation require us to revise said models.  This is the basis of scientific methodology and the primary force that drives the unprecedented progress that we enjoy today. 

My first blog

Hello!  My name is Laecy, spelled by true hippies.  I am looking forward to working with all of you throughout this upcoming semester.  I am a pre-Nursing student here at Yavapai and have plans to go on to get my Epidemiology Masters degree.  I'm not really sure what I plan on doing with it but I know it will be something crazy awesome!  The picture to the right was my first snowfall experience right here in Prescott with my dog Max.  I have interests in sciences, the arts, and history so this class should be a fun learning experience. 

My best contact e-mail is laecybmoore@gmail.com.