English Composition and Communication: Frankenstein
Frankenstein and Bicentennial Man Comparison Assignment: (due Tuesday 11/24)
Post your response on the wiki discussion board, and bring a copy of it into class for discussion.
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View the film Bicentennial Man. The movie shows the story of an android robot, purchased as a household appliance programmed to perform tasks. The invention is supposed to make life easier. Within a few days, however, the Martin family realizes that they don't have an ordinary android as Andrew begins to experience emotions and creative thought. In a story that spans two centuries, Andrew learns the intricacies of humanity while trying to stop those who created him from destroying him. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0182789/synopsis
After you have completed the movie, answer each of the following questions in a paragraph response:
1. How is Andrew similar and different from the monster that Frankenstein created?
2. How do you compare Victor Frankenstein with NorthAm Robotics? Both have created a form of life. Do they owe anything to their creations? How do you think they should respond to their creatures?
3. The name of the female, dancing robot is Galatea. How is her name a literary allusion? Why is the name suitable? (Hint: Remember our study of Pygmalion.)
4. One of the critiques of Frankenstein is that he stepped over the moral line of what humans should create. Some inventions are beyond what humans have the capacity to control and to understand. Do you think that creating robots for household work is crossing this moral line? Is it wrong? How do we know which scientific discoveries should be attempted and which should be avoided?
5. We know from Robert Walton’s account in Chapter #1 that the result of is Frankenstein’s experiment is his destruction. Bicentennial Man has a positive ending. What makes the difference? How was Andrew able to fit into society, but Frankenstein’s monster not?
6. What kinds of controversial, scientific research are being considered today? What technologies exist that humans could use, but maybe shouldn’t? Can you think of examples from history when technology was used, and due to the destruction caused, the technology should never be used again?
7. Imagine that you have a friend interested in controversial, scientific research. What advice and words of wisdom would you give him/her?