Artificial Natural – Modern Prometheus

Creating a life in a way other than the natural, this has been an obsession of mankind and the focus of a multitude of works of fiction, the defining example being Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein. The basic plot details the creation of a monster, an unnatural life by Dr. Frankenstein. The ‘spark’ of life achieved with a combination of chemical processes and the ubiquitous electrical shock, the latter being the aspect emphasized in so many film adaptations.

The early experiments of Luigi Galvani’s were an inspiration for Shelly’s monster – the accidental application of electricity causing a unexplained contraction in a deceased frog’s legs. This was the discovery that led to the creation of Voltaic cells (batteries), as well as the driving principles behind defibrillation machines and pacemakers.

The allegorical intents of Frankenstein are obvious, but I feel are interesting applied within the context of design and invention. The science and the application of un-natural technologies (designs) leading to unpredicted or unintended consequences. The original title of the novel; ‘Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus’ goes a long way to explain a further message within the text. Prometheus being the Titan in Greek mythology who stole fire from the God’s to pass onto mankind, for which he was punished by Zeus for eternity. Leonard Wolf claims that in the eyes of Shelly, Prometheus was not a hero but was responsible for brutalizing mankind, seducing it toward eating meat and giving an unfair advantage over other mortals – taking it beyond nature.

What may be viewed as a positive discovery or invention will undoubtedly hold some negative effect, even if unforeseen. This isn’t a new revelation – Frankenstein was first published in 1818, the original ‘monster’ of development being the Industrial Revolution, Shelly knew that like the fire given by Prometheus, this took us further away from nature and closer towards its destruction. That like Frankenstein creating his monster - we seem to have been continuing a route of eventual self-destruction despite warning.

Frankenstein - The man who created a monster.

References/Further Reading:

-Frankenstein - Mary Shelly (foreword by Leonard Wolf).
-Luigi Galvani Biography - http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Biographies/GalvaniBio.htm
-The rate of Co2 emissions doubling since Industrial Revolution- http://www.co2capture.org.uk/images/UKco2_2.gif
-Galvani image source - http://www.museopalazzopoggi.unibo.it//poggi_eng/palazzo/foto/prot
-Frankenstein Image from Hammer Horror film Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed!