JP Schiller: Lit of Horror, Fantasy, and Sci-Fi

  The Gothic, A Lecture (1 Point) I really liked the depth of the lecture in terms of both it's a historical exploration of gothic, as well as how it's intertwined with other genres. I had read other books in this genre without really knowing or studying what the core concepts of Gothic literature were about aside from its horror counterpart. I completely agree with his different answers to why humans would watch Gothic and Horror genres, especially because I have only recently explored different aspects of horror and gothic films and questioned what was the allure of watching suspenseful and terrifying experiences. It really is a measure of testing one's own limits, a preparation mentally for terrible events, and the thrill of encountering that of which we cannot explain.  Punter's description of how gothic settings such as castles and monasteries, which are labyrinthine by nature, is more of a reflection of a human's psyche and the fear that we are confined within

Frankenstein, 1931 (1 Point) I'll certainly argue that as iconic the film version of the tale of Frankenstein has become, it is not an adequate adaptation of the text as a whole. Still, it does carry many of the main themes of the Gothic genre such as metonymy, castle settings, power, and emotional intensity.  The scene in which Henry Frankenstein and his assistant, Fritz, bring the Monster to life utilizes an incredible thunderstorm to stand in as a representation of both the terror and excitement that Henry and his guests feel like the experiment proceeds. Rather than simply have the actors discuss their feelings, it is represented through the inclement weather and increases the apprehension of the characters and audience. This film also utilized a castle-like setting by making Frankenstein's lab in an old stone light tower, which is somewhat maze-like, but also communicates how Frankenstein has isolated himself from the outside world along with his loved ones in order to com

Frankenstein by Mary Shelly (6 Points) Fortunately, I had never been assigned this novel to read in previous education and was never really exposed to the concepts in this piece outside of pop culture and modern adaptations based on the lore of "Frankenstein." After learning more about the concept of the "Sublime" in the Gothic genre, I can say wholeheartedly that this text is a very strong embodiment of it. Through many passages of the work, Victor Frankenstein often revels in the awesome processes of nature such as the changing of seasons, which at its core is more an element of romance genres. The key traits of the sublime appearing in Shelly's text are with the descriptions of the vast, towering, magnificent, and terrifying Swiss Alps in which the monster seeks solitude and Victor journeys to find some kind of solace. While I had never seen the icy tundras and cold climates that Frankenstein often seems to inhabit brought into modern tellings, it made much m