Monsters of Science

How much should we rely on scientific and technological advancements to improve our world?

Unit Nuts and Bolts We will explore 3 major texts within this unit (as well as a few additional supplemental texts) Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde by Dr. Robert Louis Stevenson “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne I Am Legend 1 Socratic Seminar (covering Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde) Culminating in a comparative outline (which will be done in-class)

Horror Film Golden Era: 1950s Between 1948 and 1962, Hollywood released more than 500 science-fiction features, which were widely distributed to movie palaces, neighborhood theaters, and drive-ins. They were meant to symbolize our supposed Communist foe: ruthless, cold-blooded as an insect or reptile, utterly strange.

What is the purpose of these Science Fiction films? According to philosopher Julia Kristeva: “We live under continual threat of two equally fearful, but seemingly opposed, destinies: unremitting banality and inconceivable terror… the job of science fiction was to at once lift us out of the unbearably humdrum… by an escape into dangerous situations which have last-minute happy endings”

In other words… A good horror/fantasy/sci-fi flick provides a healthy dose of escapism, but it also keeps one eye fastened on what we wish to escape from.

Science Fiction films today A little less focused on the fear of Communism… though we definitely still see that Today’s Sci-Fi films focus on: Apocalyptic destruction of earth Evacuation of earth to another planet Technological takeover (A.I.)

Watch Out For Zombies!

An undead creature created through the reanimation of human corpses What is a zombie? An undead creature created through the reanimation of human corpses The term comes from Haitian folklore Modern zombie stories invoke viruses more often than magic Richard Matheson, H.P. Lovecraft, Mary Shelley all wrote about early versions of the zombie Modern zombie archetype has the resurrection of the dead portrayed as scientific rather than magical

Some Zombie Standards… • If you didn't die first, you aren't a zombie. • Zombies are not cannibals. They do not feed on each other only living flesh. • The only way to stop a zombie is a well placed head shot. (Hammer, ice-pick, gun, axe, etc.) • Intelligence is not a their strong point.

Archetypal Zombie Plot Initial contact with zombies is extremely dangerous & disarming Authorities are slow to respond Usually follow a small group of survivors Usually focus on characters reactions, responses to stress, how their personalities change, and a return to primal instincts (fear, etc.)

1954 Horror fiction novel by Richard Matheson Influential in the development of the zombie genre of fiction Helped popularize the concept of a worldwide apocalypse due to disease Multiple film adaptations followed

Neville is immune, but he is trying to find a way to cure the disease Novel Plot Summary Robert Neville, apparent sole survivor of a pandemic whose symptoms resemble vampirism Pandemic is said to have been caused by war, spread by dust storms and an explosion of mosquitos (essentially man’s fault) In the film the pandemic is created by a genetically re-engineered measles virus, an attempt to cure cancer Neville is immune, but he is trying to find a way to cure the disease

What is to blame for the outbreak? As you watch… Pay attention to the interplay between man/science/religion throughout the film What is to blame for the outbreak? What does Neville ultimately turn to in the climax of the film?

“I Am Legend” Reflection Alternate Ending By the end of the novel Neville is held up in a prison, awaiting his fate Vampires and Zombies are myths to us, they are legends In the book, Robert Neville becomes "legendary" because he is that myth and goes out day after day hunting them Neville has become to vampires what vampires used to be to people: An unnatural monster with special powers, a creepy horror that kills indiscriminately https://www.traileraddict.com/i-am-legend/alternate-ending

“I Am Legend” Response Questions In what way(s) is Neville responsible for his situation? “The strength of the vampire is that no one will believe in him” What does belief have to do with it? How do you see the role of science & religion play out? How does sympathy create or destroy monsters? Can we have science without sympathy?

Normalcy anchors humanity Major Themes Isolation & madness Extreme dependence on science & technology forces us to resort to primal instincts… why? Obsession He continues to test despite the clearly disastrous results Normalcy anchors humanity