We're doing things a little differently this episode. There are still spoilers ahead! Frankenstein is considered by many people to be a solid first choice for the first science fiction novel. (Before you start jumping up and down in disgust, yes, there are many stories from the 1600s and even ancient tales which are considered to be strong contenders for the first written sci-fi story. That does not take away from the influence of Mary Shelley.) In 1816 the teenager* went on holiday to Switzerland and came up with the character of Frankenstein and his monster which would then develop into a novel titled Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. Over 200 years later there are still films being made based on the characters from the book. In this episode, we touch upon James Whale’s 1931 Frankenstein film but look at the origins of the story, examine why its monster has such a long lasting legacy, and why these stories resonate with us still.For full detailed shownotes please click the episode at www.everyscififilm.com/watch and scroll down.The expertsRoger Luckhurst is a Professor at Birkbeck, University of London. He specialises in literature, film and cultural history from the 19th century to the present. He has written many books and numerous articles on science fiction, horror and the Gothic.Sarah Artt is a Lecturer at Edinburgh Napier University. She has taught courses on Frankenstein in film and literature and co-led a 3 year project titled The Age of Frankenstein which examined the origins and legacy of the story. Her book Quiet Pictures comes out in May 2024. Chapters00:00 Introduction, thank you and guests02:08 The origin of the monster04:51 Mary Godwin: not your average 19th century girl06:22 The monster is still with us10:16 Mary Shelley as the monster: my hackneyed take14:23 The ultimate goth princess15:02 Knowledge and punishment16:37 The horror film genre20:12 Frankenstein’s monster: a child of revolution!23:16 Why we love monsters29:58 James Whale and the Bride of Frankenstein31:38 Godzilla, B movies and pod people35:50 The Stepford Wives39:18 The slave becomes the master40:08 Burning cross, lynching and the mob42:59 Conclusions: class, prejudice and eugenics46:06 RecommendationsNext episodeThe next film we will be covering is Just Imagine (1930). Is is a musical, rom-com sci-fi set in 1980. You can watch it here: https://archive.org/details/JustImagine_201701*Correction: I wrongly say at 02:37 that Mary Shelley is 16 or 17 years old when they arrive at Villa Diodati but she is 18.Send me a text message.