Life Magazine - Frankenstein: the Man, the Monster, the Legacy

Life Magazine - Frankenstein: the Man, the Monster, the Legacy

Celebrating 200 years of Frankenstein

This entire edition of Life magazine dedicates itself to celebrating 200 years of Frankenstein, as well as uncovering why the monster has lasted such a long time. The publication is split into three sections, the first titled “A Monster is Born” explores the life and trials of Mary Shelley, and the circumstances that led her to create a novel that would have a lasting grip on cultures across the globe. This section features several stunning pieces of art history and even a bit of Greek mythology. The next section is labeled “Frankenstein Becomes a Star” and ventures into the world of cinema, detailing the countless film adaptations of Shelley’s riveting novel. This section is littered with iconic black and white film stills as well as colorful movie posters that all contribute to the longevity of the monster and it’s lasting presence in the world of broadcasting and cinematic arts. The third and final section, aptly named “The Monster Who Won’t Die” takes a look at how this iconic creature jumped from literature, to film, to an entire array of platforms like sitcoms, musicals, comic books, and even classic comedy. Frankenstein has been warped and re-animated in a hundred different ways as a non-human actor moving freely through space and time, appearing in children’s cartoons and burlesque shows, inspiring musical productions and even crossing cultural borders and transcending ideas of nation and state. The publication itself acts as an exhibition, coming into contact with several other items in this digital exhibit. This piece truly does a wonderful job of capturing the creature in its many forms across these past 200 years, and is a crucial piece of a larger collection that explores why a monster created by a teenage girl has shaped the world forever.

Hunter McLaren

Published by LIFE BOOKS, an imprint of Time Inc.

October 12th, 2018

English