Prof. Dr. Matthias Hurst publishes new essay on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and its filmic adaptations

A new essay by Porf. Dr. Matthias Hurst has been published in the book Der künstliche Mensch. Vom Nutzen und Nachteil eines Menschheitstraums (The Artificial Human. On the Advantages and Disadvantages of a Human Dream), edited by Dieter Borchmeyer.

Hurst's essay “Frankensteins Erben. Mary Shelleys Roman und seine filmischen Adaptionen (“Frankenstein’s Heirs. Mary Shelley’s novel and its filmic adaptations") explores the historical and intellectual origins of Shelley’s famous novel about the ambitious scientist Frankenstein, the “modern Prometheus” who wants to defeat death by creating artificial life out of dead body parts, and his creature who shares the existential fate of humanity by feeling lonely and abandoned by his creator. The essay discusses crucial themes and motifs of the gothic story, the complexity and interrelations of the so called “Frankenstein network” in (popular) culture as well as stage adaptations and many of the film versions of the Frankenstein story, including Thomas Alva Edison’s short film from 1910, James Whale’s classic adaptation from 1931, the series of British Hammer horror films (1957 – 1974), Andy Warhol’s decadent and gory Flesh for Frankenstein (1973), the uninhibited Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) and Kenneth Branagh’s epic Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994). Highlighting the deadly struggle between Frankenstein and his monstrous creation and the significance of the horrifying and tragic story for our modern post-enlightenment times, the paper also shows how different (social, political, philosophical, psychological, sexual) aspects of this modern myth are being presented and emphasized in different film adaptations, featuring a variety of aesthetic styles, narrative dimensions, and symbolic connotations.

The volume as a whole addresses artificial intelligence, with its pervasive and ever more omnipotent impact on all areas of life, and looks back at one of humanity's oldest dreams: the creation of an artificial human. It offers a journey through the history of this dream in mythology, art, and literature from antiquity to the present day. Contributions from the various humanities disciplines are complemented by those from the perspective of modern technology and natural sciences, especially molecular biology, as well as by those concerning the visions, dangers, and ethical problems of artificial intelligence. This book comprehensively addresses the topic of artificial humans and artificial intelligence in all its scientific facets. It pioneeringly bridges the gap between the two still often alien cultures of the humanities and natural sciences.

Post Date: 05-04-2026