The Pen is Mightier Than the Sword: Frankenstein, the Enlightenment, & Today

Disregard for Nature

Enlightenment: colonialism, anthropocentrism

–

“Even broken in spirit as he is, no one can feel more deeply than he does the beauties of nature. The starry sky, the sea, and every sight afforded by these wonderful regions, seems still to have the power of elevating his soul from earth.” -Mary Shelley, Frankenstein

(Painting: View of the City of Edinburgh, Alexander Nasmyth)

Disregard for Nature

Today: climate change, deforestation, pollution

–

• Stories: 

  • The Lorax

  • WALL-E

  • Don’t Look Up

• Visual art: 

  • https://www.riseart.com/article/2485/9-artists-confronting-climate-change?srsltid=AfmBOorbpGvW-v5dLRFHK4tziwJlORnNzP8_SgPTQkhhHt4nZduO_yc_ 

  • https://art.rtistiq.com/en-us/blog/4-artworks-that-raise-awareness-for-environmental-issues?srsltid=AfmBOopygTVZb0Z16WpN_N3TAImS_Gia6iPNLHpC9EB-TWQAXRdfUVtC 

  • https://blog.artsper.com/en/lifestyle/10-socially-conscious-artists-creating-environmental-art/  

• Music: 

  • https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/tackle-climate-change/climate-change-stories/climate-change-songs/ 

  • https://www.ongoinghistoryofprotestsongs.com/2025/04/27/15-protest-songs-about-climate-change/ 

  • https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/best-earth-day-songs/ 

Extreme Technological Advancement

Enlightenment: gas turbines, batteries, vaccines

–

“I beheld the wretch – the miserable monster whom I had created.” -Mary Shelley, Frankenstein

(Painting: Rockets and Blue Lights, JMW Turner)

Extreme Technological Advancement

Today: AI, gene editing, weapons of mass destruction

–

• Stories:

  • The Matrix,

  • Jurassic Park

  • 2001: A Space Odyssey

• Visual art:

  • https://www.forbes.com/sites/lesliekatz/2024/07/17/human-intelligence-art-movement-takes-defiant-stand-against-ai/ 

  •  https://www.davidzwirner.com/artists/jordan-wolfson 

  • https://theweek.com/political-satire/1023966/5-ominously-funny-cartoons-about-ai 

• Music: 

  • https://americansongwriter.com/4-classic-rock-songs-pondering-the-realities-and-impact-of-technology/

  • https://www.reddit.com/r/weirdspotifyplaylists/comments/1g8hd9u/give_me_songs_that_deal_with_the_dangers_of_ai/ 

  • https://www.reddit.com/r/musicsuggestions/comments/gpd30d/songs_about_technology/

Materialism

Enlightenment: economic growth, wealth, trade

–

“Frightful must it be, for supremely frightful would be the effect of any human endeavor to mock the stupendous mechanism of the Creator of the world.” -Mary Shelley, Frankenstein

(Painting: The Nightmare, Henry Fuseli)

Materialism

Today: influencer culture, corporate culture, class warfare

–

• Stories: 

  • The Substance

  • American Psycho

  • Fight Club

• Visual art: 

  • https://streetartutopia.com/2024/11/18/banksy-on-capitalism/ 

  • https://hyperallergic.com/596203/lisa-corinne-davis-all-shook-up-at-pamela-salisbury-gallery/ 

  • https://www.wbur.org/news/2019/07/31/this-art-exhibit-shows-makeup-is-political 

• Music: 

  • https://www.reddit.com/r/ifyoulikeblank/comments/ttg0ql/songs_that_talk_about_greed_and_consumerism_and/ 

  • https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6iutppvonYPjnw6L8zFvhu 

  • https://www.reddit.com/r/punk/comments/1d17etp/songs_about_corporate_work_culture/ 

Social Isolation

Enlightenment: individual liberty, individualism

–

“I have one want which I have never yet been able to satisfy and the absence of the object of which I now feel as a most severe evil. I have no friend.” -Mary Shelley, Frankenstein

(Painting: Wanderer above the Sea of Fog, Caspar David Friedrich)

Social Isolation

Today: internet addiction, social media isolation

–

• Stories: 

  • The Substance

  • Black Mirror

  • Her

• Visual art: 

  • https://www.demilked.com/addiction-to-social-media-illustrations-brecht-vandenbroucke/ 

  • https://medium.com/calio-limited/the-social-paradox-street-art-exhibition-cb919775caa7 

  • https://news.wsu.edu/news/2019/10/31/wsu-fine-artist-explores-internet-addiction-paintings/ 

• Music: 

  • https://medium.com/@ryangargac/12-songs-about-digital-addiction-6d840b2a0034 

  • https://www.reddit.com/r/popheads/comments/o0kf22/song_about_isolation_and_friendships_in_the/ 

  • https://open.spotify.com/playlist/56o63mlqpLNnSDhlYsSNdz 

Hubris/Power Hunger

Enlightenment: rationalism, distance from the emotional/spiritual

–

“Seek happiness in tranquility, and avoid ambition, even if it be only the apparently innocent one of distinguishing yourself in science and discoveries.” -Mary Shelley, Frankenstein

(Painting: Newton, William Blake)

Hubris/Power Hunger

Today: political pursuit of power

–

• Stories:

  • 1984

  • The Handmaid’s Tale

  • The Hunger Games

• Visual art:

  • https://maddoxgallery.com/news/400-5-contemporary-political-art-pieces/ 

  •  https://www.1000museums.com/art-as-activism/ 

  • https://artslooker.com/en/protests-in-the-usa-seven-artists-criticising-the-american-government/ 

• Music:

  • https://www.radiox.co.uk/features/x-lists/best-protest-songs/ 

  • https://www.amnesty.org.au/10-songs-for-social-change/ 

  • https://www.reddit.com/r/MusicRecommendations/comments/1b98vh7/looking_for_songs_that_call_out_political_issues/