The 1931 Frankenstein movie captivates this unfamiliar genre of horror that paves way to hundreds of movie directors and actors to unleash a new form of entertainment. Henry Frankenstein, an ambitious scientist, creates a man using dead body parts that he and his assistant dig up from a buried coffin. Dr.Frankenstein carry’s out unethical practices alongside Fritz whom is murdered later on in the movie. This all intertwines with the Critical Disability Theory in which Frankenstein’s monster can be studied under this category.
If we view this theory in the perspective of someone who lived in the 1900s, then we would notice that it wasn’t common to come across people who had a disability and I say this because to this day in the 21st century we don’t completely give people with disabilities equal opportunities. Frankenstein’s creation is viewed as a monster, but why is that? He was abandoned by his owner, by someone who was meant to play a father figure to him. Frankenstein’s monster didn’t know from right or wrong which led him to drowning the little innocent girl. Everyone in the village jumped to conclusions that he was a monster who killed peoples because he wanted to. No one took the time to think that Dr. Frankenstein was the true monster in the film.
As seen in the film, Frankenstein’s monster is scared of fire just like any human would be but being physically and mentally abused led him to build this anger within and murder Fritz. Some would say it’s • karma while others would say Fritz was innocent. This is the sad reality that people with a disability are seen as an outcast and stripped away from opportunities simply because they require a little more patience and time. One question I was left with is why is a human with disabilities consider horror? Is it because of their appearance or because of the way they acted? The bigger message that this iconic film reveals is isolation and what responsibility truly means. It was the responsibility of Dr. Frankenstein to “control” and discipline the human he created. This film opened a gateway to the horror genre as well as what the disability community goes through in a society that doesn’t fully accept them for who they are.
The genre of horror has been endured for several years because it brings an adrenaline rush that is enjoyable to certain people. The feeling of fear is present for a quick moment, but it’s a mindset that fear prevents you from overcoming the dark side of society. In other words, the alternative realities that these horror movies show, satisfy our curiosity with a pinch of fear. We all experience fear not only by watching horror movies, but doing things out of our comfort zone.
I totally agree with you and society’s treatment of both Frankenstein and disabled people is stigmatized and treated as outcasts. The movie draws more attention to isolation and the detrimental effects it has when we don’t accept people for who they are.
I agree that the critical disability theory is present in the movie. I think you bring up a good question on why someone with a disability is considered horror. I think that it has to do with the time period it was created in. I doubt the term disability was popular back then so to the audience it was just a monster.