Friday, October 28, 2005
The Bride of Frankenstein
The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) was interesting. If the monster was pathetic in the original, he was even more so in the sequel. Woody Allen could have almost done this one. Talk about a guy having trouble getting a date, the monster gets to special-order a monster mate just for himself and even she doesn’t want him. A lot of men know how he feels. Besides, since when does she get a choice? It’s as if Eve didn’t want Adam. Look, you’re the only two monsters in the laboratory. You’ve got to get along. Maybe Elsa Lanchester was playing hard to get. I know Karloff was coming on a little strong, but don’t be so dainty. After all, you’re a monster too. Of course Karloff is doomed to be frustrated to the very end. His only recourse is to blow the laboratory to kingdom come, killing himself and his bride. A natural resolution to a very unnatural situation, I suppose.
I’m afraid we are taking Mother Nature and turning her into the bride of Frankenstein. Nature, in her most natural form, consists of many elements, among which are wind, rain, birds in the sky, plants in the fields. Now we are taking transgenic crops, monsters, and putting them into the fields. Nature, in many ways, cannot reject these crops. Many of her processes are automatic, indiscriminate, and so the wind and the rain and the birds all help spread these monsters across the face of the land. And wherever a monster treads there are monsters left behind. Nothing can withstand monsters, especially when ignorance and apathy reign. And so one day there will be only monsters, and no one around who remembers how things used to be.
April 2001
I’m afraid we are taking Mother Nature and turning her into the bride of Frankenstein. Nature, in her most natural form, consists of many elements, among which are wind, rain, birds in the sky, plants in the fields. Now we are taking transgenic crops, monsters, and putting them into the fields. Nature, in many ways, cannot reject these crops. Many of her processes are automatic, indiscriminate, and so the wind and the rain and the birds all help spread these monsters across the face of the land. And wherever a monster treads there are monsters left behind. Nothing can withstand monsters, especially when ignorance and apathy reign. And so one day there will be only monsters, and no one around who remembers how things used to be.
April 2001
