Projects

A Year Without a Winter

A Year Without a Winter brings together science fiction, history, visual art, and exploration. Inspired by the literary dare that would give birth to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein amidst the aftermath of a massive volcanic eruption, and today, by the utopian architecture of Paolo Soleri and the Arizona desert, as well as expeditions to Antarctica and Indonesia, this collection reframes the relationship among climate, crisis, and creation.

The Rightful Place of Science: Frankenstein

Edited by Megan Halpern, Joey Eschrich, and Jathan Sadowski

Two hundred years after its publication, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus continues to speak to modern concerns about science, technology, and society. The story of Victor Frankenstein and his creature has become a cultural touchstone through myriad theatrical renditions, movies, and other adaptations and allusions. But Shelley’s original tale is richer and more relevant to contemporary issues than the common interpretation of Frankenstein as a warning against scientific hubris.

Frankenstein: Annotated for Scientists, Engineers, and Creators of All Kinds

This edition of Frankenstein pairs the original 1818 version of the manuscript—meticulously line-edited and amended by Charles E. Robinson, one of the world’s preeminent authorities on the text—with annotations and essays by leading scholars exploring the social and ethical aspects of scientific creativity raised by this remarkable story. The result is a unique and accessible edition of one of the most thought-provoking and influential novels ever written.

Futurography: The Spawn of Frankenstein

Futurography combines the storytelling techniques of journalism and the instructive capacity of an online course in an effort to inform readers about the technologies that will define tomorrow. Presented by Future Tense, a partnership of ASU, Slate magazine, and New America, Futurography is a series of month-long editorial packages featuring articles by experts along with supplementary materials like quizzes, surveys, interactive elements, videos, and even the occasional science fiction story.

The January 2017 installment of Futurography, “The Spawn of Frankenstein,” explored the cultural and scientific legacy of Frankenstein. The package features articles on modern-day biohacking; the need for open, transparent science; echoes of Victor and the creature in recent film and popular culture, from Ex Machina to Westworld; what artificial intelligence researchers can learn from Victor’s mistakes; ethical debates around animal vivisection in the 19th century; connections between Frankenstein and the anti-vaccine movement; and the evolving linguistic dynamics of the prefix Franken-, which has taken on a life of its own.

Frankenstein at 200

“Frankenstein at 200″ examines the conditions of Mary Shelley’s world that led her to pen the original tale, along with similar scientific, technological, and social quandaries of our modern era. Is a social media hashtag a living organism? Should a painting made by a robot be considered a work of art? And what new monsters might we imagine in response to emerging technologies and new scientific discoveries?

“Frankenstein at 200” included contributions from collaborators across multiple disciplines at ASU and pieces created by members of the local community. ASU contributors represent ASU Libraries; Barrett, The Honors College; the Center for Science and the Imagination; the Department of English; Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts; the School of Earth and Space Exploration; and the School for the Future of Innovation in Society.