 What is a Lens and Artifact Analysis? 
Mercy B. Jackson
1/8/2021 12:22:45 pm
While reading Frankenstein, I often found myself sympathizing with the creature rather than Victor, and looking at the situation on January 6th, I feel the same way. Trump is Victor Frankenstein, and his followers are his creation. They have been brainwashed by lies and false hopes for so long, they believe there is only one way for America to exist—one way for them to live—and that is with Trump as president. He made them this way, and now, not only is he suffering the consequences of his actions by being impeached, but so are his followers by being arrested for following his direction, just as the Creature was forced into a life of isolation and misery, even though he never asked to be created in the first place.
Bessie Downse
1/8/2021 12:49:38 pm
The events that occurred on January 6th were catastrophic. Like all the events that took place in 2020, this day will go down in history. The current President, Donald Trump, was so upset about losing the 2020 election to his opponent, Joe Biden, that he encouraged his supporters to storm the capitol building. Thousands of people showed up with flags, MAGA hats and other merchandise, weapons, etc and broke in; putting everyone inside in danger. This can be directly related to the events that occurred in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. In the novel, Victor Frankentsein creates a creature that goes on to be the reason for his misery. However, this happens because Victor abandons him at a very young age. Arguable, this is the reason the creature becomes as destructive as he is. Like Trump’s supporters, the creature was influenced by Victor, who can be directly related to Trump, and he is to blame for all the destruction. They were just looking for a leader, just like the creature was. The reason why his supporters got so out of hand is because Trump specifically told him to do that; he caused the madness. On the other hand, it is possible that the rolls can be switched. Trump can be the one looking for validation from whomever he can find it, just like the creature seeks out validation from Victor. The disaster that occurred on Wednesday was horrific and easily avoidable similarly to the disasters in Frankenstein and there are many ways to view how they relate, but at the end of the day, they both ended up hurting many people unnecessarily.
Fanny Rysan Mulford Hitchcock
1/8/2021 01:43:55 pm
Frankenstein was written to illuminate the unknown, and its main themes include that of an abusive parent who projected his views onto his child. On January 6th, insurrectionists stormed the Capitol. The Creature can only be the rioters, but who Frankenstein is can vary. Frankenstein can represent a “rigged” election system or a leader who was so obsessed with himself he was unable to understand the needs of the people. It is evident that people think they have been abused and will do anything they can to try to get back at the people who have betrayed them.
Eliza Walker Dunbar
1/10/2021 11:35:10 pm
On Wednesday, January 6th, I believe we saw what happens when a group of people filled with panic decide to act on their fears. In the novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, the creature was basically just bits and pieces of random bodies. He wasn't a whole person yet, and he wouldn't be one for a while. I think the people who carried out the attack on the capital on January 6th are very similar to the creature. Ever since Former President Barack Obama was elected, things in America were going in the right direction. It seemed as if as a country we were making strides toward equality, for most of us this was a good thing, but for some this represented something much worse. Obama's election is what caused these people to hide who they were, they felt like individuals with the same fear, they just didn't know it yet. It wasn't until Former President Trump was elected that these people felt connected, he put them together, like Frankenstein did with the creature. There was finally a sense of unity among a group who felts like scared, outcasts for so long. And now that they have found this new community, they don't want to lose it, the same way the creature doesn't want Frankenstein to end his life. They committed this attack because they're scared of what will happen if they're ripped apart and forced back into hiding while the rest of us continue trying to make America a better place.
Maria Gugelberg von Moos
1/11/2021 10:30:09 am
The events that took place on Wednesday, January 6th shook the nation. President Donald Trump's dedicated followers stormed the capitol in an act of "protest" against Joe Biden's presumed victory in the presidential election. The riot included looting, fighting, trespassing on federal property, etc. These domestic terrorists were almost escorted into the capitol with no one stopping them. This starkly contrasts with what happened at the Black Lives Matter peaceful protests that occurred over the past year. Those peaceful protesters were met with law enforcement, tear gas, rubber bullets, and much worse treatment than those who are causing actual harm. Connecting to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Trump and his supporters fit very well into that type of universe. Trump could be compared to Victor Frankenstein himself, the one who started it all. Just like how he instilled those emotions of fear and abandonment into the creature, Trump invoked similar feelings in those who follow him. They were afraid of the outcome of Biden in office and Trump only brainwashed them to become afraid of the future. The creature on the other hand, had put his trust into Frankenstein. That was all he knew how to do. He was distraught and lost when his creator had left him out to die. Trump supporters are similar to the creature because they're fighting against the idea that someone else will be in power simply because it would put them in some sort of "pain and suffering" as the creature did.
Gertud Woker
1/14/2021 12:12:13 am
The novel Frankenstein can be used as a lens for the events on January 6th, 2021, in a very purposeful way. The novel has various themes accompanying its character and overall message to the readers. The creature and Dr. Victor Frankenstein can be compared to the real world people that incited and carried out violence within the nation's capitol. President Trump can be compared to Frankenstein, as his controversial statements and actions have created and influenced the monster - his followers - to carry out violent actions against our government. However, the opposing viewpoint also has their own reasons for executing their actions, primarily the belief that the 2020 election was fraudulent, and by storming the capitol they were "protesting" the counting of Electoral Collage votes the government was performing to formally declare Joe Biden's victory. From their perspective, Trump supporters' Frankenstein must be the government, who they believe are stripping their rights away as the transfer of power begun. They themselves must be the creature as they feel that the government has abandoned them and left them to fight for their beliefs. I believe the abstract concept of Patriotism can also be applied as a lens to analyze the riots. Many see Trump as a patriot, no doubt. And his statements that encouraged his supporters to march down to Capitol Hill to support "our brave senators and congressmen and women" as was said was obviously, in they eyes of many, another "patriotic" act of the President. I believe that the rioters also consider themselves to be patriots, and this notion also ties into the concept of nationalism - patriotic feeling, principles, or efforts. The rioters believe that their actions were an effort on their part to combat the results of the "false" election results and the rights they believe are being taken away as a new administration - and furthermore - a new agenda rolls in. Ultimately, Frankenstein serves as a lens that criticizes the events of January 6th, 2021, while patriotism and nationalism support it.
Sofya Kovaleskaya
1/29/2021 05:07:09 am
In "Frankenstein," a creature was created that initially had no mind of its own. The creature was then neglected and forced to grow up the hard way--by being exposed to extreme human nature. The creator Frankenstein on the other hand, neglected his responsibilities until he was approached by the creature and feared for his life. The events that occurred on January 6th were sad and heartbreaking. In this case, the rioters or terrorists who stormed the Capitol could be considered as the creature. This is because they seem to be die-hard fans instead of citizens. Similar to the creature who trusted Frankenstein but was let down, these rioters have supported the former president of the United States regardless of his actions. They have blindly followed him without considering helpful or possible ways to improve the country. Therefore, it was no surprise that once again, they complied with their "creator" and took out their anger on the Capitol.
Clotilde Tembrani
2/1/2021 09:23:00 am
In Frankenstein we can see a monster create another monster. I feel as though that this is what has happened to this country in the last four years. Trump is Victor and his supporters are his creation per se. He was able to do what no one else has done in recent years. He was able to turn a whole country into darkness. We have never seen such radicalism from a group of people before and he has brainwashed them to do his bidding for him. His followers are suffering because of him being an imbecile and you sort of have to feel bad for them. They have been so brainwashed and now they are suffering by being arrested and killed in riots that he started AND promoted. Trump’s creation is causing this country harm and if things like this keep happening, then there is no telling what is going to happen. Comments are closed.
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