Frankenstein a Modern Myth Analysis

Type, Themes, Narrative Structure

The Frankenstein documentary is a mixed type of documentary as it includes a variety of content such as a variety of interviews, archive material and actuality footage.

The main themes that are portrayed in the documentary are the interpretation of the text in the different eras, feminism, mythology that surrounds Frankenstein and literature.

The narrative structure in the documentary is non-linear as it does not follow a chronological order instead it goes back and forth in the different themes. The documentary is also closed as it does not leave any questions unanswered, and it's also single stranded as there is only one narrative thread.

Camerawork

This documentary is a widescreen production which means that the interview set-up is slightly different to a normal interview set up.

Because of that the framing of the interviewee is slightly off centre instead of being to the side, but it still follows the rule of thirds.

The interview set up is usually a close-up, medium close-up or mid shot which follows the codes and conventions of a documentary.

The background of the interviewee is out of focus and the interviewee is in focus, so this make it seems more like a film and it gives a shallow depth of feel.

An over the shoulder shot is used when showing the original transcripts, and the background is left in darkness.

Mise-En-Scene There is the use of artificial lighting that is ambient so it does not look as

harsh and it gives the feel of natural lightening. The background is darker so that the interviewee or thing discussed is in focus.

The background is always relevant to the thing being spoken about.

The library of Oxford have been shown as that’s where original transcripts are.

Sound There is a voiceover who is a male that speaks in Standard English so it

is easily understood by everyone and so the audience can understand what is going on.

There is also a song playing during the credits which is called Monster Mash.

Archive Material

There is footage from the Frankenstein Film

A lot of back and white film

Scenes from making of the book of Mary Shelly

Mc Jagger concert

Footage of people challenging society- punks

Books, paintings, and photographs of the writer

Graphics

The name of the interviewee with subtitle of relevance to the topic and who they are, this has been done in a simple font.

The title is a graphic design with different fonts.