Editing 1589: Frankenstein
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | + | "{{w|Frankenstein|Frankenstein; or: A Modern Prometheus}}" is a novel by Mary Shelley published in 1818. In it, Victor Frankenstein is a human who creates a {{w|Frankenstein%27s_monster#Namelessness|monster}} (which is unnamed in the novel). In popular culture, "Frankenstein" is taken to be the name of the monster, not its creator. [[Randall]] is tired of hearing this error corrected, so he has created his own work of fiction, in which the monster is named Frankenstein. He rationalizes that it is now correct to call the monster Frankenstein, assuming that his comic strip is as authoritative as the original novel. "{{w|Canonical}}" (rule, standard) means that this comic should be used as the authoritative work on the naming of the monster. | |
− | + | The {{w|Public_domain|copyright}} on Mary Shelley's novel has expired long ago, so it is perfectly legal to create works derived from the original story. It should be noted however, that Universal holds the copyright on the common [https://www.plagiarismtoday.com/2011/10/24/how-universal-re-copyrighted-frankensteins-monster/ image of the monster] (green skin, flat top head, scar, bolts on the neck and protruding forehead). To qualify as a {{w|derivative work}} the story needs to be substantially different from the original. The monster believing in {{w|moon landing conspiracy theories}} would probably qualify. Additionally, the original Frankenstein's monster was seen by its creator as hideous and repulsive due to its physical appearance despite the project being a success. In Randall's version, he makes the same correlation by having Frankenstein claim the moon landings were faked which by inference produces the same results in The Doctor. | |
− | + | The title text raises the question of what the monster's creator is named in this version, since the name "Frankenstein" is instead given to the monster. The canonical answer is that the creator is simply "The Doctor", like the title character of the series {{w|Doctor_Who|"Doctor Who"}}. This might be a reference to similar pedantic nitpicking that occurs when that character is incorrectly referred to as "Doctor Who" rather than "The Doctor" which is in turn referenced in comic [[1221: Nomenclature]]. As it happens, people who make that mistake can also claim canonical support, in that some early episodes of the series list the character's name as "Doctor Who" in the credits. | |
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− | The title text raises the question of what the monster's creator is named in this version, since the name "Frankenstein" is instead given to the monster. The canonical answer is that the creator is simply "The Doctor", like the title character of the series {{w|Doctor_Who|"Doctor Who"}}. This might be a reference to similar pedantic nitpicking that occurs when that character is incorrectly referred to as "Doctor Who" rather than "The Doctor" which is in turn referenced in comic [[1221: Nomenclature]]. As it happens, people who make that mistake can also claim canonical support, in that some early episodes of the series list the character's name as "Doctor Who" in the credits | ||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
:[A text only panel. Between the last two lines is a lightning bolt.] | :[A text only panel. Between the last two lines is a lightning bolt.] | ||
:Like many people, I'm tired of the nitpicking about Frankenstein's monster's name. | :Like many people, I'm tired of the nitpicking about Frankenstein's monster's name. | ||
− | :Luckily, | + | :Luckily, Frankenstein is public domain. |
:Therefore, I present | :Therefore, I present | ||
− | : | + | :XKCD's |
:'''''Frankenstein''''' | :'''''Frankenstein''''' | ||
:(''The monster's name'') | :(''The monster's name'') | ||
Line 42: | Line 28: | ||
:Frankenstein: ''Raaaar''! | :Frankenstein: ''Raaaar''! | ||
:Cueball: To be clear, your name is ''Frankenstein'', canonically. | :Cueball: To be clear, your name is ''Frankenstein'', canonically. | ||
− | :Frankenstein: ''Graaaaar''! | + | :Frankenstein: ''Graaaaar''! |
− | :Frankenstein: | + | :Frankenstein: ''The moon landings were faked''! |
− | :Cueball: | + | :Cueball: Wait, what? |
:[Another text only panel. The first word is written between two curvy lines.] | :[Another text only panel. The first word is written between two curvy lines.] | ||
:'''Fin.''' | :'''Fin.''' | ||
:There. | :There. | ||
− | :Feel free to call the monster "Frankenstein. | + | :Feel free to call the monster "Frankenstein". |
:If anyone tries to correct you, just explain that this comic is your canonical version. | :If anyone tries to correct you, just explain that this comic is your canonical version. | ||
:Thank you. | :Thank you. | ||
{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
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[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | ||
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