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In-class writing Notes

In-class work 4/26

 

  1. As a group, select a text we have read that interests you.
  2. Do a Google image search and select a cover image.
  3. Analyze the choices the artist makes to represent the novel. What themes are represented? What themes are neglected? What “argument” is the artist making about the novel?

5 replies on “In-class work 4/26”

Members: Wenting W, Erica S, Vincent P, Christopher S

1. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

2. Cover image we selected:

3. There are a lot of themes going on in the cover we selected, specifically Victor Frankenstein is shown on the cover in his lab with smoke coming out of a container to the left of Victor Frankenstein. The smoke that emerges from this container becomes the face of the creature who is watching Victor Frankenstein in his lab. Additionally, the grave yard on the right of the cover symbolizes death. The vials with various colored liquids, one of them are red symbolizing blood that made up the creature, a flask, and a mortar and pestle symbolizes science and the tools used to create the creature. Frankenstein’s home, the castle is also seen in the back of the cover on a mountain.

We analyzed two book covers of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In the first cover we analyzed that Dr. Jekyll appears tall, powerful, smart and opaque, while mr. Hyde is hunched over behind him appearing smaller with an evil look in his face. Mr. Hyde also appears transparent as if he is coming out from Dr. Jeyklls body. The two are facing opposite directions so it shows that the two may never meet. The picture looks like it is taken place inside Dr. Jekylls office/lab where there is a painting of a lighthouse is hung on the wall. The lighthouse may represent Dr. Jekylls navigation forward through rough waters of trying to balance out his two egos. There also is a man in the window who looks like he may be searching for someone, perhaps a criminal. In the second book cover we analyzed the dark colors, and it shows Dr. Jekyll walking alone at night with a giant shadow following him that appears animalistic and evil. Mr. Hydes shadow here appears bigger than Dr. Jekyll compared to the other book cover where Dr. Jekyll appeared larger, which shows that there is a possibility that Mr. Hyde is stronger and more powerful than Dr. Jekyll. In both covers they both appear as gothic novels, where Mr. Hyde is transparent throughout whether big or small.

Julianne F. Sara B, Sarah S.

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1440&bih=749&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=3y7iWuuyBIy45gLT9quICQ&q=dr+jekyll+and+mr+hyde+book+cover&oq=dr+jek&gs_l=psy-ab.3.1.0j0i67k1j0j0i67k1j0j0i67k1l3j0l2.780378.784094.0.785738.7.7.0.0.0.0.97.541.6.7.0….0…1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.6.541.0…48.PavNuz9BJT8#imgrc=aaLZxrwSXt1TqM:

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1440&bih=749&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=3y7iWuuyBIy45gLT9quICQ&q=dr+jekyll+and+mr+hyde+book+cover&oq=dr+jek&gs_l=psy-ab.3.1.0j0i67k1j0j0i67k1j0j0i67k1l3j0l2.780378.784094.0.785738.7.7.0.0.0.0.97.541.6.7.0….0…1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.6.541.0…48.PavNuz9BJT8#imgrc=P1-hLcG0kh7M2M:

Good observations! It seems like this cover is able to make a lot of allusions very efficiently — connecting the novel to transformation narratives in folklore while situating the tale within a Victorian aesthetic.

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