Film is a primary source of entertainment because it allows audiences to escape to different worlds, experience new cultures and live the lives of popular characters. With this, many films have taken inspiration or influence from existing intellectual properties to create a new visual interpretation of the source material. The reshaping of classic literature into box office hits has been happening in Hollywood for decades. However, few people realize the impact this has on the public perception of the original story. This can be seen heavily in the era of  “The Golden Age of Monster Movies” or when Universal Studios started producing some of the most iconic monster films of all time. Some of these include Frankenstein, Dracula, The Creature of the Black Lagoon, and The Invisible Man to name a few. Universal Studios set the precedent for the monster genre and used many existing intellectual properties to influence their films. Because of this, people’s initial perception of the content shifted from the original books to the reinvisioned movies. The movies made the characters more accessible and moved them from classic literature to popular culture, shaping how people viewed these now-recognizable characters.

A prime example of how society's perception of a story can be altered from the canon literature is seen in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. When someone says the word Frankenstein, what image appears? A giant green monster with bolts in his neck and stitches across his forehead? Well, technically, that is not Frankenstein. Frankenstein is the doctor, and the monster is simply referred to as Dr. Frankenstein’s monster. However, after the release of the famous Universal Pictures film Frankenstein in 1931, People started using the name to refer to the monster instead. But it’s not just the designation that changed. In the film, Dr. Frankenstein’s monster is portrayed as a savage brute with the brain of a killer; he’s a witless, confused creature despite being portrayed as intelligent and calculating in Mary Shelley’s novel. In the book, the monster gives multiple monologues and contemplates the perplexity of his existence, but due to the film, many people see the character as a brainless monstrosity. After the film changed his appearance, intelligence and morality, the perception of who Frankenstein’s monster was changed entirely in the public eye. Since then, many other mediums have taken inspiration from the film to interpret the monster in their own way.

Movies are one of the most powerful storytelling mediums and can act as a mirror reflecting the culture of a particular time. Film can reflect concerns, attitudes, flaws and strengths that we encounter in everyday life and display them in a way that catches one’s attention more favorably than when experiencing them. Because of this, many people can be influenced by film and what is depicted on the screen. The public’s perception of concepts, characters and stories may vary and change as time goes on, but film has a way of setting a benchmark for how specific ideas get portrayed.

Written by Lauren Carmona & Design: Mila Blank