We finally got around to Netflixing Tim Burton’s animated film, Frankenweenie. The original Frankenstein is a cautionary tale with a definite message about science: be careful what you create! As an homage to vintage horror films, perhaps Frankenweenie doesn’t need to espouse a particular view on science, but it does, in a sewn-together-from-various-parts sort of way.
As you may recall, one of the things I cover in this blog is portrayal of the scientific process in popular culture aimed at kids. I understand that in a fantasy or sci-fi movie, nature works differently. I have no problem with stories about impossible things, such as the re-animation of a dead dog. I’m happy to suspend disbelief to enjoy a ripping yarn. My concern is with the way scientific investigation is portrayed; in particular how Hollywood tends to spread certain misconceptions. Frankenweenie starts to get it right, but disappoints as well. So here we go…
