Browsing by Author "Tiffin, Jessica"

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    Frankenstein: a monstrous romanticism
    (2010) Königkrämer, Lobke; Tiffin, Jessica; Clarkson, Carrol
    The purpose of this thesis is to examine the relationship between Mary Shelley's first novel Frankenstein and her own understanding of Romanticism. The overarching theme is to illustrate how Mary Shelley navigates her criticism of Romanticism through the medium of Victor Frankenstein as a character. With the inspection of Victor Frankenstein some autobiographical similarities are drawn between the protagonist and Percy Bysshe Shelley. Another aim and extension of this autobiographical project is to examine how Percy Shelley's editing of the original manuscript of Frankenstein added or detracted from the plot. Finally, the genre implications of Frankenstein are examined in this thesis. In the first chapter, Romanticism is examined in relation to how the Romantics themselves envisioned their ideology so as to ascertain which aspects Mary Shelley draws particular attention to. The Romantic theorists used in this section specifically, Abercrombie and Schueller, are used to highlight the fact that Romanticism can be defined as a unified system of belief. Certain tenets of this ideology are then shown to be the main points that Mary Shelley criticises. In the second chapter, the autobiographical element of Mary Shelley's relationship with Percy Shelley is examined. The parallels between Victor Frankenstein and Percy Shelley are made apparent through the use of biographers Hoobler and Seymour. From that, the precise changes that Percy Shelley made to the original manuscript of Frankenstein are scrutinised with Mellor's insightful explication of the original that exists in the Bodleian Library. The conclusion of this chapter solidifies the argument of the first chapter, and as close attention is paid throughout both chapters to the novel as a primary source of confirmation, the complex navigations and articulations of Romanticism throughout Frankenstein are made apparent. In the third chapter, attention is given specifically to the genre implications of Frankenstein, and the relationship and consistent oscillation between Romanticism and the Gothic is traced. The theorists used in this part of the thesis vary widely and include Botting, Golinski and Alwes. It is argued that in her destabilisation of Romanticism, Mary Shelley invariably incorporates the Gothic into her text. It is this complex weaving of genres which is particularly interesting in relation to how Mary Shelley's disillusionment with Romanticism produces a text that has such a vast array of genre possibilities. Finally, this thesis looks at the negative interpretation of Romanticism specifically in relation to Mary Shelley's critical expressions of its ideology in Frankenstein. As a cautionary tale, the consequences of Romantic principles unchecked by a societal conscience, Mary Shelley seems to have used Frankenstein as a way of expressing her disillusionment. The repercussions of what ultimately is an original story of a scientist who unleashes his creation without concern for its welfare are still present in the common consciousness of modern society.
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    From demon to god : the evolution of the vampire in literature.
    (2012) Palfi, Benike; Tiffin, Jessica
    Vampires may be centuries-old mythological creatures, but depictions thereof abound in our modern society in literature, film, and television. The prevalence of the vampire is related to its enormous symbolic power to reflect socio-cultural conditions of society at the time of its creation, which not only determines how the vampire figure has changed within modern literary history, but also makes it possible to pinpoint certain social conditions influencing this change. The aspects of religion and capitalism, and, directly associated with this, consumerism, emerge as particularly relevant when analysing the changes of the fictional vampire, as they are both effective measures of socio-cultural circumstances and have been associated with the vampire figure - in terms of its creation, nature, and specific characteristics - in the history of mythology and literature. It is through tracing the themes of religion and capitalism within primary vampire texts at key moments in history that a greater understanding of how and why the vampire figure has changed may be gained.
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    The magical land : ecological consciousness in fantasy romance
    (1995) Tiffin, Jessica; Cartwright, John
    The modern genre of fantasy romance is a relatively recent development in popular literature, and one which is gaining increasing popularity. In its contemporary form, fantasy romance has developed from earlier fantasy and romance forms, and a generic base which includes romance, comedy and pastoral can be identified. Conventional fantasy romance is concerned with the defense of a magical land, characterised in terms of beauty, health and balance, from some destructive threat. This concern with the health of the land reflects modern ecological consciousness and awareness of potential environmental destruction. Ecological awareness can be traced through critical analysis of various works of fantasy romance. J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, as the text which marked the beginning of the modern fantasy romance form, shows the potential for ecological awareness in the genre, although Tolkien's cultural context of post-war England in some ways inhibits ecological consciousness in the narrative. The development of a more modern ecological consciousness is studied through investigation of the Riddlemaster trilogy of Patricia A. McKillip, which shows a more abstracted sense of environmental destruction expressed through a concern with power and identity. Stephen Donaldson's Chronicles of Thomas Covenant provides a narrative awareness of generic convention which could be construed as postmodern. Derrida's deconstruction of the notion of genre allows an interesting insight into Donaldson's processes of generic mixing, although the narrative's success is ultimately compromised by Donaldson's lack of authorial control. Sheri S. Tepper's True Game series displays a highly contemporary conflation of ecological concerns with those of feminism, as the destructive impulses of largely male competitiveness are contrasted to an organic and intuitive female response to the land. Orson Scott Card's Alvin Maker series, in its depiction of an alternative settler America, integrates ecological concerns with those of racial harmony, while his construction of a messianic hero recalls Card's own Mormon background. Finally, some attention is given to fantasy romance as a potentially escapist genre rather than one which inspires actual ecological awareness, and links are made with popular elements in the ecological movement itself. The thesis concludes by proposing the relevance of fantasy romance's magical land as a regenerative ideal of health and beauty in an increasingly ugly and ecologically deteriorating modern environment.
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    Marvellous geometry : narrative and metafiction in modern fairy tale
    (2003) Tiffin, Jessica
    Despite the age of the fairy-tale tradition, and its focus on fairly primitive aspects of human experience, fairy tale is able to adapt itself to a range of cultures and contexts, including numerous examples in the twentieth century. Various authors and film-makers are reasserting the power and value of the fairy tale as a response even to the uncertain and ironic experience of contemporary culture. The suitability of fairy tale to modern texts rests partially in its qualities of inherentmetafictionality, the extent to which it self-consciously denies mimesis. This gives it particular relevance to postmodernism, as does the structuredness which facilitates self-aware play with genre. At the same time, the status of oral fairy tale as a folk form connects interestingly with postmodernism's blurring of the boundaries between high and low culture. This has particular implications for the presence of fairy tale within texts traditionally considered as popular culture, herethe fantasy/science fiction ghetto, and the Hollywood film. This thesis chooses to focus on texts which attempt to write actual fairy tale, rather than those which use fairy-tale motifs thematically. In making this distinction, attention is paid to particular aspects of recognisable fairy-tale texture, that is, overall effect, which relies on elements of pattern, structure, simplification, symbolism, ahistorisicim, the construction of a removed and marvellous world, and a tone of certainty which necessitates a response of accepting wonder in the reader.
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    The monsters we deserve: vampires in selected literature & film
    (2013) Tiffin, Jessica
    Vampires have been a staple of horror literature for decades, but recently have emerged strongly in popular culture and are represented in a range of different ways. This audio lecture series by Dr Jessica Tiffin, Student Development Officer, Faculty of Humanities Undergraduate Office, University of Cape Town explores the figure of the vampire in Western culture, from its folkloric roots to modern literature and film.
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    Recovery, escape and consolation in the secondary worlds of The Lord of the Rings
    (2008) Hazekamp, Robyn; Tiffin, Jessica
    J.R.R. Tolkien's essay "On Fairy-Stories" lays out three essential functions that all good fairy stories should fulfil: recovery, escape, and consolation. To carry out these functions, the fairy story needs to create a believable Secondary World that is separate from the Primary World in which we live. In fact, Tolkien does this on two levels: the Secondary World of Middle-earth, and the inner Secondary World of the Elves.