History and Purpose of Cultural Theory
The first edition of Frankenstein was written in 1818, a period that overlaps with England’s Industrial Revolution. The era included changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technological innovations that transformed society. While the printing press had existed for a few centuries, access to books and other forms of literature remained limited for the vast majority of society. However, a transition occurred in the literary world. From the “high brow” poetry of the Restoration Era to the more serialized narratives that emerged in newspapers and the popularity of novels, the mass reading public began to consume stories. Rather than enlightenment or education, thrillers and romances served as a form of entertainment and the new genres captured the attention of English readers.
The people of England maintained an innovative, pioneer-like mindset that instigated the flourishment of capitalism and a middle class. Nonetheless, progress also resulted in disconcerting social traditions. As the people gradually built a better standard of living, dogmatic principles oppressed the minority. The phenomenon known as herd behavior existed from the beginnings of civilization; Industrial England was also subject to the this behavior. As people conformed to the rise of machines, the idea of a group emerged as an essential socio-cultural unit. 19th-century French social psychologist Gabriel Tarde and Gustave Le Bon described the collaborative efforts as “mob mentality.”
The people of England maintained an innovative, pioneer-like mindset that instigated the flourishment of capitalism and a middle class. Nonetheless, progress also resulted in disconcerting social traditions. As the people gradually built a better standard of living, dogmatic principles oppressed the minority. The phenomenon known as herd behavior existed from the beginnings of civilization; Industrial England was also subject to the this behavior. As people conformed to the rise of machines, the idea of a group emerged as an essential socio-cultural unit. 19th-century French social psychologist Gabriel Tarde and Gustave Le Bon described the collaborative efforts as “mob mentality.”