research plan

I intend to work on the representation of monsters, in specific film, Big hero 6. Firstly, I will define the monsters. The monsters are not particular beasts that we image before. The monsters can be ghosts, leviathons / behemoths—anything from Mothra to Dragons or science fiction related monsters such as artificial intelligence and cyborgs. The main monster I analyze in Big Hero 6 is an artificial robot. The purpose of this literature analysis research will be to explore change of the representation of monsters.

        The purpose of this research is to explore change of the representation of monsters. Hence I will focus on the different representation of the monsters in different time. The central research question is why the change of the representation of monsters takes place. I will try to look for some causes leading to the change of the representation of the monsters. And I want to gather information about the old representation of the monsters and the new representation. I also want to answer what the change of representation of monsters implies or what the meanings of the change of representation of monsters are.

        The method I use is textual analysis. I will analyze some monsters in these films: Edward Scissorhands, Godzilla, Beowulf. I will compare the monsters appearing in these films with Baymax that is the monster in Big Hero 6. From analyzing these different kinds of monsters, I can explore the change of representation of the monsters. Also I will look at other authors’ point about the representation of the monsters. I will search some articles or books in online databases, such as MLA International Bibliography and Academic Search Premier.

key terms

The change of the representation of monsters

Change: transformation/ conversion/ variation/ shift/ transmutation/ switch/ alteration/ turn/ evolution/ mutation

Representation: image/ embodiment/ implication/ symbol/ idea/ denotation/ signification/ meaning/ expression/ suggestion

Revised draft of "Dearth"

It is the link of revised draft:
https://docs.google.com/a/kean.edu/document/d/1Qm9eCeMK1S9VS83Rwx_ZuGOr9PZBnTsk1yGqiKTwUHU/edit?usp=sharing

Purpose Statement and Research Question

The purpose of this literature analysis research will be to explore change of the representation of monsters.

Central phenomenon: The new representation of monsters are hopes, helps, dreams, desires and humanity. （Example: In the Big Hero 6, Baymax is a personal healthcare companion, virtually an artificial robot.）The new representation no longer highlights fear like before.

Central question: Why the change of the representation of monsters takes place?

Sub-questions: 1) What is the old representation of monsters?

                         2) What is the new representation of monsters?

                                             3) What does the change of representation of monsters imply? / What are the meanings of the change of representation of monsters?

three moments in Big Hero 6

Text: Big hero 6

Element: Baymax—personal healthcare companion, virtually an artificial robot

1)      When Tadashi (Hiro’s elder brother) took Hiro (main character) to the robotics center at his university, Hiro met Baymax for the first time. Tadashi hurt Hiro on purpose, Baymax appeared to check the rate of his pain. Then Baymax found the place of Hiro’s hurt by scanning his body and used anti-bacterial spray to alleviate his pain.

2)      After Tadashi’s death, Hiro and Baymax lived together. One day, they discovered that someone had been mass-producing Hiro's microbots: swarms of tiny robots that could link together in any arrangement imaginable. And they were attacked by a Kabuki-masked man who was in control of microbots. To catch the man and protect themselves, Hiro equipped Baymax with armor and a battle chip containing various karate moves.

3)      Hiro and Baymax destroyed the microbots (becoming mask man’s weapon to hurt them); but the teleportation's portal (time-spatial diversion machine) remains active. Baymax detected Abigail (vanished test pilot) alive inside, and he and Hiro leaped into the portal to rescue her. After the thrusters on his damaged armor fail, Baymax used his armor's rocket fist to propel them back towards the portal opening, and stayed behind. Baymax sacrificed himself to save Hiro and Abigail.

CFP & 5 texts/subjects

Category: Film and television:

1)      Monsters of Film, Fiction, and Fable: The Cultural Links between the Human and Inhuman (Edited Collection)

This proposed collection will explore the cultural implications of and the societal fears and desires associated with the literal monsters of fiction, television, and movies, focusing specifically on the monsters of modernism and postmodernism.

Particular monsters should be related to in articles:

- Ghosts

- Leviathans/behemoths—anything from Mothra to Dragons

- Science Fiction related monsters such as artificial intelligence and cyborgs

Category: Romantic

2)      Toy Stories: The Toy as Hero (Collection)

The purpose is to examine the toys as heroes.

Analyzing the toys as:

-protectors of the children they love

-heroes of their own stories

-champions for the greater good.

Category: Children literature

3)      Revenge conference

This interdisciplinary conference will ask who seeks revenge and why, how it is done, how it is justified, how it is represented, how it feels to get revenge or be on the receiving end.

Topics including but not limited to:

-interpersonal revenge, state revenge, collective punishment

-technologies of revenge

-revenge cultures, blood feuds, and informal justice

-revenge, politics and world history

-revenge, terrorism, armed conflict and retaliation

-the personal and social costs of revenge

-revenge, justice and injustice

-revenge in art, literature and media

 

1.        Big hero 6: The cultural implication of Baymax in postmodernism

X: Baymax of Big hero 6

Y: A medical assistant; super hero; sacrifice

2.        The revengers: The justification of revenge

X: Six heroes of The Avengers

Y: the Tesseract; Loki; agency S.H.I.E.L.D;

3.        Edward Scissorhands: The implied identity of Edward Scissorhands

X: Edward Scissorhands

Y: scissorhands; gardening; Ice sculpture

4.        Ted (film): The companion of growth-up road

X: Teddy (Ted)

Y: meteor; dissipated life; revival

5.        The Velveteen Rabbit: The champion for the greater good

X: Velveteen rabbit

Y: favorite toy; scarlet fever; “Real”

Yang Danna's analysis of "dearth", final draft

https://docs.google.com/a/kean.edu/document/d/1LaH3rHoW_5y7FM1qmu2nWf5MYRv1twpOubnb7jneUl0/edit?usp=sharing

analysis of Dearth

https://docs.google.com/a/kean.edu/document/d/1LaH3rHoW_5y7FM1qmu2nWf5MYRv1twpOubnb7jneUl0/edit?usp=sharing