This is my first time making a commonplace book, so I’m sorry if it’s wrong or weird.
As I was scrolling through the cultural documents and illustrations section of the Frankenstein text, I was surprised to see the inclusion of the Monster High doll, Frankie Stein. The brand was mentioned because the doll is a creation based off Frankenstein’s monster, but as a teenage girl. As a kid, I loved these dolls; I collected them and their accessories, I had a favorite character, and I kept up with the online animated show they publish semi-frequently. I played with them by myself and with a friend or two. I connected with this doll brand way more than I ever did with Barbie or Polly Pocket, mostly due to their intricate designs and backstories. ‘Frankie Stein’ was not a character I particularly liked. The show characterized her as a sort-of-shy-but-also-charismatic type who is ‘the new kid’ at the high school. She’s clumsy, always losing a hand or something, and her design just wasn’t very special to me. Compared to the other monsters you could purchase dolls of, the sea monster and werewolf were much more appealing.
I wonder if now, after reading the source material of Frankenstein and the context around it, I would feel differently about the character Frankie Stein. Would there be references in the show I didn’t understand before? Would the writing and design choices make more sense?
