October 11, 2022

"Who ya think Frankenstein'd vote for?"

That's one of 20 "conversation starters" suggested in the "Epilogue" to "A Bathroom Book for People Not Pooping or Peeing but Using the Bathroom as an Escape" by Joe Pera.

I read that after stumbling into the TV series "Joe Pera Talks With You." We love this TV here at Meadhouse. It takes place in Marquette, Michigan, and we discovered the show about a day after we got back from a nice 3 days in Marquette, Michigan.

Sample:

Writing this post, I noticed an article, published yesterday at uppermichigansource.com, saying that Joe Pera had just donated $11,613 to the Calumet Public School Music Program.

There's also some important background on how Pera developed the show. Calumet-Laurium-Keweenaw Elementary Music and Choir Teacher Matt Ruitta said: "About four years ago, [Pera] reached out to me because, in his TV show, he plays as a choir director that lives in Marquette. And he came and shadowed me here one day....” 

But the real point of this post is who do you think Frankenstein would vote for?

53 comments:

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

He wouldn't vote. He'd join BLM or Antifa and burn it all down.

Joe Smith said...

"A Bathroom Book for People Not Pooping or Peeing but Using the Bathroom as an Escape"

Why not both?

The John is a great spot to Wordle...

Nancy said...

The man or the monster?

Saint Croix said...

ha ha ha

my review of Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

Man, those actors stink. Karloff is pretty good, but only cause he's not speaking. Urrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. That he can do. Everybody with a speaking part is awful. Ebert's got this on his all-time great list, God knows why. Historical significance, I suppose. It's not scary, or even atmospheric. The frickin' thing opens with Mary Shelley(!) explaining that the ending of the last movie wasn't the real ending, here's what really happened. And then we start in with the annoying villagers and the lame dialogue.

I’ve totally changed my mind about Dracula. I confess error. Dracula is awesome. All it needed was a new score.

Music ain’t going to save this one. Poor walking cadaver with a brain. Poor, poor walking cadaver with a brain. When I was a kid, I had no idea that Dracula was filled with sexual subtext. All kinds of stuff going on in Dracula. I ain’t changing my mind on Frankenstein. Or his damn bride, either. You know what the subtext is in Frankenstein? “Women don’t like me and I’m a big, big loser.” Yeah, your subtext sucks. Freud’s flipping over in his grave. Freud’s going, “Urrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.” Let’s face it, death makes you stupid and boring.

Sean Gleeson said...

Victor Frankenstein was supposed to be a citizen of Switzerland, wasn't he? Around the early 19th Century? He would have been eligible for the Landsgemeinde. But this assembly didn't have candidates, or even parties; it was a direct-democracy kind of thing where all the freemen voted on whatever the proposed legislation was. So my answer to the question "who Frankenstein'd vote for" is I suppose nobody.

dbp said...

I think Dr. Frankenstein would vote Democratic and his creature, Republican. But I remain open to the possibility that the reverse could be true.

Static Ping said...

Are we referring to the doctor or the monster? And are we talking about the book or one of the spinoff properties? Now that I think of it, it probably does not matter. It's all Democrats:

1. The doctor is a highly educated, academic type who lets other people die so he can play god.
2. The monster from the book is so angry with the doctor specifically and humanity in general, that he would vote for whomever is more likely to cause more death and misery. Unstable renewable energy grids, economic chaos, potential nuclear war, abortion until birth, sterilization of perfectly healthy children, and a society that hates of its own legacy all align with his agenda. Plus, he's a minority of one and therefore would be high ranking on the woke hierarchy.
3. The monster from the movies is an almost unthinking brute who is technically dead.

Quaestor said...

Nine out of ten think Frankenstein is the creation, the artificial human held together with sutures and bolts. Howard will make this error, just watch.

Frankenstein was a natural philosopher -- Regency England didn't use the term scientist -- utterly absorbed by his self-perception, without humility or conscience, in other words, an utterly thoughtless and unrepentant Biden Democrat.

Dave Begley said...

Well, since I wrote the screenplay adapted from the book "Frankenstein, Part II" I think I'm an EXPERT on the issue.

If you are only familiar with the movie Frankenstein and not Shelley's Frankenstein, you might not know that the Creature was not an illiterate grunting beast. He could speak and write.

In the 2018 sequel, he has a name: Franz P. Frankenstein.

Franz is intelligent and is seeking love and a mate. He's a self-taught man. After his killing spree, he rejects revenge. His journey is one of growth.

Since the facts of life are conservative, Franz would most assuredly vote conservative.

His wife Margaret is also a fan of the American Bill of Rights. Spouses influence each other. Her first husband was a slave trader and she rejected that and him. We all know that the Democrats were the party of slavery.

I'm declaring to the entire Althouse community, buy the book (via Ann's portal) and I guarantee you will love it. It is a work of genius. And the screenplay is even better. A lock for an Oscar.

Big Mike said...

Nancy beat me to it. Do you mean the monster or the mad scientist?

Come to think of it, murderous monsters and mad scientists (e.g., Anthony Fauci) would both feel at home in the modern Democrat Party.

Never mind.

Levi Starks said...

The blind violinist

Kate said...

The monster would vote for Biden. He's swayed by overt shows of kindness and too naive to understand human nuance or falsity.

The doctor would vote for Biden. He is a university student who loves to subvert the system on the public's dime. Also, he fancies himself a god and won't take responsibility for the mess he ends up making as a result.

Quaestor said...

A Bathroom Book for People Not Pooping or Peeing but Using the Bathroom as an Escape

So where does Joe Pera bathe?

Have you ever read a book in the bath? I have and do. Very pleasant as long as you keep it dry. These days, I have a waterproof Kindle Paperwhite that I use for bathroom reading. I've never actually submerged it, but it does persevere through the occasional splash that would have ruined a conventional book.

Reading on the toilet is not one of my things. I'm too regular for that in any case. It's get in, wash up, get out. Two or three minutes, tops, hardly time to find the bookmark. But a relaxing hot bath reading The Federalist Papers is just the ticket.

Ann Althouse said...

I read the book on my iPad sitting in a comfy chair in a non-bathroom room. And I wasn't even hiding.

Ann Althouse said...

I really don't like to think about people reading on the toilet! What difference does it make *where* you read? The idea that something is bathroom reading and should be left by the toilet for reading in that particular place is outdated, isn't it? Everyone has a smart phone to read. Does anyone think there's a sanitation issue about using it in the bathroom? If there is such a person, why would they touch a "bathroom book"?

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

While I appreciate Questor's consistent pedantic tone, it might be misplaced this time. The monster is often referred to as Frankenstein just because we Americans (maybe we Californians more than most) like to shorten words and phrases and Doctor Frankenstein's Monster and plain old Frankenstein are virtually interchangeable in American pop culture.

Doubt me? Google images or costumes for "Frankenstein" and see how many doctors you get versus monster pics.

retail lawyer said...

Frank would be best off advocating for acceptance of people made from salvaged parts. Seems like a natural fit into the Democratic Party.

retail lawyer said...

Blogger Ann Althouse said...
I really don't like to think about people reading on the toilet! What difference does it make *where* you read? The idea that something is bathroom reading and should be left by the toilet for reading in that particular place is outdated, isn't it? Everyone has a smart phone to read. Does anyone think there's a sanitation issue about using it in the bathroom? If there is such a person, why would they touch a "bathroom book"?

There is, of course, a Seinfeld episode about this issue. Dated, of course, because there were no smart phones, or even cell phones back then.

Howard said...

Letterkenny for Midwestern America? A Midwest version of Stephen Wright? He is too frenetic in speek and motion for my somnambulant metabolism.

Readering said...

He hosts lying in bed under a quilt? So not wearing pants?

Howard said...

It started in the old days of the outhouse where people would read a page from the Montgomery wards catalog and then use it too wipe.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Frankenstein voted for his creation Donald Trump.

When the democrats came upon Trump they were horrified.

They haven’t been able to take Trump down but they won’t give up until the monster, I mean Trump is dead.

Lilly, a dog said...

Both Dr. Frankenstein and his Monster are likely dead, so they are both reliable votes for Democrats.
Ann, thanks for sharing Joe Pera. I had no idea there was such a unique comedian working today.

Sean said...

I haven't read the book, and so I don't know Dr. Frankenstein's character, but I guess he would be a progressive whacko politically. Building a fake human is not a hobby for someone who fits into thr current republican coalition. A solid D voter, perhaps even a Bernie Bro.

Of course in Europe he would future in with the current liberal/socialist majority.

Lurker21 said...

I remember a German publisher came out with a Little Bathroom Library and assumed it was just part of the Germans' toilet fixation.

Ted said...

If Frankenstein's monster gets to vote at all, shouldn't he vote multiple times? He's made up of different people. (Or does only his brain count? In which case, he'd probably have to go to court and prove he's not deceased -- the big reveal would be a video of him sitting up as someone yells "It's alive!!!") (Also, does the original movie tell us who his brain originally belonged to? I only think of him as "Abby Normal.")

Josephbleau said...

The monster was condemned and threatened by the mob, so he would have been a Republican.

Roger This said...

Wow!!! What a magnificent coincidence: on exactly the 100th time that Dave Begley hijacked Ann's blog to get free publicity for his stalled endeavor, the topic ACTUALLY IS FRANKENSTEIN!!!

It finally paid off!!

Saint Croix said...

Begley at 10:03

Nice! Is your movie up at IMDB?

I think I'm going to add the Kenneth Branagh version to my queue. Maybe that will work for me.

Right now the story still cracks me up. grrrrrrrr.

Saint Croix said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Roger This said...

Wow!!! What a magnificent coincidence: on exactly the 100th time that Dave Begley hijacked Ann's blog to get free publicity for his stalled endeavor, the topic ACTUALLY IS FRANKENSTEIN!!!

It finally paid off!!

Wilbur said...

Depends if he got the AB Normal brain.

LordSomber said...

Since Frankenstein is cobbled together from dead bodies, he (or should I say 'they') is no doubt on Democratic voter rolls.

SeanF said...

Nancy: The man or the monster?

The difference between knowledge and wisdom:

Knowledge is knowing that Frankenstein is not the monster.

Wisdom is knowing that Frankenstein is the monster.

Mark said...

Frankenstein would obviously vote for the most radical Democrats (and libertarians) who have an anything goes policy about "bioethics."

The Creature, on the other hand, has a strong desire for what is right and good, and would vote for Republicans who would outlaw the real monster Victor Frankenstein.

Steven MqCween said...

His physical and intellectual look-alike, John Fetterman.

Ann Althouse said...

Which body part would register? The brain, I presume.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

They think I’m joking.

tim maguire said...

Frankenstein would vote for Biden, of course. They're both works of fiction.

tcrosse said...

There was a Seinfeld episode in which George takes an art book into the bookstore's bathroom, then is forced to buy it when they catch him trying to put it back on the shelf.

Quaestor said...

Does anyone think there's a sanitation issue about using it in the bathroom? If there is such a person, why would they touch a "bathroom book"?

Why would they even visit a library? All those toilet-contaminated fingers handling the books in ways that ought to get them hanged, it's enough to set Howard Stern on a book-burning pogrom.

Quaestor said...

Which body part would register? The brain, I presume.

That was the point of my 10:02 comment. The creature couldn't register as Frankenstein (that's Fronkensteen). It would register as Abby Normal.

Dave Begley said...

Saint Croix. Movie is in development, but you can buy the book at AMZN.

Quaestor said...

Mike (MJB Wolf) writes, "Doubt me? Google images or costumes for "Frankenstein" and see how many doctors you get versus monster pics."

Which confirms my nine out of ten claim, no?

Saint Croix said...

I really don't like to think about people reading on the toilet!

I deleted that joke. Keeping it clean!

What difference does it make *where* you read? The idea that something is bathroom reading and should be left by the toilet for reading in that particular place is outdated, isn't it? Everyone has a smart phone to read.

The smart phone has another problem, what we might call the Louie CK problem.

You're doing one thing, kind of a dirty thing, but it's a thing we all do, no judgment here. And you're playing sudoku on your smart phone. And your phone rings. And you really want to talk to them. You've been waiting for the phone call!

What do you do?

Hopefully, we all do the right thing.

"Hey, are you doing something?"

"Who, me?

"Yeah, sounds like you're on the can, man."

"I'm not on the can. That's ridiculous."

"I'm hearing some noise."

"You are? Hold on. Let me mute you, while I investigate."

"Don't mute me! Why are you muting me?"

"I'm back."

"Why did you mute me?"

"I didn't mute you. It's all good."

"I am so suspicious."

"Well, let's get back to our conversation about whether Frankenstein is in the green party."

"Because he's recycling?"

"No. Because he's green."

"Frankenstein is the doctor!"

"Wait a second, I got to mute you again."

"Don't mute me! Why are you--"

gadfly said...

Frankenstein would have voted for the father of modern Geneva, James Fazy (1794-1878) who wrote the Swiss Constitution, founded a political party, served on Geneva councils several times, and had the protective walls surrounding the settlement removed, allowing expansion beyond 38,000 souls.

The imaginary Dr. Victor Frankenstein was born, according to Shelley's book in 1831, and he died of pneumonia at age 38.

Frankenstein's monster, an assemblage of human body parts, and who named himself "Adam," likely wouldn't qualify to vote. But old monsters never die, they just smell that way.

Saint Croix said...

Which body part would register? The brain, I presume.

So if Igor and Mayor Daley got together...

Igor: "I got this right leg from Mrs. Rodriguez."

Mayor Daley: "That's one vote."

Igor: "And I got a pretty good set of eyeballs from Mr. Canoody."

Mayor Daley: "That's two votes."

Igor: "No. Both eyeballs are from Mr. Canoody."

Mayor Daley: "Oh. Okay. So just one voter then."

Igor: "Right."

Mikey NTH said...

Victor Frankenstein would vote in whichever country he was a citizen of. Which is somewhere in central Europe. The monster? Since he is reanimated tissue he is eligible to vote in Chicago, thus for the Democrat.

Mikey NTH said...

There's no science like mad science.

Lurker21 said...

Frankenstein was unfortunate in living before modern biology. If he were around today he would be gene splicing and cloning his creation. He wouldn't bother with assembling the parts of dead criminals. I suspect he'd probably be a progressive and look for money from Silicon Valley moguls, even as he bitterly mocked them behind their backs. Frankenstein certainly would "follow the science" wherever it lead.

It's curious that Shelley made Frankenstein a Resurrection Man, similar to those who dug up corpses for medical schools to dissect, but with an aim of actually bringing life to those body parts. If one wanted to defeat death or achieve immortality, there were other fictional roads that one could have gone down.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

Questor it appears your ratio might surpass 10%.

mikee said...

Frankenstein? That's DOCTOR Frankenstein, Althouse! And being an upper class English twit who demonstrated exceptional lack of judgement, common sense morality and foresight in his personal and professional life, the good doctor no doubt votes Progressive. Because it is his intentions that matter, not the monstrous outcomes of his actions.

His self-educated and still monstrous creation no doubt voted Conservative by absentee ballot before setting off for the Arctic.

William said...

As others have noted, bathroom books have gone the way of the washboard and the darning sock, but,thinking back, I remember Reader's Digest as the ideal bathroom material. The cartoons in The New Yorker were okay, but Reader's Digest was the best. Articles for the meditative and quick fillers for the more decisive. There was something in it for everyone.