Frankenstein in popular culture Frankenstein in popular culture Mary Shelley's 1818 novel "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus", and the famous character of Frankenstein's monster, have influenced popular culture for at least a century. The work has inspired numerous films, television programs, video games and derivative works. The character of the monster remains one of the most recognized icons in horror fiction. The first film adaptation of the tale, "Frankenstein", was made by Edison Studios in 1910, written and directed by J. Searle Dawley, with Augustus Phillips as Frankenstein, Mary Fuerte as Elizabeth, and Charles Ogle as the Monster. The brief (16 min.) story has
Prometheus to appropriate parts of the Prometheus myth for the purpose of interpreting Milton. A reprint of his book in the 1990s by Routledge Press included an introduction to the book by Carl Jung. Some Gnostics have been associated with identifying the theft of fire from heaven as embodied by the fall of Lucifer "the Light Bearer". Ayn Rand cited the Prometheus myth in "Anthem", "The Fountainhead", and "Atlas Shrugged", using the mythological character as a metaphor for creative people rebelling against the confines of modern society. The artificial chemical element promethium is named after Prometheus. Works of classical music, opera,