Juha K. Tapio
Encyclopedia
Juha K. Tapio is a Finnish writer and critic (born 17 October 1957) whose only novel, Frankensteinin muistikirja (Frankenstein's Notebook, 1996; no foreign translations thus far have been published) was awarded the Helsingin Sanomat Literary Prize for the best Finnish first novel of 1996. The novel is a metafiction
written as a kind of sequel to Mary Shelley
's novel Frankenstein or, the Modern Prometheus (1818).
Tapio's novel begins in Paris
in the 1920s, where two American expatriate writers, Gertrud Stein and Ernst Hemingway (the mis-spelling of the names is intentional) come across a strange manuscript, which appears to be a diary written by the monster created by Victor Frankenstein
. They discover that the writer of the diary is currently living in Paris under the name Frank Stein. Their curiosity aroused, they arrange a meeting with Mr. Stein, who appears to be a rather amiable elderly gentleman, if somewhat rough-hewn in outward appearance - there is nothing monstrous about him at first sight.
The "monster" then tells the two writers his own story after having fled his father's castle; here the narrative mirrors the tale-within-tale structure of Shelley's original, inserting the monster's narrative into the main frame of the plot as a series of diary excerpts, whereas Shelley's novel uses a letter-novel format. The "monster," who is perhaps immortal, perhaps not (as practically everything else in the novel, this fact is clouded in uncertainty), relates his adventures through Europe in the 19th century, commenting on his way on the continent's political, economical and intellectual turmoil in that troubled century, as well as his own moral progress.
The main theme of the book is the complex relation and interchange between fact and fiction, original and copy, normality and abnormality (or even monstrosity). Another important theme is the nature of human identity
. Moreover, the whole concept of originality in art and literature is questioned, as basically everything in human culture, including art
, is tradition-based and thus indebted to various traditions, a kind of joint effort - whereas Western media and the press have always tended to emphasize the sovereignty of the individual artist/writer as a master of his/her own creation. Indeed, it would perhaps be more appropriate to think of the writer as a kind of receptacle, catalyst and organizer of a common meme-pool. As with Frankenstein's monster, who was put together piecemeal from dead body parts and then re-called to life, a work of art is also put together of hitherto unrelated "dead" elements, which together may form something new, vital, and unique.
In the novel, the point of view of the visual artist is dealt with using the character of Pablo Picasso
and his more or less "monstrous" paintings.
Tapio has also published a handful of short stories in the Finnish science fiction and fantasy magazine Portti.
Metafiction
Metafiction, also known as Romantic irony in the context of Romantic works of literature, is a type of fiction that self-consciously addresses the devices of fiction, exposing the fictional illusion...
written as a kind of sequel to Mary Shelley
Mary Shelley
Mary Shelley was a British novelist, short story writer, dramatist, essayist, biographer, and travel writer, best known for her Gothic novel Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus . She also edited and promoted the works of her husband, the Romantic poet and philosopher Percy Bysshe Shelley...
's novel Frankenstein or, the Modern Prometheus (1818).
Tapio's novel begins in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in the 1920s, where two American expatriate writers, Gertrud Stein and Ernst Hemingway (the mis-spelling of the names is intentional) come across a strange manuscript, which appears to be a diary written by the monster created by Victor Frankenstein
Frankenstein
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is a novel about a failed experiment that produced a monster, written by Mary Shelley, with inserts of poems by Percy Bysshe Shelley. Shelley started writing the story when she was eighteen, and the novel was published when she was twenty-one. The first...
. They discover that the writer of the diary is currently living in Paris under the name Frank Stein. Their curiosity aroused, they arrange a meeting with Mr. Stein, who appears to be a rather amiable elderly gentleman, if somewhat rough-hewn in outward appearance - there is nothing monstrous about him at first sight.
The "monster" then tells the two writers his own story after having fled his father's castle; here the narrative mirrors the tale-within-tale structure of Shelley's original, inserting the monster's narrative into the main frame of the plot as a series of diary excerpts, whereas Shelley's novel uses a letter-novel format. The "monster," who is perhaps immortal, perhaps not (as practically everything else in the novel, this fact is clouded in uncertainty), relates his adventures through Europe in the 19th century, commenting on his way on the continent's political, economical and intellectual turmoil in that troubled century, as well as his own moral progress.
The main theme of the book is the complex relation and interchange between fact and fiction, original and copy, normality and abnormality (or even monstrosity). Another important theme is the nature of human identity
Identity (social science)
Identity is a term used to describe a person's conception and expression of their individuality or group affiliations . The term is used more specifically in psychology and sociology, and is given a great deal of attention in social psychology...
. Moreover, the whole concept of originality in art and literature is questioned, as basically everything in human culture, including art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
, is tradition-based and thus indebted to various traditions, a kind of joint effort - whereas Western media and the press have always tended to emphasize the sovereignty of the individual artist/writer as a master of his/her own creation. Indeed, it would perhaps be more appropriate to think of the writer as a kind of receptacle, catalyst and organizer of a common meme-pool. As with Frankenstein's monster, who was put together piecemeal from dead body parts and then re-called to life, a work of art is also put together of hitherto unrelated "dead" elements, which together may form something new, vital, and unique.
In the novel, the point of view of the visual artist is dealt with using the character of Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso
Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso known as Pablo Ruiz Picasso was a Spanish expatriate painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and stage designer, one of the greatest and most influential artists of the...
and his more or less "monstrous" paintings.
Tapio has also published a handful of short stories in the Finnish science fiction and fantasy magazine Portti.