Unexpected Creatures: Procreative Liberty and the Frankenstein Ballet.

Area of Science:

• Performing Arts
• Bioethics
• Family Studies

Background:

• Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" (1818) adapted into a ballet by Liam Scarlett.
• Performed by the Royal Ballet (2016) and San Francisco Ballet (2017, 2018).

Purpose of the Study:

• Analyze the ballet adaptation as a "story in the flesh."
• Explore its relevance to contemporary bioethical dilemmas in family creation.
• Examine themes of acceptance, recognition, procreative liberty, and parental obligation.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of the ballet's narrative and performance.
• Interpretation of "story in the flesh" as a genre.
• Connecting artistic representation to bioethical discourse.

Main Results:

• The ballet presents an "economical, emotionally wrenching, and visually elegant drama of family tragedy."
• It highlights the complexities of familial relationships and moral personhood.
• The performance serves as a compelling testimony to unintended outcomes of human actions.

Conclusions:

• The "Frankenstein" ballet provides a cautionary tale for navigating bioethical challenges in family making.
• It underscores the necessity of an ethics of acceptance and recognition.
• Dance as a narrative form can illuminate complex interpersonal and societal issues.