Origins of Science Fiction

Hello, my name is Justin Spencer, and I am the Associate Director of Education for The Bakken Museum. Today I would like to tell you about the origins of science fiction. 

It all began with Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. A recent scientific innovation popular in Mary Shelly's time, was scientists' use of electricity to shock recently deceased bodies. These jolts of electricity caused bodies to twitch and wiggle in strange and unexpected ways. These experiments terrified some and excited others. Mary Shelley found inspiration in these experiments. When challenged to come up with a ghost story, she thought of scientists shocking bodies with electricity. She imagined what could happen if the science was a little more advanced. With that spark the story of Frankenstein was brought to life. Two hundred years later we are still talking about her story. All because Mary wondered what if the unthinkable was possible.