November 30, 2016
University of Montana Assistant Professor of English Ashley Carlson recently published a chapter in a new book about Mary Shelley called "Critical Insights: Mary Shelley."
University of Montana Assistant Professor of English Ashley Carlson recently published a chapter in a new book about Mary Shelley called “Critical Insights: Mary Shelley.”
Carlson’s chapter titled “Dr. Frankenstein and the Review Board: Research Ethics in Frankenstein,” discusses the connections between Frankenstein’s experiment and current issues in biomedical research ethics.
“Nearly 200 years after its publication, “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley remains surprisingly relevant,” Carlson said. “The novel intersects with questions about how researchers acquire and use human cadavers, what duties researchers have towards their human subjects, and what responsibilities researchers have towards the general public once their experiments leave the lab. These are all questions that the scientific community is still grappling with today.”
The book, edited by Virginia Brackett, is part of Salem Press’s Critical Insights Series which the publisher describes as “a great starting point for students seeking an introduction to Mary Shelley and the critical discussions surrounding her work.”
Carlson earned her Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of New Mexico in 2011. Her research has focused on 19th and 20th century literature, cultural studies, feminism, women’s literature and popular culture.
In 2015 she published “Genius on Television,” a book of essays about the portrayal of brilliant characters on television series, such as “The Big Bang Theory,” “Bones,” “Sherlock,” “Scandal,” and “Fringe.”
Carlson is now in her second year at Montana Western. She teaches courses on British literature, literary criticism, popular culture and writing.
— Montana Western —
