As Author Jack Foster explained, every original idea has already been thought up.  Now we simply combine or augment elements of ideas.  This, of course, makes explaining a simple definition of remix culture almost impossible.  The wagon was a reinvention of the wheel, the car a reinvention of the wagon.  Cultural in general has fundamentally survived on remix values.  So why the hell are we wasting so much time and effort on explaining a remix culture everyone already lives in.  Ah, now there is the catch.  In essence, remix culture is not defined by what it is, but by its limitations.  In other words, remix culture is largely defined as a piece of work that uses other elements to present a fresh take or new perspective on something in a manner that is generally considered breaking copyright.  Lawrence Lessig wrote the book on modern remix (I mean, he literally wrote the book called Remix).  He explained that cultures are divided in two categories “Read/Only” or “Read/Write.”  In other words, cultures that encourage people to simply look at things others have created like a museum, or ones that encourage them to view and then create things themselves.  His argument is that the internet has brought our society into a “Read/Write” culture on an amateur level, meaning that copyright laws that once were only practiced on corporations are now being exercised on individuals.

            After once again diving into the actual text of Frankenstein, the connections between the two elements have become even clearer.  The true difference between  Frankenstein the literature and Frankenstein the movie is the actual purpose of the works.  In cinematic form, the movie was meant as little more than a horror movie to help guys get girls to cuddle with them.  The actual novel is significantly less focused on the horror aspects as focusing on the relationship of the creature with humanity.  While originally it was meant to represent an analogue between Mary Shelley’s world and literature (the rights of women, the French Revolution, etc.), such an analogue can still be used today.  “Remix Culture” as defined by Lessig is a creation brought into this world where it finds humanity hostile to it.  In certain light it appears destructive and illegal.  But in essence it has the potential to inspire and create, to push society on an individual level past a “Read/Only” culture.