Frankenreads: Celebrating a Bicentennial at the University of Tennessee

In 2018, to celebrate the bicentennial of the publication of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, I designed a social media advertising campaign designed to highlight programming hosted by the Humanities Center and the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (where I was in graduate school at the time). The campaign featured ‘Frankie,’ a plushie version of the titular monster who, like his spiritual predecessor, Flat Stanley (of circulation story fame), went on a series of playful adventures around campus, roping students, faculty, and local celebrities alike into his photogenic schemes. Frankie’s social engagements included a visit to the special collections to highlight rare editions of the novel, visits with the Dean, Provost, and Chancellor, and a tour of UT’s sports facilities with Athletic Director Philip Fulmer. The campaign was successful, and a full week of programming scheduled concurrently with Halloween drew hundreds of students, faculty, and staff to celebrate the beloved original sci-fi story.