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The Advent of CYBERPUNK and Literature of the Digital Age

The Advent of CYBERPUNK and Literature of the Digital Age. I, Robot. The Big Question. What makes humans, “human?” Ideas??? (From clip or your own). But First…An Introduction. Kyle Fauss Born in Jacksonville, Florida Lived in Australia (3 years)

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The Advent of CYBERPUNK and Literature of the Digital Age

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  1. The Advent of CYBERPUNK and Literature of the Digital Age

  2. I, Robot

  3. The Big Question • What makes humans, “human?” • Ideas??? (From clip or your own)

  4. But First…An Introduction • Kyle Fauss • Born in Jacksonville, Florida • Lived in Australia (3 years) • Moved back to Jacksonville • Moved to Aurora, Colorado in 2004 and STAYED • (Though my parents just moved back to Jacksonville….)

  5. Couple More Things…

  6. Now It’s Your Turn! • Make a Name Tag • Name • Image of some sort

  7. Back to Business…Sort of. • Before we can talk Cyberpunk, we need to talk Science-Fiction, and where Cyberpunk fits in to a much larger genre.

  8. From the Beginning • What is Science-Fiction? • Guesses? • In an EXTREMELY general sense, science-fiction is a genre that deals with the positive and negative aspects to scientific advancement (though there’s still much more to it than that).

  9. Early Predecessors • Who wants to guess the earliest example of something that resembles the Science-fiction genre? • In 150 AD, Lucian of Samosata was experimenting with the idea of interplanetary travel in Vera Historia (“True History”), a parody of the “official truths” that historians before him had recorded.

  10. Early Predecessors • The most notable forerunner to contemporary understandings of science fiction, however… • Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) • Dealt with the idea of a scientist trying to surpass God—cosmic power struggle • Monstrosity—the Monster that Frankenstein creates • Is it human? • What responsibility does the creator have to his/her creation?

  11. Early Predecessors • Another was H.G Wells • The Time Machine (1895) • Time Travel and the Encounter between Humans and Aliens • The War of the Worlds (1898) • Alien Invasion

  12. “Modern” Science Fiction • 1926—Hugo Gernsback’s Magazine Amazing Stories first published • Did two things: • Inspired many future successful science fiction writers • Put out some really cut-rate literature, leading to the downgrading of the genre in the public and critical eye • Described as “hackneyed adventure tales with heroes outfitted in dubious space metal wrecked alien worlds and rescued space maidens.”

  13. Amazing Stories

  14. The Golden Age • Among those inspired by Gernsback was John W. Campbell and his magazine Astounding Stories. • Really started focusing on the impact of technology. • Included writers such as Isaac Asimov (wrote the laws of Robotics seen in I, Robot)

  15. The Golden Age (cont.) • Lasted from 1930’s-40’s • Themes like robots, alternate worlds, faster than light travel, meetings of humans and aliens (and the consequences that arise), and, esp. in the 1940’s, nuclear power.

  16. Example (1977) • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gvqpFbRKtQ

  17. New Wave • In the 1950’s technology’s negative implications came more into the forefront—especially in the context of every day life and not as much distant times • British publication New Worlds (1946-70) • Dealt with environmental depletion, urban overcrowding, and the relationship between technology, crime, drug addiction, and sexuality

  18. Example (2012) • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-eI5oLlIeY

  19. Now Think!

  20. Cyberpunk:Take II

  21. Cyberpunk!! • Where did the term come from? • Bruce Bethke wrote a short story entitled “Cyberpunk” in 1980 (pub. 1983). • Used in 1984 to describe the William Gibson’s Neuromancer (which we will be reading in later on) • The big question: “What aspect of humanity makes us human?”

  22. Themes of Cyberpunk • “Cyber”: Cybernetics • “Punk”: Defiant attitude seen in characters. • Often on fringe of society: outsiders struggling to survive. • What does Cyberpunk do? • It “distorts our sense of who or where we are, of what is “real” at all, and what is most valuable about human life.” • Challenges everything we know to be real, normal, natural.

  23. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8e-FF8MsqU • How was this different from Golden Age or New Wave? How is it similar?

  24. What to Look for in the Genre • Cybernetics • Ways in which humans and machines are connected through technology (i.e. “Biotechnology”) • Namely, implants that enhance one’s physical or mental performance in some way, shape, or form, provided that this implant is technological in nature. • Examples: • An arm that doubles as a sword • Ways to completely alter your personality • Relocating your brain in a robot body • Reprogramming yourself

  25. Examples • GIVE THEM TO ME!! • Think-Pair-Share

  26. Now onto something completely different! (Kind of…)

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