In the essay “Cyborg Manifesto,” by Donna Haraway, she conceptualizes a world where society norms like gender, race etc. are not an indicator of what individuals are defined or identified by. Instead, in this society identity is fluid because technology is advanced and distorts the idea of those once held societal constructs individuals once went by. However, Haraway does draw parallels between cyborgs and femininity. To expand on that idea, Cyborgs is in a sense a hybrid being that are equipped with robotic parts and also part human. They have redefined what it means to be an individual in society. They are essentially human but have enhancements that change the way one would think and navigate the world because some of their human attributes have been replaced with technology that gives them an advantage. Cyborgs are fluid because they give a different and new way to identify. Haraway relates this idea of femininity to cyborgs to help women break the social constructs that objectify them, that keep them in this box where no fluidity is allowed due to decades of enduring sexism. Cyborgs are a symbol of hope within the feminist movements for women to redefine themselves and allow for fluidity even when they are faced with discrimination. The album Dirty Computer by Janelle Monáe depicts a dystopian society in which people are persecuted for the simple action of not obeying the rules in the society. Which correlates with Haraway’s notion of the cyborg as outcast or undeserving of the simple joys of life, due to them redefining what it means to be different. Monáe’s album embodies diverse identities, with the creativity and out of box thinking that helps paint a picture and change one’s perspective, through her lyrics and beats. By drawing out the parallels like Haraway did. By detailing her experience as an individual who has been oppressed in society and seeing the changes to these constructs that shows you that the constructs never stay the same because our world is constantly evolving.
I,Human?
In both pieces of cyberpunk Blade Runner and Neuromancer question what it means to be human through the depiction of modern-day technology with beings that aren’t necessarily human but robots. The contrast, however, is how the Blade Runner and the Neuromancer approach whether it is acceptable to be an advanced being.
In Blade Runner, society is filled with advanced technology. Therefore, you would think replicants would be an aspect of their culture. However, the replicants are being retired. Meaning they are being hunted down and killed because they are a threat to humanity. One of the first replicants we are introduced to is Rachael, who does not even realize that she is not a human—that she was implanted with synthetic memories from someone else to make her believe that she was human. The point of Rachaell was to show the audience that these replicants and robots are special beings and that it’s hard to tell a replicant from a human additionally these robots have no identity because their purpose is to serve human beings their memories are not their original ones but ones from humans who they are to always mirror. Another important replicant in Blade Runner is Roy. Roy’s main objective is to find a way to expand his life. Roy goes to great extremes by killing his creator. However, his desperate and extreme attempts go to show one how he wants to stay on earth for a longer amount of time. His attempts were extreme however this is a human response to stay on earth to experience the many wonders and be with the ones we love. While the replicants were not humans they had wants and purpose to that of a human that made them understand the purpose of life.
In the Neuromancer, society is also filled with advanced technology. However, in this society, it is almost necessary to have enhancements to fit in or be happy. The main character Case is a computer console which is also known as a hacker. However, he is unable to do his job because he stole from his former employer who fried his brain/ nervous system. Therefore, his ability to “jack” into cyberspace was taken away. Case is extremely affected by his inability to jack into space, leading him to do drugs heavily to take away the gnawing feeling of not being able to go to cyberspace. The setting where Case lives is riddled with poverty, crime, and overpopulation. Being able to go to cyberspace was an escape from this world that is nothing but adverse. Moreover, another important character is Molly Millions. She is modified with multiple enhancements. In Molly’s past, she was a “Meat Puppet” also known as a prostitute. She used her enhancements as a way to empower herself and take control back from others who used her for their pleasures.
In conclusion, both pieces of work incorporate how technology impacts individuals by helping us question our humanity through a world where technology is always evolving by observing through the perspective of individuals who are not human struggle in a dystopian society. In the Neuromancer, it is more socially acceptable to be technologically modified while in the Blade Runner to be a replicant is dangerous and not acceptable.
Cunning Takeover of AI
One shifting boundary that has become prevalent in our society is human vs nonhumans more specifically the use of AI. AI is also known as Artificial Intelligence, the use of AI has helped facilitate business and simple life practices by simplifying complex problems and allowing for a more easier way to resolve issues. One specific form of AI that I have seen most recently is ChatGPT. Thanks to Covid school was moved online which made students lazy and unmotivated to try and interact with their courses which resulted in them using ChatGPT. ChatGPT was the perfect example of how AI made life simple. You would type your question in the chat box and wallah you were given a productive response that sounded scholarly. It also took about fifteen seconds or less to formulate a response. However, because this use of ChatGPT was through the roof it shifted professors’ perspective of their students in the classroom. ChatGPT has caused teachers to use more secure and rigorous ways to detect AI, because their students don’t want to learn anymore, leading them to change their lesson plans so they can avoid cheating and plagiarism. Therefore, while AI has managed to make our lives easier, it has made students lack a creative response and drive to solve problems or write essays in their distinct way. Moreover, another example of AI I have seen is automation in grocery stores. When I go to the grocery store I see fewer humans to help me check out and more self-checkout machines. There comes to a point where yes, this machine is helping make these companies more money. However, it becomes more prominent every day that these machines are taking away simple jobs that help people in our society stay afloat. To conclude we have made these different forms of technology to solve our problems and reduce any further confusion while making big corporations rich. However, these advancements also come with a cost which is putting most individuals without a job and making us less creative when it comes to expressing ourselves.