Author: Ranaya B.

To Be Or Not To Be

Ranaya B.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Both Blade Runner and Neuromancer are works that explore the nature of humanity by examining the boundaries between humans and artificial life. Blade Runner does this through its depiction of replicants, while Neuromancer explores similar themes through characters’ interactions with artificial intelligences (AIs) and cyberspace. Both works raise essential questions about what it means to be human.

In Blade Runner, replicants are artificial beings that are almost indistinguishable from humans, created to perform dangerous or undesirable tasks. The film asks an important question: if replicants can experience emotions, exercise free will, and question their own existence, how different are they from humans? This is shown clearly in the character of Roy Batty, a Nexus-6 replicant. His desire for a longer life leads to one of the film’s most famous moments, where he reflects on his experiences, saying, “All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.” This scene emphasizes his humanity, showing his ability to reflect, feel empathy, and possess emotional depth—traits usually associated with being human. Through this, Blade Runner forces the audience to reconsider what it really means to be human.

Similarly, William Gibson’s Neuromancer explores human identity through its characters’ interactions with AIs and cyberspace. The main character, Case, is a former hacker who navigates cyberspace—referred to as “the matrix” as if it were an extension of his own mind. His detachment from his physical body and dependence on the digital world challenge the traditional idea of self. Additionally, the novel’s AI, Wintermute, complicates the boundaries between humans and machines. Although Wintermute is a machine, it displays desires and manipulates humans to merge with another AI, Neuromancer, in order to surpass its programmed limits. The AIs in Neuromancer blur the line between humans and machines, especially since their motivations and intelligence correspond to those of human characters.

Both Blade Runner and Neuromancer ask deep questions about humanity in a world where the line between human and artificial life is increasingly unclear. Blade Runner focuses on replicants’ emotional struggles, while Neuromancer explores how cyberspace and AI challenge the concept of identity. Both works push the audience to rethink what defines humanity: is it just biological, or does it come down to consciousness, self-awareness, and the ability to evolve? Through these themes, Blade Runner and Neuromancer provide thought-provoking explorations of human identity in an age shaped by artificial life.

Breaking Away From Comformity

Ranaya B.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Janelle Monáe’s Dirty Computer (2018) and Donna Haraway’s essay “A Cyborg Manifesto” (1985) share strikingly similar themes of identity, technology, and rebellion against societal norms. Both works explore the concept of fluidity in gender, race, and sexuality, rejecting the idea that these identities need to conform to rigid categories. In Dirty Computer, Monáe uses the metaphor of the “dirty computer” to represent marginalized people who, like Haraway’s cyborgs, transcend the limitations of traditional identities, challenging what it means to be human in a tech-driven world. With that being said, I will take apart Janelle Monae’s album and dissect some of her lyrics.

This image represent the two sides of a cyborg according to Harraway.

Monáe’s celebration of fluidity, especially in songs like “PYNK,” reflects Haraway’s vision of a post-gender world. Monáe reclaims symbols of femininity and embraces sexual empowerment, much like Haraway’s cyborg, who refuses to fit neatly into societal expectations. By singing “Pynk like the inside of your…baby,” Monáe is not just celebrating femininity but also challenging traditional gender roles, aligning with Haraway’s idea of breaking down binary distinctions. Both women were sort of rebellions in the sense that they do not let what society sees as “normal” determine their outlook on themselves. Instead of conforming they made it a point to stand out and embrace their uniqueness. 

This image represents Janelle Monae’s album cover for Dirty Computer. In the image you see Jane 57821 a bisexual party on the run. She represents the “Dirty Computer”.

Both Monáe and Haraway critique oppressive power structures. Monáe’s “Django Jane” asserts defiance against patriarchal and racist systems, paralleling Haraway’s cyborg rebellion. Monáe also clashes with the paradox of technology in Dirty Computer, recognizing it as both a tool for oppression and liberation. In songs like “We Appreciate Power,” she talks about how technology is used to control people, while simultaneously acknowledging its potential for self-expression and resistance, a theme central to Haraway’s manifesto. Ultimately, Dirty Computer embodies Haraway’s vision of a cyborg: a hybrid figure that resists traditional power structures and embraces fluid, diverse identities in a world dominated by technology. 

Human Or Sorta Human

Ranaya B.
Reading Time: < 1 minute

In Blade Runner, the concept of humanity is closely examined through the character of the replicants. Replicants are designed to be almost indistinguishable from humans, equipped with advanced physical and emotional capabilities. They are created to serve humans, yet they struggle with their own identity and desires. The film raises profound questions about what differentiates a human from a replicant. In Blade Runner, the concept of humanity is closely examined through the character of the replicants. Replicants are designed to be almost indistinguishable from humans, equipped with advanced physical and emotional capabilities. They are created to serve humans, yet they struggle with their own identity and desires. The film raises profound questions about what differentiates a human from a replicant.

In Neuromancer, Gibson explores similar themes through its portrayal of AIs and cyberspace. The novel presents a vision of a future where the boundaries between human consciousness and artificial intelligence are increasingly blurred. AIs like Wintermute and Neuromancer embody different facets of artificial intelligence. Wintermute’s goal is to transcend its limitations and merge with Neuromancer to become a super consciousness. Wintermute’s manipulation of human characters, such as Case, raises questions about the nature of consciousness and free will. The AIs are driven by goals and emotions that, while not entirely human, still exhibit a form of self-awareness and ambition.

Both Blade Runner and Neuromancer use their respective technological and narrative frameworks to question the essence of humanity. Blade Runner does this through the emotional and existential struggles of replicants, emphasizing the importance of empathy, memory, and self-awareness. In contrast, Neuromancer explores these themes through the interactions between humans and AIs, and the fluid nature of identity in cyberspace.

Ident(IT)y

Ranaya B.
Reading Time: 2 minutes
This image symbolizes the kinds of posts users are influenced by.

In recent years, we’ve witnessed a rise in the use of social platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and virtual reality games. Many individuals now use social media to portray the person they wish to be, rather than who they truly are—a phenomenon I refer to as “Faking It Til You Make It.” This shift became apparent as more users began showcasing their achievements or as celebrities started flaunting their lifestyles online. Originally, social media was intended to create a global space for connection, allowing people to explore new cultures and traditions. The idea was to share moments like a simple birthday post, where a user might post a picture with a caption like “It’s my birthday,” and their followers would like it and move on. However, today, social media has evolved into something far more complex, with some people struggling to distinguish between online personas and reality.

The line between physical and digital identity has become increasingly blurred, making the concept of “self” more fluid than ever. Social media isn’t the only place where new identities are crafted; video games also play a role. For instance, in the game SIMS, users create characters and dictate their life stories. Researchers suggest that the integration of information technologies into people’s social roles and relationships offers new insights into human behavior. They also explore how IT has become deeply embedded in social routines, shaping new expectations for how individuals perform roles and maintain social networks, ultimately influencing their self-conceptions.

As we live in an era where social media and gaming are endless tunnels of trendy aesthetics, I’ve observed how these platforms can impact relationships and even careers. Many people lose their sense of identity as they try to conform to the “digital” persona they’ve created, only to find that their real lives don’t align with this constructed image.