Category: Uncategorized

Corporate Greed in Cyberpunk: Is It Just Fiction or a Terrifying Possibility?

Jenna L.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Ah, the world of cyberpunk— where we have the neon bright lights, damp rainy streets, rogue AIs, and, of course, the oh-so-charming corporate overlords who dictate everything, um, I mean own everything. They “help” run the streets, “help” control your data, and probably have a couple of assassin squads on standby just in case you’re getting too rebellious are there when you need them! Ok, all jokes aside, if there’s one major theme cyberpunk narratives love to bring to the forefront, it’s that the corporate world is full of greed and absolutely knows no bounds. It’s evident these mega-corporations aren’t just in it for the money—they’re in it for something far more sinister: control. 

As seen with many of the novels we’ve explored in class with examples ranging from Blade Runner’s Tyrell Corporation to the “pill funders” in Machinehood, it’s evident that many cyberpunk narratives depict corporations that are greedy and put themselves above the people in the city. With that being said, I want to specifically focus my attention on the Tyrell Corporation from the sci-fi film Blade Runner. In a sense, you can say that the founder, Dr. Eldon Tyrell, “plays God” since he created a company that crafts, molds, and modifies a “race” of people whose sole purpose is to track down replicants. In fact, the Tyrell Corporation’s official motto is “more human than human,” which is a reference to that company’s primary product: superhuman clones that are called Replicants. How is this company greedy and power hungry you may ask. Well, it’s Tyrell’s obsession with profit and control over life itself that illustrates the terrifying extension of corporate power, where profit is the ultimate goal—even at the cost of humans, or in this case, potential artificial life. However, the biggest takeaway from all of this is that Tyrell’s greed is his own downfall.

So, is this just some wild dystopian fantasy, or are modern day corporations really heading in this direction? I’m at a mix of answers when it comes to this question. On one hand, it’s easy to write off these extreme depictions as exaggerations for entertainment purposes—after all, the Replicants were supposed to be created so they can just be used as pawns, the Tyrell Corporation didn’t exactly invent self-aware robots that wanted to kill their creators, nor did the corporation intend for it to be that way, but the Replicants turned out to be emotional, complex, individuals who longed for freedom and wondered what it meant to be human. I think as we advance more and see the the increasing concentration of power in the hands of giant companies today, you start to see the beginning of these corporate greed concerns. From personal data collections, corporate influence over government policies, billion dollar companies exploiting their employees by paying them low wages, etc. it’s no question why many agree that we’re heading in this direction. 

Hybridization 

Maliyah A.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

If I had the opportunity to hybridize with another animal, I would choose the dolphin. Dolphins are known for their high intelligence, social bonds, and acute sensory abilities, especially echolocation. These traits make dolphins a great candidate for hybridization because they could enhance human cognition, empathy, and spatial awareness.  Dolphins also have an intrinsic sense.

 

I would like to adopt the enhancements of the dolphin’s echolocation ability, underwater agility, emotional empathy and social bonding. I choose echolocation because I am terrible at navigating. This trait will help me a lot. Echolocation also will help with communication and transformative sensory enhancement. Having the ability to perceive objects around me through sound waves would be helpful. As well as improving our sense of spatial awareness in dark or foggy conditions, it might also improve our ability to perceive textures and shapes without being in direct contact with them. I could gain an extraordinary way to interact with the physical world, especially in situations where sight or touch is limited.

The only physical trait that I would adapt from dolphins is improvement of lung capacity and streamlined movement. This will allow me to extend exploration of the ocean. This would be helpful because I can explore that marine environment, and it could reveal new ecosystems. I don’t want any gills or dolphin tails. That would make my life difficult socially and physically. 

The psychological adaptation dolphins I would choose is emotional empathy and social bonding. Dolphins are a very social animal and are also very emotional connection and empathy. This would help me a lot because I am not a very social person. I also feel like I lack a lot of emotional connection with other people. As a result of this increased sense of empathy and social intuition, humans may also be able to interact more compassionately and understand each other better.

I would however object to any adaptation that alters my human cognition significantly. Despite its unique intelligence, dolphins are also uniquely adapted to their aquatic environment. So, I would like to be able to retain my human thought patterns and cultural understanding. I do not want to give up everything because I still want to be human.

Human Hybridization? HELL NO!

Kaitlyn M.
Reading Time: 4 minutes

Author Kaitlyn Murray

When I first came across the idea of human animal hybrids, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. The concept of merging human and animal traits might sound like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, but for me, it raises some serious red flags. As a Black woman navigating this world, I’ve had my share of experiences that make me strongly oppose any sort of animal-human hybridization. So, let’s break down why I think this is a hard pass.

Historical Context Matters

First and foremost, let’s talk about history. For centuries, Black people have been dehumanized and compared to animals. From the days of slavery, where our worth was measured by our labor rather than our humanity, to modern-day stereotypes exemplified by incidents like the H&M scandal, these narratives have often drawn parallels between us and creatures like monkeys and apes. It’s been a painful journey just to claim our humanity in a world that frequently undermines it.

So, when the idea of hybridizing with animals comes up, it feels like a slap in the face. Why on earth would I want to give anyone the chance to further blur those lines? My ancestors spent too long fighting for my rights and dignity, just to entertain a notion that could potentially strip away the hard-fought recognition of my humanity. Mixing with another species is not just a quirky scientific experiment; it opens the door for even more dehumanization. It could give folks a reason to say, “See? You’re not that different from animals.” And that’s a slippery slope I’m not willing to venture down.

The Trap of Hybridization

Imagine for a second what it would mean to hybridize with another animal. Sure, the idea might seem fun or intriguing at first. Maybe you’d gain some enhanced abilities—like the strength of a gorilla or the agility of a cat. But at what cost? How much of your own humanity would you be willing to sacrifice for these traits? Would you lose part of your ability to think critically, to feel deeply, or to connect with others on a human level?

It’s easy to fantasize about having superpowers, but let’s remember: those powers often come with consequences. The moment you start to blur the lines between human and animal, you risk losing the very essence of what it means to be human. Would I want to wake up one day and find that my rights as a person have been diminished because I’ve been hybridized? Excuse my language, but H-E-Double Hockey Sticks, NO!

Cultural Identity and the Human Experience

Culturally, Black people have a rich history that is deeply rooted in our humanity. Our stories, struggles, and triumphs have shaped who we are today. We’ve crafted a narrative that reflects resilience, strength, and dignity in the face of adversity. Now, imagine trying to reconcile that with the identity of a hybrid creature. What would that mean for our culture? How would we be perceived?

Let’s not forget about the infamous “three-fifths compromise,” a dark chapter in American history where enslaved Black individuals were counted as three-fifths of a person for legislative representation. And that was when we were normal flesh and bones—no additions! That compromise was a clear indication of how society viewed our humanity—or lack thereof. The thought of hybridization only complicates this further, as it could lead to a renewed sense of dehumanization. We’ve fought so hard to be seen as whole people, and the last thing we need is a scientific endeavor that could echo that three-fifths narrative. Why would I want to add more confusion to an already convoluted narrative?

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, the idea of hybridizing with animals simply doesn’t resonate with me. I cherish my humanity and all the complexities that come with it. I am proud of who I am, and I refuse to entertain a concept that could potentially undermine that identity. The fight for our rights, dignity, and recognition is already too steep a hill to climb without adding more layers of complexity to our existence. As descendants of kings and queens, we embody a powerful identity as Black individuals. Why should we dilute our beautiful humanity in a world that is always pushing labels on us? Let’s defy those labels and stand Black, beautiful, and proud. Black is beautiful, and our beauty deserves to shine in all its glory—untouched. Period.

Works Cited:

(2024). Aw Hell Naw. Giphy.com. http://media.giphy.com/media/3o85xERD1TT5JKCIXS/giphy.gif

Johnston, M. (2022, February 7). Three-fifths compromise | United States history. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/three-fifths-compromise

‌(2024). Tenor.com. https://media.tenor.com/uz5cL9eQnMkAAAAM/period-pooh-periods.gif

University, B. B., Melbourne. (2017, February 22). The uneasy truth about human-animal hybrids. Www.bbc.com. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20170222-the-uneasy-truth-about-human-animal-hybrids

West, S. (2018, January 19). H&M faced backlash over its “monkey” sweatshirt ad. It isn’t the company’s only controversy. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2018/01/19/hm-faced-backlash-over-its-monkey-sweatshirt-ad-it-isnt-the-companys-only-controversy/

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Mix and Match….. the Prey and Predator?

Elaina R.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

For me, one animal that I think would be cool to become a hybrid would be a Chinchilla. It’s very random but I’ve always liked Chinchillas and how they are different from other rodents such as the way they bathe. Their fur doesn’t do well with water and can grow mold or fungal infections so they instead take dust baths in order to clean themselves. That feature really stands out to me and I wanted to cross it with a feline such as maybe a house cat or even a big cat such as a Tiger. The Chinchiger or CatChilla would probably have to be a desert animal in order to find that much dust or if it were a wild animal. Another thing is that I already find both animals cute so why not fuse them to be something very different from everything else starting and even how it’s fur would interact with the environment.The hybrid could also get some camouflage from the Chinchilla side if it’s a specific shade of fur because they come in a few different shades such as grey, black, and white. During the night in the desert, the fur would definitely keep the hybrid warm and then help them blend in to hunt or to be able to move stealthy during the night. This could also help if the hybrid takes more of a prey mentality due to the Chinchilla genes but we wouldn’t know unless we truly fuse the two.

Overall, I don’t think that I truly need this hybrid to become a real thing because it’s more of an “on the fly” idea rather than something that I feel like needs to be made. The two animals that I picked have a conflicting mentality and lifestyle so fusing the two may cause the hybrid more confusion than help because they may have a hard time truly settling into their instincts if they have to choose from a predator and prey. Personally, I can’t see myself selling my humanity and going to far for something that in theory wouldn’t be the best anyway. While animals are used for experiments, they should not be toyed with and carelessly thrown away so if I were to make this hybrid real, I would have to deal with whatever consequences there are in the future.

some links to some sources I looked at

Best of Both Worlds

Zakiyah M.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

If I could hybridize with another animal, I think I would want to hybridize with a dolphin. Dolphins are the most intelligent of the mammalian family. It has been seen that dolphins understand spoken language by humans in various languages. This plays a role in the ability that they have to learn complex tricks that humans have taught them. Scientists also believe that dolphins understand the syntax of specific phrases spoken by humans and use this differentiation ability to decipher between various commands that they are given. Dolphins also seem to have a sense of self-awareness. In one experiment, they placed mirrors in front a dolphin with markers on the body and noticed that the dolphin looked at specific markers on its body in the mirror. This acknowledge is something that is rarely seen in animals.

If I were to hybridize with a dolphin, I would want its intelligence, without having the brain size that dolphins have. It would make my head too big for a human body. However, I think merging my brain capacity with the capacity that dolphin brains have would allow for me to be more aware of my surroundings. Dolphins are skilled hunters and have a specialized way of communicating with other dolphins. I think that this would be beneficial to me above water, but also underwater. In addition to the intelligence that dolphins have, I would want the tail and other structures that allow for dolphins to swim under water. I would want these structures to be very similar to the way it appears on mermaids in fiction. With the dolphin-like intelligence, I would be able to travel under water and see the depths of the ocean. I unfortunately do not think that I would be able to communicate to sea animals outside of dolphins, but I would be able to observe them in their natural habit. If I were to accomplish this hybridization goal, I think that I would compromise a lot of my humanity. I doubt that it would be possible to have tail that disappears when I reach land. Therefore, I would likely become a water-bound individual, which takes away a large part of the human experience.

Mako Mermaids

Taylor L.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

“Disco Dolphins sunsplashed with wavelets” by jurvetsonis licensed under CC BY 2.0.

II don’t think I would actually enjoy being hybridized with another animal because I think it would make me feel less like myself. If I have to choose an animal to be hybridized with it would be a dolphin. I chose this animal because of its swimming capabilities. When I was younger I used to watch this show called Mako Mermaids and I thought it was so cool that they would just jump in the water and become expert swimmers. I would love to see the ocean without having to rely on oxygen tanks or my own swimming abilities. It would be nice to see different bodies of water without limitations. I could discover creatures that I would have never known about.

Given that dolphins look nothing like humans I would want the least amount of dolphin features possible. Ideally, I would like to transform into a version of myself that has fins and a nose that adapts to being underwater. I would like for those features to disappear as soon as I emerge from the water. If I were to have these features at all times I would no longer look like a human and that’s not something I’d be willing to give up. I’m really not comfortable giving up any of my humanity because I don’t necessarily desire to be anything else. I think adding fins and some breathing modifications in the water are very simple changes that wouldn’t affect my day-to-day life on land. I think if I were to be a hybrid I would want others to be as well so it wouldn’t feel like I’m a foreign creature or something to be scared of. If being a hybrid was acceptable amongst humans I could see many people doing it due to the possibility of new experiences.

Hybrid or Byebrid

Josiah A.
Reading Time: 3 minutes

I think hybridization is interesting. The concept of hybridization is not relatively new but it’s intriguing on a number of levels. Without having to look it up hybridization is the process or end result of combining two different things together, those two different things particularly being two wildly different living things. Now what comes with hybridization you know? It’s something I don’t think many people really think about. For example, if you allow me to stretch your imagination a bit the act of having a child could be considered hybridization to a certain extent. genetic material fusing to create something entirely new. The genetic material being combined comes from two different people and thus whatever already existing mutation from either parent could pass onto the child or an entirely new mutation could form. It’s a very interesting thing to think about, no? I think we should keep that in mind as we continue.

If I could be hybridized with one animal, I would choose a black bear. I could choose a smart animal like a dolphin or common raven or crow but that’s a little boring to me. I don’t want super advanced intelligence by mere supplication of genes. it’s much more fun to learn. I like bears as animals and black bears are considered the nicest, in general they are mostly distrustful of humans but can get rather comfortable if there is a reliable source of food in a human community. They are also not naturally aggressive; they are very passive animals. This means that I would acquire any anger issues or territorial mindset indicative of more aggressive species. I think becoming a hybrid with a bear would be fun but having in increase in the food i would need to eat would suck, however, hibernating would be quite nice admittedly.

The hardest question is to what extent being hybridized with a black bear would extend. The more I become a hybrid the more bear-like I would become. This means that I would also be more susceptible to not only human diseases but bear diseases as well. This would include parasites, bacteria, viruses, mange, pantless bear syndrome, and many more. if I had to choose i would like a decent fifty-fifty. However, I don’t exactly know how this would manifest outwardly. The sort of idealistic reality to want is something closer to how anime or some cartoons portray hybrids, basically still human put with animal features and minor animal tendencies from time to time. Something perhaps akin to beast boy from teen titans but realistically most would think of anime like perhaps Raphtalia from Shield hero. I on the other hand do lean more towards typical anime. So, I imagine Raphtalia with a more “realistic” portrayal. So, I’d imagine I would have bear ears and human ears, longer claws, black bear fur that mixes into my normal hair texture not only within my hair itself but also patches of black bear fur on my forearms and legs…lower legs, near the foot but not on it. and a black bear tail.

I don’t think I’d be okay with trading a lot of my humanity. I think that’d be awful. I’m fine with animalistic tendencies, like other ticks or tendencies that humans have naturally it would be something that could be controlled with enough training. recognizing the signs of when they pop up, and we all know the rest. The reason I don’t want trade a lot of my humanity despite the concepts we’ve gone over is because, my humanity is what makes me, me. This year has taught me that humanity and “humanity” is different and while both are important once can easily be negotiated away very easily and that’s the scariest part about being human. Honestly if hybridization was a real thing we could do I imagine it would become quite controversial. This means more discrimination to deal with and possibly more dying due to people being scared of something and refusing to see the person in front of them. Scary thought to think about but humans are like that. People can be convinced of anything at the end of the day, I think hybridization would be like gene splicing or something similar too it. while animals would be in danger, most would simply capture a lot, take some blood from the healthy or at least healthier ones and then hopefully release them back to the wild. Thought process aside, I wouldn’t be willing to give up a ton of my humanity, maybe a little but the exchange is controllable animal tendencies.

Dolphin Girl

Tamia P.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

I would want to incorporate dolphin qualities if it were possible to create hybrid animals by transferring traits from one animal to humans. Dolphins are highly intelligent, social, and adaptive animals who are well-known for their agility and communication ability. Combining dolphin characteristics with human cognitive powers would create an innovative method to experience and engage with the world, particularly in aquatic settings. Imagine being able to freely explore the ocean’s depths and experiencing underwater views with a level of perception that is now inaccessible to humans. This hybridization would not only result in a physical change; it would also give me an original perspective and a whole new appreciation for marine habitats by combining my animal instincts and human intelligence. 

I would want to find a balance between keeping my essential humanity and making bodily adjustments while deciding how far this hybridization should go. I would be impressed to see changes that allow underwater breathing, increased senses, and agility—qualities that would allow a new degree of movement and comprehension of aquatic habitats. This could involve adding echolocation skills, which would give me a “sixth sense” underwater, or creating an adapted respiratory system that can withstand extended swimming underwater. But in order to make sure I could still examine and value these experiences more deeply, I would want to preserve human language and cognitive abilities. The goal would be to acquire new sensory and physical capacities while retaining the mental and emotional complexity that characterizes humans. 

The opportunity to develop a new relationship with environment and marine life could eventually arise from being a human-dolphin hybrid. This kind of change might increase our compassion for the ocean and its populations and strengthen our desire to protect it. The type of hybrid might provide us with a new perspective on the world by combining human comprehension with a dolphin’s acute sense of sight, enhancing our enjoyment of nature without sacrificing what makes us special as humans. 

A Helper With Wings

Khalil F.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Personally, I am a big fan of hybrid characters. I think that the concept of werewolves are really cool, the idea of having a more bestial form that people deal with is very cool for stories. In real life, I’m not sure if it would be as fun. Having the heightened senses would be cool, but the huge strength and not being able to control a beast inside of you sounds awful for the mental state. Personally, I think that being fused with a bird could be the best option. Having wings and the ability to fly would make a lot of things more convenient, at least for travel. I don’t really think I would want to give up so much of my humanity to be a bird, though. The heightened senses and the wings would be cool to have, although having big human sized wings could end up being a pain. I do think that it would be fun being able to fly with friends, and in a community way it would be fun to see how fashion could evolve with these hybrid attachments. 

“Harpy painting” by Kotomi_ is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.

I wonder, though, if people having wings would make things weird socially. People will always belittle others for their differences, so would hybrids be seen as something wrong? Or would there be a difference in the societal order when it comes to people that can fly. I think it would be cool if people’s differences could be used to work together. A person with wings would not be very strong due to the weight needed to fly, but they could help others that don’t have the height advantage. Animals have so many cool differences that help out in the ecosystem, and I think that having people that were hybrids with these animals could help the world a little if done right, without sacrificing their humanity.

Wings of the Peregrine: A Hybrid Dream in the Skies

Juleette A.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

If I had the chance to merge with another animal, my top choice would be the peregrine falcon. Known as the fastest animal on Earth, capable of diving at speeds over 200 mph, the peregrine symbolizes precision, freedom, and adaptability. I’ve always been captivated by the idea of soaring through the sky, unrestricted by human limits, with a perspective that only flight can offer. Becoming part peregrine would give me more than the thrill of flight—it would grant a connection to nature and a chance to explore the world from a bird’s-eye view. Flight is an ancient dream for humans, and through hybridization, it could become a reality. If given wings and heightened vision, I could travel beyond borders, experiencing life from a whole new vantage point, all without needing planes or parachutes.

However, this hybridization comes with a price: How much of my humanity would I be willing to sacrifice for such a gift? I would want to retain my human mind, emotions, and memories because they anchor my sense of identity. But I would be willing to let go of some physical traits—lighter bones to allow for flight, talons in place of hands, and perhaps the sharp instincts that peregrines possess. While these changes might alienate me from human society, the ability to escape the constraints of daily life would be liberating. I imagine gliding over mountaintops, riding the wind currents, and experiencing a sense of solitude that no human being on the ground could fully understand. In this form, I could live as both human and falcon—part observer, part predator—existing on the edges of both worlds.

The trade-off between freedom and connection would be difficult. While I wouldn’t want to lose my ability to communicate with people, I’d accept that living as a hybrid might mean spending more time alone. Yet, perhaps isolation isn’t such a bad thing—freedom often comes with some distance from others

This image was created using CHATGPT on 26 OCT 2024. https://chatgpt.com/share/671d6e94-4b0c-800a-8b37-608c3f999f5f