Tag: Humanity

Becoming One with the Cheetah

Lavell A.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

To be completely honest, I probably would not engage in DNA splicing with animals if given the option, but if the technology did exist to merge human traits with those of an animal, I would choose to become one with a cheetah. Cheetahs are already very well-known for being super fast (the fastest land animal on the planet), but they have even more going for them than that.  They are extremely athletic and agile, while also having some of the fastest reflexes in the animal kingdom.  

If I was given the abilities of a cheetah, I would be able to do so much.  Most notably, being able to travel long distances effortlessly in such a short amount of time would be heavily beneficial.  Most likely, I wouldn’t have to use a car to get around ever because they can move to speeds of 65 mph (leads to not having to pay for gas a lot and there are no limitations of speed for humans traveling on foot so no tickets).  Also, if given the cheetah’s ability of extreme focus it would really help me out in my daily life as I have a supreme case of ADHD which tends to hinder me a lot.  Anyways, these abilities would be monumental to daily life and that’s not even talking about the potential to use your powers in professional athletic settings.

While adding on these cheetah-like traits, I would want only one limitation.  I wouldn’t want my physical appearance to render that of a cheetah upon the merge.  I don’t like the idea of sticking out so much that everyone could take a gander at why I’ve become so superhuman-like, and I feel cheetah prints, a tail, and a change in eye shape and color would be a dead giveaway.  Also, while thinking about this, I would like to keep the actual human mind part of me.  By that I mean I don’t want to exactly think like a cheetah, I am only looking for physical upgrades (don’t need my mind altered (maybe an adjustment to mentality though)). With this balance I feel I would have the best of both worlds, while being what could only be described as superhuman.  If there was any level of humanity that I would give up it would have to be my personality though.

What is it to Even Be Human?

Olivia S.
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Donna Haraway’s Cyborg Manifesto and Janelle Monáe’s Dirty Computer may appear to be from vastly different worlds—an academic essay from the mid-1980s and a futuristic concept album from 2018. Yet, both works converge on shared themes of identity, resistance, and the fluidity of the human identity. Haraway’s cyborg—a fusion of machine and organism that disrupts conventional boundaries—is mirrored in Monáe’s portrayal of “dirty computers,” individuals whose non-conforming identities challenge societal norms in a dystopian world. Monáe takes Haraway’s theoretical vision and weaves it into a heartfelt narrative, exploring fluidity, rebellion, and liberation.

Haraway’s essay imagines a “post-gender” world where identity is no longer constrained by traditional binaries. Her cyborg metaphor dismantles divisions such as human/machine, nature/culture, and male/female, arguing that these boundaries perpetuate inequality. Similarly, Monáe’s album celebrates identities that resist categorization, representing her own fluid identity. Songs like “PYNK” embrace the fluidity of gender and sexuality, rejecting fixed definitions in favor of a spectrum. Monáe’s lyrics and visuals suggest that liberation lies in embracing multiplicity—an idea central to Haraway’s manifesto.

This image was created by ChatGPT on 22 November 2024. https://chatgpt.com/c/6740b8ff-9844-8009-bf63-205b500367fd

Moreover, Haraway frames the cyborg as inherently political, a symbol of resistance against oppressive systems. This is vividly echoed in Monáe’s Dirty Computer, which tells the story of Jane 57821, a rebel in a society that “cleans” non-conforming individuals to erase their identities. Tracks like “Django Jane” and “Crazy, Classic, Life” celebrate defiance and self-expression, aligning with Haraway’s vision of the cyborg as a figure that destabilizes oppressive power structures. Monáe’s dystopia critiques real-world systems of control, from surveillance to social conformity, much like Haraway’s cyborg challenges the dominance of capitalist and patriarchal ideologies. Haraway’s cyborg can be further examined in this analysis by Rebecca Pohl.

Monáe also mirrors Haraway’s exploration of technology as a double-edged sword. In Cyborg Manifesto, technology is both a tool of oppression and a means of subversion. The cyborg’s hybridity offers a way to reimagine identity beyond traditional limits. Similarly, Monáe’s album presents technology as a battleground. Songs like “Screwed” critique how power exploits technological tools, while the album’s narrative ultimately suggests that technology can also be reclaimed for liberation. The concept of being a “dirty computer” embraces the idea of imperfection as a form of resistance, much like Haraway’s cyborg rejects purity in favor of hybrid identities.

Finally, both Haraway and Monáe emphasize the importance of collective solidarity. Haraway envisions a world where the cyborg fosters new alliances that transcend race, gender, and class. Monáe’s work embodies this ethos, particularly in her collaboration with diverse artists and her calls for unity among marginalized communities. Songs like “Americans” highlight the intersections of different struggles, advocating for a future where differences are celebrated rather than erased.

In blending the theoretical with the personal, Haraway and Monáe challenge us to envision futures where identity is not a source of division but a wellspring of creativity and strength. While Haraway provides the framework, Monáe breathes life into it, creating a vivid, emotionally resonant exploration of what it means to resist conformity in a world that demands uniformity. Together, they remind us that the boundaries we draw—between human and machine, male and female, self and other—are not fixed but fluid, and in that fluidity lies the potential for radical transformation. To get a more in depth review of Monae’s album Dirty Computer, check out this link.

The Hybridization of Human and Animal

Katie H.
Reading Time: 2 minutes
“PAPAGEITAUCHER FRATERCULA ARCTICA 02” BY RICHARD BARTZ IS LICENSED UNDER CC BY-SA 3.0.

If humans were able to be hybridized with one animal, what animal would you choose and why? I would choose a puffin. I thought about this question quite a bit and considered more common animals like tigers, eagles, whales, and starfish. However, I think puffins would be my top choice. Puffins can fly, swim, and walk on land efficiently. Humans can also swim and walk on land, but puffins can fly and may have a better swimming ability. Puffins are able to dive as deep as 200 feet underwater with their webbed feet, can hold their breaths for about 1 minute, and their feathers are waterproof (Henderson, 2021; Puffin FAQs, 2015). Puffins are able to fly up to about ~40-50 mph and up to 30 feet (Henderson, 2021; Puffin FAQs, 2015).

THIS IMAGE WAS CREATED USING CHATGPT ON 22 OCT 2024. https://chatgpt.com/share/6717bf4b-db64-800c-b658-2d6306023101

How far should the hybridization between you and your chosen animal to go, and how much humanity are you willing to sacrifice? I do not think there is an easy answer to this question. It would be nice if the hybridization only extended to the point that humans are able to obtain the puffin’s abilities to swim and fly. I would still want to look human but with the ability to fly and swim. Ultimately, I think I will have to sacrifice typical human features in order to obtain the puffin’s ability to swim and fly. I think the hybrid would look somewhat similar to the image on the left (minus the beak on the right side of the face). I do not think much humanity should be sacrificed in this hybridization. Since puffins have a shorter life span, only about ~20 years, I do think humans would have to sacrifice some years of their typical lifespan (Henderson, 2021). More puffin than humanity would be lost in this hybridization. The size and most of the typical physical features of puffins are lost. I also think the diet and lifestyle of this hybridization should lean more towards humanity rather than puffin.

References:

Henderson, J. (2021, April 16). Puffin Facts & Information Guide – Aurora Expeditions. Aurora Expeditions. https://www.aurora-expeditions.com/blog/puffin-information-guide/

Puffin FAQs. (2015, November 19). Hog Island Audubon Camp. https://hogisland.audubon.org/puffin-faqs-0

What does it mean to be Human?

Katie H.
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Replicants from the film Blade Runner (Blade Runner – Film Review, 2016)

What does it mean to be human? Both the film Blade Runner and the novel Neuromancer question what it means to be human. In the film Blade Runner, this question is explored through replicants. Replicants are bioengineered individuals, not human but almost indistinguishable from humans. The replicants in the film blended in with humans well, only a select few were able to distinguish them from humans due to the emotions test or being part of the creation team of the replicants. An emotions test was necessary to distinguish replicants from humans. Do emotions define what it means to be human? Most replicants are unable to pass this test but Rachel, an experimental replicant, lasts a lot longer than the rest of the replicants when taking this test. Rachel is a replicant with false memories programed into her. At the beginning of the film, Rachel did not know that she is a replicant. She had trouble coming to terms with the fact that she is a replicant after not being able to pass the emotions test in the end. Do memories define what it means to be human? Rachel thought she was human because of her false memories, and she lasted longer during the emotions test because of them. The replicants had the ability to create their own memories after creation like humans create memories after birth. In the film, Deckard was assigned to get rid of replicants because they were considered dangerous. Does a drive for survival define what it means to be human? The humans wanted replicants gone because the humans wanted to live, but replicants also had a drive for survival. At the end of the film, Rachel is the only replicant introduced that survived. The question of what it means to be human still remains.

The novel Neuromancer by William Gibson also questions what it means to be human but in a different way from the film. In the novel, humans and technology are so interconnected that it raises the question of what it means to be human. Let’s take Molly and Dixie Flatline for example. Molly is human with technological modifications. Is Molly still human with her technological modifications that not all humans have? Another character, Dixie Flatline, also raises questions of what it means to be human. Dixie Flatline is an artificial intelligence construct of McCoy Pauley. McCoy Pauley’s human body has died, but his mind, memories, and personality still exists within the cyberspace. Dixie helps another character, Case, throughout his mission within cyberspace, but continuously asks to be erased once the mission is complete. Although McCoy Pauley is dead, Dixie Flatline lived on for the majority of the novel. Is Dixie Flatline really McCoy Pauley? Is McCoy Pauley still living on through Dixie Flatline? Since Dixie Flatline was McCoy Pauley, is Dixie Flatline considered human even though he only has a digital form left? Dixie and Case formed a close relationship while working together. Does friendship define what it means to be human? Neuromancer leaves readers with something to think about. What does it mean to be human?

References:

Blade Runner – Film Review. (2016, June 4). Yggdrasille.com; WordPress.com. https://yggdrasille.com/2016/06/04/blade-runner/

Gibson, W. (1984). Neuromancer. Ace.

Scott, R. (Director). (1982). Blade Runner [Film]. Warner Bros.