Cyberpunk

Cyberpunk is a peculiar genre to me. Upon reading for class and learning more about it through discussion and the power point presentation I realized that I had been aware of the genre, but not with the knowledge that it was a genre. In other words, as we learned about “what makes cyberpunk?” I was able to recognize the elements of technology, dystopia, etc from things that I have experienced in the past. However, I did not even know that cyberpunk was a specific thing and had always lumped it into the general science fiction umbrella.

It seems that technology plays a crucial part in any cyberpunk story. I think that my generation resonates in a peculiar way with literature that deals with technological evolution, space travel, and cybergenetics. Because we more or less grew up as technology exploded (at least as far as the average consumer is concerned), we see its inclusion in literature not as a far off fantasy, but a more attainable aspect of everyday life. This contrasts the experience of those who grew up in the 60s, 70s, and even part of the 80s who—due to the nature of their time—would have more difficulty picturing space travel and robots as an integral part of consumer life.

It is interesting learning about a genre that is still very relevant, or at least has been recently present in literature, because I am most curious about what is coming next, and how the cyberpunk genre will influence future works. Essentially, we are reaching a point where many more things are possible with the use of technology, and are on the cusp of breaking into new frontiers—literary genres included. Like I mentioned in class, I suspect that both in reality and within artistic expression, a new genre will develop that explores deep psychology, the definitions of human and nonhuman, and the effect that newly developed and increasingly personal technology will have on our inner selves.

Babel 17

Babel 17 by Samuel R Delaney intrigued me in a different way than any of the other readings thus far. I think that, more than the style or the plot, the general subject matter caught my attention. I enjoy novels, stories, and other works of writing that delve into the inner workings of humans, whether that be on an individual, group, or universal level. Babel 17 does this in its exploration of language and manipulation. Although I wasn’t able to get through the entire book, what I did read gave me a good sense of the confusion and alteration that the characters experienced while conversing in such particular ways.

I also appreciated the attention to detail that Rydra Wong demonstrates throughout the plot. In particular, her observations of very specific muscle movements in relation to a person’s internal activity were fascinating. It highlights the advanced capability that humans have when we apply our energy accordingly. Much like how we admire a magician who performs seemingly impossible tasks, we can admire Rydra in recognizing her power does not lie in magic or fantasy, but within well practiced focus.

This leads to a thought I have concerning fantasy, science fiction, and horror genres in general. It seems that connections to “reality”—whether they be subtle or grand—enable us to connect with the story on a more personal level. For example, it is more difficult for us to feel fear of a story of a monster that exists exclusively in the arctic than the tale of a neighborhood ghoul that licks bedroom windows at night when you’re not looking. Babel 17 incorporates this technique by including emphasis on brainpower and logic within a fantastical environment. Although we recognize that our own lives are very different from those in this story, we can recognize their use of reason and will.

The Stars My Destination

For this week I read The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester. I found the premise to be interesting but also reminiscent of some space-centered scifi stories that have popped into our culture before. I think that this story touches on the attraction of space as a venue for society and sustainable culture as well as its driving force in the science fiction genre. Many of these “wishes” that we as readers feel concerning our own lives surface in The Stars My Destination.

One notable characteristic is the ability to “jaunt” from place to place. This skill is essentially immediately transporting from one place to the other within given limits of the story. In this particular plot, characters can only jaunt on each planet (not from/in/to outer space) and only to places that they have been to. It seems that much of the science fiction genre addresses what life would be like if we had mystic abilities, highly advanced technology, etc. In particular, many stories explore the possibilities of an idea (in this case, jaunting as well as cyber enhancement of the body) then depict its downfall. It is a classic future metropolis gone wrong scenario, and alludes to the culture-shifting issues that could arise from advancements in human capability, intergalactic travel, or robotic technology.

These explorations serve as an attraction to the science fiction genre. Writing or reading such stories allows us to imagine “what if,” and experience these possibilities in some way. As I discussed in my previous blog post, tales such as The Stars My Destination provide a venue in which we can explore the possibilities of a life beyond the limitations of our own, and provides tremendous value in relation to the interest of the plot. 

Being John Malkovich

For this weeks theme of focus—Mythic Fiction and Contemporary Urban Fantasy—I watched Being John Malkovich directed by Spike Jonz. What ultimately struck me the most was the strangeness of the plot and they ways in which it is “resolved.” The man and two women that become most involved in John Malkovich’s life in relation to the mysterious portal that allowed characters to “be” him and witness his life in real time as if they were in his body fluctuate dramatically throughout the plot.

The idea of a portal into someone else’s life seems to be a solution to the desire that most people have at some point in their life to switch with another person and become someone else completely. It is interesting that the situation in Being John Malkovich is temporary, and provides an alternative experience while retaining the individuals true body and identity. However, this distinction becomes muddled as we witness the plot of lesbian lovers to live vicariously through Malkovich in order to satisfy their attraction, as well as the wife’s transgender feelings, simultaneously.  The husband of one of the women complicates thigns further in his rash actions of jealousy that his wife is the one who “caught” the woman that he was initially attracted to.

The complications of this plot and the overarching themes of the movie reflect a critical aspect of what fuels scifi, fantasy, and horror: each genre displays different approaches to empathetically experiencing a different life (even if it is momentary). This difference can derive from varying emotional states (getting some kind of rush/satisfaction/engagement from being frightened), or heightened imagination (placing yourself in the lives of wizards, fantasy worlds, an environment with completely different rules. I suspect that this quality of scifi, fantasy, and horror serves as an escape from real life for some, and a pleasant break for others. Regardless of motivation, Being John Malkovich  is a suitable demonstration of these genre’s ability to transcend our personal lives.