Abstract
Abstract
‘ Today’s unthinkable is tomorrow’s tradition ‘ Every thought of human have a response in
the universe, those thoughts that are considered as surreal or very absurd today, will
come to daylight with scientific formulas and explanations sooner or later.
In the case of our imagination? Even better, we can do and be anything we choose. While
that may seem as two completely separate, divided identities, in the contrary they are
very much interconnected, in other words, they are mirrors of each other…
How universe will be or relations will be with other planets and creatures then? Even if you
don’t there is a practical profit of thinking this way. If you look at the things that you can
not bare from this dimension, our power to bare them increases or you live in a dream
world that may be the escape or exit way..
This assignment is an attempt to investigate the human condition in the context of current
and past economical and sociopolitical hysteria. It was the path way for those trying to
warn us through imaginative imagery. The transition from the two dimensional passive
cartoon characters to the interactive virtual reality creatures which represent cyborgs in
today’s society, reflects the pace and scope of technical development which makes the
dangers of the future appear more real and imminent.
CYBER BODIES
The social evolution of humanity is directly related to invention and to the degree of these
inventions assimilate into the daily life. Each innovation, once assimilated, has some impact
on the psychological and sociological aspect of human existence. Innovation changes the
structure and organization of society. It affects the existence, thoughts, relations and
continuity of human beings. Each century, a leading new technology exerts such an
influence on human life such as : print, radio, television, computer.
According to Nietzsche "the new" and its perception by any generation enforces the
evolution theory on that the change is "indispensable", it is the process and it is the very
nature of life. Regardless the time period we live in, we always find the ‘new’ and the
‘unknown’ threatening. Threatening because it shakes our existing values and patterns.
Threatening because we must transform and adjust ourselves as well ( Lechte, 1994 ).
On the other hand , technology also implies a transcendence of the materials used to
comprise it. When the elements of an invention are assembled in just the right way, they
produce an enchanting effect that goes beyond the mere parts. When Graham Bell
accidentally wire-connected two moving drums and solenoids (metal cores wrapped in wire)
in 1875, the result transcended the materials he was working with. For the first time, a
human voice was transported to a remote location. But when materials and in the case of
modern technology, information are assembled in the right way, the result becomes far
greater than the sum of its parts. ( http://www.britannica.com )
Today, the topic is ‘technology’. 20th centuries’ revolution: Unexpectedly fast-paced
inventions, leading one after another in a very short period of human’s history.
Where technology led us today, is a rather exciting but also analysis-provoking
phenomenon. Approaches to it is neither positive or negative, but would rather be
defined it as ‘neutral’. It is something that we have to accept as reality, as a natural
process and progress of human’s evolution.
By the end of the 20th century, some 70,000 nuclear weapons had been accumulated.
Today major arm reductions take place by the US and the former Soviet Union. Even if all
present treaties implemented, the US and Russia would still have enough weapons to
destroy every city on the planet twice over. The climatic effects of a global thermonuclear
war seem to be sufficient to destroy the global civilization and perhaps the human species.
( http://www.worldpress.com )
On that note, it is crucial to go over the relation between ‘history’ and ‘present’. When
the Atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan in August 1945 by United States , that
moment a transference was made. Sci-fi was no longer fantasy, it was an image very much
contact with real world. Sci-fi writing and prediction became true in an accelerated way.
Public opinion accepted the dramatic outcomes and the power but as a necessary evil.
Since then other presidents have justified the expansion and development of further mass
destruction often as a deterrent strategy\policy to their people. The best known recent
example is Ronald Regan who introduced the development of satellite based star wars
defense system. And it also portrays the escalation of the potential destruction and
inherent power.
In sci-fi community, the fall out caused by the bomb was immense. In Japan itself, a giant
evil came out; Godzilla. Godzilla was awakened from his primeval slumber by the atomic
shockwave . Godzilla , the king of the monsters , came to life, surging up from the depths
of the sea on a final wave of terror to wreak vengeance on mankind. The film’s world wide
popularity demonstrated that sci-fi now had a truly international audience. Sci-fi was
beginning to show humanity the downside of the scientific age. According to the theorists
sci-fi is not comfortable ; life for most people is not comfortable and it is full of
unexpected things. These are the stock in trade of the sci-fi writers.
Back in the United States, sci-fi reflected the same sense of horror at the terrible power
unleashed by the bomb e.g. A dialogue taken from a film extract; ‘ so horrible; so
terrifying, so hideous there is no way to describe them ( mutant creatures rising from the
atomic dust )’ ( www.tv1.com –sci-fi files, 2002 )
Meanwhile, the BBC did a documentary drama named ‘The War Game’ that asks’’ what
would happen if they dropped the bomb on G.B.’’ They described last minutes of
civilization .One of the key roles of the sci-fi has always been to warn us of possible
future disasters. ‘ The war game’ was a chilling portrayal of a nuclear holocaust.
( www.tv1.com –sci-fi files, 2002 )
To many, the nuclear arms race was madness. While the war game used shock tactics ,
Stanley Kubrick’s 1960s classic ‘Dr. strange love’ used biting satire. A film about an
American General who triggers a nuclear attack against Russia. At this point a question
arises can any body stop it? ‘when the CO level in the air exceeds 1. 28%, it will be
fallowed by death with in 3 minutes-this is Nuclear War.’
In any case, on top of us always hanging a "when" question. What is our aim and what
is the point to be reached?When will we start the projects accumulating in our brains?
The answer is more complex. None of us knows exactly our limits and our time, where was
it started and where will it end?There are lots of problems throughout the world and no
country or society could solve it completely within a life time span. Neither the Politicians
nor the systems have the eager and the power to solve these fundamental problems. So
lets ignore the natural life span and continue our projects like we could live a thousand
years or more? Is this possible….. .
According to the sci-fi editors or writers, the answer is obvious. They merely predict
future relationships between mankind and machine. Thus, the concept of virtual machine
has been developed by sci-fi writers since 1930s. More than five decades later, Rheingold
(1993) pointed out that ‘ Creators and audience emotionally attached to an apparently
technological ritual regardless of time and real space ’ . This brief description entitles
the theoretical and practical presences of interactivity. Sci-fi writers are always thought
of as being way ahead of their time because they live in the present. They are the only
ones whose antennae pick up these messages before anybody. They are the ones in
any field, scientific or humanistic, who grasp the implications of their actions and
of new knowledge in his own time. There are many reasons why most people prefer to live
in the age just behind them. Its safer. To live right on the shooting line, right on the
frontier of change, is terrifying.
With the development of computers, mankind is now able to make drastic changes easier
and quicker. Our own invention is getting ahead of us, becoming smarter, functioning
without much analog help. In very short time, it will advance probably to take over the
tasks in a wide range of areas of science, education, production, business, and our daily
lives. It is also an equal-opportunity platform for the shared obsessions. Besides its
advantages, naturally, this unrestrained freedom has produced negative side-effects as
well, especially in terms of hate and pornography ( Kennedy 2000).
The computer plays an important and growing role in everyday life. With the advance of
electronic communication technologies, and especially with the invention of the internet,
the border between machine and human is greatly reduced. There is new terminology to
describe the nature of this new medium. For instance, for people connected to the
internet, we apply the notion of ‘cyborg’ , a hybrid creature of machine and organism in a
post-gender world. In these post-modern times, machine and human are dependent each
other. They become inseparable as one. A person, using a machine and his knowledge to
manipulate this machine, experiences interactivity within the context of the virtual
space. Within this capitalistic, market-driven system where someone with this power
always dominates others, will probably never be realized. The word `Cyborg ’, is a utopian
notion which has never existed in real life, in fact known as the ultimate stage in human
existence. All these started to affect and force to change the rest of the (conventional)
media industry. Indeed, the system and the individual has to adjust itself to the changes.
Change is inevitable, as well as the persuasion triad: There will always be persuaders,
persuadees and a goal of persuasion. There will always be good or evil usage of the
inventions. There will always be conflicts and problems. ( Kennedy, 1995 )
However, as Barbara Kennedy put forward in ( 1995 ): ‘ to understand the relation
between human-computer interface, for instance we might ask is: are these relational
elements in fact separable , or is there a more significant consilience across their
architectures ?’ On account of this, life is an interminable machine, like a computer game,
participant is against an artificial intelligence, rules are defined ,however there is still a
control freak unless the game is over.
At this point, comic books represent an ideal example for understanding what cyber
culture, techno culture and cyber discourses mean. Since the 1930s comic books and
cyberpunk novels formed a contemporary popular culture. The print media in those days
have become like prosthetic devices, friendly selves, intimate components. ( Haraway
1991 ). Many children and adults have formed their impressions of cyber organisms reading
these comic books. From that time on a new taste has been introduced. Comic books
started to display the literal image of cyborgs. This phenomenon has been traced by many
narratives and experts. Mark Oehlert examined the cyborg figures before their final
triumph. In his article, ‘From Captain America to Wolverine’, Oehlert examines the social
behavioral patterns, political agency, intentionality and power of cyber figures. He
explores three specific types of cyborg: simple controller, bio-tech integrator and genetic
cyborgs . Oehlert argued that the ultimate images in popular comic book fiction reflects
violence and killing as well questions the nature of lost humanity and post-humanity.
Humans are social beings, who need to be nurtured and nurture, take and give, share,
collaborate, and who needs companionship. The society is constructed on the whole idea of
these basic interactions. Nevertheless, narratives of the comic books have planned to
build a platform where power, control and autonomy were provided by artificial
intelligence. This ‘ Golden age’ has started in 1930s at Detective Comics in U.S. . The most
known character of this era was Superman. This super hero was an alien , but lives on
earth. Narratives created an alien who fights against the evils and has a desire to save the
U.S. even the cosmos. Discourses of fear and abjection have primarily outlined with
Superman. A two way communication has been established between creators and audience.
Because the hero was very much like human and concerns about humanity. Narratives send
the ideologies and audience receive it. Meanwhile, Oehlert cited examples like Batman,
Spiderman, who was beaten by a spider exposed to nuclear reaction, or later heroes; Ninja
Turtles. These heroes undergo a mutation but they are still human. The machine have not
yet took over the human side hence, the human half have chosen to do with the new
abilities. The concept of looking and acting like a human no longer considered as a myth.
The human side of the equation became less important. The system has evolved into a
complex biotechnological machine. Machines started to take over the human side. Human
elements like fear, love , esteem programmed into the cyborg heroes. Iron Man was the
first to have the heart beating. Later, in 1941 Marvel created a super soldier named
Captain America. A super hero was created in a lab experiment. A super soldier serum was
injected to Captain America ‘s secret identity , Steve Rodgers . Like most of the other
comic book heroes he went work to battling against evils. Many stories and androids,
heroes and villains have been narrated between the years 1939-1950. To what extent,
these heroes are involved with the political and social issues? The answer will be fairly no.
because, sci-fi stories used to simply illustrate a fantasy about an alternative and extra
ordinary world.
In comparison with Golden age, science played a crucial role in the Marvel Age comics
( 1961-1970). An extra ordinary group of heroes are created: The Hulk, Spider-man,
DareDevil, X-Men and IronMan. These heroes were apart from the political concerns.
Instead of defending U.S. against Russia and the rest of the world, they were now willing
to protect the entire planet. This was a reflection of public’s fears against world
terrorism. Interaction between creator and audience became reactive.
Later cyborgs suit in the category of the bio-tech integrator. Their cyberbodies are much
more complex and severe. They started to exercise control over their molecular structure.
Their system have a complicated background. Cyber bodies constantly effected by various
kinds of virus and scenarios were written on these basis. The greatest enemy suddenly
disappeared or in other words became invisible. This type of cyborg obviously lead to many
odd situations. The cybernetic system were no longer a secret. Power were balanced
between good and evil. One of the most popular example of this type of cyborg is X-men.
A new concept has emerged beyond simple controller and biotech-integrator; genetically
altered cyberbody. This refers to exercise much control over genetic codes. Characters
are no longer technical or material. Their primary power lies in their genetic code. The
purpose here is to examine the evolution of human in ‘post-millennial‘ culture. However,
these heroes have been accidentally created .e.g. Supreme, Captain America, The Hulk,
Spider-man . Oehlert, in his article, traced the nature of the cyborgs and their evolution
within the time span.
At this point, it is remarkably appropriate to switch to a different lane, a lane that we,
the homo sapiens choose for ourselves, and reshape everything from scratch in this new
phase… There is no doubt that the outcome will be much more efficient than those we
achieve when we ‘sleep’ while awake. The earliest cyborg heroes in comic books are like an
arcade game ; two dimensional, with figures cruising ,running , fighting around as
inhabitants. Marvel characters portrayed a bitter-sweet taste. There are two paradoxes
at work here. One is that, the Marvel Characters could ever be thought of achieving the
undreamed. And the second one isdedicated to a creature called extra terrestrial, of
which we know the existence but could not identify the secrets. In that sense that these
extra terrestrials will bring real biological and spiritual transformation on earth… This
expectation has a practical aspect, too. That have a life span of 500 years or more…
These creatures are not striving for the real in any metaphysical sense. Instead the real
is defined in terms of the viewer’s experience ; it is that which would evoke an
immediate and therefore authentic emotional response. The boundaries are no longer
significant. These creatures are an assemblage of hybridity; biological, technological
and genetic e.g. Blood strike, The Terminator 1 and 2, Blade Runner. These androids
first appeared in comic books. Heroes seek to get to the real by bravely denying the
physic rules. They seek the real by their judgments so as to create a feeling of fullness ,
a satiety of experience, which can be taken as reality. In its narrative years, the
Hollywood film tied the vertiginous experience of Androids. In later decades of
Hollywood cinema , ‘violence’ and ‘gunning’ became popular attractions of
entertainment. Oehlert cites Blade Runner as an example which can be named as a
neo-noir\ tech-noir cyborgian film. Today’s heroes are aiming to become more functional
in dysfunctional societies where fear and anxiety exists.
Violence and gunning are popular sources of early narratives and the late ones.
Violence, because it is the easiest one to discuss, however fear and anxiety are the
most complex one to draw a portray. In his word Oehlert claim that; ‘violance as a
cyborg issue, is a double age sword. One edge cuts into society’s fears and desires
concerning the present level of crime. They are violaently and graphically destroying
criminals. The opposing edge of the balde lays open our own fears concerning the
cyborgs themselves. Are these the images of post-modern Frankestein monsters? If
these cyborgs are so powerful then how do we stand a chance if they ever turn on us.’
The answer for second one is obvious, the lost of the Humanity. If we pursue this line of
technology, then humanity must predict the inevitable change. Narratives and film
makers have been trying to draw much attention to the integration of human and
machine since 1930s. what is the consciousness behind these man machine creatures?
Further researches will probably explain this. In fact figure1* illustrates the future
modification of human body. Comic books have seized this modification earlier. Today ,
we carry the whole universe to a different period in the shape that there will no going
back and no repetition.
However, notice how all of those movies and shows depict the future? well the Jetsons had
it wrong when they stated that everybody would be flying, and it’s the same story with
the "cyborg."- personally, i don’t think it will ever be a serious matter… i think that the
‘end times’ are coming…
Anyway.. it seems that the children of this age are exposing themselves to cartoons of the
future like MIB, and Evolution, as well as Power Rangers. i think that their minds have been
clouded by fake depictions of the future. The kids of this age may pursue the study of
cyborgs to enhance the physical body, but in reality it won’t be a big thing. These people
won’t take over our universe!
To follow up on the finding that we-the homo sapiens-were liberated from our bodies
and tied up to a new identity in a virtual space ( McMillan,2000). which liberate the
individual from the social constraints of embodied identity and from restrictions of
geographically embodied space. To illustrate the distinction between ‘real
space and virtual space’, consider the hypothesis put forward by Downes and McMillian
(2000); they suggest that, It is impossible to examine one aspect of ‘transformation’,
regarding here to technology, without seeing it as an integral part of the whole cultural
evolution and indicate that the dynamics of the social structure determines completely
which direction the ‘transformation’ will be, not in a planned manner but as a natural
outcome.
