Cyberpunk developed as a reaction against the over-blown and predominantly safe stories of 'space opera'.
Recurring themes of this genre were typically:
- the future is revolutionized by the networked computer
- 'cyberspace' is the matrix of electronic data in those networks
- global corporations eclipse government as the source of power
- power depends on information rather than money or arms
- the 'sprawl' is the jerry-built mega-city that covers most of the world and where those not employed by corporations struggle to survive
- sim-stim (simulated stimulation) is a new entertainment format that plays directly into the body so you experience the world though the stars? senses and emotions
- the merging of organic and mechanical elements in the human body
- the malleability of human identity
The movie the matrix was used as an example, and follows many of these recurring themes.
I have already written about the matrix and my views in relation to technology already so refer to previous blogs for my thoughts on that.
This movie also works with the idea of cities as machines:
- the city is a machine for living ... it creates human lifejust as humans create it
- the city is a natural thing, created by natural beings (humans)just as bee-hives and ant nests are created by natural beings
- the city is a living being ... a cyborg which combines humantissue with synthetic infrastructure.
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