Week 8

"Cyberpunk is a science fiction genre based in the possibilities inherent in computers, genetics, body modifications and corporate developments in the near future. The word comes from the amalgamation of Cybernetics (the study of communication, command and control in living organisms, machines and organisations) and Punk (a style of fast, loud, short rock music with an anarchist political philosophy and a DIY, anti-expert, 'seize the day' approach to life)."

The lecture explored the concept of Cyberpunk and movies that feature this theme

On such Movie is William Gibson's "Burning Chrome" which shares the common themes as followed:

• 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

Cyberpunk Themes centre around

1. Technology and Mythology

2. Utopia and Dystopia

3. Cities and Machines

4. Technological Change

5. Modernism to Postmodernism

Interesting to note where the specific methologies that could apply to the study of these new technologies and the cultures. These include:

• critical cyberculture studies explores the social, cultural and economic interactions that take place online;
• critical cyberculture studies explores unfolds and examines the stories we tell about such interactions;
• critical cyberculture studies analyses a range of social, political and economic considerations that encourage, make possible and/or thwart individual and group access to such interactions;
• critical cyberculture assesses the deliberate, accidental and alternative technological decision- and design-processes which, when implemented, form the interface between the network and its users.

There were no tutorial task this week. We instead learnt how to research using University Databases which i found to be a big help.