Frankenstein continues to occupy the popular imagination as a monstrous scientist. Analyse some of the ways in which Frankenstein continues to haunt discussions of recent technologies.
In 21st century, people's lives are merging with a lot of technological devices, like computer, mobile phone and car etc. With the advanced technology, the relationship between the human and machine gets closer and closer, even become part of their lives. It might relate to Mary Shelley's worry, because there is danger in technological development. Therefore, Frankenstein has been occupying the dominant discussion about the fears towards the technology. This webliography is used to answer how Frankenstein's idea applies to the present stage. To start the research, some key terms like "Frankenstein and technology", "technology and humanity" and "fear of technology" are used through the online search engines, Yahoo and Google scholar. The followings are the result.
1. According to Damyanov's article (1996), it compares Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and William Gibson's Neuromancer in term of the negative influences of nature and human life brought by the technology. At these two different eras, people face vast changes due to the rapid technological evolution. The former one is undergoing the industrial revolution; the latter one is going through the transformation into information society. Owing to the changes, Frankenstein implies the new born of fear due to the uncertainty. Actually, behind the Frankenstein project, it relates to the power, the creator wanted to become god to control everything. The main theme of this article is that human conquest the nature results in destruction of nature and human. It clearly shows that new born fear of immoral scientific development after rapid growth of technology. It is a good starting point to introduce the background of Frankenstein and the link of fear towards present technological development, like powerful artificial intelligence.
2. In addition, Chandler's (2000) website has separated into three main parts, including the relationship between human and machine, the optimistic and pessimistic sides towards technology and fears of technology. The first part, it shows the intimacy between human and machine, human start to give the identity to the machine, likes gender. It also involves people's emotion, love and hate. So, it can see that technology has saturated in every aspects of our daily lives. Secondly, the opposite point of view in technology, hope and fear, are discussed. It shows that human in ancient Greece and middle age still possess positive view of technology, it helps to create the utopia. Gradually, the discourse of utopia is replaced by distrust and response of fear due to the wars, because people can see the destructive power of technology. Therefore, the dependency and misuse of machine shows the fear. Lastly, it lists out the four different fears in details, including knowing too much, losing control, losing our souls and being supplanted. This website helps to reinforce how the historical changes cause the negative thinking of technology. Also, the explanation of fears can help to make different layers discussion in the essay.
3. Besides, Pierro's (2005) observation is worth for discussing the present technological development. Nowadays, people can live in a room with a computer, then they can finish all stuff, like working, ordering food, shopping and communicating with others. Undoubtedly, it can bring the convenience. However, it seems to restrict the people in certain area. At the same time, when people rely on machines too much, people just become incompetent. Especially, artificial intelligence is well-developed, people will be replaced by the high technology. It is one of the main fears in technology. Moreover, the author feel shocked because of the speed of new technological devices. Within the five years, the mobile phone is outdated. New technologies are integrated into a palm-sized machine, like internet service and camera. At present day, when people are still learning the function of their mobile phone or other technological devices, new technology is waiting for them to explore. From Pierro’s personal experience today, it shows the new pattern of life which to chase the new technology. This helps to have better understanding of the struggle in humanity at present.
4. Referring to Burns's (2002) "Frankenstein of the future", she developed the idea of artificial intelligence based on the monstrous creation in Frankenstein. When people are giving greater power to the machine, we should consider the capacity of intelligence. Otherwise, it is just like what Victor did to give lives to the monster, finally, he was destroyed by his creation. This article urged the people to aware what ability is added to artificial intelligence. Technology can be destructive upon how the user controls it. Also, the power of technology exceeds our own ability, so it becomes dangerous when we lost our control. The article gives us an insight in handling the artificial intelligence, then I can raise the impact on artificial intelligence in the essay.
5. Apart from power struggle between human and machine, let's take a closer on Armitage's article (1999) "Resisting the Neoliberal Discourse of Technology". In the article, "totalitarianism is latent in technology" is the main theme. Human labour is not important anymore in business and political practices. Recently, human labour is replaced by technology. It links to the neoliberalism idea which means the pan-capitalist theory technologized in economic globalization. In fact, dealing with the technology, we should start to think about the cyberculture, because it expresses the various aspects of our lives, such as socioeconomic, geographical and political interests, partialities, alignments and commitments. So, you can see that it merges the body with science and technology. This article can help to elaborate on a new direction of the virtual class and politics in technology.
6. According to Robinson (2001), it mainly covers the historical framework about the progressive embodiment and reviews the technological futures and determinism. As the last source in the essay, I would like to clarify who takes the control in technology, machine or human. Is it really that the tool made me do it? Refer to Robinson, the tool has two sides, like the hammer, it can be used for building house or striking a blow. The choices are still in our hands, we can use it or refuse it. The situation is not fixed in any way, so this article is good to analyze the power based on the users.
To sum up the six online sources, the focus is on the Damyanov's article and Chandler's website. These sources are relevant to contribute the linkage between past hideous creation Frankenstein and present new technology artificial intelligence and the reason of fears towards technology. Behind the fears, power struggle between technology and nature will be further explained. In the last part, the discussion is whether the technology shaping us in future. As a result, the danger of new technology should not be neglected, but we should concern more about how people use the technology.
References:
Armitage, John. (1999). Resisting the Neoliberal Discourse of Technology: The Politics of Cyberculture in the Age of the Virtual Class. Retrieved March 31, 2008, from http://www.ctheory.net/articles.aspx?id=111
Burns, Alisa. (2002). Frankenstein of the Future. Retrieved March 29, 2008, from http://www.wsu.edu/~delahoyd/frank.comment4.html
Chandler, Daniel. (2000). Imagining Futures, Dramatizing Fears: The Portrayal of Technology in Literature and Film. Retrieved March 29, 2008, from http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/SF/sf.html
Damyanov, Orlin. (1996). Technology and its dangerous effects on nature and human life as perceived in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and William Gibson's Neuromancer. Retrieved March 30, 2008, from http://www.geocities.com/Paris/5972/gibson.html
Pierro, Robin. (2005). Will Technology Change Humanity, or has it already?. Retrieved March 30, 2008, from http://www.canadafreepress.com/2005/robin022805.htm
Robinson, Wendy. (2001). Technological Futures and Determinisms: Technoculture and Progressive Embodiment, Precedent, Causality and Marketplace Choice. Retrieved March 31, 2008, from http://www.duke.edu/~wgrobin/ethics/spr02/tech_future.pdf
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4 comments:
I think that all the sources in the webliography are suitable for answering this question. As it has provided a clear definition of Frankenstein ideas, reasons for human’s fear towards the technology and the potential problems in the technological development with examples of artificial and informative technology, it can give a rather comprehensive discussion on the questions. Especially, the point about the different fears from Chandler's article is interesting, and it gives clear explanation on what is the focus in human’s fear of technology, what they are really afraid of.
However, I think that the idea of techno-genesis should also be discussed to enhance the discussion. In the Frankenstein ideas, the techno-creation of life is one of the key concerns, that refer to the artificial life by human like Frankenstein in Mary Shelly’s story. It is usually related to the threat towards human purity, uniqueness and morality from the scientific development in the discussion of recent technologies such as biotechnology and reproductive technology. Therefore, it should be added, not only for the exploration in the negative side of technology merging into human life, but also for giving a support to the explanation on the relationship between Frankenstein ideas and the fear of technology in detail.
I am very grateful after reading Tammy’s webliography. I think that she did a very good work of this assignment. I was not writing on this topic, but she let me know a clear picture of the above topic. The summaries of each article are very clear and details, very well structured. In addition, she found these articles are really suitable for writing the essay of this topic, especially, in the last source, she shown her point of view and reflection merge into the article. I am really appreciating that she has done a very good effort. I think it is better than the other works that I have since before.
In my opinion, Tammy did a very good job on her assignment. The summaries of articles are clear and well organized. In her introduction part, I agree that nowadays people are using a lot of technological devices. We cannot live without those kinds of devices. Besides, it is right that we should concern more about how people use the technology.
I really enjoy reading your weblog here, as a very clear and comprehensive ideas are shown in here, especially you mentioned a very clear introduction to the basic idea of Frankenstein. If someone who does not do the same question will understand that easily. But if more latest examples are shown in here would be better.
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