Joey the Mechanical Boy
This is not a story about machines. This is a story about humanity; specifically one human being known as Joey the Mechanical Boy. You can probably think of several reasons why he is known as the Mechanical Boy. His story is one of a kind. Joey’s story has taught me a lot about what it means to be human. Bruno Bettelheim’s psychoanalysis on Joey carried a powerful message. Technology may affect our way of living but it cannot overpower our humanity. However, to what extent does technology control our lives? Can technology in some ways dehumanize us? Can machines become more powerful than human beings?
The following video is a poetic interpretation of Joey created by Ian Andrews. It provides a brief introduction on who Joey is or how he is perceived by Andrews.
The story of Joey the Mechanical Boy is unlike any other story I've read before. Whether Joey was a real boy or not, his story can create revelations to whoever reads it. Bettelheim sends a powerful message that helps the reader understand the true essence of children like Joey. He operated as a machine. He was complicated and mysterious. He looked like a real normal boy on the outside which can be easily understood but on the inside, no one could ever understand how he really works or what he was thinking.
This will then lead you to understand matters from Joey's point of view. From the historical time he was born in, throughout his childhood and under the care of Bettelheim.
Throughout the entire path, there is a song you can play at the bottom of every page which is by The Judy's (a band in the 80's) who wrote a song about Joey and who they think Joey really is.
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