Critical Theory in a Digital Age, CCU, ENGL 483 2017Main MenuTheory, English 483, CCU, 2017Alisha Petrizzo, Reproducing a ClassicTaking a look at how film can enhance or distort the authenticity of its original literature formatJocie Scherkenbach, Real Identity in a Virtual World: How Social Media Affects IdentityUsing the idea of cyborgs, as defined by Donna Haraway's "Cyborg Manifesto" the comparison is made between these cyborgs and social media users and how the public and private space converge and diverge within these spaces in order to form new and differing identities than the real-world identity.Kaitlin Schell, Electracy in #BlackLivesMatter and #MeTooMainstream hashtags that represent a movement in the physical world are explored in terms of Gregory Ulmer's theory of electracy and connotations.Kayla Jessop, The Uncanny Valley: Observations on Cyborgs within the Film IndustryA scholarly observation on how film industries use Freud's idea of the uncanny and the uncanny valley within cyborgs and computer generated animation.Bilingualism Through An Electronic Hypertext and The Baroque Simulacrum it Creates By: Lindsey MorganBy: Lindsey MorganMarcus Kinley, The Uncanny in Flatliners (1990)Tiffany Hancock, The Panopticon of CommoditiesYaicha Ocampo - Marx's Favorite LatteThe relationship between the simulacrum and the fetish commodityLeila Hassak-Digital Labor Through The Dystopian Film Hunger GamesElizabeth Tabor, From 'Token Girl' To 'Leading Lady'How The Rise In Female Fans Affects Modern Popular CultureKyle Malanowski, The Uncanny WithinVictor Cocco , The Wonderfully Mysterious World of the UncannyIntroductionAriel Ellerson : The Public Sphere's Effect on Social Media and ChurchTiffany Whisenant, Cyborg ProsthesisLooking at how technology is used to augment ourselves and how technology becomes extensions of our body and soul.Jen Boyle54753b17178fb39025a916cc07e3cb6dd7dbaa99
Transhumanism TW
12017-12-13T13:06:06-08:00Tiffany Whisenant57cdcee2477b20fdec5016b8c08a020ca7b4d0d3260201plain2017-12-13T13:06:06-08:00Tiffany Whisenant57cdcee2477b20fdec5016b8c08a020ca7b4d0d3Find out more about this movement at http://whatistranshumanism.org/
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1media/cyporg posvsneg.png2017-11-29T14:05:17-08:00Negatives vs Positives31image_header2017-12-13T20:06:59-08:00
"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity" - Albert Einstein
While the enhancement of the sense, identity, social constructs, and ideas are undoubtedly a positive effect of the cyber self that has manifested, there are also some very big drawbacks as well. If you haven't already, take a moment to watch the video below by Moby & The Void Pacific Choir.
The video is quite shocking, isn't it? While it is a bit overdramatized, the message of the video is clear: By attaching ourselves to technology and becoming prosthetic cyborgs we lose what we had and change what we are. Einstein was on point when he stated the above quote, our technology has exceeded our humanity. Or at the very least what humanity once was. It has altered us and every day continues to gradually change our perception of what it means to be a human and what it means to be alive. Biologically we've adapted to technology in fascinating ways. There is a movement called Transhumanism which focuses on the future and how humans can surpass where they are now and that there will be no natural limitations (playing into the prosthetic god in which we transgress spiritual boundaries and act like gods of our own species) to hold us back. Transhumanism focuses on what we have the potential to become.
Is this a good or bad thing? Is it necessarily positive or negative? It depends widely on the morality of the individual in which this question is posed to. You could argue that by inhibiting these cyberspaces and taking on these robotic or cyber real-life and metaphorical prosthetics that we are transgressing spiritual boundaries. On the other hand, you could also argue that by advancing forward with the usage of this prosthetic body we are one step closer to the creators of these boundaries, or from the scientific standpoint that we are rescripting our brains by interacting too heavily with technology and less with real-life society, but one could also argue that by interacting heavily online new ideas concepts and social movements come about in exchange, and the ability to multitask is increased. At any rate, no matter which standpoint you come from on the topic, there will always be pros and cons, but whether or not you agree, disagree, or agree to disagree, technology is like the flow of electrons, it is rapidly flowing forward non-stop and it will stop at nothing and just like technology, we are also electric, constantly changing and adapting to the environments and social settings in which we inhabit. No matter the negative drawbacks the change is inevitable. You cannot fight the evolution of culture and society.