Deus Ex and Posthumanism

When I see the word "Posthumanism," the first thing that comes to my mind is the "Deus Ex" videogame series. This is with good reason, of course - the games, particularly the original and its prequel, center their stories around the development of wide-reaching artificial intelligence, human augmentation, and struggles between ordinary humans and their augmented counterparts.



Deus Ex, released in 2000; and Deus Ex: Human Revolution, released in 2011, are first-person role playing games published by Eidos and Square Enix respectively. Both are well-known for their intricate plots that tie current events with potential future issues and conspiracy theories. The appreciation for the games is so strong that it gamers often joke about reinstalling them if they are ever brought up.

Though the two games I am focusing on are divided by age both in the story and real life, they both cover posthuman topics through thought-provoking conversations and dialogue.

Human Revolution takes place in 2027, during the "Golden Age of Human Augmentation." Millions of people across the globe have installed mechanical limbs and other improvements onto themselves, improving countless lives while also creating resentment among non-augmented individuals.

Adam Jensen, the player character, is a security officer who was narrowly saved via extensive augmentation after a terrorist attack destroyed his workplace. Though this gave him powerful abilities, he had no say in his fate, leaving him in a self-loathing state for part of the story.

The game indirectly asks what it means to be human. Some characters, like the Purity First militants, insist that augmentation soils the basic idea of human growth and development. Others, like Sarif Industries' CEO, consider augmentation to be the next step in human evolution, and work to make it accessible to as many people as possible.

Notably, no answers are given to the player for this question. Instead, it leaves you to decide for yourself. Adam has retractable blades in his arms, sunglasses built onto his face, and can punch through walls without any serious issues. His abilities may exceed that of a normal human, but is he still human? Or has he become something greater than human, something humanity should strive to become?

The original game in the series, Deus Ex, examines another philosophical question (among many others): what does it mean to be a non-human? Can they ever be considered on-par with humanity, or are they somewhere below or above us?

Taking place in 2052, Deus Ex tells the story of J.C. Denton, a UN Peacekeeper assigned to quell a terrorist movement in the United States. What follows is a mind-boggling plot about governmental overreach and humanity's tendency to worship beings "above" them, even if their origins lie with humankind.

The game's final choices hinge on deciding humanity's future and who should lead it. Should it be left in the hands of centuries-old secret societies? Or should an absolute dictator, in the form of a benevolent AI program, guide it along? Perhaps a third option, where all hints of the old order are wiped away and mankind is forced to fend for itself?



Morpheus, a prototype for a more advanced computer, is at one point questioned by JC for its surveillance of humanity. It may be Orwellian to watch over as many people as it does, but is it not ultimately giving people what they want? We crave attention, as demonstrated by how much personal information we put on social media for people to like and comment on.

Something I noticed while writing this was the conscious effort I had to make to dehumanize Morpheus. After watching the video for a second time, I unconsciously described the AI as a "he," but deleted that and put "it" instead.

Is there anything non-physical that separates Morpheus from JC, though? They both think and react to their environments. They both provide insights on events and have greater ambitions to pursue. It even has a masculine voice and projected appearance. If it were considered a living being, would its immobile state rank it below humanity, or would its all-seeing network make it humankind's superior?

It has been a while since I played both games, but I still do not have answers for its questions. Perhaps that was the intention of their creators - to have players dwell on its topics long after completion. If so, they have succeeded. Whenever posthumanism is discussed, I always think back to Deus Ex and Deus Ex: Human Revolution.

Works Cited:

Eidos Interactive. Deus Ex. Ion Storm, 2000. PC.

Square Enix. Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Eidos Montreal, 2011. PC.

Light and Shadow

An artist’s work is deliberate. I knew this as a fact… At least, as it applied to writing and painting. In regards to comics? Well, I knew this subconsciously. However, despite reading comics for years, it wasn’t until after reading McCloud that I truly understood on a conscious level the kind of deliberation and thought that goes into planning and creating a comic.

Case in point: In the our most recent reading (Astonishing X-Men, issues 1-3), there were a few pages that really popped to me, but the most salient page was this:

As you can see, the page is depicting a conversation between the X-Men over the advent of a “cure” for the X-gene. In particular, panels featuring Kitty, Logan, and McCoy have fairly light backgrounds, whereas the panel with Emma has a dark background. Additionally, in the panel featuring the four of them, hers is the only face covered in shadow.

I feel this is suggestive not only of Ms. Frost’s past as a villain – one of Magneto’s followers – but also of her attitude in general. This is supported by the cynicism of her dialogue on this page. She remains on the darker side of the mutant debate.

Alternatively, the others – shrouded as they are in a dim light – maintain a comparatively positive outlook on things. Which is to say that their reactions aren’t quite as extreme and dark as Emma’s.

On the whole, the lighting in this scene says as much about the characters’ personalities as the text: Kitty, as upbeat and morally good as she is wont to be, remains primarily un-shadowed; Emma, ruined by her experiences, remains thoroughly in the dark; Logan, jaded by his past, tends to be partially obfuscated by slivers of shadow; and McCoy, contemplative as he is, is bathed in a neutral light.

But then there’s Scott.

Scott is all alone on the last panel, with a sort of yin and yang balance going on with both the shading of his face and the background of the panel. This design choice represents a crossroads. As the new leader of the X-Men pushed into such a chaotic scenario, Scott finds himself having to make a grand decision regarding the future of not only Xavier’s School for the Gifted, but also for mutant-kind as a whole. In the face of potential “cure” and all that entails, does he take on Emma’s darker outlook and rise to murder? Or does he keep the teachings of Professor X and try to remain hopeful that humanity will grow to accept them?

Reference:

[Whedon, Joss (w), Cassaday, John (a).] "Astonishing X-Men: Gifted." X-Men v1 #1-6 (2011), Marvel Entertainment.

Comics: an Acquired Taste

For me, comics are like beer. Maybe with time I'll start to like them but after my first taste, I'm still not loving the flavor.  Maybe its not that I don't like comics but I just haven't tried enough of them to know what I like. But one thing is clear after this reading; I'm not a fan of the Astonishing X-men. 

I was basically confused from the start as I was only able to identify Cyclops and the blue cat guy (Who's name I discovered later is Dr. McCoy). It was easy to follow the plot and once Wolverine showed up things started to get a little clearer as he’s usually the cause of conflict. But then suddenly they were all giants, standing in the ocean…

I honestly thought I skipped a page and flipped back because I couldn’t understand how they transitioned from the lawn to giant form and an ocean (I’m obviously the person on the hike who’s got the map because if I don’t know where we’re going I get very annoyed). After Dr. McCoy explains that he messed something up with the danger room, I see the humor in it but I felt like it was so abrupt. But I felt like this a lot. It was a constant jump from one scene to the next and it was complicated to follow.

I honestly have no clue what Frost’s powers are. She can read minds but manipulate them but also she turns into diamond (I think I’m confused here…)? She’s fighting Ord and she becomes a diamond. Not sure what happened. Maybe some clarification is needed. Then in the next scene there’s a mini dragon that attacks the bad guy and saves the X-men. It apparently belongs to Kitty but why? I’m not sure. A tiny purple dragon saved the day and well… I thought that was pretty lame. I think if the alien had still kicked all their asses and then simply walked away, there would’ve been an added layer of mystery. The dragon just seemed a little much.

It did get better from there and I started to get more into the story line. Where the heck is the professor? What’s the alien Ord doing with the doctor lady? Who’s the little girl? What’s going on with Jean?!

My issues with this weeks comics stem mostly from randomness that doesn’t really add anything to the plot and over-stimulating pages. Sometimes there was just way too much going happening on a page and every single character had dialogue (a lot of it side comments or snarky remarks). While it does make the conversation seem more genuine, the side comments in combination with the main dialogue in combination with the intense, in your face artwork makes it really hard for me to focus. There’s just too much happening.

Too much happening! 

For instance, what is happening here?                                        

What's that top bit about? What moth? Help. 

I really do wish I liked comics, in a very sincere way. But, like beer, I’m afraid I’m going to have to push through a lot of the ones I don’t like to find the few that suite my taste.

Astonishing Jean?

In the Astonishing X-Men issues one through three, I was shocked to see the leadership of Jean throughout the comic. This makes me wonder if there are subcategories of heroes. I would also argue the same for monsters. For now, I am focusing on the subcategories of heroes and specifically Jean’s standing in the hero category.

In my thoughts I would consider all of the X-Men heroes, but they are all different calibers of heroes. In the comic issues, Jean stuck out to me the most. She was the leader of the heroes and I would consider her the superhero of the group. She does everything in her power to help others, she is almost selfless to a fault. When the X-Men help Nina and the Mannites to protect them from the Death, she is willing to sacrifice herself in order for the Mannites to live long enough to “discover their powers and decide their own fate”.

Along with Jean’s selfless nature, she is the leader of the group throughout the comic issues. When an event arises or action needs to take place all of the characters look to Jean for instruction. For example in the third issue, Nate says “You call the shots, Jean”, Jean acts as the mission leader throughout the quest.

In class we’ve agreed that a superhero acts in a selfless manner and has some type of power that makes them superior to the average hero. As far as powers in the X-Men comics, telekinetic power is definitely the strongest of them all. Jean’s telekinetic energy makes her an obvious choice as a leader.

I feel like Jean’s role in the X-Men movies was underrated immensely. Why would such a central comic characters role be substantially diminished in the movie? Jean serves as the character that overshadows all of the characters to a character in the film that would show up everyone in a while. Does that make sense to anyone else? It sure doesn’t make sense to me!

References:
https://www.google.com/search?q=jean+grey&rlz=1C1OPRA_enUS594US594&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=662&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjl8emm6pzPAhVD1CYKHZmZA4YQ_AUIBigB#tbm=isch&q=jean+grey+movie&imgrc=7iTfcwv_GysggM%3A

[Joss Whedon (w) and John Cassaday (a).] Astonishing X-Men, Vol 1. "Gifted" #1-3. (Dec. 2012). [Marvel Comics].

My First Real Comic

I like the X-Men.

Yup, I really never thought I would say that about any superhero series, but I do. I like the X-Men. Granted, I feel like I liked the X-Men, as characters, more in the films we watched than in The Astonishing X-Men. Why?

The superhero part.

When Cyclops suggests the X-Men become “a real superhero team,” it was almost like a joke to me. I think what really drew me to the X-Men in the films was that although they had powers and acted like superheroes, they didn’t need the trivial “tights” and costumes to fight for their goal.

However, that’s not to say I didn’t enjoy the comics, because I really did! They were entertaining, funny, well-drawn, and well-written. I really appreciated the Harry Potter references (you guys didn't expect me not to comment on the Potter references, right?)  I also think the comics, like their film counterparts, displayed the fact that there is a gray area between heroes and monsters. Not only because the characters are themselves “monsters” or mutants, but because in these comics, some characters which you would think would be heroes, in fact are not.

One instance where the gray area between monsters and heroes occurs is in relation to Dr. Rao’s “cure.” Doctors are traditionally thought of as “heroes,” and in this instance, I see how she can be considered a monster. Sure, she thinks she is saving Tildie from her powers; maybe she is. However, her intentions, I believe, are not so pure, for when explaining the cure to McCoy, she says, “innocent people will live normal, decent lives.” To me, this sounds like she wants mutants to live “normal, decent lives.” Although she of course isn’t forcing anyone to take the cure who doesn’t want it, she has to know that this kind of thing could affect mutants everywhere. Additionally, I feel my suspicions of Dr. Rao’s intentions could be proven right, at the end of episode 3, we get a hint that the cure could have been tested on Jean.

This same idea where a figure of government authority who should be considered a hero also shows up in Cyclops’ meeting with Fury. Again, a government figure who you would think would help, instead groups all mutants as one evil entity – “your boy Magneto” – and says that the X-Men are harboring “dangerous criminals” at their school, including Frost. (Disclaimer: I don’t know Frost’s backstory, so I can’t really comment on that part, but…) Anyway, Fury does not seem to be a hero figure of any sort.

On an unrelated note, I just wanted to comment on the fact that Frost annoys me. She really needs to put on some clothes…

A final example of how the Astonishing X-Men show the gray area between villains and heroes has to do with McCoy. Although he is part of the X-Men superhero team, he could potentially stray and try the cure on himself. A true hero is selfless by our definitions, and that is definitely a selfish act.

In conclusion, though: I liked reading my first real comic.

Are the X-Men Suffering from a Disease?

People with diseases tend to be surrounded by a strong stigma.  The word disease itself has such a powerful negative connotation that we're automatically repulsed by the thought of it.  The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as “a condition of the body, in which its functions are disturbed or deranged.”  In Astonishing X-Men: Gifted, a new “cure” for the mutation “disease” is being released by Dr. Rao.  This cure, she says, is able to eradicate the disease.  Some mutants are strongly opposed, whereas others desire it. Any mutant seeking the cure may feel alienated from his or her own sense of self, such as Dr. McCoy.  He expresses to Logan that his body isn’t what it used to be and he feels out of control of his emotions.  Dr. McCoy, and perhaps many other mutants, just want to live the lives they used to have.

However, other mutants are opposed to the mutant cure, and rightly so.  After all, is being a mutant so horrible? Mutation can be viewed as a quality that simply makes a person unique—it isn’t necessarily dangerous or bad.  Some mutants, such as Kitty, have rather harmless abilities.  In other cases, a mutant only needs to learn how to control their abilities.  If a mutant’s regular functions are not disrupted, then a cure isn’t needed because mutation is not a disease.

A mutant’s choice over whether or not to “cure” themselves is not quite as troubling as Dr. Rao’s presentation.  She begins her speech by stating that mutants and non-mutants are equals, except that mutants have a disease.  Due to the connotation of “disease,” she indirectly infers that mutants are defective people.  She further supports the stigma surrounding people with disease (mutants in this case) by presenting Tildie, a young girl that uncontrollably causes her nightmares to become reality.  Overall, Dr. Rao highlights the possible danger and threat of mutation and presents it as the norm. 

In the third issue, we see that Dr. Rao may be more corrupt than what we initially made her out to be is allied with Ord (remember the alien that attacked the X-Men?).  She speaks with Ord after giving a cure sample to Dr. McCoy, and it is evident that they are working together towards some yet-to-be-determined goal.  It is even revealed that Ord’s people helped Dr. Rao produce the cure, but she is only “a pawn…in a grand scheme” (58).  Additionally, she’s been testing the cure on someone, causing Dr. McCoy to call her a monster.  To truly know whether or not Dr. Rao is a monster, however, we’ll just have to finish Volume 1.

References:

[Joss Whedon (w) and John Cassaday (a).] Astonishing X-Men, Vol 1. "Gifted" #1-3. (Dec. 2012). [Marvel Comics].

"disease, n." OED Online. Oxford University Press, September 2016. Web. 19 September 2016.

The Outer Beast

To me, one of the more interesting individuals in the X-Men universe is the character Dr. Hank McCoy, commonly known as Beast. He exhibits traits of extreme genius, but physically resembles a large, blue, and hairy cat with incredible strength. Certainly, the plot developments within Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men reveals Beast as more of a three-dimensional character. From the example of Beast in this comic series, one can begin to discern what it means to be a monster. Unfortunately, no matter what Beast does, though, I fear he will always be treated as a monster due to his physical appearance.

My definition of a monster is centered around the idea of a deformity that is considered abnormal in society. However, in Beast's case, he drew the shortest straw with his mutation. Some mutants can easily pass as regular people without anyone recognizing their extraordinary abilities. Beast, on the other hand, cannot hide his mutation from the world, as seen in this comic so far. The name Beast alone implies a monstrosity. All too often, people associate their notion of monsters purely by looks instead of actions. Beast fits this concept based only on the exterior presentation that the world sees. Cyclops even refers to this perception in the comic stating, "Hank's articulate as anything, but what people see is mostly...well, a beast" (Whedon, 18). Beast's brilliance and personal stance to fight for the people of Earth are overlooked not only because he is a mutant, but also due to his outer characteristics.

With this backdrop, one can understand why a character like Beast would be curious with the possibility of a cure to the mutant gene. One of my favorite panels in the comic is at the bottom right corner of page 40. Beast is asked by a reporter about his thoughts on the supposed "mutant cure." In response, Beast says, "I'm sorry. 'Cure'?" (Whedon, 40). The artwork within the panel alone speaks to the subtle intrigue that he has with the possibility of a cure. From that point, the artist John Cassaday's rendering of Beast depicts a character struggling with the inner turmoil to become "normal" or accept who he is as an individual.

Aside from the fact that he may be degenerating further into an animal-like creature, inside, Beast longs for a chance to perform activities in which he had grown accustomed to before his mutation. On page 66, Beast says, "I used to have fingers. I used to have a mouth you could kiss..." (Whedon, 66). Understanding the position that currently resides within him, one can easily surmise why he would seek out a cure should the opportunity present itself. For as Emma says at the top of page 11, "They will always hate us" (Whedon, 11). Personally, I can not blame Beast for wanting to seek a cure with the constant demands that humanity enforces on the mutant community.

https://media.giphy.com/media/rej07KlIYlax2/giphy.gif

I pledge that I have neither given nor received any unauthorized aid on this assignment. Anthony King

Sources:

Whedon, Joss, and John Cassaday. Astonishing X-Men: Gifted. New York: MARVEL
       
            WORLDWIDE, 2004. Print.