The Robots Are Coming

What first struck me while reading Monstrous Technologies was the line in reference to our current societal state, “...a time in which humans are becoming increasingly intimate with technology, penetrated by and absorbed into the technological realm in an unprecedented manner” (Biles 148).  I believe this anthology was published in 2013 and since then technology has grown even more.  We use technology for a plethora of reasons: communication, connection, finances, planning, entertainment, and even dating, to name a few.

With all of our numerous uses of technology, it's no wonder we play with the idea of artificial intelligence and humanizing technology.  But the idea of robotic humans, or specifically Cylons as mentioned in the text, is terrifying.  We have no way of knowing how evolved these robots will become.  If science fiction movies (and Will Smith) have taught us anything it's that robots will likely try and overthrow humans.  The text even mentions the possibility of an “‘apocalypse’: a death of the imperfect human coincident with a technological resurrection” (Biles 149).  I don't know about you but I'd rather not tempt fate.  There’s even a notion that the human mind can essentially be uploaded to a computer.

Although I understand the importance of inquiry, exploration to further our minds and the human race, and the need to preserve our knowledge,  I have to wonder at what cost?  Do we really want to create technology that could eliminate us?  When should we draw the line and heed to the old adage of “curiousity killed the cat”?  The human mind and its constant quest for answers is too large of a fire to put out which means it's almost inevitable that soon we will be playing with humanized robot technology on a mass scale (that is if we haven't already).  The question remains, will we know when to stop and limit what we are producing?  Or will we continue in the name of science?  And if we do continue, how long before we start the process of eliminating the human race to advance technology?  Is our curiosity worth destroying our humanity?


Sources:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0343818/mediaviewer/rm1679789824

Levina, Marina, and Diem-My Bui T. "Chapter 9: Monstrous Technologies." Monster Culture in the 21st Century: A Reader. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Print.
Chapter / Anthology

Am I a woman or am I a machine?

In the beginning of Chapter 9 of “Monster Culture,” the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica introduces “sexy Cyclons” (149). These Cyclons are recognized by their “seductive power and lethal intent,” (149). Later, Cyclons are explained to be, “dramatizing the tension between their existence as machines and their existence as organic life forms” (150). So cyclons are these sexy female robots, right? Keep this in mind…

 

Later in the chapter Biles explains that, “the menace lies in the fact that humans run the risk of failing to master technology, of being mastered by technology-of becoming 'technologized'” (151). While this should be of great concern, hasn’t this already happened to the women? In pretty much every movie we’ve seen and comic we’ve read the female characters act as sex symbols. In the X-men movies I have a hard time taking Rogue seriously. She is not the ideal heroine I would admire. Rather than taking charge she tends to hide in the background and whine and complain most of the time, so is she really all that important? AND her mutant power is stealing the life force from people. If this doesn’t scream “machine,” then I don’t know what does. Yes, humans may run the risk of being taken over by technology, but hasn’t this already happened to all of the women we’ve seen? Think of a heroine you admire. Maybe she's super kickass (I really hope she is). But, is she treated differently because she's a woman? Is she seen as a sex symbol or as a MACHINE rather than as a human being?

So, pretty much every woman we've come across so far is seen as a machine in the sense that they are not recognized for their intellectual abilities or for their mutant powers but rather for having a feminine physic and “seductive powers.” Whether the woman is in fact a human OR a machine she is seen as a sex symbol. SO it seems to me that we’ve already fallen to this "master technology." People fear something that is already happening…at least to women. Instead of being afraid of falling to other technology, how about we first take a look at the problems within our own human society, of human women being treated as if they are machines. If we can’t correct that problem, then we’ve pretty much already lost the battle with technology.