rsp@ptsfa.UUCP (10/07/87)
I've been interested in the on going discussion here on what to define as cyberpuink and what literary/artistic roots can be claimed for it. There seems to be a growing unstated consensus that it has to do with computers (the cyber) and social organizations (the punk). I think it would be legit to offically broaden the scope. Check out this definition of cybernetics: "Theoretical study of control processes in electric, mechanical, and biological systems..." The roots of the term are Greek: kubernetes - "governor" and kubernan - "to govern". (See Webster's II New Riverside University Dictionary). I conclude that works which concern themselves with the questions of social control, social engineering, social manipulation primarily through the use of technology will give us the feel we call "cyberpunk". The "punks" don't have to wear leather or listen to heavy metal. They don't have to be the outcasts. The technology doesn't have to include digital computer systems; that's only one kind of control technology. Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" is my nomination for one of the most brilliant examples of the genre. Written during the '30s, this novel describes in great detail, a society in which technology is the deliberate tool used to "rationally" mold everyone from "conception" (your caste, your appearance, your intelligence, your function all genetically pre- determined) to death. Here are a few of the more interesting control technologies: - genetic manipulation. Cloning and genetic engineering produce offically approved types of humans, plants and animals. Groups of low-caste workers are cloned in identical sets of 10 or 100 to man a mine or factory. They are genetically conditioned and trained to "enjoy" belong to their own caste. Leader castes are granted superior IQs, workers stronger bodies. - soma, the perfect psychoactive hallucinogen. Versions of this offically promoted drug are used to heighten sexual passions, ease social contacts, provide bonding during religious rites, and even provide crowd control (like a LSD tear gas). - Sleep learning. Tapes of socially approved messages encouraging pride in one's predetermined caste, cheerful participation in school, social, sexual and religious activities are played nightly for all school children and worker castes. - Birth control and recreational sex. Motherhood is a disgrace since conception, gestation and "birth" are mechanized. Boys and girls are trained in the "joy" and "duty" of free sexuality. Birthcontrol is state sponsored and required. The soma, the dance clubs and the 'feelies' encourage daily, multiple sexual encounters. (MAKE LOVE, NOT TROUBLE.) - Sensory control. The 'feelies' are a means of directly affecting the neural system to provide a complete entertainment experiece. One literally feels what the actors feel in all senses. Adventure, melodrama, and explicit sex feelies are the most popular. The news broadcasts also provide a chance to feel the news of the day. I could go on, but let this suffice. Its time to read/reread "Brave New World" and see it with new eyes. Huxley died in 1963 (Nov. 22 to be precise. He shared the date with John F. Kennedy and C. S. Lewis.) I'm sure he would find our world becoming braver ever day, but in some unexpected ways. Steve Price (415) 823-1951 ptsfa!rsp "For every vision, there is an opposite and equal revision."
jr@lf-server-2.bbn.com.UUCP (10/09/87)
In article <3483@ptsfa.UUCP> rsp@ptsfa.UUCP (Steve Price) writes: > >I've been interested in the on going discussion here on what to define >as cyberpuink and what literary/artistic roots can be claimed for it. >There seems to be a growing unstated consensus that it has to do with >computers (the cyber) and social organizations (the punk). > >I think it would be legit to offically broaden the scope. Check out >this definition of cybernetics: "Theoretical study of control processes >in electric, mechanical, and biological systems..." One discussion that might be interesting is the limitations of control systems. Control systems are (generally modelled as) simple feedback systems. Recent work in Chaos theory (see Crutchfield, Farmer et al in Scientific American last January or December) shows that very simple feedback systems can exhibit chaotic behavior (i.e., behaivor indistinguishable from a random process). These simple systems can cross from controlled to bizarre behavior through very minor adjustments of thier model parameters. To me this opens the door for a much different sort of story - the punk (anti-hero or whatever) learns the models of the cybernetic control systems and is able to force them into chaotic behavior by appropriate application of the right external stimuli. The world breaks down on a grand scale or whatever. It might be hard to trace in a lot of cases. I'm not trying to rewrite War Games or something here, but there is I think the seed of an idea, and it may be a lot more plausible than some of what we find in science fiction. -- /jr jr@bbn.com or jr@bbn.uucp