The Issue of Cybernetics in Ghost in the Shell - Essay Example

Introduction The advent of technology has brought significant changes in the way human beings think and relate. In theearly 80s, the first personal computers were available for sale in the most developed countries at that time. It did not take much time for techno culture to become the new thing that was considered ‘cool’ and futuristic. Computers slowly became man’s best tool. People slowly transformed into entities that would send and receive messages via these computers. The symbiotic relationship between human beings and machines continued to grow. The connection was the motivation for the development of a network that could connect the entire human population. The notion of a single network to connect billions of people was perceived. At this point, cybernetics was born. Its popularity grew at an impressive speed. The notion of cybernetics was perceived because of increased spread of technologies and the growing interest in the cyborg culture. The coming of new technologies opened new experiences and offered an escape from reality. However, the symbiotic relationship between human beings compromised the privilege status occupied by human beings. Anxiety and confusion were born in this era. The influence of technology and the notion of cybernetics has been demonstrated in a couple of movies. The paper examines three movies namely, Ghost in the Shell (1995), Avalon (2001) and The Matrix (1999) to determine the influence of technology on human life. Cyberpunk refers to a society that is dominated by computer technology. The paper evaluates the influence of technological advancement in human life and its representation in films. Ghost in the Shell (1995) Ghost in the Shell is a sci-fi animation film is about how a public security agency hunts for a hacker called the Puppet Master. In the movie, the world has been connected by an advanced system of electronic network that influences every aspect of life. Human beings are can access the network via cybernetic bodies. The bodies have their consciousness. It enhances the abilities of an individual. Therefore, one can do what they would not do in their normal body. Apparently, the ghost master can hack the mind of people and plant memories that were not there. It is a tale on how humanity can evolve to a much advanced level of subjectivity with the help of technology. It is the story of Kusanagi from the time she is made to the time she merges with the Puppet Master. The movie tells the story of lies and secrets, which was Section 6, create the Puppet Master. The puppet master escapes and manages to combine with the protagonist Kusanagi. The Puppet Master exists only in the cyberspace. The Puppet Master is found in cyberspace and the cyborg agent Major Kusanagi. The merger gives rise to an entity that enjoys impressive agility, speed, potential for action and knowledge. The resulting entity cannot be held down by institutional power. The ability of the entity to be everywhere implies some form of collectivity. It is possible that the movie gets inspiration from the accelerated technological that were seen in the 1980s. Some people consider cyberpunk as an act of rebellion that was borne by the accelerated technological advancement. The movie shows the influence of computers in the human life. It has a come to a point where human beings rely on computers to run their lives. These advancements come with negative effects, which include the ability of the ghost master to hack brains and change memories. On the other hand, it has given meaning to the immortality since people can live on even after their real bodies are destroyed. The other effect on cybernetics is the way the movie represents sexual identity. It seems there is a confusion in sexual identity because sexual reproduction has been replaced by mechanical replication. It seems like the essence of humanity has been replaced by the enhancement of the relationship between human beings and machines. The liberation of cyborgs, which happens when the Puppet Master and Kusanagi merge, goes beyond gender identity. Ghost in the Shell has a modest adaptation of the screenplay. The movie is well organized with a clear flow of events. It uses innovative animation, which makes the screenplay engaging and attractive. It uses visual displays that are futuristic. It uses digitally generated Animation (DGA), which was considered the future of animation at that time. The sound design is remarkable due the use of DGA. In digitally generated animation, the audio is entered like normal data. The film uses a unique lighting technique, which enabled it to integrate light and darkness in a single cel. Attention was given to the shadow and the sources of light. The representation of characters and flow of events in the movie is smooth. The Matrix (1999) The Matrix another film under the cyberpunk genre that tells the story about the relationship between human beings and machines. The creators of Matric gets some of their inspiration from the movie Ghost in the Shell. The Wachowskis are the one who wrote The Matrix. The movie depicts a future world where human beings have been deceived to live in a simulated reality. Human beings live in a simulated reality called ‘The Matrix’. Machines have subdued humans in the simulated reality while, in the real sense, they use their bodies to produce energy that power machines. A computer programmer by the name Neo discovers the truth. He is compelled to join forces with other human beings who are rebelling against the machines. The Matrix has been celebrated for the manner in which storytelling is achieved in the movie. The screenplay is interactive and organized. The production uses blue lines to separate the real world from the ‘The Matrix’. The scenes in the movie are wonderfully integrated, which make it easy for the audience to follow the story. The Nebuchadnezzar is represented in a different way to enable viewers to tell the difference between the movements from the ‘The Matrix’ to the real world. The Matrix uses innovative visual effects. The movie applies impressive visual effects, which makes high-quality filming. The “bullet time” is used to show how the consciousness of human beings can influence the speed of bullets. It shows the characters can control time and space within ‘The Matrix’. The movie required the use of advanced filming skills to enhance screenplay and show the effects. In addition to the visual effects, there was a need to create the visual effects of the effects of the sentinels, which are found in the movie. The techniques used in filming the movie has led to the innovation of new skills in filming and photography. The sound design includes sound effects and music. The effects created are appropriate for each scene. They enhance action and create the mood for each scene. The Matrix succeeds in the effective application of filming techniques and sound design. Overall, editing, characters, and cinematography was well done. It makes use of techniques that formed the foundation for next generation filming. The Matrix is a cyberpunk genre film that raises the issue of overdependence on machines. It raises most the issues that are raised by Avalon and Ghost in the Shell. Morpheus explains to Neo that the machines found it easy to enslave human beings because the human race trusted the computers. People have been trapped because of their desires, which make them weak in front of the machines. The raises the issue of overdependence on technology. The notion is that it easy for machines because human beings stopped being human. It is based on the threat of the idea that artificial intelligence can rise to subdue the human races. Symbolically, the movie seems to suggest the human races is already trapped by machines because overdependence. At the same time, it asserts the significance of machines in helping solve human problems. Neo and Morpheus have machines that they use to fight against the machines. Neo realizes the level of thoroughness that the machines can achieve. It is clear indication that technology can grow smarter than human beings can. The Matrix is full of philosophical inferences. It shows the vanishing line between what is real and fantasy. The movie simulates what a postmodern era would look like. The post-modern era threatens to erode all the values that make every one human. Technology has been slowly eroding the founding principles of the human race. Overtime, the line that separates reality from simulation is slowly disappearing. The movie puts across four points, which are valid. First, it has become impossible to differentiate between what is very and not real. Second, it is possible to simulate reality and improved it. Third, simulated reality can be preferred over the normal reality. Fourth, simulated reality possess the same metaphysical realities that are found in the normal reality. The reality of these points does not matter; the most important part is the implications of the statements. Philosophers have hinted, at the inability of people, to differentiate to what is not real. Plato says human beings do not what really makes them; they concentrate on the material things without looking beyond what is visible to the eye. Of course, it is impossible to be sure of what is real or not in the world. Avalon (2001) The film ‘Avalon’ is about an alternate that exists in a very addictive game called Avalon. The game allows players to log and simulate in cyberspace. They can play the game like in real time. The game has a section called Special A where if one goes they turn into vegetables. At the end of the movie, on realizes that people who turn to vegetables are trapped in the game. Ash (the main character) goes in special A in a bid to save formed team captain Murphy. She is appalled to find that Murphy prefers to be a trap in the game because it represents a world that is void of imperfections found in the real world. The only way to get the Special A section is by defeating all the players who could not return after entering that section. Ash is determined to defeat them and get out. The use of Arthurian lore makes Avalon a bit different form ‘Ghost in the Shell’. The game is all about military and strategy. However, at some Ash has to navigate the Arthurian mythology strategically in order to win the game. The game is a quest in which Ash seeks to restore part of her lost life. Inside the game, Ash receives help from one of the nine sisters who guides through the Arthurian lore. In Avalon world, Ash can effect change, which is not the deal in the normal reality. She wallows in sadness, which evidenced by the fact that she spends time smoking in her apartment even though she is a big shot in the game. The mise-en-scène of Avalon emphasizes science fiction. It defies logic and questions the influence of technology in the life of humans (Webb). Characters in the movie can enter the game via the conscious mind, which defies logic. The screenplay has been organized well. However, it can be hard to understand the plot of the movie because of the underlying story that has to be narrated. The movie makes use of sound effects and music to create moods in different scenes. Cinematography is modest. The most intuitive part of the film is the filming and screenplay. Avalon is a typical cyberpunk movie because of themes of science fiction that are found from the commencement of the until the end. Avalon also contains the issue of technology and its influence on human life. Avalon is a very addictive game, which can be very dangerous. Regardless, many people are still willing to play the game. The Avalon world is a simulated reality where players get to do the impossible. Technology continues to erode that line the line that separates reality from simulation. In the movie, some people prefer the simulated world to reality. Murphy goes into the forbidden zone of Avalon because he likes staying in Avalon; He tells Ash in the game that the cyberspace is full of possibilities, which are not available in the normal world. Discussion It is a fact that cyberpunk genre emphasizes science fiction. The films in this category put so much emphasis on the influence of technological advancement than other normal films. They depict the connection between the conscious mind and technology. Avalon, The Matrix and Ghost in the Shell all raise issues concerning dependence on technology. In all the movies, cyberspace creates perfect worlds with limitless possibilities. Human beings believe technological advancement presents new possibilities that help in overcoming limits. As a result, the human race continues to rely on technology for the most basic functions. The fear of artificial intelligence stems from the tendency to rely on computers for the most basic functions. In Avalon, Ash finds solace in the game because Avalon is the one place where she wields real power. She has grown to depend on Avalon, which explains she is bent on finishing Class real so that she can join the nine sisters and get her life back on track. In matrix, Neo realizes something is wrong with the world because everything seems a little too perfect. The simulated reality in ‘The Matrix’ seems a little too perfect, which makes Neo wonder what is might be bugging the world. The people who prefer ‘The Matrix’ enjoy the simulated reality because they can achieve whatever they want. The same effect has been noted in computer game addicts. Cases of children who turned the machine like by depending, on video games, to express their frustrations. Ghost in the Shell shows a world where human beings can go beyond their limits when clad in cybernetics. It also shows the lengths that human beings can go because of their dependence on computers. It presents a world where even computers have the ability to reproduce. The merger between Kusanagi and the Puppet Master leads to a new entity, which implies reproduction has taken place. All the three movies emphasize the connection between the human conscious and cyberspace. The movie threatens the limits of the human mind, which considers most of the concepts as fantasies and simulated realities. Avalon and The Matrix emphasize the dangers associated with overdependence on technology. Ash has not life outside the Avalon world. She gains her self-worth through game. Humans in the ‘The Matrix’ were tricked because they trusted machines to the point they could not do defend themselves. In conclusion, the advancement to the technological era has led to over-dependence on technology. All the movies question the boundaries that artificial intelligence can overcome. They caution on the negative effects of technology dependence while highlighting the significance of technology in solving human problems. They have been termed futuristic because the view what might dependence on technology might lead the human race. They handle real problems like game addictions and selfishness. Therefore, it is imperative for human beings to question the effect of technology on the thinking and function of human beings. It is possible that technology is turning human beings into machine-like entities. Works Cited Avalon. Dir. Mamoru Oshii. Perf. Marlgorzata Foremniak and Dariusz Biskupski. 2001. DVD. Ghost in the Shell. Dir. Mamoru Oshii. Perf. Atsuko Tanaka, Akio Otsuka and Iemasa Kayumi. 1995. DVD. Stoddard, Matthew. Contested Utopias: Ghost in the Shell, Cognitive Mapping, and the Desire for Communism. 2010. Internet. 9 December 2014. The Matrix. Dir. The Wachowski Brothers. Perf. Keanu Reeves, et al. 1999. DVD. Webb, Michelle. Cyberpunk Cinema: Valuing the Virtual. 9 March 2014. Internet. 9 December 2014. Read More