The Intersection of Humanity and Technology: Exploring the Past, Present, and Future
Various forms of media serve as portals to explore the past, present, and future, prompting us to scrutinize both the concrete and the abstract. Inspired by Albert Einstein's notion that "the future is an unknown, but somewhat predictable," we embark on a journey of inquiry.
Through the cinematic lenses of three extraordinary films—2001: A Space Odyssey, Her, and Ghost in the Shell—this analysis delves into distinct narratives, each providing profound insights into the trajectory of technological progress and its societal implications.
2001: A Space Odyssey
"2001: A Space Odyssey" is a film directed by Stanley Kubrick that explores human evolution through three distinct acts: "The Dawn of Man," "Jupiter Mission," and "Jupiter and Beyond the Infinite." In the first act, primitive hominids discover tools, symbolizing the dawn of human intelligence. The second act follows a space mission to Jupiter, led by the HAL 9000 AI, questioning humanity's relationship with technology. The final act delves into surrealism and metaphysics, presenting a journey through space and time. Throughout the film, Kubrick prompts viewers to reflect on humanity's past, present, and future, leaving them to contemplate the mysteries of existence.
One fascinating fact about "2001: A Space Odyssey" is that the film's iconic visual effects were achieved without the use of modern CGI technology. Instead, Stanley Kubrick and his team employed innovative techniques such as front projection, miniature models, and practical effects to create the stunning and immersive imagery that captivates audiences to this day.
Peer Engagement
Her
In the current era, artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly advancing and becoming increasingly integrated into our daily lives. The film "Her," directed by Spike Jonze in 2013, remains relevant as it portrays a future where technology becomes a fundamental aspect of emotional and social interactions. The protagonist, Theodore, showcases a life seamlessly intertwined with technology, relying on his AI companion not only for daily tasks but also for companionship. This depiction reflects a society that has embraced technology to the point of dependency, prompting contemplation on our current relationship with technology (Mühlhoff, 2019).
The integration of AI into various societal aspects, including emotional interactions, is a burgeoning area of research. Studies have demonstrated that AI, in conjunction with wearable technology and adaptive architecture, can foster emotional bonds between individuals and spaces, facilitating affective emotional interactions. This underscores AI's potential not only to enhance efficiency but also to enable emotional connections and experiences across different domains (Ghandi et al., 2021).
Peer Engagement
Ghost in the Shell
"Ghost in the Shell" explores the captivating concept of a cybernetic future, immediately engaging viewers with the opening line "in the not-so-distant future," suggesting a proximity to the depicted reality. The film emphasizes the idea that with the realization of technology's accessibility, humans can achieve remarkable advancements, reflecting the rapid pace of technological progress in recent years (Gordon & Holzwarth, 1971). Similar to "Her," the movie prompts contemplation on the essence of humanity, questioning what truly defines a being as human (Nyberg, 2009).
It delves into the notion of cyborg identities, challenging the authenticity of existence and raising doubts about the core life processes that distinguish living organisms (Torrealba & Restuccia, 1995).
Peer Engagement
Reflection
Upon reflection, I believe I have acquired a satisfactory understanding of the fundamental concepts and themes presented in these films; nevertheless, there are areas in which I can enhance my analysis. During my examination of "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "Her," I initially overlooked the requirement to engage with other individuals' Discord posts, prompting me to rectify this by providing comments subsequent to viewing the films. In contrast, while viewing "Ghost in the Shell," I made a conscious effort to respond to my peers' posts in real-time. Additionally, upon reviewing my own Discord contributions, I recognized the necessity to incorporate additional scholarly readings and research to enrich the depth of my analyses. By preparing relevant readings prior to watching the films, I aim to cultivate a more profound comprehension of the cinematic works, thereby bolstering my capacity for critical evaluation.
REFERENCES
This blog post was assisted by the use of AI.
Mühlhoff, R. (2019). Human-aided artificial intelligence: or, how to run large computations in human brains? toward a media sociology of machine learning. New Media &Amp; Society, 22(10), 1868-1884. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444819885334
Ghandi, M., Blaisdell, M., & Ismail, M. (2021). Embodied empathy: using affective computing to incarnate human emotion and cognition in architecture. International Journal of Architectural Computing, 19(4), 532-552. https://doi.org/10.1177/14780771211039507
Gordon, D. and Holzwarth, G. (1971). Optical activity of membrane suspensions: calculation of artifacts by mie scattering theory. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 68(10), 2365-2369. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.68.10.2365
Nyberg, D. (2009). Computers, customer service operatives and cyborgs: intra-actions in call centres. Organization Studies, 30(11), 1181-1199. https://doi.org/10.1177/0170840609337955
Torrealba, R. and Restuccia, A. (1995). Modified bfv quantization of membranes and brst invariant boundary conditions on the ghost fields. Classical and Quantum Gravity, 12(12), 2905-2911. https://doi.org/10.1088/0264-9381/12/12/008
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