Anim and Cyberpunk: Armitage III & Animatrix - Essay Example

?Anime and Cyberpunk: Armitage III & Animatrix Introduction Technology is increasingly becoming part of humanity. Latest developments in technology have proved that humans are capable of doing things that were once considered impossible. Although technology is beneficial to development, our identity is facing a crisis. It is evident that such crisis will soon reshape our relationship and attitude towards technology. Human identity is the idea that defines the nature and purpose of humanity. Although technology is a scientific field, artistic fields usually have the first encounter with technology (Bostrom 225). Cyborg is a science-fiction terminology used to describe cybermetic beings. Cyborgs are applied in cinematography to demonstrate the impacts of overdependence on technology. It is evident that in the near future scientists will have the ability to produce artificial body parts such as arms, eyes, ears, and heart. This concludes that humans may remain to be just as a brain that controls an artificial body. This report analyzes the role of cyborgs and post humanity. The report also examines the role of technology in shaping our identity with reference to Armitage III & Animatrix movies. Cyborgs vs. humans The conflict between humanity and technology is becoming increasingly evident. Although we are not likely to achieve a total substitution of humans through technology, the future of human existence in a world full of technology is unclear. According to Greenfield, necessity motivates invention (web). However, most inventions have been in the field of technology thereby threatening human identity. Robot developers have taken it as a challenge to develop robots that can perform tasks similar to those performed by humans. This has been motivated by the need to increase productivity or work in remote environments. The movie Ammitage III depicts a scene in 2046, when the earth would have become overpopulated. To avoid a population crash scenario, humans will colonize planet mars. Colonization of planet mars is made possible with the aid of “first type” androids, which are assigned the role of rehabilitating Martian environment for human inhabitation. In addition, the androids help to build the first city in Martian environment named Saint Lowell. Seventy years after the colonization of mars, the city is inhibited by people and second type robots, which are more sophisticated than the first type androids. The film demonstrates the role of technology in human development and identity. According to the movie, the first phase of loss of human identity will result from the ability of humans to overcome their shortcomings. Thus, technology has made people to lose the element of human limitations. Elimination of human shortcomings will be the first phase toward the loss of human identity. According to Bostrom, humans are increasingly becoming redundant due to technology (234). This indicates a threat to human existence that may result from loss of human values. People are increasingly becoming lazy across different generations therefore, creating a demand for technological application. The idea of cyborgs that act and or think like human will be the peak of technological developments (Chislenko web). This indicates that humans will consider themselves inferior or equal to the cyborgs. For instance, Armitage III demonstrates that people living in the Martian colony could not differentiate between real humans and the thirds. In addition, children born to the Martian immigrants did not have an idea of how a real human looked like or values of humanity. Due to the cyborgs’ superiority, people will consider undergoing a transformation that would replace some of their body parts with artificial ones. Therefore, technology has made people consider themselves as inferior beings. This aspect is common in cinemas where filmmakers tend to use characters with superhuman abilities. Although technology is likely to interfere with human existence and routine, some people will retain or value true human identity. In addition, humans are likely to rethink about their co-existence with robots. This creates an aspect of competition between humans and machines (Rahimi 43). Since the creation of the first computers, humans have surrendered computational works to computers. Similarly further advancements in technology will create a replacement for most activities performed by humans. This makes people to consider the possibility of creating artificial humans. Possibility of creating artificial humans indicates a loss of human values and morals in disguise of technology (Chislenko web). Armitage III illustrates a form of competition between robots of third generation and mars occupants. Competition between humans and technology is evident in the modern generation. For instance, application of computers has increased levels of unemployment indicating a form of rivalry between machines and humans. Competition between humans and technology is the basis of rivalry between man and technology as depicted in the movie. Rivalry between humans and technology will increase concurrently with increase in technology advancements. This may lead to acts of violence that targets each community as depicted by the filmmakers. In addition, rivalry between humans and robots may result in oppression and possibly a cyborgs’s uprising. The dilemma of human existence in a world full of machine is best captured in the film The Animatrix. Animatrix producers depict a scene in 2090 when humans will have lost their self-confidence leading to creation of machines that have equal intelligence as humans. In the Second Renaissance, humans struggle to re-establish their already compromised existence and dignity. The producer attempts to illustrate how man will become an architect of his own misfortunes through technological discoveries. Infiltration of enlightened machines will come as a rescue to the human race, which will have become lazy, corrupt, and arrogant (Chislenko web). In the first phase of technology driven world, people will seem to coexist peacefully with the androids. The relationship will not be sustainable since, machines will threaten the existence of their masters. In a particular case, an android named B1-66ER kills its owner following a domestic misunderstanding. The filmmaker demonstrates that machines would also have their own rights and freedoms. Part II of the Animatrix, depicts a scene in which humans would have established a consensus with their mechanical counterparts. In the consensus, the mechanical population would be allowed to have their own free state. The conflict begins when a UN aircraft drops a massive bomb on Zero One, a robot controlled industrial centre. However, the mechanical population has the ability to withstand the effects of the bombardment. The mechanical population retaliate inflicting massive civilian and military casualties on the human population. The film illustrates how technology will make humans extremely lazy making them to leave all their production activity such as agriculture and industries upon the machines. The rivalry between humans will also escalate at the heights of technology. Rivalry between humans in a world full of machines is best demonstrated in the Matriculated. In this film, totalitarian regimes are sustained by the power of enlightened machines, which have a search-and-destroy programming. This indicates that technological developments will propagate rivalry among regimes. Within this Matrix, human rebels capture the machines hopping to teach them positive human thinking in order to destroy their initial programming and motivation. Currently rivalry between humans and technology is at its lowest level; however, it might become rife, as total replacement of humans is achieved (Chislenko web). The producers of Armitage III and Animatrix succeeded in creating scenarios demonstrating conflict of interest between humans and machines. The movies depict a stage in which humans and robots will have different interests in life. This may lead to violent confrontations between the cyborgs and humans as depicted in the movies. The movies highlight a series of execution that targeted either the humans or the robots. Conclusion Human existence and identity is under threat from increasing technology. Although technology has contributed to human development, it places human identity on a balance. Technology has changed human thinking and value. The movies The Animatrix and Armitage III create a scenario in which humans compete directly with machines. Technology has made people overcome their limitations as depicted in the movie. However, this creates a conflict of interest between humans and robots as people consider themselves inferior to robots. In addition, people begin to consider robot as a substitute of humanity, leading to competition or conflicts of interest. Although technology was developed with the aim of improving people’s lives, people may react violently towards cyborgs. Most science fiction films depict a situation whereby human replicas will begin to threaten human existence leading to violent confrontations. Works Cited Bostrom, Nick. “In Defence of Posthuman Dignity, Bioethics.” 19. 3 (2005): 202–214. Print. Chislenko, Alexander. “Technology as Extension of Human Functional Architecture.” Extropy Online 199. Web 18, September 2012. Greenfield, Susan. “Modern technology is changing the way our brains work, says neuroscientist.” Dailymail. Web 18, September 2012. Rahimi, Sadeq. “Identities without a Reference: Towards a Theory of Posthuman Identity, M/C.” A Journal of Media and Culture.” 3. 3 (2000):34-56. Print. Read More