In the presentation, we have proven that heterosexuality is portrayed as norm in both virtual world and reality. For example, in the Japanese game Neon Genesis Evangelion: Ayanami Ikusei Keikaku (新世紀エヴァンゲリオン 綾波育成計画), the image of female character are being portaryed at submissive and having good body shape. The duty of the player is to protect the girls. Althought there are more and more homosexual elements inserted into some new games, such as Sims and Boys Love, the culture is not very popular. There are still some restrictions on these games such as gay couples cannot get marry and having babies, they could only live together and could not enjoy the same treatment as heterosexual couples.
During the discussion part, students agree that although there are homosexual characters in the games, heterosexuality is still the norm. On the other hand, the games of portable games such as PSP are target at male players, while the games of NDSL are target at female players. Is there a change in the male-dominated game world? No. We can see the answer in the games of NDSL. For example, the most popular games such as cooking mama and Nintendo dogs, stereotype the representation of women as patient and mild. I think it still need some time for changing the role of sexuality.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Reflection of the presentation (Playing Games, Simulating Worlds & Having Divine Powers!)
We used a Japanese game, Neon Genesis Evangelion: Ayanami Ikusei Keikaku as an example to examine the sexuality in the game. It showed that heterosexuality is portrayed as norm in the game just like traditional media text. Also, we have gave out the example of The Sims and Japan BL game (Boy Love game) to show LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) characters in video game have increased after the company find out that the dominant group of players who are young white heterosexual male are willing to play a strong and powerful female character, e.g. Tomb Raider and Resident Evil.
From the discussion, we discussed about the nowadays trend of homosexual element in the video games and the example of Japan BL game. In fact, the companies want to earn pink dollars. So, they start to design and promote homosexual element in the game. But, it is not popular among the dominant trend. From The Sims, we can see that there are discriminations about homosexual pairing. They cannot marry and cannot have a baby. Also, for the example of Japan BL game, it is not really a game about homosexual. Because these games are mainly targeted at female players and the male characters in the games are always have feminine-looking, it is hard to distinguish the gender of the characters. So, female players can get involved into the central characters and easy to identify with the character.
Actually, different subject position can be challenged the sexuality in the video games such as female players acted as male central characters in the game and homosexual players. Nowadays, NDS, PSP and Wii become more popular which change the trend that young white heterosexual male dominated the game market. There are different games which targeted at different players. So, there are still have a lot of spaces to explore the role of sexuality played in the video games.
From the discussion, we discussed about the nowadays trend of homosexual element in the video games and the example of Japan BL game. In fact, the companies want to earn pink dollars. So, they start to design and promote homosexual element in the game. But, it is not popular among the dominant trend. From The Sims, we can see that there are discriminations about homosexual pairing. They cannot marry and cannot have a baby. Also, for the example of Japan BL game, it is not really a game about homosexual. Because these games are mainly targeted at female players and the male characters in the games are always have feminine-looking, it is hard to distinguish the gender of the characters. So, female players can get involved into the central characters and easy to identify with the character.
Actually, different subject position can be challenged the sexuality in the video games such as female players acted as male central characters in the game and homosexual players. Nowadays, NDS, PSP and Wii become more popular which change the trend that young white heterosexual male dominated the game market. There are different games which targeted at different players. So, there are still have a lot of spaces to explore the role of sexuality played in the video games.
Self.org II: Playing Games, Sim(ulating) Worlds & Having Divine Powers!(Before Presentation)
Our presentation topic is "Self.org II: Playing Games, Sim(ulating) Worlds & Having Divine Powers!", which is based on the reading" As We Become Machines: Corporealized Pleasures in Video Games." by Martii Lahti. Video games are not only games that we play by vision, but there are also interaction and it is corporeal in nature.
Video games were developed from two dimensions to three dimensions, lack of bodily movement to full of bodily movements. He explained that why players' bodies are not just sitting in front of the computers or television monitors, but also travelling through the virtual space in the game world. For examples, shooting games in game arcades are games that players sit astride a motorcycle and using their whole bodies to control the game world.
We agree the point of Martti and we use several examples of such kind of games like Dance Dance Revolution, Initial D and Wii to explain how players are interacted in the game world.
Video games were developed from two dimensions to three dimensions, lack of bodily movement to full of bodily movements. He explained that why players' bodies are not just sitting in front of the computers or television monitors, but also travelling through the virtual space in the game world. For examples, shooting games in game arcades are games that players sit astride a motorcycle and using their whole bodies to control the game world.
We agree the point of Martti and we use several examples of such kind of games like Dance Dance Revolution, Initial D and Wii to explain how players are interacted in the game world.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Playing Games, Sim(ulating) Worlds & Having Divine Powers! (Before Presentation)
Our presentation topic is studying sexuality in video game. We are based on the reading, “Hot Dates and Fairy-tale Romances: Studying Sexuality in Video Games” which is written by Mia Consalvo. In this article, she focused on the construction of sexuality become an integral element of characterization and storyline in games and explored the presumption of heterosexuality is portrayed as social norm in the video games.
She analyzed with two perspectives which are concept of “game” and concept of “play”. Concept of “game” referred to the representation of the characters and heterosexuality. Concept of ‘play” focus on the activity of gameplay. It explored that how a player manage his desire for the main character. She used Final Fantasy IX as a case study. The game represented ideal heterosexuality through the central character’s sexual orientation and the female character image. We will use Evangelion Chinese as an example to reflect her analysis. From the video games, we can see that heterosexuality is portrayed as norm which is similar to traditional media representation such as film.
Also, as Consalvo has mentioned about homosexuality in video games, we has used some examples to examine homosexuality factor in video games. Although The Sims can let the player to choose the character’s sexuality, homosexual couple still has many limitations when playing the game such as they cannot marry and have a baby. On the other hand, Japan BL (boy love) game is about gay male which included sex scene. However, these games are not targeted at gay male, but female player. It is not a game which specific to homosexual players.
We agreed that heterosexuality portrayed as norm in both video games and traditional media text. However, there are still spaces to explore the homosexual issues in video games.
She analyzed with two perspectives which are concept of “game” and concept of “play”. Concept of “game” referred to the representation of the characters and heterosexuality. Concept of ‘play” focus on the activity of gameplay. It explored that how a player manage his desire for the main character. She used Final Fantasy IX as a case study. The game represented ideal heterosexuality through the central character’s sexual orientation and the female character image. We will use Evangelion Chinese as an example to reflect her analysis. From the video games, we can see that heterosexuality is portrayed as norm which is similar to traditional media representation such as film.
Also, as Consalvo has mentioned about homosexuality in video games, we has used some examples to examine homosexuality factor in video games. Although The Sims can let the player to choose the character’s sexuality, homosexual couple still has many limitations when playing the game such as they cannot marry and have a baby. On the other hand, Japan BL (boy love) game is about gay male which included sex scene. However, these games are not targeted at gay male, but female player. It is not a game which specific to homosexual players.
We agreed that heterosexuality portrayed as norm in both video games and traditional media text. However, there are still spaces to explore the homosexual issues in video games.
Self.org II: Playing Games, Sim(ulating) Worlds & Having Divine Powers! (Before Presentation)
Our presentation topic is “Self.org II: Playing Games, Sim(ulating) Worlds & Having Divine Powers! Our content is base on Mia Consalvo’s reading “Hot Dates and Fairy-Tale Romances: Studying Sexuality in Video Games.” The reading told us heterosexuality is not only a norm is our real world, the concept of heterosexuality and patriarchy is also reinforced in the video games.
As Mia said, the representation of the female character is being stereotyped and there is a presumption of heterosexual desires. The female character, like the princess, is always shown as submissive and need the protection from the hero. The reason of creating a erotica triangle is further explain.
We agree the point of Mia and we have provided two examples, Neon Genesis Evangelion: Ayanami Ikusei Keikaku and the Sims to support his arguments – heterosexuality is normalized and presented as a “regular" part of life.
As Mia said, the representation of the female character is being stereotyped and there is a presumption of heterosexual desires. The female character, like the princess, is always shown as submissive and need the protection from the hero. The reason of creating a erotica triangle is further explain.
We agree the point of Mia and we have provided two examples, Neon Genesis Evangelion: Ayanami Ikusei Keikaku and the Sims to support his arguments – heterosexuality is normalized and presented as a “regular" part of life.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Reflection on the presentation of "Online Communities" (After Presentation)
We discussed some reasons of obsession with online communities, for example, playing online games and finding new friends on the internet after the presentation. We believe that everyone has one or more than one ideal image of ourselves and our fantasies can also be achieved by establishing a virtual identity. These fantasies can be accomplished by those characters in online games, for instance, you could be a magician, dealing with evil by witchcraft; or became a king who fought for honor and territories, which is unable to achieve in the reality but it is a supplement to our dream and illusion. The options of meeting some new friends on the internet and telling them about your secrets are also understandable. Sometimes, you may feel safe and relief by sharing your secrets with strangers as they have no reasons to expose your thoughts and they won’t judge you like what your real friends may do. Therefore, we think online communities are attractive, and even addictive because of the reasons above as well as the theories of scholars which we had illustrated during the presentation.
Reflection on the presentation (Online Communities)
It can be said that dangers exist in virtual communities. Online information is actually not reliable enough. The e-mails you received may be just some of the rumors. You even do not know the writers of those e-mails and whether they lie or not.
Online dating has never been as popular as it is today. However, many teenagers venture on meeting their friends who are from the match-up websites. They like doing that because they think it is exciting. Moreover, they do not have to pretend themselves in front of their net friends as those net friends do not know them so much. As a result, there are always predators who will take advantage of new ways to meet victims.
Some real life examples including both positive and negative were raised in our presentation. The purpose is to ask our classmates to pay attention to and to aware of those incidents. Such incidents make explicit the imaginary fantasy level of all these interactions. When it comes to cyber-love, what is most shocking in these incidents is the realization that it was only a fantasy – which has now been ruined.
Online dating has never been as popular as it is today. However, many teenagers venture on meeting their friends who are from the match-up websites. They like doing that because they think it is exciting. Moreover, they do not have to pretend themselves in front of their net friends as those net friends do not know them so much. As a result, there are always predators who will take advantage of new ways to meet victims.
Some real life examples including both positive and negative were raised in our presentation. The purpose is to ask our classmates to pay attention to and to aware of those incidents. Such incidents make explicit the imaginary fantasy level of all these interactions. When it comes to cyber-love, what is most shocking in these incidents is the realization that it was only a fantasy – which has now been ruined.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Reflection of the presentation (Self. Org I: Online Communities)
In the presentation, we gave out some examples when people wallow in playing online game and why people enjoy their life in virtual community. After the presentation, we discussed why they spend too much time in the virtual communities and discussed any positives and negatives impacts in virtual communities.
The common problem of the virtual communities is lack of communication. As people like to talk with other in the virtual communities, they do not know how to communicate with their friends, family face to face instead of they talk with them in the online game. One example is one of my friends, he did speak too much when we had a gathering, but he always talks in the online games when I play online game with him. So, he just knows how to communicate with technology.
In addition, people spent too much time in the virtual communities. Some of them may spend whole day in the forum and online game etc. It is not good for their health and we should change our online habits.
There are positive impacts for the virtual community, for example, Facebook. It is new way to communicate with others. We can search our friends, classmates, schoolmates in the Facebook. And help us to keep in touch with people.
Sometime, we could say anything in virtual community but we do not know how to talk something face to face. We still cannot always focus on the virtual experience because it will separate our relationship with our friends and family.
The common problem of the virtual communities is lack of communication. As people like to talk with other in the virtual communities, they do not know how to communicate with their friends, family face to face instead of they talk with them in the online game. One example is one of my friends, he did speak too much when we had a gathering, but he always talks in the online games when I play online game with him. So, he just knows how to communicate with technology.
In addition, people spent too much time in the virtual communities. Some of them may spend whole day in the forum and online game etc. It is not good for their health and we should change our online habits.
There are positive impacts for the virtual community, for example, Facebook. It is new way to communicate with others. We can search our friends, classmates, schoolmates in the Facebook. And help us to keep in touch with people.
Sometime, we could say anything in virtual community but we do not know how to talk something face to face. We still cannot always focus on the virtual experience because it will separate our relationship with our friends and family.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Online Communities (Before Presentation)
Nowadays, many people participate in the computer-mediated social groups known as virtual communities. People in virtual communities do just about everything people do in real life, such as, finding friends, falling in love, chatting, playing online games, etc., but we leave our bodies behind. The online communities are attractive and even addictive. We are going to discuss this feature in our presentation and illustrate how virtual communities affect our real life by some relevant examples. Also, some scholars present a number of useful and comprehensive overview of this issue which put many of the debates about cyberspace in perspective.
Online Communities (Before Presentation)
A virtual community is that a group of people who particularly interact with another group of people through communication media such as letters, telephone, email, chat room or instant messenger rather than face to face.
Our presentation is mainly focusing on online tools such as chat room and instant messenger. Computer conferencing emerged as a tool for using the communication capacities of the networks to build social relationships across barriers of space and time. “Computer-mediated relationships” produce an entire range of transference and counter-transferences that occur between players. Therefore, computer conferencing causes positive results and also negative cases.
Our presentation is mainly focusing on online tools such as chat room and instant messenger. Computer conferencing emerged as a tool for using the communication capacities of the networks to build social relationships across barriers of space and time. “Computer-mediated relationships” produce an entire range of transference and counter-transferences that occur between players. Therefore, computer conferencing causes positive results and also negative cases.
Online Communities (Before Presentation)
Our presentation topic is Online Communities. We will talk about the reading from Sherry Turkle, ‘Virtuality and Its Discontents: Searching for Community in Cyberspace’. This article is all about multi-user dungeons (MUD) and Turkle concerned about many of us appear to be choosing to invest ourselves in unreal places.
As the development of technology keeps going on, human want everything that commutes right into our homes and depend more on virtual reality. Turkle challenged that this kind of desire will make our real life even more separate because people no longer have social contact. She pointed out that virtuality tends to skew our real experience in three ways. The first one is Disneyland effect. Another effect of simulation is that 'the fake seems more compelling than the real'. She lastly pointed out that 'virtual experience may be so compelling that we believe that within it we've achieved more than we have'.
We agree with Turkle's point of view that although virtual environments are valuable, we still need an authentic experience of self.
As the development of technology keeps going on, human want everything that commutes right into our homes and depend more on virtual reality. Turkle challenged that this kind of desire will make our real life even more separate because people no longer have social contact. She pointed out that virtuality tends to skew our real experience in three ways. The first one is Disneyland effect. Another effect of simulation is that 'the fake seems more compelling than the real'. She lastly pointed out that 'virtual experience may be so compelling that we believe that within it we've achieved more than we have'.
We agree with Turkle's point of view that although virtual environments are valuable, we still need an authentic experience of self.
Self. Org I: Online Communities (before presentation)
Our presentation topic is “Self. Org I: Online Communities”. Our presentation content will base on the article which written by Sherry Turkle, “Virtuality and Its Discontents: Searching for Community in Cyberspace”.
In the article, Sherry Turkle introduces what is MUD (Multi User Domains/ Dungeons). It is one of the virtual community and the players can create their character and type command when they are playing the game. The MUD and the MMORPG are the virtual community. One of the Massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG), The world of Warcarft, it is modern graphics- based. It is one of the changes for the MUD.
Turkle mentions different examples that people is wallowing in the MUD. So, we will give some examples when people wallow in playing the online game from the newspaper article, such as they didn’t having bathing for three days.
We agree that Turkle's point of view. We cannot wallow in the virtual community. Real life experience is more important than the virtual community.
In the article, Sherry Turkle introduces what is MUD (Multi User Domains/ Dungeons). It is one of the virtual community and the players can create their character and type command when they are playing the game. The MUD and the MMORPG are the virtual community. One of the Massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG), The world of Warcarft, it is modern graphics- based. It is one of the changes for the MUD.
Turkle mentions different examples that people is wallowing in the MUD. So, we will give some examples when people wallow in playing the online game from the newspaper article, such as they didn’t having bathing for three days.
We agree that Turkle's point of view. We cannot wallow in the virtual community. Real life experience is more important than the virtual community.
Friday, April 11, 2008
After the presentation (Week 9) Self. Gov II: Resistance
In our presentation we were talk about our relationship between Consumption and Digital media. Nowadays, advertisements and consumers are everywhere. It pushes us to consume their products and services. As Poster, Mark said “We are not simply consume the object, at the same time, we also consume the hidden meaning behind the object.” We are making, creating and using the cultural meaning by consumption. Moreover, as digital media have well developed nowadays, “Consumers” becomes not just a user but a creator or an advertiser also. We are not a passive consumer affected by the advertisement through media. Consumers are
from passive to active.
from passive to active.
In the discussion part we have shown some brand names to the classmates to discuss about what did we consume in the consumption process. As we are not simply consume the object, at the same time, we also consume the hidden meaning behind the object. Classmates were come up the same ideas with us; for example, the higher-class people would like to choose to go shopping at the international supermarket like City-super rather than the PARKnSHOP. As it is representing which group you are belonging to.
Moreover, as Blogging is so poplar in nowadays and it is a common platform to read some the comments about the product before you want to consume. This is a platform to resist the large amount of advertisement from the society, as their common would be more objective than the commercial advertisement. We are not a passive consumer affected by the advertisement through media. Consumers are from passive at the past to active at the moment.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Presentation (Week 9) Self. Gov II: Resistance
We are going to present the topic of Self. Gov II: Resistance is Fertile and in our presentation, we will base on the reading—“consumption and Digital Commodities in the Everyday” which is written by Poster, Mark.
In our presentation we would like to talk about our relationship between Consumption and Digital media. Nowadays, advertisements and consumers are everywhere. We were affected by these advertisements everyday. It pushes us to consume their products and services. As Poster, Mark said “We are not simply consume the object, at the same time, we also consume the hidden meaning behind the object.” We are
making, creating and using the cultural meaning by consumption. Moreover, as digital media have well developed nowadays, “Consumers” becomes not just a user but a creator or an advertiser also. We are not a passive consumer affected by the advertisement through media. Consumers are from passive at the past to active at the moment.
In the discussion part we would like to show some brand names to the classmates to discuss about what did we consume in the consumption process. As we are not simply consume the object, at the same time, we also consume the hidden meaning behind the object. After the discussion we will come up the conclusion as consumers are from passive at the past to active at the moment.
In our presentation we would like to talk about our relationship between Consumption and Digital media. Nowadays, advertisements and consumers are everywhere. We were affected by these advertisements everyday. It pushes us to consume their products and services. As Poster, Mark said “We are not simply consume the object, at the same time, we also consume the hidden meaning behind the object.” We are
making, creating and using the cultural meaning by consumption. Moreover, as digital media have well developed nowadays, “Consumers” becomes not just a user but a creator or an advertiser also. We are not a passive consumer affected by the advertisement through media. Consumers are from passive at the past to active at the moment.
In the discussion part we would like to show some brand names to the classmates to discuss about what did we consume in the consumption process. As we are not simply consume the object, at the same time, we also consume the hidden meaning behind the object. After the discussion we will come up the conclusion as consumers are from passive at the past to active at the moment.
Week 9 – Resistance is Fertile (The introduction of our presentation)
Our presentation topic is Consumption and digital media in everyday. We will base on the course reader “Consumption and Digital Commodities in the Everyday.”, written by Poster, Mark in the content of presentation.
As Mark pointed out that in most industrialized countries, individuals in their everyday lives are bombarded continuously by advertisement. It means we cannot live without advertising and media. Moreover, most of the advertising are contains the invisibility and inaudibility elements. For instance: When we are enjoying the DVDs in living room, we can discover that the promotional material at the beginning of the movie. However, we cannot avoid it by fast forward. That why, Mark brings up the idea that advertising and consumers are in everywhere and anytime.
Another main point is consumption as cultural creation. That mean we are not simply consume the object, at the same time, we consume the hidden meaning behind the object. According to Mark, “A city that is real ‘imaginary museum’ forms the counterpoint of the city at work.” In city, all the advertising is come from our imagination not the real. City seems as the imaginary world. When we consume a product or service, we are satisfying our imagination not our real body.
However, when the digital media have a well developed, the consumption pattern has changing now. “Consumers” become an active role. We are not a simply consumers. We start to become a creators and advertisers. Moreover, we can express and discuss our opinion in the weblog. It also produce the side effect blogging becomes advertising. In the presentation, we will push many examples to support those above statement. I hope this introduction can give you a basic concept of our presentation.
By Cody Wan
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Critical Annotated Webliography
Question 3: Frankenstein continues to occupy the popular imagination as a monstrous scientist. Analyze some of the ways in which Frankenstein continues to haunt discussions of recent technologies.
Frankenstein is a famous novel character. In the story, there are so many technologies appear when making Frankenstein. Are the technologies that appear in the story affected nowadays people or science? It’s the thing that I’m going to talk about in the above essay by using some article documents.
1. This article is about there is two western doctors decide to have some experiments of human cloning since they have successes in cloning animal and livestock before. However, there are so many religious and medical organizations criticize or them and said that they are “Doctor Frankensteins”. As a results, there are no country support their ideas and help them to develop the human cloning project. They disagree with this project because they think that it has violated the moral minefield and worried about the treatment between clones and naturally born humans. On the other hand, it seems that cloning is scientifically possible. Two doctor point out that since cloning human is just the same as the process of cloning animals or Dolly etc.
Although there are so many people against human cloning, however, it still has many scientists’ continuous researching and experimenting about it around the world. Moreover, Wople said that in the coming decade, the doctors are able to control about the embryos and they would become bio-engineer.
Is it possible for them to clone human, it still have many problem remain and waiting to be solve while the researching process.
2. This article is about the changing technologies from the relations between Frankenstein and modern human cloning. As we know that, science would always change no matter in which period of time, it just changes spectacularly. After Industrial Revolution, Mary Shelley has written a novel about Frankenstein. Although what she has written seems outdated and horrid nowadays, it still has her own saving grace. She believed that science would go to the dark way and down turn in the coming days; however, our sciences have not go to the way that she thinks and the scientists have tried to bring this ideas and its benefits to our society.
Since the technologies have opened up and developed, it becomes more updated and brings some modern creations of robots and biological clones. As a result, there would be some changes between Frankenstein and modern human cloning. The article gives some hits that modern human cloning is different from Frankenstein. It is because our technologies’ are more updates and the scientists have tried their best to bring benefits to the society. So, we don’t need to afraid what had happened in the story will happen in the real society.
3. This article discusses about are the stage of Frankenstein seems become a new reality. A Scottish scientist, Ian Wilmut, has conducted a research about embryology successfully. He had taken the adult mammal cell to develop embryo. Ian Wilmut has cloned a sheep called Dolly by using some simple method with limited funding. Although he had cloned Dolly, he just wants to get better in farm animal’s productivity. Some people said that Ian is the modern Frankenstein and think that science fiction idea, cloning human, has become real. However, according to what Ian has said, he thinks that it is impossible for people to clone human by using the same method. Moreover, there would have many problem need to concern. For example, the social status of the clone and the life of them etc.; we should consider about it seriously.
Since there is so many people banned the idea of human cloning, some people suggested that the research should conduct underground and the clone should create secretly. They think that it is just the problem of time and who is the first person to create human clone. If the first human clone has appeared already, the criticisms are not important at all.
4. This article is about the different between Frankenstein and cloned human. There are a lot of people think that human cloning is not good for the society. From a research, it shows that more than 75% of people disallow the experiment of human cloning. However, more than 95 percent of people do not really know about what is human cloning. In their mind, they just think cloned human is something like Frankenstein monster or mindless zombies. It is what uneducated people think and most of them always affect by the image of Frankenstein. However, the technique that used in the film or novel would not happen in the reality. Also, it is impossible for the dead people alive again by using the same method. In fact, human cloning does not mean there would be two same people appear in the world. It just takes some DNA of a person and develops the cell. After nine months, a new baby was born and grows up just like a naturally human baby. They just share almost the same DNA like Twins but not two same people with same appearance in the world. So, there are some different between Frankenstein and human cloning.
5. Some people said that Frankenstein is being brought to the reality. Since there are some case of clone animals and genetically engineered food, people may believe that the novel character, Frankenstein, would be brought to our society possibly. From the time of the word ‘Frankenstein’ appeared, it has some meaning of it, that is, ‘anything unnatural with its origins in the lab or transgressions into the unnatural’. In the past, the things, which people think that it is impossible to happen, are able to occur nowadays. For example, we can transplant the human organ form the recently dead body; the scientists discover what is pacemaker, smallpox vaccine, the atomic bomb as well as the cloning animals and genetically engineered food.
It is no doubts to said Frankenstein bring a lot of affection to the science or technologies part. It makes us know that those things happen in the novel may have the chance to become visible in another way of scientific method. Just like Lederer had said says, it is impossible for us to rid of Frankenstein's monster whenever we talk about science and scientists.
6. According to the article, Frankenstein is the novel characters which contain technology and humanity in the modern West society. It shows that the technologies in it may bring some benefits as well as some adverse effect to our society. Since Frankenstein had included so many elements in it, it had provided a series of interlinked characterizations and associations which concern scientists, technology and human society. Also, we would see that Frankenstein monster is full of ambiguous. It has the potential for good and the potential for evil. The monster is the technology which presents technology as amoral and non-human. Frankenstein also shows as a product of science. There is no Inquisition or Royal Society to control the scientist and creation. Although it’s just a novel, it clearly shown Frankenstein would bring the technologies to our society.
To sum up, the technologies that appear in Frankenstein have brought a lot of effects to nowadays science and the society. Although the real person of Frankenstein may not really exist in our society, it’s concept of creating human clone may the same as Frankenstein. It really a important feature for the scientific aspects.
Webliography
1. Jeremy Bransten. ‘The Cloning Debate -- Real Science Or Frankenstein Fantasy?’
http://www.zavos.org/library/articles/Frankenstein.htm
2. Connor. ‘Changing Technology’ (2008)
http://www.bookstove.com/Classics/Changing-Technology.96015
3. TIME MAGAZINE. ‘Frankenstein: a new reality’ (1999)
http://web.quipo.it/frankenstein/thenewreality.htm
4. Esmaeili. ‘Human Cloning’
http://www.humancloning.org/essays/esiann.htm
5. LaShunda Prescott-Manly. ‘Bringing "Frankenstein" to life…’
http://www.engr.wisc.edu/wiscengr/november04/frankenstein.shtml
6. Tranter, Kieran. ‘Frankenstein and law as technology’ (2007)http://techtheory.blogspot.com/2007/02/frankenstein-and-law-as-technology.html
Frankenstein is a famous novel character. In the story, there are so many technologies appear when making Frankenstein. Are the technologies that appear in the story affected nowadays people or science? It’s the thing that I’m going to talk about in the above essay by using some article documents.
1. This article is about there is two western doctors decide to have some experiments of human cloning since they have successes in cloning animal and livestock before. However, there are so many religious and medical organizations criticize or them and said that they are “Doctor Frankensteins”. As a results, there are no country support their ideas and help them to develop the human cloning project. They disagree with this project because they think that it has violated the moral minefield and worried about the treatment between clones and naturally born humans. On the other hand, it seems that cloning is scientifically possible. Two doctor point out that since cloning human is just the same as the process of cloning animals or Dolly etc.
Although there are so many people against human cloning, however, it still has many scientists’ continuous researching and experimenting about it around the world. Moreover, Wople said that in the coming decade, the doctors are able to control about the embryos and they would become bio-engineer.
Is it possible for them to clone human, it still have many problem remain and waiting to be solve while the researching process.
2. This article is about the changing technologies from the relations between Frankenstein and modern human cloning. As we know that, science would always change no matter in which period of time, it just changes spectacularly. After Industrial Revolution, Mary Shelley has written a novel about Frankenstein. Although what she has written seems outdated and horrid nowadays, it still has her own saving grace. She believed that science would go to the dark way and down turn in the coming days; however, our sciences have not go to the way that she thinks and the scientists have tried to bring this ideas and its benefits to our society.
Since the technologies have opened up and developed, it becomes more updated and brings some modern creations of robots and biological clones. As a result, there would be some changes between Frankenstein and modern human cloning. The article gives some hits that modern human cloning is different from Frankenstein. It is because our technologies’ are more updates and the scientists have tried their best to bring benefits to the society. So, we don’t need to afraid what had happened in the story will happen in the real society.
3. This article discusses about are the stage of Frankenstein seems become a new reality. A Scottish scientist, Ian Wilmut, has conducted a research about embryology successfully. He had taken the adult mammal cell to develop embryo. Ian Wilmut has cloned a sheep called Dolly by using some simple method with limited funding. Although he had cloned Dolly, he just wants to get better in farm animal’s productivity. Some people said that Ian is the modern Frankenstein and think that science fiction idea, cloning human, has become real. However, according to what Ian has said, he thinks that it is impossible for people to clone human by using the same method. Moreover, there would have many problem need to concern. For example, the social status of the clone and the life of them etc.; we should consider about it seriously.
Since there is so many people banned the idea of human cloning, some people suggested that the research should conduct underground and the clone should create secretly. They think that it is just the problem of time and who is the first person to create human clone. If the first human clone has appeared already, the criticisms are not important at all.
4. This article is about the different between Frankenstein and cloned human. There are a lot of people think that human cloning is not good for the society. From a research, it shows that more than 75% of people disallow the experiment of human cloning. However, more than 95 percent of people do not really know about what is human cloning. In their mind, they just think cloned human is something like Frankenstein monster or mindless zombies. It is what uneducated people think and most of them always affect by the image of Frankenstein. However, the technique that used in the film or novel would not happen in the reality. Also, it is impossible for the dead people alive again by using the same method. In fact, human cloning does not mean there would be two same people appear in the world. It just takes some DNA of a person and develops the cell. After nine months, a new baby was born and grows up just like a naturally human baby. They just share almost the same DNA like Twins but not two same people with same appearance in the world. So, there are some different between Frankenstein and human cloning.
5. Some people said that Frankenstein is being brought to the reality. Since there are some case of clone animals and genetically engineered food, people may believe that the novel character, Frankenstein, would be brought to our society possibly. From the time of the word ‘Frankenstein’ appeared, it has some meaning of it, that is, ‘anything unnatural with its origins in the lab or transgressions into the unnatural’. In the past, the things, which people think that it is impossible to happen, are able to occur nowadays. For example, we can transplant the human organ form the recently dead body; the scientists discover what is pacemaker, smallpox vaccine, the atomic bomb as well as the cloning animals and genetically engineered food.
It is no doubts to said Frankenstein bring a lot of affection to the science or technologies part. It makes us know that those things happen in the novel may have the chance to become visible in another way of scientific method. Just like Lederer had said says, it is impossible for us to rid of Frankenstein's monster whenever we talk about science and scientists.
6. According to the article, Frankenstein is the novel characters which contain technology and humanity in the modern West society. It shows that the technologies in it may bring some benefits as well as some adverse effect to our society. Since Frankenstein had included so many elements in it, it had provided a series of interlinked characterizations and associations which concern scientists, technology and human society. Also, we would see that Frankenstein monster is full of ambiguous. It has the potential for good and the potential for evil. The monster is the technology which presents technology as amoral and non-human. Frankenstein also shows as a product of science. There is no Inquisition or Royal Society to control the scientist and creation. Although it’s just a novel, it clearly shown Frankenstein would bring the technologies to our society.
To sum up, the technologies that appear in Frankenstein have brought a lot of effects to nowadays science and the society. Although the real person of Frankenstein may not really exist in our society, it’s concept of creating human clone may the same as Frankenstein. It really a important feature for the scientific aspects.
Webliography
1. Jeremy Bransten. ‘The Cloning Debate -- Real Science Or Frankenstein Fantasy?’
http://www.zavos.org/library/articles/Frankenstein.htm
2. Connor. ‘Changing Technology’ (2008)
http://www.bookstove.com/Classics/Changing-Technology.96015
3. TIME MAGAZINE. ‘Frankenstein: a new reality’ (1999)
http://web.quipo.it/frankenstein/thenewreality.htm
4. Esmaeili. ‘Human Cloning’
http://www.humancloning.org/essays/esiann.htm
5. LaShunda Prescott-Manly. ‘Bringing "Frankenstein" to life…’
http://www.engr.wisc.edu/wiscengr/november04/frankenstein.shtml
6. Tranter, Kieran. ‘Frankenstein and law as technology’ (2007)http://techtheory.blogspot.com/2007/02/frankenstein-and-law-as-technology.html
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Review of the Internet pornography presentation
In our group presentation, I mainly focus on the advantages of Internet pornography and our group also point out the discussion about whether Internet pornography is ethical or not. Students may only blame the problem on the one side, Internet or the producers who upload porn videos or images. However, I can apply the relationship between human beings and technology (i.e. “cyborg”) to give out a clear explanation about this issue the presentation.
Firstly, we should realize that the function of the Internet’s World Wide Web system. It means if online users post something on the web, the others would watch it with clicking the appropriate address of that website. Then, people can’t blame on the cyberspace to deliver porn videos or images widely.
Secondly, cyberspace aims to provide virtual space for online users to fulfill their satisfactions or desires (sexual desire is included as well) in their imaginary world. That mean people are free to express their (sexual) preferences on the net without legal punishment. So, it also can’t blame the problem on these producers who upload the porn online.
Nevertheless, it is true that the term of “cyborg” is obvious to explicit because porn amateurs or producers need to use webcam, cameras or digital cameras to capture porn images, and then upload them by the computer. Indeed, when the problem of ethical or unethical issue is involved, the morality and ethics of human beings are being presented at the same time. Therefore, one of the reasonable answers to explain this discussion topic is that before the sexual amateurs or producers upload images, they do consider about how it may affect children’s mind towards sex after they watch it. Furthermore, parents should become open-minded to share about what the sex is with their children, and hence to educate them getting a positive and save attitude towards sex.
Gabriel
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Critical Annotated Webliography by Julie Lam
Question 3: Frankenstein continues to occupy the popular imagination as a monstrous scientist. Analyze some of the ways in which Frankenstein continues to haunt discussions of recent technologies.
Many of nowadays science or futuristic movie is an adaptation of Frankenstein. Frankenstein is the surname of Victor Frankenstein. He is a scientist who becomes obsessed with the creation of life. Frankenstein play a god-like power, he animated his creation and yet immediately horrified by what he has done. The creature is a horrible monstrosity, a caricature of a man. His hideous looks draw screams everywhere, and even his good acts brought him punishment. He owns a human like outlook but being treated as a non-human object. Frankenstein shuns the creature but soon he felt offensive and seek his creature around to destroy it. Most of the movie both depicted Frankenstein’s monster as a bulky moron but also a humanity with emotion and feeling. The monster originally named as Adam in Mary Shelley’s book, but often shown nameless in the movie.
Story become an artificial creature turns upon to its creator. Such a conflict happened in between human and created science object led to our nowadays’ concern: As the prosperous and rapidly growth science technology, is there a possibility when one day human lose control to it entirely? Since recent “Frankenstein” technologies continues obsess our daily life, let’s see how people look into this.
Frankenstein films: Mad Scientists and Monsters
According to an in-depth analysis of Frankenstein science films, Andreas Rohrmoser listed several futuristic films which mirror from Frankenstein. Such as, one of the best movie about artificial human – Blade Runner (USA, 1982), and also another Frankensteinian product – Robocop (1987). “Artificial human beings and their creators have become a standard ingredient of modern science fiction/horror films and literature”. From past to now, the artificial presented in science film tends of lacking the monstrous and scary features of the Frankenstein’s monster and appear to be more mechanized form as robots, androids and cyborgs. As the phenomenon, the idea and image of Frankenstein does affect the afterward creations of futuristic movie. Which science technology is also being accepted and transform in nowadays.
Literary Essay on Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley
In this source, Jean-Philippe Pellet has overcome some controversial argument between human and scientific knowledge, such as “can science find solutions to all human problems?”, and also she pointed out what makes Frankenstein still being popular today and how it related to our life. It is because, according to Jean’s reading to the story of Frankenstein, in order to achieve his goal, he makes an extensive use of knowledge and science that ultimately led him to desolation, loneliness and result in a complete failure. Jean proven the reason of the popularity of Frankenstein is that “there is something universal in Victor’s attempt to reach this God-like level”. This is human’s aggression towards science and technology. Scientists believed they construct science and technology, and the also have the entire power to control or terminate it. They thought themselves own the ability before God. “Man’s ambition, man’s desire for glory pushes him beyond the ‘human borders”. There, should be no “omnipotent science” in the world.
Technology in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and William Gibson's Neuromancer
Here, Orlin Damyanov cited two science films: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and William Gibson's Neuromancer to discuss the dangerous effects on nature and human life perceived by science and technology. As Orlin’s mentioned about Mary Shelley's Frankenstein to technology and some of the other crucial issues, also the exploration of the dangerous implications of human acts of creation. Technology and human life are being merged together without any consideration on moral stage. However, both authors have been able to clearly predict the consequences of immoral technological utilization. The nature of humanity was unscrupulously to be reconstructing as a mechanical object. Orlin once again described today’s scientist like Frankenstein, shun to think about the consequences of hybridize technology. This make me thing about the cloning technology in this century.
'Frankenstein Science' Row Over Cloned Embryos Plan
"PRO-LIFE campaigners have described a project to clone Britain's first human embryos by North-East scientists as 'Frankenstein science'". So far, technology of cloning is being seen as unethical action. It goes against to the world’s and humanity nature. Some religious scholars said this may blaspheme their god and demolish the circle of life. I am so agree to this article that the manipulation of human life should never be tolerated, no Frankenstein science is needed in this world. Somehow, I appreciated the invention of cloning technology since it is just a basic science technique, and it does help a huge convenience for some patients such as body part implant. I have never feeling proud when the cloning sheep Dolly is being “created”, and so as if one day a cloning human named no matter what is “birth”.
The Frankenstein Syndrome
“The message of Frankenstein that attracted people in 1818 and still energizes us today is: How much is too much in science?” Question upraised by Bob Calverley on USC Health Magazine. There are billions possibilities but there are some that we should never try to get the answer or experiment. Control, is what we need. Bob is talking about currently generic engineering which is seems to be unethical as cloning. These up-to-date technologies are gradually corroding moral standards. Bob indicated that like Anderson stated, educate and inform the public is the only way to protect human from technology.
The Curse of Frankenstein --The Campaign in Defense of Industry and Technology
If you think those generic engineering, or cloning technology is too complicated, too far away from our daily life, so what about the myth of “Frankenfood”? Have you ever think about science of Frankenstein is invading our daily life including what going to eat into our stomach? Compare to many other science technology, genetic food is not something very gorgeous and tremendous. However, how many people know about the harmfulness brought to human? As Robert W. Tracinski dressed in his writing, genetic modify on food is just an easy and beneficial method. This already helps lot of peasants on their agricultural and harvest. This also has been proven with a lot of successful result. For instance, genetic seeds may survive in some place that it should be able to grow, or they may inbuilt a strong defense of harmful insects. Yet, may be some years later, what we eat originally are something that is not possible to be eaten. Horrible?
From all the above, Frankenstein myth, and its theme of the dangers of science consists of unknown number of risks. Science and technology have no doubly improved human life in countless ways. From the steam engine to the pasteurization of milk, from electrical power to antibiotics. On the other hand, human life is indeed on top of the manipulation of science and technologies. Frankenstein has been told and retold, present and represent in hundreds of times, and has probably been adapted in one way or another thousands more. We do not mind if there are more new versions of Frankenstein, but what about next Frankensteinian, “Franken-man”?
References:
1. Andreas Rohrmoser (1999). “Mad Scientists and Monstrous Creations: The Continuation of the Frankenstein Myth in Modern Science Fiction and Horror Films”http://members.inode.at/359743/frankenstein/frankenstein-madprofs.htm (accessed 29 March 2008)
2. Jean-Philippe Pellet (2001). “Literary Essay on Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley” http://www.gymnase-morges.ch/docs/Eleve/frankenstein.html (accessed 30 March 2008)
3. Orlin Damyanov (1996). “Technology in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and William Gibson's Neuromancer” http://www.geocities.com/Paris/5972/gibson.html (accessed 30 March 2008)
4. Northern Echo (2003). “'Frankenstein Science' Row Over Cloned Embryos Plan” http://health.mappibiz.com/mpelembe/Frankenstein_Science.html (accessed 30 March 2008)
5. Bob Calverley (2001). “THE FRANKENSTEIN SYNDROME” http://www.usc.edu/hsc/info/pr/hmm/01fall/frankenstein.html (accessed 30 March 2008)
6. Robert W. Tracinski. “The Curse of Franken” http://www.moraldefense.com/protech/Archives/Curse_of_Frankenstein.htm (accessed 30 March 2008)
Many of nowadays science or futuristic movie is an adaptation of Frankenstein. Frankenstein is the surname of Victor Frankenstein. He is a scientist who becomes obsessed with the creation of life. Frankenstein play a god-like power, he animated his creation and yet immediately horrified by what he has done. The creature is a horrible monstrosity, a caricature of a man. His hideous looks draw screams everywhere, and even his good acts brought him punishment. He owns a human like outlook but being treated as a non-human object. Frankenstein shuns the creature but soon he felt offensive and seek his creature around to destroy it. Most of the movie both depicted Frankenstein’s monster as a bulky moron but also a humanity with emotion and feeling. The monster originally named as Adam in Mary Shelley’s book, but often shown nameless in the movie.
Story become an artificial creature turns upon to its creator. Such a conflict happened in between human and created science object led to our nowadays’ concern: As the prosperous and rapidly growth science technology, is there a possibility when one day human lose control to it entirely? Since recent “Frankenstein” technologies continues obsess our daily life, let’s see how people look into this.
Frankenstein films: Mad Scientists and Monsters
According to an in-depth analysis of Frankenstein science films, Andreas Rohrmoser listed several futuristic films which mirror from Frankenstein. Such as, one of the best movie about artificial human – Blade Runner (USA, 1982), and also another Frankensteinian product – Robocop (1987). “Artificial human beings and their creators have become a standard ingredient of modern science fiction/horror films and literature”. From past to now, the artificial presented in science film tends of lacking the monstrous and scary features of the Frankenstein’s monster and appear to be more mechanized form as robots, androids and cyborgs. As the phenomenon, the idea and image of Frankenstein does affect the afterward creations of futuristic movie. Which science technology is also being accepted and transform in nowadays.
Literary Essay on Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley
In this source, Jean-Philippe Pellet has overcome some controversial argument between human and scientific knowledge, such as “can science find solutions to all human problems?”, and also she pointed out what makes Frankenstein still being popular today and how it related to our life. It is because, according to Jean’s reading to the story of Frankenstein, in order to achieve his goal, he makes an extensive use of knowledge and science that ultimately led him to desolation, loneliness and result in a complete failure. Jean proven the reason of the popularity of Frankenstein is that “there is something universal in Victor’s attempt to reach this God-like level”. This is human’s aggression towards science and technology. Scientists believed they construct science and technology, and the also have the entire power to control or terminate it. They thought themselves own the ability before God. “Man’s ambition, man’s desire for glory pushes him beyond the ‘human borders”. There, should be no “omnipotent science” in the world.
Technology in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and William Gibson's Neuromancer
Here, Orlin Damyanov cited two science films: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and William Gibson's Neuromancer to discuss the dangerous effects on nature and human life perceived by science and technology. As Orlin’s mentioned about Mary Shelley's Frankenstein to technology and some of the other crucial issues, also the exploration of the dangerous implications of human acts of creation. Technology and human life are being merged together without any consideration on moral stage. However, both authors have been able to clearly predict the consequences of immoral technological utilization. The nature of humanity was unscrupulously to be reconstructing as a mechanical object. Orlin once again described today’s scientist like Frankenstein, shun to think about the consequences of hybridize technology. This make me thing about the cloning technology in this century.
'Frankenstein Science' Row Over Cloned Embryos Plan
"PRO-LIFE campaigners have described a project to clone Britain's first human embryos by North-East scientists as 'Frankenstein science'". So far, technology of cloning is being seen as unethical action. It goes against to the world’s and humanity nature. Some religious scholars said this may blaspheme their god and demolish the circle of life. I am so agree to this article that the manipulation of human life should never be tolerated, no Frankenstein science is needed in this world. Somehow, I appreciated the invention of cloning technology since it is just a basic science technique, and it does help a huge convenience for some patients such as body part implant. I have never feeling proud when the cloning sheep Dolly is being “created”, and so as if one day a cloning human named no matter what is “birth”.
The Frankenstein Syndrome
“The message of Frankenstein that attracted people in 1818 and still energizes us today is: How much is too much in science?” Question upraised by Bob Calverley on USC Health Magazine. There are billions possibilities but there are some that we should never try to get the answer or experiment. Control, is what we need. Bob is talking about currently generic engineering which is seems to be unethical as cloning. These up-to-date technologies are gradually corroding moral standards. Bob indicated that like Anderson stated, educate and inform the public is the only way to protect human from technology.
The Curse of Frankenstein --The Campaign in Defense of Industry and Technology
If you think those generic engineering, or cloning technology is too complicated, too far away from our daily life, so what about the myth of “Frankenfood”? Have you ever think about science of Frankenstein is invading our daily life including what going to eat into our stomach? Compare to many other science technology, genetic food is not something very gorgeous and tremendous. However, how many people know about the harmfulness brought to human? As Robert W. Tracinski dressed in his writing, genetic modify on food is just an easy and beneficial method. This already helps lot of peasants on their agricultural and harvest. This also has been proven with a lot of successful result. For instance, genetic seeds may survive in some place that it should be able to grow, or they may inbuilt a strong defense of harmful insects. Yet, may be some years later, what we eat originally are something that is not possible to be eaten. Horrible?
From all the above, Frankenstein myth, and its theme of the dangers of science consists of unknown number of risks. Science and technology have no doubly improved human life in countless ways. From the steam engine to the pasteurization of milk, from electrical power to antibiotics. On the other hand, human life is indeed on top of the manipulation of science and technologies. Frankenstein has been told and retold, present and represent in hundreds of times, and has probably been adapted in one way or another thousands more. We do not mind if there are more new versions of Frankenstein, but what about next Frankensteinian, “Franken-man”?
References:
1. Andreas Rohrmoser (1999). “Mad Scientists and Monstrous Creations: The Continuation of the Frankenstein Myth in Modern Science Fiction and Horror Films”http://members.inode.at/359743/frankenstein/frankenstein-madprofs.htm (accessed 29 March 2008)
2. Jean-Philippe Pellet (2001). “Literary Essay on Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley” http://www.gymnase-morges.ch/docs/Eleve/frankenstein.html (accessed 30 March 2008)
3. Orlin Damyanov (1996). “Technology in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and William Gibson's Neuromancer” http://www.geocities.com/Paris/5972/gibson.html (accessed 30 March 2008)
4. Northern Echo (2003). “'Frankenstein Science' Row Over Cloned Embryos Plan” http://health.mappibiz.com/mpelembe/Frankenstein_Science.html (accessed 30 March 2008)
5. Bob Calverley (2001). “THE FRANKENSTEIN SYNDROME” http://www.usc.edu/hsc/info/pr/hmm/01fall/frankenstein.html (accessed 30 March 2008)
6. Robert W. Tracinski. “The Curse of Franken” http://www.moraldefense.com/protech/Archives/Curse_of_Frankenstein.htm (accessed 30 March 2008)
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)