Abstract This paper discusses the article "A Cyborg Manifesto: Science, Technology, and Socialist-Feminism in the Late Twentieth Century," by D. Haraway. The writer discusses what differentiates organic creatures from machines and describes how Haraway, through pointing out the differences and similarities between humanity and cyborgs, makes a compelling argument that humans are becoming more cyborg-like. Haraway then goes on to present the cyborg with all its negative aspects as the emerging face of feminism. The key argument against technology was its male dominated, capitalist image, and feminism, by embracing technology could enable women to dominate in their turn. The paper concludes that the ways of the cyborg could be exactly what is needed for the empowerment of the new feminist.
Outline:
Cyborg or Machine
Goodbye Gaia
From the Paper "One of the key differences between an organic creature and a machine is their source of power and how they come into existence. The only source of power for an organic is other organics. Biological beings cannot live with only machines in their lives. They must have other organics for sustenance. Organics cannot sustain themselves on machines or machine energy. In order to come into existence, an organic being must couple with another organic creature. They cannot be constructed, or fabricated...at least not yet. The key is that organics depend on other organics for life and to sustain life."
Abstract This paper discusses the meaning and application of the term "cyborg." It argues that human beings who use the Internet, machines, pacemakers, heart implants or prosthetics are not cyborgs. Instead, it suggests that the contrary assertion is indicative of a corruption of language and thought as human beings enter the new world of 21st century neuronic technology. The paper analyzes this thesis and assertion.
From the Paper "It is both curious and instructive that the Greek origin of the word "organic" means "tool" or "instrument", hardly relevant to the current sense of "organic foods" or an organic lifestyle. In fact it construes closely to the definition of a cyborg, "a term condensed from 'cybernetic organism'...typically defined as an entity comprising organic as well as machine parts and information circuits" (Soufoulis, 2002, p.88). The definition co-opts the modern invasive meaning that enables Donna Haraway to "proclaim[s] the cyborg as an identity: "By the late twentieth century, our time, a mythic time, we are all chimeras, theorized and fabricated hybrids of machine and organism; in short we are cyborgs. The cyborg is our ontology; it gives us our politics" (Soufoulis, 2002, p.88)."
Abstract This paper discusses and critically evaluates Donna Haraway's assertion that, we are all, already, 'cyborgs'. To help make this argument, the paper uses references from science fiction films and literature about the co-implication of humans, machines and informatic technologies in 20th/21st century life.
From the Paper "In 1908 fiction writer Jean de la Hire introduced his superhero 'Nyctalope' in the novel 'The man who can live in water', since then hundreds of fictional characters have been created both in literature and more recently in feature films that are human beings with beneficial technological enhancements. The term generally used to describe such characters is 'cyborg', an abbreviation for cybernetic organism that was originally coined in 1960 by Manfred E. Clines and Nathan S. Kline in their article 'Cyborgs and space' '...for the exogenously extended organizational complex functioning as an integrated homeostatic system unconsciously, we propose the term 'Cyborg'.' (p. 26) "
Abstract This paper discusses Donna Haraway and her belief that modern society has been altered through the creation of the cyborg. It explains that the cyborg, often considered as a fantasy element of film or scientific experimentation, has, according to Haraway, become an integral part of human existence. The paper explores Haraway's opinion that the modern cyborg is a combination of imagination and material reality throughout the world.
From the Paper "Donna Haraway has discussed her belief that modern society has been altered through the creation of the cyborg. The cyborg, often considered as a fantasy element of film or scientific experimentation, has, according the Haraway, become an integral part of human existence. Haraway writes that the modern cyborg is a combination of "imagination and material reality" throughout the world. It has gained this prominence through society's quest to maintain humanity, while at the same time advancing technologically beyond what mankind originally thought possible. Haraway states, In the traditions of 'Western' science and politics--the tradition of racist, male-dominant capitalism; the tradition of progress; the tradition of the appropriation of nature as resource for the productions of culture; the tradition of reproduction of the self from the reflections of the other - the relation between organism and machine has been a border war. The stakes in the border war have been ..."
Abstract Did Frankenstein or any cyborg have the ability to love humans or other cyborgs? Did gender roles play a part? The author discusses how gender affects how we feel towards robots.
From the Paper "Victor Frankenstein created a beast in his laboratory without prior knowledge as to what, in fact, he was actually doing to himself and the world. The creature was no mere replica of a human. The creature was a gigantic monstrosity of a man, 8 feet tall with enormous strength and agility. He did not know what the creature would do or how he would restrain him once he created it. Victor was trying to create a being, to discover the mystery of life, not noticing his own selfishness to his project and his rejection to his family. Victor wanted nothing except to finish his project."
From the Paper "There are many different interpretations of what a cyborg might be and how it may be useful or not for feminist writers to use to describe the female situation. The cyborg defiantly presents us with some exciting new possibilities for what our bodies might be or encompass, and how we might experience our reality or realities. Though one must understand that these possibilities are only for those who have the technology, only the Internet and the networks that it allows to exist can really be seen to possibly act as a place of liberation from gender, race etc. It is in the end though a fictional environment, and the cyborg still is a fictional and metaphorical creature, which is over theorised and hence too impractical to relate to real women's lives. "
Abstract This paper examines how society's perceptions of women affect feminist theory: The author discusses the feminist belief that there is a social division between men and women, in terms of representation and that this division is caused by the perception of an inherent difference between the sexes. This paper discusses this point of view from the works of: Audry Lourde's essay, "The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House", Donna Haraway's essay, "A Cyborg Manifesto", and Henry Hwang's adaptation of the classic "M. Butterfly".
From the Paper "How society perceives women is the root of feminism. There is a social division between men and women, and this division is caused by the perception of an inherent difference between the sexes. As feminists do not believe that a perception of difference should act as a classification for men and women, it is the representation and presentation of this sense of difference that is the target of feminist actions."
Abstract This work critically examines contemporary feminist debates on new technology. It presents the arguments of feminists who believe that new technology will liberate women and the arguments of feminists who believe in the antithesis of this ? that new technology is oppressive to women. It looks at how the arguments of the latter stem from the belief that technology is developed in a society, which is inherently patriarchal. It includes topics such as an introduction new technology, women and paid work, women and housework technology and women and unwanted pregnancy.
From the Paper "One problem with the approach of liberal feminists is they fail to address difference in women. Women do not constitute one homogenous group who have the same choices available to them. For example Hamner (1985: 95) notes that the Warnock Report associated with the government looked for ways of controlling access to certain reproductive technologies. It recommended that artificial insemination should be made available only to heterosexual couples in stable relationship, not to single women or lesbians. Thus women's choices are in reality highly dependent on different factors such as their age, sexuality, and race. Moreover Firestone's account is arguably a limited one as she attributes women's oppression solely to their reproduction and biology therefore ectogenesis would liberate women. In reality woman's oppression is a result of multiple factors and removing the reproductive functions of women would not mean that they would stop being the subordinate group in society, it may take more than this to overthrow patriarchy which is deeply embedded."
A discussion of worrying technological advances, based on the contemporary version of Rene Descartes's statement, "I think, therefore I am"; "my computer thinks, therefore I am".
Abstract This paper analyzes today's popular culture in a mega-technologically advanced world and investigates three areas that are not only highly scientific, but troublesome and alarming as well, namely transgenic therapy, cyborgs, and designer kids. The paper examines genetic engineering, cloning, and other aspects of biotechnology.
From the Paper "The single most important factor underlying the issues of human cloning, augmentation, and alteration is the dehumanization of man through the advancement of biotechnology. Today the computer offers mankind the opportunity to advance well beyond previous limitations set my intellect, mortality, and strength through the evolution process of DNA. With significant breakthroughs in the bioelectronic field new advanced technologies now permit the interfacing of computer chips with the human's central nervous system that, in tern, pose the very real possibility to effect biological changes and the intercellular level (Lappe, 1990). The very possibility is not only scientifically phenomenal but unprecedented as well. However, the question at the forefront is whether or not the process is ethical and should strict limitations be set on the integration of biotechnology and human life. Determining the social consequences is a very important issue that needs to be addressed as well."
Abstract This paper explains that the two most common cognitive models for the interaction between technology, people and culture are Formalist/Humanist and Cyborg/Post-Humanist. The author believes that the Post-Humanist/cyclical model is superior to the linear models because the idea behind this model is that there can be no set cycle to human/ technological interaction; any number of interactions are possible and they can go in any direction. The paper relates that the three main reasons people use the writing technologies such as word processing are habit, convenience and availability. Charts.
From the Paper "Communications technologies affect our social relations and cultural values. Often new technologies distance us from direct communication with each other. For instance, a phone call is only an auditory communication, which cuts out body language. Instant messaging contains only the words a person wishes to convey, cutting out tone of voice and other auditory cues. Email is even further removed, because it is so much less interactive. There is little possibility for instance for a heated dialog or a a quick two way discussion. The communication becomes less real, more distant and therefore arguably we believe less that there is another human being there and act accordingly... perfect example would be flames and porn ads. In one-on-one interaction people don't have the protection of anonymity that they do in an email or forum posting."
Tags: cognitive, formalist, posthumanist, cyclical, linear
Abstract This analysis focuses on two articles on virtuality or virtual literature, including "The Condition of Virtuality" by N. Katharine Hayles and "The Written Word" by Walter J. Ong. The analysis compares and contrasts the views of Ong and Hayles on computer or electronic literature and conventional printed texts. Both Ong and Hayles maintain that virtual literature expands not limits subjectivity and the learning process from the flow of information.
From the Paper "Meaning is culturally constructed The word first orally transmitted then transmitted through print and now electronically transmitted remains paramount in the creation and transmission of meaning. Walter J Ong suggests that the .."
Tags: perception, Internet, World Wide Web, time, space, meaning, construction, deconstruction, reality, cyborgs, understanding, meaning, reading
This paper compares two articles about the role of technology in the society: "A Cyborg Manifesto: Science, Technology and Socialist-Feminism in the Late Twentieth Century" by Donna Haraway and "Technological or Media Determinism" by Daniel Chandler.
Abstract This paper examines the influence of gender in the writing of these two works and the effectiveness of the given text in relating the information to the reader. The author points out that both Donna Haraway and Daniel Chandler argue that in the world so filled with technological advancements it is very hard to separate the human component from the technological. The paper relates that Haraway expresses extreme feminist ideas in her work; however, Chandler's work is not gender-based at all. The author relates that Haraway is very allegorical and attempts to bring up images of genderless, machine-like women to make her point clear; on the other hand, Chandler avoids the allegories, providing a more informative rather than speculative outlook on the subject.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Comparative Analysis
Contrast Analysis
Conclusion
From the Paper "Chandler applies the technological progress and cultural development to the world in general and outlines how these trends shape the society and what forces contribute to the humans' desire for progress. Haraway, who is very subjective, focuses on one group of people in particular - women. The basis of her work is the gender-defined society where progress does not serve to unite but rather separate the people into gender and class, therefore outlining a very socialist idea of inequality and strives for such. Haraway seeks to make a point about the seeming lack of such equality in today's world and how it ties in with the technological progress."
