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)."

Tags:organic, machine, Internet, circuit, lifestyle

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) "

Tags:Gender, Boundaries, Donna, Haraway, Nyctalope, Star, Wars, Spiderman

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. "

Tags:art, criticism, donna, feminism, feminist, haraway, mariko, mori, stelarc

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."

Tags:isolation, community, exploit, militarism, post-gender, humanity, hybrid, relationship

Abstract
This paper examines how cyber identity has given Internet users a chance to make friends, even create personal relationships, without revealing their true identities. The paper specifically looks at how the use of cyber identities in the virtual communities ignores issues of race and class as what brings people together in these environments is shared interest. The paper also discusses how unlike previous communities, present virtual communities are more of deceptive identities as people have moved further from creating real profiles into cyborgs.

From the Paper
"Group interactions, in the online communities, have changed over time with cyborg identities such that the way people see themselves and the way others see them is different. Technology has changed the kind of relationships people have with the use of virtual worlds or virtual environments also known as cyberspace. Cyborg identity can be termed as the personal characteristics of an individual, as recognized by a particular group. Virtual identity is a term that most people may be conversant with and this is one aspect of cyborg identity term. This is mostly applied when, for instance, someone sits at his/her computer and describes a person's appearance such as slim, red haired, thin legs and so on. The group knows this person with this kind of specifications but this is just a cyberspace virtual identity that you can only ascertain when you see the person."

Tags:social, networking, Facebook, myspace, internet

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 ..."

Tags:social, theory, modern

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."

Tags:cyborg, enterprise, gender, love, reality, robots, role, virtual

Abstract
This paper maintains that despite humans using technology in daily life, they are still humans. Additionally, the paper gives an in-depth analysis of this intersection of technology and culture, showing that culture has not become dependent on technology, but rather technology has become a part of today's culture. The paper further states that human beings who use the internet, machines, pacemakers, heart implants or prosthetics are not cyborgs, and 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.

From the Paper
"The thesis of this paper is that human beings who use the internet, machines, pacemakers, heart implants or prosthetics are not cyborgs, and that the contrary assertion is indicative of a corruption of language and thought as human beings enter the new world of 21^st century neuronic technology. 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..."

Tags:technology, culture, cyborg

Abstract
The paper examines how effective the films "Children of Men" and "Bladerunner" are in creating a believable representation of a dystopian world. The paper analyzes the themes of surveillance and control, the hyper-real, cyborgs and what it means to be human and divine. The paper demonstrates how both films present realities that are both plausible and frightening, but then asserts that "Children of Men" was more effective in representing a believable dystopic vision.

From the Paper
"Children Of Men and Bladerunner are both films that are written in the genre of dystopic texts, presenting a reflection of the world via the use of "the shock of dysrecognition" (Phillip K. Dick). Both texts consider the issues of surveillance, religion, humanism and post-humanism, and the argument of nature vs. science in order to create worlds, which are unrecognisable to the human world of today. 'Metaphorically, and visibly, the films remind us that there is no clear horizon in a dystopian world' but a successful dystopic text will present a convincing representation of a dystopian world, thus not far fetched and unimaginable but instead frightening, and seemingly closer than expected (Macleod/Ward, 2002, p. 22)."

Tags:hyper-real, cyborg, technology, surveillance, control, divinity, simulation

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."

Tags:cloning, genetic, engineering, biotechnology