TRON

Here is the place to ask questions regarding my presentation on the film TRON.

Prompt 12

Violence is often used in media to elicit a strong emotional response, a pathos. Cronenberg uses violence in his film to argue against the use of this particular technology, as violence is closely associated with it. The film becomes increasingly more violent as the film progresses, and, as Videodrome takes hold. Violence makes for a very strong reaction, most of the time negative. In our society, we view violence as generally shocking and ultimately negative because of the displeasure it causes us. Cronenberg uses this natural reaction to persuade the audience to his argument. Another aspect of the violence Cronenberg uses is sexualized violence. By inserting aspects of sexual pleasure, as in the character Nikki, with this violence, the director gives the audience another level to be disturbed. Not only is the physical violence disturbing, but a perverse response to such violence from a character also serves to disturb. The audience is disturbed by Nikki’s reaction, as human beings are supposed to be disturbed by violence, not taking pleasure in it, and certainly not the even more perverse sexual pleasure in it. Since it disrupts the natural order of things in such way, makes a greater impact and it brings the audience’s response to an even deeper level. As for the plot of the movie itself, and using the violence of Videodrome to penetrate the mind, I think it was a fairly logical choice. Violence is already seen as negative, and since it does elicit an emotion response, as compared to more mainstream television programming, one can reason that perhaps it might alter the brain or spinal cord in some way. Those who enjoy violence are often seen as perverse by society today. Thus, those who would be watching Videodrome is their perfect target audience. Overall, the strong negativity associated with violence allowed Cronenburg to communicate his argument effectively.

Prompt 11

The film Tron makes arguments about the body’s relationship to technology by defining the body via interaction with technology. Through the use of the science fiction technology, lasers, cyberspace, and programs, one can find how bodies are represented and used in conjunction with technology, and in this, find out the relationship between the two entities. One example to explore in Tron is how bodies are represented in the virtual world; that is, the ‘world’ created by the interlinking of computers in a particular corporation. Not only is this world having physical space and obeying many laws of physics, but the ‘programs’ that inhabit this space are represented as human beings. These programs look like the people that wrote them, and have their personality, like Tron, who was created by Alan. In the film, the character Tron is played by the same actor that plays the character Alan, who was introduced earlier in the film as saying he created the program Tron. The character Flynn goes as far as to, in the virtual world, notice this similarity and call Tron ‘Alan’. Tron himself recognizes this, too; often referring to his user, Alan, as the one who created him. Through this, the film Tron makes the argument that human beings manifest themselves in their creations, and in this creation of human beings, their own bodies are reflected as such. This negates the power of physical human flesh, as the mere ‘spirit’ of Alan, in writing Tron, gave the program his own physical body as well as personality. The physical body is of lesser importance in Tron, as most of the action occurs in the virtual world, uncontrolled by any outside physical entities. Another example of the physical body lacking in importance is the interaction programs and the ‘real’ user, Flynn, have. While Flynn is revered in the virtual world because he created much of it, he has nearly equal amount of power in the virtual world. His possessing of a human body or human mind gives him no advantages in the virtual world, as the highlighted programs, Tron and Yori, possess the same amount of physical power, ingenuity, and spirit as Flynn does. They interact on an equal plane in the virtual world, almost to the extent that being a human with a physical body makes no difference at all. Through this, physical bodies are seen as less powerful; instead, it is the human spirit, an idea, that triumphs.

Prompt 10

I believe the recurring theme of drugs and addiction is an interesting topic to explore in Gibson’s Neuromancer. There are several instances in which drugs are used in the novel, and each supports arguments and ideas surrounding the topic. In the beginning of the novel, we see Case, addicted to drugs, taking things that are the futuristic equivalent to cocaine and methamphetamines. This indicates his disregard for his physical body, and perhaps his desire to escape from it. This escape may manifest itself in a sort of suicide, Case dying because of his drug addiction. However, this does not come about, as Molly and Armitage find him. Armitage gives him a new pancreas and liver, which as well as keep him alive physically deny him the ability to get high. This gives Case a lack of control over his own body, which he formerly used to choose what sensations it could feel. Instead of break him of the addiction through his mind, Armitage takes a more direct route; instead of empowering Case, it lessens the mental power he has via physical power to get high. Another interesting example of drugs and addiction in Neuromancer is the scene in which Riviera and Case discuss their differing ways to get high. Riviera’s method is theatrical, basic, and painful, using a hypodermic needle. Case simply swallows an ‘octagon’; some form of pill. While both are interested in getting high, Riviera shows that he is interested in the physical sensations, good and bad, of getting high, while Case looks for a painless numbing of his body. This indicates the different perspectives of the characters, and perhaps how they see their bodies; Case continues to show a desire for absolute abandonment of the body.

Prompt 9

In Neuromancer, a lot of different bodies are presented, bodies which are using the futuristic technology to enhance the abilities of their body, obscure the nature of the body, and even leave the body entirely. Out of these, I find the most fascinating to be the character Molly. I find her intriguing because of her use of body as a means to accomplish her goals. The way that she accomplishes this is very fascinating, because it is embracing the human body and using it as a foundation to be improved upon in interesting and innovative ways, as compared to simply being forgone entirely, as in Case’s case. Molly’s modifications make her able to interact with her natural world in new ways, like being able to see in the dark, and use her claws as tools and weapons. As well, Molly used her body (not her mind) as a means of making money, by being a meat puppet. This contrasts with Case further, who uses his mind alone, not his body , as he works as a cowboy. Case and Molly make two vastly different arguments with their bodies. Case rejects the body, while Molly embraces it. Molly enhances her body, while Case works endlessly to escape it. Through the experience of the matrix, Case can leave his body behind. But with Molly’s modifications, she can lift many restrictions the body has through her modifications. She can become more formidable of a fighter with her claws, which are always with her, as well as be able to survive more easily in her environment with her clock read-out and night vision. Her lenses probably also protect her from UV rays, so she gets protection from the elements better than a normal human. In this way, Molly goes beyond the limits of a natural human, but still uses it as an important foundation.

Prompt 8 - Extra Credit

One can express oneself in a variety of ways, including forms like formal writing, as well as different media like body modification. All of these forms of expression serve different purposes, and therein lies why we do them differently. In formal writing, one is expressing oneself in a clear, proper, and respectful manner, so one can be understood and give the impression of being intelligent and informed. This is where the composition comes in; standard composition allows for maximum clarity in formal writing. To allow oneself’ to be understood in this medium is a powerful tool, as writing is such a high-impact medium in today’s society. Things like art could also be translated to writing. Technical drawings like architects do, or drawings for design, are also important in conveying information, and I’d correlate that form of art to formal writing. Another closely related one is film, especially documentary film. When one chooses a medium for expression, the deciding factor of what it is is what is intended to be expressed. More individualistic things lend themselves to more informal methods of expression, while conveying of information palatable to all is best conveyed in a more formal way. Not only the subject is important, but the audience, as well. Who is to perceive this which one wants to express, and how do they relate to author? One could also consider the audience’s relationship to the subject; how it would be best interpreted and understood by them. All parts of the rhetorical triangle are used in determining what media one chooses, and to what degree of formality, if it is a general medium like writing or visual media. It’s important to learn how to do these things, for maximum benefit in society as we know it today.

Prompt 7

The type of body modification that is seen as normative, as in, in an attempt to achieve mainstream society’s ideal of beauty by using body modification to achieve ‘normal’ look, is also subject to Pitt’s argument of radical body modification. Normative and non-normative body modification alike is used in moderation by the mainstream. Most people only get a few tattoos or body piercings, just like most people engage in only mild amounts of normative body modification. On this opposing end of the spectrum, there’s a variety of cosmetic surgeries which I would equivocate to radical body modification. These are much the same in several ways. One, they are painful and pose risk to health, just like radical non-normative body modification. Two, they alter the body from it’s ‘natural’ state dramatically. From collagen to silicone, sucking to sewing, many of these procedures are even more radical as compared to non-normative body modification, in regards to how much the body is altered. The process overall is very similar, simply achieving results striving for a different end. The major difference is that these body modifications are ‘hidden’. People that have been cosmetically altered can often pass as ‘natural’. In that way, it isn’t as subject to taboo as much. However, if one is aware of the extensive cosmetic surgeries another might have gotten, I believe they would be subject to similar scrutiny like that of a non-normative body modifier. Cosmetic surgery is often viewed as extreme vanity; a criticism body modification escapes. But in essence, both types of modification are methods of enhancing a body; similar ends are gained through similar means. Another major difference is that normative body modification seems to end at a very specific standard; there are a vast variety of ways to modify one’s body on the non-normative spectrum; limitless amount of art, piercings wherever one can find a place to put them, vast designs of scarification. However, in normative body modification, one cannot select from a great variety of noses, lips, chins or breasts, because only a few ‘ideals’ are sought after. There’s a good reason why it’s difficult to tell models in magazines apart. While the non-normative body modifier has freedom of expression (to a relatively greater extent), the normative body modifier has conformation to society’s very selective beauty ideal.