Abstract
This chapter outlines a shift in representations of the body in science fiction from a postmodern, dystopian framework to aposthumanist Utopian frame of reference. Posthumanist notions of body transfer and virtuality are evident in films such as Avatar, as well as in The Matrix, Magerstädt further addresses how the idea of escapism has changed from earlier cyberpunk narratives as presented in eXistenZ to more recent representations in Avatar. Magerstädt’s.analysis highlights an interesting development in the portrayal of technology. She draws on Deleuze’s concept of the spiritual automaton in order to distinguish the organic avatar bodies from earlier cyborgs that appear, for example, in the Terminator films. The chapter concludes highlighting some of the ethical issues that result from these developments.
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Notes
Deieuze uses the terms ‘Movement-Image’ and ‘Time-Image’ in his cinema books in order to (roughly) distinguish between classical (pre-WWII) cinema as well as mainstream cinema on the one hand and post-war or contemporary (auteur) cinema on the other. In brief, the move ment-image is characterized by an emphasis on movement over time. The narrative structure is largely causal, where a situation translates into action, which leads to a revised situation. The characters are active and we often have an individual hero (or heroine) who operates with the support of his or her people. In contrast, Deleuze argues that in the modern time-image, movement becomes subordinate to time and thus time is shown in its pure form. This often means that narrative is fragmented and operates across various layers of time, such as past, present and future and that thoughts, emotions and situations are no longer translated in actions that are able to change or develop the situation. For a good overview of Deleuze’s.concept, see Rodowick, D.N. (1997). Gilles Deleuze’s.Time Machine. Durham, NC and London: Duke University Press.
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© 2014 Sylvie Magerstädt
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Magerstädt, S. (2014). Body — Cyborgs, Clones and Automata: The Matrix, eXistenZ, Avatar. In: Body, Soul and Cyberspace in Contemporary Science Fiction Cinema: Virtual Worlds and Ethical Problems. Palgrave Pivot, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137399410_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137399410_2
Publisher Name: Palgrave Pivot, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-48574-1
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