The movie “Terminator 2” gives a great analysis of the mix of technology and the body. This movie is actually very similar to Neuromancer because of the machines that can think for themselves. The one difference is that the Terminators were a combination of the 2 AI’s from the novel. These bodies could take on their own form or take on the form of someone else. It was really intriguing. This movie was more interesting when analyzing the body argument, than it would have been just watching another action movie.
The argument of the body is that there are limits to the body. In the movie, scene 37, it is said that it is human nature to destroy themselves. It explains that a man made a thinking computer and it ended up killing millions of people because the machines could think and act for themselves. They could not be stopped by human things, such as guns. I think that the argument presented in this movie is that there is a limit to the use of technology because with the good comes the bad. Sarah, one of the main characters, also states at the end that a machine can know the value of human life, maybe humans can too. The point of life is to learn for oneself and to figure it out as you go along. If someone knows everything, it will end in complete disaster.
In this movie, none of the humans had any technological advances. But the superhuman computers could do almost anything. They could take on the voices and figures of other people. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character could view and analyze everything with his eyes. He could learn from people around him. He learned new phrases and learned from passed experiences. There are so many different aspect of technology combined with the body that it is hard to focus on just a few things. Great movie, even though you could tell from the special effects that it was made in the 90’s.
About Me
- Aubrey
- San Francisco, CA, United States
- Public Relations Professional and The University of Texas Alum - Hook 'em! I am a recent graduate from The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Public Relations.
2 comments:
I think you present a good argument with Terminator 2 in relation to technology and the body. I have seen the movie a very long time ago, but had never realized the argument you present. Although technology is good in many ways and has allowed our society to advance in many ways, the reoccurring theme in many movies on this list and in Neuromancer is that there can be negative consequences. As you show in Terminator 2, something that was created by human beings, like the AI’s in Neuromancer, turned out to gain control over humans.
Also with the point you make about Sarah, were you implying that because the machines do know the value of human life that they end up in complete disaster?? I wasn’t really certain why the was thrown in there, although it is a good point, I would suggest being a little clearer about what that adds to your argument.
Aubrey - I am intrigued but a bit confused about your arguments here. You speak about both the limits of the human body and the limits that (should?) are imposed on technology. Is it important to note that it is the human that creates the problem (invents the machine?) and that it is the machine that offers hope for a solution ('[if] a machine can know the value of human life, maybe humans can too')? I think this is emblematic of the confusion between man and machine in the movie - which is both hopeful - Terminator must learn to feel - but also terrifying - the machine can look like anyone - including someone we trust (police officer). What scenes/stills/language/etc are you thinking about using as evidence?
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