Week 11: Cyberpunk

"Snow crash" by Neal Stephenson
and
"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" 

I actually really enjoyed the novel, "Snow crash". It takes place in what is called the "Metaverse", a virtual universe made up of virtual worlds, augmented and enhanced reality, and the internet. The main character and protagonist, Hiro, a pizza delivery boy (aka "Last of the freelance hackers, and greatest sword fighter in the world"), faces a virus called "snow crash", which is essentially a computer virus that causes the screen to be filled with white noise, much like a snow storm. He meets YT, a young girl who is a skateboard messenger, and together they work in the business of intelligence. What I liked most about reading this novel, is that I was, in some way, able to relate to the characters and how realistically they were described. With a novel like SnowCrash, I had to  allow myself to enjoy something for what it was without being too critical or  of the absurd, and almost satirical, details and technicalities within the novel. Much like Scott Pilgrim or Kick Ass, the characters are intended to be young, adventurous and exaggerated to a humorous degree. Along with sharing the ironic undertones of Scott Pilgrim or Kick Ass, SnowCrash also maintains a level of heroism in the protagonist, and bad-assery (if you will), in the female sidekicks/love interests.

 I think my favorite part about reading Stephenson's , SnowCrash, was realizing how much it resembled a comic I created a few years ago called, "Pigeon Girl". It did not take place in a 'Metaverse', and I'm not certain it could even be categorized as "cyber punk", but it definitely possessed qualities of the cyberpunk genre. The protagonist/"antihero", Pigeon Girl (a version of myself), is a human who was genetically modified to possess the navigational acuteness of a pigeon (There is a reason she obtains this characteristic and there is a reason it's a pigeon, but it's a long story and I won't even get into it).  Her primary weapon is a slingshot (Low tech, much like the samurai swords and guns in SnowCrash). Along with her partner, Diabla, who also happens to be a messenger (on a motorcycle rather than a skateboard), PG fights crime indifferently and has one mission and one mission only: To find her father. It takes place in "Septi-City", within a universe ruled by Vultress, a 'big brother' type villain who watches over the city, controlling everyone with propaganda and fear.  Her slogan is "Do Away with all the Prey", and commands annual purges. Her minions are Rats with mechanical head pieces that allow her to control their minds, (much like the "Rat Things" in SnowCrash), in their mission to hunt down Pigeon Girl. My comic was heavily influenced by Kick Ass, Watchmen, Bladerunner, Punk Rock Jesus (By Sean Murphy), Tank Girl, and most importantly, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (modeling Diabla directly off Lisbeth, the hacker/Freelance surveillance agent and researcher). It takes place in somewhat of a realistic universe, much like ours, inhabited by an "avian race" (all characters are bird related, with the exception of Diabla and the minions), set in the near future, with failed social structure, advanced technology, environmental neglect, and an autocratic form of government.

(A page from my 'Pigeon Girl' comic - by Danielle Otrakji)

 (An unfinished piece based on my character, Diabla - by Danielle Otrakji)

Anyway, my comic may seem totally irrelevant, but it's actually a very personal story illustrated and depicted in a cyberpunk universe, making this specific topic, extremely interesting and useful for me. Reading SnowCrash, and in a way being unknowingly influenced by it, gave me a lot of ideas for Pigeon Girl and many more of my comics.  For example, the Sumarian language used in SnowCrash is an excellent means of gaining credibility in forming a fictional universe. Though the characters in SnowCrash are young and relatively ironic, and the adventures in which they embark are radical and over the top, every cyber-fictional component within the story is backed up and accounted for, down to a language, making this Metaverse all the more convincing. I could benefit from using specificity like Stephenson's. I could tear this book apart and address every inconsistent, uninspiring literary flaw that it had, or address all of the interpretive and cultural qualities it lacked, but it isn't meant to be torn apart or taken too literally. It is a challenge for the reader to push reality aside, and to enter a cyber universe. 

Week 10: Narratives from the Multi-verse

"Dune" 

Frank Herbert

Dune is a literary work that was written in 1965, depicting a future where many planets are habitable, where there is controlled breeding, and where humans are trained to be equipped with advanced intelligence due to their lack of technology. The book touches on some very interesting themes like power (or control of the Fremen), religion (Specifically with the Bene Gesserit), ecology (the desert), technology, and human emotion, all subjects our society at this time, and in this reality, deals with. Ultimately, it emphasizes the control humans have over their environment and their lifestyles, often times resulting in a negative outcome. Political themes in Dune include human beings being so susceptible to mass manipulation by political propaganda, religious principles, and the importance of self-awareness and self-mastery in resisting these types of control. Much like our society and many others today, religion and politics have very little separation. Both have served an equal amount of destruction as they have helped, especially when both are combined with greed and desperation. If human beings fight the natural order of life, whether through the environment or genetics, Herbert suggests, the results can be catastrophic, perhaps not in the present day, but further into the future.

Painting by Sparth

For example, the "Spice", a naturally produced awareness spectrum narcotic, improve mental capacity and abilities, but it improves health and extends life. It not only formed a fundamental block of commerce and technological development in the universe, but also  played an important role in travel and cultural development. It rules everything around them, and they have become so dependent on the power it provides for them, their lives are completely revolved around it. Like money, or a god, or drugs, they provide power and give one the feeling of superiority and purpose, but when they are in that state of power, they forget the potential consequences of such a lifestyle. In the end, Paul's attempt to save the planet by ending all mining and production of the "spice", and reintroducing the Water of Life, in turn takes us back to the them of control. In Paul's salvation of this planet with the Water of life, he is forced to control it. 

"I am showing you the superhero syndrome and your own participation in it".

—Frank Herbert

 I read most of the book in high school, and had never seen the film until it played in our class, but I understand how and why this was such a highly acclaimed and respected novel. Though the film adaptation was not what I had expected, I was thoroughly impressed and entertained with the visual approach. Revisiting it as an adult, I see that it raises the question of whether humans should exercise their power to manipulate the environment, and just because we can, with or without technology or advanced intelligence, is it right? And once it has gone too far, is there any way of escaping or salvaging it?  

Illustration by Danielle Otrakji - 

(I did this piece for a comic revolved around the subject of mutation and genetic modification. This specific image depicts a german scientist observing genetically modified/manipulated subjects, in hopes of creating a new race of superior beings with extraordinary abilities). 

Week 9 : Space Opera

Space Opera

"Firefly" 

The Space Opera genre is one that truly peaks my interest. I will be honest, I did not read the suggested reading material but am very familiar with Joss Whedon's series Firefly (the t.v. series as well as the comic), and the film Serenity, and they are, from my understanding, perfect embodiments of the Space Opera genre. It is a space western drama, involving 9 characters, embarking on a journey with many obstacles and adventures along the way. What I like most about the show is that it is humanity's future rendered in a manner different from most contemporary science fiction comics, films and television series. I find that the language, portrayals of women, and the suspense leading up to the encounter with the Reavers were all elements in Firefly that made it such an innovative series. I love that in Joss Whedon's adaptation of the future, he not only empowers women with his postfeminist character, Inara, but creates a multicultural, multilingual future in this society, and among all the characters. 

Week 8 : Mythic Fiction & Contemporary Urban Fantasy

Neil Gaiman

"Stardust"

Neil Gaiman's book, "Stardust", also adapted into a film, is a fantasy novel involving faeries, magic, witches, spirits, and unicorns. I am a huge Neil Gaiman fan and have always loved his literary works. The main character, Tristran, a half faerie creature promises his lover, Victoria, a fallen star, but along the journey falls in love with the fallen star, Yvaine. When the film came out in 2007, I was about 15 or 16, and was so in love with the story and the imagery. It was such a beautiful and romantic film, and at the same time adventurous and exciting. 

When I was younger, I played a 'role-play' game with a friend, where we would wear cloaks on our bicycles, with swords in our belt loops, (super lame, i know), and ride around the neighborhood seeking 'magical flowers' from the neighbors' yards, and would collect pebbles but imagine they were powerful rubies and stars, all to bring back to our princess who awaited us at home (but really there was no princess, it was just a stuffed animal), and this game was called 'Quest'. It was probably the silliest thing i've ever engaged in, but in some way the film reminded me of this game, and almost created a world i had always wished to be a part of. 

Anyway, reading the book was sort of a different experience for me than watching the movie. I think the stories and characters were relatively consistent in both the film and novel, however, i found that having watched the movie prior to reading the book, I was a little bit let down. Of course it was a fantastic book, I found that the characters lacked a little bit of the realness and three dimensionality in the book, whereas in the film, they have weight and purpose.

Overall, both the film and the novel had excellent qualities, and with the exception of minor changes, remained consistent with one another. I enjoyed the film more than the book, because it was so visually appealing, and because each character was handled and developed so sensitively and the interactions between characters felt natural and fluid. Neil Gaiman is an excellent writer, and regardless, I would recommend the book to anyone who has or hasn't seen the film.