There is an element of visionary compulsion in most of us. We can’t help but look into the future with great anticipation of the technological advances which have the potential to both benefit and hinder us. It is innate within man to want to know tomorrow, but tomorrow is not ours to know; it is however ours to ponder. Science fiction (sci-fi), as a genre, provides an outlet for many visionaries to contemplate the endless possibilities of technological advances, and how they will impact our world. In this paper, a subgenre of sci-fi, known as cyberpunk, will be defined and related to a postmodern work of film, “Blade Runner” and the book the movie is based on: “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep,” by Philip K. Dick. These two sci-fi works
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Dick. These both may be categorized as cyberpunk works for many reasons. Initially, as mentioned above, the prime distinguisher between a cyberpunk work and a general sci-fi work is whether or not there is a pessimistic tone towards technological advancements or technological corruption. As seen in both the film and book, Androids, when not acting within the rules and regulations of society, posed such a threat of danger and chaos to the social order that they were eliminated. The author of the book, Philip K. Dick writes with a skepticism towards technology left to its own demise. In the book, Dick paints a picture of the potential of technology if left …show more content…
The first real intelligence test was administered in the early 1900s and the IQ test was a highly respected form of measurement for intelligence up until the Griggs vs. Duke Power Co. case in 1971 that banned the use of IQ tests in employment (1991). Before this time, it was reasonable to test and distinguish the intelligent from the “challenged.” This makes sense why Dick (1968) imagined a world where people were defined in society by an IQ test: Isidore said in a low shaky voice, “I almost passed the IQ test. I’m not very special, only moderately, not like some you see…” (p.
Dick. These both may be categorized as cyberpunk works for many reasons. Initially, as mentioned above, the prime distinguisher between a cyberpunk work and a general sci-fi work is whether or not there is a pessimistic tone towards technological advancements or technological corruption. As seen in both the film and book, Androids, when not acting within the rules and regulations of society, posed such a threat of danger and chaos to the social order that they were eliminated. The author of the book, Philip K. Dick writes with a skepticism towards technology left to its own demise. In the book, Dick paints a picture of the potential of technology if left …show more content…
The first real intelligence test was administered in the early 1900s and the IQ test was a highly respected form of measurement for intelligence up until the Griggs vs. Duke Power Co. case in 1971 that banned the use of IQ tests in employment (1991). Before this time, it was reasonable to test and distinguish the intelligent from the “challenged.” This makes sense why Dick (1968) imagined a world where people were defined in society by an IQ test: Isidore said in a low shaky voice, “I almost passed the IQ test. I’m not very special, only moderately, not like some you see…” (p.