The slides for today bring up theories of post-humanism that emerge in the late-twentieth century and the ways that some cyborg characters in Gibson’s fiction demonstrate the potential for human re-definition and rebellion. How do you see Johnny himself at the end of the story?  Is he yearning for pre-cyborg humanity or embracing the fusion of flesh and technology in his own body? Is he a figure who imagines new kinds of selfhood and political resistance, or someone who yearns nostalgically for a purer mode of human life?

The slides for today bring up theories of post-humanism that emerge in the late-twentieth century and the ways that some cyborg characters in Gibson’s fiction demonstrate the potential for human re-definition and rebellion. How do you see Johnny himself at the end of the story?  Is he yearning for pre-cyborg humanity or embracing the fusion of flesh and technology in his own body? Is he a figure who imagines new kinds of selfhood and political resistance, or someone who yearns nostalgically for a purer mode of human life?

Pick one moment in Blade Runner that helps to define some complex and conflicted relationship between humans (or a particular human) and replicants.  Why did you choose this moment?  Don’t pick a moment that simply expresses hatred.  Those are obvious but also not that common in the film.  Think about more complicated, ambivalent kinds of feeling and interaction.

Pick one moment in Blade Runner that helps to define some complex and conflicted relationship between humans (or a particular human) and replicants.  Why did you choose this moment?  Don’t pick a moment that simply expresses hatred.  Those are obvious but also not that common in the film.  Think about more complicated kinds of feeling and interaction.

Pick one moment in Blade Runner that helps to define some complex and conflicted relationship between humans (or a particular human) and replicants.  Why did you choose this moment?  Don’t pick a moment that simply expresses hatred.  Those are obvious but also not that common in the film.  Think about more complicated kinds of feeling and interaction.

Pick one moment in Blade Runner that helps to define some complex and conflicted relationship between humans (or a particular human) and replicants.  Why did you choose this moment?  Don’t pick a moment that simply expresses hatred.  Those are obvious but also not that common in the film.  Think about more complicated kinds of feeling and interaction.

The slides for today talk about the loss of self, memories, dreams, the ability to control one’s life that appears so often in Philip Dick’s work. On the first page of “The Minority Report,” Ed Anderton asserts his free will to Ed Witwer, the young man who intends to replace him:  “I’m under no compulsion to retire. I founded pre-crime and I can stay here as long as I want. It’s purely my decision.”

 The rest of the story thrusts Anderton into a wild conspiracy (or is it one?) that raises questions about the existence and value of free will. At the end, do you think “The Minority Report” sees Anderton as acting freely, as absolutely constrained, or as having a real but limited capacity for self-determination?  Why? Point to one or two specific moments or images that drive your thinking. 

The slides for today talk about the loss of self, memories, dreams, the ability to control one’s life that appears so often in Philip Dick’s work. On the first page of “The Minority Report,” Ed Anderton asserts his free will to Ed Witwer, the young man who intends to replace him:  “I’m under no compulsion to retire. I founded pre-crime and I can stay here as long as I want. It’s purely my decision.”

 The rest of the story thrusts Anderton into a wild conspiracy (or is it one?) that raises questions about the existence and value of free will. At the end, do you think “The Minority Report” sees Anderton as acting freely, as absolutely constrained, or as having a real but limited capacity for self-determination?  Why? Point to one or two specific moments or images that drive your thinking. 

The slides for today talk about the loss of self, memories, dreams, the ability to control one’s life that appears so often in Philip Dick’s work. On the first page of “The Minority Report,” Ed Anderton asserts his free will to Ed Witwer, the young man who intends to replace him:  “I’m under no compulsion to retire. I founded pre-crime and I can stay here as long as I want. It’s purely my decision.”

 The rest of the story thrusts Anderton into a wild conspiracy (or is it one?) that raises questions about the existence and value of free will. At the end, do you think “The Minority Report” sees Anderton as acting freely, as absolutely constrained, or as having a real but limited capacity for self-determination?  Why? Point to one or two specific moments or images that drive your thinking. 

The slides for today talk about the loss of self, memories, dreams, the ability to control one’s life that appears so often in Philip Dick’s work. On the first page of “The Minority Report,” Ed Anderton asserts his free will to Ed Witwer, the young man who intends to replace him:  “I’m under no compulsion to retire. I founded pre-crime and I can stay here as long as I want. It’s purely my decision.”

 The rest of the story thrusts Anderton into a wild conspiracy (or is it one?) that raises questions about the existence and value of free will. At the end, do you think “The Minority Report” sees Anderton as acting freely, as absolutely constrained, or as having a real but limited capacity for self-determination?  Why? Point to one or two specific moments or images that drive your thinking.