Reading Human Subjectivity In Selected Contemporary Science Fiction Texts
This study engages in a critical reading of subjectivity as portrayed in selected contemporary Science Fiction texts published in the twenty first century. The reading is concerned with investigating the futurist portrayals of human subjectivity and their interfacing with technological advancemen...
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my-upm-ir.123372013-05-27T07:51:44Z Reading Human Subjectivity In Selected Contemporary Science Fiction Texts 2010-04 Ismail @ Hamdan, Shahizah This study engages in a critical reading of subjectivity as portrayed in selected contemporary Science Fiction texts published in the twenty first century. The reading is concerned with investigating the futurist portrayals of human subjectivity and their interfacing with technological advancements. In the context of this study, “subjectivity” is used interchangeably with “identity” and “the sense of self”. All three concepts – subjectivity, identity and the sense of self - signify human social constructs and consciousness. The concepts reflect human existence in constant negotiation with the environment in connection to explicit and implicit details related to embodiment and ideology. The reading therefore examines subjectivity within these two dimensions – embodiment and ideology. Within the embodiment dimension, whilst presupposing that the mind and body are two entities as exemplified by Rene Descartes, the analysis looks at how and why the mind/body, specified as the basis for human subjectivity is changed or altered with the availability of technologies. The 17th century Cartesian theory on subjectivity is adopted here to examine the presence and treatment of natural or nature-given sense of subjectivity within the futurist context of the Science Fiction texts. Nevertheless it is found that the famous Cartesian notion of “I think therefore I am”, which shows the mind as the entity that makes humans unique, becomes paradoxical within the materiality of the Science Fiction contexts. Therefore, to examine the material aspect, the reading appropriates Louis Althusser’s notion of the subject, to look into subjectivity situated within social practices that are highly influenced by technology. Althusser’s notion of the subject is utilised here because in his theorising, all subjects exist within ideological apparatuses governed by material practices and rituals. The technologically altered humans are then analysed within the framework of Donna Haraway’s cyborg imagery. This imagery suggests the end of the natural concepts of subjectivity such as in the Cartesian theorising and marks the beginning of posthumanism where subjectivity is influenced by technology thus materially imagined. As such this research finds that firstly, subjectivity, characteristically fluid and continuously being renegotiated in its contact with technology, is influenced and determined by the body be it organic and/or machine in humanity’s quest for longevity. Secondly, technology transforms human subjectivity into a notion that is predominantly material-imagined as the body becomes significantly important almost simultaneously as the mind loses its primacy. This switch is a result of the notion that the mind needs to be encapsulated by embodiment for subjectivity to be meaningful. Finally, the research finds that although cyborg imagery is predominantly portrayed in the selected texts as the prevailing future for human subjectivity, ironically the situation is still very much dictated by pure human desires driven by external material factors such as the need to overcome limitations of the body, the need to live a much longer live, the need to be physically beautiful and the need to be powerful as exemplified in the Science Fiction texts. Critical thinking Science fiction Reading (Higher education) 2010-04 Thesis http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/12337/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/12337/1/FBMK_2010_13A.pdf application/pdf en public phd doctoral Universiti Putra Malaysia Critical thinking Science fiction Reading (Higher education) Faculty Of Moden Lenguege And Comunication English |
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Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| collection |
PSAS Institutional Repository |
| language |
English English |
| topic |
Critical thinking Science fiction Reading (Higher education) |
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Critical thinking Science fiction Reading (Higher education) Ismail @ Hamdan, Shahizah Reading Human Subjectivity In Selected Contemporary Science Fiction Texts |
| description |
This study engages in a critical reading of subjectivity as portrayed in selected
contemporary Science Fiction texts published in the twenty first century. The
reading is concerned with investigating the futurist portrayals of human subjectivity
and their interfacing with technological advancements. In the context of this study,
“subjectivity” is used interchangeably with “identity” and “the sense of self”. All
three concepts – subjectivity, identity and the sense of self - signify human social
constructs and consciousness. The concepts reflect human existence in constant
negotiation with the environment in connection to explicit and implicit details related
to embodiment and ideology. The reading therefore examines subjectivity within
these two dimensions – embodiment and ideology. Within the embodiment
dimension, whilst presupposing that the mind and body are two entities as
exemplified by Rene Descartes, the analysis looks at how and why the mind/body,
specified as the basis for human subjectivity is changed or altered with the
availability of technologies. The 17th century Cartesian theory on subjectivity is
adopted here to examine the presence and treatment of natural or nature-given sense of subjectivity within the futurist context of the Science Fiction texts. Nevertheless it
is found that the famous Cartesian notion of “I think therefore I am”, which shows
the mind as the entity that makes humans unique, becomes paradoxical within the
materiality of the Science Fiction contexts. Therefore, to examine the material
aspect, the reading appropriates Louis Althusser’s notion of the subject, to look into
subjectivity situated within social practices that are highly influenced by technology.
Althusser’s notion of the subject is utilised here because in his theorising, all
subjects exist within ideological apparatuses governed by material practices and
rituals. The technologically altered humans are then analysed within the framework
of Donna Haraway’s cyborg imagery. This imagery suggests the end of the natural
concepts of subjectivity such as in the Cartesian theorising and marks the beginning
of posthumanism where subjectivity is influenced by technology thus materially
imagined. As such this research finds that firstly, subjectivity, characteristically fluid
and continuously being renegotiated in its contact with technology, is influenced and
determined by the body be it organic and/or machine in humanity’s quest for
longevity. Secondly, technology transforms human subjectivity into a notion that is
predominantly material-imagined as the body becomes significantly important
almost simultaneously as the mind loses its primacy. This switch is a result of the
notion that the mind needs to be encapsulated by embodiment for subjectivity to be
meaningful. Finally, the research finds that although cyborg imagery is
predominantly portrayed in the selected texts as the prevailing future for human
subjectivity, ironically the situation is still very much dictated by pure human desires
driven by external material factors such as the need to overcome limitations of the
body, the need to live a much longer live, the need to be physically beautiful and the
need to be powerful as exemplified in the Science Fiction texts. |
| format |
Thesis |
| qualification_name |
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD.) |
| qualification_level |
Doctorate |
| author |
Ismail @ Hamdan, Shahizah |
| author_facet |
Ismail @ Hamdan, Shahizah |
| author_sort |
Ismail @ Hamdan, Shahizah |
| title |
Reading Human Subjectivity In Selected Contemporary Science Fiction Texts
|
| title_short |
Reading Human Subjectivity In Selected Contemporary Science Fiction Texts
|
| title_full |
Reading Human Subjectivity In Selected Contemporary Science Fiction Texts
|
| title_fullStr |
Reading Human Subjectivity In Selected Contemporary Science Fiction Texts
|
| title_full_unstemmed |
Reading Human Subjectivity In Selected Contemporary Science Fiction Texts
|
| title_sort |
reading human subjectivity in selected contemporary science fiction texts |
| granting_institution |
Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| granting_department |
Faculty Of Moden Lenguege And Comunication |
| publishDate |
2010 |
| url |
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/12337/1/FBMK_2010_13A.pdf |
| _version_ |
1747811354613383168 |