Cyberpunk Primer
A dark science fiction sub-genre defined by its’ dystopian views of the future, focus on computers, networks, Artificial Intelligences and massive multinational corporations. Cyberpunk emerged through science fiction novels in the early 1980’s.
Some key themes:
- Massive Multinational Corporate control influence (reducing the control of country governemnts)
- Cybernetic Implants and body modifications, to enhace human function such strength, memory, vision and more
- Global computer network AKA Cyberspace or the Internet
- Increasing Social Class gap between those who have information/money/power and those who do not
Resources
Cyberpunk @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberpunk
Cyberpunk Movie Review
http://cyberpunkreview.com/
Contains a growing list of Cyberpunk movies, with ratings, chronology and more. Movies are argualy the best way of illustrating the genre, which initially emerged as science fiction novels.
See also: Cyberpunk Review - What is Cyberpunk?
The Cyberpunk Project
http://project.cyberpunk.ru
Livejournal Cyberpunk community
http://www.livejournal.com/community/cyberpunk/
A range of topics are discussed from new technology, contributed short stories, review of fiction and more. A good read .. and an active community. This community acts as a filter for what was envisaged as cyberpunk 20 years ago, and how those ideas are merging with reality.
The Cyberpunk FAQ
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/cyberpunk-faq/
This has not been updated from 1996. It reflects the movement at that time, and some may argue not a lot of cyberunk fiction has been written since then (Although Gibson has penned a few more).
Notable Books and works
- Neuromancer (A novel by William Gibson)
- Cyberpunk (Bruce Bethke, originally a short story)
- Snow Crash (A novel by Neal Stephenson)
- Bladerunner (A movie based on the Philip K Dick novel “Do Android dream of electronic sheep?”)
- Ghost in the Shell Manga Cyberpunk Film
- Metropolis Pre Cyberpunk Era Cyberpunk
Note: This post will continue to evolve at http://brooders.net/cyberpunk.
March 10th, 2006 at 5:32 am
If I were to pick the top 3 “Must see” movies for understanding cyberpunk, I would pick Bladerunner (obviously), Metropolis (1927) and Ghost in the Shell. Blade Runner, in addition to having the best “what is human” character ever (Roy Batty), really gives provides the visual “look” that defines the genre. Metropolis has all the ideas that cyberpunk encapsulates - this really is the first cyberpunk movie. Ghost in the Shell, in addition to being one of the most influential animes ever, really brought the netowrked concept to the forefront, far better than any previous. We also get “green” as the color of cyberpunk from GITS and one of the most complete man-machine interface stories.
March 17th, 2006 at 8:33 pm
Thanks for the feedback SFAM. I agree, I think of Bladerunner when I imagine a cyberpunk future. I updated the links to include these films with your reviews as they are really thorough.
My favourite quotes from Bladerunner are
“If only you could see what I’ve seen with your eyes” and
“All those moments will be lost… like tears in rain”
Both focusing around the complexity of human thought and the fragility of knowledge and experience.
March 18th, 2006 at 12:12 am
Hi Bergo, thanks for the links
As for the quotes, definitely. Hauer’s performance in Bladerunner is one of the best in all cyberpunk. His monologue at the end is clearly the best moment ever in cyberpunk. I don’t see this being surpassed.