In the last 6 weeks I have analysed three films live, “2001: A Space Odyssey”, “Her” and “Ghost in the Shell “. Each of these films explores different themes related to the relationship between artificial intelligence and humanity. Despite their different backgrounds and stories, they all show the audience the role that AI may play in human society and how these technologies may affect human life, emotions and self-perception.
For the first film “2001: A Space Odyssey” I did a deep research, including feedback loops and film technology.Not only that, but I’m analysing the film based on the concept of novum in science fiction.”Novum” refers to innovative scientific or technological elements introduced in science fiction literature that not only provide a novel background or setting for a story, but are also central to the development of the plot and the exploration of new ideas(Evans 2018).Thus the artificial intelligence HAL 9000, the interstellar travel and extraterrestrial life and the philosophical reflections on the evolution of mankind that appear in this film are all embodiments of the novum(Chen, Chen, 2022).
Including a black monolith throughout the film, no matter how far mankind’s technology has progressed, there will be a black monolith that will lead the way and arouse mankind’s curiosity and exploration.
“Her” is a film about a protagonist who develops a deep emotional connection with an advanced operating system, Samantha. The film touches on the question of whether artificial intelligence can understand or even transcend human emotions, while also reflecting on humanity’s emotional dependence on technology. As I watched Her, I looked in detail at various components of the film, including composition, colour and pacing, as well as the film’s view of AI and reflections on human emotions.
In my on-set analysis for this film, I focused on the relationship between Theodore and Samantha, as it is between an AI and a human. Unlike 2001: A Space Odyssey, this film also does not have the betrayal of the AI at the end, showing me a new way of bonding between humans and AI. Therefore I think “Her” is not only a fantasy about future technology, but also a profound reflection on the current state of human emotions(Chen, Chen, 2022). The film made me re-examine my own relationships and think about how to more deeply understand and connect with those around me.
“Ghost in the Shell” is a deeply influential Japanese animated film. The film explores a number of profound themes, including artificial intelligence, consciousness, identity, and the relationship between humans and technology.The level of technological development in the film triggered me to think deeply about the relationship between technology and humanity in the real world. As technology continues to advance, how can humans ensure that core human traits such as empathy, creativity and emotional depth are retained. How do we define “I” when our bodies can be replaced and even our memories and consciousness can be digitised, stored and transferred? Not only that, the film made me reflect on the future of humanity. While the future shown in the film is full of breathtaking technological advances, it is also fraught with complex social issues, including privacy invasion, identity theft and social alienation（Geels 2005）. It made me think about how humanity should innovate technology while ensuring a more just and inclusive society in its future development.
In addition to the above, I realised that exchanging views with others during field analyses is also an important thing. I am often limited in my own thinking, and a large number of different people have provided me with new ideas and deeper thinking. In addition, the exchange of ideas between classmates will also make me realise my own shortcomings.
This is the process of communicating with others:
Reference list:
Chen, RH & Chen, CC 2022, Artificial intelligence First edition., CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida. (Chen, Chen, 2022)
Evans, R 2018, “Nomenclature, Narrative, and Novum: ‘The Anthropocene’ and/as Science Fiction,” Science-fiction studies, vol. 45, no. 3, pp. 484–499. (Evans 2018)
Geels, F 2005, “Co-evolution of technology and society: The transition in water supply and personal hygiene in the Netherlands (1850–1930)—a case study in multi-level perspective,” Technology in society, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 363–397. （Geels 2005）
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