Insanity #07 17 августа 2000

Самиздат

Cybernetic Punk Culture - Hollywood in virtual reality.

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              Cybernetic Punk Culture. Kinokontekst.

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  $% Sergei Kuznetsov



    Reflecting on the "second century of cinema" can not think 
of that if in the first film is quite successful

absorbed more and more new inventions, but now he is facing
face with the enormous cyber-revolution.


    Unable to resist the use of the achievements
computer animation, Hollywood nonetheless looks at
Silicon Valley like a rabbit on a boa, or - more accurately - 
as a small company is a big and strong before absorption.



    And while journalists practiced with wit coming up
name for the result of the merger - Gollikon? Sillivud? -
American kinomeynstrim settles computers not only to
level of technology, but also at the level of the plot.


    Over the past year on American screens one by one
There were four other films that focus on - the computer
technology. Each of them, addressing the topic remains
within its genre, but after looking closer to them
You can see some similarities in respect to the new
phenomenon.


    So, here are four that will be the focus of our
attention. Futuristic fiction: "Johnny Mnemonic", dir.
Robert Longo. A film about teenagers: "Hackers", dir. Ian 
Softley. "Action:" Virtual World ", dir. Brett Leonard. 
Detective-thriller: "Network", dir. Irwin Winkler.



    All four films to a greater or lesser extent
peculiar promised in the first paragraph of the fear of new
technology.


    In the "Network" and "virtual world", he, in fact, no
covered: The first of these "network" captures Angela Bennett
(Sandra Bullock) [O1]: malicious hackers erase it from memory 
all computers, changing her name and biography, and in the 
second evil breaks from the computer at will in the guise of 
Sid 6.7 (Russell Crowe) is combined from the 183 greatest 
criminals. [O2] 


    Less pronounced this motif in "Hackers", which consists in
Service Corporation avid hacker nicknamed the Plague (Fisher 
Stevens) ready to cause an ecological catastrophe, knocking 
over a oil tanker after another, only the intervention of an 
independent, younger and more talented hackers save the world's 
oceans. 


    Implanted a computer chip in his head almost brought to the 
grave Johnny Mnemonic (Keanu Reeves), but this is somewhat

complicated and we will discuss this later.


    The rest of the movies do not shine freshness of approach, 
largely repeating such classic tape as "Dangerous Game" (1983, 
John Bedem), Tron (1982, Steven Laysberg), "Snickers" (1992) or

"Lawnmower Man" (1992, the same Brett Leonard).


    In this case, fans of the genre as always tend to give
preference for the old samples tested. Besides the topic itself
emerged from the obedience of machines is quite archetypical 
and dates if not to the Golem, or Mary Shelley, then for sure 
by Karel Capek accurately. 


    Touching, that this fear is organically supplemented
relatively little understanding of computers. In "Hackers" and
"Network" - two films competing for a realistic display of
segodneshney computer subculture - film fans from the Internet
quickly found a dozen errors such as the fact that Mac heroine
"Hackers" for some reason is intelevsky processor R-6, and
"Makovsky" virus in one of the key points of "Network" easy
incapacitate a large computer.


    For non-consolidated in computers will explain that this 
can be compared with an episode of the hypothetical film when 
the decisive time chasing the hero replaces loose wheel his 
Ferrari wheel of the motorcycle. Generally, the analogy with 
cars could help just a spectator in the perception of computer 
movies. 


    Imagine a dialogue between owners and guests,
examines him the car: "You znashe have your car in 4 wheel 
drive!" "Yeah, and in addition the wheel!" "Great stuff! A tank 
capacity so many liters of "Wow, I did not know it." One of the 
dialogues "Hackers" is maintained exactly in this style, with 
all his members allegedly included in the "elite".



    Fear of technology is traditionally associated with the 
genre dystopia. "Johnny Mnemonic" is due to the specifics of 
the genre has deal with the nightmarish future. "Virtual World" 
reminds "Terminator 2" is not so much a plot as the engaged

technology (the body of Sid 6.7 itself overgrown wounds as the 
T-1000). 


    Heroes "Hackers" and so feel in the future, however, it
rather the future of comics, video games and all of the same 
Hollywood Movie: not by chance they are parting from each 
other's words Star Wars: "Yes Force be with you!" [A3]



    However, a "hacker" is far more important explicit and 
implicit allusions on "1984"; coincidence one of the heroes of 
(positive), called Emmanuel Goldstein, as well as the leader of 
the dissident "Brotherhood" in the novel Orwell. It is easy to 
see that the "Network" with its installation on the variability 
of the past continues all the same tradition.



    Virtual world in which the eponymous hero of the film
Early in the film pursues the very Sid 6.7, who later
will escape from him at liberty, too napominate London 1984.
All this in itself is pretty funny: it's 1984 "one of the
most netehnokraticheskih dystopia, scientific and technical 
level Oceania perhaps lower than that of England at the time of 
writing the novel. 


    Thus, the computer allows preodalet linear time, he
it - in some ways the visitor from the future (apparently -
anti-Utopical), and the past, thanks to him, it is flexible and
pliable. It's not even that can be honest prepisat
Angela Bennett someone else's biography, which includes trade
Drugs and prostitution - are much more promising possibility
beat one of the episodes of their lives.


    Thus, in one episode of "Virtual Reality" a police
Parker Barnes (D. Washington) already netralizovav Sid 6.7 (for 
this of his head should be removed a crystal: a reference to 
the legend of Golem equally obvious, however unintentionally) 
with horror understands that did not find out where the hidden 
hostages child heroine (Kelly Lynch).



    And here again we see a fight, but this time winning Sid
6.7. Aestheticism delighted the audience in a hurry: Is that
we have seen before that was just a computer game? Or a new
Hollywood movie suggests two alternative ending?
Recollections of "Brazil" and "Barton Fink" pleasantly 
disturbed soul another thirty seconds, until it becomes clear 
that in fact this battle is in the virtual world and planned 
for exactly that Sid 6.7 told to put the girl. Once the goal

achieved, the plot is heading down the fairly established path
thriller.


    Problems with the time and Johnny Mnemonic: in order to
become couriers information in his own brain
had to sacrifice part of his memoirs: in contrast to
Sandra Bullock character in which someone else proshol, it does 
not no.



    The absence of last equivalent lack of personality. Johnny
does not even know who he is: he is "just Johnny," without 
names and unremembered. Personality of Angela's just been 
destroyed. [O4] In addition, all films hackers working under 
pseudonyms such as "Kiberbob" or "burns" like finding a new 
life. On Against this background, 187 individuals Sid 6.7 begin 
to appear natural result of the development of computer 
technology. 


    However, the personality of the hero more or less remains
integrity: after watching the other films is even
disappointing, because so rejoice when in the above
episode, Parker draws in spilled blood and rises in the
feet as if nothing had happened: could he, too, a virtual? [O5]


    We see that computers are exacerbating all the usual crises:
identity crisis and a crisis of linearity. But most important,
of course, is the crisis of ideas about man. And here
should look primarily to "Johnny Mnemonic."


    The film is based on a story by the famous writer William
Gibson, author of "Nevromansera" and "Mona Lisa Overdrive"
novels, which gave rise to the so-called "cyberpunk" -
cultural currents, which originated in the second half
eighties. Taking over from punk independence and, at times,
aggressiveness, Gibson laid emphasis on the prefix "cyber".
Originally it implied dedication of high technology,
computers, artificial intelligence, etc.


    However, just as Lyotard on the "post-" in
"Postmodernism" means anything, but not
"Post-", "cyber-" in "cyberpunk" was eventually not mean
a "hyper", not "meta-", not "neo-" and the entire
above were added drugs (mostly
synthetic), experiments with mind and his body.


    Raised from the novel Gibson, cyberpunk has become a major
nonkonformistkim over the nineties, obzavedshimsya own
cinema ("Blade Runner" [O6] Cronenberg films), music
("Nine Inch Nails") and the subculture. The old slogan "Sex 
Pistols" No Future! reinterpreted: there is no future, because 
it is already come. Greetings from Fukuyama, Baudrillard and 
beryl. 


    Cyberpunk - manifestations of the eternal human desire to 
not be a man. (Vampiromaniya "Anne Rice is another manifestation

the same desire to). Therefore, in the world "Mnemonic" no fear
machine: on the contrary, the characters from pretty
Bodyguard Johnny (Dina Meyer) and ending with the monstrous
Preacher (D. Lundgren) is a hybrid
man and machine.


    Apparently, this movie is not a character that monster
traditional smylse the word, technocratic mutant
biotech nonsense.


    Lethal weapons implanted into the body yakuza precisely 
because as memory chips - a brain Johnny. What can we say about

Pogrom or Anna Kalman [O7] does live in my computer?


    In addition to a powerful ideological kiberpankovogo charge 
is makes the movie much more interesting, unpredictable:

despite the apparent distribution of characters on standard 
roles (Hero, heroine, corporation-killers, the employer is the 
traitor, [O8] nonconformist, helpers, etc.) are themselves 
types of the feast for the eyes unexpected solutions, 
unexpectedly forcing recall some "Underground" [O9] or 
something as a cult. 


    However, not every radueyut eyes: a film in theaters, in 
general, then, failed in 1930 spent millions does not pay. 
Perhaps the point that the replacement of heroes-people 
anthropomorphic characters resulted in a rejection of 
traditional values: Johnny obviously does not give a damn only 
on mankind and medicine for the deadly disease, but for love or 
friendship. 


    In my opinion, even Keanu Reeves is too humane for this role
(However, it was his fate to the project has attracted 
Gibson-Longo TriStar, with its million), though still plausible 
heroes "Hackers" too preoccupied with teenage novels and

complexes.


    In this sense, "Hackers" have no more to cyberpunk
relationships, rather than "The Adventures of Electronics" or 
"Hot chewing gum. "Looking at them longingly remember not

Only a hero "Limits" with his ascetic lifestyle and runaway 
sexual ties, but even poluparodynogo Boris Grishchenko from the 
Golden Eye is able to let the world in the tar-Tarara of sports

interest. Computer - trust me! Are completely capable of 
replacing a beloved, family and friend. [1O]



    Thus, cyberpunk marks a blurring of boundaries between
man and machine, man and machinery. This in itself is not
new: every biker represents a single entity with its own
Harley-Davidson. " [11] However, the union with the computer -
unity above all intelligent. Sitting on a motorcycle, you do not
feel where the boundary lies between your body and machine,
but feel the world around us, sitting at the computer, you are 
no longer is in the external world.



    And where?


    You can call it "somewhere" virtual world, although this
the concept is too firmly established the glory of something 
visual, simulyakropodobnogo, something 
almost-as-life-but-plastic. Sometimes use the term "kiberspeys" 
[12] proposed the same Gibson "Nevromansere.



    However, he describes the "kiberspeys" rather in the visual
terms: "A graphical representation of data extracted from
various computer databases. Unimaginable completeness. Light
lines are arranged in a non-space of the mind, clusters and
accumulation of data. As the lights of the big city ... "


    On the realization of this description in full sight
worked the best team of specialists "Sony Pictures
Imageworks ". The results have led Gibson in delight:" That's 
what I it is currently and has represented! "he exclaimed.



    Indeed, the scene works in the cyber space is impressive.
Johnny wearing "videonaushniki and special gloves waving
hands in the air - and at the same time, advances in
cyber-space, various geometric shapes, picks
cells of the table, place on a map, etc.


    Perhaps such a "three-dimensional interface" would indeed be
following word of computer design, which passed in the late
eightieth of working with text arrays to work with
two-dimensional graphical representation of data in "Makovsky 
and "Vinduzovyh" systems.



    The thought is haunted by this film. "Maybe
coming up with this scene, we actually define the interface
the future "- said one of them. [13] Another example of this
"Feedback" could be the fact that the creators of "Network" and
"Virtual Reality" in spite of its pathos kompyuteroborchesky
actively used in their work and services online
virtulanoy reality programs, respectively.


    In the same way the computer as a big city "
inspired and creators of "hackers", where the analogy between 
the New York City from a bird's flight, and a host computer 
corporation carried out with an enviable and somewhat tiring 
perseverance. 


    Arising from a sense of the visual monotony of the film is 
not can sposti even such a strong professional, as a permanent

operator Tarantino Andrzej Shekula and designer John Beard
("Brazil" and "The Last Temptation of Christ").


    "Virtual World", by contrast, focuses on special effects,
stated Don Townley ("Wolf") and infinitely crushing on
television scenes of violence. The latter is the story
Motivation: Sid 6.7 wants at all times be visible and so then
it reaches into the frame. Respectively, and the audience all 
the time demonstrate monitors and television screens.



    It is interesting, incidentally, be noted that this 
psychologist oyasnenie narcissism, etc. - Completely misses the 
computer nature of the Cid: Where is reasonable to assume that 
getting off the screen PC Sid subconsciously wants to go back 
there, and because wants to be featured on perhaps a larger 
number of television sets. In addition, his artificial body is 
made of glass that further consolidates its relationship with 
the windows, TV screens and mirrors.



    If the filmmakers a little better thought out this option,
as a result we could get the orgy of images,
comparable to the famous episode in "The Lady from Shanghai". 
However - alas! - That was born napominate rather than the most

great shot, "Natural Born Killers."


    Anyway, the visual solution, "Johnny Mnemonic" is much
surpasses the other movies parsed. I note, incidentally, that
it probably is not in the designer - he's "Mnemonic" and 
"Virtual Peace is the same - or even in a well deserved editor 
Ronald Sanders, who worked with Cronenberg, but rather that

directed by Robert Longo, before shoot his first
feature for many years was also a famous artist.


    Trained eye can easily discern in his grand
installations allusions to famous art projects: so
"Heaven", compiled from a variety of TV sets with clear
reminiscent of Nam June Paik, a dolphin in an aquarium Jones -
Demian Hirst's work.


    Another trump card "Johnny Mnemonic" - participated in the 
survey cult figure among American youth, such as playing

Chief Lowe Tekov (so to speak, men Technology
Underground [14]), Ice-T (Ice-T), the inventor of the so-called
"Gangster rap" and the best rapper of 1992.


    This same note played in another film - "Tank Girl", [15]
another sample of a futuristic cyberpunk genre.
Suffice it to say that he performs the role of the mutant
chelovekakenguru. I note, incidentally, that the blotches 
komiksovoy animation in this film and "Johnny Mnemonic" seem to 
me much more reasonable, successful, and expressive than the

acclaimed "Natural Born Killers."


    However, with elements of fashion, music, aesthetics 
sovermennoy MTV has focused almost all examined films. Leonard 
shot Videos for Peter Gabriel, Longo - for REM Iain Softley, too

known as a special on the musical film (the most famous of them
"BekBit" a film about the early years of the Beatles).


    In this sense, the "Network" - the least affected by 
fashion influences film otttogo probably the least pretentious.



    All of the above "gadgets" are not surprising: given the
otrabotannost stories, visual and musical things -
the only thing that can make movies at least some urgency.
However, all said again confirms that the film
in fact, early to bury.


    Hollywood holds not only a system of rent or a system
stars, but also a system of genres, which shows loyalty to even
referring to the most-the most fashionable topics. And up until
watching 15 minutes of 90, we can safely determine the genre 
and about outline the development of the plot, the Great 
American Kinomeynstrim alive and with a crunch sucks a 
cybernetic themes and Computer news, restoring its an 
artificial flesh. In exactly like Sid 6.7.



                               ..


         Notes:

         -----------
[O1] ... This happens, incidentally, in her own fault: it does 
not 

         just spent a lot of time on the computer, but also

         not communicated with human beings. Thus, her 
colleagues 

         did not even notice that, under the name of the work 
goes 

         another woman.

[O2] ... General fashion motif in contemporary Hollywood: more

         recent example , where the killer copy methods

         known criminals. Something in this is deeply

         post, sorry modernistichnoe: any new

         product presents a combination of previously existing

         motivation, quotes, etc. On the other hand, virtual

         criminal who turns out to be the worst

         criminal - is, of course, mad simulacrum;

         copy was better than the original and, in addition,

         coming out of obedience.

[O3] ... "Star Wars", of course, not accidental. I remind you 
that 

         George Lucas is the founder of

         International Light and Magic, is responsible for most

         vpechetlyayuschie effects: for example in the same

         "Terminator" or "Johnny Mnemonic."

[O4] ... Slogan "Network": Her driver's license. Its credit

         cards. Her bank accounts. Her identity. DESTROY.

[O5] ... Note that the authors attempt to play the card of "the 
hero as 

         Double anti-hero "(" Seed 6.7 represents a

         screen violence, violence as a game, then as a hero

         Washington - Violence in my life. Our movie - a film 
about 

         nature of violence ") are as superficial and

         pretentious. Vayaesh blockbuster - vayay blockbuster. 
Not 

         know how to fly - not to show off.

[O6] ... Of course, when Ridley Scott was shooting the film nor 
the 

         what cyberpunk he did not think. It is known that young

         aggressive cultural currents can easily incorporate

         ideologically similar patterns existed before them

         culture. Characteristic of what he calls Gibson

         first cyberpunk Thomas Pynchon, for his novel "The 
Rainbow 

         Gravity "(1973), in which about computers vobschem 
something 

         no words.

[O7] ... She, incidentally, played Barbara knots, the wife of 
the director, 

         rented from Fassbinder in "Lola" and "Berlin,

         Alexanderplatz. "

[O8] ... Just the most traditional way. One consolation is that

         Udo plays his Kierkegaard, known for the films Warhol.

[O9] ... By the way, is quite rare and successful example of 
"high-punk" 

         emerged just before the advent of the prefix "cyber".

[1o] ... In this sense, "Hackers" - a soothing film. Mol,

         look at them, they are just kids, what we were.

         But we just loved the movie (sex, dragz, rock and roll 
- right 

         stress), and they computers. Blessed are those who 
believe. 

[11] ... Pleased to note that even in the early seventies, 
Robert 

         Pirsig theoretical basis for this unity in the famous

         the book "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance." 
Himself 

         Pirsig, that in its symptomatic was

         geek.

[12] ... Or, if you please, "sayberspeys. Or -

         "Cyberspace."

[13] ... Such cases happen before. One of the most

         textbook: Countdown 5-4-3-2-1 coined

         F. Lang for "Women on the Moon" and clicked through

         the medium of German missile to modern

         astronauts.

[14] ... I wonder whether the filmmakers are protesting against 
the fact that 

         he goes to Russia in pirated video copies? If yes,

         it nespravdelivo: half the paintings in the pathos

         protest against the monopoly on information. So when

         some prefer, you can draw from our

         video pirates sort of potential, "Lowe Tekov.

[15] ... Journal Ptyuch "having a claim to be agents of

         "Generation X" and cyberpunk in Russia offers 
translation 

         "Girl-tin." Video pirates are not mudurstvuya sly

         called "Tank Girl."