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The nature of society is reflected in film. Instead of being used progressively, technology has contributed to reiterating societal bias. Through 4 recent sci-fi films, I analyze the voyeuristic nature of film by looking at women, race and technology. #COMN3517
By looking at racialized female bodies from Ex Machina (2014), Cloud Atlas (2012), Westworld (2016) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017), there is evidence that proves how technology, in this case, has not positively advanced societal biases. #COMN3517
In Ex Machina, the A.I Ava is designed to be an ideal woman, is obedient and supports a white face. This contrasts with Kyoko, a silent, sexual labored body with an Asian face. Ava’s escape comes at Kyoko’s demise depicting sacrifice of Asian bodies #COMN3517
In Cloud Atlas, Sonmi-451 is an Asian clone; Tilda is a white woman played by the same South Korean actor. In parallel timelines, Sonmi is killed and Tilda survives. Nishime interprets this as rebellion against society made possible only through a white body. #COMN3517
Dolores, a white woman and Maeve, a black madam are both cyborgs in Westworld. Designed by bias, Dolores is pure and Maeve is depicted as non-feminine. Maeve arises to feminine status when she learns of her daughter, attaining femininity through motherhood. #COMN3517
Joi in Blade Runner 2049 is a disembodied being who projects herself as whatever her owner K desires. Although ‘freed’ by K, Murphy pointed out that she could only go where he carried her as an objectified trophy. #COMN3517
So, in these films, technology has embodied backward ideas of femininity and race well into the 21st century. The article attached to this thread further outlines the future of women in sci-fi film: https://tinyurl.com/y64xm4kx #COMN3517