American Cyberpunk Literature and the Anthropology of the Future

• Thesis title in Czech: Americká kyperpunková literatura a antropologie budoucnosti
• Thesis title in English: American Cyberpunk Literature and the Anthropology of the Future
• Key words: kyberpunk|antropologie budoucnosti|Americká literatura|Americká kultura|science fiction
• English key words: cyberpunk|the anthropology of the future|American literature|American culture|science fiction
• Academic year of topic announcement: 2023/2024
• Thesis type: diploma thesis
• Thesis language: angličtina
• Department: Department of Ethnology and Central European and Balkan Studies (21-UESEBS)
• Supervisor: doc. PhDr. Petr Janeček, Ph.D.
• Author: hidden - assigned and confirmed by the Study Dept.
• Date of registration: 26.04.2024
• Date of assignment: 29.04.2024
• Administrator's approval: approved
• Confirmed by Study dept. on: 03.05.2024
• Submitted/finalized: no

Guidelines

The proposed diploma thesis explores the relationship between American cyberpunk literature, a subgenre of science fiction, from the 1980s and 1990s (with some overlaps to other periods) and the subdiscipline of cultural anthropology, the anthropology of the future, focused on American culture. The thesis investigates whether the selected literary works of cyberpunk can be viewed as a fertile field for the study of the anthropology of the future. The area of research, i.e., American literature and culture of the second half of the aforementioned periods, is chosen due to the author’s academic background and familiarity with the topic.
The thesis employs a theoretical framework that draws from cultural anthropology, literary studies, the anthropology of the future, science fiction studies, and debates within these fields. In doing so, the thesis focuses on the cultural and societal factors that influenced the selected works of cyberpunk. Furthermore, it analyses the roles/themes of identity and technology, corporate culture and power dynamics, cyberspace, artificial intelligence and especially humanity in the selected works. Emphasis is also placed on both utopian and dystopian elements and how they relate to the anthropological themes of the future.
The thesis provides a critical analysis of the selected literary works in the context of the anthropology of the future. This offers a new perspective on how these works can serve as an example of sources for studying how American society of the examined period portrayed, through its authors, the future in its artistic expression, particularly literature. Moreover, it examines how the selected works both reflect and influence cultural conceptions of the future, how they manifest different social and cultural factors, and how they can serve as tools for exploring various anthropological themes and issues connected to the future and, unavoidably, the present. Analogically to historical anthropology, the thesis employs the methodology of textual analysis as the primary source of knowledge. In other words, it utilizes text as the field for research.
In the light of these objectives, the thesis also takes a critical stance toward the cultural and societal factors shaping the cyberpunk, and how they inform the construction of future scenarios in the literary genre. In general, science fiction often portrays futures that reflect the contemporary state of society and culture. Despite that, the genre offers valuable instruments for exploring potential societal and cultural changes that may or may not unfold in the future. Addressing these methodological issues, the thesis also investigates the cultural context in which the science fiction works were created, the individual backgrounds of their authors, and the challenges of dealing with alternative worlds and futures that may differ from real world expectations.
By investigating the relationship between American cyberpunk and the anthropology of the future, the thesis aims to provide new insights into how science fiction works can be a valuable resource for studying potential cultural and societal developments. At the same time, it also considers potential limitations and challenges in this proposed new field for the anthropology of the future.

Research question:
In what ways do the readings of American cyberpunk literature work as a field for the study of depictions of the future in American culture from an anthropological perspective?

Methodology:
The methodology used in the thesis will be ethnographic research of the texts presented below - the thesis shall treat them as ethnographic texts. It will create detailed descriptions and analyses of cultural elements, behaviours, and interactions within the fictional worlds. This approach allows for a deep understanding of the cultural dynamics in the cyberpunk setting.
The thesis will also examine the historical context in which cyberpunk literature emerged. This should help to understand the real world technological, cultural and societal developments shaped the visions of the future.

Selected cyberpunk literary works (i.e., “the field”):
Neuromancer by William Gibson (1984) explores the theme of technology and identity in the digital world where human consciousness interacts with machines and artificial intelligence. This offers insight into how cultural values and practices are reshaped by technology.
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson (1992) provides an opportunity to examine corporate culture and power dynamics in exalted corporate structures. The novel reflects and critiques power dynamics, hierarchies, and the impact of corporate influence on societal norms and values.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick (1968) focuses of the questions of identity, emotions, and the relationships of artificial and real humans. The novel also provides an interesting view on the urban landscape of dystopian Los Angeles which depicts a city marked by technological decay and social stratification.
Schizmatrix by Bruce Sterling (1985) examines the future development of cultures and societies. Through the lens of anthropology, the novel could be analysed in terms of cultural diversity, belief systems and social structures in a post-human setting where humans merge with technology.

References

Bryant, Rebecca and Knight, Daniel M. The Anthropology of the Future. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2019.
Clute, John and Peter, Nicholls, eds. The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. New York: St Martin’s Pres, 1993.
Collins, Gerald Samuel. “Scientifically Valid and Artistically True: Chad Oliver, Anthropology, and Anthropological SF”. Science Fiction Studies, Vol. 31, No. 2. SF-TH Inc, 2004.https://www.jstor.org/stable/4241257 15 October 2023.
Collins, Gerald Samuel. “‘No Anthropologist Aboard the Enterprise’: Science Fiction and Anthropological Futures.” Anthropology & Education Quarterly, Vol. 36, No. 2. American Anthropological Association, 2005. https://www.jstor.org/stable/3651385 15 October 2023.
Collins, Gerald Samuel. “Sail on! Sail on!: Anthropology, Science Fiction, and the Enticing Future.” Science Fiction Studies, Vol. 3, No. 2. SF-TH Inc, 2003. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4241168 15 October 2023.
Collins, Samuel Gerald. All Tomorrow’s Cultures. New York: Berghahn Books, 2021.
Freedman, Carl. Critical Theory and Science Fiction. Middletown: Wesleyan University Press, 2000.
Jameson, Frederic. Archaeologies of the Future: The Desire Called Utopia and Other Science Fictions. London: Verso, 2005.
Kuhn, Annette. Alien Zone: Cultural Theory and Contemporary Science Fiction. London: Verso, 1990.
Messeri, Lisa. Placing Outer Space: An Earthy Ethnography of Other Worlds. Durham: Duke University Press, 2016.
Muhić, Maja. “Intersection of Dystopian Literature and Contemporary Themes of Cultural Anthropology” International Journal of Linguistics, Literature and Translation, Vol. 1. 2013.
Muruyama, Magoroh and Harkins, Arthur M. Cultures of the Future. The Hague: Mouton Publishers, 1978.
Pandian, Anand. A Possible Anthropology: Methods for Uneasy Times. Durham: Duke University Press, 2019.
Roberts, Adam. The History of Science Fiction. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2016.