The Definition of Cyberpunk Essay - 1966 Words

The Definition of Cyberpunk In Bruce Sterlings article, Cyberpunk in the Nineties, he explained how public opinion had defined himself, Rucker, Shiner, Shirley, and Gibson as the cyberpunk gurus in the 1980s. Because of being labeled cyberpunk gurus, the public had come to understand the definition of cyberpunk as anything that cyberpunks write. To break this definition of cyberpunk established by popular public opinion, I will pursue giving cyberpunk a more definite definition. After reading numerous cyberpunk fiction stories, I noticed reoccurring themes in these stories. I believe these themes can form a criteria under which a story can be defined as cyberpunk. These criteria are total enhancement and integration of†¦show more content†¦They react to the music with color streaking wavelengthing in oscilloscope patterns, shades of blue-white for high-end, red and purple for bass and percussion (Shirley 146). What makes this example obvious is that todays walls are expected to be just walls with no re deeming qualities. In the Semiconductor, the walls are a piece of everyday life enhanced and integrated with technology; an everyday object given attention and made into a phenomenon by technology. So what makes this criteria or theme so vital? The primary reason is mood. Cyberpunk fiction seeks to propel the reader into the near-future with the everyday made novel. If the everyday seems to normal, the reader feels left in today. If the everyday cant even be found and everything seems foreign because nothing relates to the reader, then the reader is reading another genre - probably mainstream science fiction. So the reader is isolated only by fantastic technology, but not familiarity. This fantastic technology combined with familiarity can be found in another example from William Gibsons Neuromancer. The scenario is your everyday bar. In it, Case, Neuromancers main character, is sipping a draft beer and conversating with Ratz - the bartender. Gibson; however, casually inserts a deta il about Ratz that immediately identifies itself with the criterion. Ratzs arm is a prosthetic limb, one Gibson inShow MoreRelated Cyberpunk Definitional Paper1076 Words   |  5 PagesCyberpunk Definitional Paper In the late 1970s and early 80s and new type of writing style came about that relied on many of the traditional criteria to be called science fiction, but had a certain something else that had many people agreeing that it was not just science fiction. This new style of writing was so different and so many people started writing in this style that the general public decided that it was time this genre of writing deserved a label: cyberpunk. 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