Practice Abstract 2

The texts read this week are all centered around created machines, be they physical or on paper. The Bridges text gives a lengthy and interesting discussion of machines created by E.T.A. Hoffman in der Sandman and die Automate. Both stories by Hoffman explore the effect of automatons on emotional realities. In der Sandman Hoffman describes an automaton woman who is created by to males, one of whom has a son who later falls deeply in lust with Olimpia, the automaton. The story produces a struggle between all the male characters including Olimpia's creators, Nathaniel (he who adores 'her') and Nathaniels friend, Lotar. Personally, der Sandman is near the top of least enjoyable pieces of literature I've ever read.. but I did manage to get through it again for the sake of this class. I still don't really like it, but I appreciate it a little more the second time around. Thanks Prof. Vander-Lugt! :) Finally, the Doane text discusses mainly the story of L'eve Future in which there is again a 'female' automaton that in ways dominates the life of those around 'her' without even being human and capable of manipulation. This text also expands quite a lot on other modern automaton stories including The Stepford Wives, Blade Runner and the Alien movies.

juxtaposition- placing to things next to each other, or adjacent to each other
patriarch- male leader of a society or family- patriarchal society is a male dominated society
amalgamation- the mixing of various traits, socities, races etc.

What thoughts come to mind when thinking about the idea that marionette puppets are more perfect and balanced than humans? Recognizing the fact that they have no souls, is the perfection the hold desirable? Would you be willing to give up your emotions for the mechanical and physical perfection that automatons hold?

What possible arguments could be made for non-maternal machine parents, as discussed in the Doane article? How comforting is naming your computer automaton 'mother', as is done in Alien?