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11Have Mind, Seek Soul : The Android's Ques t • Deadl y Docilit y The fina l lin k i n m y "plo t chain"—th e denouement , i f you will — is the point wher e th e boundary betwee n huma n an d machin e ha s finally becom e s o blurre d tha t ther e n o longe r i s a differenc e between th e two . In Robocop a huma n i s encarcerated i n a killin g machine, hi s sel f effectivel y drugge d under . I n th e films discusse d in thi s chapter , human s hav e becom e virtuall y extinc t an d th e machines hav e take n over . The central conflic t i s between oppose d methods o f "procreation" : natura l o r scientific . Naturall y create d humans hav e soul s an d selves , mechanica l one s are , o r the y wer e supposed t o be , simpl y mor e o r les s evi l pets . Th e las t imag e o f the chapte r i s th e reversa l o f human/machine : android s wh o ar e more huma n tha n humans . The mai n imager y syste m o f The Terminator i s machines. Se t i n Los Angeles i n 198 4 and 2029 , the movi e is , among othe r things , a parable o f ou r lov e affai r wit h technolog y an d wha t i t ma y lea d to. This i s the ultimate technologie moralisee movie . L.A. in 198 4 is full o f peopl e wh o liv e live s define d b y machines , "Machine s pro vide th e textur e an d substanc e o f thi s film: cars , trucks , motorcy cles , radios , TVs , tim e clocks , phones , answerin g machines , bee pers , hai r dryers , Son y Walkmen , automate d factor y equipment. "x 214 Have Mind , See k Sou l 21 5 And killin g machines : guns , guns , guns . L.A . i n A.D . 202 9 i s th e logical outcom e o f th e 198 4 version : a huge , blu e rui n wher e human being s ar e small , scared , an d few , scurryin g amon g th e detritus, surrounded b y smolderin g fires an d flying machine s tha t scour th e ground wit h searchlight s an d kil l any huma n o n sight . There wa s a n atomi c war , an d afte r th e war , th e machines , notably a defens e networ k compute r (shade s o f Colossus: The Forbin Project), "hooke d int o everything. " Machine s "go t smart— a new for m o f intelligence. " 202 9 machine s ar e wagin g a wa r o f extermination agains t humans , fielding new , machine-invente d machines an d weaponry . L.A. 1984 is cars, the endless artificiality o f the city, emphasize d in th e movi e b y havin g mos t scene s tak e plac e a t nigh t wit h th e reflected glar e o f neon light s bouncin g of f glass-encase d building s and we t pavement . An d i t i s th e thousand s o f technologica l gad gets tha t soothe , please , an d entertai n bu t als o isolat e an d alien ate . Sarah Conno r i s a waitres s i n a hamburge r joint . Sh e share s a n apartment wit h a friend , Ginger . It' s Frida y nigh t an d th e tw o young wome n ar e preparin g t o g o out wit h thei r boyfriends . The y stand sid e b y sid e i n fron t o f th e bathroo m mirror , shapin g thei r coifs wit h electrica l hai r dryers . Sid e b y side , bu t no t together , technology separate s them : Ginge r i s rollickin g i n anticipatio n and t o th e bea t o f a son g bein g pumpe d int o he r hea d fro m...

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