Cyborg Bodies, Human Minds: Robert Venditti's The Surrogates, Yukito Kishiro's Battle Angel Alita and the Great Myth of Posthumanism

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atmire.migration.oldid3953
dc.contributor.advisorBeaty, Bart
dc.contributor.authorMassey, Samantha
dc.contributor.committeememberBlue, Gwendolyn
dc.contributor.committeememberCamara, Anthony
dc.date.accessioned2015-12-22T20:46:48Z
dc.date.available2015-12-22T20:46:48Z
dc.date.issued2015-12-22
dc.date.submitted2015en
dc.description.abstractThe topic of humans altered and improved through advanced cyborg technology—technology that amalgamates animal and machine—has long been of interest in science fiction, gaining popularity in most Western countries and Japan. This paper examines two graphic novel series, Robert Venditti’s The Surrogates and Yukito Kishiro’s Battle Angel Alita, in relation to cyborg humans and the theoretical concept of posthumanism, defined as a state that transcends the limitations of human existence with the help of cutting-edge technologies. The posthuman theory of Donna Haraway suggests that the cyborg has the potential to change humanity for the better, to challenge essentialist dichotomies and harmful identity politics. However, theorists like Katherine Hayles warn about the dangers inherent in technologies that allow humanity to “master” the body—and mortality—completely. This paper critically examines both perspectives and, ultimately, the viability of a utopic posthuman state.en_US
dc.identifier.citationMassey, S. (2015). Cyborg Bodies, Human Minds: Robert Venditti's The Surrogates, Yukito Kishiro's Battle Angel Alita and the Great Myth of Posthumanism (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/25507en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/25507
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11023/2698
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.facultyGraduate Studies
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.publisher.placeCalgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subjectLiterature--American
dc.subjectLiterature--Asian
dc.subject.classificationGraphic Novelsen_US
dc.subject.classificationPosthumanismen_US
dc.subject.classificationCyborgsen_US
dc.subject.classificationTranshumanismen_US
dc.titleCyborg Bodies, Human Minds: Robert Venditti's The Surrogates, Yukito Kishiro's Battle Angel Alita and the Great Myth of Posthumanism
dc.typemaster thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineEnglish
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Arts (MA)
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrue
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