Olsen, Haraway, and "Lifecycle"

Olsen, Haraway, and "Lifecycle"

by Sullivan Edwards -
Number of replies: 2

Synthesis Paper ROUGH Rough Draft

This is, I think, the single roughest draft I have ever submitted to anything in my whole life. There’s pretty much just ideas here, but I have no clue how to structure the paper, where to start or how to articulate all these finicky little ideas in a way that is cohesive and feasible. So I’d like advice on that :D! All my formatting and such so far is super good I promise btw

Thesis; The posthuman is at its most revolutionary (Haraway, overthrowing the patriarchy) when it is at its most vulnerable (Olsen, able to be traumatized, “to bridge the gap between human and posthuman through the act of bearing witness to one another’s trauma.”). Fiction text in use: Lifecycle of Software Objects.

Trauma and the rights of the posthuman/superhuman. Expecting a lack of humanity vulnerability with an excess of understanding?

The inherently traumatizing nature of commodification under capitalism. The comparisons drawn by Haraway between women and cyborgs, and by Chiang through Ana and “the oldest profession.”

Vulnerability associated with femininity; why? Vulnerability can lead to trauma, yes, but it also leads to connection. The fragile psychologies of the infant digients require nurturing. Connection - Sophocles or whatever trying to simulate connection without vulnerability, without innocence, because they fundamentally misunderstand what led to the benefits of the Neuroblast digients. Posthuman as both vulnerable and capable of saving the world…

In reply to Sullivan Edwards

Re: Olsen, Haraway, and "Lifecycle"

by Sarah Luke -
I really like where you're going with this essay, Sullivan. I think it is interesting to highlight vulnerability as a way of humanizing the post-human. When working with "Lifecycle," you can talk about the childlike behaviors of the digients and how their vulnerability makes them similar to toddlers but also makes them subject to mistreatment? You can also talk about Ana's connection with that one digient (forgot the name) and how she kinda treated them with respect compared to other owners. I'm excited to see what you come up with!
In reply to Sullivan Edwards

Re: Olsen, Haraway, and "Lifecycle"

by Maya Hicks -
Hey Sullivan, I'd be happy to read your paper whenever you're ready! I'm also using Haraway and Olsen, so maybe we can bounce ideas of each other!