Courtesy of our friends at Netflix, who are frequently mentioned on this site and consequently should be advertising here, the wife and I watched Bruce Willis’s movie, Surrogates.
It’s a good movie with a decent though predictable plot, a few veteran actors provide a little panache, a number of youngsters who, thankfully, don’t overact, and the obligatory techno, eye-candy scene or two.
Surrogates gives the viewer a chance to ponder the possibilities of technology, another frequent topic here, and to consider the subject as it unfolds at the intersection of technology and technique. The place Rod Serling might refer to as “technos!”
I’m not particularly impressed with the predictable ending, rather it was how these robots were accepted in society as depicted in the film that sent a chill down my spine and was totally unquestioned and totally believable. The problem for me was that the story line prevented the historical reality of the robot-human relationship (robo-metaleplsis) to be explored. The film goer is required to accept it as it is, and the way it is, which is very plausible, is absolutely frightening. It’s enough, for me anyway, to run to the porcher camp and become a “dred,” their society’s version of a get-your-hands-dirty-yourself porcher.
I am hoping that our coterie of phd’s and phalanx of astute commentators might provide their usual erudite comments or criticisms.
Surrogates is a good film presenting a fascinating problem inherent in technology.
February 26th, 2010 | 2:40 pm
You suprise me Robert! While the few conversations I’ve had with you were usually short and to the point, I never realized you had this blog or was even interested in stuff like this!
It is a sad fact at least to me that too many film producers don’t allow for questioning of their premise, they just put it out there for all to swallow! Seems to me it would get far more popular feedback if the productions left one with the opportunity to ponder a belief rather than to just take it or leave it.
While our future may be questionable, I for one doubt the plausibility of robots actually morphining into such likeness to man as those in the movie you critique. And if they were to in the future, I don’t plan on being here that long…….
Mike Adams
West Point Naz
February 26th, 2010 | 7:11 pm
Yes, Mike sometimes it’s hard to tell the book by the cover.
Your comment about:”I don’t plan on being here that long…….” is in doubt because of the techno reality in which we already exist. I pray your wife is feeling better.
BTW, this isn’t “my ‘ blog but, there’s some interesting stuff here and you might want to participate in the conversation.
March 1st, 2010 | 1:39 am
Hi Bob!
interesting post. And robots and technology is the topic for next years Arendt Center conference, to be held at Bard on Oct. 22-23. Speakers include Ray Kurzweil, Sherry turkle, Nicholson Baker, and many others. It promises to be fascinating. Hope you can come and blog/write about it.
Roger
March 1st, 2010 | 12:15 pm
Hello Dr. Berkowitz,
It’d be nice to take Martha and go ride up the Hudson River valley in late fall with the trees all afire not to mention an interesting conference.
Congrats on the success of your Hannah Arendt project(s) and I trust a new book is coming. I do hope the family is well and growing.
Please feel free to comment here!
Bob
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