Keyword Project Proposal and Research
Rationale
I admit - my keyword was suggested to me by Prof. Clark-Oates when we met to discuss the call for submissions to a trans-themed anthology. However, the keyword quickly grew on me. I love science fiction even though I watch more films than read literature. I readily enjoy films like Blade Runner (which is not exactly like Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, but I enjoyed them both), Terminator, Robocop, and the more recent Ex Machina. Some of my favorite sci-fi literature is penned by Ray Bradbury, Philip K. Dick, and Ursula K. LeGuin. And when I finished reading Donna Haraway’s “A Cyborg Manifesto,” it seemed only natural that I work with “cyborg” for my keyword project.
In order to “jam” the signals, so to speak, I performed an informal, cursory survey of the internet by searching for the word “cyborg” on websites like Google, Tumblr, and Twitter. On Google, the first page turned up results for the comic book character “Cyborg” from DC Comics’ Teen Titans and Justice League, mainly due to the recent “sizzle reel” release from the movie set of the upcoming Justice League film. Other than standard dictionary sites also turning up on the first page results, there is little else that is notable in the search results on all three sites. While I do not expect my keyword project to make waves in social media, I think it is interesting to see that, aside from the upcoming DC film, “cyborg” has little presence on public consciousness. In my mind, the platform is for the most part clear for me to (re)introduce the “cyborg” concept, and, possibly, augment it.
Framework
In her manifesto, Haraway weaves together rather dense and complex nexūs in order to illustrate not only how intricately we are interconnected with our blossoming technologies, but that such integration of the flesh with the machine results in some very problematic and dangerous systems of power. She articulates these abuses of power in a Marxist-feminist perspective when she focuses on the sweatshops and factories of east Asia where women - those whom she calls “true cyborgs” - assemble the same pieces of technology that is supposed to move the entire species along and not participate in the perpetuation of oppression. She concludes with the idea, I believe, in which we as a species must master our hybridity with the organic and the machine. We are entirely in a borderlands, a liminal space in which we cannot be wholly animal nor android, but half-breed, a mutt - a cyborg.
Haraway, then, will be my main platform from which I hope to examine and explore the image of the cyborg in our culture and our media. Not only do I intend to see how different “hybrids” embrace and manifest Haraway’s definition of the “cyborg,” but to see if there truly are any extremes anymore - if anything can be purely organic or purely mechanical. More importantly, through the cyborg lens, I wish to understand the shift in our campus culture towards the cyborg-image, in which we have hybridized our learning styles and pedagogical techniques. It is my belief that academics and scholars are cyborgs. It is my belief that most humans are gender-cyborgs because traditional traits and practices associated with masculinity and femininity have been hybridized and been used by all kinds of genders.
Project Objectives
Hopefully without too much reiteration, I wish to encourage my peers and viewers to consider (re)composing their ideas of cyborgs. I wish for them to reconsider how we define “cyborg,” a la Donna Haraway’s manifesto. By incorporating classic science-fiction scenes and images from film and literature, I want my viewers to reconsider whether or not the fantastical “future” of science fiction is really so far away, but to also consider how in science fiction there is an exploration of power dynamics and exploitation that correlates with our present issues. I also intend not only to capture the so-called jarring nature of machine with nature through sound, but to see if I can locate or even create an audio piece that harmonizes them and effectively embodies the kind of unity Haraway arrives at in the conclusion of her manifesto.
Explanation of Media Usage
I am thinking of doing the graphic novel/comic medium because I am much more familiar with the genre not only because I spent a lot of time doing art, but in teaching my students about comics during the month of September I have grown much more familiar with the conventions myself. The medium will allow me more dexterity in expression, and I do not have to teach myself to splice films and music together into a video mash. I also intend to find a way to make it interactive by seeing if I can embed hyperlinks to other sources, photos, music, and/or film.
I have some good ideas in regards to media incorporation and presentation, one of which I will hold back to promote anticipation. Moving along, I am considering incorporating “homages” from the aforementioned movies, bits and pieces from different graphic novels like Black Hole by Charles Burns, or even the character “Cyborg” from DC Comics’ Teen Titans or Justice League. I also wish to see if there are different kinds of music I can mash up together, especially with the techno/dance electronica genre with nature or even classical. I also wonder if there are recordings of Haraway discussing her manifesto. The project will be uploaded and have a “printed” edition.
I admit - my keyword was suggested to me by Prof. Clark-Oates when we met to discuss the call for submissions to a trans-themed anthology. However, the keyword quickly grew on me. I love science fiction even though I watch more films than read literature. I readily enjoy films like Blade Runner (which is not exactly like Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, but I enjoyed them both), Terminator, Robocop, and the more recent Ex Machina. Some of my favorite sci-fi literature is penned by Ray Bradbury, Philip K. Dick, and Ursula K. LeGuin. And when I finished reading Donna Haraway’s “A Cyborg Manifesto,” it seemed only natural that I work with “cyborg” for my keyword project.
In order to “jam” the signals, so to speak, I performed an informal, cursory survey of the internet by searching for the word “cyborg” on websites like Google, Tumblr, and Twitter. On Google, the first page turned up results for the comic book character “Cyborg” from DC Comics’ Teen Titans and Justice League, mainly due to the recent “sizzle reel” release from the movie set of the upcoming Justice League film. Other than standard dictionary sites also turning up on the first page results, there is little else that is notable in the search results on all three sites. While I do not expect my keyword project to make waves in social media, I think it is interesting to see that, aside from the upcoming DC film, “cyborg” has little presence on public consciousness. In my mind, the platform is for the most part clear for me to (re)introduce the “cyborg” concept, and, possibly, augment it.
Framework
In her manifesto, Haraway weaves together rather dense and complex nexūs in order to illustrate not only how intricately we are interconnected with our blossoming technologies, but that such integration of the flesh with the machine results in some very problematic and dangerous systems of power. She articulates these abuses of power in a Marxist-feminist perspective when she focuses on the sweatshops and factories of east Asia where women - those whom she calls “true cyborgs” - assemble the same pieces of technology that is supposed to move the entire species along and not participate in the perpetuation of oppression. She concludes with the idea, I believe, in which we as a species must master our hybridity with the organic and the machine. We are entirely in a borderlands, a liminal space in which we cannot be wholly animal nor android, but half-breed, a mutt - a cyborg.
Haraway, then, will be my main platform from which I hope to examine and explore the image of the cyborg in our culture and our media. Not only do I intend to see how different “hybrids” embrace and manifest Haraway’s definition of the “cyborg,” but to see if there truly are any extremes anymore - if anything can be purely organic or purely mechanical. More importantly, through the cyborg lens, I wish to understand the shift in our campus culture towards the cyborg-image, in which we have hybridized our learning styles and pedagogical techniques. It is my belief that academics and scholars are cyborgs. It is my belief that most humans are gender-cyborgs because traditional traits and practices associated with masculinity and femininity have been hybridized and been used by all kinds of genders.
Project Objectives
Hopefully without too much reiteration, I wish to encourage my peers and viewers to consider (re)composing their ideas of cyborgs. I wish for them to reconsider how we define “cyborg,” a la Donna Haraway’s manifesto. By incorporating classic science-fiction scenes and images from film and literature, I want my viewers to reconsider whether or not the fantastical “future” of science fiction is really so far away, but to also consider how in science fiction there is an exploration of power dynamics and exploitation that correlates with our present issues. I also intend not only to capture the so-called jarring nature of machine with nature through sound, but to see if I can locate or even create an audio piece that harmonizes them and effectively embodies the kind of unity Haraway arrives at in the conclusion of her manifesto.
Explanation of Media Usage
I am thinking of doing the graphic novel/comic medium because I am much more familiar with the genre not only because I spent a lot of time doing art, but in teaching my students about comics during the month of September I have grown much more familiar with the conventions myself. The medium will allow me more dexterity in expression, and I do not have to teach myself to splice films and music together into a video mash. I also intend to find a way to make it interactive by seeing if I can embed hyperlinks to other sources, photos, music, and/or film.
I have some good ideas in regards to media incorporation and presentation, one of which I will hold back to promote anticipation. Moving along, I am considering incorporating “homages” from the aforementioned movies, bits and pieces from different graphic novels like Black Hole by Charles Burns, or even the character “Cyborg” from DC Comics’ Teen Titans or Justice League. I also wish to see if there are different kinds of music I can mash up together, especially with the techno/dance electronica genre with nature or even classical. I also wonder if there are recordings of Haraway discussing her manifesto. The project will be uploaded and have a “printed” edition.
Thumbnail Sketching
|
While thinking and researching the keyword, I designed some android and cyborg characters to not only start making some ideas for the comic, but to internalize the word. After finishing my research, I began to write a "narrative" for the comic by section. After finishing each section's narrative, I began to create thumbnail sketches of the pages on index cards. (Coincidentally, index cards are almost directly proportional to standard comic book pages).
|
Printing
After making the thumbnail sketches, my friend, Blake, helped me scan, re-size, and then print out the thumbnail sketches on 11"x14" mixed media paper. I debated on using Canson comic book paper, but with it being $30 for a pad of 24 sheets I opted for the Blick Mixed Media paper instead, since it can handle ink pens just as much as the Canson paper and Blake's printer probably wouldn't be able to print on Bristol paper. I measured and drew 1.5" borders to give myself some bleeding room.
|
|
Inking
|
Inking by far is the longest and most work intensive part of the process. After re-sketching some details on the 11"x14" printouts, I inked in and added details with a variety of fine and brush tip pens. For larger areas of black, I resorted to painting with a brush and India ink.
|
Digitizing and Implementing Technology
After pages are inked, they are rescanned and then touched up in Photoshop (via Adobe Creative Cloud). The 1.5" margins are cropped out, white spots in dark areas are covered up and text is inserted. Afterward, the comics are uploaded onto the website. The text that accompanies the comics are filled with hyperlinks to a wide variety of articles and videos that relate to the chapter. Embedded music players are included to give the experience more ambiance and mood.
|
Printing Off the Press
|
Even though crafting a finished, printed product was not a part of the assignment, I couldn't resist taking the time and opportunity to make a limited run of the comics. After some collaboration on figuring out Adobe InDesign to format the booklet, I went over to the FedEx Office Center by campus to make my prints. Instead of paying extra for binding, I am borrowing my friend's long reach stapler to do my own stapling.
Aside from the other three chapters left to be done over break, the comic is (somewhat) complete! |