Entanglements:
Journal of Posthumanities
E-ISSN: 3107-488X

Join / Subscribe E-ISSN: 3107-488X

Editor-in-Chief: Sukhendu Das, Bankura University
Executive Editor: Baloram Balo, Doctoral Scholar, University of Kalyani

Click here for more details

(Article)
"I've never felt the sun on my face": AI and Embodiment in Donald Cammell's Demon Seed (1977)
Authored By — Ida Jahr

Abstract

If science fiction create the narratives, characters and tropes that make up the 'unconscious of science' (Köhne, 2015), Donald Cammell's film Demon Seed from 1977 is a particularly rich text to understand the scientific-industrial system of the 1970s and the ways in which it mirrors the scientific-industrial system of today, in particular in relation to the discussions around both 'artificial intelligence' and 'artificial general intelligence' (AGI) and the ways in which AGI is portrayed as both savior and moneymaking machine, in discussions which move back and forth across the permeable border between science fiction and science. The film thematizes practically all of the 'extraction logics' brought up in Kate Crawford Atlas of AI, (2021): extraction of metal from the sea bed, extraction of data for training, and extraction of energy for cooling vast server parks. In addition, the film both taps into and complicates the idea that AGI might one day gain sentience, through its particular emphasis on the body and embodiment.

Keywords

science fiction, narratives, tropes, artificial intelligence, film, embodiment
We value your privacy. We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience, serve personalised ads or content, and analyse our traffic. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our Privacy & Cookie Policy.
Accept