--

updated: Tuesday, June 6, 2000

This definition of the cyborg is the perfect introduction to our  web project for English 122TG, taught Spring Quarter at University of California, Santa Barbara. The intent of this page is to explore the area of cyborg relations by presenting various movies and books, and analyzing these resources in order to effectively determine exactly how cyborgs find a place in society.

According to Harraway, a cyborg is a "hybrid between machine and organism." This site is especially attentive to those beings which assume the physical make-up of a machine and yet display emotions and other indications of organic life.  In order to understand how a cyborg can function like a machine and yet act like a human, one must first examine the social conditioning process.  This social reality is defined by Harraway as "lived social relations, our most important political institutions." The cyborgs that aquire human traits and emotions do so because of their social reality.  The contents of this site focus on effects of the social conditioning process (emotions) as well as the social conditioning process itself (relations).

Navigation through this site is easy. To the left are links to the various sections:
INTRO:The page you are looking at right now. This contains a site overview, instructions on how to navigate this page, and contact info (see very bottom)
MOVIES AND BOOKS: This contains an assortment of films, books, and tv shows which contain cyborgs that display human emotions, and that incorporate into human society
SHORT ESSAYS: This contains three short essays on the films "2001: A Space Odyssey," "Batteries Not Included,"and "Short Circuit."
TEXTS/CONTEXTS: This contains the beginnings of three critical essays on issues related to the topic of Cyborg Relations
CRITICAL QUESTIONS: This contains some critical questions and answers that promote further understanding on the issues of relations and emotions.  There are also many other questions to provoke further thought on this topic.
ANNOTATED LINKS: This contains annotated links to other relevant and useful sites

EDITOR: Katherine Hartman... RESEARCHER: Justin Mabardi...
WEBMASTER: Rebecca Pellman
University of California, Santa Barbara. Spring 2000.

OUR THANKS TO TRANSCRIPTIONS, PROFESSOR WARNER, AND METACOLLEGE

Questions? Comments? Please feel free to let us know. Contact us at rklpellman@aol.com.

This page and the information within cannot be duplicated or plagiarized in any manner without permission from the creators of this page. Thank you.