Cyberpunk

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What is Cyberpunk?

Cyberpunk is a science-fiction sub-genre dealing with the integration of society and technology in dystopian settings. Often referred to as “low-life and high tech,” Cyberpunk stories deal with outsiders (punks) who fight against the oppressors in society (usually mega corporations that control everything) via technological means (cyber). If the punks aren’t actively fighting against a megacorp, they’re still dealing with living in a world completely dependent on high technology.

Cyberpunk characteristics include:

Dystopian city setting where mega-corporations rule
Full integration of technology into society, featuring cybernetic implants
Outsider protagonists (punks) who often are very familiar with the technology around them
Hard boiled detective and film noir vibes and influence
Themes dabbling in trans-humanism, existentialism, and what it means to be human.

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What do dystopias look like in 2024? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 7 months ago by sbv@sh.itjust.works to c/cyberpunk@lemmy.zip

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What's the next wave of dystopia in popular culture?

I think the classic CRTs, mirrorshades, and black synthleather look of cyberpunk doesn't really work with our expectations in 2024.

In the 70s and 80s, we expected acid rain, ozone holes, and lawlessness to fill our future, as companies took over from (relatively) responsible governments and civility/civilization collapsed. The outfit fit with that: keep the burning rain and sun off, while protecting against looters and raiders. Meanwhile, writers didn't see how technology would shrink and get better.

In 2024 we expect our dystopia to be hot: the world is heating up, so black synthleather is out. Maybe mirrorshades stick around. Corporations aren't taking over any more, governments are becoming corrupt/evil (e.g. Hunger Games). And technology is tinsy tiny, verging on invisible.

I'm thinking of the Hunger Games and Upload. (And the first five episodes of Fallout)

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[–] Hammerjack@lemmy.zip 5 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

There's this movie called Reminiscence that takes place after the ice caps have melted. The world-building is phenomenal as everything is just slightly flooded and all the streets have basically become canals. But the story they decided to tell in this world was so boring I can't remember any of the details. I just remember loving watching Hugh Jackman's character move about the city.

You can watch it on Tubi and Max.

Also, to re-iterate a previous rant, I think Elysium is a great cyberpunk movie which uses the current cultural fears of climate change, wealth gap, and access to healthcare as the backdrop for the story.

It is interesting though how in the 80s we thought the world would be covered in clouds/pollution/smog and we'd never see the sun. Yet it's more likely we'll make the world so hot and dry that it'll become more of a desert wasteland than a dark and gloomy rain-filled world.

[–] sbv@sh.itjust.works 2 points 7 months ago

Thanks for the links! I enjoyed Elysium. I'll give Reminiscence a shot.