In our discussion of Yamamoto’s book, Angela asked the
following question: “How can we use science fiction to disrupt the tendency
towards binary thinking? Is it valuable to try to do so?”
It’s no secret that
science-fiction has tried to change our minds about a great deal of issues over
time. Science-fiction of course tries to extrapolate the course the future will
take, but this is a method to try to speak to the people of today, and The Stories of Ibis is a wonderful
example of science-fiction that has a strong message.
Ibis wants humans to
break away from their binary thinking by making them realize that the
differences between humans and AI’s are just that: differences. She succeeds in
finally convincing the narrator of this, when at the end he thinks, “Who would
feel inferior for not being able to run as fast as horses do? Who would feel
resentful for not being able to fly as birds do? Like Ibis said, this was just
a difference in our specs” (422).
Simply being
different is not the same as being inferior. As the narrator notes, lacking the
ability to fly does not make humans inferior to birds. However, it seems to be
a weakness that runs in the blood of humanity itself that makes us instantly
believe difference to mean a lacking.
Just look at the ads
denouncing high fructose corn syrup. High fructose corn syrup is an ingredient
used in many different products in lieu of common table sugar. Many read the
name of the ingredient, and because it sounds so odd and different, they have
no trouble believing that high fructose corn syrup must be bad. However, high
fructose corn syrup is basically the same as ordinary sugar when it comes down
to it. Most people understand that sugar is bad for you when eaten in excess,
and yet it seems most people are not crying out for common table sugar to be
excluded from their sweet treats. Because high fructose corn syrup was labeled differently
than table sugar people naturally jumped to the conclusion that one must be
worse than the other.
So, binary thinking
does exist, but how can science-fiction move to change it? Science-fiction
works like a mirror, showing us an image that is dissimilar from reality, but
similar enough to show us reality’s flaws. In The Stories of Ibis, we are looking at the relationship between AI’s
and humans. In the works of Octavia Butler, which Angela brought up, we’re
looking at the relationship between humans and aliens. At the end of the day
though, these works are really critiquing how humans relate with other groups
of humans.
It is natural for
humans to fall into an “us or them” mentality. We like to belong to something
larger than ourselves, whether it is an organization, a religion, a race, a
nation, or what have you. We like to be able to say, “I’m part of X group.” And
whether stated or implied, this affiliation is often augmented by the assumption
that being part of X group makes one better than those not in X group. It may
not be intentionally insidious; it can be as simple as “I’m part of the
business fraternity, so that means I’m more qualified than those that are not.”
This statement may or may not be true, but the important thing is that so many
people do put faith in such claims, and being able to make these claims can
make people feel better about themselves.
However, is it right
to categorize ourselves by organizing into cliques like these? Business
fraternities are mostly harmless and can help people, but what about nation
divides? Many conflicts in history could be boiled down to “My country is
better than your country, so my country deserves what your country has.” Binary thinking, or hierarchal as the example
from Butler would phrase it, definitely has its repercussions.
To address Angela’s
second point, if science-fiction can make us look in the mirror and see our
imperfections, should it? Should science-fiction even bother to try to change
the way we think? Is there value in that?
Personally, I think
that shaking ones assumptions is always valuable. In order to grow as an
individual, one must have their beliefs challenged at some point. If you never
had to defend your point of view, you would end up as delusional as the humans
in The Stories of Ibis who believe
they are fighting a war against the robots.
Binary thinking may
be completely bad, or maybe it does have its merits. But if we never
acknowledged it and questioned it, we wouldn’t be able to grow past it. We have
to face our demons if we are ever to control or defeat them.
Questions:
- In class, we spent a lot of time talking about breaking out of binary thinking by disrupting the binary with a third point, much in the way Butler’s work disrupts the gender binary by adding a third gender. However, is this any better? Does adding a spectrum of shades of gray really make it a better way of thinking, or is it just adding more ways to categorize things as better than or worse than others?
- It is believable that science-fiction can influence a person’s point of view by exposing flaws in society. Is this influence always a good thing? Can science-fiction be harmful? Is science-fiction just another form of propaganda, for better or worse?
Links:
This is a clip from the original Star Trek episode “May That
Be Your Last Battlefield.” This part of the episode shows the hatred between
members of different factions of the same race. The only difference between the
two is that one faction is black on the right while the other is black on the
left. Spoilers: Turns out their entire species already killed each other in a
massive civil war.
This is a strip from the webcomic Questionable Content.
While its main subject matter is not AI’s, there are a few AI characters
featured (one of which is the character reading in this strip). I think this
strip in particular is interesting, because even though the main plot is not
about the relationship between AI and humans, the mere presence of AI
characters seems to call for an in-depth analysis such as this, if only to
place whether the relationship of AI’s and humans is one of equality or not.
This is an extremely powerful article entitled “The Hidden
Message in Pixar Films.” I won’t spoil the main point of the article, as the
author goes into huge depths about his interpretations and they need to be read
in full. But it does go along a similar vein about breaking down binary
thinking about human vs. non-human, and proves that a work does not have to be
specifically labeled as science-fiction to wrestle with ideas such as these.
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