Saturday, September 2, 2017

Post No. 7


The Influence of CyberPunk Writing



               Gibson / Bethke Añozo
Note:  Don't mind the last guy, he's just a punk. 


 The word Cyber was coined as an abbreviation for the field of science called Cybernetics which started way way back in the 1940’s. Scientists wanted to figure out  and study the way living beings could communicate with machines and what was involved in controlling them. By today’s point-of-view, Cybernetics is the study of the Man-to-Machine Interface. Of course things where a lot different back then as the original scientists never expected how far Cyber was going to go.  

The late 1970’s and early 80’s was the dawning of the micro-computer age. As a follow up to my last article regarding the micro-computer wars, this was also the time that popularized micro-computer and computer or cyber literature. The technology brought with it an entire gamut of computer and digital jargon which became so popular as a lot of people wanted to learn them and use them to sound err…sophisticated and techno-savvy during those times. 

There was one very nice side effect though. When Sci-Fi writers started to get on the bandwagon and use them in fiction and invent more of them in the process, computer-techno-jargon hit the roof and the popularity  and hype which it generated pushed  almost the entire generation of Baby-Boomers into the digital lifestyle we commonly have today. 
 
 Cyber-Punk is the amalgamation of a Punk who happens to be digital savvy or simply really good with computers. However, from it’s origin to becoming the sci-fi genre we know it to be, the word had to go through an evolution. The utmost credit goes to the writer who coined the word and started the ball rolling (and did it roll!). Bruce Bethke released a short futuristic story in 1980 which was aptly titled “CyberPunk”. 

CyberPunk was kind of more sci-fi in nature about a future where kids where so good with digital devices that they could simply connect to computer systems using portable (handheld?) terms or terminals. The story focused on a group of kids who where rebellious in every way and where such a load of trouble to their parents and society as they where downright dangerous themselves with their ability to hack and cause maximum damage. In short, they where the beginning concept of what we know today as the black hats.    

The original concept of the “Hacker” which was coined at MIT in the 1950’s is that of a cool dude who found creative ways to solve tech problems and had the ability to come up with a patch or solution at the quickest time possible. These are known today as the white hats.   

CyberPunk which Bethke used as a way to describe the techno-misfits in his story evolved as it was used to describe stories and novels that involved the perpetuation of CyberCrime and/or fighting it. This usually meant the White Hats vs the Black Hats in a futuristic, current or virtual environment. One such novel became so popular making it practically the reference point of the Cyberpunk genre.   

Neuromancer was released in 1984 by William Gibson and the rest was cyberpunk history. Gibson who coined the term CyberSpace in one of his earlier stories Burning Chrome wrote about a computerized, networked virtual world where hackers (or Jackers) could connect or jack-into. That meant literally inserting a cable with connector to a port located on once head or nape. 
    
Note that this concept which Gibson wrote about became so influential driving the technology towards the reality of the internet we have today and accessing the cyberspace by jacking-in with a Virtual headset in lieu of actual ports on ones person. Current developments of using VR online (though still in it’s infancy) is already bringing Gibson’s vision to reality. 
  
So, once again Pinoy CyberPunk is obviously the Filipino version of CyberPunk. Being as such, a story can then be considered as an example of the sub-sub-genre if it exhibits the features that can be found in cyberpunk from plain computer-techno hacking all the way to futuristic cyberspace virtual worlds which involves Pinoys or a Philippine setting. 
  
CyberPunk and Neuromancer, both story lines and writing styles where a strong influence in the development of the Project Pawai story line. The setting however had to be re-configured and adapted for then present day 1986 right smack in the middle of the EDSA revolution. 
  

Thanks for the read once again and hoping to bring you more info on the making of Project Pawai at a much earlier date =) 
   







 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

5 comments:

  1. Amazing work and so informative piece of writing.

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    Replies
    1. Thank You =) I wish I had more time to spend on this blog but time seems to be something that is so much in short supply nowadays. I will try to post an update soon =)

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  2. Magandang araw po! Nais ko lang po magtanong kung saan po available o mabibili yung Project Pawaii niyo po. Bilang mga mananaliksik sa kolehiyo po, gusto po naming talakayin ang Project Pawaii bilang parte ng isang papel tungkol sa mga akdang sci-fi ng Pilipinas noon at pagkatapos ng Panahon ng Batas Militar. Napakainteresante po kasi ng inyong nobela sa kontekstong ito.

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    Replies
    1. Hello Ezekier,

      Salamat marami sa interest sa Project Pawai.
      Nakupo, matagal na kasi talaga yan.
      One of the crazy things I did in my youth.
      If you can contact New Day Publishing (Upper Room)
      they may still have an available copy of the book.

      https://www.newdaypublishers.com/

      I think they also have a FaceBook page so you
      can try to Google it nalang.

      Pawai was written in the time of my very
      idealistic youth and it's really more about
      PC tech of the 80's and young love. Nagkataoon
      lang at natapat yun events during EDSA.

      Regardless, my unscolosited advice to young people
      is to keep your idealism regardless of all the
      curve balls life will throw at you as it will help guide
      you (pardon my wordings) through this sick and
      twisted world we all live in today.

      Good Luck with your project
      and if youthful idealism is your cup of tea
      you might just really like Project Pawai.

      Just drop a line if you have further questions.

      Thank You and Godbless.

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