I've trudged my way through Haraway's manifesto and feel totally inadequate and befuddled. What? The overarching scope and depth of her analysis has fried a circuit in my brain and left me overwhelmed. Does that mean I'm a cyborg, since I've used computer language in talking about my brain? I've yet to re-read or fully digest her thick article, so I apologize in advance for the "blab" in this post...I am pretty much thinking aloud here. Anway, the part of her manifesto that I was able to wrap my mind around was the last few pages when she discusses cyborgs and science fiction. I can see how characters in these books represent a new type of human/ human identity that are subject to different rules. I understand that these characters see reality/reproduction/spirit/politics/ and the world in a new, distinct way. I've read The Female Man and it's a perplexing book. I haven't seen Blade Runner, but I think I might rent it. I tried to include a pic. of the character Haraway mentioned. So getting back to it, I'm not yet sure of what to make of Haraway's manifesto, but I do find the bodily connection between humans and machines to be extremely interesting. Is my computer not only an extension of myself, but rather a part of my body? Is my ipod another aspect of my body? In terms of machinery in general, when I ride my bike or drive my car, can I consider that machinery as part of my body? Thinking of the body not as an organic whole, but rather as this fluid thing is a concept worth exploring. What do my fellow cyborgs think?
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