It’s Alive? Bias Towards Artificial Life in Frankenstein, Blade Runner, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, and Klara and the Sun Open Access

Abstract

This thesis examines how portrayals of artificial life have changed over time in Anglo-American science fiction. The primary literature explored involves an early work with Frankenstein, a later work with Blade Runner and its novel counterpart Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, as well as a current work with Klara and the Sun. This thesis analyzes the trends in how the artificial creatures from these works are treated by the human characters, as well as how the artificial creatures influence the human society in which they exist. Through this analysis, this thesis will predict how our American society could possibly react if such an artificial creature came to exist in our own world. The observations noted by this thesis are that there has been an increase in the humanization of the artificial creatures over time. However, they never receive the respect and dignity given to a human. Rather, humans themselves lose respect and dignity as these artificial creatures surpass them. Thus, the prediction of this thesis is that should such creatures ever come to exist in our American society, the value of humanity would fade. 

Table of Contents

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 1

Chapter 1: Inhuman Appearance in Frankenstein ........................................................................................ 6

Subsection 1: The Earliest Portrayal ......................................................................................................... 6

Subsection 2: The Maker’s View .............................................................................................................. 9

Subsection 3: The Community’s View ................................................................................................... 13

Subsection 4: The Creature’s View ........................................................................................................ 16

Subsection 5: Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 19

Chapter 2: Testing Humanity in Blade Runner and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? .................... 20

Subsection 1: Continued Rejection ......................................................................................................... 20

Subsection 2: Measuring Empathy ......................................................................................................... 24

Subsection 3: What Defines Humanity? ................................................................................................. 27

Subsection 4: Comparing the Replicants with the Creature .................................................................... 31

Subsection 5: Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 33

Chapter 3: Human Obsolescence in Klara and the Sun .............................................................................. 34

Subsection 1: A Perfect Specimen .......................................................................................................... 34

Subsection 2: Replacing Humanity ......................................................................................................... 39

Subsection 3: Societal Impact ................................................................................................................. 42

Subsection 4: Slow Fade ......................................................................................................................... 45

Subsection 5: Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 47

Conclusion .................................................................................................................................................. 48

Works Cited ................................................................................................................................................ 49

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	English
Degree	B.A.
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Literature, English
Keyword	Frankenstein Blade Runner Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep AI artificial intelligence Klara and the Sun Science Fiction
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Otis, Laura, Emory University
Committee Members	Kelleher, Paul, Emory University Little, Peter, Emory University

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