History of the FutureHistory of the Future

11: Cyberpunk and the 1980s11: Cyberpunk and the 1980s

This SessionThis Session

Overview of 1980sOverview of 1980s Focus on elements found in Gibson & Focus on elements found in Gibson &

CardCard New trends in the futureNew trends in the future Framing of “Cyberpunk” movementFraming of “Cyberpunk” movement

Including earlier depictions of computerIncluding earlier depictions of computer Real-world developments in technologyReal-world developments in technology

The 1980sThe 1980s

Global Politics dominated by Cold WarGlobal Politics dominated by Cold War Early 80s – intensificationEarly 80s – intensification Late 80s – collapse of USSRLate 80s – collapse of USSR

Domestic politics shiftDomestic politics shift Conservative revival gains paceConservative revival gains pace Growing social inequality (yuppies)Growing social inequality (yuppies)

Brashness & materialism in pop cultureBrashness & materialism in pop culture Strong reaction in “alternative” mediaStrong reaction in “alternative” media

Lots of new consumer technologyLots of new consumer technology

The Reagan YearsThe Reagan Years

““Morning in America”Morning in America” Feel-good appealFeel-good appeal

Budget shiftsBudget shifts Social programs cutSocial programs cut Military programs grow; high-tech Military programs grow; high-tech

buildupbuildup Large tax cut (“supply-side Large tax cut (“supply-side

economics”)economics”) Recession followsRecession follows

““Rustbelt” industries crumbleRustbelt” industries crumble Cold War revivesCold War revives

Promise to defeat “Evil Empire”Promise to defeat “Evil Empire”

Strategic Defense InitiativeStrategic Defense Initiative Pitched to Reagan as magic shieldPitched to Reagan as magic shield

Did he believe? We may never know.Did he believe? We may never know. Science fiction authors help to promoteScience fiction authors help to promote

Ben Bova (editor of Omni)Ben Bova (editor of Omni) Jerry Pournell (author, computer columnist)Jerry Pournell (author, computer columnist) also Edward Teller (hydrogen bomb physicist)also Edward Teller (hydrogen bomb physicist)

Massive plansMassive plans Lasers, killer satellitesLasers, killer satellites Massive software, network challengesMassive software, network challenges Few independent scientists supportFew independent scientists support

America spends many billionsAmerica spends many billions Soviets start to get worriedSoviets start to get worried

Nuclear War Re-emergesNuclear War Re-emerges

Arms-race intensifiesArms-race intensifies Nuclear Cruise Missiles based in Nuclear Cruise Missiles based in

EuropeEurope Trident submarinesTrident submarines Missiles more accurate, more Missiles more accurate, more

warheadswarheads Anti-nuclear movement Anti-nuclear movement

growsgrows Large demonstrations commonLarge demonstrations common

Theme common in popular Theme common in popular cultureculture Missile Command video gameMissile Command video game Wargames film (1983)Wargames film (1983)

Rightwing SFRightwing SF

Enjoys something of a revivalEnjoys something of a revival General mood, Star Wars movie General mood, Star Wars movie

may helpmay help Many stories of survivalist or Many stories of survivalist or

libertarian bentlibertarian bent Fervently pro-technology, pro-Fervently pro-technology, pro-

space travel, anti-governmentspace travel, anti-government Generally militaristGenerally militarist

Specialized sub-genreSpecialized sub-genre Baen Books – publisherBaen Books – publisher Writers: Jerry Pournelle, David Writers: Jerry Pournelle, David

Drake, etc.Drake, etc.

Rise of JapanRise of Japan Will computers follow TVs?Will computers follow TVs?

55thth Generation Project Generation Project breakthroughs in artificial intelligence soughtbreakthroughs in artificial intelligence sought

Advances feared in software, processorsAdvances feared in software, processors Japanese pursue “software factory” approachJapanese pursue “software factory” approach

They have all the coolest electronicsThey have all the coolest electronics Japanese pop culture becomes dweeb-coolJapanese pop culture becomes dweeb-cool

Very futuristic – comics, videosVery futuristic – comics, videos Cartoonish fashion, clothesCartoonish fashion, clothes

Japan: The Pop GroupJapan: The Pop Group

Synth-pop, Asian-influenced futurism meets Tokyo chic

Shifts in Pop CultureShifts in Pop Culture

Music and fashion Music and fashion subcultures fragmentsubcultures fragment PunksPunks Post-Punk (including “New Post-Punk (including “New

Romantics”)Romantics”) Many others -- Heavy Metal, Many others -- Heavy Metal,

Rap, TechnoRap, Techno New entertainment formsNew entertainment forms

MTV arrives in early-80sMTV arrives in early-80s Atari and home videogames in Atari and home videogames in

late-70slate-70s Escapism is common threadEscapism is common thread

A “Haircut” Band

The Future Changes SlowlyThe Future Changes Slowly

Many suspicious of Glasnost, is it just Many suspicious of Glasnost, is it just PR?PR?

Genuine progress in arms control late Genuine progress in arms control late 80s80s Cruise missiles eliminatedCruise missiles eliminated Treaties to reduce warhead levelsTreaties to reduce warhead levels

Nobody predicts sudden collapse of Nobody predicts sudden collapse of Soviet unionSoviet union CIA or science fiction writersCIA or science fiction writers 1980s future suddenly looks very dated1980s future suddenly looks very dated

New Trends in the FutureNew Trends in the Future Virtual Reality (new term circa 1982)Virtual Reality (new term circa 1982)

Immersion in simulated worldImmersion in simulated world Key theme of cyberpunk fictionKey theme of cyberpunk fiction Idea spreads rapidly into mainstream Idea spreads rapidly into mainstream

cultureculture Genetic EngineeringGenetic Engineering

Recombinant DNA is new technologyRecombinant DNA is new technology Though cloning often appeared in 70sThough cloning often appeared in 70s

NanotechnologyNanotechnology Creation of machines at molecular levelCreation of machines at molecular level Creeps as theme at end of 80sCreeps as theme at end of 80s

Cyberpunk: The IdeaCyberpunk: The Idea

Term coined in by Bruce BethkeTerm coined in by Bruce Bethke punk part reflects streetwise attitudepunk part reflects streetwise attitude Tone tends to be dark, cynicalTone tends to be dark, cynical

Virtual Reality as central ideaVirtual Reality as central idea Other themesOther themes

Alteration of human bodies, genesAlteration of human bodies, genes Popular culture, media powerPopular culture, media power Critical of corporate powerCritical of corporate power Often romantic, rebelliousOften romantic, rebellious

Cyberpunk: The MovementCyberpunk: The Movement

First self-conscious movement since “New First self-conscious movement since “New Wave”Wave” Neuromancer (1984) is defining statementNeuromancer (1984) is defining statement Gibson & Bruce Sterling are key proponentsGibson & Bruce Sterling are key proponents

Push to shake-up science fictionPush to shake-up science fiction Sterling publishes “Cheap Truth” magazineSterling publishes “Cheap Truth” magazine Fame soon spreads beyond genreFame soon spreads beyond genre

Largely faded as movement by late-80sLargely faded as movement by late-80s Influence remains strong on later workInfluence remains strong on later work Neal Stephenson’s Neal Stephenson’s SnowcrashSnowcrash (1994) is (1994) is

popularpopular

Computers in SFComputers in SF Common by mid-1950sCommon by mid-1950s

Futuristic technology lags historyFuturistic technology lags history Big, expensive, central computersBig, expensive, central computers Used mostly for mathematicsUsed mostly for mathematics

Nobody much predictsNobody much predicts Personal computerPersonal computer Microchips, miniaturizationMicrochips, miniaturization Interactive graphicsInteractive graphics

Main extrapolation is artificial intelligenceMain extrapolation is artificial intelligence Often arrives spontaneouslyOften arrives spontaneously

CyberneticsCybernetics

Coined by Norbert Weiner, 1947Coined by Norbert Weiner, 1947 Popular 1948 book, “Cybernetics”Popular 1948 book, “Cybernetics” From Greek – “steersman”From Greek – “steersman”

Idea tied to automationIdea tied to automation Generalization of feedback, as control principleGeneralization of feedback, as control principle Animals, machines – both seek goalsAnimals, machines – both seek goals

Idea gets tied to Artificial IntelligenceIdea gets tied to Artificial Intelligence Also “cyber” is popular prefixAlso “cyber” is popular prefix

Networking: Real LifeNetworking: Real Life First networks militaryFirst networks military

SAGE air-defense system in mid-1950sSAGE air-defense system in mid-1950s Networking research funded in 1960sNetworking research funded in 1960s

ARPANet built for computer science ARPANet built for computer science researchersresearchers

Ties together existing computersTies together existing computers ““Computer Utility” idea popular in late-Computer Utility” idea popular in late-

60s60s Pipe computer power into homes, officesPipe computer power into homes, offices Thousands of terminals on one big computerThousands of terminals on one big computer Never really pans outNever really pans out

Networking, Reality IINetworking, Reality II

Idea of terminal (rather than personal Idea of terminal (rather than personal computer) lasts into early 1980scomputer) lasts into early 1980s Academic attention given to “computer Academic attention given to “computer

conferencing” from late 70sconferencing” from late 70s Commercial “videotext” networks of mid-Commercial “videotext” networks of mid-

80s80s News, reference material, home shopping and News, reference material, home shopping and

bankingbanking Limited, controlled by big corporationsLimited, controlled by big corporations All fail in US – slow, expensive, not usefulAll fail in US – slow, expensive, not useful

Networking: FictionNetworking: Fiction

Little realistic treatment pre-1980Little realistic treatment pre-1980 Much more focus on AI than networksMuch more focus on AI than networks John Brunner, John Brunner, Shockwave RiderShockwave Rider, 1975 , 1975

invents idea of computer “worm”invents idea of computer “worm” Vernor Vinge, “True Names” (1981)Vernor Vinge, “True Names” (1981)

Hackers adventures in virtual environmentHackers adventures in virtual environment Comic-book story; anti-government ideasComic-book story; anti-government ideas Influential on libertarian new activists of Influential on libertarian new activists of

90s90s

The Information SocietyThe Information Society 1960s: idea of “Knowledge Worker” 1960s: idea of “Knowledge Worker”

popular in 1960spopular in 1960s Increasing importance of science, technology, Increasing importance of science, technology,

educationeducation 1970s: post-industrial society1970s: post-industrial society

Popular phrasePopular phrase Associated with micro revolution, new faith in Associated with micro revolution, new faith in

automation (idea from 50s resurfaces)automation (idea from 50s resurfaces) 1980: Toffler publishes “Third Wave”1980: Toffler publishes “Third Wave”

Utopian, libertarian, decentralized futureUtopian, libertarian, decentralized future Very influentialVery influential

The Micro RevolutionThe Micro Revolution

Integrated Circuit (silicon Integrated Circuit (silicon chip) technologychip) technology Used from mid-1960s for Used from mid-1960s for

computerscomputers Initially just a few Initially just a few

components on chipcomponents on chip Rapid ProgressRapid Progress

Densities grow, Moore’s Densities grow, Moore’s law coinedlaw coined

RAM chips from 1970RAM chips from 1970

The MicroprocessorThe Microprocessor

Intel 4004 is first oneIntel 4004 is first one Intel introduces 8080 Intel introduces 8080

microprocessor in 1972microprocessor in 1972 Simple but usable “computer Simple but usable “computer

on a chip”on a chip” Forms heart of inexpensive Forms heart of inexpensive

electronic deviceselectronic devices MIPS offers Altair computer MIPS offers Altair computer

as kit in 1975as kit in 1975 Useless but expandableUseless but expandable Personal computing takes off Personal computing takes off

among electronics hobbyistsamong electronics hobbyists

Home ComputersHome Computers

Apple II, 1977Apple II, 1977 First mass produced First mass produced

micromicro Purchased for home, Purchased for home,

school, officeschool, office Cheaper home Cheaper home

machines followmachines follow VIC 20, Atari 800, VIC 20, Atari 800,

Commodore Amiga, Commodore Amiga, etc.etc.

Actual Use UnclearActual Use Unclear

““Computer literacy” is Computer literacy” is main selling pointmain selling point Designed to be programmed Designed to be programmed BASIC built inBASIC built in

Talk of “home productivity” Talk of “home productivity” applicationsapplications Balance checkbookBalance checkbook Organize recipesOrganize recipes

Videogames become main Videogames become main use!use! Many converted from arcadeMany converted from arcade

HackersHackers Term originally has positive Term originally has positive

associationassociation geeky pranksters at MITgeeky pranksters at MIT

By mid-1980s means By mid-1980s means electronic vandalselectronic vandals Sometimes credited with Sometimes credited with

superhuman powerssuperhuman powers Media fascination continues Media fascination continues

into 1990sinto 1990s Problem for science fictionProblem for science fiction

Actual hacking very boringActual hacking very boring