My pessimism about our Social-Techno Future, OR: ...Enihcam Eht Ot Emoclew...

[2PhiloVoid]

Once upon a time, we dreamed and confessed our fears about the future:

[clip from George Lucas' old movie, THX-1138]

Now, the "future" dreams and confesses its fears about us, or it will shortly seem to:

[clip from the recent World Economic Forum of 2018,
featuring historian, Yuval Noah Harari]

...but just know that someone's going to sleep well tonight, even if it isn't you.

[So, what's the objective here? The objective is simply for you to listen to the videos and then contemplate our techno-crazy future. Nothing too out of the ordinary.......or is it?]

 

[FireDragon76]

A few months ago we watched Century City, a 2004 science-fiction legal drama which takes place in Los Angeles in 2034. It only ran for one season, unfortunately. It was fascinating to watch how it didn't seem as fictional as it did over a decade ago.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

A few months ago we watched Century City, a 2004 science-fiction legal drama which takes place in Los Angeles in 2034. It only ran for one season, unfortunately. It was fascinating to watch how it didn't seem as fictional as it did over a decade ago.

Yes, some aspects of sci-fi seem to become a bit more possible each decade we move forward. The only caveat is that I'm less concerned about whether or not AI can become sentient as I am concerned about the human powers that be using it for a firmer form of social control. Of course, it's not like they're not already doing this...... and that's one of the interesting things I find about Harari's talk in the video from the World Economic Forum that I posted in the OP. It seems to reflect some aspects of the clip from George Lucas' film, THX-1138. In fact, I think Lucas' movie is a bit more apt as a metaphor for a possible future scenario than is that of Steven Spielberg's, MINORITY REPORT.

 

[FireDragon76]

Yes, some aspects of sci-fi seem to become a bit more possible each decade we move forward. The only caveat is that I'm less concerned about whether or not AI can become sentient as I am concerned about the human powers that be using it for a firmer form of social control. Of course, it's not like they're not already doing this...... and that's one of the interesting things I find about Harari's talk in the video from the World Economic Forum that I posted in the OP. It seems to reflect some aspects of the clip from George Lucas' film, THX-1138. In fact, I think Lucas' movie is a bit more apt as a metaphor for a possible future scenario than is that of Steven Spielberg's, MINORITY REPORT.

In many ways, THX-1138 was just a commentary on social conditions in the 70's. The frequent use of drugs to regulate mood, was, and is, a necessary outcome of a post-Christian culture that still is haunted by the ghost of John Calvin, the author of the western infatuation with a disciplined self-consciousness.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

In many ways, THX-1138 was just a commentary on social conditions in the 70's. The frequent use of drugs to regulate mood, was, and is, a necessary outcome of a post-Christian culture that still is haunted by the ghost of John Calvin, the author of the western infatuation with a disciplined self-consciousness.

I found the following article on possible social implications of THX-1138. I think it's a short but interesting commentary. However, I'd like to see what George Lucas has to say about his film and what 'meanings' he was intending to convey to the audience. While I agree with you that it reflects issues of the 1970s (and LucasFilm apparently does, too, in a very brief kind of way), and we both know there were a lot of dystopian movies that began to come out in the late 60's through the 70's, I'm guessing that Lucas intended for it to imply a bit more than just what was going on in the 1970s.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

In many ways, THX-1138 was just a commentary on social conditions in the 70's. The frequent use of drugs to regulate mood, was, and is, a necessary outcome of a post-Christian culture that still is haunted by the ghost of John Calvin, the author of the western infatuation with a disciplined self-consciousness.

I found the following on youtube, and it's about an hour and a half long. But, I'll have to give it a listen:

THX 1138 - Audio Commentary by George Lucas & Walter Murch

[edited note: I found Lucas' commentary about the 'lizard' which appears for but a moment within the confession scene in THX-1138 to be of interest. He says that he meant for it to be a vague but evocative symbol and theme (his comment on this is between minutes 10:40-11:40). ]

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Wow. Tough crowd!

 

[Tanj]

Wow. Tough crowd!

paraphrasing someone....
We used to gaze at the heavens and wonder about our place amongst the stars, now we gaze at our shoes and worry about our place in the dirt.

Also, if I responded to every thread from a Christian telling me about something they are scared of or something I should be scared of I'd not have time to do anything else.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

paraphrasing someone....
We used to gaze at the heavens and wonder about our place amongst the stars, now we gaze at our shoes and worry about our place in the dirt.

Also, if I responded to every thread from a Christian telling me about something they are scared of or something I should be scared of I'd not have time to do anything else.

Thank you, Tanj, for those interstellar comments! I'm glad you found some time in your busy schedule to stop on by..............................!

 

[Tanj]

Thank you, Tanj, for those interstellar comments! I'm glad you found some time in your busy schedule to stop on by..............................!

People that necro their own thread can't be choosers.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

People that necro their own thread can't be choosers.

Well, you're always welcome to re-animate what you think is otherwise dead.

 

[Tanj]

Well, you're always welcome to re-animate what you think is otherwise dead.

Naah, I leave that icky to others. That which is dead should stay dead...unless you're like...you know...a God...or something.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Naah, I leave that icky to others. That which is dead should stay dead...unless you're like...you know...a God...or something.

So, what do you think of Dr. Yuval Noah Harari's talk?

 

[Tanj]

So, what do you think of Dr. Yuval Noah Harari's talk?

You're going to have to be more specific. He's given a bunch of talks and written a bunch of books. I'm not a big fan of dilettante futurism either.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

You're going to have to be more specific. He's given a bunch of talks and written a bunch of books. I'm not a big fan of dilettante futurism either.

Just the one which I've conveniently placed as the second of my OP videos.

 

[AirPo]

People that necro their own thread can't be choosers.

Thanks, you made this thread worth opening.