Critical Article #2

Transcendence through Detournement in William Gibson's Neuromancer is the title of my second critical article by the critic Glenn Grant. Grant discusses the theme of transcendence through technology in Neuromancer by William Gibson. Grant divides his essay into nine topics.

Critics.

1. People as Systems 
It starts of by noting examples of Gibson’s odd sense of description and word choice. Example: Meat puppets. Some critics may accuse him of being a hipster and only dealing in surfaces. However the Grant preaches the genius behind Gibson’s work.

2. Solid Memories

In Neuromancer computers are metaphors to human memory. Similarly to memory in computers it can easily be changed. In the book the main character Case uses drugs to attempt to duplicate the disembodiment of cyberspace, which he so desperately wants. A long story short, in the beginning of the book Case lacks motivation to live and his past negative memories have programmed him for self destruction. 

3. To Kill Death

Death To the main characters in Neuromancer death is not the same as it is to you and me. It is not a hard to kill someone, walk away then go have some drinks; in fact that does happens. Molly actually takes pleasure when coming across death.


*NOTE- THE NEXT 6 ARTICLES ASSUME THAT YOU HAVE READ FAR INTO THE NOVEL. I HAVE NOT.*

4. The Street Finds Its Own Uses for Things
 In Gibson’s world it is all about technology, cyberspace, satellites, holograms computer hacking the whole 9 yards. Although we are a technology driven society Gibson’s world thinks little if religion, community action and related actions.

5. Looting the Crypts
The title refers to the looting of Egyptian burial grounds. A character in the book name Dixie dies and her personality is sealed up similarly to what the Egyptians would do wit ha Pharaoh’s ba. Case come in handy because he knows what spells will open the crypt. 

6. Subversive Tech

This topic focused a lot on other authors and how they implemented technology into their books. Titles include My Destination (1956) Gravity's Rainbow (1973) The Shockwave Rider (1975), all of them are books that have influenced Gibson in some way since Neuromancer was released in 1984.

7. Babylon Systems

Unlike the majority of other authors Gibson understands that the "Babylon System has its own forms of detournement, techniques of exploitation and social control, homeostatic mechanisms that maintain the status quo." (Glenn Grant)

8. Twisted Out of Rigid Alignments

This article outlines the sucnificance of being able to change ones nature. It makes reference to Dixie who is seeking dissolution but cannot mave forward because all he knows is hard-wear. Gibson thinks that t is not easy for someone to change in a short period of time although it is possible with practice. 

9. Electronic Syzygy
"Experience leaves permanent memory-traces which define personality."  Pretty much sums up the topic. It talks about how important experience is. Grant also mentions that every event in Neuromancer as set to serve a purpose. That being to allow Marie-France Tessier-Ashpool to become immortal by her technological attempt to transcend death.


http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/GLD/hits?r=d&origSearch=false&o=DataType&n=10&l=d&h=1100056438&c=1&locID=stc23378&secondary=false&u=CLC&t=KW&s=3&NA=William+Gibson

Glenn Grant, "Transcendence through Detournement in William Gibson's Neuromancer." Science-Fiction Studies 17, no. 1 (March 1990): 41-9.