During this week, we read William Gibson’s “Burning Chrome” and watched the X-Files episode written by Gibson titled, “Kill Switch.” In this final after class writing assignment, summarize your reading and viewing, and summarize your notes.
This last after class writing assignment is due before the final exam next week.
No work will be accepted after the final exam.
The X- Flies: Kill Switch, is an episode that differs from the overall story arc of the series. The story starts off with a guy named Donald Geldman sitting at a table with his laptop at a dining room. Donald looks like he’s hacking some sort of computer system maybe the secret government agency at first but then it doesn’t make sense when there’s a whole lot of messages sent out to drug dealers, street criminals, and a couple of U.S. Marshals meet at the diner and everyone including Donald get killed in a shoot out. It isn’t until FBI special agents Mulder and Scully are called in the investigation into the area the shooting in a coffee shop took place; which then leads them to think that the targets were just low level drug dealers and wholesalers only but also the death of Donald Geldman who had been sitting at a table working on his laptop computer which puzzled them at first; that they seek help from the Lone Gunmen. The Lone Gunmen tell Mulder and Scully that Geldman aka was one of the original computer geniuses that vanished long ago. The laptop leads Mulder and Scully to a hacker named Esther Nairn, aka Invisigoth. She tells them of a huge government plot relating a A.I. that lets them to see everything and protect them against all enemies; but something went terribly wrong, it became corrupt and gain deadly intentions so before it’s too late they must stop it. The only way to stop it really to give it the “kill switch, a CD containing a counteracting virus. In class lecture we discussed the brains behind of the series the X-Files Chris Carter from 1993-2002. Finding aliens that have landed on earth without anyone even noticing it’s happening before surrounds the story arc as mentioned before this episode differs from the arc its Cyberpunk S.F a subgenre of Science Fiction. Mulder who believes in aliens are here on earth is taken seriously or even his partner Scully so they are often take cases that seem to be hard to explained with normal cause or reason and they are set on a mission to to prove the truth that aliens do exist.
Burning Chrome, a short story written by William Gibson is a cyberpunk story where two of the well-known best hackers name Bobby Quine a hardware specialist and Automatic Jack who’s a software expert. The two are on a mission one day take on one of the most huge security breaking job of their whole lives in their career of hacking. The job is to burn across the network lines of well known and dangerous criminal name Chrome, whose a money handler for the Yakuza a Japanese crime syndicate and other planned crime factions, and take it head on. Though Jack and Quine need help for this big heist so they gain it by recruiting help from Rikki, a girl who isn’t as much help at all she really just trouble with a capital T when it comes down to the plan mission being successful complete but they feel some sort of attraction to her. The three faces a lot of issues such as the extreme defenses of security in order to breach the system to gather all the money they are set to obtain. Though they are successful in emptying all the bank accounts they were totally blown away with shock that Rikki who they hired to help was in league with Chrome the one they are stealing from and the rest of the other gangs. Rikki doubles cross them in the end taking the money and leaves them behind. Riccki then buys what her eyes were set on the beginning with the help of her earrings to buy cybernetic eye implants and to go to Hollywood the end. In class lecture we discussed that author William Gibson and his life of coming up with the term or idea of cyber space. As a writer he did most of his writings on a old fashioned Hermes 2,000 typewriter Empanadas Overdrive cam out. As we moved on we found that the five characteristics of Cyberpunk S.F. was 1st near future, 2nd interfaces where two things meet: body & machines along with the fusion of machines & human body = cyborg any life form that emit ages tech 3rd. Networks of cobalt capital circulation of money and interconnected net works 4th. surfaces we know char archer by names idea there’s no longer a surface of the person only care for their looks, stop what’s seen not within the inside and last the5th. Punk sense abilities equals two core challenges authority plus hard-boiled pros means straightforward writing no experiment writing at all.
Mike Paar
After Class Summery
5/16/16 5/18/16
“Burning Chrome,” by William Gibson, is seen as an early example of Cyberpunk Science Fiction. Set in the near future, as most Cyberpunk is, it focuses on two hackers, Bobby Quine and Automatic Jack, as they attempt to break into and steal the finances of a dangerous criminal, Chrome. They do this by acquiring a program that would easily break past Chrome’s software defenses known as ICE. While Jack dealt more with the hardware end of the duo and has a cybernetic arm after a hang glider accident, Bobby deals with the software and views himself as a ladies man. Prior to the events of the hacking, Bobby got involved with a girl named Rikki. But Jack eventually found himself falling for Rikki as well. When Bobby acquired the program that would allow them to break into Chrome’s matrix, Jack was against making the move, seeing it as being too dangerous. But Bobby insisted that they move forward, with the intent that he would give money to Rikki for eye surgery so that she could move to Hollywood.
They proceed with the hack and manage to easily infiltrate and steal Chrome’s finances. Almost instantly,Chrome’s clients and enemies moved in on her to take her out now that she didn’t have the money to protect her. With Chrome out of the picture, Bobby and Jack were safe from any repercussion. But Rikki took the money and moved on from Bobby and Jack, leaving them behind, saddened for losing the woman they both loved.
We also watched the X-Files episode, “Kill Switch,” an episode also written by William Gibson. This episode is regarded as a monster of the week episode, as in one that doesn’t pertain to the main story arch of the show. In it, Mulder and Scully investigate the death of a computer genius who died under mysterious circumstances. It is determined that he was killed by a computer AI that he created but at the time was trying to destroy for being too sentient. They reluctantly enlist the help of a computer hacker who had worked on the AI herself and was planning on uploading her consciousness to cyberspace, but the AI begins tracking them, attempting to kill them through a military orbital system. Upon locating the trailer containing the AI’s hardware, the hacker locks herself in and uploads herself before the trailer is destroyed while Mulder and Scully watch from a distance.
William Gibson is seen as one of the pioneers of the Cyberpunk genre of SF, some see it as a movement response to the politics and capitalist tactics of the 70’s and 80’s while incorporating the influence technology was having on everyday life by that time. The movement as a whole looked to return SF back to it’s pre New Wave essence. The genres characteristics included that its stories tend to be set in the near future. It largely is about interfaces, such as the meeting of body and machine or brain and computer, while also being about Networks, connecting technology, people and politics together. On a psychological level, it is more about what is seen on the surface, meaning how we present ourselves in any given situation rather than deeper intent. And finally it maintains punk sensibilities coming out of the punk movement of the 70’s, such as challenging authority and maintaining a hard boiled prose.
In class we watched an episode of the X-Files called “Kill Switch”, written by William Gibson. Fox Mulder and Dana Scully are investigators looking into the death of a computer hacker type man who died in a diner after multiple gangs were informed that a certain person of interest (negative person, not positive) was located there. After all the gangs enter, police show up, and there is a massive shootout, killing the computer guy. Mulder and Scully investigate and find that the mastermind behind this is a computer artificial intelligence which the computer guy invented, however upon trying to destroy it, it killed him. The two find a hacker who worked with the computer guy to try and stop the AI, but the AI tracks them, and attempts to kill them on multiple occasions, one being with a military orbital strike. Mulder is trapped by the AI in the base of the AI, and Scully and the hacker find him as Mulder fights the AI mentally. The hacker stays inside the base while Scully gets Mulder out, to which the base blows up, leaving us to wonder if the hacker had sent her consciousness into the AI system as she wanted to.
William Gibson wrote the story “Burning Chrome”, which is set in the not-so-distant future. Bobby Quine and Automatic Jack are two hackers attempting to steal money from Chrome, a criminal. They use a certain system to get passed Chrome’s ICE defense system. Before this heist, Bobby falls for a girl named Rikki, but Jack also falls for her shortly after this. After Jack was against going through with it, being that Bobby was the techy and Jack was more hands on, Bobby goes through with it, easily taking down Chrome’s matrix. But after they get the money, Rikki takes the money and disappears from the two.
William Gibson used his writing on cyberpunk to mention certain tactics taking place in the 70’s and 80’s while keeping the technological influences of that time. Many of his stories were set in near future, and focused largely on interface, much like the cyborg, meshing body and technology, but also banded together networks to convey the merging of technology, politics and people. Much of the work of “cyberpunk” came of the 70’s punk movement; challenging the social norms and authority of that time, which was seen as a sort of revolution.
Cyberpunk sometimes referred to as a movement or a subgenre of science fiction. It is a kind of science fiction that imagine the near future where computer technology, body enhancements and global networks result in new possibilities and challenges. Cyberpunk was present in the 1960s – 70s. The 1960s-70s is characterized by the counterculture of the society, Cold War and the Military Industrial complex. People were experimenting with mind altering drugs and rebellion against the government through civil disobedience and protest. Post WWII many manufacturing jobs were shipped overseas where the labor and materials were cheaper. The world was engulf in the Cold War, the U.S and U.S.S.R. Government was increasing its power and intervening in foreign affairs; often fighting proxy wars.
Some cyberpunk works of the time include “The Space Merchant” (1953), “A clockwork Orange” (1962), “The Mulder Falker Effect” (1970), “The Girl who was Plugged In” (1973), “True Names” (1981)
The name cyberpunk comes from a story in published in the magazine Amazing Stories, written by Bruce Bethke. Norbert Wiener coined the term cybernetics to mean self sustaining systems. Cyberpunk was see as a sort of return to the roots of science fiction.
5 characteristic of cyberpunk
Near future
It’s about interfaces – the body and the machine, brain and computer, cyborg – is the fusion of body and machine (any lifeform whose existence is mediated by technology).
Networks –
Surfaces – what is seen rather what is on the inside. (difference audience / different presentation).Way they present their character.
Punk sensibilities
A. Challenge authority
B. Hard boiled pros. Straight forward, not a lot of metaphors, not poetic, no experimentation
For Monday’s class (5/16/2016) we read the story Burning Chrome by William Gibson.
“Burning Chrome” is a story about two mercenary hackers – Jack and Quine. Jack acquires a piece of technology that enable one to crack any security system. The person who sold it to them didn’t know what it was. Bobby meets a girl name Rikki and wants to impress her with money so they steal all the money from a criminal known as Chrome. They recognize that stealing is wrong but they are stealing from a criminal. Chrome operate a brothel in which a person can disconnect their mind from their body and a person can do whatever they want to the body. They succeed in emptying his bank account and without any money for protection Chrome is tried for her crimes. Rikki gets new designer eyes and heads for Hollywood leaving the duo sadden.
For Wednesday’s class (5/18/2016) we watch a episode of “The X-Files” titled Kill Switch. The episode is about artificial intelligence and virtual reality. An A.I has become self aware, Its creator is attempting to destroy it but it is trying to preserve itself any way possible. The A.I kills it’s creator but the kill switch program is safe. Mulder eventually locates the A.I to a trailer in Fairfax. Mulder is captured and locked in cyberspace, where the A.I tortures him to get the location of the kill switch. Meanwhile the A.I has been attempting to kill Mulder and Ester. Ester is an acquaintance to the creator of the A.I. the find Mulder and Ester uploads the kill switch into the A.I and targets the trailer with a missles. Mulder and Scully escape and before the destruction of the trailer, ester attempt to upload her mind. It is uncertain if she was successful or if the A.I is still operating.
“Burning Chrome” by William Gibson is Cyberpunk Science Fiction. Story begin with telling the story of two free-lance hackers – Automatic Jack, the narrator and a hardware specialist; and Bobby Quine, a software expert. Bobby becomes infatuated with a girl named Rikki and wants to become wealthy in order to impress her. Jack has acquired a powerful Russian “icebreaker” program that can penetrate corporate security systems. Bobby suggests that they use it to break into the system of a notorious and vicious criminal known as Chrome, who handles money transfers for organized crime, and Jack reluctantly agrees to help. The break-in is successful, and Jack and Bobby empty Chrome’s bank accounts, but they discover afterward that Rikki had been working in a brothel with ties to Chrome. She uses her earnings to buy a set of cybernetic eye implants for herself and go to Hollywood; the news leaves both men devastated, as they have grown to love her, and Jack never sees her again.
From X-files the episodes we watched its “Kill Switch” begin with Mulder and Scully’s investigation into a mass shooting in a coffee shop leads them to believe that the targets were not the low level drug dealers and wholesalers who were killed but rather Donald Geldman who had been sitting at a table working on his laptop computer. The Lone Gunmen tell Mulder and Scully that Geldman was one of the original computer geniuses who disappeared years before. His laptop leads the agents to a hacker, Esther Nairn, who goes by the name Invisigoth. She tells them of a vast government conspiracy involving artificial intelligence that allows them to see everything and take action against all enemies.
In the class we talked about Cyberpunk and the characteristic of cyber punk. 5 characteristic of cyber punk
1. near future,
2. it’s about interfaces – the body and the machine, brain and computer, cyber – is the fusion of body and machine (any life form whose existence is mediated by technology),
3. Networks,
4. Surfaces – what is seen rather what is on the inside. (Difference audience / different presentation).Way they present their character and
5. Punk sensibilities (Challenge authority and hard boiled pros)
Mathew Tackett
5/24/2016
For class today we watched an episode of the X-Files called “Kill Switch” and discussed cyberpunk science fiction in depth after the episode had finished. The “Kill Switch” is about an AI intelligence that exists in cyberspace out of human control. Originally created by two cyber hackers who were in love as a way to live past their frail human forms. The AI is corrupted over time when it was released onto the internet and eventually went rogue trying to kill the people who created it. The only way to stop it, would be to deliver a CD with the kill switch virus on it directly into the CD drive where the AI has made its home. Mulder finds the trailer first and the AI manages to input him directly into a matrix like world where he suffers dismemberment and hallucinations in the AI’s attempts to gain knowledge of who has the kill switch. Eventually Scully and Visigoth find the trailer and save Mulder’s life, but inputting the kill switch into the AI’s drive. The AI then targets the trailer for destruction but before it can Visigoth enters the machine to upload her consciousness into the subnet the AI has created. The episode ends with a creepy trailer in a park that has the same sort of set up the original AI had. The ending was left vague for speculation and suspense as to make you wonder if Visigoth managed to upload herself into the subnet successfully. We then discussed the different characteristics of cyberpunk science fiction.
Burning Chrome is an early example of the cyberpunk genre written by William Gibson. The story is about two hackers automatic jack and bobby quine, jack being the hardware specialist and bobby the software expert, and their eventual heist against a known criminal, chrome. Bobby is the one who insists on doing it after they obtain a program that can pass any security mainly to impressive his love interest Rikki, who jack also falls for. They succeed in emptying out chromes bank accounts but Rikki takes the money and flees to Hollywood while at the same time acquiring the cybernetic eyes she wanted. This is the first story to actually coin the term cyberspace by Gibson, even though he never used a computer prior to writing this. The kill switch episode of the x files, written by Gibson and created by Chris carter, was about an A.I that decides to kill its master before he is able to stop his creation. This leads the shows lead characters fox Mulder and dana scully on an investigation to find out what happened. This leads to the discovery of the a.i where it is seemingly stopped but in ambiguous ending could prove otherwise. In class we discussed how Gibson was a pioneer in the cyberpunk scene and at this time cyberpunk sf writers wanted to bring sf back to its roots, before the new wave. It focused back on the technology, more importantly how technology could be used to augment a person physically and mentally. This was explored a bit in the kill switch episodes as two characters seemed to enter the “cyberspace” after death.
“Burning Chrome,” was written by William Gibson in 1982. It is seen as an early example of Cyberpunk Science Fiction. It tells a tale of two hackers, Automatic Jack and Bobby Quine. The duo plans a heist on a criminal named Chrome. They use a program called the ICE to break into the system of Chrome. A female named Rikki, was also involved with Jack and Quine. However after the successful heist, Rikki betrays them and takes the money. She uses the money to purchase eye implants. The five characteristics of Cyberpunk S.F. was: near future, interfaces. Networks, surfaces, Punk sensibility.
We watched X-Files: Kill Switch written by William Gibson and Tom Maddox. The episode is about an artificial intelligence that has become self-aware. Its creator, Gelman, is attempting to destroy it by creating a kill switch. The AI is trying to preserve itself. The A.I tracks down and kills its creator using an orbital laser. However the kill switch program is eventually revealed to have been given away. Mulder the X-Files agent eventually locates the A.I to a trailer in Fairfax. Mulder is captured and locked in cyberspace, where the A.I tortures him to get the location of the kill switch. Meanwhile the A.I has been attempting to kill Scully and Ester. Ester is a friend of Gelmen. Ester reveals that she has the kill switch CD and uploads the kill switch into the A.I. she then targets the trailer for destruction. Mulder and Scully escape and before the destruction of the trailer.
In class we watched an episode of the X-Files called “Kill Switch”, written by William Gibson. The episode begins with agents Mulder and Scully investigating the death of a computer hacker which is then kill. While agents Mulder and Scully investigate the hacker death they realized that’s the person responsible for his death was a computer who develop artificial intelligent which the hacker himself invented and tried to destroy it but it was too late. The AI trieds to also find two other hackers that’s knew how to kill it so that’s they would not disable his system. After several issue encounter they find the AI and kill it.
Burning Chrome, a short story written by William Gibson also relate to the X-File episode since is also about two hackers who are on a mission to one day break into this high security program to take a large sum of money.
In class with discuss the 5 charateristics of cyberpunk which are
1. near future,
2. it’s about interfaces – the body and the machine, brain and computer, cyber – is the fusion of body and machine (any life form whose existence is mediated by technology),
3. Networks,
4. Surfaces – what is seen rather what is on the inside. (Difference audience / different presentation).Way they present their character and
5. Punk sensibilities (Challenge authority and hard boiled pros)