In today’s video “Voices from a Distant Star” a prevalent theme that is seen, is that of the struggle between nature and technology. The video takes place sometime in the future, and it shows a long distance relationship that takes place between different solar systems. When we see the young couple together they are fifteen, and Mikako is about to leave her boyfriend Noboru to fight the Tarsians. They only way for them to communicate is through text messages via their cell phones. As Mikako travels farther into space, it takes longer for the messages to reach each because of the differences in relative time. It takes a toll on the couple, emotionally, to not be able to communicate with each other but for every eight years of so. However towards the end, they learn to talk to each other in their thoughts. They have a deep connection that allows their thoughts to be received faster than their electronic messages.
Another example is seen when Mikako encounters the Tarsian who is at first portrayed to be very similar to her. Mikako is in her robot destroying the vegetation on this earth-like planet, when she finds “herself.” When she realizes that it is a Tarsian, she destroys it. She never really had a chance to talk to it, or realize why she was engaging in combat with it. She did so simply because the computer voice told her to do so. She has been trained to view them as the enemy without really knowing why.
The director of this video, is establishing the struggle between nature and technology as a means of communication. This takes place in a distant future, yet technology isn’t very different from how it is today. The characters use outdated cellphones to send text messages and the earth looks very similar to how it does today. Even the means of transportation are the same; a bike, bus, train. I don’t believe the director is so much trying to portray technology as a bad thing, as much as point out its limitations. In doing so, he shows that there are more effective, more natural, ways to get things done that don’t require technology.
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I agree with your statement that there are “natural” means that have proven to be more effective and efficient in getting things done than fully relying on technology to get it done for us. Your opinion is well illustrated with the example of Mikako and Noboru first communicating through text messages and then with their thoughts. The example reminds me of the many stories I have heard of people who instant message each other even when they are in the same room or of people who are able to communicate through text message but are unable to communicate in person.
ReplyDeletePhone technology has evolved to the point where in addition to talking, phones offer users the ability to take videos/pictures, text message, play games, access the internet, etc. Phones are effective in keeping friends and family connected, but an aspect of personal connection is lost in translation. You can laugh, make faces, or use hand gestures when you talk to emphasize a point, but the person on the other line cannot see it and is not able to fully understand the point you are trying to make. The technology today involved with video chat is attempting to allow people to fully grasp the experience of talking; people are able to communicate both verbally and nonverbally.
Even though Mikako and Noboru are able to communicate through text message, it is rarely and are only able to say very little. Through their thoughts, they are able to have a genuine connection to each other and can say whatever they would like to each other. Nothing is lost in translation and there is no indication of the time that has passed since they’ve last talked to each other in person.
I believe your summary of the story is excellent, Giovanna, as well as your argument that the movie maker creates tension between 'nature' versus technology. However, your definition of nature confuses me. It seems as though you are using the term connote the lack of technology involved in an exchange. However, is the connection of the minds in the 'thought sharing' of the two main characters Mikako and her boyfriend really natural? I interpreted nature to be the mutual attraction between the two main characters - it is in the nature of all humans to seek love as well as to love. Technology is portrayed as being divisive - separating the two characters and therefore straining their relationship - hence, I agree with the gist of the technology vs. nature conflict. However, rather than nature being simply a connection supplied without technology (How in reality could two minds connect? The only possibility would be through technology!), I thought the definition of nature entailed the relationship between Mikako and Noboru.
ReplyDeleteYou summarized "Voices of a Distant Star" very well. The aspect of the video that resonated with me the most was your point made in your last paragraph. This story seemed to take place in a very technologically advanced society. However, this advancement was only present in some fields of the world. Mikako's occupation in the army in space represents the technologically advanced portion of the video whereas, as Giovanna mentioned, the outdated cell phones, presence of bikes, buses, and trains does the opposite. I would imagine that once we reach a point in which space wars exist, our cell phones will have advanced significantly. In addition, I could not fathom sending troops out into space without an effective means of communication for them to rely on. On that same note, how would we know the progress of these battles if all of our information was delayed by eight years?
ReplyDeleteI think a theme that was well represented though this video was the excessive reliance on technology - but more specifically cell phones. At one point in the video, it looked as though Mikako nearly lost her cell phone. As this part passed, I was thinking about how heavily reliant she was on this one piece of technology. Had she lost it, she would no longer be able to communicate with Noburu - or anyone else for that matter. This reminds me of the current dependence on cell phones. I could take myself as an example. Several weeks ago I lost my cell phone for about a week. It was as though my world was turned upside down. Not only was my cell phone a means of communication socially, but also professionally. All of the sudden, I was incapable of receiving phone calls about my internship, and text messages about club meetings. I no longer had an alarm to wake up to in the morning, nor my calendar with every event written down. I may be an extreme case of this, but I do know that it is common for people to use all the different features offered by their phones. However, one can easily have their phone change from an accessory to a necessity, something we saw happen to Mikako.
Nature does seem to offer a prominent theme in the film, though what that theme is, seems open to interpretation. In one sense, yes, there is an obvious opposition between what we traditionally conceive of as the natural world (animals, grass, etc.) and the "mecha" that Mikako's space force uses. But at the same time, some feature allows Mikako to render the armor around her transparent, so that she can experience the sublimity of the natural world from an amazing vantage point, suspended in the sky.
ReplyDeleteI like Jasmine's thought that nature can be seen in terms of "human" nature, in this case not just the affection and love that we feel for fellow humans but also the will to exploration. Some people are built to wander.
As for overreliance on things like cell phones, I have to admit I personally abhor the amount of effort that it takes to load data into PDAs and keep them updated in the interest of "being more efficient." But when you lose a phone do you really lose your "life" so much as just the connections that make living life easier?