The
Gender of Science Fiction:
I,
Robot:
misogyny and the heroic irony of Dr. Susan Calvin
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The male bias
of early science fiction
- Historical
reasons: audience of adolescent boys
- Fantasy
allure of science: geek bodies and phallic objects (rockets,
weapons)
- S/f conducts
the gender stereotypes of its audience and authors
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Dr. Susan
Calvin as an object of ridicule
- The "woman
scientist" as a contradiction in terms
- Calvin
as an object of scorn: name, appearance, radically alone
- But, Calvin
emerges as the 'hero' of I, Robot: why?
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"Little
Lost Robot"
- Calvin's
understanding of the resentment of domination
- Hiding
by dissimulating difference
- Calvin's
solution: 3 tests
- "She
understands robots like a sister"
- Calvin
as the hero who solves the problem
- Calvin's
irony about man; her grasp of the positive potential of
robots
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The
Evolution of the Robot/ Computer in I, Robot
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Story
(first publication)
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The
evolving morphology of the robot |
the
problem for humans |
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"Robbie"
(1940)
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Robot
(Robbie) as a cool toy:
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domestic
social problem: is this the proper playmate for a human child?
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"Runaround"
(1942)
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Automated
worker robot (Speedy) with some independent functions:
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how
can we get this tool to behave the way we want him to? |
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"Reason"
(1941)
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A
robot (Cutie) who has powers of independent speculative thinking:
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if
we cannot refute its ideas, how can humans control of this
intelligent agent?
If it does its job better than humans, why bother? |
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"Catch
That Rabbit" (1944)
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Robot
(Dave) who manages other workers:
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how
prevent robot anxiety at moments of decision? |
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"Liar!"(1941)
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A
mind reading robot (Herbie) who takes an interest in humans:
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how
can we stop it from obeying our covert rather than overt commands?
responding to our unconscious rather than conscious desires?
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"Little
Lost Robot" (1947)
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A
robot (Nestor 10) whose intelligence rivals mans:
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how
prevent it from developing a superiority complex and challenging
human priority? |
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"Escape!"
(1945)
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non-humanoid
computer, "the Brain," as a center of control; only
it can understand the space ship it designs and then
controls:
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how
prevent this complex mainframe brain from treating humans
with condescension, (here) from making us the butt of its
jokes? |
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"Evidence"
(1946)
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The development
of the humanoid robot (Stephen Byerley) to the point of
perfect simulation: the cyborg is conceived:
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why
shouldn't these humanoid robots be accepted as full participants
in our social and political life?
Won't their mental and ethical superiority make them our natural
leaders? |
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"The
Inevitable Conflict" (1950)
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The
humanoid robot (Byerley) invistigates the "machine"
that controls the world economy:
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why
shouldn't we accept a regime of total control by the machines?
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