Cyberpunk

Cyberpunk (a portmanteau of cybernetics and punk) is a genre of science fiction that focuses on computers or information technology, usually coupled with some degree of breakdown in social order. The plot of cyberpunk literature often revolves around the conflict between hackers, artificial intelligences, and mega corporations, tending to be set within a near-future dystopian Earth, rather than the "outer space" locales prevalent at the time of cyberpunk's inception. Much of the genre's "atmosphere" echoes film noir, and written works in the genre often use techniques from detective fiction. While this gritty, hard-bitten style was hailed as revolutionary during cyberpunk's early days, later observers concluded that, literarily speaking, most cyberpunk narrative techniques were less innovative than those of the New Wave, twenty years earlier. Primary exponents of the cyberpunk field include William Gibson, Bruce Sterling, John Shirley and Rudy Rucker. The term became widespread in the 1980s and remains current today.

Related Topics:
Portmanteau - Cybernetics - Punk - Science fiction - Computers - Information technology - Hacker - Artificial intelligence - Mega corporations - Dystopian - Film noir - Detective fiction - New Wave - William Gibson - Bruce Sterling - John Shirley - Rudy Rucker - 1980s

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

During the early- and mid-1980s, cyberpunk became a fashionable topic in academic circles, where it began to be the subject of postmodernist investigation. During the same period, the genre penetrated Hollywood and helped propel cyberpunk as one of staples of science-fiction. Many popular, high-grossing films such as Blade Runner and the Matrix trilogy can be seen as prominent developments of the genre's visual styles and themes. Computer games, board games and role playing games often feature storylines that are heavily influenced by cyberpunk literature and film. Beginning in the early 1990s, trends in fashion and music picked up the cyberpunk name.

Related Topics:
1980s - Academic circles - Postmodernist - Hollywood - Blade Runner - ''Matrix'' trilogy - Role playing game - 1990s - Fashion - Music

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As a wider variety of writers began to work with cyberpunk concepts, new sub-genres emerged such as steampunk, biopunk and cyberprep, each of which focuses on technology and its societal effects in a different way. In addition, some have argued that several recent works like Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash define a postcyberpunk category, though whether this category is distinct may only be a matter of definition.

Related Topics:
Steampunk - Biopunk - Cyberprep - Neal Stephenson - Snow Crash - Postcyberpunk

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~