Cyberpunk

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What is Cyberpunk?

Cyberpunk is a science-fiction sub-genre dealing with the integration of society and technology in dystopian settings. Often referred to as “low-life and high tech,” Cyberpunk stories deal with outsiders (punks) who fight against the oppressors in society (usually mega corporations that control everything) via technological means (cyber). If the punks aren’t actively fighting against a megacorp, they’re still dealing with living in a world completely dependent on high technology.

Cyberpunk characteristics include:

Dystopian city setting where mega-corporations rule
Full integration of technology into society, featuring cybernetic implants
Outsider protagonists (punks) who often are very familiar with the technology around them
Hard boiled detective and film noir vibes and influence
Themes dabbling in trans-humanism, existentialism, and what it means to be human.

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What do dystopias look like in 2024? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 7 months ago by [email protected] to c/cyberpunk

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What's the next wave of dystopia in popular culture?

I think the classic CRTs, mirrorshades, and black synthleather look of cyberpunk doesn't really work with our expectations in 2024.

In the 70s and 80s, we expected acid rain, ozone holes, and lawlessness to fill our future, as companies took over from (relatively) responsible governments and civility/civilization collapsed. The outfit fit with that: keep the burning rain and sun off, while protecting against looters and raiders. Meanwhile, writers didn't see how technology would shrink and get better.

In 2024 we expect our dystopia to be hot: the world is heating up, so black synthleather is out. Maybe mirrorshades stick around. Corporations aren't taking over any more, governments are becoming corrupt/evil (e.g. Hunger Games). And technology is tinsy tiny, verging on invisible.

I'm thinking of the Hunger Games and Upload. (And the first five episodes of Fallout)

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Corporations aren't taking over any more

I beg to differ! Both people and governments are more reliant than ever on a handful of tech companies. Most of them aren't your classic cyberpunk megacorp (though we do have some like Samsung which fit the bill) but the likes of Google, Apple, and Amazon have an incredible amount of influence and power over their users, as well as the capital to buy out any industry they want to take over.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

I agree, but I'm thinking of pop culture references.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

I think Amazon is actually as close as we can currently get to a Cyberpunk corpo entity.