| Description |
As the uncertain future of humanity's relationship to technology causes widespread apprehension, themes related to transhuman and posthuman theory have begun to appear in the horror genre. By synthesizing posthuman and transhuman philosophy with horror criticism, this project aims to ascertain these influences and determine the attitudes toward these philosophies reflected in contemporary horror films. In achieving this, the paper will help update the literature to show that horror continues to address societal problems in mainstream entertainment media. Utilizing a case study of David Cronenberg's 2022 film Crimes of the Future, this project finds that the anxieties produced by the incorporation of technology into the human body have impacted filmmakers and audiences alike. This film shows that people are questioning humanity's relationship to technology and contemplating what this entails for the future of the human form. A close analysis of the film reveals that Cronenberg recontextualizes the role of biotechnology in the diegesis of the film and cautions viewers about the consequences of over-reliance on new technologies, especially ones that serve as impediments to evolutionary progress. |
