Technopower, technobodies, technoconsumption: the representation of technoculture in the SF novels of Margaret Atwood

Abstract

The study attempts a technocultural analysis of Margaret Atwood‟s SF novels. It examines the elements of technoculture in her selected writings and argues for the reconstitution of the novelistic society through the technologies of power, body and consumption. The term SF, in the present context, stands for multiple denotations such as science fiction, speculative fiction, speculative feminism, science fact, science fantasy etc. Atwood‟s writings premise the SF category pertaining to their fluid writing style and contemporary concerns. A neologism of critical importance, technoculture finds an inter-disciplinary usage in the academia. The study notes how technological artifacts become elements of technoculture that is technology as a culture to be consumed in different ways by different individuals. The study discusses the philosophy of technology and the idea of culture to form the elemental thematic premise. Here, the word technology traces etymological roots to the Greek techne which is connected to the technics of creativity and knowledge. Further, it states a set of objectives and research questions to approach the thesis topic and investigate the technocultural experience. Divided into five chapters, inclusive of introduction and conclusion, the study intends to undertake an in-depth interpretation of the cultural impact of technology on human and posthuman lives. The first chapter will introduce the notion of SF and locates Margaret Atwood‟s selected writings within this literary genre. It develops a detailed description of technology, culture and technoculture and briefly introduces the three facets under consideration. The second chapter will explore techno-power and its disciplinary dimension. The third chapter will focus on techno-bodies and map different women characters as well as humanoid bodies emblematizing a cyborgian spirit. The fourth chapter will chart the techno-consumption of digital technologies, food and language. The final chapter will concude the thesis followed by limitations and future scope. Overall, the study contends the relevance of SF and examines Atwood‟s selected writings within this genre. It argues for the significance of ustopia and substantiates the stated technocultural facets, namely techno-power, techno-bodies and techno-consumption, through focalized chapters. It is expected to open up new dimensions to Atwood‟s SF scholarship while trying to constructively connect with the inter-disciplinary field of technoculture.