Utopia Surrounded by Poverty
From the very first movie with cyberpunk themes - Metropolis - we find a recurring theme of utopian cities surrounded by destitute poverty. Usually the poverty stricken masses are the servants of the elite who live in the utopian city. Often, the inhabitants of the city consider themselves to be the last remnants of an enlightened society. Yet, through their actions to protect “humanity,” they end up destroying its very essence.
Like all of my themes categories, I don’t distinguish here between movies and animes (which are very influential in cyberpunk) - you will see both listed. And yes, I realize I don’t have all cyberpunk android movies listed…yet. I’m still in the process of uploading my reviews. If you have one in mind that you don’t see here, let me know, and I’ll bump it up in priority.
Comments
August 31, 2007
rednotdead said:
I would think that Ergo Proxy should be added to this list. The poverty stricken areas outside Romdeau in that anime aren’t really “serving” the cities, but the people in the utopias do see themsleves as the last of humanity, and do eventually get destroyed in a way.
September 14, 2007
Illusive Mind said:
Great category, althout “utopia” may be too strong a distinction, extreme wealth surrounded by poverty would probably suffice in the dystopic lands of cyberpunk.
February 23, 2009
number18 said:
What about The Big O? I’m not sure you could classify it as hard and gritty, obvious cyberpunk, but there are a number of android characters and possibly sentient giant robots. Most importantly here, there is an elite society living inside giant domes. And even outside of the povetry stricken zones, the setting the characters act in is possibly all controlled and orchestrated by an unknown outside party, as well. Very noir. Good stuff.