Metropolis

Work Title: Metropolis
Medium: Film
Episode Title:
Year: 1926
Writer(s): Fritz Lang
"Original" Writer: Yes Own work?: No

Summary:

In the futuristic city of Metropolis, the upper classes live in luxury, while the lower classes work beneath the city. Maria (a beautiful woman) is captured by a mad scientist and replaced with a robotic replica who leads the lower class into revolt.

Self-Written?: 1
Source Name:
Source URL:

Era/Year of Portrayal: distant_future

Distinctive characteristics of the world in portrayal:

Machinary is everywhere and the working class lives underground.

Technology

Name of portrayed presence-evoking technology: android/robot replica of "Maria"
Description of the technology: The android simulation of the "Maria" character evokes presence on at least three levels. First, she possess a quality that is similar enough to humanity to take on the persona of the woman she has replaced. Second, she is charasmatic enough to lead the lower class into revolt. Third, although intended to be portrayed as a machine impersonating a human, she takes on an unmistakably gendered manner and appearance.
Nature of task or activity: Interaction.
Performance of the Technology: Functions perfectly. The viewer is to be awed by the sophistication of robotic/android technology.
Description of creator(s): The creators are male scientists.
Major goal(s) of creator(s): N/A
Description of users of technology: The lower classes experience the technology but do not "use" it.
Type(s) of presence experience in the portrayal: both
Description of presence experience: The presence experience is like beholding, observing, interacting with a real person even though that person is a technological device.
User awareness of technology during experience: No awareness. The android is accepted as a woman.
Valence of experience: N/A
Specific responses: N/A

Long-term consequences:

N/A

Other:

Coder name: Matthew Jones
Coder email: matjones@temple.edu
Coder affiliation: Temple University

February 6, 2015