Surrogates

Work Title: Surrogates
Medium: Film
Episode Title:
Year: 2009
Writer(s): Michael Ferris
"Original" Writer: Yes Writer(s): John D. Brancato
"Original" Writer: Yes Writer(s): Robert Venditti
"Original" Writer: Yes Writer(s): Brett Weldele
"Original" Writer: Yes Own work?: Yes
Summary:

People are living their lives remotely from the safety of their own homes via robotic surrogates -- sexy, physically perfect mechanical representations of themselves. It's an ideal world where crime, pain, fear and consequences don't exist. When the first murder in years jolts this utopia, FBI agent Greer discovers a vast conspiracy behind the surrogate phenomenon and must abandon his own surrogate, risking his life to unravel the mystery. Written by Touchstone Pictures imdb.com

  • Self-Written?:
  • Source Name: IMDB
  • Source URL:
Era/Year of Portrayal: near_future
Distinctive characteristics of the world in portrayal:

robots, laser weapons

Technology

  • Name of portrayed presence-evoking technology: surrogates, units
  • Description of the technology: The indvidual is hooked up to a stem chair where they're able to control their unit. The user is able to control their surrogate while sitting at home. The users of the surrogates are so immerse in the technology that they feel no need to leave the house.
  • Nature of task or activity: everyday activities
  • Performance of the Technology: The technology is supposed to eliminate crime but the technology fails when someone is murdered.
  • Description of creator(s): older male. Father/creator of surrogates Lionel Canter
  • Major goal(s) of creator(s): To elimnate crime, disease, and discrimination
  • Description of users of technology: people of all races, genders, and ages use the surrogates/units.
  • Type(s) of presence experience in the portrayal: both
  • Description of presence experience: The user of the surrogates is able to experience everything the surrogates experience by just simply signing on.
  • User awareness of technology during experience: Although the users are aware that they are using the surrogates they didn't know how much they depended on them until Agent Tom Greer disabled all the surrogates at the end.
  • Valence of experience: The users of these surrogates enjoy the presence because it allows them to be whoever they want.
  • Specific responses: Some of the users appeared to enjoy the use of the surrogates because it allowed them to escape from social judgement.
Long-term consequences:

The story ends with agent Greer disabling the surrogates because the surrogates were no longer safe.

Other:

Coder name: Noelle Allen
Coder email: tua56839@temple.edu
Coder affiliation: Temple University