The Investigation

Unfortunately I was unable to do the reading for this week, but I would like to take a look at the two "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicle" episodes we did in class and how they relate to a reading I did for my 4002 syllabus assignment. In an essay written by Garrett Stewart entitled "Videology" he claims that science fiction movies and television are a medium for man to produce fiction of the conceived sciences of tomorrow. Essentially science fiction on the screen is a form of representation for the possibilities of the future, but also as a depiction of the undiscovered, or non apparent structures in society. This relates back to Peter's article which we read earlier on in the semester which discusses how science fiction is a "portal" to the possibilities of the future and shows us just what man may be capable of accomplishing. Garrett examines science fiction in a very positive way, declaring that it not only represents the perhaps future, but also uses its inherent "unusual spectacles" to depict the present and emphasize issues that are in society today. "The Sarah Connors Chronicles" engages in this investigation, this quest of discovery, but in an unusual fashion. Typical of many science fiction films, including "Screamers" which was viewed in class, the film commences with the technology already in existence, and through the development of a problem or corruption, the narrative entails an investigation into the past to see what the early creators covered up, but did not make disappear. For most films the problem originated at the root of the technologies birth, and therefore technology, or such advancements are viewed as corporate ploys to enhance monetary gain, but not always. Where the "Terminator" Sega differs is that the technology already exists, yet does not yet exist and the plot unfolds around the discovery of where the development of new technology went wrong. In the future machines dominate the Earth and seek out humans to destroy them, where in the present, machines still serve mankind. So quite uniquely the investigation is centred around preventing what has already come to pass (stop the development of Skynet), while simultaneously keeping the time line in check (keeping John Connor alive).
This investigation is emphasized by the police officers "interrogation" and investigation of the death of an employee as the result of a computer. Although he is attempting to discover whether or not the computer had essentially meant to kill the man, what he is really doing is attempting to determine whether or not a computer has the ability to "feel" or to form prejudice. Like he says, the computer had no ethics and therefore placed his "life" above that of humans. Perhaps the TV series is suggesting that this was where the technology originally went wrong. Garrett claims that science fiction exposes issues of contemporary society, and "investigates the propogandistic grips of all spectacle upon the credulous and unwary". So the Terminator series, that commences in media res, examines how the notion of flashy technology can blind the unquestioning mind of its possible dangers, or uses.
Both episodes watched in class pose this question of the nature of the terminators, as the future John Connor is capable of reprogramming terminators to help his cause. So are machines good, or bad? Or is it just their programming? Or programmer? The show doesn't reach a definite conclusion, because although John Connor's terminator body guard is returned to her protective status, she herself tells Sarah that next time she should be destroyed not rescued, because she understands that she is a volatile liability. Yet, the police officers investigation determines that the computer that killed the man was simply unaware of what it was doing, and was oblivious to the fact that it had killed a man. It had no comprehension of the idea of life, because it is not alive. Therefore the TV show also poses the question are the computers really to blame? At the stage they were represented at in that episode shows that it was the humans who were not to be trusted.
"The Sarah Connors Chronicles" is a curious study of the development of the "evil" technologies of the future that so many science fiction films and TV shows depict, because of its split timeline and narrative. It almost suggests this option that perhaps instead of preventing the future (which doesn't seem to be a possibility because no matter what happens in any of the films or episodes, the machines are still created and still turn against man), they can significantly alter it to be a better one, where there isn't a battle between man and machine. The opposing feelings people have in regards to the development of technology is interesting, because some, like Warwick feel it is essential to embrace technology, where others feel that it is removing the human soul from society and making man like machines. The role of technology so far in society is somewhat passive, but becoming increasingly more dominant and active as it integrates itself into every aspect of our life. For now, the musings of science fiction are all we have to envision the future and determine what may someday come to be.