Posthumous Performance and Digital Resurrection: From Science Fiction to Startups

This chapter examines the promotional discourse deployed by three of the futuristic start-up companies-LivesOn, Eterni.me and Humai. It compares with several notable science fiction (SF) texts in two levels which explore the underlying presumptions and broader cultural and social ramifications of th...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Leaver, Tama
Other Authors: Kohn, Tamara
Format: Book Chapter
Published: Routledge 2019
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/81885
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author Leaver, Tama
author2 Kohn, Tamara
author_facet Kohn, Tamara
Leaver, Tama
author_sort Leaver, Tama
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description This chapter examines the promotional discourse deployed by three of the futuristic start-up companies-LivesOn, Eterni.me and Humai. It compares with several notable science fiction (SF) texts in two levels which explore the underlying presumptions and broader cultural and social ramifications of these companies succeeding in achieving digital resurrection. First, to ask what presumptions are being made about contemporary personhood, culture and death. Second, mapping what future issues the success of these start-ups might actually provoke. Notably, the Black Mirror series revisited the theme of digital life after death in the third season, the first on the streaming service Netflix. Many of the SF stories which have followed in Frankenstein's wake explore the complex social, ethical and political questions of technology being a conduit to a form of reincarnation. These stories are especially important today as digital resurrection becomes a sales pitch for new tech start-ups.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-818852021-05-31T06:18:21Z Posthumous Performance and Digital Resurrection: From Science Fiction to Startups Leaver, Tama Kohn, Tamara Gibbs, Martin Nansen, Bjorn van Ryn, Luke 2001 - Communication and Media Studies This chapter examines the promotional discourse deployed by three of the futuristic start-up companies-LivesOn, Eterni.me and Humai. It compares with several notable science fiction (SF) texts in two levels which explore the underlying presumptions and broader cultural and social ramifications of these companies succeeding in achieving digital resurrection. First, to ask what presumptions are being made about contemporary personhood, culture and death. Second, mapping what future issues the success of these start-ups might actually provoke. Notably, the Black Mirror series revisited the theme of digital life after death in the third season, the first on the streaming service Netflix. Many of the SF stories which have followed in Frankenstein's wake explore the complex social, ethical and political questions of technology being a conduit to a form of reincarnation. These stories are especially important today as digital resurrection becomes a sales pitch for new tech start-ups. 2019 Book Chapter http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/81885 10.4324/9780429456404-7 Routledge restricted
spellingShingle 2001 - Communication and Media Studies
Leaver, Tama
Posthumous Performance and Digital Resurrection: From Science Fiction to Startups
title Posthumous Performance and Digital Resurrection: From Science Fiction to Startups
title_full Posthumous Performance and Digital Resurrection: From Science Fiction to Startups
title_fullStr Posthumous Performance and Digital Resurrection: From Science Fiction to Startups
title_full_unstemmed Posthumous Performance and Digital Resurrection: From Science Fiction to Startups
title_short Posthumous Performance and Digital Resurrection: From Science Fiction to Startups
title_sort posthumous performance and digital resurrection: from science fiction to startups
topic 2001 - Communication and Media Studies
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/81885