If we are to believe Heim's quote above, then cyborgs
can give birth. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, directors cut)
explores this notion. The film depicts a cyborg equipped with a learning
chip. If the T-800 (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) is to understand
humanity, then it must learn what defines us as humans. He seems to
discover that our emotions are what
make us unique -- specifically, the ability to cry and smile -- and yet
Sarah Connor believes him to be the perfect father because of
his
lack of emotions. The T-800 says, "I know now why you cry, but
it's something I can never do." With this statement he reveals that he
is subordinate to humans -- he lacks an ability. Intoducing
postmodernism tells us:
Thus, then film is trying to give a critique of present day
society. The Terminator needs to be reprogrammed in order to learn (to
grow and evolve as a being), and yet his ability to learn is still
impaired. Take the following exchange between the T-800 and John Connor:
John: You just can't go around killing people.
T-800: Why?
John: What do you mean why? 'Cause you can't.
T-800: Why?
John: Because you just can't, OK? Trust me on this.
Because the T-800 opperates on a level of computer logic, he cannot
understand or incorporate human logic. Now examine this poster for the
film. The tag line says, "It's nothing personal. This line is revealing
in that it tells us that the Terminator is not personal. He is
not a person, and therefore he is not accountable for behaving like one.
After John has ordered the T-800 to not kill anyone, the T-800 shoots
some one in the leg. John is confused by the action, but the T-800
replies, "He'll live." The automaton does not value human life, and is
thus considered to lack humanity.
Total Recall (1990) provides us with another reelated
perspective. The film depicts futuristic life on Earth and Mars.
Cohaagen (played by Ronny Cox I) controls society on Mars. At one
point he tells his henchman Richter (played by Michael Ironside), "I
don't give you enough information to think." Cohaagen makes Richter a
robot just as he did to Douglas Quaid (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) by
erasing Quaid's memories and giving him implants. Yet Heim tells us that
nurturing awareness in the minds of others is a form of birth. Cohaagen
can be seen as creating a new being, rather than concealing a previous
one. Cohaagen creates a person who will act according to set standards.
His creation backfires in that it developes self-preservation. Quaid no
longer wants to be returned to his previous self. When he learns that
Quaid is just an implanted persona, he asks, "If I am not me, then who the
hell am I?" He cannot conceive of an alternate existence to his own, and
yet his existence is purely a construct created by Cohaagen. Rather than
being concerned that we will be replaced by another, perhaps we should be
concerned that we will like our new identity better. This is the case in
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1953). Heim explains: