ALAN AYCKBOURN’S EXPLORATION OF TRANSHUMANISM AND POSTHUMAN CONDITION: HENCEFORWARD

Cüneyt Özata

Article Details

ALAN AYCKBOURN’S EXPLORATION OF TRANSHUMANISM AND POSTHUMAN CONDITION: HENCEFORWARD

Authors:

Cüneyt Özata

Publisher:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Main Topics:

Türkiye Sahası Yeni Türk Edebiyatı

Journal:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Issue 8, pp.27-34

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2023

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001292620

pISSN:

2687-6175

Keywords:

Abstract:

 One of the finest and most prolific writers and directors in England, Alan Ayckbourn walks the line between humor and despair in his plays while emphasizing people from the middle class and addressing issues with the family unit and marital difficulties that may or may not arise in society. The purpose of this research is to provide an explanation of the post-human condition by focusing on transhumanist theory and the post-human scenario in the play Henceforward 1987, which was dramatized by Ayckbourn with a gloomy outlook on the future. In the context of transhumanism, which represents the transition from humanism to post-humanism, in Ayckbourns Henceforward, Jerome is addicted to technology but lost his productivity and falls into a void due to his wifes abandonment having an isolated life in a shelter equipped with technological tools, but hopelessly tries to produce something but he fails. In addition to the character of Jerome, who is trying to regain his family in desperation by trying to create, a woman Android NAN 300F, which is the creation of modern man and is programmed to take care of a baby, takes part in the main action of the study. The second part of this research examines the post-human nature of the characters as well as their behavior patterns, focusing on how the man-made and human-like robots interact and communicate with actual humans. Considering the plot of the play, the study examines whether the humanmachine conflict is possible in the foreseeable mechanical future, whether real humans or man-made androids with artificial intelligence will dominate each other in the near future, and whether human-designed and human-like machines are acceptable for the future of humanity.

 One of the finest and most prolific writers and directors in England, Alan Ayckbourn walks the line between humor and despair in his plays while emphasizing people from the middle class and addressing issues with the family unit and marital difficulties that may or may not arise in society. The purpose of this research is to provide an explanation of the post-human condition by focusing on transhumanist theory and the post-human scenario in the play Henceforward 1987, which was dramatized by Ayckbourn with a gloomy outlook on the future. In the context of transhumanism, which represents the transition from humanism to post-humanism, in Ayckbourns Henceforward, Jerome is addicted to technology but lost his productivity and falls into a void due to his wifes abandonment having an isolated life in a shelter equipped with technological tools, but hopelessly tries to produce something but he fails. In addition to the character of Jerome, who is trying to regain his family in desperation by trying to create, a woman Android NAN 300F, which is the creation of modern man and is programmed to take care of a baby, takes part in the main action of the study. The second part of this research examines the post-human nature of the characters as well as their behavior patterns, focusing on how the man-made and human-like robots interact and communicate with actual humans. Considering the plot of the play, the study examines whether the humanmachine conflict is possible in the foreseeable mechanical future, whether real humans or man-made androids with artificial intelligence will dominate each other in the near future, and whether human-designed and human-like machines are acceptable for the future of humanity.

 One of the finest and most prolific writers and directors in England, Alan Ayckbourn walks the line between humor and despair in his plays while emphasizing people from the middle class and addressing issues with the family unit and marital difficulties that may or may not arise in society. The purpose of this research is to provide an explanation of the post-human condition by focusing on transhumanist theory and the post-human scenario in the play Henceforward 1987, which was dramatized by Ayckbourn with a gloomy outlook on the future. In the context of transhumanism, which represents the transition from humanism to post-humanism, in Ayckbourns Henceforward, Jerome is addicted to technology but lost his productivity and falls into a void due to his wifes abandonment having an isolated life in a shelter equipped with technological tools, but hopelessly tries to produce something but he fails. In addition to the character of Jerome, who is trying to regain his family in desperation by trying to create, a woman Android NAN 300F, which is the creation of modern man and is programmed to take care of a baby, takes part in the main action of the study. The second part of this research examines the post-human nature of the characters as well as their behavior patterns, focusing on how the man-made and human-like robots interact and communicate with actual humans. Considering the plot of the play, the study examines whether the humanmachine conflict is possible in the foreseeable mechanical future, whether real humans or man-made androids with artificial intelligence will dominate each other in the near future, and whether human-designed and human-like machines are acceptable for the future of humanity.

 Komedi ve umutsuzluk arasındaki çizgide ilerleyen, oyunlarında genel olarak orta sınıftan gelen karakterleri merkeze alarak, aile kurumunu ve eşler arasında yaşanan yaşanılabilecek toplumsal sorunlara uzanan Alan Ayckbourn, İngilterenin en yetkin ve üretken oyun yazarları ve yönetmenleri arasında yer almaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı geleceğe yönelik karamsar bir bakış açısıyla Ayckbourn tarafından kurgulanan Henceforward -Şimdiden Sonra 1987 oyununda transhümanist düşünce ve post-insan durumu merkeze alarak, insan sonrası durumu aralamaya çalışmaktır. Hümanizmden post-hümanizme geçişi temsil eden transhümanizm bağlamında, Ayckbournün Şimdiden Sonra oyununda, insanın gelecekteki durumuna yönelik yaratılan teknoloji bağımlısı ve üretkenliğini kaybetmesinin yanı sıra karısının kendisini terk etmesiyle bir boşluğa düşmüş, teknolojik aletlerle donatılmış bir sığınakta izole olmuş bir biçimde yaşayan ancak yine de sanat yaratmaya çalışarak çaresizlik içerisinde ailesini yeniden kazanma çabası içerisinde olan Jerome karakterinin yanı sıra modern insanın yaratımı olan ve gerçekte bebek bakması için programlanmış bir kadın Android  NAN 300F çalışmanın temel eyleminde yer alır. İnsan yaratımı olan teknolojinin günümüzde insanları nasıl şekillendirdiğini gözler önüne sermenin yanı sıra oyun karakterleri aracılığı ile karakterlerin insan sonrası doğası, yaratılan ve görünüm olarak insana benzeyen makinaların gerçek insanlarla nasıl ilişki ve iletişim kurdukları, davranış biçimleri bu çalışmanın ikinci bölümünde incelenmektedir. Çalışma, oyunun olay örgüsü göz önünde bulundurularak, öngörülebilir mekanik bir gelecekte insan- makine çatışmasının mümkün olup olamayacağını, gerçek insanların mı yoksa yapay zekâya sahip insan yapımı androidlerin mi yakın gelecekte birbirlerine baskın olacaklarını ve insan geleceği için insan tasarımı olan ve insana benzeyen makinelerin kabul edilebilir olup olmayacağını araştırır.

Article Details

ALAN AYCKBOURN’S EXPLORATION OF TRANSHUMANISM AND POSTHUMAN CONDITION: HENCEFORWARD

Authors:

Cüneyt Özata

Publisher:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Main Topics:

Türkiye Sahası Yeni Türk Edebiyatı

Journal:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Issue 8, pp.27-34

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2023

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001292620

pISSN:

2687-6175

transhumanism

posthumanism

technology

human

lovetranshümanizm

posthümanizm

teknoloji

insan

sevgi

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Cüneyt Özata

Publisher: Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Main Topics: Türkiye Sahası Yeni Türk Edebiyatı

Journal: Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Issue 8, pp.27-34

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 6/2023

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001292620

pISSN: 2687-6175

Issues

Authors:

Cüneyt Özata

Publisher:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Main Topics:

Türkiye Sahası Yeni Türk Edebiyatı

Journal:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Issue 8, pp.27-34

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2023

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001292620

pISSN:

2687-6175