A lethal fusion of metal and man is the image most often evoked by the term “cyborg.” In reality, however, cyborgs do not exist in quite the same fashion.
The definition of a cyborg is elusive. Tracey Bowen, an expert on the subject of art and cyborgs at UTM, roughly defines them as “anyone involved with a digital contraption in a particular practice.” According to other definitions, the metaphysical attachments people share, however basic, have already made them cyborgs. Anyone fitted with an insulin pump or pacemaker might be considered a cyborg, since these mechanical parts enhance the body’s “natural” mechanisms through synthetic feedback. Some theorists go so far as to say that modifications such as contact lenses or hearing aids define a person as a cyborg, examples of fitting humans with technology to enhance their biological capabilities.
Technology redefines how artists structure and express their thoughts. The art world is a vast domain for research on cyborgs, as they involve cognitive restructuring and are indicative of a changing world. Bowen focuses on cyborgs in the artistic realm, drawing inspiration from manipulating technology as a painter and printmaker. “My experiences with printmaking were collaborations between myself and the machine,” she explains. “It led me to think of my art in a different way.”
According to Bowen, there are three types of cyborg: “the organic cyborg [that] can be defined as a monster of multiple species,” “a mechanical cyborg [that] can be considered a techno-human amalgamation,” and a “cyborg consciousness.” This new awareness is a combination of human and technological perspectives. It is manifested in the artistic process in many ways, such as computerized drawing pads replacing pen and paper, or drum machines becoming nearly as popular as human drummers. Composers like Brian Eno develop and utilize software that builds entire musical scores from a few basic mathematical parameters.
These innovations have fostered new opinions about art. “My students [begin] to think in a ‘computer way,’ which gives them a different way to work out their expression,” Bowen explains.
In addition, available technology has allowed for a new kind of collaboration. “This fusion has the effect of strongly affecting the tactility, perception, and sense of being of artists,” says Bowen. She explains that someone could design software that another person could use and a third party could edit. This phenomenon is novel to our time, but is becoming increasingly common.
Cyborgs are technological innovations that have far reaching implications in society. Being involved in the Communication/Culture program at UTM helps Bowen to understand and stress the importance of new modes of effective communication in society.
