Are you a Human or a Robot?
Every kids dream is probably to have their own personal robot that does their chores, acts as their best friend and has heaps of other interesting features. However in the science fiction world, robots can either be man's best friend, or man's worst enemy. For example think of Will Robinson's trusty robot friend who warns him when danger is about. For the family-oriente science fiction film this robot is a companion and though it is a robot it has a humanity to it. However, the idea of a human-like robot is not a good thing in some science fiction films. For example in Ridley Scott's Alien, the second most threatening danger - after the alien of course - is a very human-like robot. This robot, despite its human appearance is even more alien than the alien being itself. It does not seem right for a machine to attempt to be human.
However in films such as Bicentennial Man and A.I. Artificial Intelligence, the robot is sometimes more human than the real human beings are! In A.I. it is not sickly, biological son that the audience feels for. No, it is the artificial robot who seems kinder and more innocent than the real son. What does this mean? Should robots be feared? Perhaps we are robots ourselves and we don't even know it. Many humans certainly seem to act more robot than human at times.
Again, like most areas of Science Fiction, the robot is an ambiguous topic. However they are often an interesting way of exploring just what it might mean to be human and how human we actually are.
However in films such as Bicentennial Man and A.I. Artificial Intelligence, the robot is sometimes more human than the real human beings are! In A.I. it is not sickly, biological son that the audience feels for. No, it is the artificial robot who seems kinder and more innocent than the real son. What does this mean? Should robots be feared? Perhaps we are robots ourselves and we don't even know it. Many humans certainly seem to act more robot than human at times.
Again, like most areas of Science Fiction, the robot is an ambiguous topic. However they are often an interesting way of exploring just what it might mean to be human and how human we actually are.
The Cybermen are people's brains inside the metal bodies, and they have been completely robbed of their emotions. The episode the Age of Steel deals with what happens when these emotions are restored.
The Daleks are rather egotistical and manic, with their only true emotion being fear. However, the episode Dalek explores the loneliness of the last Dalek, and once again the impact that emotions can have on these creatures.
It's very engaging stuff.