Johnny Mnemonic is a short story with a film adaptation that was written by William Gibson. The story line centers on a futuristic world dominated by technology and cyberspace. Science and technology have been fused to bring out the overall theme of how science has influenced the world today and the possibility of a future world that will be science- dominated. An artificial universe has been created in this film, one which is linked up with lots of machines. But one thing that cannot be ignored is the fact that technology is shown to have influenced life and even fashion in the film. Again, fashion has significantly impacted how the movie has been portrayed considering that it centers on the future. It is a world that one expects to see different features and characteristics concerning fashion and, therefore, the same fashion is a center of importance that cannot be ignored in the film.
In the film, it is surprisingly fashionable to keep changing the physical body of a person. There is rampant reshaping of the body of an individual because it is an ideal thing to do and, it is acceptable to the society. By the aid of modern technology, people mould their bodies, and they become non- human figures. For instance, the girls are so big and were unstoppable from adding more chic and shape to their physical bodies to become more attractive. Noteworthy here is the fact that the changes are accepted, and society is in agreement with that idea. Perhaps, it is because it is fashionable to do so, and that is why everybody wants to reshape themselves. The message that is passed here is that the natural bodies that people are born with are not exquisite and, therefore, they need a total body change to fit the trends of society.
The most outstanding character who depicts how fashion influences the state of being is Johnny. A data storage system is implanted in his head, and that makes him possess something different from the ordinary. Through the data storage system, Johnny can transport sensitive information and is contracted by several clients to do so (Westfahl, Yuen & Chan 13). He had no conscious access to the information and by having a strange device in him; he had become somehow different from the expected norm of present day society. The method alters his personal memories and instead, instills in him technological memories. Johnny lives the life of a computer and not that of a human being, but then it is acceptable to lead such a life in this futuristic society.
The cybernetic modifications highlighted in the film serve as an insight into the possibility of conforming to a modern culture by the aid of technology. And this will ultimately lead to the loss of individuality as well as preexisting culture. Fashion in this sense leads to the loss of individualism and a culture that identifies a society (Henthorne 76). One wonders that culture this society is going to identify with in the long run. Everything seems to change to fit the needs of an individual much to the loss of a community. Even when there are characters that appear to resemble, they are unique at their capacities.
Fashion contributes to the overall theme of the film, and it is a form of survival for the characters. In Yakuza, it is fashionable to reshape an individual’s body. This society is also run by unjust means but then they are the acceptable norm. Everyone is for themselves, and they serve their personal interests. Johnny would rather use his mind to carry corporate information. Jones, on the other hand, uses his abilities to crack the secret code held by Johnny and even the Lo- Teks can reshape their bodies in order to protect their subculture (Freedman & Holmes 49). All the changes and alterations that are made by all the characters work for the common good of a society that would rather change itself into something amorphous.
Works Cited
Wesfahl, Gary., Yuen, Wong, Kin, & Chan, Amy, Kit- Size. Science Fiction and the Prediction of the Future: Essays on Foresight and Fallacy. Jefferson: McFarland, 2011. Print
Henthorne, Tom. William Gibson: A Literary Companion. Jefferson: McFarland Press, 2011. Print
Freedman, Diane, p. & Holmes, Martha, Stoddard. The Teacher's Body: Embodiment, Authority, and Identity in the Academy. New York: SUNY, 2003.
