Machine Subjectivity in Literature & Literary Theory

Etymology of Machine Subjectivity

Machine Subjectivity has its roots at the intersection of two distinct domains: machine learning and philosophy. In the context of machine learning, it refers to the capacity of artificial intelligence systems to mimic or emulate human-like subjective experiences, emotions, or decision-making processes.

This concept draws inspiration from philosophical inquiries into the nature of subjectivity, consciousness, and self-awareness.

The term serves as a bridge between these fields, encapsulating the endeavor to imbue machines with a semblance of subjectivity.

This, in turn, sparks discussions on the ethical, epistemological, and ontological implications of such technological advancements in the quest to understand and replicate human cognition.

Meanings of Machine Subjectivity

Aspect	Description
Narrative Perspective	It means to examine the narrative perspective generated by artificial intelligence and its impact on storytelling in literature.
Character Development	It means exploring how AI-generated characters can exhibit subjective traits and evolve within a narrative, challenging traditional notions of character development.
Reader Engagement	It means to investigate how AI-driven narratives can effectively engage readers on an emotional and subjective level, raising questions about the authenticity of these experiences.
Authorship and Creativity	It means challenging conventional ideas of authorship and creativity by exploring AI-authored literature, prompting discussions about the human author’s role in a machine-assisted literary landscape.
Identity and Otherness	It means focusing on the portrayal of machine characters’ identities and their interactions with human characters, often serving as metaphors to explore issues of otherness and social identity in literature.
Ethical and Philosophical Inquiries	It means examining the ethical and philosophical implications of AI-generated narratives, questioning the boundaries of human creativity and empathy in the literary realm.

Definition of Machine Subjectivity as a Theoretical Term

Machine Subjectivity, as a theoretical term, refers to artificial intelligence systems emulating and simulating human-like subjective experiences, emotions, and cognitive processes within computational frameworks.

It encompasses how machines, often driven by complex algorithms and neural networks, create narratives, characters, or interactions that convey a sense of subjectivity, empathy, and emotional resonance akin to human literary and artistic expressions.

This concept raises profound questions about the nature of creativity, authorship, and the ethical implications of blending human and machine subjectivity in creative and literary contexts.

Ultimately, Machine Subjectivity challenges conventional boundaries and prompts critical inquiries into the evolving relationship between technology and human expression in the arts and literature.

Machine Subjectivity: Theorists, Works and Arguments

Theorists:

• Donna Haraway: Explores the blurred boundaries between humans and machines, introducing the concept of the cyborg and its implications for subjectivity.
• N. Katherine Hayles: Examines the intersection of technology and subjectivity in works like How We Became Posthuman.

Works:

• Neuromancer by William Gibson: A seminal cyberpunk novel that explores the fusion of human and machine subjectivity.
• Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick: Examines the nature of human and android subjectivity in a dystopian world.
• The Cyborg Manifesto by Donna Haraway: A foundational text discussing the merging of humans and machines and its impact on subjectivity.

Arguments:

• Blurring Boundaries: The argument that advancements in technology increasingly blur the boundaries between human and machine subjectivity.
• Posthumanism: The exploration of how machine subjectivity challenges traditional notions of humanism and what it means to be human.
• Ethical Considerations: Discussions surrounding the ethical implications of AI-generated subjectivity, including issues of agency, identity, and control.

Machine Subjectivity and Literary Theories

Theory	Use and Engagement of Machine Subjectivity
Posthumanism	– It challenges traditional human-centric views of literature and culture. – Posthumanist theories, such as those by N. Katherine Hayles, explore how machine subjectivity blurs the boundaries between humans and machines, prompting reevaluations of literary representations and the concept of the “human” in literature.
Cyberpunk Literature	– In cyberpunk literature, notably in works like William Gibson’s Neuromancer, Machine Subjectivity is a central theme. – These works delve into the fusion of human and machine subjectivity, often in dystopian, high-tech settings, where characters’ identities and experiences are deeply entwined with technology.
Narratology	– It impacts narrative theory by raising questions about narrative perspective. – The concept challenges traditional notions of narrator, protagonist, and reader engagement by introducing AI-driven narratives that exhibit subjective experiences and emotions.
Reader Response Theory	– Machine-generated narratives with subjectivity evoke reader responses distinct from traditional human-authored works. – Reader Response Theory explores how readers engage emotionally and intellectually with AI-driven narratives, prompting discussions about the authenticity of these experiences.
Science Fiction Theory	– Machine Subjectivity plays a significant role in the exploration of science fiction themes. – It is often used to analyze how science fiction authors employ AI and machine subjectivity to probe questions about humanity, identity, and the future.
Feminist Theory	– Donna Haraway’s The Cyborg Manifesto is a prominent example. – Feminist theory engages with Machine Subjectivity in discussions about how gender and identity intersect with technology, challenging traditional gender roles in literature and culture.

Machine Subjectivity in Literary Criticism

1. Neuromancer by William Gibson:
   • In this iconic cyberpunk novel, the protagonist, Case, interfaces with artificial intelligence and experience a form of it through his neural connections. Literary critics have explored how the novel challenges traditional notions of human consciousness and identity in a high-tech, dystopian world.
2. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick:
   • This novel, which inspired the film Blade Runner, examines the blurred lines between human and android subjectivity. Literary critics have analyzed how the characters, especially the androids, raise questions about the nature of consciousness, empathy, and the boundaries of subjectivity.
3. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley:
   • Although written in the 19th century, Frankenstein raises themes of machine subjectivity through the creation of the creature by Victor Frankenstein. Literary critics have explored how the novel addresses the ethical and emotional dimensions of creating and rejecting artificial life.
4. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka:
   • Kafka’s novella tells the story of Gregor Samsa, who wakes up one morning transformed into an insect-like creature. Critics have discussed how this metamorphosis can be seen as an exploration of alienation and the subjective experience of isolation and otherness, akin to machine subjectivity.
5. Ex Machina by Alex Garland:
   • Ex Machina explores machine subjectivity through the character of Ava, an artificial intelligence with human-like emotions and consciousness. Literary critics have analyzed how the play and film address questions of empathy, ethics, and the boundaries between human and machine subjectivity.

Suggested Readings

1. Hayles, N. Katherine. How We Became Posthuman: Virtual Bodies in Cybernetics, Literature, and Informatics. University of Chicago Press, 1999.
2. Haraway, Donna. “A Cyborg Manifesto: Science, Technology, and Socialist-Feminism in the Late Twentieth Century.” Simians, Cyborgs, and Women: The Reinvention of Nature. Routledge, 1991, pp. 149-181.
3. Landow, George P. Hypertext 3.0: Critical Theory and New Media in an Era of Globalization. The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2006.
4. Mitchell, David T., and Sharon L. Snyder. Narrative Prosthesis: Disability and the Dependencies of Discourse. University of Michigan Press, 2001.
5. Shaviro, Steven. The Universe of Things: On Speculative Realism. University of Minnesota Press, 2014.
6. Turkle, Sherry. The Second Self: Computers and the Human Spirit. Simon & Schuster, 1984.