Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation

5-2013

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Department

English

Committee Chair

Skinner, Jeffrey T.

Subject

Human-machine systems--Fiction; Science fiction; Pretoria (South Africa)--Fiction; Humanism in literature

Abstract

This sci-fi screenplay confronts issues razed by the Transhumanism movement, a growing speculative science that deals with the merger of humans with technology. The Day of the Lord portrays a world where this merger could threaten the very soul of humanity. We follow Nathan, the protagonist, as he witnesses the political, and technological transformation of South Africa. This story envisions a futuristic Pretoria with towering skyscrapers, walkways, and hovering shuttles filling the sky. The advantage of obtaining robotic enhancements is presented through the struggle between lower class humans, like Nathan, and upperclass post-humans. Nathan’s classroom friend and love interest, Sarah, is brutally maimed in a vehicular accident. Sarah’s parents are left with no choice but to give up custody of their daughter to a religious order that donates the enhancements to save Sarah’s life. Eventually a catastrophic event threatens to knock out the country’s power, sending Nathan’s world into turmoil. All posthumans are evacuated to an unknown location, leaving the remaining humans in a futuristic ghost town to fend for themselves. Nathan is compelled to make a journey North to find where the post-humans were taken and whether or not Sarah is alive.

Download

Share

COinS