Not too long ago, say 10 to 20 years ago, Cyberpunk as commercial entertainment was one of the heavy-hitter themes that dominated most entertainment media. Movies, music, videogames, books, television series, etc. all had Cyberpunk themes within them. Videogames in particular were rife with Cyberpunkian ideas and motifs. By the late 2000s, most of this Cyberpunkian goodness seemed to vanish off the face of the earth, with some notable exceptions like the Deus Ex series. It seems Cyberpunk has been relegated to a mostly underground status since that time, which you could argue is for the best. To even know about Cyberpunk’s existence, today, would mean that you were likely a hardcore enthusiast. So, what caused this death of Cyberpunk? Was it simply just an 80’s, 90’s, and early 2000’s fad that had seen its time and went quietly underground? Is the concept just too tired to be marketable and profitable? Perhaps all of these explain its diminished presence within media.
Perhaps there is an easy answer to this. On an image board I frequent, one of the posters had suggested his own reason as to why Cyberpunk fell off the face of the planet. He said something to the effect that Cyberpunk died because it became real life. This little observation kind of blew my mind. How true it is that the Cyberpunk of the 80’s, 90’s, and early 2000’s mirrors current day technological and sociopolitical trends. Let’s see, corporate hegemony, ubiquitous technological presence, and an overbearing surveillance state. Yep, I’m calling it. Cyberpunk is here. Looks like I was wrong when I said Cyberpunk wasn’t quite yet here. On second evaluation, it’s pretty much here. At the very least, modern cities are Cyberpunk-lite. But is this what pushed Cyberpunk underground? Perhaps. Back in the 80’s, cyberspace and technology was still highly cloaked in mystery, yet were constantly improving. The possibilities seemed limitless. There was just so much for writers and game developers to work with. The result being a golden age of Cyberpunk culture. Of course, these things feed on each other, so Cyberpunk in media led to more Cyberpunk in media. Now, back in 2010, it became obvious that the U.S. had steadily transformed into a fledgling Cyberpunkian dystopia. Around the late 2000’s, as noted above, Cyberpunk in media became a rarity. It went underground. Does Cyberpunk’s disappearance into an underground culture have anything to do with the U.S. becoming a Cyberpunk dystopia? Possibly.
Today, people are immersed in Cyberpunkian themes. Today, these themes aren’t solely relegated to books, movies, television, games, and other popular media. Americans, and other first-worlders, live these themes everyday. Maybe this is why we are sick and bored of them. Additionally, these themes were unique and exciting in the 80’s, a time when computing was just really getting its legs. Now, when computing has advanced one hundred fold since the 80’s, the mystery and excitement is gone, paradoxically enough. Everything has gone sterile, which leads me to another observation.
The Cyberpunk concept is old. As much as I hate to say it, Cyberpunk is old news. I mean, the first vestiges of Cyberpunk, as a popular concept, can be seen in in the mid 1980’s, likely spurred by William Gibson’s Neuromancer. So, that would make Cyberpunk around 30 years old. In all honesty, I’m surprised it’s still around. Thirty years is a long time for a trend, so its only natural that the trend go underground to recuperate and, even, evolve. Yes, evolve. Cyberpunk may rise again one day, but it won’t quite be like the Cyberpunk of yore. Though, it will likely have the same essential elements of the Cyberpunk of ol’. Perhaps Cyberpunk is really just due for an upgrade or two. After all, the genre is living on 80s tech when it should transition to 2015 tech. Something fresh, new, and exciting for all the neophiles out there. Adapt or die, as the expression goes. It looks like if Cyberpunk wants to make it back to the mainstream, one of two things need to happen, either people will need to love the old Cyberpunk model or Cyberpunk will need to adapt itself into something people will love.
What can be done to Revive Cyberpunk?
If you are reading this blog, there is a good chance that you love Cyberpunk or are at least sympathetic to Cyberpunkian themes. And you are likely as dismayed as I am to see this incredible genre sink to such a low level popularity. This raises a question, what can be done to revive Cyberpunk?
Content Creation
Cyberpunk began as a genre of literature, as a form of entertainment, and from there will it rise again. But it can’t rise again if people aren’t creating Cyberpunk-themed creative works. There is hope for the genre, in this regard. With the anticipated release of Cyberpunk 2077, interest in the genre has been sparked. Outsiders are, once again, investigating this strange and mysterious genre. The trick is to get Cyberpunk media into the mainstream, however, this is often very difficult to do these days. If the community is to grow, we need to attract people who aren’t already in the community, we also need to hold the interest of the existing members. This is where underground content creation comes into play.
Most new content will necessarily be underground content, like this blog. This content has little chance of making it into the mainstream. However, some random passerby may be exposed to the genre by way of this underground content. This is good. However, I think underground content plays a much stronger role. Underground content keeps the interest of the existing community. It creates and strengthens bonds between people. It refreshes attitudes and renews interest. Keeping existing members is as important as getting new members. Communities only die when people leave.
So, be creative. Contribute art, music, literature, essays, etc. But what if I’m not talented in the least? Then post. Post your heart out on online forums and image boards.
Support the Community
There are tons of Cyberpunk communities out there and all of them could use your support. And I don’t necessarily mean support them with your cash, though, if you are feeling especially generous, I wouldn’t mind accepting any spare cash you have laying around. You can support most communities by simply participating in their world. Sign up for their newsletter, email your supportive words, participate on online discussion forums and image boards. All of this helps in giving these communities a larger presence on the Internet, which will attract other people and help the larger Cyberpunk community grow. But where are these communities? Here’s a few:
I visit /g/ and /cyber/ from time to time. I contribute what I can and I keep the spirit alive as best I can with my little blog. As always, doing the little things in the present will make a big difference in the future. So show the community some love from time to time.
Live the Cyberpunk Life
You don’t need to hack into megacorps or wear leather-studded vests (wrong genre?) to live the Cyberpunk life. Cyberpunk is on the inside, not the outside. Though, you can express your Cyberpunkian self through the clothes you wear, you don’t have to. So long as your heart and attitude is Cyberpunk, you are living the Cyberpunk life. I’m keeping this kind of vague because people will have different ideas as to what it means to live a Cyberpunk life and what it means to be Cyberpunk. That is an entire post unto itself, so I won’t talk about that at this time (or ever).
Is being Underground a Bad Thing?
Currently, Cyberpunk has an underground status, but is that a bad thing? Cyberpunk, in a lot of ways, seems to be the one cultural movement enthusiasts would like to keep underground. It just seems so fitting to the genre. After all, the genre does place most of its focus on lone-wolf delinquents living on the fringe of society. And where do these delinquents live? Underground, of course! Not literally, but figuratively. They live on the unseen edges of society, much like where the Cyberpunk genre, and its fans, live in real life. At this time, the genre is more in tune with its roots then ever before. Besides all this, isn’t that where the best and most interesting parts of society reside? At the edges of society? That’s where the best rave-parties happen, too. So, it would seem that being underground isn’t all that bad.
If being underground isn’t such a bad thing, and it could be argued that it is, in fact, a good thing, why go through the trouble of bringing it above ground?
Conclusion
For better or worse, Cyberpunk has gone underground. That much we know. Whether this is good or bad for the genre is another topic altogether. Genres change and adapt to their environment, and people who were fans of the genre back in the 80s are starting to shape the genre with their own contributions and stories, hence the postcyberpunk genre that has been gaining speed over the past few years. Cyberpunk as a genre is old and is due for an upgrade. Perhaps, once it has received its upgrade, the entertainment industry will, once again, take an interest in the genre. Until then, I think we should enjoy Cyberpunk’s underground status. How fitting it is that a genre that often involves ideas such as obscurity, alienation, and desperation should be relegated to an unknown, cult status.
It’s poetic.
