Rebooting Robot Revolutions: The Place of Power in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Geography Awareness Week 2023 Guest Speaker
Rebooting Robot Revolutions:
The Place of Power in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Dr. James Tyner
Professor of Geography, Kent State University
Monday, November 13th
9:30-10:30 AM
Karl Anatol Center
Light Refreshments

In the early 2000s, earth scientists proposed that the Earth has entered a new epoch, a geologic moment whereby anthropogenic processes now exert a disproportionate impact on the Earth. From species-extinctions and biodiversity loss to the toxic poisoning of the oceans, lakes, and rivers, human activity has in many places rendered the continuation of life impossible. The arrival of the Anthropocene has, concurrently, been met with a new-found fear that humanity is on the precipice of an uncertain future. In turn, many scientists, engineers, and futurists have turned their attention toward artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence, broadly conceived, holds both promise and perils. On the one hand, some argue that AI will provide technical solutions for climate change. On the other hand, there are detractors who warn that artificial intelligence may bring about a robot revolution. In this talk I explore the promises and perils of real-and-imagined scenarios of artificial intelligence through a critical reading of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is necessary chiefly because of the intimate but often acrimonious relationship between the imaginary violence of artificial intelligence—especially in its robotic form— and the reality of existing systems of artificial intelligence.

Brought to you by the CSULB Department of Geography and the Association of American Geographers Visiting Geographic Scientist Program