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From Monsters to Microplastics: Alan Moore and the Evolution of Horror
Alan Moore's 2017 comic "Providence" challenged traditional horror by depicting a conflict between incomprehensible deities, reflecting a shift from classic monster narratives to contemporary anxieties about unseen threats like microplastics, now being countered by AI-designed enzymes.
- How does Alan Moore's "Providence" exemplify a shift in societal anxieties, moving from traditional horror tropes to contemporary concerns about unseen threats?
- In April 2017, Alan Moore's comic "Providence" challenged traditional Western horror conventions by depicting incomprehensible deities battling each other, leaving humanity paralyzed and helpless. This contrasts with classic horror's focus on human struggles against conquerable monsters.
- What are the key differences between the types of monsters and threats depicted in classic horror literature and the challenges posed by modern threats such as microplastics?
- Moore's work reflects a shift in anxieties. Classic horror featured monsters born from nature's malevolence or civilization's flaws, contrasting with contemporary fears like invisible microplastics potentially causing devastating illnesses. This highlights a change from tangible threats to unseen, systemic dangers.
- How can the narrative of humanity's struggle against complex, invisible threats like microplastics, involving advanced technologies like AI, be effectively communicated and understood?
- The struggle against microplastics, tackled by AI-designed enzymes, represents a new kind of horror: the invisible, complex threat countered by equally complex technological solutions. This raises questions about narrating such conflicts, blurring the lines between natural and societal history.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The narrative frames the shift from traditional horror to contemporary anxieties as a fundamental change in storytelling, highlighting the helplessness of humanity in the face of modern, less tangible threats. The emphasis on the 'incomprehensible' nature of modern threats like microplastics and the AI's solution could create a sense of overwhelming fear or powerlessness in the reader.
Language Bias
The language used is generally neutral, although terms like "finsterer Entschlossenheit" (dark determination) and "entsetzliche Krankheiten" (terrible diseases) could be perceived as somewhat loaded. However, these choices are largely within the context of discussing horror and do not appear to systematically favor one side.
Bias by Omission
The text focuses on the evolution of horror narratives and the shift from traditional monsters to modern anxieties like microplastics. While it mentions the role of AI in addressing the microplastic problem, it omits discussion of other approaches or potential limitations of the AI solution. The absence of alternative perspectives or a broader discussion of environmental pollution solutions could limit the reader's understanding of the issue's complexity.
False Dichotomy
The text presents a false dichotomy between traditional horror narratives focused on monsters and modern anxieties centered around technology and environmental issues. It implies that these are mutually exclusive categories, neglecting the potential for overlap and the use of monstrous imagery in modern contexts. The narrative structure suggests that only AI can combat microplastics, ignoring other potential solutions.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article discusses the development of a new enzyme by artificial intelligence to break down microplastics. Microplastics are a threat to human health, causing diseases and potentially leading to conditions such as brain damage and cellular overgrowth. The development of this enzyme is a positive step towards mitigating this threat and improving human health.