Cyberpunk Educator
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Cyberpunk Educator is a 2003 documentary study of mainstream Cyberpunk films of the 1980's. It was created by independent director Andrew J. Holden
The film uses the structure of literary theorist Northrop Frye to describe the common, repeating stories in Western culture, and how Cyberpunk can be defined and understood according to that analysis.
It is also a political documentary with a focus toward American film industry portrayal of race, gender, and government.
[edit] Creation
Director Andrew J. Holden created most of the film on a desktop built from dumpster-dove computer parts. The 400 MHz system was held together by duct tape. In addition, the footage is entirely composed of material from the Internet—all the video footage, software programs, and even the narrative voice itself were ripped from the net.
Clips from many popular Hollywood movies such as Blade Runner, Mad Max, Labyrinth were used without permission from the corporations that control those media.
As such, the film is surrounded by the politically controversial issue of online File-sharing and is largely ignored by mainstream media. However, independent publications such as Toronto's Exclaim! newspaper have given it positive reviews.[1]
[edit] Distribution
"The Cyberpunk Educator" has English narration and has been subtitled in seven languages. Outside of Canada and the US, it is most popular in Turkey, Argentina, and Russia.
The film has been used as a teaching tool at universities in Argentina, Canada, and the US due to its explicit use of Northrop Frye's theories on literary structure.
The film has a sequel titled "Amerika" - the Cyberpunkfilm webpage indicates it will be released sometime in 2007.
