Ghost in the Shell

The film Ghost in the Shell certainly added to the diversity of our film course, providing a cyberpunk anime view of the dystopian future that we have been cinematically chronicling. What it excelled in was questioning the definition of human existence and whether that could be replicated through artificial means.
The setting of the film seemed to help drive most of the intrigue and capture the audience’s attention. Set in 2029 Tokyo, an already bustling megalopolis is depicted as having further evolved in urban prominence, though the darkness throughout the film portrays a sense of clutter and claustrophobia. This reinforces the omnipotent nature of the Puppet Master in the city. A constant sense of fear is delivered through the movie, leaving the characters in constant suspense. The setting doesn’t seem as dysfunctional, however, as it did in Brazil as Sector 9 of the Tokyo Police Force maintains a tight grasp over the lively city in an efficient manner.
Another interesting aspect of the movie is its conception of “ghost.” This refers to one’s consciousness, as AI is prominent within this film. The Puppet Master is able to access people’s memories to alter them, often creating false memories that the respective characters fail to realize do not exist. The officer investigating the Puppet Master realizes that his own memory is an artificial construct, creating philosophical questions about what defines humanity, such as The Matrix did when Neo’s memory was altered by the agents. “Ghost-dubbing” as the film describes being the accurate replication of a human proves to be near impossible, drawing a distinct line between what is artificial versus the natural existence of the human soul.