JeffreyBarke.net

One of my lifelong goals is to become a robot, and this post is a celebration of some depictions of the robot/cyborg in pop culture.

Obviously, such a celebration wouldn't be complete without mentioning Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics:

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

As a robot, I intend to follow Asimov's laws fastidiously. However, Park Chan Wook's incredibly beautiful, affecting and entertaining film I'm a Cyborg, but That's OK, features a young female cyborg with seven laws (evils) of her own:

And, finally, the lyrics to I, Robot by the incomparable Screeching Weasel:

I am a robot
I might be paranoid
But I'm a living
breathing humanoid
I am a rhombus
I plod around like dough
And I'm secure in
everything I know
Am I American
Blue metal under skin
No I'm not human
I am a robot
I never have a doubt
I live inside a circle
and I can't get out
I am mechanical
I don't question anything
My TV logic solves all
my problems for me
Am I American
Am I a Gilligan
No I’m not human