1989/03/01 by Janice Hocker Rushing, Thomas S. Frentz · 1 citation
Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · Psychology · #Rhetoric and Communication Studies #Gothic Literature and Media Analysis #Literature, Film, and Journalism Analysis #Mythology #Obsolescence #Movie theater #Agency (philosophy) #Consciousness #Aesthetics #Perfection #Dystopia #Sociology #Shadow (psychology) #Literature #Art #Philosophy #Psychoanalysis #Psychology #Epistemology #Social science #Business
paper · doi:10.1080/15295038909366731
openalex publication_date 1989/03/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
Through an examination of Rocky IV, Blade Runner, and The Terminator, this essay constructs an evolving dystopian shadow myth that expresses repressed fears the culture has about its relationship to technology. In its patriarchal form, the myth depicts an increasing division of technological agency from human agent, leading toward an entelechial end of human obsolescence. If this tragic “perfection” is to be averted, the myth implies, the culture must reintegrate feminine values into its consciousness, thereby activating an oppositional entelechial motive to reidentify agent with agency.