Souless...?

If there was one 'thing' that can identify and separate humans from any other mammal or intelligent machine is the presence of a soul. A soul is defined as "the principle of life, feeling, thought, and action in humans, regarded as a distinct entity separate from the body, and commonly held to be separable in existence from the body; the spiritual part of humans as distinct from the physical part" (http://www.dictionary.com/). I have found a common theme to be present when looking at science fiction movies and the creation of robotics. We create robots to be devoid of human emotions and view these empty shells to be perfect. Why then do robots develop emotions, feelings, dreams, imperfections, and all the apparent weaknesses of man? Another common theme played out is that of gender assignment to specific robots that develop unique personalities that are generally evil. The films I will be discussing throughout this paper are: Metropolis, I, Robot, Bicentennial Man, and Wall E.
It's fair to say that robotics in films began in Germany with the creation of Metropolis. A pivotal scene depicted is that of Maria's soul being transferred to that of an empty robot who is to become the complete opposite of the original Maria. However, it is important to note that in this instance the robot did not naturally progress to possess these emotions; they were created for her from a host. Plato argues that the body is merely a shell for an intelligent soul to be housed, and once the body dies the soul than either transcends to a higher state of being, or finds a new shell. He furthers his argument to include the gender of souls to be man or women, but regardless of the souls gender it can be housed in either a man or women's body. In the film I, Robot there are three types of robots that take on the aspects of souls as Plato has defined it. We see Sunny, who is clearly a male, who was built to be more computable to humans. Sunny developed emotions and dreams, but did not know how to define them. Then you have VIKI, the evil robot who is the brains behind the robotic take over, is clearly female. Then there are those without an upgrade that are devoid of physical gender definition. These robots act as the saviors of human kind...a way of saying emotions are not weaknesses or imperfections for a human, but the highest form of intelligence.
Another film that brings into light the transformation from robot to human is Bicentennial Man. In this film we find Andrew who is an android built with Isaac Asimov’s three laws of robotics (http://www.auburn.edu/~vestmon/robotics.html), and programmed with various software to be more like a human. However Andrew is unique...he develops feelings that are far greater than what he is already programmed for. He progresses so much that he desires to become human, both on the outside and the inside. While Andrew goes through the process of becoming human, with the aid of a Scientist, he finds that the imperfections of a human is what makes each individual human unique. Andrew makes a complete transformation...the only thing he cannot do have biological babies. Science Fiction films have not progressed to the point of crossing the procreation line, but the suggestion that it may be possible lingers. One would ask than, are we playing Gods by creating machines in our likeness?
Perception of Gender
In each these films there is an apocalyptic atmosphere surrounding the human race. In I, Robot VIKI, who is designed to be a virtual brain, takes matters into her own hands to save humans from themselves...she ultimately has to be destroyed. In Wall E (a children's movie) we have Eve, she is depicted as being aggressive, angry, stubborn, but also has caring characteristics. Each film plays into what our culture has normalized for the female body to be. For in Bicentennial man we come across Galatea who possesses what women 'should be'. She has the perfect physique, and a happy-go-lucky attitude...until Andrew switches her personality chip, and she becomes angry and aggressive http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVUifGeXeFQ.
The question one would ask is why do we depict robots having souls in movies when we as humans find reasons to view emotions as our greatest weakness? Freud would argue that “shame is a profound, painful and universal emotion with lasting effects on many aspects of public life and human culture. Rooted in childhood experience, linked to sexuality and the cultural norms that regulate the body and its pleasures, shame is uniquely human” (Shame and Sexuality,1). Emotions are tied to our sexuality, and as humans we are taught from a young age to be ashamed of sexuality, to be ashamed of our bodies especially female bodies. In each film it is the female body that is changed; VIKI is just a sphere high up in the ceiling, Eve has no identifying gender but for her voice, Galatea has a physique but is only defined in small measures. By creating a machine that is 'perfect' in the eyes of a human because it is emotionless and without weakness, is really a cry out to the world in saying "I'm not perfect". As the film progress, that also fallows the natural progression of human discovery; we (humans) come to find that emotions are not weaknesses, but to be that empty shell is the real shame.

Works Cited
Dictionary. Dictionary.com. 11 November 2008.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Soul

Freud, Sigmond. Shame and Sexuality. Madison Ave, New York: NY, 2008.Plato, Grube, G M A. Platos Republic. Indianapolis: Hackett, 1974.

Movie Links. Youtube.com. 6 Dec. 2008. www.youtube.com