Cyberpunk Underground : A look into the golden era of cyber- youth rebellion

"Cyberpunk Underground : A look into the golden era of cyber- youth rebellion"

If there is anything that is more to free advertisement of how the 90’s or early 2000’s fashions or cultures is dictated, or brewed, look no further than the genre called “Cyberpunk”. Brought upon by the advancement of microprocessor development in the 70’s booming industries which spawned the computer landscapes on tech-related infrastructures by the 80’s that is celebrated around the western world, the cyberpunk is the revelation that manifest itself upon the real-world progress, driven by the pop-cultures of sci-fi writings and novels that celebrated the integration of the technology, and its direction toward the society we living in today.

Some prime example of modern cinematic cyberpunk-themed thriller. This three is among the example that used the human-technology symbiosis in society and conciousness as the driving plot.

Film such as Hackers, Blade Runner, Johnny Mnemonics, and even a gloomiest visions of all, The Matrix trilogy, embodied such cool factor that characterized by the production design that was envisioned by the spirit of the original fabrics of cyberpunk literatures and subcultures itself. From the fashions that evoked the spirits of retro-modernism, all the way to techno-goth inspiration that blends the latest technology on consumer market with religious elements borrowed by haute couture fashion capital, that is a reflection of which is the next new “cool” or trendsetter in-the-making.

Blistering neon washed the streets, and the underground establishment of rave parties, a common pastiche's that established itself in cyberpunk universe.

 Low-life individualism carved between the rising of artificial intelligence and cyber world, a symbiosis of human and machine that is part of the norm of society, collapse of government within the disassociation of rebellious youth through the cyberspace infrastructures that govern our everyday life, sprawling urban jungle by the ever higher and futuristic looking skyscraper that crowded everywhere, bustling neon lightning as the city is partying forever, a new breed of tech-savvy youth movement and cyber-activism, is among the definition of how the cyberpunk genre is perceived now.

 While the bleak, dystopian and dark future portrayed by most of the classic cyberpunk which is originated from the 70’s New Wave’s movement of sci-fi that defined the genre in its modern context, the thematic of cinematic interpretation of cyberpunk from the 80’s are usually the evolution of the genre in its strongest form that we recognized today.

The modern Japan is always considered to be the epitome of real-world cyberpunk. Alternative cultures based on loneliness, distrust of society, highly adaptable to technology and growing dependand on robotic research industries.

 The washed-out, post-industrial cityscapes layered upon taller and taller building, a tech-driven society that is into a brink of chaos, a mega-corporation running the show and governing the society underneath it, a symbol of protest and dissatisfaction of youth that emerged from the cyberspace tunnel toward eventual emancipation of anarchism, constant government pushover, all during the never-ending night that never seems to end, glimmered by constant blink and flashy neon and propaganda billboards all over the places.

 It’s as nostalgic, noir or maybe cliché in form of presentation that defined the classic takes of cyberpunk.

 You can safely guess now, that, by the emerging tech consciousness toward the youth demographic of today, there is always an underground rave parties everywhere around the world, made possible by the use of social media and secret groups, which can be anything from pure psychedelic experiences, the social gathering on pure hedonistic values, or simply a techno- discoteque’ events that celebrates the origin of where it all began.

Bathing in laser show, flashy atmosphere with dark underground tone are part of rave party culture that inspired by the cyberpunk genre and its related subcultures. Perhaps one of the most well-recognized legacy of artistic direction that cyberpunk genre are well-known for, and celebrated around the world, despite its origination to be the counter-culture images that opposed the stereotypes of earlier 80's discoteque' "Me Decade" styles of nightlife.

What was simply a new wave of science fiction writing and literatures that celebrated an implication of technologies as its progress through the fabrics of our society, and its damaging effect on world we lived on, the transition of such wisdom that driven by a rich visuals atmosphere that depict a futurism with clash of neo-retro galore, that mashed along with geeky subcultures that once only a trend among the nerds on computer science, marching along altogether in creating what was known today as the movement that pioneering both senses of rebellious nature, while staying true to the principal of having fun in life, which basically, every individualism wants and needs.

Its noticeable that while cyberpunk genre is established more than just a skin deep into the core of our tech-laden society that we are living now, the crumbling society by the distrust of government, individual privacy that far reach into the cloud structures of our cyberspace network that can be easily taken, being seen or stolen by those that operating inside or beyond the system, is not something that is to be celebrated. 

But taken such issues aside, a redefinition of the new establishment of “cool” by the act of social misconduct, alternative fashion, and secret underground movement that the sole objective is for one individual’s euphoria and excitement is really an achievement that is right to be celebrated.


 

"Trust Your Technolust"--- (Hackers, 1995)