The 1995 film ‘Johnny Mnemonic’ depicts a mechanized future society where even the human brain is replaced by machines. The film warns of the risk of losing humanity behind technological advancement and prompts reflection on how to maintain our humanity in a life fused with machines.
The film ‘Johnny Mnemonic’ was released in 1995. Starring Keanu Reeves, ‘Johnny Mnemonic’ depicts a plausible future involving cyborgs. Set in the year 2021, the world is almost entirely mechanized. Machines targeting humans have advanced to the point where people themselves are mechanized. Some enhance their physical abilities by replacing parts of their bodies with machines, while others become complete cyborgs by replacing their entire bodies with machinery. The protagonist, Johnny, is also someone who has replaced his brain’s storage device with a machine, making it his profession to store and transmit various memories.
This film depicts a future where modern society, increasingly dependent on technology, leads lives increasingly fused with machines. Considering current trends in scientific and technological development, such a future is highly likely to extend beyond mere cinematic fiction. We already rely on smart devices and AI technology in our daily lives, enjoying the convenience they provide. However, we must not overlook the hidden dangers lurking behind this convenience. As technology advances, human life becomes more convenient, yet the ethical issues and risks of losing our humanity also grow.
What will happen when the trend of bodily mechanization, already increasing in modern times, extends its reach to the brain? Speaking briefly about the brain, it remains largely unexplored territory even with current technological capabilities. Although many scientists are diving into brain research, it appears much time is still needed before we fully understand its entire structure. We still don’t know all the roles the human brain plays, and the precise mechanism by which it governs the entire body remains unanalyzed. Furthermore, even with modern medicine, there are almost no effective treatments for brain disorders, and we haven’t even properly identified the causes of brain death.
However, brain research has continued steadily, and recently, various results using brainwaves have emerged. Brain experiments using monkeys have indeed been ongoing. Examining one such experiment: A needle is inserted into the brain of a monkey whose arms are forcibly restrained, and food is placed in front of it. The monkey’s brainwaves are then measured through the needle and transmitted to a robotic arm that can provide the food, ultimately allowing the monkey to eat. While it’s not yet at the stage of being applied to humans and many unresolved challenges remain, research into the brain continues in this manner.
Movies spark various imaginings through this approach to the brain. The first aspect to consider is replacing the part responsible for simple information memory with a machine. If this were achieved, one wouldn’t need to struggle to remember separately; simply inputting information into a computer would allow any knowledge to become one’s own. Ultimately, everyone’s mind would contain an encyclopedia, and everyone would become an expert in their field to the extent of their memory capacity. Furthermore, all exams would disappear, and all selection processes would be determined solely by the size of the capacity embedded in the brain. The size of the storage capacity would determine a person’s ability.
Second, it is necessary to consider the aspect of past memories or experiences. Human memory holds not only various information but also past memories and experiences. In the movie, people even buy and sell their past memories. The protagonist ‘Johnny’ also deletes all his past memories to increase his memory capacity. People buy and sell, and even erase, memories they perceive as uniquely their own with alarming ease. Even if such things actually happened, it wouldn’t seem much different from the world in the movie. People would likely try to keep only the good memories and erase the bad ones. Good memories would be bought, sold, and shared under copyright, and while many might experience failure, no one would remember it.
But one wonders if such a world is truly right. First, since everyone thinks the same, creativity would be hard to come by, and people would only work according to predetermined abilities. Moreover, since even unexperienced things can be stored in one’s mind, the longing for new things one hasn’t tried will vanish. Ultimately, the world will stagnate like stagnant water, making progress difficult to expect. Furthermore, good experiences will be copyrighted, and everyone will share those experiences. In communication between people, one’s unique experiences often become key topics. However, since your experience and my experience become indistinguishable, we won’t ask about each other’s experiences, and communication will gradually diminish. Ultimately, human society will progressively mechanize and robotize, building a society of poverty within abundance.
If such a world becomes reality, we might cease to exist as truly human beings. Human identity is formed based on experience and memory; these elements are what make humans unique. If memory and experience are replaced by machines, what is the essence of humanity? Can we still call ourselves human? Such philosophical questions will be among the most critical issues we face at the end of technological advancement. As human life merges with machines, we must ponder how to preserve our dignity and individuality as humans.
Perhaps the director shared similar thoughts, as the film depicts many such scenarios. It depicts people who replace their entire bodies with machines only to gradually become dominated by robots and computers, and the protagonist who feels disillusioned with such a life and strives to reclaim lost memories. Furthermore, as a side effect of mechanization, a new disease emerges, putting the world’s population at risk. Countless machines implanted within the body generate electromagnetic waves, and these waves, incompatible with our bodies, cause illness. Thus, the film also cautions against the increasingly advanced world of cutting-edge science.
Humans use their brains throughout their entire lives. The potential of the human brain is truly immense. We are born with this tremendous potential from the very start. Perhaps humans were created to wield infinite capabilities without relying on external devices from the beginning. Ignoring that vast potential and relying solely on computers seems foolish. Even today, many organs like artificial hearts and kidneys are being replaced by advanced products. This is precious technology that saves many lives. However, a cautious approach is needed regarding the use of these technologies. Excessive dependence on technology will inevitably bring great disaster someday.
Furthermore, as humanity merges with machines, we must seriously reflect on what we are losing. While technology makes our lives convenient, within that convenience, we may be losing our unique human experiences, emotions, and inherent humanity. The benefits of merging with machines are clear, but the debate over whether the sacrifices required are truly worthwhile must continue.
