Social Science Talks Science Fiction » Podcasts

We are all susceptible to the pull of viral ideas. Like mass hysteria. Or a tune that gets into your head that you keep humming all day until you spread it to someone else. Jokes. Urban legends. Crackpot religions. Marxism. No matter how smart we get, there is always this deep irrational part that makes us potential hosts for self-replicating information.

This month, we dive deep into Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson. One of the quintessential cyberpunk novels, it follows the hacker Hiro Protagonist as he navigates the complex relationship between the real and virtual worlds on the trail of a conspiracy that threatens the metaverse. We discuss how the novel navigates the divide between the two, how we ‘exist’ online (and why Alex’s parents haven’t quite figured it out yet), and how mobility defines social standing.

Participants

Alex Hoseason

Matthew Campbell

Sorana Jude

John Wood