Prompt 9

I think that the most interesting and provactive body we are exposed to in Neuromancer is Molly. It is a female body of both feminine sex appeal along with masculine attributes. Most other women in the book are "whores," however, Molly differs from this normative view of the female body. She is a tough working girl who can defend herself. She wears mostly black, masculine clothing with black boots. Both her mirrored eyes and the blades in her nails are body modifications that defend her and help make her stronger. For Molly, using the body as a way to get what you want and transcend normal limits is why body modification is important. Her mirrored eyes keep you from getting to see her emotion and getting inside her, which would make her more vulnerable to another. The blades are purely an alteration to her body to be a defense mechanism. She looks at the body as a way to gain power. Which is opposite of the way Case looks at the body. He looks at it as "meat." I think that since we do not have cyberspace in our world, we look at the body more like Molly does, as a way to empower oneself. Technology has a productive relationship with Molly's body. This is different from most bodies we've encountered in class so far. Most have used technology to modify one's body for a personal meaning or because it is a trend. Molly's is productive; it actually does something.