View from the edge: vernacular theory and cyberpunk fandom

Abstract

Cyberpunk, a sub-genre of science fiction that developed in the 1980s, is typified by a dystopian representation of the near future. There is a cultural ethic embraced by cyberpunk fans that is derived from the literature and other media of the genre. This cultural ethic can be recognized as part of a vernacular theory unique to cyberpunk fandom. Vernacular theory proposes that it is not only academics that are able to critique and theorize about social experiences. Thus, through the themes of this cultural ethic (marginalization, creation of identity and image, technology and the body, and global integration and conflict) fans demonstrate a certain understanding of their social reality, address issues of concern, and reflect an awareness of and ability for critical theory.