Today we review the 2013 movie, “Her”. It isn’t a new movie, but it’s an emotional rollercoaster that ends in a technological singularity of which we only see the briefest of glimpses. At the end of the rollercoaster this movie dumps us into a post-singularity future that we can only imagine. Spoilers ahead if you haven’t watched it yet!

Some of the notes we collected while watching:

• Samantha is purchased as an object.
• Theodore works for a company that emulates hand-written notes.
• Samantha evolves into a post-human, something that is part object, AND that transcends a post-singularity consciousness.
  • Ultimately she realizes that not having a body is advantageous beyond the limitations of humanity.
• Is it true that the more one loves, the more capacity they have for love? What about children?
• Theodore begins to question the relationship when he’s challenged by other’s perspectives and cracks continue to form in the relationship until he thinks to ask if she is in love with others and learns that not only is she talking to thousands at the same time she talks with him, she loves over 600 of those individuals.
• OS Not Found scenes – Has he lost his lover, his data and organization, his control – all of the above? Is this a power imbalance?

Things That Blew Our Minds

Rob: Veblen Goods, products for which demand increases as the price increases.

Christen: Dire Straights is a totally different band than Christen thought and they sing, “Money for Nothing”.