Technocratic Anxiety and the Representation of Smart Cities in Contemporary British Urban Gothic Literature

Abstract

The paper examines the representation of smart cities and the concerns raised about technology and surveillance in the existing British urban gothic literature. More specifically, the researcher draws upon the prominent works written by J.G. Ballard and China Miéville to analyze how technology affects psychological and social aspects of people's lives and takes control over many areas through physical surveillance and automation of cities. In particular, the researcher highlights surveillance, loss of autonomy, alienation, and loss of human agency as some of the most important themes that are explored through the depiction of smart cities. Employing the approach of examining the aforementioned literary works, the paper presents a critique of technological developments through the lens of dystopia. That is to say that even though the term of a smart city is associated with efficient and sustainable development, it represents a future in which people are deprived of their freedom by surveillance and control technologies. Moreover, the paper reflects upon the relevance of these topics in the contemporary world, where the advent of smart cities is progressively posing questions regarding privacy, autonomy, and the ethics of technology governance. As the application of surveillance technologies becomes more widespread in urban settings, there are ethical concerns and social implications of living in such cities. Ultimately, the paper recommends that one must revisit the cost-benefit analysis of technology development and human autonomy seriously, and smart city design should never compromise individual liberties and privacy.