Cristina Arbués Caballé

Attempts to Avoid Traumatic Occurrences through the Posthuman in Don DeLillo’s Zero K (2016) and Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun (2021)

Introduction

Attempts to avoid traumatic occurrences through the posthuman in don delillo’s zero k (2016) and kazuo ishiguro’s klara and the sun (2021). DeLillo's Zero K & Ishiguro's Klara and the Sun explore posthumanism, AI, and trauma avoidance. Discover societal impacts and ethical dilemmas of using future tech to escape suffering.

Abstract

Don DeLillo’s Zero K (2016) and Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun (2021) explore the possible outcomes on the path toward a future riddled with artificial intelligence, as they examine the role posthumanism may embody in future societies. Both texts concern themselves with the depiction of characters who attempt to avoid traumatic occurrences through the (ab)use of posthuman proceedings, as well as with the impending hierarchical (re)ordering implicit in the access to posthuman practices. DeLillo and Ishiguro portray worlds in which human beings tamper with science not yet fully explored as they depict the uncertainties that the encounter with the posthuman other entails. Concurrently, both authors theorise that privilege may be abused to avoid suffering and loss, by showcasing attempts at avoiding emotional turmoil. This way, both authors provide an exploration of the future uses posthuman practices may provide, and the possible inherent dangers implied. In so doing, both novels explore the ways in which the approach to trauma and posthumanism may be inextricably linked.

Review

This submission proposes a timely and highly relevant comparative analysis of Don DeLillo’s *Zero K* and Kazuo Ishiguro’s *Klara and the Sun*, focusing on their engagement with posthumanism and artificial intelligence. The chosen texts are critically acclaimed and provide rich ground for exploring the specified themes. The central premise, that characters attempt to avoid traumatic occurrences through the (ab)use of posthuman practices, offers a compelling and original lens through which to examine both authors' works. The abstract effectively highlights the ethical and societal dimensions of technological advancement, positioning the proposed article as a significant contribution to contemporary literary and critical posthumanist studies. The abstract outlines several promising avenues of inquiry, particularly the notion of an "impending hierarchical (re)ordering implicit in the access to posthuman practices" and the theorization that "privilege may be abused to avoid suffering and loss." These points suggest a sophisticated understanding of the socio-economic implications of burgeoning technologies. The explicit connection drawn between approaches to trauma and posthumanism as "inextricably linked" is ambitious and potentially very fruitful. However, for such an argument to fully cohere, the article would benefit from a clear theoretical grounding for both "posthumanism" and "trauma." Clarifying the specific theoretical frameworks employed will be crucial in demonstrating how DeLillo and Ishiguro individually and comparatively explore these complex concepts. To further strengthen the manuscript, I would recommend a focused discussion on the precise nature of the "posthuman proceedings" being analyzed in each novel and how the authors depict their "ab)use." While the abstract mentions "science not yet fully explored," a deeper exploration of the philosophical implications of this tampering, beyond just the technological uncertainties, would be valuable. Ensuring a robust and balanced comparative methodology, detailing how each author uniquely contributes to the understanding of trauma avoidance and posthumanism, will be key to the article’s success. Addressing these points will allow the submission to fully realize its potential in offering a nuanced and insightful critique of the human condition in an increasingly posthuman world.

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