Premise Research: The Importance Of World Building + How Does This Effect My World

 Previously I have described my cyberpunk world as overly reliant on technology. It is this relationship that man has with technology which leads to the downfall of mankind as the machines begin to take over. I need to be able to relay this concept to the audience through worldbuilding. This is an important factor in creating a believable world. 

In order to get a better understanding of this I have watched multiple animations set in an alternative future world which has the theme of cyberpunk, in order to identify how they effectively portray the world. This in turn helps to enable the audience to be immersed in the plot. This includes Paris 2054 Renaissance, Akira and Ghost In The Shell. 

The main point I managed to identify from my research is to visually convey the struggle of the story through the worldbuilding.

Akira

 In Akira this is done by the massive explosion which engulfs the world at the beginning. The camera purposefully shows the audience a shot of a regular 1988 Japan in order to create a contrast between the world 31 years later. It then shows how Japan has progress (or rather regressed) with the opening act which follows the nameless heroes as they fight with a rival motorbike gang. The use of a battle which revolves around hoodlums is a clever way of introducing the characters as it shows they are a reflection of the world in which they grew up in. The fight also takes place on bikes which are made from futuristic technology. The film makes a point of emphasizing Katsuhiro bike as being impressive to show how far the development of technology has come. It then uses the fast paced bikes as a way to show off the rebuilt city. I really like how the world bends inwards as if endless when the characters are driving through it on their bikes. 

By making the city have a grand appearance, one that seems far developed past the point of a 1988 Japan,  it makes the destruction of the city at the end far more devastating. This reflects the idea that Japan sees technology as the downfall of man, an opposing idea compared to the Wests at the time. Japan had this view due to the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which greatly affected their society. This same destruction represents the internal feelings of the character Tetsuo, who feels he has no control of his life and is always looked down upon by others.

 Paris 2054 Renaissance

For Renaissance the rapid development of technology in France has caused for a new version of the city to be built. However instead of integrating this into Frances society, instead a new city was constructed on metal beams which raise it above old Paris. The two are then separated between a sheet of glass, with only certain instances, such as the Eiffel Tower, being allowed to be raised up to meet the new Paris. The world is being consumed by a corporation called Avalon. For this reason their are long shots of the Avalon building which is raised high above central France. This visually conveys Avalon's control on the city being at a higher standing as well as in a position to watch over the rest of the city. As well as this, when the characters navigate their way around this world you can constantly see billboards advertising Avalon. This makes their control seem inescapable even in the darkest depth of the world. After some additional research I also learnt that the name Avalon is the location at which King Arthurs sword was made in Arthurian legend. The name also translates to "Isle Of Fruit Trees", giving it holy connections to the bible. 

I found a useful website which explains the world in a lot of detail 

https://www.tboake.com/443_renaissance_f08.html

Ghost In The Shell 

Ghost in The Shell's main focus is to bring forth the ethical question of whether man has the right to control technology. Technology has progress so far its to the point that it has managed to develop a conscious and the same requirements which make humans, humans. This idea is reflected in the world by providing the viewer with long shots of the world, observing how the people/robots navigate it. This is a more subtle approach however reflects the message Ghost In The Shell is trying to tell in an effective way. At the begging of the film the built up city which towers over the main protagonist could represent how she is a slave to the city. She has no control of her own life and is instead forced to carry out the order instructed to her. However after meeting The Puppet Master and eventually bonding with him to create a new being, the city has a different meaning. This meaning is put on full display from the shot (on right) at the end of the film which shows Motoko looking over the city as she begins he new journey of self discovery. It is now Motoko who towers above the city as if finally in control of her own life after the events which unfolded in the story. The city no longer looks like the dull shackles which were holding her back, but instead it is bright and beautiful as if calling for her to explore it.  

I now need to analyze the story of my own world in order to identify how to build up the world 

My Initial Story Idea

Below is the idea I had which made up the background of my story which gave the two factions a reason to fight. I liked the blending between worlds and the contrast of two cultures

Set in a future Japan. The world has become reliant on technology (cyberpunk) and uses it to enhance the human form. Japan has moved away from its traditional ways of living, however there is a tribe who stay loyal to their beliefs and have banished the use of technology from their village. As Japan is dealing with an overpopulation due to people living longer than they should from technology, it has started building in any available space. This means the once countryside, is now city. The tribe has moved to the mountains to a Japanese palace. Their is a peace agreement between the two factions, as long as no one breaks any of the rules, the two live side by side. Their is rumour of a chip which will grant the user immorality. This would be the downfall of man as no one would ever die, in an already overpopulated world. A secret unit forms within the tribe, who go against the peace treaty to locate and destroy the chip. The plan is a success, however the news quickly spreads to the higher-ups of Japan. They send a special unit out to retrieve the chip at all costs...

After my research I want to delve deeper into the sinister idea that the world is being consumed by technology, using ghost in a shell as reference for this. I also identified that I want the focus to be neon cyberpunk, which makes use of light in order to display the technological progression. 

I want to investigate Japan in order to identify how it came to be that there are massive technologically advanced cities against open countryside made up of mountains. 

Tech vs Traditional