A Summer Media List on Technology, Society, and the Futures We鈥檙e Building
Each summer, reading lists circulate across schools, universities, and publications like The New York Times. These lists serve many purposes: They preserve literacy over a school break, set the stage for an incoming class, offer relaxation at the beach, or encourage space to think differently.
In the spirit of such lists, the faculty in Excelsior鈥檚 School of Technology have curated a selection of books, graphic novels, films, and TV shows that have spoken to us and stayed with us over time.
The books and films on this list have shaped us as instructors, technologists, and humans鈥攁t the same time haunting and inspiring us. While not exhaustive, the selections represent stories that challenge us to think more deeply about technology, society, and the futures we are actively shaping.
I reflect on 1984 when I think about the information I consume, and Ender鈥檚 Game when it comes to alternative perspective-taking and allowing the machine to do the work for me. Wall-E reminds me to stop scrolling and have a cup of coffee with a friend and to plant a garden. I hear echoes of themes in Ghost in the Shell when our faculty come together for lively discussions about articles related to the intersection of artificial intelligence and humanity.
I admit that at first glance, when I consider the list we鈥檝e put forth, it comes across as a bit dystopian. Yet I also consider the themes and messages embedded in these works as hopeful guides to how we can pause to consider our actions, choose to live meaningful lives, and value and protect the gifts humanity has been given.
Part of our mission at the School of Technology is to center our teaching around providing students with a multidisciplinary education that blends technical expertise with practical wisdom and ethical insight. Our belief is that we mustn鈥檛 operate in a vacuum. The code we write, the levers we pull, the projects we oversee, and the systems we create do not exist in isolation. It is our responsibility to consider how our actions affect others, anticipate the future impact of what we create, and examine our personal responsibility in our role as technologists.
As emerging technologies鈥撵谤辞尘 artificial intelligence to advanced energy systems鈥攔eshape the world around us, these stories invite us to ask not only what we can build but also what we should build. So, pull up a chair, sit beneath a beach umbrella, or grab some popcorn and dive into this list. I鈥檒l be in my garden reading The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling.
What鈥檚 on your list?
Special thanks to my colleagues for cocreating the following list of works: Jim Tippey, Anveeksh Koneru, Richard Cole, Ivan Gappy, and Ahmad Khan.
Books and Graphic Novels
Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley (1932): Set in a futuristic world where technological and biological advancements have eliminated suffering, but also individuality and freedom, the book explores whether we truly created a better society or whether we lost something along the way.
Descender, by Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen (2015鈥2018): This science fiction series follows a young robot boy in a universe where artificial intelligence has been outlawed, exploring themes of prejudice, ethics, and the impact of technology on identity.
Ender鈥檚 Game, by Orson Scott Card (1985): Follow a young boy鈥檚 recruitment and training with immersive, technology-driven interstellar war simulations, raising questions about leadership, ethics, and the human cost of fighting war remotely.
Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury (1953): In a future society, books are banned, and 鈥渇iremen鈥 burn any that are found, leading to a suppression of intellectual freedom.
Ghost in the Shell, by Masamune Shirow (1989鈥1991): A manga series as well as an anime series, this work explores the relationship between humanity and technology, particularly in a world where cybernetic enhancements and artificial intelligence are commonplace.
Lucky Starr, a series by Isaac Asimov (1952鈥1958): Intended to introduce children to scientific concepts鈥攁nd also beloved by adults鈥攖he series follows David 鈥淟ucky鈥 Starr as he uses science to solve mysteries across the solar system.
Snowpiercer, by Jacques Lob and Jean-Marc Rochette (1982): Originally a French graphic novel, and now a TV show, Snowpiercer explores class struggle and the consequences of climate change as the remnants of humanity survive on a perpetually moving train.
1984, by George Orwell (1949): In this classic dystopian novel, a totalitarian state monitors and controls every aspect of citizens鈥 lives.
Movies
Blade Runner (1982): Based on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, by Philip K. Dick, humans create artificial beings known as replicants, leading to complex ethical questions about technology, humanity, and identity.
Contact (1997): Based on Carl Sagan鈥檚 eponymous novel, Contact follows a scientist who discovers evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence. The film explores themes of science, faith, discovery, and how humanity responds to transformative technological and existential questions.
Elysium (2013): In a future where the wealthy live on a space station while the rest of humanity suffers on Earth, the film explores social inequity, health care access, and the consequences of unchecked technological advancements.
I, Robot (2004): A Chicago detective investigates an autonomous AI system that controls architecture, planning, and service sectors, raising questions about whether safety constraints can fully govern intelligent systems and what happens when machines begin interpreting rules in unexpected ways.
Minority Report (2002): In a future where crimes are predicted before they occur, Minority Report explores surveillance, predictive technology, free will, and the ethical consequences of attempting to control human behavior through data and algorithms.
The Matrix (1999): In a dystopian future, humans unknowingly live in a simulated reality created by intelligent machines. The film explores themes of reality, artificial intelligence, and the consequences of technological dependence.
Wall-E (2008): This animated film depicts the aftermath of an Earth made unsustainable for life. Wall-E follows a lone robot caretaker and the last remnants of humanity traveling through space. It explores what happens when we rely on convenience and automation to disconnect from the natural world and each other鈥攁nd whether rediscovering care, curiosity, and human connection can restore both the planet and ourselves.
WarGames (1983): A young computer whiz accidentally hacks into a U.S. military supercomputer and unknowingly begins playing a real war scenario, as the system interprets the game as reality. The film explores artificial intelligence and the risk of technology escalating beyond human control.
We Live in Public (2009): A documentary film that explores the life of internet entrepreneur Josh Harris and his experiments with surveillance and online communities, offering a commentary on the impact of technology on privacy and social interaction.
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968): When a mysterious artifact is uncovered on the moon, a spacecraft piloted by two humans and one supercomputer seek to find its origins. Each act culminates in evolutionary leaps forward as the crew journeys beyond time and space.
TV
Battlestar Galactica (1978鈥1979, 2004鈥2009): Set in a distant star system, the last remnants of humanity are pursued by robotic Cylons. The series explores artificial intelligence, politics, mythology, and the enduring question of what it means to be human.
Black Mirror (2011鈥損resent): This anthology series examines the dark and often dystopian aspects of modern society and technology. Each episode is a stand-alone story, providing a thought-provoking exploration of the potential consequences of technological advancement.
Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988鈥1999, 2017鈥損resent): Known for its witty and irreverent commentary, this comedic television series follows a human host and his robot companions watching and riffing on B movies.
Star Trek (1966鈥1969): The original series follows a commander and his crew as they explore the galaxy, seeking out new life while learning to engage with difference, pursue knowledge, and protect through diplomacy. Technologically predictive, we see early signs of tablets, smartphones, and teleconferencing鈥攖hough humanity is still waiting for its teleporter.
