A topic we’ve talked about in class was how humans viewed themselves separate from nature. However, despite all of humanity’s advancements providing convenience and comfort, there is still a desire to return to nature’s authenticity. In the show Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, protagonist Amate Yuzuriha expresses these views within the first few minutes of episode one. Reminding its watchers why mankind cannot truly separate themselves from nature.
In the show’s setting Amate was born in a world where humanity has advanced far enough to no longer ‘shackle’ themselves to the Earth. Over half of the population in this speculative world lives amongst the stars within self-sustaining colonies. In a similar vein to people, like myself, born within the last two decades, Amate from birth was surrounded by technology. People born and growing up within the last two decades had access to devices prior generations didn’t. We can chat with others across the globe, see sights without needing to go to them in person, etc. All of which can be done on the amazing portable screens in our pockets we bring everywhere daily. However, at a certain point—we realize its not real. At the very least it feels suffocating.
“A space colony 6.4 km in diameter generates 1G of rotational gravity by rotating once every 113.5 seconds. This force that presses us to the ground isn’t real gravity. The heavens aren’t above our heads, but under our feet. Those of us born in the colony don’t know of real gravity or the real sky. Let alone the real sea.” (Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX episode 1: Red Gundam, 03:14 – 03:51)
Amate’s view of the world she lives in reflects a realization that many people living in modern, technology saturated cities eventually come to. That the very conveniences which surround can feel suffocating. Longing for experiences that aren’t medicated by the constructed environments from device screens and modern life. From personal experience I often feel burnt out scrolling through platforms like X (formerly twitter), TikTok, or Instagram. I get tired of having to look my phone’s screen and see things that bother and annoy me. To recover I travel somewhere to get fresh air, the best location I personally could think of was the beach. The air there feels ‘authentic’ than if I were just to exit my house. It may stem from the fact seeing the ocean instills the feeling its real. That this breath of fresh air is not manmade and I get to experience it in real-time myself.
Going off this, closer inspection of Amate’s quote tells of the unique bond between humans and nature. On some instinctive level we just know things within the natural world is just real. Compared to manmade things—like generative A.I content—which people do struggle with telling if it is or not. Especially with generative A.I content, there is discourse over the fact if A.I is even real art. That when an actual human makes it one can feel and see the creativity and life in it. This isn’t a new feeling unique to A.I. Rather, it’s something that’s been there since society modernized. The yearning we have to want to feel, see, and experience something authentic. Why we go back and reconnect with nature despite all modern advancements. Because its natural from the world that birthed us compared to our creations.