The cyberpunk movement has become one of the most influential subgenres of science-fiction, with many derivatives having the word (and concept of) “punk” tacked onto their names.
It offers people an interesting look into the future, where technology has become synonymous with life. In this version of the future, androids and cyborgs roam, virtual reality has become the default reality, and cities practically bleed neon.
Best Cyberpunk Tropes
Cyberpunk is quite young compared to other genres, having only been established in the 1960s and 1970s. Despite that, it’s already found much of its identity as being “high-tech, low-life.”
This subgenre is still expanding. As technology continues to evolve, so does cyberpunk. But while new ideas and concepts are constantly explored in its growing library, they are all linked together by its core tropes. Here are just a few of them.
1. High-Tech, Low-Life
“High-tech, Low-life” is pretty much the central identity of the cyberpunk genre. All cyberpunk settings feature advanced technology. Artificial intelligence, cybernetics, and cybersecurity are normal elements of everyday life.
But while people are living in a technological renaissance, the quality of life hasn’t actually kept up. Society is in rapid decay because of the negative impact of technology.
Tech-enhanced drugs are far more addicting than traditional drugs. The use of virtual reality is so excessive that people have problems differentiating what’s real and what’s not. Surveillance technology is used to monitor people 24/7. These are just a few examples of this societal collapse brought on by technology.
In Neuromancer (the archetypal cyberpunk novel), the two protagonists are equipped with many cybernetic modifications. One of them, in particular, has his liver and pancreas modified so he can never get high—which doesn’t mean he’s never getting sick from whatever drugs or alcohol he ingests.
2. Multiculturalism
It’s no secret that cyberpunk settings borrow heavily from the East, especially Japan. William Gibson, the pioneer of the genre, has famously stated that “modern Japan simply was cyberpunk.”
However, this trope isn’t limited to Japan. Many cyberpunk cities are presented as melting pots of cultures from all over the world. Western and eastern architecture often sit side-by-side or are combined to create something else.
Many of these buildings bear signs in different languages and are populated by people coming from different cultures. This mixing of cultures often creates many interesting outcomes.
For example, in Blade Runner, a street language called “cityspeak” was developed. It was essentially a combination of eastern and western languages as a result of the different cultures in the city.
This trope does run into problems. Many works of cyberpunk have been accused of promoting inflammatory ideas against Asians.
The most obvious example of this is the “Yellow Peril,” a school of thought that paints East and Southeast Asia as a danger to the Western world.
There was fear of them outpacing the West when it came to technological and political advancements, so many cyberpunk stories, especially those created in the ’80s, feature Asian corporations as the enemy.
Yet, those same works exploit Asian elements such as the samurai, neon signs with Asian letterings, and typical Asian foods.
It all comes down to how the creator of a particular work handles this representation of cultures.
3. Megacorporations
A megacorporation is a massive conglomerate that holds a monopoly or near-monopoly over several markets. It is powerful enough to hold itself above the law, has its own army and police force, and holds a large territory.
In many cyberpunk stories, they act as outright governments. The words of their executives are law and are arbitrarily enforced by a highly-trained and equipped army. They also treat their employees like indentured servants, controlling almost every aspect of their lives.
They’re also the ones producing most of the tech in the story, which are often made to take advantage of those who buy them. And in many cases, these megacorporations are also the leaders of the underworld, engaging in trafficking, sales of illegal substances, and so on.
This is subverted in the Takeshi Kovacs series. While megacorporations do exist in every sense of the term, they ultimately answer to the tyrannical United Nations Protectorate, which oversees every planet inhabited by humanity.
4. Advertising Everywhere
No one can run away from advertisers when living in a cyberpunk world. Advertising is everywhere, from every inch of wall to every scrap of paper you can find.
It’s part of why cyberpunk cities are perpetually awash with neon lights. Ads run nonstop, pushing their products and services in your face, whether you like it or not.
Anything you do digitally is recorded, analyzed, and used to flood you with advertisements. This constant barrage becomes part of daily life, becoming more aggressive as advertisers try to make you buy something you don’t need.
It’s certainly a message against capitalism, consumerism, and corporatism—things that cyberpunk is broadly critical of.
This is more of a visual trope. A quick Google search offers many examples of this trope across various mediums such as video games, movies, and concept art.
5. Noir
It’s not surprising that cyberpunk thrives in a noir atmosphere. The dystopian world it depicts naturally expresses cynicism, despair, fear, and moral ambiguity.
The worldview is largely pessimistic. The general populace is in an unwanted situation they can’t escape. Life keeps on dropping hardship after hardship. Society is collapsing and no one cares.
Most cyberpunk protagonists are also anti-heroes. They have questionable views and methods but aren’t complete villains. And while they don’t go out of their way to help others, they do have a conscience that gets them to act a few times.
In Alfred Bester’s The Demolished Man, all of the major characters follow many noir characteristics, including an amoral businessman and a dishonest police detective.
6. Human Enhancements
In cyberpunk, science and technology have advanced to a point where humans regularly get themselves “upgraded.” It’s common for characters to have cybernetic or biological enhancements. This can be purely cosmetic, or for other reasons such as combat and memory retention.
A core theme of cyberpunk is exploring where we draw the line between humanity and technology. When a person replaces the majority of themselves with machines, will they still be considered human? Conversely, when a machine develops sufficient human intelligence and emotion, what will it be?
This often plays into a subplot where cyborgs and androids start a movement for their rights—which, in typical cyberpunk fashion, is ruthlessly put down.
In The Electric Church, the titular religion consists of devotees whose brains are transplanted into robotic bodies. While it gives them virtually unlimited life spans, it robs them of their free will.
7. Information is Peak Currency
In a digitally-driven world, information is priceless. With the majority of people living in cyberspace, almost all of their personal information is recorded. Getting access to it practically makes you a god in a cyberpunk world.
The rarer and more extensive they are, the better. Gold and other precious metals are secondary because data is everything. Corporations and syndicates will be desperate to get a hold of it as they stand to affect the masses better, bringing in more profit and control.
This is something we’re already experiencing today. Considering that a cyberpunk world is practically drowning in technology, how much more valuable will data be in such a future?
Take Ready Player One as an example. The O.A.S.I.S has become an integral part of life. It’s where people go to school, work, meet friends, etc. As a result, it holds a lot of important and sensitive information about its users.
8. Rain
It’s almost always raining in a cyberpunk city. Whether it’s a steady drizzle or a heavy downpour, it makes its presence known by getting everything and everyone wet.
Rain further enhances the dark atmosphere that cyberpunk likes. There’s no sunshine to cheer up the people, only the storm clouds that remind everyone that their life is dreary.
It’s a symbol of the city’s collective depression. It doesn’t wash away the grime. Instead, it collects the pollution, pooling it in the streets or dumping on the people—just another worry to add to an already long list of problems.
In The Matrix, Neo and Agent Smith’s showdown takes place under the pouring rain. The rain not only enhances the noir atmosphere, but it represents Matrix code falling down as the system collapses.
What Is the Point of Cyberpunk?
Cyberpunk is a warning against a very possible future: a soulless society consumed by technology. It depicts many of the issues we’re currently struggling with but has advanced to the point of no return.
It also makes us wonder about transhumanism—the augmentation and overall development of humanity using technology. At what point does a human become a machine and vice versa? And what makes science more dangerous than helpful?
That said, the genre is currently experiencing a revival. From books and video games to movies and TV shows, many people are looking to this genre for inspiration. Maybe it’s because many of the themes and issues it tackles are becoming increasingly familiar in this era.
What cyberpunk tropes do you love or hate? Share them in the comments below!
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Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
