Cryo Quest: A Comparative Study of the Frozen Frontiers in Lora Beth’s Novel Goddess in the Machine and Alexandre Aja’s Film Oxygen

Abstract

Through this comparative analysis of Lora Beth's novel Goddess in the Machine and Alexandre Aja's French film Oxygen we encounter characters suspended in time, awakened in unknown futures, that grapple with the profound implications of humanity's quest for immortality. This dissertation can also be referred to as a study that discusses the impacts created by technology and cryonics on humanity. This study mirrors the complexities of the human experience in a world propelled by technological innovations. My dissertation titled, Cryo Quest: A Comparative Study of the Frozen Frontiers in Lora Beth's Novel Goddess in the Machine and Alexandre Aja's film Oxygen, is divided into four sections. The first section introduces the concept of cryogenics and its applications, along with the evolution of cryo novels and its influence in literature. The second section contains an overview of both works thus comparatively analyzing the protagonists 'Andra' and 'Liz', emphasising their character developments, motifs and personalities. Applying Abraham Maslow's psychological theory, 'Hierarchy of Needs,' to substantiate the connection between psychology and cryo fiction. Third section studies the cryo elements portrayed in both works, giving special focus on identity crisis, survival struggles, alienation, loneliness, disorientation, fragmentation of memories, haunting nostalgia, future of technology, its impacts, etc…The final section discusses how both writers utilize their respective mediums to portray characters. It also sheds light on the relevance of cryo fiction as a representation of the future.