Bayramli Sakina / from Azerbaijan,Baku,2015

1. Azerbaijan University of Languages
School of Philology and Journalism
Subject: Country Literature
Presenter: Bayramli Sakina, group 438
Theme: Science fiction. Isaac Asimov “ The
Bicentennial Man”

2.  Science fiction is a genre of fiction
dealing with imaginative content such as
futuristic settings, futuristic science and
technology, space travel, time travel,
faster than light travel, parallel universes
and extraterrestrial life.
 It often explores the potential
consequences of scientific and other
innovations, and has been called a
“literature of ideas.”
 Science fiction is difficult to define, as it
includes a wide range of subgenres and
themes.
 Science fiction is largely based on
writing rationally about alternative
possible worlds or futures.
 It is similar to, but differs from fantasy
 Forrest J Ackerman used the term sci-fi
(analogous to the then-trendy "hi-fi") at
UCLA in 1954.

3.  A time setting in the future, in alternative
timelines, or in a historical past that contradicts
known facts of history or the archaeological
record.
 Characters that include aliens, mutants, androids,
or humanoid robots and other types of characters
arising from a future human evolution.
 Futuristic or plausible technology such as ray
guns, teleportation machines, and humanoid
computers
 Scientific principles that are new or that
contradict accepted physical laws, for example
time travel, wormholes, or faster-than-light
travel or communication.
 New and different political or social systems,
e.g. dystopian, post-scarcity, or post-apocalyptic.
 Paranormal abilities such as mind control,
telepathy, telekinesis, and teleportation.
 Other universes or dimensions and travel
between them.

6. • Born: Isaak Yudovich Ozimov
Between October 4, 1919 and
January 2, 1920; Petrovichi, Russian
SFSR
• Died: April 6, 1992 (aged 72)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
• Occupation: Writer, professor of
biochemistry
• Nationality: Russian (early years),
American
• Ethnicity: Russian American
• Education: Columbia University,
PhD. Biochemistry, 1948
• Period: 1939–1992
• Genre: Science fiction (hard SF,
social SF), mystery
• Subject: Popular science, science
textbooks, essays, literary criticism
• Literary movement:Golden Age of
Science Fiction
• Spouse: Gertrude Blugerman (1942–
1973; divorced)
• Janet Opal Jeppson (1973–1992; his
death)
• Children: David Asimov, Robyn Joan
Asimov

7. The Robot series
The Foundation Series
The Bicentennial Man
I, Robot
The Intelligent Man's Guide to Science
Nightfall
The Gods Themselves

8. "The Bicentennial Man" is a short story written by Isaac
Asimov and first published in 1976. The short story
inspired the 1999 film Bicentennial Man. "The
Bicentennial Man" revolves around the efforts of an
android to become human, including the technological
and cultural hurdles he must face to do so.

9.  In order to fully understand the context of this novel, it is important
to understand Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics. The laws are
as follows:
First Law: A robot may not injure a human being, or, through
inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
Second Law: A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings
except where such orders would conflict with the first law.
Third Law: A robot must protect it's own existence as long as such
protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

10. The title suggests, the android achieves to become human
on the two-hundredth anniversary of its construction, at
which point the World Congress declares it a human-the
bicentennial man

11. • Separation of mind and body
• Human enough
• Mortality

12. Structure
Flashback
Mood
Optimistic

13. Genre
Science
fiction
Robot
series

14. Setting
Place
San Francisco,
California
Time
From the mid 21st
century to the mid
23rd, Over the
next 200 years

15. Positives
Andrew Martin
(NDR-113)
Richard Martin
(Sir)
Portia Charney
Negatives
Mechanical Man
Dennis Mansky -
Head of
NorthAm
Robotics

16. NDR-113- is one of the robots.
Designed by NorthAm Robotics, this
robot, Andrew, is the focal point with
everything told from his perspective.
Purchased by the Martin family, like
with pets, he becomes "Andrew
Martin". However, Andrew is not a
pet, he is seen as little more than an
appliance, and not treated at all well
by the Martin children. Sometimes
the family members accept him and
are curious about him. At other times
they are not. In one incident, one of
the children orders Andrew to throw
himself out of an upper bedroom
window, just for a giggle. Martin
complies - he can do nothing else.
The fall damages him, thankfully not
irreparably.

17.  Gerald’s wife 'Ma'am' Rachael
Martin
 Little Miss Amanda Martin - Age
7
 'Miss' Grace Martin - Age 9
 Galatea
 President Marjorie Bota
 Lloyd Charney
 Rupert Burns
 Bill Feingold - Martin's Lawyer
 Dennis Mansky - Head of
NorthAm Robotics
 Motorcycle Punk
 Frank Charney

18.  One is glad to be of service.-Andrew Martin
Andrew, People grow through time, then for you, time is a
completely different proposition, for you, time is endless.- Sir
(Richard Martin)
I have a friend who is very special to me. He's sweet and
exceptionally intelligent, but, well - he's not really a - I mean, a
relationship between us would be impossible. It would never, could
never, work out.-Little Miss (Amanda Martin)
What's right for most people in most situations isn't right for
everyone in every situation! Real morality lies in following one's own
heart.-Portia Charney
I think personality is much more important than intelligence, don't
you?- Galatea
You see, imperfection is the key. Imperfections make us individuals,
that's what makes us unique. See my nose, how it is all bulbous and
pock marked, well, I am the only one with my nose.-Rupert Burns

19.  Sir: Why did the chicken cross the
road?
 Andrew: One does not know, sir,
possibly a predator was behind the
chicken, or possibly there was a
female chicken on the other of the
road, if it's a male chicken. Possibly
a food source, or depending on the
season it might be migrating. One
hopes there's no traffic.
 Sir: To get to the other side.
 Andrew: To get to the other side.
Ah, why is that funny?

20. [after Little Miss's wedding]
Andrew: Sir, is everything all right?
Sir: Umm. They've both gone now, Andrew. Well, things
change, things always change. People move on. It's as it
should be. But, what I realized today is that I'll never stop
missing them.
Andrew: Sir? One is still here.
Sir: And one is glad of that Andrew. Thank you.

21. [last lines]
Galatea: In the words of the great Andrew Martin, "One
is glad to be of service".
Portia: [looking to Andrew] See you soon.

22. If a robot spends enough time around humans, can he
learn to become one of them?

23.  In this novel, the Martin family purchases an android to perform
housekeeping and maintenance duties. Although they expect their robot to act
as a servant, he soon becomes part of the family. The android soon becomes
known as "Andrew" when Amanda, the youngest Martin daughter, mistakes
the word android for Andrew.
 The longer Andrew is with the Martin family, they begin to realize he isn't a
typical robot. Andrew seems capable of expressing emotion and generating
creative thoughts. The longer Andrew is around the family, the stronger these
behaviors become.
 When Andrew accidentally breaks Little Miss's figurine, he carves her a
replacement out of wood. The family is astonished by his creativity and Sir
Richard Martin takes Andrew to his manufacturer. The CEO of the NorthAm
Robotics wishes to destroy Andrew because they see his development as
detrimental to society. Angered at this suggestion, Sir takes Andrew home and
encourages him to pursue his development by educating himself in the
humanities. Years later, Andrew returns to NorthAm for some repairs and
requests for his face to be altered so he can more effectively convey his
emotions.

24.  Andrew and the Martin family have a hard time coping with the fact that
Andrew does not age as a real person does. Andrew is seemingly stuck in time,
as he watches his family age and die right before his eyes. Andrew has a
particularly hard time dealing with the pain of not being able to cry and realizes
that every person he loves will eventually die.
 When Andrew is separated from the Martin family he searches for more NDR
series robots that may have sentience. Eventually Andrew is successful in his
endeavors. He finds Galatea, an NDR robot that has feminine attributes and
feelings. However, she has not developed these traits as Andrew has, but rather,
they are a part of her programming. Andrew locates Galatea's inventor, Rupert
Burns, and asks Burns to help modify his features. Burns is able to give
Andrew artificial skin and facial hair. After these adjustments are made, Burns
and Andrew work together to develop the equivalent of human organs and a
central nervous system, which allows Andrew to feel tactile sensations.

25.  Over this period of time, Andrew becomes acquainted with Little
Miss's granddaughter Portia. They begin to develop feelings for one
another and develop a romantic and sexual relationship. When Andrew
realizes this relationship is socially unacceptable, he petitions the
World Congress to recognize him as human. Andrew's request is
rejected because he would be an immortal human, which would stir up
too much controversy and jealousy.
 Andrew offers to prolong Portia's life with his medical inventions, but
Portia decides she does not want this. Andrew then decides he does not
want to live his life without Portia. Burns and Andrew then work
together and figure out how to put blood into Andrew's system which
will cause his brain to decay, in turn, allowing him to age.
 When Andrew is old and frail, he once again petitions the World
Congress and asks to be declared a human being. Andrew is on his
death bed and is listening to the broadcast of the Court's decision.
Andrew is officially recognized as a human being and is reportedly the
oldest human being in history at the age of 200 years. The Speaker
also legalizes Portia and Andrew's marriage and the couple passes
away hand-in-hand.

26. I enjoyed this story. I'm pretty sure I've never read Asimov
before, and that seems strange to me considering that he wrote
over 500 books in his lifetime. I may branch out to some of
his longer works after this--it was an easy yet thoughtful read.
I know it was made into a film starring Robin Williams, but
I've never seen it. I can see why it was made into a movie, but
I doubt I would enjoy it as much as Mr. Asimov's written
version. "The Bicentennial Man" won the Nebula Award in
1976 and the Hugo Award in 1977. I'm surprised that the last
printing of this book was in 2000, in conjunction with the
movie.