A1 Journal article (refereed)
REAL HUMANS? : Affective imaginaries of the human and its Others in the Swedish TV series Äkta människor (2019)
Hellstrand, I., Koistinen, A.-K., & Orning, S. (2019). REAL HUMANS? : Affective imaginaries of the human and its Others in the Swedish TV series Äkta människor. Nordic Journal of Migration Research, 9(4), Article 515-532. https://doi.org/10.2478/njmr-2019-0028
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Hellstrand, Ingvil; Koistinen, Aino-Kaisa; Orning, Sara
Journal or series: Nordic Journal of Migration Research
eISSN: 1799-649X
Publication year: 2019
Volume: 9
Issue number: 4
Article number: 515-532
Publisher: Sciendo; De Gruyter
Publication country: Poland
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/njmr-2019-0028
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Open Access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/67266
Abstract
According to the Swedish science fiction TV series Äkta människor (Real Humans, SVT and Matador film 2012-2014), humanoid robots called “hubots” are replacing the human workforce in care work and assembly line industries. Against the backdrop of current debates about immigration and citizenship in the Nordic countries, this article does a close, contextual reading of the series, exploring how the hubots influence work and family life. We are particularly interested in how hubots tie in with the cultural circulation of affect in relation to Otherness and how responses towards the “not-quite” human or dehumanized Other are negotiated in the present-day Nordic cultural imaginaries. What kinds of affects are at stake in how Äkta människor takes up and interacts with debates about immigrant workers and the “not-quite” human? To answer these questions, the article develops the notion of “affective imaginaries” as an analytical tool for understanding the exchange between popular culture and political debate.
Keywords: immigration; migrant workers; narrative analysis; care work; robots
Free keywords: affective imaginaries; humanoid robots; care work; not-quite-ness; immigration
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2019
JUFO rating: 1
