Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep By Philip K. Munch

Throughout the years, technology has become an increasingly important aspect of our everyday lives. Philip K. Dick explores the consequences brought about by a reliance on technology, such as the loss of individuality, in his novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep through the allusion to Edvard Munch’s works “The Scream” and “Puberty”. To begin, as Rick is described in the novel as being very reliant on his Pennfield mood organ when he decides to “dial what's on [his] schedule for today" (Dick 7). This shows that Rick is lacking in an emotional aspect of life, in that he relies entirely on a piece of technology in order to live an emotionally fulfilling life. Much like Dick, Munch depicts the gradual loss of individuality in his work “The Scream”. The individual screaming in the painting
Furthermore, as Rick retires the andy, Polokov, the remains are seen to “like the radioactive dust itself, [whirl] down on Rick” (93). This shows how every aspect of life will inevitably end and be absorbed by nature, thereby losing their human personality. Similarly, Munch shows, in his painting “The Scream,” how individuals are absorbed by nature through the manner in which he depicts the individual being a part of nature. More specifically, the manner in which Munch paints the individual is seen to be fading into the background. Therefore, by becoming the bridge and ocean, this individual’s personality in now non-existent. Moreover, in the painting “Puberty,” Munch depicts the girl as having no indication of uneasiness, other than the fact that she attempts to cover herself as much as she can. The girl’s lack of clothes symbolize her lack of individuality, in that, she has been stripped of her human personality and is being forced to conform to societal expectations. Similarly, when Luba is seen to be admiring the painting of “Puberty,” she is described as having “awe imprinted on [her] face”