Re: chiba city blues

The first little bit takes place in a variety of settings characterized by their “dirtyness”. I am reminded of blade runner or other post apocalyptic sci-fis. Chiba is generally filled with cigarette smoke, “biz” and little details of how very technologically advanced this is and yet how everyone seems to be struggling to make a living. The “grubby” pink plastic arm, the back alley surgeons, the arcades are all examples of technology not being the shiny glittery savior in the future.
The office of Julius Dean are quite the contrast. Great pains are taken to emphasize how anachronistic it all is, but a lot of the impression of this place comes from Julius himself. Aside from the phenomenal wealth to stay alive for that long, as well as to support his passion of clothing, we learn that he himself has some experience of the street. His conversation with Case suggest so at least. But overall his effect on the environment is more stereotypical upper class British or the like. The “perfect knot” of his tie, the “very best” candy, and so on.
Lastly, we get the realm of Armitage. First the Hilton, which is described as spacious, luxurious, supplying coffee, etc. this change to cleanliness reflects Case’s own position of returning to his old life. The clinic seems to be a step above the various back alley ones previously mentioned.
The character of Molly is somewhat interesting in that by her very nature she transcends these boundaries. Work necessitates an affinity with the city, yet clearly there was a sizeable investment in the various prosthetic enhancements.

Cyberspace is not mentioned too much In this section. We do know that the experience is as pure consciouns, and it is described as a “hallucination”. Case seems to like drugs, so perhaps that has become his replacement for the experience of “jacking in”. Also from how Case treats the real worls we can learn something about cyberspace. Apparently merely being there gives one various freedoms of mind that are impossible when said mind is attached to a body. This seems to be Case’s primary complaint.