Description
Book SynopsisThis book examines German feature films and television series centered around the figure of the computer hacker as a hero, introducing the German hacker genre to the ongoing scholarly discussion of genre in German cinema. William Mahan argues that the genre reflects a history of youth resistance, a complex political landscape, and an obsession with Datenschutz (data protection) in the German context to make the hacker an archetypal character with both national and global cultural appeal. Ultimately, Mahan posits, the continued prevalence of the hacker over the last twenty-five years suggests that while remaining relevant, the figure has also evolved and become dynamic in connection to developing technologies. Scholars of film studies, German studies, and cultural studies will find this book of particular interest.
Table of ContentsAcknowledgements
Introduction: Hackers as Heroes in German Film and Television
Chapter 1: Unmasking the German Hacker: Identity and German Hackers in Film
Chapter 2:23, the Hacker’s Hero Ethic, and the KGB Hacks
Chapter 3: Data (In)Security: in Who Am I – Kein System ist sicher
Chapter 4: You Are Wanted – German Hacker as Villain
Chapter 5: Tech History and The Billion Dollar Code: German Hackers and the “Vision” for Google Earth
Chapter 6: The Chaos Computer Club: Real German Hackers as Heroes
Conclusion
Bibliography
About the Author
