‘While both texts are separated by their context and form, they are united by their representation of humanity and its values’
To be human does not necessarily mean one is humane. To be humane, according to the Collins Gem Dictionary, means to have characteristics such as benevolence, kindness and mercy. Extending on this definition, this suggests that to be a human -who is humane- one must bring to humanity an elevated level of being, an added component of morality and ethics. The consequences of losing the characteristics and values of Humanity can be shown through the texts of the movie techno-thriller Blade Runner by Ridley Scott (Scott) and the epistolary novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (Shelley).
Shelley was influenced by the time period of the late 1800’s, a time when Nautical Explorations established new trading routes and opened up communication to other cultures. Comparatively, Scott was influenced in the time period of the late 1980’s, a time of globalisation, urbanisation and commercial advertising. Shelley’s Frankenstein can be linked as a pre-warning to Blade Runner in that the communication to other culture such as in her time will lead to the result of Blade Runners Globalisation and Commercial Advertising. Both Shelley and Scott - because of their above contexts - make numerous references, throughout their texts, to the natural world. However, Shelley implies the importance and the beauty of nature, where as Scott emphasises the absence of nature as the result of a careless world. An important link between the two texts is the isolation from nature resulting in the loss of humanity.
Even though both creators have differing contexts, they equally reveal a common understanding that to lose touch with the natural world; one will ultimately lose their humanity. This can be seen in Scott’s text Blade Runner through the use of Tyrell in the ironic statement "She is an experiment, nothing more" contradicting his companies motto “more human...