Bladerunner and Frankenstein

Bladerunner and Frankenstein

  • Submitted By: timmmara
  • Date Submitted: 08/31/2014 12:41 AM
  • Category: English
  • Words: 1493
  • Page: 6

Blade Runner”, like “Frankenstein”, is a hybrid text, blending the science-fiction and hard-boiled detective genres to create what has been referred to as tech noir. Both genres have their roots in the Western genre, which features a lone individual – a flawed but heroic outsider with a strong moral code fighting for justice against the corrupt forces of society.
indicate how little society and its values have progressed in the span of one hundred and eighty years.

What it means to be human
Causes the audience to doubt the typical definition of humanity and our sense of justice and purpose concerning our actions; we must ask, ‘who is more human?’
In Frankenstein
Monster is educated, intelligent, kind, compassionate – Doesn’t process a creul personality.
“Saved a human being from destruction”
Shows sympathy – helping Delacey family
Still shunned and shown no sympathy due to his appearance
Even though he saves someone – a humane act – he was punished for it
This juxtaposition - unjust and impulsive injury caused to him by a human
Raises questions regards the definition of humanity
Further emphasis on this theme is created by the monster’s statement to Frankenstein that he was
“The slave, not the master, of an impulse”
an impulse being another important facet of humanity
In Blade Runner
Only way to distinguish Replicants from humans is Voight Kampf test
Which tests Empathy
Emotions and feelings are what is believed to be humans
Compassion and understanding are not shown by any humans
E.g. Deckard guns down people without remorse, whereas Roy inches away from vengeance chooses to save Deckard
Raises questions regards the definition of humanity
only the Replicants possessing humane qualities portrayal of Leon wants his ‘precious photos’ and Batty laments “if only you could see what I’ve seen through your eyes”
further emphasised through the homo sapiens’ obvious lack of humanity: for example, the police chief tells Deckard “You’re not cop,...

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