Blade Runner (Ridley Scott, 1982)
Introduction
Science fiction is crucialin the creation of a sense of wonder through contemplating in relation to its meaning to humanity. Science fiction is also vital in the provision of relevant meaning to the aspect of humanity. This is by defining humanity as the rational ability of human beings to reason (Belton p. 273). It also indicates that it is a skill facilitating eradicating technological or extraterrestrial forces having negative influence on the human identity. Science fiction is also crucialin the creation of the plots in the modern films. Like in the case of Blade Runner, science fiction is vital in the realization of the objectives and goals of the author in determining the plot and settings. Science fiction enhances the ability of the author or writer to develop and integrate characterization effectively and efficiently thus the opportunity to express thematic issues and subject matter to the relevant audiences. Blade Runner dramatizes the science fiction theme of defining what it means to be human by uniting humans and non-humans in a battle against a common oppressor and exploring the thin line that separates humans from non-humans in the dystopian future.
Analysis: Body
Blade Runner is a reflection of science fiction. Science fiction focuses on the exploration of its meaning to the society and humanity. This is through the creation of the story in the context of the future or essence of futuristic past. Blade Runner is a fictional story developed in the futuristic past to highlight the meaning of science to the society. There is the essence or existence of natural laws waiting to undergo exploration through implementation of narrative skills and techniques of the writer. Blade Runner has the ability to intrigue the reader into creation of curiosity in relation to the speculation of the creation of the future events. Blade Runner also integrates narrative skills and techniques to focus on the exploration of the dystopian science fiction through evaluation of the dehumanizing threat in relation to the corporate culture and aspects of technology. The author of the Blade Runner develops the corporate culture and aspects of technology characterizing the modern society or 21st century in the city of Los Angeles. Scott, in the creation of the Blade Runner, focuses on the application of economic and technological explanations to explain activities in the fictional world thus the ability to express the film as a science fiction.
Blade Runner also expresses the essence of the dystopian future. From this perspective, Blade Runner focuses on the creation of robots as human beings replacements. This is through integration of the culture of capitalism by the writer and director of the film. This is evident through the creation of the capital and technological world in the form of the 21st century of Los Angeles. Technological advancements are crucial in the realization and completion of this goal (Kerman p. 16). According to Scott, the film is an illustration of the transformation of human beings to robots through the integration of technological advancements. It is also crucial to note the similarity of the robots to human beings as a reflection of the work of science fiction. Robots behave like human beings but are more efficient in the execution of the relevant activities. Blade Runner expresses business interactions in the future. This is through creation of littered billboards as expression of essence of advertisements thus the opportunity for the consumers to decide on what to buy with reference to available products in the market. As the dystopian future, Blade Runner focuses on the lack of differences between human beings and the robots in the future worlds. The creation of the film is a reflection of quality integration of science fiction to address issues relating to the future projections.
Blade Runner also offers the viewers the opportunity to understand and relate to human and non-human features in the future or post-human world. The creation of robots or human replicas is an illustration of the erosion of the traditional components, beliefs, culture, and ideologies of the society. This indicates that the robot culture seeks to replace the culture of humanity in the future world thus a reflection of the essence of science fiction. Technology has the ability to have positive and negative impact in the creation of humanity. This indicates that technology enhances effectiveness and efficiency in the execution of activities in the modern society. Technology also has the ability to erode traditional components of the society thus rendering humanity obsolete. In this context, it is ideal for the humanity to manage technology effectively in order to minimize further negative influences in the future. According to the Blade Runner, human existence is at risk because of inability to control and manage technology in the post-human world or universe (Gray p. 68).
Blade Runner as a science fiction has the ability to distinguish between the future humanity and non-human components. This is through implementation of the self and other concepts in the evaluation and examination of the future world. This is crucialfor the understanding of the modern and post-human world because of the influence of technology in transforming interactions in the two worlds. Science fiction indicates that self illustrates components belonging to human beings. Self-components in this case consist of norms, beliefs, culture, and ideologies in the creation of humanity. Self has the ability to differentiate between humanity and non-human elements. In the self and other concept, the ‘other’ is crucial in the illustration of the qualities that do not define humanity. These include factors that do not fall within the boundaries of the norms, ideas, and culture defining humanity. Self obtains its definition though determination of factors existing outside the elements of humanity.
The film is also crucial in the illustration of the aspect of the threat of the other. Blade Runner demonstrates the threats of the other to the development and existence of humanity in the future world (Lev p. 165). This relates to limitation of the ability of human beings to live and exercise their activities freely. In this context, the film demonstrates the ‘other’ as races, ethnicity, and gender as threats to the creation of humanity in the future world. Blade Runner is crucial in the creation of the robots to represent different race to the self thus a threat to the realization of the targets of freedom in the future world. Science fiction in the creation of the film is crucial in the illustration of the other as a threat to free interactions and execution of activities by human beings. Robots also illustrate element of rebellion because of the need to adopt similar rights to humanity. This tension is also a reflection of threats to the creation of various aspects in relation to humanity.
The film also focuses on the illustration of the ‘other’ as African-American. The developed robots or human replicas appear as slaves in the colonized planets thus lack of freedom to realize their goals. This is a reflection of the slaves in the context of the African-Americans because of the integration of the code of black in the narrative skills. The ‘other’ is also a reflection of Asian because of the unrest developments in relation to the aspect of industrialization. There is a reflection of the superiority of the economy of America under the influence of invasion by the Asian culture. This is a threat to the creation of the economy of America hence a reflection of the ‘other’ in the illustration of science fiction by Blade Runner (Ryan p. 246).
The film is also an integration of intellect and reasoning thus the need for equality among human beings. Science fiction in the film focuses on the exploration of the role of imagination and emotional elements crucial in the creation of unique humanity. This intellect and reasoning is crucial in the differentiation of humanity or self from the ‘other’. This is evident through the creation of Voight-Kampf in order to determine self or ‘other’ in the examination of the replicas.
Conclusion
Blade Runner film is crucial in the provision of adequate illustration of the influence of science fiction in the exploration of its meaning to humanity. The ability to reason has diverse influence in relation to the creation of human beings. It enhances the ability of human beings to achieve equality and compassion. It also focuses on threatening freedom and autonomy through promotion of slavery aspects. Similarity between human beings and robots, like in the film, indicates that it is not impossible to remain human in the dystopian future.
Works Cited
Belton, John. “Horror and Science Fiction.” American Cinema/American Culture, 3rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2013. 272-295. Print.
Gray, W. Russel. “Entropy, Energy, Empathy: Blade Runner and Detective Fiction.” Retrofitting Blade Runner. ed. Judith Kerman. Bowling Green, OH: Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1991. 66-75, Print.
Kerman, Judith. “Technology and Politics in the Blade Runner Dystopia.” Retrofitting Blade Runner. ed. Judith Kerman. Bowling Green, OH: Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1991. 16-24. Print.
Lev, Peter. “Whose Future?” American Films of the 70s: Conflicting Visions. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2000. 165-179. Print.
Ryan, Michael and Douglas Kellner, “Fantasy Films.” Camera Politica: The Politics and Ideology of Contemporary Hollywood Film. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1988. 244-265. Print.
