Examples Of Existentialism In Blade Runner

To Be Or Not to Be... 5 Existentialist Films

Existentialism is a philosophy concerned with finding oneself and the meaning of life through free will, choice and personal responsibility. The belief is that individuals want to know who they are, why do they exist, the reality and / or illusion of life and death, the presence (or absence) of God, etc. And that we make choices based on notions, mindsets and experiences. These choices are thus based on perceived truths that need not be objectively true, and are thus unique to each of us. Also central to the philosophy is the assertion that people should be forced to choose and be responsible without the help of laws or traditions.

From this philosophy school is derived the concept of an existential crisis, which is a point in an individual's

Dick and was adapted for the screen by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples. Starring Harrison Ford, the film is set in a dystopian Los Angeles, where genetically engineered androids, virtually identical to humans, are banned on Earth and only used in off-world colonies. Those who do return are hunted down by special forces called Blade Runners of which Ford is one.

The movie's primary theme revolves around the understanding of humanity and is ambiguous on whether Ford's character is human or android, which ultimately leads the audience to re-think what it actually means to be human, and whether we would be able to differentiate, after a point, between being conscious and being inside a simulation.

Though the film did not do well commercially upon release, especially in the USA, today it is considered a classic. It was nominated for and won several awards, especially technical, including a BAFTA for Cinematography, and was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in