Frankenstein And Blade Runner Analysis

Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein was first published in 1818 in an increasing secular British society, after the French revolution but the beginning of Industrial Revolution and during a period of technological and scientific advancement. Over 150 years later, Ridley Scott released Blade Runner, a film set in the 2019. The influence of the Cold War, capitalism and rising consumerism and uncontrollable scientific developments in areas of cloning, came together to form a dystopian world. Despite the differing contexts, values such as man's fascination with creating life, an obsession with science and discovery and the importance of parental responsibility are present in both texts, essentially representing Mary Shelley in the 1800s and Ridley Scott in the 20thcentury. The universality of such values are how each text broke through boundaries of their time, thus leading to being viewed as valuable. Shelley and Scott’s concerns for such issues lead to not being critically acclaimed at the time.

Both Frankenstein and Blade Runner are products of their time, exploring an obsession with man creating human form. Although the protagonists of each text are prompted by different motives, Frankenstein by Romanticism and Tyrell by mass consumerism, essentially their obsessions are consistent.

TALK ABOUT FRANKESTEIN

This differs from Tyrell’s obsession of commerce and mass consumerism reflected in his words ‘Our goal here at Tyrell is commerce’. Tyrell’s work of creating replicants is an economic endeavour than a scientific discovery. This obsession reflects the mass corporatization and liberalization of the 20th century. His obsession stems from the idea to create life same as Frankenstein’s. The opening scene is indicative of the extent...

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... the future. ‘Fiery the angles fell; deep thunder rolled around their shores; burning with the fires of Orc”, his words empathises the potential danger or a created life form. The failure of both creations in Frankenstein and Blade Runner and the deadly effects of science is emphasised by the conclusion of each text. Sending out the final massage, the death of both creators. Thus, the danger of unchecked science led to detrimental effects, a notion that surpassed time and place reflecting the lack of knowledge of science advancements at the time both texts were written.

Parental Responsibility

Context leading to being critically acclaimed now. Blade Runner was a box-office failure compared to Ridley Scott’s other films. Their messages transcended context-breaking boundaries of their time. Yet issues explored are still relevant and permanent today.

Conclusion: