Blade Runner: Context

Compiled by Tanya Appleby ( AIS Conference Notes Stapleton & Kruse (2008), Sydney University

Origins & Context

Based on Philip K Dick’s (1968) Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Vietnam War: brutalisation & desensitization of humanity

3 Raising questions:1. ‘What is it to be human?’2. ‘What is it that separates humans from

machines?3. ‘Does love and compassion make us

human & humane’

Dick, P.K. (1968)

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? The text presents the following

themes: Paranoia Alienation Man’s emotional sterility &

inhumanity Misuse of earth’s resources &

ecological issuesIn Summary: Rep. Earth as ‘hellish’

with manifestations of St Elmo’s fire and

Post-holocaust dystopia

St. Elmo’s Fire

WHAT IS IT?

St Elmo’s Fire is a bright blue or violet glow that appears from masts, spires or sharp pointed structures. It often has a distinct glow and a buzzing or hissing sound

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

Some ideas in Blade Runner Moral philosophical & sociological

concerns in the context of a fictional futuristic environment

The isolation and alienation of the environment of 2019 ( although it transcends any time period)

Cautionary tale of the post-modern world

Human Vs machine intelligence

Contextual References to Descartes Rene Descartes

(1596-1650) “Father of Modern Philosophy”

His principle: Thought exists. Thought can not be separated from me, therefore, I exist.

“cogito ergo sum”: “I think therefore I am”

Lead to the possibility of machine intelligence

Influences: Film Noir

French: Black Film Has origins in

1940/50s when Americans were disillusioned with the world and the society

Represents a general feeling of despair

Blade Runner & Film Noir Scenes are dark, murky and reflect corruption &

disillusionment Dark lighting that can obscure the action &

‘deglamourise the hero’ Strong use of shadow and other dim lighting; overuse

of oblique and vertical lines as opposed to horizontal lines to create claustrophobia

Unnatural shadows to illuminate interiors Use of high angle/low angle shots to disorientate the

viewer and create a feeling of isolation and alienation/detachment

Action takes place at night or in the rain, blinds are pulled down. Indoor lighting subdued

Film Noir con’t

Characterisation: Often presented as corrupt or immerses

in a seedy world or harsh criminal world The hero is often disillusioned with life.

May be rep. as a loner, world weary hero, cast in shadows and fatalistic

Often a femme fatale who threatens the heroes mission as he becomes involved with her- This often puts him on moral damger or in a dilemma ( Rachael)

Structure

The structure: The hero is usually given a mission

but it is not straight forward. There is a strong element of danger and he is forces to deal with grotesque characters

The hero is rep. as the protector of society often with a rough moral edge ( often driven to extreme behaviours)

Pessimistic tone

Film NoirCONNECTION TO DETECTIVE FICTION

Associated with Hollywood drama

Moral ambiguity Classic 40s/50s B&W

films Origins in German

Expressionism The rise of hardboiled

school of crime fiction

The Structure of the Detective GenreELEMENTS1. The seemingly perfect crime2. The wrongly accused suspect

at whom all circumstantial evidence points

3. Bungling of the dim-witted police

4. The greater powers of observation & superior intellect of the detective

5. The unsuspecting denouement in which the detective reveals how the culprits identity was ascertained

OUR QUESTION IS?

In what ways does Blade Runner subvert the traditional detective Genre structure?

Visual Images http://

pplibraryreviews.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/androids.jpg 20/3/09

http://imagecache.allposters.com/images/pic/MEPOD/10032262~Sailors-in-the-Rigging-Alarmed-by-the-Appearance-of-St-Elmo-s-Fire-at-the-Tip-of-a-Spar-Posters.jpg 20/3/09

http://www.iep.utm.edu/images/descarte.jpg 20/3/09 http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_

ODcn0431n4w/ST2lQUI_BVI/AAAAAAAAAn0/e_VxHgPjgk4/s400/film_noir_0028.jpg 20/3/09

http://filmhistory.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/noir1.jpg 20/3/09