blade runner: context
DESCRIPTION
Compiled by Tanya Appleby ( AIS Conference Notes Stapleton & Kruse (2008), Sydney University. Blade Runner: Context. Origins & Context. Based on Philip K Dick’s (1968) Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Vietnam War: brutalisation & desensitization of humanity 3 Raising questions: - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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