Comaprison_of_Farnkenstein_and_Blade_Runner

FRANKENSTEIN AND BLADE RUNNER – TEXTS THROUGH TIME - Literature throughout time is affected by many facets of society’s attitudes and values over time. The language, ideas and values of any text are constantly modified to suit the perspectives and context of the period it belongs in. This is evident in the text “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley and “Blade Runner” from Ridley Scott. Both creations comment on the implications of a developing society with the blending of inner and outer forms of reality creating an otherworldly flavour. The view on the world you live in and are surrounded by changes over time, and varied when viewed from perspective to perspective. The contexts of both “Frankenstein” and “Blade Runner” present to the audience the significance of the principles within society in that time, and why both composers doubted these values through their individual texts. Mary Shelley wrote when romanticism ideology dominated the world of literature and the French revolution was an emerging topic of controversy. Victor Frankenstein is a character that acts as contrast of science to Promethean ambition to discover the secret and sacred elements of life. The nature vs. nurture presented within the text is said to be somewhat due to the death of Shelley’s mother a short time after Shelley’s birth. This is mirrored through the character of Elizabeth, the adopted sister of Victor from her previous state of orphan-hood. The role of women in Frankenstein bears some similarities to Shelley’s mother’s feminist publications, an incredibly forward movement for the time it was written in, despite the constant changing of value over time. “Blade Runner” depicts a dystopian universe of totalitarian dictatorship determined to manipulate and dominate the natural world. The increasing power and prosperity of Asian economies became a threat to Western civilisation. Scott presents this “Asianisation” in his film whereby Asian industry, people and way of life are overly apparent in Los Angeles. The consequences of commerce and capitalism on our lifestyle are main themes presented in the film. During the 1980’s, globalisation and the sudden explosion of multi-million dollar corporations were thrust into society threatening life as it was known. This current societal concern is represented in “Blade Runner” through the Tyrell Corporation that are contracting science to colonialism to produce a slave race for extra-terrestrial colonisation. In “Blade Runner’, the character of Tyrell is depicted as the somewhat holy creator of all replicant beings. This facet of the film contains religious connotations as well as a comment on modern day, in that it relates to the constant power struggle in society to rule over all and become the God of force. Tyrell’s nature is exemplified within the religious undertones of his towering, pyramid styled abode suggesting some reference to ancient hierarchal structure of the top level being the closest human link to God. There are numerous other references to religion including the voluminous bed, supposedly modeled after those of the Pope’s, as well as the strongly thematic white within the setting, Tyrell being dressed head to toe in the symbolic purity. This symbolism is painfully challenged by the ominous flickering of candle-light casting shadow and the vicious, unethical death by his own “prodigal son”. “The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long, and you, Roy, have burned ever so brightly.” This quote has reference to a higher being and the picture of flawlessness, where in an imperfect world nothing perfect can survive. It reveals the view upheld that spirituality or worship of a God is the path to unhappiness, in comparison to emotional inferiority combined with a lack of belief and knowledge that is looked at as a paradise. This portrays the constantly evolving views of religion and spirituality throughout time varying through innumerable contexts. Shelly takes on the role as a brave explorer, examining the blurred boundaries between ethical responsibility and science. The author utilises the character of Victor Frankenstein to present how challenging nature and trying to play God can consequently result in the ultimate wrong - losing all you love. Victor is a tragic individual whose overconfidence and egotism eventually cause his downfall. It is his conceit and will for power - to play God - that blinds him and thus results in the creation of a monster accompanied by the ultimate regret. “Learn from me…at least”, the emotive language used throughout the immediate period of regret after the creation of the monster emphasises the extent of what has been done. He imagines himself as a divinity when he simply states that “new species would bless me as their creator”, treating living and dying as merely simple incidents, calling them “ideal bounds” that he will “break”. Tampering with forces of creation introduces artifice and replication. “All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in the rain” in the film “Blade Runner” suggests that human memories will deteriorate and disappear, but the natural is constant. The symbolism of the constant rain demonstrates incredible elemental power, and its ability to continue in all defence against every attack on Mother Nature. As life is brought to Frankenstein’s creation, an atmosphere of dark gloom and doom is created with it occurring on a “dreary night of November” accompanied by the full, yellow moon and constant rain. This use of nature is a commonly used technique in the classic literature of our world, and has transcended through the ages to today’s society to effectively portray the differing views from era to era. One of the most vital scenes in the tale of “Frankenstein” is that of the meeting of the creator and the creation. The use of natural imagery beforehand gives the audience a sense of normality, as well as a sense of something almost Godly. Then the apparition of the unnatural monster breaks the reverie Frankenstein is in with the shocking contrast of this supposed evil creature to the gentle, nurturing Mother Nature. “‘Devil’, I exclaimed” is the style of language Frankenstein uses to address the monster throughout, with constant references to “daemon” and other religious connotations. The derogatory use of “be gone, vile insect” indicates the creator’s attitude toward his child of sorts, suggesting the view that the monster is but a mere bottom of the food chain common being. The positive and metaphoric language used during this confrontation is hinting at a better place with the senses used liberally. “I felt light, and hunger, and thirst, and darkness, innumerable sounds rang in my ears and on all sides various scents saluted me” is further emphasised with the use of personification. This language used by the monster is very upper class and formal, precise and proper. This aspect of the character indicates at one vital human characteristic – learning. This realisation then presents the important question of what is human' Society’s values are constantly altering dramatically over time. This is due to the evolving ethical and moral attitudes and situations that are presented to human kind over its life span. In the film of “Blade Runner”, the replicants are stated to be “more human than human”, with this theory supported by the superior ability of the replicants to think and feel in comparison to the dysfunctional humans they have been created to serve for. Roy Batty, a replicant in the film, symbolises everything that is natural, thus revealing the concept of the remaining existence of certain facets of humanity even in the most morally corrupt societies. It is known to Roy that he is an artificially created being, with both mental and physical superiority to all other replicants and even humans around him. Frankenstein’s monster, despite all opportunities for the audience to despise this android and its actions, receives the utmost sympathy for the harsh conditions and situations it has been placed within, and the deprivation of the most basic human need – a companion. This poses a disturbing question in the audience’s mind as to what happened to society’s ability to look at themselves with insight into life. The eye motif that is widely used in both “Blade Runner” and “Frankenstein” is symbolic of this loss of vision. In the film “Blade Runner” the majority of the humans depicted had some sort of disability in relation to their eyesight, ranging from the bifocals of Tyrell to the damage to the eyes of an Asian lady on the street. All replicants are also shown to have an unnatural reflection in their eyes. The monster in “Frankenstein” is referred to that as one with “sickly yellow eyes” and the constant reference to sight emphasises the idea that society can no longer see what they have created and done to a now sombre world, evident in the mature text of “Frankenstein” but also in the relatively modern film “Blade Runner”. The bleak world of Blade Runner has been characterised through the use of film noir. The smoky atmosphere, overall absence of natural light and amply stylised setting are the formulaic key of this genre which demonstrate to the audience the incredible elements of artificiality. The scene of Pris running down a dark alleyway as she is pursued by Deckard is a scene that utilises the conventions of film noir genre to the utmost of its ability. However, adaptations have occurred, such as the femme fatale figure altered in “Blade Runner” as a result of the extreme cultural altercations over time. Composers are social commentators of their time, with constant undertones of society’s current concerns and anxieties. Mary Shelley and Ridley Scott are two pivotal examples of these creators that beneath their texts “Frankenstein” and “Blade Runner” go against the social norm and examine the downfall and detriment of individuals, nature and the views of society as time and change erode and evolve it all away. The constant doubt of humanity will always be there, as stated by Aldous Huxley – “Maybe this world is another planet’s hell”.