Blade Runner: Context 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: ‘What is it to be human?’ ‘What is it that separates humans from machines? ‘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 issues In Summary: Rep. Earth as ‘hellish’ with manifestations of St Elmo’s fire and Post-holocaust dystopia

St. Elmo’s Fire WHAT IS IT? What does it look like? 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

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 Noir Associated with Hollywood drama Moral ambiguity Connection 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 Genre Elements Our question is? The seemingly perfect crime The wrongly accused suspect at whom all circumstantial evidence points Bungling of the dim-witted police The greater powers of observation & superior intellect of the detective The unsuspecting denouement in which the detective reveals how the culprits identity was ascertained 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