Blade Runner
Questioning Human Identities
Outline
General Questions
Introduction
The world of Blade Runner —architecture and
space
The Replicants vs. Humans
Scientists as ―Fathers‖ & the Lost Mothers
Relative proofs of identity: photographs; the eyes
fighting for survival –and Replicants‘ Reflections on
human society
Rachael‘s learning
The Others: Gaff and the Animals in the film
Blade Runner, Minority Report
& The Matrix
How are these three films similar to or
different from one another? What
postmodern issues do they each
address?
How does Blade Runner define human
identity and human nature?
What‘s impressive about this film?
The Three Films—‖human‖
solutions to machines‘ control
Blade Runner Minority Report The Matrix
Tyrell –replicants Precrime –social Matrix – humans
for commerce security as batteries
Esper Car control & Eye The Matrix &
(Eye ) VOIGHT- scanner computer programs
KAMPFF Computer imaging Agents and
to determine to control identity sentinels
human and 4- and predict future Pervasive control
dimensional reality
Love & Escape— Choice-- Love, Choice &
individuals individuals Belief --
Alternative system
The Three Films—
the Ambiguous
Blade Runner Minority Report The Matrix
Definition of How is crime Is Anderson Neo?
human identity defined? How much of our
(photo, emotional Is the prediction existence a ‗mental
response, ―empathy‖ fallible and projection‘ of our
and love) changeable? existence?
flattening of minority report as (in-)separability of
subject, waning of echo, fabricated or mind and body,
affect; Postmodern another time path? subject and object,
simulacra Multiple reality individual and
system
Postmodern
simulacra
Reality
Lyotard The Postmodern Condition: Our
task is to search "for new presentations, not
in order to enjoy them but to impart a
stronger sense of the unpresentable "(p.81),
since ―...it is our business not to supply
reality but to invent allusions to the
conceivable which cannot be presented.‖
What is ―unpresentable‖ in our society?
1) capitalist simulacra;
2) ‗reality‘ as a matter of perception;
3) memories and history
4) the ―human‖?
The Three Films —
the Other Postmodern Issues
Blade Runner Minority Report The Matrix
1. Environment & capitalism
World – gloomy, World – clean and World – colorful
raining all the time, neat; animated ads Illusions
huge ads Nature—only as a Nature--absent
Nature – final lab
escape
2. Slum – and minorities
Ethnic Underground Helpers (e.g.
minorities & Tank)
women
Introduction:
Philip K Dick‘s Novel and
Ridley Scott
Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids
Dream of Electric Sheep?
Published in 1968 –(the period of anti-war
movement)
1992 San Francisco (the film) Los Angeles in
2019
Philip K. Dick claimed that footage of the film was
exactly what he had envisioned when he wrote the
book. (source)
Deckard in the novel – ―bounty hunter‖—kills more
than two replicants.
The question of whether one can mistake human
for replicant: Deckard mistakes for replicant his
fellow bounty hunter Phil Resch, because ―the man
suffers from a condition called ‗flattening of affect‘
(which means a lack of emotion), something which
can occur in people suffering from certain forms of
mental illness or brain damage.‖ (source)
Ridley Scott
Alien (1979)
Thelma & Louise (1991)
Gladiator (2000)
Stunning visuals.
His films often feature strong female characters? (source)
The movie BR omits the religious and mythical
elements of Dick's original novel (e.g., empathy
boxes and Wilbur Mercer), it falls more strictly
within the cyberpunk genre than the novel does.
William Gibson would later reveal that upon first
viewing the film, he was surprised at how the look
of this film matched his vision when he was working
on Neuromancer. (source)
The World of Blade Runner
Lack of Dynamic Social Fabric
a Pastiche of Architectural Styles with
signs of
-- (fake) signs of power
-- signs of decay and decrepitude
-- signs of the stereotypical ―Oriental‖
placelessness; a global city
Places in the BR City
1. Center of Power –Tyrell Corp (chap 7), Police
Station
2. Residences –of Deckard (chap 11) and Sebastian
(40:10)
3. ―Everyday Life‖--Eating and Sex-Related
Entertainment: Streets and shopping areas (chap
4)
China town: Chinese dragon in neon lighting Eye making
place
The Noodle Bar
Little Tokyo: Animoid Row
Shopping arcade Snake Pit nightclub - a place for upper-
class persons to slum it, smoke opium, watch exotic dancers
Social Functions Degenerated No family
connections or the other social functions.
Social Space –Power Center
Tyrell Co. – manufacturing
replicants to serve as
slaves in Off-World
exploration and
colonization.
Social Space –Signs of Power
Tyrell Co. – Egyptian pyramid-shaped
Roman and Greek columns
Owl and some statues,
Difficult access, etc.
Policemen and the Police
Station
Rep-Detect, a unit specifically created to
cater for escaped Replicants.
The other policemen, in the background.
Not really powerful.
The more powerful --
Commercials
High-tech + the stereotypical
Off-World: another Frontier for
American Dream & Expansionism
‗Off-World‘ colony: ‗a golden land of
opportunity and adventure‘, complete with a
‗new climate‘
Slavery: ―absolutely free... Use your new
friend as a personal body servant or a
tireless field hand - the custom tailored
genetically engineered humanoid replicant
designed especially for your needs. So come
on America, lets put our team up there...‖
Those on Earth: ethnic Minorities and the
physically weak
The Residence:
Pastiche of Styles
The Ennis-Brown House – in the sytle of
Mayan temple (location) the textile
block
JF Sebastian‘s: Bradbury Building
In the film and its everyday footage
source
JF Sebastian‘s: Pastiche
Ornate Pillar vs. garbage capitalist
society‘s rapid production of waste
The Other Side of Power
―Everyday Life‖ in a Post-Industrial City
Artificially reproduced animals
Over-Population, noise
people of all races in Little Tokyo,
Chinatown, etc.
Raining all the time
Animoid Row
where all sorts of replicant animals can be
purchased, and perhaps repaired. This scene is
very reminiscent of the Akihabara market in Tokyo
(source)
Chinatown –messy and neon
lights everywhere
Graffiti –non-readable for Western
audience
Neon light dragon
Leon & Roy: Combat model
Zhora: Kick murder squad (beauty and the beast)
Priz: Basic pleasure model (for military clubs)
Replicants vs. Human
Definitions of Humanity
search for the father and mother
―proof‖ of identity
fighting for survival –and Replicants‘
Reflections on human society
Rachael
Scientists as Fathers
Both isolated, powerful only with their ―toys.‖
Chew --genetic designer of eyes
Roy: "If only you could see what I've seen with your eyes"
J. F. Sebastian –friendly and childlike
Makes friends with toys and robots;
―There‘s some of me in you‖ to Roy;
Suffers from a problem similar to that of the
replicants: ―Accelerated decrepitude.‖
Scientists as Fathers
Tyrell – cares only about business & experiment;
indifferent to their well-being;
The Father-Son scene:
Tyrell: The light that burns twice as bright burns half as
long. And you have burned so very very brightly, Roy.
Look at you. You're the prodigal son. You're quite a
prize!
Roy: I've done questionable things.
Tyrell: Also extraordinary things. Revel in your time.
Roy: Nothing the god of biomechanics wouldn't let you
in heaven for. [Roy kisses Tyrell on the mouth. Tyrell
screams as his eyes are gouged out.]
Missing Mothers
1. The test of Leon:
Describe in single words, only the good
things that come in to your mind about: your
mother.
Leon: My mother?
Holden: Yeah.
Leon: Let me tell you about my mother.
[shot fired]
2. Rachael‘s attempt (33:10)
You think I'm a replicant, don't you? [pause]
Look, it's me with my mother.
―Relative‖ Proofs of Identity
Empathy test Bryan & Tyrell – complete
Snake Scale lack of feelings (e.g.)
Photographs Artificial snake
How about Deckard? His
photos put together with
those of Leon‘s.
Tyrell—creates the past to
control
Tyrell – unable to change Nexus 6, or unwilling to?
The replicants‘ lifespan has to be limited because
they develop their own emotions.
Commerce, is our goal here at Tyrell. More human
than human is our motto. Rachael is an experiment,
nothing more. We began to recognize in them
strange obsessions. After all they are emotional
inexperienced with only a few years in which to
store up the experiences which you and I take for
granted. If we give them the past we create a
cushion or pillow for their emotions and
consequently we can control them better.
Replicants: More human than
human
1. Duplicating a duplicate.
2. Ironically, simulacra become the best
possible ―human‖ reality.
Blade Runner
―retirement‖—cruel and inhuman
Deckard: kills two replicants; rescued
twice by them.
Deckard
Cold. ―Sushi. That's what my ex-wife called
me. Cold fish.‖
Kills to avoid being a victim. ―I'd quit
because I'd had a belly full of killing. But
then I'd rather be a killer than a victim. And
that's exactly what Bryant's threat about little
people meant.‖
Equipped with a gun and machines;
otherwise, he would not have been able to
make it.
Machines to reconstruct
space and identity
Voigt-Kampff machine administers
an empathy test, a test device
similar to a lie detector that
measures emotional responses.
Challenged by Rachael.
ESPER -- A high-density computer
with a very powerful three-
dimensional resolution capacity.
Snake scale Zhora
Only evidence of Zhora‘s
presence
Eyes and its Implication
The False Mirror, 1935
Seeing is Believing?
Eyes
Rachel: ―He won‘t The replicants‘ blue
see me.‖ or brown eyes.
Surveillance Roy: I've seen
machines things... seen things
you little people
wouldn't believe...
Zhora – challenges Deckard
Deckard: Well, like to get this job. I
mean, did you do, or... or were you
asked to do anything that's lewd or
unsavory or otherwise, uh, repulsive to
your person, huh?
Zhora: Ha. Are you for real?
The Death of Zhora
Exploited and
Brutalized like the
mannequins
The Death of Pris
Pris: likes Sebastian.
Chap 28 --
A strong bond between her and Roy
because both of their lives were
running out at the same time.
Pretends to be a doll.
Like a doll electrically shocked.
Roy – appreciate and struggle
for survival
Cites poetry --―Fiery the angels fell,
Deep thunder rolled around their shore,
Burning with the fires of Orc‖ (Blake ―America: A
Prophecy‖)
the last chase-and-run:
―Not yet‖ – drives a nail through his hand to
keep his spirit up.
―Six, seven. Go to hell, go to heaven. [Deckard
breaks off a pipe from the wall... hits Roy's
forehead like a bat.] Yeah, that's the spirit.
[Deckard flees out a boarded window by kicking
it.]
Roy: Asks for Sympathy
Slavery: Quite an experience to live
in fear, isn't it? That's what it is to
be a slave.
Experience and Accepting Death:
I've seen things you people
wouldn't believe. Attack ships on
fire off the shoulder of Orion. I
watched C-beams glitter in the dark
near Tannhauser Gate. All those
moments will be lost in time... like
tears in rain. [Pause] Time to die.
Roy: Shows Sympathy
Appreciates life at the end: ―I don't know why
he saved my life. Maybe in those last
moments he loved life more than he ever had
before. Not just his life, anybody's life, my life.
All he'd wanted were the same answers the
rest of us want. Where did I come from?
Where am I going? How long have I got? All I
could do was sit there and watch him die.
Rachael‘s Survival
Chap 22
To prove her humanity> Chap 35 Completely
[Deckard tries to kiss Rachel, passive;
but she heads for the door.
Deckard stops her by force... Deckard: Do you love
then kisses Rachael.] me?
Deckard: Now you kiss me. Rachael: I love you.
Rachael: I can't rely on... Deckard: Then trust
Deckard: Say kiss me. me.
Rachael: Kiss me.
Deckard: I want you. Rachael: I trust you.
Rachael: I want you.
Deckard: Again.
Rachael: I want you. Put your Ending: OV—she has
hands on me. a longer lifespan
Empathy Test
Remember when you were six? You and your
brother snuck into an empty building through a
basement window... you were gonna play doctor.
He showed you his, but when it got to be your turn
you chickened and ran. Remember that? You ever
tell anybody that? Your mother, Tyrell, anybody,
huh? You remember the spider that lived in a bush
outside your window... orange body, green legs.
Watched her build a web all summer. Then one day
there was a big egg in it. The egg hatched...
Rachael: The egg hatched...
Deckard: Yeah...
Rachael: ... and a hundred baby spiders came out.
And they ate her. (potential sign of her resistance)
The Others: (1) Gaff
begins as an ambitious
brown-noser, wanting to get
a promotion in the police
department.
city-speak, guttertalk-- a
mishmash of Japanese,
Spanish, German
The Others: (1) Gaff
Shows sympathy for both
Deckard and the replicants.
Gaff‘s the origami paper-
foldings –
1) chicken –when D has no
choice;
2) stick paper man –in Leon‘s
room
3)unicorn
Unicorn – rare and unique
species
The Others –Animals as signs
of life
In this film, although we don‘t see real animals (except for a
sight of some ostriges), animals are used as icons with
positive or negative implications for human characters and
replicants.
Negative: Leon = tortured like the Turtle in his empathy test.
Zhora = artificial Snake and snake scale (associated with her
job)
Tyrell = artificial Owl (no real wisdom)
Sebastian = Mouse (timid)
Deckard = Sushi (raw fish--coldness)
Positive: Roy = Wolf (his energy), Dove (peace)
Rachael = unicorn
Pris = Raccoon (playful)
(reference: http://scribble.com/uwi/br/brfaq/trivia-notice.html )