Frankenstein and Bladerunner Table

IdeaFrankensteinContextBladerunnerContext Doppelganger, defining qualities of humans and monsters†¢Doppelgangers confront †¢Ambiguity of narrative: M not real unless F story verified > connection between the two (Gothic) †¢Quest for knowledge, revenge, masculinity, eloquence, love of nature: M: â€Å"The very winds whispered in soothing accents, and maternal nature bade me weep no more† and F: â€Å"my spirits were elevated by the enchanting appearance of nature† †¢Humanity vs. ambition †¢Solidarity vs. connection Blurring between the two – creativity, logic, beauty, abhorrence †¢Abomination as human > moral dilemma. Isolated, Laconian figure during monologue evokes pity. Rhetorical questions â€Å"Why should I pity man more than he pities me? Shall I respect man when he condemns me? † †¢Ã¢â‚¬Å"the sun shone upon me as upon man†Ã¢â‚¬ ¢City vs. Country, industrial revolution †¢Gothicism – nature, horror, monsters within society †¢Science overthrowing God – still human? †¢Doppelgangers confront †¢Knowledge vs. instinct †¢Group vs. isolated genius †¢Deckard ‘becomes’ a replicant Replicants positioned as logical, responsive , intuitive, beautiful: Z: vitality; L: revenge, fear, brutality; P: Roy’s kiss, positioning of tongue, immature, instinctive, honest kiss with R in front of S; R: instinct, reason, curiosity, humour, understanding and acceptance †¢Z: public place: mash of culture with their hats on, no connection except murder and death †¢L: D’s doppelganger? R (empathy and connection to D) shoots him †¢P: death of abandoned toy: materialism killed her: laughing doll †¢R: renewal, baptism, dove, blue light sky, lasting connection to D†¢Impersonal information society †¢Migration – different cultures > globalisation Contraception†¢ Responsibility of creator and ethical responsibilitie s of scientists†¢F vs. M †¢Tacit deal – F made M so he is responsible for him †¢M = empathy, F = selfishness, ambition †¢V: greatest good for greatest number †¢Progress needs to be tempered by human empathy †¢Pride and ambition lead to suffering †¢Usurpation of God contradicts responders beliefs and highlight ethical breach â€Å"I should have been your Adam, but I am the fallen angel [Lucifer]† †¢F pleads for a mate. Foucaulian shift: M more human â€Å"You must create a mate for me†¦ I demand it as a right to which you must concede† > â€Å"You are my creator but I am you master – obey! †¢empiricism and modernism †¢scientific development and industrial revolution – no questioning of morals – pantheism †¢well received because of hierarchical society – F tells all levels to â€Å"seek happiness in tranquillity and avoid ambition† – confirmation of values†¢ Tyrell vs. Roy †¢Created seeks out creator – dopplegangers †¢Created more perfect than creator †¢Created still dependant though independent of creator †¢Ethereal vs. physical/ sensual †¢Creations ‘more human than human’ †¢Science and progress at detriment of humanity †¢Impersonal and personal connections Tyrell objectifies replicants: â€Å"she is an experiment, nothing more,† â€Å"you are the prodigal son†Ã¢â‚¬ ¢Consumerism †¢Globalisation – transnationalism †¢Capitalism †¢Loss of identity through loss of culture †¢Mass migration †¢Technology as a part of life Criticism of genius†¢Ã¢â‚¬Ëœgenius’ > pride, ambition > downfall †¢Genius removes you from human connection > God complex †¢Progress must not give way to indulgence †¢M. objectified in the quest for scientific advancement †¢Superficiality of society and lack of concern for human suffering †Å"If you could precipitate me into one of those ice- rifts†¦ you would not call it murder. †¢F’s creation and pride is corruption of God’s work (storm) †¢Ã¢â‚¬Å"the cup of life was poisoned forever, and although the sun shone upon me, as upon the happy and gay of heart, he saw around him noting but a dense and frightful darkness† †¢Ã¢â‚¬Å"as the dazzling light vanished, the oak had disappeared, and nothing remained but a blasted stump†¦ entirely reduced to thin ribbons of wood† foreshadowing †¢Destruction of innocence and family – Elizabeth, Clerval, William†¢Scientists, philosophers and historians elevated to great levels of importance †¢Reactionaries to change †¢Man creating own destiny – Reformation Effects of industrial revolution – science at the cost of humanity – grave robbers †¢Setting: distinction between nature and human society, the sublime, Romanticism – Byron a nd Percy (criticism – applies both F and M to nature), comfort, science lab and university. †¢Questions pantheism and ‘casual’ science, galvanism†¢Being removed from being human > holding yourself above others > detriment †¢Instinct and logic is greater than intellect (more human) †¢Overcrowded, paradoxical city, C’s inhospitable lab, T’s Godlike palace, S’s dilapidated and pathetic home†¢Impersonal corporatism, mass media †¢Migration – take over of minority groups Archetypical evil genius – society moe used to impersonal figures of power The agony of isolation and the Outsider†¢Progress – isolation †¢Don’t take human connection for granted †¢Destruction of Bride: M’s last hope of connection destroyed (setting) lose hope †¢Humanity vs. M †¢M vs. F†¢Shelley affair > socially shunned †¢Prejudice when revealed she was author (young, 19yo woman)â⠂¬ ¢Genius > isolation †¢Knowledge = power †¢Safety in numbers†¢Tough military life, searching for stability, wanting what’s impossible †¢Impersonal corporate worlds