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Question:1. How does Ridley Scott use the characteristics of his text type (Blade Runner Film, Directors Cut version) to present his ideas and influence your response as a reader?

Must be exactly 1000 word essay!

Structure: introduction + 3 paragraphs + conclusion

Each paragraph to include: topic sentence, reference to quotes and have conclusion sentence reflecting back to the question

Each paragraph must look at a separate theme/ key idea, and how different film techniques are used to explore that idea.

Solution 

            Blade Runner is a science fiction film that was directed by Ridley Scott and was released in 1952. The film is set in Los Angeles, in November 2019 and revolves around the theme of examining humanity. Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), the main character of the film is a retired police officer who is forcefully recalled to duty by Bryant, his former supervisor. He assigned the task of tracking down and retiring four ‘replicants’ –bioengineered beings− who have illegally come to earth (Ford, Hauer and Young). The latter had very short life spans and were therefore looking for a means to extend their life spans, particularly from the Tyrell Corporation which had manufactured them.

            Before he sets out to hunt the replicants, Deckard is trained on how to distinguish them because they resembled mature adults but unlike humans, they respond empathetically to questions. A test referred to as a ‘voight-Kampff’ test has been designed for this purpose so Deckard has to administer it to similar models of the replicants at the Tyrell Corporation to ensure that it is effective before he starts his expedition. Here he meets Rachel (Sean Young), a very attractive female replicant who differed slightly from the other replicants because her consciousness has been enhanced by false memories. This made her more emotional and therefore more difficult to distinguish from regular humans. The two eventually fall in love and Deckard defies orders to kill her when she flees from the corporation. Deckard manages to kill all three of the relplicants, Zorah, Leo and Pris while the last one Roy dies after saving his life. Deckard and Rachael elope together and live happily in the north.

            The theme that readily identifies film noir in Blade Runner is that of the protagonist, in this case Deckard, who is essentially a good person but makes questionable moral decisions. When he is recalled to duty, his main role was to retire the replicants. He instead falls in love with Rachael, the ‘femme fatale’ and defies orders to kill her when she flees from the Tyrell Corporation (Conrad 7). This theme is reiterated by the costuming, including Rachael’s tight-fitting dresses with padded shoulders, her hair-do which is reminiscent of the 1940’s and Deckard, Bryant and Gaff’s trench coats (Doll and Faller 91). Love is a very important aspect of humanity. Through the romantic relationship between Deckard and Rachael, the director depicts that it is human nature to fall in love.

Moreover, there is the theme of moral ambivalence portrayed by Deckard who eventually questions his own humanity (Sanders 92). In fact, there was a heated debate among critics and analysts over whether Deckard was a replicant or a human after the film’s first release. There is a lot of uncertainty and ambiguity in the film which leads the audience to reflect on their own humanity. The replicants ironically seem to care more about each other than the humans who have very impersonal and cold relationships. Pris and Roy are moved when they learn about the murder of their friends. Furthermore, Roy is ultimately compassionate towards Deckard despite the fact that the he has single handedly killed the only family he knew. The director prompts the audience to question the essence of being human. Is it merely defined by ones biological make up or by emotions as well? Do genetically engineered beings become human when they are capable of having emotions?

Another theme characteristic of film noir and evident in the film is that of dislocation and bleakness. As opposed to painting a bright picture of the future, the director portrays a rather bleak image. To begin with, natural sunlight is replaced by neon lights and huge illuminated advertisements which create a sense of disorientation (Film Education 4). The streets are also characterized by occasional heavy downpour of warm rain and the streets are littered with waste. This is perhaps due to environmental degradation. Furthermore, the streets are humid, dark and crowded with people speaking strange languages. The theme of bleakness is enhanced by claustrophobic framing in the overcrowded nightclub. The opening sequence of the film depicts a hostile environment which portrays a lack of humanity. The mere fact that people are biologically human beings does not therefore necessarily imply that they have humanity in them. 

Additionally, the theme of alienation is portrayed when we are first introduced to Deckard from his positioning in the frame. This scene summarizes the traits of the character intended be conveyed to the audience. That is, a tough and disillusioned loner. This is characteristic of the central male character in films noir. The low lighting consistent throughout the film like in Bryant’s office, Tyrell’s office and Deckard’s apartment has further been used to develop this theme (Doll and Faller 91). Unlike Decker, humans are social beings. Other than alienation, the film also exhibits the theme of paranoia. The scenes in the film depict that corporate and biomedical power have a very huge influence over individuals to the extent of being oppressive. There is also excessive control of the environment and nature. This explains the allure of extra-terrestrial colonies to humans. The world has become so inhuman that that the human race wants to vacate the earth. Freedom is therefore a very important aspect of humanity.

            To conclude, the director has used several themes characteristic of film noir to portray the central theme of what it means to be a human in the postmodern world. Some of these themes include the anti-hero protagonist, moral ambivalence, dislocation, bleakness, alienation and paranoia. The director has also utilized stylistic techniques such as costuming, claustrophobic framing and low lighting to enhance these themes. Ultimately, being a human mainly entails having human emotions.

Works Cited

Blade Runner . Dir. Ridley Scott. Perf. Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer and Sean Young. 1982.

Conrad, Mark T. “Nietzsche and the Meaning and Definition of Noir.” Conard, Mark T and Robert Porfirio. The philosophy of film noir. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 2006. 7-22.

Doll, Susan and Greg Faller. “Blade Runner and Genre: Film Noir and Science Fiction.” Literature/Film Quaterly (1986): 89-101.

Film Education. 1993. 25 July 2013 <http://www.filmeducation.org/pdf/film/Blade_Runner.pdf>.

Sanders, Steven M. “Film Noir and the Meaning of Life.” Conard, Mark T and Robert Porfirio. The Philosophy of Film Noir . Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 2006. 91-106.