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Times change but values remain the same

Discuss in relation to Frankenstein and Blade Runner.

 

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) and Ridley Scott’s film Blade Runner (1982), although written and directed in contexts that differ by centuries, upon close study the two texts reveal many similar notions and show that although times change, values remain the same. Both texts investigate the notions of what it means to be human, the natural state of human kind versus the corruption by society and the dangers of human ambition and scientific research.

 

Published in 1818, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein’s illustration on what it means to be human is influenced by the Romantic notions of humanity. As a reaction to the Enlightenment, the Romantics believed that the human being had a soul- emotions, feelings and imagination; an inner force that yearn the need for human relationships. Although artificially created, such human qualities can be seen in Frankenstein’s monster through his desire for human relationships as seen in his attempt to befriend the De Lacey family “…by my gentle demeanor and conciliating words, I should first win their favour, and afterwards their love.”.  This contrasts to how the ‘humans’ act who reject the monster due to his appearance, his own creator is disgusted and addresses him by titles such as “vile insect” , “Fiend” and “Wretched Devil”. Shelley’s remark is a didactic one, that although physically human, Frankenstein and the rest of society lack human qualities such as the ones displayed by the monster; being “miserable and abandoned”, the monster cries out “…where they ought to see a feeling and kind friend, they behold only a detestable monster...”, from this juxtaposition, Shelley is commenting that it is not one’s appearance that makes one human but the soul and the ability to show emotions, abiding by the Romantic values of humanity.

 

Although filmed over a hundred years later, at a time  Ridley Scott’s Blade runner also holds the values on what it means to be human. Like Frankenstein, Ridley Scott places emphasis on the metaphysical qualities that make one human.

Portrays a world where human beings are replacable and only valued

     The replicants show

 

The dangers of human ambition and scientific research is another key element present in both texts.

Written in an era of significant scientific development such as Luigi Galvani’s concept of electricity as a reanimating force and Captain Cook’s astounding voyages of discovery, Shelley explores in her text Frankenstein the dangers such ambition and scientific progress can result to.

     Represented through Frankenstein and his story pursuit loses humanity

     Prometheus

     Hubris

     Loss of nature

 

Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner also warns the dangers of scientific pursuit, in this case through a world overcome science and commerce. Filmed in the 1980s, a time where IVF cloning was being developed and giant computer corporations such as IBM and Microsoft were rapidly on the rise, Ridley Scott outlines his concern on the dangers of scientific pursuit and human ambition from the very beginning of the film. The opening panoramic shot captures the night view of a 2019, post-cataclysmic, Los Angeles. Fire and pollutants constantly explode skyward from large towers and synthetic music is played in the background. A film Noir style is also utilized as seen from the omnipresent rain, busy street