Frankenstein
Frankenstein and Blade Runner imaginatively portray individuals who challenge the established values of their time thus illustrating different notions of humanity.
The messages of composers are a reflection upon the established values of their time. Shelley’s 1818 novel Frankenstein and Scott’s 1982 film noir Blade Runner, through the perceptive use of characters, challenge society’s neglect of nature for the unheeded advance of science and technology. Fearful of an increasingly secular and consumerist society, both texts aim to convey their didactic messages in order to mend humanity’s degrading relationship with Nature and each other.
F is a cautionary tale which extrapolates the consequences of a world where unheeded Scientific advance and hence humanity, is no longer constrained by ethical and moral boundaries. Challenging the predominant Enlightenment values of the time, Shelley represents Science as a distancing force capable of destroying humanity and the spiritual depth of our existence.
Challenging the ethically divorced Enlightenment values, Shelley makes a plea for humanity to revert back to Romantic values that recognise the regenerative power of Nature and the preciousness of life. Similar to Tyrell’s myopic search for ‘commerce’, Victor’s selfish and contemptuous motivations reflect those established within an industrial centred society. The divine imagery in the line: ‘It was the secrets of heaven and earth which I desired to learn’ portrays the disruption unheeded scientific progression will bring as Man aims to usurp the role of God. Victor is paradoxically characterised as he recognises the sacredness of the Natural Order yet ignores this in order to satisfy his own egoistical needs. His remorseful acknowledgement of the ‘immutable laws’ which he has broken, emblemises the fallacy of the established values which ignore the Natural Order to accelerate scientific development. Challenging the common values of her time, Shelley represents Victor
The messages of composers are a reflection upon the established values of their time. Shelley’s 1818 novel Frankenstein and Scott’s 1982 film noir Blade Runner, through the perceptive use of characters, challenge society’s neglect of nature for the unheeded advance of science and technology. Fearful of an increasingly secular and consumerist society, both texts aim to convey their didactic messages in order to mend humanity’s degrading relationship with Nature and each other.
F is a cautionary tale which extrapolates the consequences of a world where unheeded Scientific advance and hence humanity, is no longer constrained by ethical and moral boundaries. Challenging the predominant Enlightenment values of the time, Shelley represents Science as a distancing force capable of destroying humanity and the spiritual depth of our existence.
Challenging the ethically divorced Enlightenment values, Shelley makes a plea for humanity to revert back to Romantic values that recognise the regenerative power of Nature and the preciousness of life. Similar to Tyrell’s myopic search for ‘commerce’, Victor’s selfish and contemptuous motivations reflect those established within an industrial centred society. The divine imagery in the line: ‘It was the secrets of heaven and earth which I desired to learn’ portrays the disruption unheeded scientific progression will bring as Man aims to usurp the role of God. Victor is paradoxically characterised as he recognises the sacredness of the Natural Order yet ignores this in order to satisfy his own egoistical needs. His remorseful acknowledgement of the ‘immutable laws’ which he has broken, emblemises the fallacy of the established values which ignore the Natural Order to accelerate scientific development. Challenging the common values of her time, Shelley represents Victor