Preview

Frankenstein/ Blade Runner Essay Example

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
991 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Frankenstein/ Blade Runner Essay Example
‘Our interest in the parallels between ‘Frankenstein’ and ‘Blade Runner’ is further enhanced by the consideration of their marked differences in textual form.’
Evaluate this statement in light of your comparative study of ‘Frankenstein’ and ‘Blade Runner’

Textual form is an issue which divide many critiques and audiences. Some view texts as a form being superior and more expressive, whereas others may view film as to be losing its credibility of expression. Never the less it is adamant that through a comparative study of two differing forms exploring similar ideas it becomes clear that one form isn’t always superior over another. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) and Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner (1982) mirror this thesis. Whilst being composed more than a century apart, each explore similar ideas but approach them from different perspectives. Shelley’s epistolary novel reflects a period of Romanticism and Enlightenment through its glorification of nature, as well as its cautionary like tale of social responsibility and exploration of creator verse created. Scott’s science fiction film Blade Runner conveys the many fears surfacing from the United States in the 1980 by warning of the possible dangers associated with environmental deterioration, scientific advancements and genetic engineering. Scott scrutinizes such concepts as a world without true nature, and, like Frankenstein, the consequences of a lack of social responsibility. Shelley masterfully uses literary techniques to create her timeless classic. Similarly Scott achieves a similar prestige through his use of filmic techniques.
Nature is a powerful idea explored in Frankenstein. The idea of sublime nature was embraced during Romantic period of the late 18th Century. It allowed an unrestrained emotional experience for the individual. In ‘Frankenstein’, descriptions of nature seem to appear repeatedly during emotional or significant moments in Victor’s life. Nature allows an outlet for Victor, it acts as

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Frankenstein, Mary Shelley’s cautionary tale of science vs. religion was first published in 1818, in an increasingly secular, but still patriarchal British society, amongst the aftermath of the French and Industrial revolutions and a burgeoning scientific research scene. Upon the second release in 1831, the novel was greeted with enthusiasm and praise for the young, female, somewhat controversial Shelley, with the values and issues raised in the storyline striking a chord in the minds of the still predominantly Christian audience, suggesting the consequences of usurping God’s role of Creator and warning about science without ethical boundaries. Over a century later, in a context that could not be more opposite to Shelley’s 19th Century circumstances, director Ridley Scott released Blade Runner, a future-noir-detective- action-science fiction-thriller, which not only crossed generic borders, but raised concerns not dissimilar to those raised by Shelley one hundred and fifty years before. The film, set in 2019, presents the Cold War influenced capitalism combined with the economic boom resulting in rampant consumerism, the potential impacts of the environmentally harmful activities of super-conglomerate corporations, uncontrollable scientific developments in the areas of cloning and stem cell research, and other issues relevant to the 1982 audience by portraying a possible dystopian reality, plagued by worst case scenario outcomes of these universal concerns. Both of these texts deal with thematic concerns of science, religion, the environment and pursuit of knowledge, and consider the romantic ideals of humanity and the sublime, but also address the same values within wildly different contexts, suggesting that Mary Shelley’s values are still relevant to society today and that values are…

    • 1400 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Composed during the Industrial Revolution at a time of increased scientific experimentation, Shelley warns and forebodes her enlightened society of the consequences which come about from playing god. She uses Victor Frankenstein as her platform, whose self-exalting line “many excellent natures would owe their being to me” represents a society engrossed with reanimation. Recurring mythical allusions to Prometheus, “how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge” portray Victor as a tragic hero; a noble character whose “fatal flaw” of blind ambition ultimately results in his own downfall and dehumanization, “swallowed up every habit of my nature”. In addition, Victor’s impulsive rejection of his grotesque creation, leads to the Monster’s rebellion (“vowed eternal hated and vengeance to all mankind”).…

    • 626 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Though composed at different times, the themes portrayed in both Frankenstein and Blade Runner are evidently influenced by their own respective contexts – the early 19th century and late 20th century. These texts put forward an exploration of humanity and morality, the value of nature as well as individualism as these themes and values are perceived in each context.…

    • 778 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    When exploring the texts Frankenstein and Blade Runner, the most dominant similarity between the texts is the questioning of unchecked scientific progress and the limits of these advancements before human nature is threatened. In Frankenstein Shelley presents us with a protagonist who, from a very early age is curious to the basis of life, “The world was to me a secret which I desired to divine.” Upon…

    • 1645 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Mary Shelley’s science fiction novel “Frankenstein” written in 1818 and “Bladerunner”, Ridley Scott’s 1982 cult classic film have nearly two hundred years separating them, yet they raise similar societal concerns.. Both raise the question of what it is to be human and explore the pursuit of eternal life which can be examined using the literary and cinematic techniques prevalent in the texts.…

    • 1190 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The 1818 Gothic Novel 'Frankenstein' written by Mary Shelley and the 1982 science fiction film 'Blade Runner' by Ridley Scott both challenge the values of the societies in which they have been set, expressing the composers' critique of the advancement in science and technology, the consequences of irresponsible creation and the hubris of an individual to overcome nature's power. It is through these common themes that the texts have the ability to represent and evoke fear, anxiety and…

    • 1099 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Shelley’s Gothic novel, Frankenstein, explores the complex nature of mankind by considering the consequences of an unrestricted pursuit of science. A rise in scientific experimentation with Galvanism during Shelley’s time is reflected through the protagonist Victor as he uses it to bestow life. Shelley portrays Victor and the Creature as complex beings, demonstrating both inhuman and human qualities. Despite this, the subsequent rejection by his creator and the De Lacy family drives the Creature to ‘eternal rejection and vengeance of mankind’. Victor’s initial response when meeting the creature, demonstrates his savage, cruel treatment and lack of responsibility towards his creation.…

    • 1034 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    To what extent does your comparative study of Frankenstein and Blade Runner suggest that the relationship between science and nature is an important universal concern?…

    • 1488 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    * Prometheus represents on who has defied and challenged the natural order; one who has transgressed on forbidden territory. His actions are not couched in connotations of courage or heroism but recognised as reckless and without any thought to the possible consequences.…

    • 935 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mary Shelley’s nineteenth century epistolary novel, Frankenstein (1818), and Ridley Scott’s late twentieth century post-modern film, Blade Runner (1992), bear striking similarities when studied as texts in time, as they both aim to warn humanity about attempting to usurp of the role of God in creating life. However, their respective contexts mean that the way in which they present notions about humanity differs. Shelley and Scott have extrapolated their various concerns born from their respective contexts regarding the confusion and anxiety that results when mankind pursues their knowledge without regard for their responsibilities. Shelley presents us with humanity’s flaws, which are evident in the way they have neglected what they have created. Scott portrays a futuristic world that has become horrifically debased and inhumane, as mankind has failed to maintain the natural order after overstepping scientific and technological boundaries. Both composers conceptually focus on the parental duties of creators toward their creation and the consequences of abandoning them. Through their different styles and techniques relative to their respective audience, each composer is extremely successful in presenting the changing values and attitudes respective of their eras.…

    • 1116 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The film Blade Runner by Ridley Scott and the gothic novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley reveal key insights concerning humanity through the contrasting texts. The composers successfully introduce and deal with the issues of humanity by challenging the established values of their times reflected to the responder through the provocative language and film techniques. Both texts are cautionary tales which explore insights of humanity revealing the greed for power and political control through science and technology, need for love and affection and a need for identity and self knowledge.…

    • 894 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The idea of ‘disruption’ is explored within Blade Runner and Frankenstein through the interference of the natural environment due to scientific progress. Such a conflict between nature and science within Frankenstein, stems from the contextual backdrop of the 1800 Romanticism movement, a backlash against the age of Enlightenment and its rationality through scientific experimentation. In an attempt to warn her audience of the horrifying consequences of disrupting nature, Shelley utilises a Gothic-Romanticist style, and motifs such as the sublime and soothing nature versus monstrosity as shown in the lines, “the valley that is more wonderful than the sublime”, juxtaposed with the appearance of the monster as “yellow skinned, black eyed”. Whilst Victor warns Walton to, “avoid ambition...in science and discovery”, his character development, alluded to as the ‘ancient mariner’, whose hubris of overreaching the boundaries leading to his downfall is contrasted against his perfect childhood, again reiterating Shelley’s warnings about the consequences of disrupting nature. Likewise Scott…

    • 1036 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Although perspectives and values change with time, ideas and concepts can transcend. The gothic novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and the science fiction film Blade Runner directed by Ridley Scott although composed over one hundred years apart contain the same perennial concepts on the nature of humanity. This is portrayed through notions of dehumanization, monstrosity and redemption, of the “indistinguishable” creator and creature relationship. The romanticist Shelly wrote her gothic novel the enlightenment era which posed questions concerning the mystery of life and nature of humanity. Scott on the other hand composed in the post-industrial age, where technology and morality played a dominant role in society. The composers explore their contextual values while upholding transcendent concepts of humanity incorporating morality and creation though unique techniques in accordance…

    • 1237 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The natural world is explored throughout the texts in such a way that the context of the time era is projected through to reflect upon social attitudes. Throughout Scott’s Blade Runner there is a distinctive lack of nature, in fact the only natural object we are shown, besides humans, is a bonsai tree found in Tyrell’s office. Throughout Frankenstein we are shown many examples of naturalistic references through majestic imagery such as, “the pines are not tall or luxuriant, but they are sombre” and “the eagle, soaring amidst the clouds – they gathered all round me, and bade me be at peace”, these descriptions of the natural environment signify how the romantic movement in which Frankenstein was written has been conveyed through the text. The romantic period was one in which the beauty of nature and life were highly valued, and this is represented through the positive tone of the nature references. However, when contrasted these two texts both depict the collective opinion of the time. For example, through the lack of nature in the futuristic Blade Runner, we can deduce the social view is one of a diminishing natural world and in fact that it will deteriorate completely. We are shown the extent of this ‘diminished world’ in Blade Runner when Zhora the replicant is asked, “is that a real snake?””Of course not, do you think I would be working in a place like this if I could afford a real snake?” This demonstrates the rarity of natural objects within this dystopian society, and hence the predicted rarity of natural objects in the…

    • 924 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The two texts ‘Frankenstein’ and ‘Blade Runner’ both embody themes of science, creation and nature that are reflected in the author’s life and what was happening in the world around them.…

    • 844 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays