What did you find most unexpected in your analysis of the connections between Bladerunner and Frankenstein?

Compare how context and values affected the ideas and techniques of your texts (18+/20) The connections between Frankenstein (1818) and Bladerunner (1992) are the relationship with nature, the emotional portrayal of creations and the prevalence of suffering. Between Shelleys post-Industrial age world amidst a fear of scientific advancement and Scotts heavily mechanised bioengineered future, there is an apparent paranoia of technology. However, this study reveals a startling emotional capacity that artificially created individuals possess which clashes with the contextual concern in both texts of the inhumane creations. In addition, the transition from Romantic England to capitalism rampant America is associated with a severe degradation of environmental reverence which appears foreign to the film being a modernisation of Shelleys Promethean myth. Furthermore, the element of the continual and constant suffering prevalent in many individuals is unanticipated as time does not eradicate it. The sentimentality and emotional responses of artificially-created individuals is an unprecedented concept when both texts are grounded in the society where a dehumanised and detached attitude towards creations is predominant. While Frankenstein is focused on the laments of the spurned Creature, the Replicants in Bladerunner also evoke audience sympathy through their vivid emotional experience. In Shelleys novel, the emotional complexity of the Creature envisions an individual cherishing the feelings of exuberance and enthusiasm. This is captured through the hyperbolic language of the past was blottedthe future gilded by rays of hope when it observes the de Laceys cottage. The elated tone also correlates to an evident delight at gazing at the simple farm life they enjoy. In addition, the Creatures fluctuating sentimentality is portrayed when reflecting bitterly on a rejection by Frankenstein. Here, the vulnerable and tender tone in no hand to offer love or support conveys the human instinct to be shown compassion, evoking unexpected sympathy for a creature viewed as having a penchant for destruction. Similarly, the startling revelation of the human side to artificial life is explored in Bladerunner. The contextual era of late 20th Century America portray the caution of bioengineering and computer technology as the basis for an innate fear. Thus the portrayal of the engineering Replicants as emotional and susceptible to feelings appears unfitting of this contextual value. Here, Roys amused tone in have you got your precious memories to Leon comments on the attachment Leon has to his photographs as a record of his cherished events. It suggests his sentimentality in a mechanised world. Thus the idea of sentimental creations clashes with the contextual values of these texts. The transition from a reverent relationship with nature to a solely exploitative relationship appears foreign when Bladerunner is treated as a modernization of Frankenstein. Shelley imbues her world with Romantic sentiment towards the powerful and transcendent nature. When Frankenstein escapes Geneva after the death of Justine, he cherishes the entrance in to

nature with the remark the weight on my spirit lightened as I plunged into the ravine. The visual imagery reinforces the joy and rejuvenating effect of nature on the individual. This immense respect for nature is a clear contextual value in this novel. Contrasts can be made with Bladerunner where the passage of time leads to an unexpected transformation of this bond between humanity and the natural world, albeit a darker connection. Here, the degradation of nature is explicitly shown through the opening pan against the synthetic Vangelis soundtrack. The hellish smoke and salient flames couple with the minimalistic effects of film noir to conjure up a society on the brink on environmental collapse. This dystopic world projects the environmental concerns of the time such as the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster. From this, the connections of these two texts reveals a disparity between their treatment of nature. Despite the passage of time, the pervasive and continual existence of suffering in individuals is an unforseen issue as it is extended across both Frankenstein and Bladerunner. Both Frankenstein, the Creature and the Replicants endure torment, misery and rejection, culminating in emotional trauma. In Shelleys Frankenstein, the evident lamenting and crippling guilt of Frankenstein after the death of his wife Elizabeth is envisaged through his cry of my wife, so lately living, so lovely. Here, the truncated phrases and mournful tone evoke his regret at his unparalleled and unchecked scientific pursuits. In addition, the Creature also expresses a morose and afflicted attitude towards being spurned by Frankenstein. When it challenges Frankenstein on top of Mt Blanc, it remarks I ought to be thy Adam. The subversion of the religious allusion indicates the fragmented identity it possesses without a compassionate mentor or god figure, also accusing Frankenstein of not taking responsibility of new creations. This eternal suffering is mirrored in Bladerunner where the Replicants exhibit an inherent suffering and psychological pain after being rejected by society itself. When Rachel realises her identity as a Replicant, her pain and disparaging situation is articulated through the harrowing non-digetic jazz music and the chiaroscuro lighting in Deckards apartment. This morose atmosphere sums up her suffering as a lack of true identity. This abject suffering is portrayed when Roy is hunting down Deckard in the apartment block before his failsafe lifespan expires. Here, when he pierces his hand with the nail, it symbolises the stigmata of Christ to communicate his cathartic release and inner turmoil and suffering that he endures. It is evident that the portrayal of suffering as an eternal issues is an unexpected notion. This comparative study reveals the connections of the paradoxical investigation into the concept of artificial life possessing emotional capabilities, the challenge to previous contextual influences on humanitys relationship with nature and the unanticipated insight into the prevalence of suffering. These elements are brought out through an analysis of the contextual influences in both texts which sometimes appear out of line with their contextual eras.