Bladerunner and Frankenstein Jot Points I wanted to create a futuristic urban film noir - Ridley Scott 1. 2. 3. 4.

Themes Context Quotes Other (relationships / developments / progression)

1. Themes for thesis (+back ups): i. Nature (conflicting between texts ultimately needs to be preserved) Dawn, new opportunity, creation, life, second chance The sublime is not just nature itself, but the effect that events, often nature-related, have on observers in the context of the gothic romanticism in the novel o tone and colour, foreshadowing and omen calm before the storm -> chaos, lightning and driving rain Luxury, divine, tranquillity Nature is constant, omnipotent and all powerful Contrasts to protagonists demeanour o Uplifting and awe-inspiring, refreshing o Spiritual renewal o Causes a state of reflection and recollection o Memories provide contrast to current, dire situation o Leads to melancholy and often insight Spiritual renewal Silence and serenity Scenery and weather act as triggers for characters emotions Clerval closely embodies the proper appreciation for the sublime and its philosophical notions. This is reflected in his personality o Same is true for Elizabeth, although this is more of the passive woman theme coming through for her as a choice Effect on Victor diminished throughout as his outcome turns bleak o Arctic tundra functions as a symbolic backdrop for his final struggle against the monster

ii. -

Creator and creation (similar between texts) The modern Prometheus o Usurping the power of God and translating it into life o Inherent desire within contexts to produce new life Creation often confronts creator o BR Roy Batty kills Tyrell, yet the monster torments Victor by eliminating his close family o Creation becomes incredibly eloquent and sophisticated with language o Creation can be more human than human o Creation always wants something more from their creator (e.g. longer life / the company of another) Role of men and women Relates to societal undertones e.g. patriarchal society / sexism o Men adopt key roles and particular stereotypes; [BR + FR] Heroic / chauvinistic / charismatic

iii. -

[FR] Figureheads for prosperity / technological development [BR] Central male film noir character who is usually a disillusioned loner, a tough guy at odds with himself o [FR] Men often seek a close group of male friends / counterparts o Inherently desire the company of another often female Femme fatale (noir theme from 1940s) is recreated in Bladerunner as seen in Rachael and to a lesser extent Pris? Yet... o Women adopt: Passive roles [FR] Domestication as a means of sexism [FR] Victimised by the Monster / creation [BR] Sometimes pleasure models e.g. Pris Ambivolent interpretations of women the cult of "sensibility" with its emphasis on women and children o appreciation of their roles allowed a platform of emotion/intuitive responses o Shelley exemplifies this in her writing stringing together a sophisticated piece with both emotional responses and ration o Women being brought to the same level of men Femme fatale adoption from the 1940s manipulates and betrays the hero Strong and active positive portrayal of women Yet also threatening and disruptive Dressed in glamorous evening wear.

iv.

Ultimately: Exemplifies Film Noir and Shelleys Romanticist influences. Place of the other (as a result of the inherent consumerism within both texts) Victor isolates himself as a result of his obsession Victor is welcomed and accepted in society, juxtaposed to the Monster who is shunned In jail in Ireland separated from society The monster is forced into solitude because of his appearance and his lack of understanding on how society works o Society rejects what they do not understand Victors actions isolate him as he cannot confide in others for fear he will be viewed as made Victors illness places him in solitude for long periods of time

They are both predominantly alone throughout the novel, however Victor is the one inside of society, and the monster is outside (i.e. the other) [FR] Monster merely looks in on society can never immerse himself in society fantastic image of him circling the city walls and can only look in. Whereas [BR] replicants are immersed in society and targeted as others by the Blade Runners themselves.

2.Context comparing and contrasting: NEED CONTEXT DETAILED SHEET Compare: Frankenstein Bladerunner Consumerism Consumerism Environmental awareness Environmental awareness Industrialisation in London Technological advancements Contrast: Frankenstein Romantic movement + revival of classic literature Enlightenment Period Galvanism Gothic Romanticism Bladerunner Economic boom Globalisation and integration of culture

3. Quotes + Examples (cut-down to use most effective): Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through and pour a torrent of light into our dark world My spirits were elevated by the enchanting appearance of nature; the past was blotted from my memory, the present was tranquil and the future gilded by bright rays of hope and anticipations of joy The moon gazed on my midnight labours, while, with unrelaxed and breathless eagerness, I pursued nature to her hiding places The happy, inanimate nature had the power of bestowing on me the most delightful sensations The very winds whispered in soothing accents, and maternal nature bid me weep no more Forced to spend my days and nights in charnel-houses My person had become emaciated with confinement I desire the company of a man who could sympathise with me; whose eyes could reply to mine Her blue eyes are cloudless The saintly soul of Elizabeth shone like a shrine a dedicated lamp in our peaceful home Great God! Why did I not then expire? Why am I here to relate the destruction of the best hope, and the purest creature of the earth? She was there, lifeless and inanimate. I demand a creature of another sex, but as hideous as myself; the gratification is small, but it is all that I can receive, and it shall content me. I can make you so wretched that the light of day will be hateful to you. You are my creator, but I am your master obey! Why not still proceed over the untamed yet obedient element? What can stop the determined heart and resolved will of man? Clerval occupied himself, so to speak, with the moral relations of things

Bladerunner Shots and Quotes: Of course its not real. Do you think I would be working in a place like this if I could afford a real snake?

Mis en Scene in intro scene Technological props and advertisements / low world shot of off world blimp o With weather and raising idea of acid rain

Film noir concepts resound throughout, specifically when Deckard is at his desk and watching the video on the replicant Motif of Origami figures reflect the progress of Deckard Religious undertones Hell / Heaven. Off-world itemized as utopia, current world a dystopic societ flung into disarray. Final concluding scene shows Roy as the saviour and the dove transcends into the heavens reflecting Roys soul. Eye motif with extreme close ups reflecting the Hades-esque landscape. Reflective of the eyes being the window to the soul and the corruption of the once perfect society due to the progression of knowledge and technological development. eyes reflect emotion and differentiate real and replicants. Glow represents artificiality, visual expression of the heart o Roy kills Tyrell by squashing his eyes ruining his Vision and an inversion of his progress

Globalisation idea yet with predominantly asian characters mass migraton etc. Deckards dirty cramped living standards contrasted with Tyrells replicant figure Rachael. Links: lack of nature (zoras snake) / religious overtones / creator and creation with sub metaphor of eyes / the place of the other as the embodiment of replicants yet ironically the declining state of society provides an impetus for humanity to escape and for replicants to dominate.

Nature: We witnessed a most violent and terrible thunderstormthe thunder burst at once with frightful loudness from various quarters of the heavensI beheld a stream of fire issue from an old and beautiful oakI never beheld anything so utterly destroyed

The happy, inanimate nature had the power of bestowing on me the most delightful sensations I feel a cold northern breeze play upon my cheeks, which braces my nerves, and fills me with delight but its violence quickly increasedthe darkness and storm increased every minute and the thunder burst with a terrific crash over my head

Role of men and women: I desire the company of a man who could sympathise with me; whose eyes could reply to mine

Creator and Creation: Role of men and Women and Creator Creation: [FR] I demand a creature of another sex, but as hideous as myself; the gratification is small, but it is all that I can receive, and it shall content me. 4. Other points of interest: Not wholly important as it is a CONTEXT unit, yet these would be good to mention / ascertain an understanding on. Need more on character relations? Contextually a Patriarchal society Justine represents caring role of women Men strive for pioneering the technological frontier at all costs Victor sees Elizabeth as an object

Doppleganger o Victor and the monster (loosely Victor and Walton, yet that is more of a parallel) Key Characters: Victor / Clerval / Walton / The Monster / Elizabeth Need quotes that transgress the whole novel? (important) http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Frankenstein_%28novel%29 and http://www.shmoop.com/frankenstein/quotes.html and further reading http://hsc.csu.edu.au/english/advanced/comparative/elect2/3724/frankenblad e.htm#research