Blade Runner/Frankenstein Lecture

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Lesson Plan

Context/inter-textual allusions

Essential Concepts/thesis points -Similarities

-Differences

Interesting scenes

Bad essay Vs Good essay

Techniques

Context/inter-textual allusions

Frankenstein Blade Runner

Context Romantic movement of the early 19th century, Galvani's experiments (1790's)

Industrialisation/ Commercialism (1980's)

Inter-textual allusions

Promethean Myth Do androids dream of Electric Sheep?

Essential Concepts/thesis points

1) Transcending the creative prerogative of god

2) Abrogation of ethical/moral/social/paternal responsibilities

3) Dichotomous nature of existence

1)Transcending the creative prerogative of god

wealth was an inferior object; but what glory

would attend the discovery, if I could banish disease from the human frame, and render man invulnerable to any but a violent death!

We thus see how Frankenstein, unlike Tyrell chases glory rather than wealth, even so his actions are aimed at bettering humanity.

1)Transcending the creative prerogative of god

Deckard: She's a replicant. Tyrell: I'm impressed, Mr. Deckard. How many questions does it normally take? Deckard: I don't get it... Tyrell: How many? Deckard: Twenty, thirty, cross-referenced. Tyrell: But with Rachael it took more than a hundred. Deckard: How can it not know what it is?

Here Tyrells casual disregard for Rachael elucidates to us how the linear progression of time has resulted in the exponential decay of humanity.

2) Abrogation of responsibilities

I will not hear you. There can be no community between you and me; we are enemies.

..

For the first time, also, I felt what the duties of a creator towards his creature were, and that I ought to render him happy before I complained of his wickedness. (He feels a sense of guilt, unlike Tyrell)

2) Abrogation of responsibilities

Tyrell: You were made as well as we could make you. Batty: But not to last. Tyrell: The light that burns twice as bright burns for half as long - and you have burned so very, very brightly, Roy. Look at you: you're the Prodigal Son; you're quite a prize!

3) Dichotomous nature of existence

wonders of existence are blemished by the monstrosities of humans.

I shall no longer feel the winds play with my cheeks

Retreats to the north pole

3) Dichotomous nature of existence

I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of the Orion. I watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die.

Dies wanting more life

Interesting scenes

Opening scene of the eye/ Roy Batty gouging Tyrell's eyes out

Roy Batty piercing his hand with a nail

Unicorn scene

Roy Battys ending scene

Chess scene

Opening scene of the eye/ Roy Batty

gouging Tyrell's eyes out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaR5wVL9

x2I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5MDGMvrSJc

Opening scene of the eye/ Roy Batty

gouging Tyrell's eyes out Significance of this recurring motif? (band 5)

Compare this recurring motif to a scene in Frankenstein and offer your own perspective on it (band 6)

Eg. In Frankenstein the blind old man finds the monster to be rather pleasant, but as soon as his daughters come back to the house they beat him till he leaves. (WHAT DOES THIS TELL US?) Blade Runner explains to us how the eyes are what separate humans from replicants, yet Frankenstein tragically helps us conclude that eyes are also the cause of all superficial judgement. Thus a comparative analysis of texts helps us gain deeper insights into the often superficial nature of humanity.

Roy Batty piercing his hand

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dA3DePirsE

Why does he do this?

What is Christian stigmata?

.

Is Deckard a replicant? (the next slide is the clue)

Unicorn scene

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhDDybv8_Ro

Roy Battys ending scene

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIDlTGd7Y9U

-I have seen things you people would never believe

-I have watched C beams glitter off the Tannhauser gate

-Significance of the dove?

-importance of a)batty saving Deckard

b)the elegiac nature of his speech

Chess scene

Serves to the plot and carries great symbolic meaning.

When Roy discovers in Sebastian's apartment, that Sebastian is playing chess with Tyrell, he realizes that he's found his means of reaching Tyrell. (Plot function)

The game engages Tyrell and when Roy checkmates him through Sebastian, he's intrigued enough by his loss to let Sebastian into his bedroom. The symbolic nature of the Chess game is also ironic.(Chess is a symbol of the intellectual.) The master mind metaphorically check-mated by his own creation

Bad intro What is wrong with the bits in red?

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and Blade Runner directed by

Ridley Scott are two texts that engage with contemporary values. These two texts are significant because they explore the themes of humanity and monstrosity in light of the advancement of technology. Shelley explores this subject through the viewpoint of a man, Victor, who creates a child so hideous that he cannot bear to look at it, and consequently abandons it. In Blade Runner, Scott explores this matter through Tyrell, who creates replicants. The children of these creators turn out to be smarter and more human than expected.

Good intro

Engage in an ontological debate through their narratives

Quick summary of Frankenstein/blade runner

e.g. written during an era where scientific hubris caused ppl to abandon the metaphysical aspects of life

e.g. composed during the modern zeitgeist of commercialism and materialism; greed is good

Thus through an analysis of both texts we are forced to ..

Bad body para

This is presented to the responder when Holden confronts Leon. Leon is nervous, wild eyed and sweating while Holden is calm, collected and analytical. When Holden asks the questions his voice takes on a robotic and synthetic tone while Leon becomes more nervous and anxious. The irony here is that Leon is the replicant and Holden is the human. This leads us to the question of what is human? By the same principle (lolwut) Rachael at first encounter is cold, unresponsive and robotic. This again begs the question what is humanity just as the creature questions his own humanity. In this way both texts challenge the concept of what constitutes humanity.

Good body para

-kinda nervous when I take tests

-please dont move

-Medium shot/freeze frame

-Diegetic noise of the gun shot (leon subverts holdens sense of power)

Synthesize techniques + shapes meaning

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