Blade Runner
Questioning Human Identities
Outline
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General Questions
Introduction
The world of Blade Runner —architecture and
space
The Replicants vs. Humans
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Scientists as “Fathers” & the Lost Mothers
Relative proofs of identity: photographs; the eyes
fighting for survival –and Replicants’ Reflections on human
society
Rachael’s learning
The Others: Gaff and the Animals in the film
Blade Runner, Minority Report
& The Matrix
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How are these three films similar to or
different from one another? What
postmodern issues do they each
address?
How does Blade Runner define human
identity and human nature?
What’s impressive about this film?
The Three Films—”human”
solutions to machines’ control
Blade Runner
Minority Report
The Matrix
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Tyrell –replicants
for commerce
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Precrime –social
security
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Esper
Car
) VOIGHTKAMPFF
 to determine
human and 4dimensional reality
(Eye
Love & Escape—
individuals
Matrix – humans
as batteries
control & Eye The Matrix &
scanner
computer programs
Computer imaging
Agents and
 to control identity sentinels
and predict future
 Pervasive control
Choice-individuals
Love, Choice &
Belief -Alternative system
The Three Films—
the Ambiguous
Blade Runner
Minority Report
The Matrix
Definition of
human identity
(photo, emotional
response, “empathy”
and love)
 flattening of
subject, waning of
affect; Postmodern
simulacra
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How is crime
defined?
 Is the prediction
fallible and
changeable?
 minority report as
echo, fabricated or
another time path?
 Multiple reality
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Is Anderson Neo?
 How much of our
existence a ‘mental
projection’ of our
existence?
 (in-)separability of
mind and body,
subject and object,
individual and
system
 Postmodern
simulacra
Reality
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Lyotard The Postmodern Condition: Our
task is to search "for new presentations, not
in order to enjoy them but to impart a
stronger sense of the unpresentable "(p.81),
since “...it is our business not to supply
reality but to invent allusions to the
conceivable which cannot be presented.”
What is “unpresentable” in our society?
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1) capitalist simulacra;
2) ‘reality’ as a matter of perception;
3) memories and history
4) the “human”?
The Three Films —
the Other Postmodern Issues
Blade Runner
Minority Report
The Matrix
1. Environment & capitalism
World – gloomy,
raining all the time,
huge ads
Nature – final
escape
World – clean and
neat; animated ads
Nature—only as a
lab
World – colorful
Illusions
Nature--absent
2. Slum – and minorities
Ethnic
minorities &
women
Underground
Helpers (e.g.
Tank)
Introduction:
Philip K Dick’s Novel and
Ridley Scott
Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids
Dream of Electric Sheep?
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Published in 1968 –(the period of anti-war
movement)
1992 San Francisco  (the film) Los Angeles in
2019
Philip K. Dick claimed that footage of the film was
exactly what he had envisioned when he wrote the
book. (source)
Deckard in the novel – “bounty hunter”—kills more
than two replicants.
The question of whether one can mistake human
for replicant: Deckard mistakes for replicant his
fellow bounty hunter Phil Resch, because “the man
suffers from a condition called ‘flattening of affect’
(which means a lack of emotion), something which
can occur in people suffering from certain forms of
mental illness or brain damage.” (source)
Ridley Scott
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Alien (1979)
Thelma & Louise (1991)
Gladiator (2000)
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Stunning visuals.
His films often feature strong female characters? (source)
The movie BR omits the religious and mythical
elements of Dick's original novel (e.g., empathy
boxes and Wilbur Mercer), it falls more strictly
within the cyberpunk genre than the novel does.
William Gibson would later reveal that upon first
viewing the film, he was surprised at how the look
of this film matched his vision when he was working
on Neuromancer. (source)
The World of Blade Runner
Lack of Dynamic Social Fabric
 a Pastiche of Architectural Styles with
signs of
-- (fake) signs of power
-- signs of decay and decrepitude
-- signs of the stereotypical “Oriental”
 placelessness; a global city
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Places in the BR City
1.
2.
3.
Center of Power –Tyrell Corp (chap 7), Police
Station
Residences –of Deckard (chap 11) and Sebastian
(40:10)
“Everyday Life”--Eating and Sex-Related
Entertainment: Streets and shopping areas (chap
4)
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China town: Chinese dragon in neon lighting  Eye making
place
The Noodle Bar
Little Tokyo: Animoid Row
Shopping arcade  Snake Pit nightclub - a place for upperclass persons to slum it, smoke opium, watch exotic dancers
Social Functions Degenerated  No family
connections or the other social functions.
Social Space –Power Center
Tyrell Co. – manufacturing
replicants to serve as
slaves in Off-World
exploration and
colonization.
Social Space –Signs of Power
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Tyrell Co. – Egyptian pyramid-shaped
Roman and Greek columns
Owl and some statues,
Difficult access, etc.
Policemen and the Police
Station
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Rep-Detect, a unit specifically created to
cater for escaped Replicants.
The other policemen, in the background.
Not really powerful.
The more powerful -Commercials
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High-tech + the stereotypical
Off-World: another Frontier for
American Dream & Expansionism
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‘Off-World’ colony: ‘a golden land of
opportunity and adventure’, complete with a
‘new climate’
Slavery: “absolutely free... Use your new
friend as a personal body servant or a
tireless field hand - the custom tailored
genetically engineered humanoid replicant
designed especially for your needs. So come
on America, lets put our team up there...”
Those on Earth: ethnic Minorities and the
physically weak
The Residence:
Pastiche of Styles
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The Ennis-Brown House – in the sytle of
Mayan temple (location)  the textile
block
JF Sebastian’s: Bradbury Building
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In the film and its everyday footage
source
JF Sebastian’s: Pastiche
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Ornate Pillar vs. garbage  capitalist
society’s rapid production of waste
The Other Side of Power
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“Everyday Life” in a Post-Industrial City
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Artificially reproduced animals
Over-Population, noise
people of all races in Little Tokyo,
Chinatown, etc.
Raining all the time
Animoid Row
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where all sorts of replicant animals can be
purchased, and perhaps repaired. This scene is
very reminiscent of the Akihabara market in Tokyo
(source)
Chinatown –messy and neon
lights everywhere
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Graffiti –non-readable for Western
audience
Neon light dragon
Leon & Roy: Combat model
Zhora: Kick murder squad (beauty and the beast)
Priz: Basic pleasure model (for military clubs)
Replicants vs. Human
Definitions of Humanity
 search for the father and mother
 “proof” of identity
 fighting for survival –and Replicants’
Reflections on human society
Rachael
Scientists as Fathers
Both isolated, powerful only with their “toys.”
Chew --genetic designer of eyes
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Roy: "If only you could see what I've seen with your eyes"
J. F. Sebastian –friendly and childlike
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Makes friends with toys and robots;
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“There’s some of me in you” to Roy;
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Suffers from a problem similar to that of the
replicants: “Accelerated decrepitude.”
Scientists as Fathers
Tyrell – cares only about business & experiment;
indifferent to their well-being;
The Father-Son scene:
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Tyrell: The light that burns twice as bright burns 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!
Roy: I've done questionable things.
Tyrell: Also extraordinary things. Revel in your time.
Roy: Nothing the god of biomechanics wouldn't let you
in heaven for. [Roy kisses Tyrell on the mouth. Tyrell
screams as his eyes are gouged out.]
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Missing Mothers
The test of Leon:
 Describe in single words, only the good
things that come in to your mind about: your
mother.
Leon: My mother?
Holden: Yeah.
Leon: Let me tell you about my mother.
[shot fired]
2. Rachael’s attempt (33:10)
 You think I'm a replicant, don't you? [pause]
Look, it's me with my mother.
1.
“Relative” Proofs of Identity
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Empathy test
Snake Scale
Photographs
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Bryan & Tyrell – complete
lack of feelings (e.g.)
Artificial snake
How about Deckard? His
photos put together with
those of Leon’s.
Tyrell—creates the past to
control
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Tyrell – unable to change Nexus 6, or unwilling to?
The replicants’ lifespan has to be limited because
they develop their own emotions.
Commerce, is our goal here at Tyrell. More human
than human is our motto. Rachael is an experiment,
nothing more. We began to recognize in them
strange obsessions. After all they are emotional
inexperienced with only a few years in which to
store up the experiences which you and I take for
granted. If we give them the past we create a
cushion or pillow for their emotions and
consequently we can control them better.
Replicants: More human than
human
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2.
Duplicating a duplicate.
Ironically, simulacra become the best
possible “human” reality.
Blade Runner
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“retirement”—cruel and inhuman
Deckard: kills two replicants; rescued
twice by them.
Deckard
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Cold. “Sushi. That's what my ex-wife called
me. Cold fish.”
Kills to avoid being a victim. “I'd quit
because I'd had a belly full of killing. But
then I'd rather be a killer than a victim. And
that's exactly what Bryant's threat about little
people meant.”
Equipped with a gun and machines;
otherwise, he would not have been able to
make it.
Machines to reconstruct
space and identity
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Voigt-Kampff machine administers
an empathy test, a test device
similar to a lie detector that
measures emotional responses.
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Challenged by Rachael.
ESPER -- A high-density computer
with a very powerful threedimensional resolution capacity.
 Snake scale  Zhora
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Only evidence of Zhora’s
presence
Eyes and its Implication
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The False Mirror, 1935
Seeing is Believing?
Eyes
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Rachel: “He won’t
see me.”
Surveillance
machines
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The replicants’ blue
or brown eyes.
Roy: I've seen
things... seen things
you little people
wouldn't believe...
Zhora – challenges Deckard
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Deckard: Well, like to get this job. I
mean, did you do, or... or were you
asked to do anything that's lewd or
unsavory or otherwise, uh, repulsive to
your person, huh?
Zhora: Ha. Are you for real?
The Death of Zhora
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Exploited and
Brutalized like the
mannequins
The Death of Pris
Pris: likes Sebastian.
Chap 28 - A strong bond between her and Roy
because both of their lives were
running out at the same time.
 Pretends to be a doll.
 Like a doll electrically shocked.
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Roy – appreciate and struggle
for survival
Cites poetry --“Fiery the angels fell,
Deep thunder rolled around their shore,
Burning with the fires of Orc” (Blake “America: A
Prophecy”)
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the last chase-and-run:
 “Not yet” – drives a nail through his hand to
keep his spirit up.
 “Six, seven. Go to hell, go to heaven. [Deckard
breaks off a pipe from the wall... hits Roy's
forehead like a bat.] Yeah, that's the spirit.
[Deckard flees out a boarded window by kicking
it.]
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Roy: Asks for Sympathy
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Slavery: Quite an experience to live
in fear, isn't it? That's what it is to
be a slave.
Experience and Accepting Death:
I've seen things you people
wouldn't believe. Attack ships on
fire off the shoulder of Orion. I
watched C-beams glitter in the dark
near Tannhauser Gate. All those
moments will be lost in time... like
tears in rain. [Pause] Time to die.
Roy: Shows Sympathy
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Appreciates life at the end: “I don't know why
he saved my life. Maybe in those last
moments he loved life more than he ever had
before. Not just his life, anybody's life, my life.
All he'd wanted were the same answers the
rest of us want. Where did I come from?
Where am I going? How long have I got? All I
could do was sit there and watch him die.
Rachael’s Survival
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Chap 22
To prove her humanity>
[Deckard tries to kiss Rachel,
but she heads for the door.
Deckard stops her by force...
then kisses Rachael.]
Deckard: Now you kiss me.
Rachael: I can't rely on...
Deckard: Say kiss me.
Rachael: Kiss me.
Deckard: I want you.
Rachael: I want you.
Deckard: Again.
Rachael: I want you. Put your
hands on me.
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Chap 35 Completely
passive;
Deckard: Do you love
me?
Rachael: I love you.
Deckard: Then trust
me.
Rachael: I trust you.
Ending: OV—she has
a longer lifespan
Empathy Test
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Remember when you were six? You and your
brother snuck into an empty building through a
basement window... you were gonna play doctor.
He showed you his, but when it got to be your turn
you chickened and ran. Remember that? You ever
tell anybody that? Your mother, Tyrell, anybody, huh?
You remember the spider that lived in a bush
outside your window... orange body, green legs.
Watched her build a web all summer. Then one day
there was a big egg in it. The egg hatched...
Rachael: The egg hatched...
Deckard: Yeah...
Rachael: ... and a hundred baby spiders came out.
And they ate her. (potential sign of her resistance)
The Others: (1) Gaff
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begins as an ambitious
brown-noser, wanting to get
a promotion in the police
department.
city-speak, guttertalk-- a
mishmash of Japanese,
Spanish, German
The Others: (1) Gaff
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Shows sympathy for both
Deckard and the replicants.
Gaff’s the origami paperfoldings –
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1) chicken –when D has no
choice;
2) stick paper man –in Leon’s
room
3)unicorn
Unicorn – rare and unique
species
The Others –Animals as signs
of life
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In this film, although we don’t see real animals (except for a
sight of some ostriges), animals are used as icons with
positive or negative implications for human characters and
replicants.
Negative: Leon = tortured like the Turtle in his empathy test.
Zhora = artificial Snake and snake scale (associated with her
job)
Tyrell = artificial Owl (no real wisdom)
Sebastian = Mouse (timid)
Deckard = Sushi (raw fish--coldness)
Positive: Roy = Wolf (his energy), Dove (peace)
Rachael = unicorn
Pris = Raccoon (playful)
(reference: http://scribble.com/uwi/br/brfaq/trivia-notice.html )
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