Comparative Study Of Frankenstein And Blade Runner

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A comparative study of texts enhances understanding of the values and contexts of each text. Discuss how Frankenstein and Blade Runner are shaped by their respective contexts in order to examine the significance of disruption and responsibility. When we compare texts written in different time periods we expect them to reflect the different contexts in which they were composed and conceived. However, a comparative study of these two texts benefits the responder by enriching understanding of both texts. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus and Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner are clearly shaped by their contexts, yet both express the same concerns that resonate with today’s society. Both texts question the roles of humanity and challenge science and religion to reflect disruption due to the irresponsibility of man. Written in the early 19th century, Frankenstein was a revolutionary text. It was a work that was regarded as one of the great gothic novels of all time. Frankenstein was produced in a time when there was a belief that science and technology would change the world, but there were grave questions about the socio-economic impact of industrialisation. Some feared for the nature of humanity. There are many contextual issues in Frankenstein that reflect the social concerns, disruption and responsibility, or the lack of. Romanticism, the gothic period and the industrial revolution influenced Frankenstein. The central focus of Romanticism was on the link between man and nature, with the concept of nature prevalent not only in Frankenstein but also in Blade Runner. Technological advancements created intrigue, but also fear. Shelley’s contemporaries feared that science and technology would overthrow the natural process of life. Victor Frankenstein’s obsession with the principles of life led to him creating a creature that
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