To what extent does a comparative study accentuate the influence of context on Frankenstein and Blade Runner? While issues change throughout history, values are often similar but presented from the perspective of an era. Mary Shelley's 1800's Frankenstein and Ridley Scott's 1982 Director's cut of Blade Runner essentially explore the same themes. The messages of ambition and science to usurp God and the loss of humanity reflect the time and contexts of the texts. Frankenstein depicts the ambition to use science to usurp God, influenced by the eighteenth century Enlightenment movement (encouraging reasoning to understand the universe), advancements in science in the nineteenth century and the concept of restoration of life through electricity, known as 'galvanism'.
Randel develops meaning behind the places of Ingolstadt and the Northern Lights, Geneva, England and Scotland, Ireland and Evian to prove his thesis of the importance of political geography. He often refers back to the French revolution and uses that to compare to Shelley’s portrayal of her opinions on the political geography of each place. Randel believes that the tale Frankenstein is a metaphor for the French Revolution. Throughout the essay Randel is associating Frankenstein, Frankenstein’s monster and the victims of Frankenstein’s monster to people like Jean-Jacques Rousseau, King Charles I, Lord Viscount Falkland, and John Hampden—all of which are big contributors to the French Revolution. Although Randel puts forth some peculiar evidence, he is able to explain and utilize historical facts to further strengthen his argument.
The Blade Runner context is the science-fiction dystopic future of Los-Angeles in 2019. Frankenstein and Blade Runner may be divided by nearly 200 years, be conveyed in different forms, and develop their ideas in very different settings, but there are distinct issues that are shown throughout both texts. In both texts the natural world has been disrupted by the creation of artificial beings, with the monster in Frankenstein and the Replicants in Blade Runner which is one major similarity shown in both texts. Within Frankenstein, Mary Shelley illustrates the significance of the natural world and the connection that man has to nature. She depicts nature as a place for both Victor and The monster to be solace and let their emotions be confessed.
yThroughout the exploration of the module “Texts in Time”, we observe the connections between texts and their reflections of the constancy in human nature, whilst shifting contextual perspectives are maintained. Such a connection is demonstrated in Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel “Frankenstein” (F/stein) and Scott Ridley’s 1991 film “Bladerunner”, where both composers present a cautionary tale, warning us of the implications of science and technological advances on humanity and thus reflecting their own fears in their respective contextual eras. It is through the analysis of such values and implications that we can see the constancy of human nature throughout time. Frankenstein is a gothic inspired, fragmented epistolary, reflecting the rebellion of the Romantic Movement, which advocated the power of imagination, and ones relationship to nature. The gothic convention of sublime nature is represented thematically, through forces of good and evil leading to vengeance and murder, as well as macabre settings of graveyards and charnel houses.
The overwhelming theme of science that is expressed in Frankenstein is that knowledge has the potential to go beyond the boundaries of human control. The reader first obtains the notion that Frankenstein had an urge to explore science in his discussion with Robert Walton. After Walton mentions to Frankenstein that he aims to go out into the word and seek knowledge and wisdom, Frankenstein states: “One man's life or death were but a small price to pay for the acquirement of the knowledge which I sought, for the dominion I should acquire and transmit over the elemental foes of our race.” From this statement, the reader is first given a sense of foreshadowing that what Frankenstein will tell Walton about his past will be about how he attempted to pursue knowledge and how it affected his life. He recites that during his schooling at Ingolstadt, Frankenstein caught a real interest in the science of biological creation through his teacher M. Waldman. Afterward, Frankenstein acquired an eager curiosity to explore the realm of biological creation, where he states: “So much has been done…more, far more, will I achieve; treading in the steps already marked, I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown power, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation.” Here, Frankenstein frankly
Chaos and savagery come as a result of men trying to find pleasure without making sacrifices. Order are situations in which humans are forced to suppress their instincts and follow rules to attain their goals. 4D. The subject ive chosen is sort of a broad idea that can be grasped by looking deeper into the idea. By looking at the fact that Golding is trying to explain that all humans are evil can tie into the Chaos on the island.
Analyse the ways in which a comparative study of Frankenstein and Blade Runner invites consideration of humanity’s connection with the natural world. (Natural Order) An inextricable link can be drawn between ‘Frankenstein’, a gothic novel composed by Mary Shelley and Ridley Scott’s film noir Blade Runner, where both texts invites the consideration of humanity’s connection with the natural world. In both texts nature is highly valued and is considered necessary for a fruitful society, however each text explores humanities treatment of nature in diverse ways, due to the context and didactic purpose of each text. The ways in which the connection between humanity and the natural world has been explored include: natures healing power, usurping natural order and the consequences of disregarding nature. Both ‘Frankenstein’ and Blade Runner invite the consideration of humanity’s strong connection with the natural world as being essential for a lively and successful society.
Whether or not Plato actually believes in eugenics or not, I believe his dialog is to get the reader thinking on the issues that he argues for. This essay will be doing exactly that, evaluating the argument of eugenics and how it can apply and affect modern Christian values. Eugenics and Euthanasia Eugenics is a modern term for the idea of breeding the perfect human. It was coined by Francis Galton, cousin of Charles Darwin. Francis wanted to apply Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution to human beings.2 Using this train of thought, one can reasonably come to the conclusion that human kind can be improved if we bred out bad genes in order to fill future generations with a strong, if not perfect gene pool.
“A deeper understanding of core human values emerges through consideration of the relationship between Frankenstein and Blade runner”. The timeless significance of the value of love and some it’s many subsidiaries – kindness, generosity, compassion, humility and respect – emerges strongly in an in-depth study of the relationship between Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ (1818) and Ridley Scott’s ‘Blade Runner’ (1992). Both of these texts examine the damaging consequences to individuals and society when there are those amongst us whose work is primarily underpinned by personal hubris and scientific ambition rather than love, respect and compassion. There are particular times in history when the potential of technological progress offer human beings opportunities to extend the borders of what has been considered scientifically possible and it is in times like these that values like love and humility should guide progress. ‘Frankenstein’ was written at one such critical time in human development: the Industrial Revolution was reaching its peak, achieving a range of technological feats never yet before imagined, creating the space for individuals to experiment endlessly with the possibilities of development.
Frankenstein and Blade Runner “By studying two texts together, we come to a heightened understanding of their meaning and significance.” Period literature and cinematography provide insight into the composer’s societal paradigm, reflecting the historical setting and contemporary issues maintained at the time. Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel, “Frankenstein”, and Ridley Scott’s 1982 film, “Blade Runner”, encapsulate distinct time frames and contexts, respectively highlighting the author’s opinions and concerns within those periods. Despite contrasting societal environments, both texts comment on the human obsession toward scientific advancement and its subsequent consequences, as well as questioning the aspects and qualities that define humanity. Being composed over 150 year apart, the congruency of the texts’ core values transcends time barriers, not only demonstrating their significance and omnipresence within the human condition but also providing new insight and perspectives through differing contextual interpretations. As a romantic novel, Frankenstein responds to the encroachment of rationalism and the Age of Enlightenment, specifically the unknown repercussions of man’s hubristic pursuit of knowledge.