POSTMODERN MOVIE ANALYSIS: BLADE RUNNER

Alba Campelo
Analysis of Modernity and Globalization

The film to be analysed is Blade Runner, a short science fiction film of the cyberpunk subgenre by
author Philip K. Humans have become followers of a new religion, Mercerism, where the doctrines of
a prophet demonstrate through empathy the differences between androids and humans. Humans
must have animals in order to show empathy and not suffer rejection from their fellow humans. Rick
Deckard, the main character, is a bounty hunter who is in charge of eliminating androids. He must
eliminate them in order to be able to afford to fix his broken sheep or to buy a real pet. The androids
have similar physiognomy to real humans and their new processors make them difficult to recognise.
To find out whether they are human or machine, there is a test that analyses responses and stimuli
to a series of empathic questions.

In addition, it includes key characters such as the co-protagonist Isidore, who is part of the worst
social link as he is a human affected by radiation. Also noteworthy is the appearance of Raechel as an
android for whom the protagonist develops certain feelings. Throughout the novel, the protagonist
begins to have numerous moral questions, costing him to end the life of the androids for severe
reasons. Deckard makes contact with an empathy box and talks to Mercer, the prophet of the
prevailing religion. Destroying the last androids on the list and ending their suffering, he wanders off
into the deserts and exposes himself to pain just as the prophet did.

This is the shattering of all kinds of convictions in the novel: androids can have empathy like humans
and the only religion left is simply and merely useless. The established social monomania traps
people, who try to appear human in front of the rest and at the same time question the empathy of
others. The established social monomania traps people, who try to appear human to others while
questioning the empathy of others. Questions people`s fear of the unknown when it is they
themselves who have lost their humanity, leaving it to religions or television programmes to establish
their ideals rather than developing their self-criticism.

Based on Philip K. Dick's work, is more philosophical than science fiction. From the second part of
the film onwards, we enter into compromised territory for our identity: what makes us human, our
empathy towards living beings, and if someone loves a mechanical being, is that being, despite
having intelligence, not considered "human"? Many concepts about identities are dealt with in this
novel, as well as the vision of religion destroyed under the pretext that everything is a theater by an
actor and that we all believe it and have faith in his vision of life.

An analysis involving a sociological perspective is possible. It will be developed below, in particular

with a focus on social change. Tension and conflict within a society also bring about change. This is
observable in the novel, as everything that happens begins in the wake of a war, i.e. a conflict.
Social change is inherently complex, contradictory and controversial. In principle, virtually all
members of society support the idea that individuals should have a great deal of autonomy in
shaping their own lives. This autonomy is non-existent in the world depicted in the novel. Many
applaud the decline of tradition, believing that it represents progress. In the example of the soulless
society of this work, the decline of the Mercerist tradition would be inconceivable. Perhaps this
might indicate that, despite being a technologically advanced society, it is a society that is not
progressing. In any case, social change is too complex and controversial to be equated with social
progress.

As people exercise their freedom of choice, they inevitably pose challenges to social patterns
appreciated and valued by those who maintain a more traditional lifestyle. One possible challenge
would be the relationship between the Rick and Raechel, as there is no socially conceivable union
between healthy humans and androids. They belong to both - opposite - ends of the spectrum of
existing social classes in the novel.

Postmodern thought considers that science no longer has all the answers. The main feature of the
modern era was the firm belief that technology would make life better. The critic claims that science
has created more problems than it has solved. In relation to the film under discussion, it is
questionable whether technology makes life easier or more complicated.

Reality is something that is socially constructed and not something that exists naturally; moreover,
the "deconstruction" of science shows that it has often been used for political purposes, especially
by the most powerful sectors of society. In the play, the religion on which society on earth is based
turns out to be a construct. This is an example of how reality is not something that exists naturally,
but is fully manipulable. The novel under study, which is fictional in genre and based on a
catastrophic world, raises a series of moral questions about the very humanity of humans, who are at
times somewhat skeptical of the advances of technology.

Blade Runner is a complex film that explores a wide range of postmodern themes and ideas, making
it a perfect example of the postmodernism as defined by Jean-Francois Lyotard. The movie is set in a
dystopian Los Angeles in 2019, where genetically engineered humanoids, known as replicants, are
created by the Tyrell Corporation to perform dangerous and menial tasks on other planets. The
replicants are illegal on Earth and are hunted down by special police operatives known as Blade
Runners.

The film's depiction of a dystopian, futuristic society is a clear example of the postmodern idea of a
society that is less clearly defined and more diverse. The film's portrayal of the blending of reality
and fantasy, with the use of advanced technology, such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and
biotechnology, highlights the ways in which technology can be used to manipulate and control
individuals and groups. This idea is further reinforced by the film's portrayal of a capitalist society
where the powerful Tyrell Corporation exploits the replicants for their own gain.

Blade Runner is also a commentary on the nature of humanity and the moral ambiguities
surrounding the treatment of replicants. The film raises questions about what it means to be human
and challenges traditional metanarratives and grand theories about the nature of humanity. The
film's portrayal of the replicants, who possess human-like emotions, consciousness, and memories,
as less than human, highlights the ways in which society can discriminate against and marginalize
those who are perceived as different.

In terms of aesthetics and politics, the film can be seen as a commentary on the relationship
between technology and power. The film's visually stunning depiction of a high-tech, yet decaying
urban landscape highlights the ways in which technology can both empower and oppress individuals
and groups. Additionally, the film's portrayal of the exploitative relationship between the powerful
Tyrell Corporation and the oppressed replicants can be seen as a commentary on capitalist systems
and their impact on marginalized groups.

Blade Runner is considered as a masterpiece of science fiction cinema and it's considered a classic of
the genre that continues to inspire filmmakers, writers, and other artists. The film's exploration of
complex postmodern themes and ideas, its visual style, and its commentary on the relationship
between technology and power make it a must-watch for anyone interested in postmodernism and
its impact on society and culture.

Blade Runner has often been considered a postmodern film due to its themes of identity, technology,
and the blurring of reality and fantasy. The film's depiction of a dystopian, futuristic society where
genetically engineered "replicants" live among humans aligns with Lyotard's idea of a postmodern
society that is less clearly defined and more diverse. Additionally, the film's exploration of the nature
of humanity and the moral ambiguities surrounding the treatment of replicants challenges traditional
metanarratives and grand theories.

It explores a wide range of postmodern themes and ideas, making it a perfect example of the
postmodernism as defined by Jean-Francois Lyotard. The movie is set in a dystopian Los Angeles in
2019, where genetically engineered humanoids, known as replicants, are created by the Tyrell
Corporation to perform dangerous and menial tasks on other planets. The replicants are illegal on
Earth and are hunted down by special police operatives known as Blade Runners.

Blade runner's depiction of a dystopian, futuristic society is a clear example of the postmodern idea
of a society that is less clearly defined and more diverse. The film's portrayal of the blending of
reality and fantasy, with the use of advanced technology, such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality,
and biotechnology, highlights the ways in which technology can be used to manipulate and control
individuals and groups. This idea is further reinforced by the film's portrayal of a capitalist society
where the powerful Tyrell Corporation exploits the replicants for their own gain.

It is also a commentary on the nature of humanity and the moral ambiguities surrounding the
treatment of replicants. The film raises questions about what it means to be human and challenges
traditional metanarratives and grand theories about the nature of humanity. The film's portrayal of
the replicants, who possess human-like emotions, consciousness, and memories, as less than human,
highlights the ways in which society can discriminate against and marginalize those who are
perceived as different.
Blade Runner can be seen as a perfect example of the postmodern characteristics of a society that is
less clearly defined, pluralistic, and socially diverse than the modernity that preceded it. The film's
depiction of a dystopian, futuristic society where genetically engineered "replicants" live among
humans highlights the ways in which traditional boundaries and distinctions are breaking down. The
film's portrayal of the blending of reality and fantasy, with the use of advanced technology, such as
artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and biotechnology, further reinforces this idea by highlighting the
ways in which technology can be used to manipulate and control individuals and groups.

The film also embodies the postmodern idea of incredulity toward metanarratives. The concept of
the "metanarrative" refers to grand, overarching stories or theories that seek to explain the meaning
of history and the world. The film raises questions about what it means to be human and challenges
traditional metanarratives and grand theories about the nature of humanity. The film's portrayal of
the replicants, who possess human-like emotions, consciousness, and memories, as less than human,
highlights the ways in which society can discriminate against and marginalize those who are
perceived as different.

In addition, the film can be seen as an example of the postmodern idea that attempts to construct
grand theories tend to unduly dismiss the naturally existing chaos and disorder of the universe. The
film's portrayal of a society that is in a state of decay and disarray, with advanced technology
coexisting alongside poverty and crime, highlights the ways in which grand theories and utopian
visions can fail to account for the complexities and contradictions of the real world.

Blade Runner is a film that explores complex postmodern themes and ideas, making it a perfect
example of the postmodern characteristics of a society that is less clearly defined, pluralistic, and
socially diverse than the modernity that preceded it, postmodern as incredulity toward
metanarratives and attempts to construct grand theories tend to unduly dismiss the naturally
existing chaos and disorder of the universe. The film's exploration of these themes and its visually
stunning depiction of a high-tech, yet decaying urban landscape make it a must-watch for anyone
interested in postmodernism and its impact on society and culture.