Frank and Blade Runner
- Submitted by: rb3x1712
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- Category: English
- Date Submitted: 09/29/2010 03:28 PM
- Pages: 4
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Texts reflect the changing values and perspectives of their time. Through the different techniques used and the extent to which similar figures and issues are presented in Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein and Ridley Scotts Blade Runner, the changing values and perspectives of the time can be reflected in the pair of texts. The presentation of creators and creations in the two different contexts are representative of these changing values and perspectives.
The 19th century was a time of moving into industrialization, scientific research and exploration, with a large focus upon the reanimation of lifeless matter. The rise of Galvanism led to many new attempts to reach new grounds in scientific practices often with a creative arrogance that disregarded possible consequences. Mary Shelly comments on the neglection of consequences by presenting a naïve creator, Victor, who is representative of the scientific leaders of her time. Shelly uses a biased and often contradictory narrator in order to question the morality of Victor and hence of scientists of her time. Victor claims his work to improve the life of humans, “if I could bestow animation upon lifeless matter, I might renew life where death had apparently devoted the body to corruption.” Yet immediately contradicts this statement of selflessness with one of greed and glory, “A new species would bless me as its creator and source.” Shelly also uses multiple narrators in order to give the audience further confidence in their judgment of Victors morality. The focus on the naivety of scientists is contrasted with the view presented in Ridley Scotts Blade Runner.
In the 20th century, huge leaps in cloning and genetical engineering were taking place with successful attempts at cloning animals and also at modifying species. A famous debate about whether science is removed from social and political forces began between two of the most respected scientists of the early 20th century and it still remains to be resolved....
The 19th century was a time of moving into industrialization, scientific research and exploration, with a large focus upon the reanimation of lifeless matter. The rise of Galvanism led to many new attempts to reach new grounds in scientific practices often with a creative arrogance that disregarded possible consequences. Mary Shelly comments on the neglection of consequences by presenting a naïve creator, Victor, who is representative of the scientific leaders of her time. Shelly uses a biased and often contradictory narrator in order to question the morality of Victor and hence of scientists of her time. Victor claims his work to improve the life of humans, “if I could bestow animation upon lifeless matter, I might renew life where death had apparently devoted the body to corruption.” Yet immediately contradicts this statement of selflessness with one of greed and glory, “A new species would bless me as its creator and source.” Shelly also uses multiple narrators in order to give the audience further confidence in their judgment of Victors morality. The focus on the naivety of scientists is contrasted with the view presented in Ridley Scotts Blade Runner.
In the 20th century, huge leaps in cloning and genetical engineering were taking place with successful attempts at cloning animals and also at modifying species. A famous debate about whether science is removed from social and political forces began between two of the most respected scientists of the early 20th century and it still remains to be resolved....