Man playing God If you attempt to play god, you will be punished for your doing: Death of Victor’s family Promethean myth Regardless of Frankenstein’s arduous efforts, his “breathless eagerness” and “almost frantic impulse” to achieve his goal, his lack of insight is condemnatory “If you will comply with my conditions, I will leave them and you at peace; but if you refuse, I will glut the maw of death, until it be satiated with the blood of your remaining friends” “the murderous mark of the fiends’ grasp was on her neck, and the breath had ceased to issue from her lips” “A grin was on the face of the monster: he seemed to jeer, as with his fiendish finger he pointed towards the corpse of my wife” “[That] was the wretch, the filthy daemon to whom I had life…. The murder of my brother” Cultural Reaction against the order and rationalisation of the Enlightenment Era Stress of individualism, idealism, inspiration, and imagination Thinking and feeling over reason Role of God as an inspiratory force ie. The sublime, nature (see above) Emphasis on sensory stimulation “ [A] strange multiplicity of sensations seized me, and I saw, smelt, heard, and felt at the same time; and it was indeed, a long time before I learned to distinguish between the operations of my various senses” (Monster) The Gothic Looked back to the past times of the supernatural, mystery, blood and gore Gothic tropes explored: Blody murder, graveyards, charnel houses, the creature (made from dead body parts) Imagery highlights the Gothic The majesty of nature “the yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscle and arteries beneath; his
Man playing God Man played God by creating replicants Viewers treated as God-like figures "It's not an easy thing to meet your maker" Low-angled camera gazing over the world Historical Post – modernism Post modernism period was a time of underlying anxiety of the ethical and moral implications of the creation of the replicants. For example, in Scott’s 1980’s contexts the medical advances such as IVF treatment was what made life plausible. During the postmodernism period there was a rise of Asia involvement in the Western World – increases the appeal and impact of feminism in the postmodernism period. Rachael in Deckard’s Apartment: the facial expressions of Rachael and Deckard show hurt and regret respectively similar to that of the monster and Victor Asian woman on the billboard popping a bill: motif and sexual connotations Cultural Global capitalism Science and technology Allusion to the overdevelopment and urban decay in Los Angeles that Scott perceived and Shelly feared. This suggests that humanity has literally destroyed the environment, demonstrates unrestrained development It demonstrates the way that man can manipulate science and technology and take advantage of it in society. The replicants imply that unlike humans through science and technology replicants can have survival instructs that brings into question what actually constitutes humanity Globalisation Setting is dark, inhuman, cold, polluted, inhuman and industrialised: hellish symbolism unlike Frankenstein’s European and sublime landscape Artificial objects such as the animals and replicants like Roy Batty that is combat model that has optimum self-sufficiency shows the advancements in science and technology Hybrid language: “M'sieu, aduanon kovershim angam bitte?” (Sir, would you come with me?). Combination of French (“M’sieu”), Hungarian (“aduanon kovershum angam”) and German (“bitte”). (Gaff) Advertising Japanese woman Coca-Cola Propaganda (colourful in a world of dull colour) ‘Pan Am’ airlines Music Arab/Asian music bazaar in china town Mix of classical and new age music Religion There is no apparent religion, but the text is filled with religious symbolism and imagery “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.”
“Nothing the god of biomechanics wouldn't let you in heaven for.” “Not yet”, Roys hands to prove to himself he still has the ability to feel pain (and hence, will not die) “Go to hell, go to heaven.” Dove purity Roy’s death brings the first example of blue sky does his ‘soul’ go to heaven?