As a film genre, Science Fiction seems boundless as it encompasses any element that is both futuristic and somewhat plausible in nature. Often sci-fi films can be subdivided based on the devises used be they aliens, time travel, or technology driven dystopias, but sci-fi films, even within the same subgenre do not always propose similar ideals. One of the popular subgenres of sci-fi is that of artificial life or more specifically, android/cyborg films. Blade Runner and Terminator 2: Judgement Day both carry the android/cyborg device which are thematically the same, yet deliver different messages to the audience. Both films use a dystopic futuristic setting where the antagonist is sentient machine who are displayed as hitmen in the films. However,
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The point of focus in this paper will be on why the films’ messages are different how they have helped further both the subgenre and science fiction as a whole. The setting to Blade Runner allows for Sci-fi themes to cultivate as it is a dystopian futuristic environment. The events take place in Los Angeles in November of 2019, which later becomes ironic since “the city of angels” becomes “the city of demons” (Boşnak 83). The opening shot of the film, shows an aerial view of what has become of Los Angeles; showing huge smokestacks with fire breathing out of them. We are then taken to the Tyrell Corporation’s headquarters which resembles a giant pyramid amid the industrial laden city. Blade Runner contrasts the “Sunny Southern California” setting of Los Angeles with the futuristic “a perpetually dark and rainy …show more content…
Blade Runner orients this anxiety toward the potential destruction Replicants bring to Earth and their imminent death from their short life expectancy which is geared toward the Replancts. Terminator 2 uses anxiety for the future as the main plot device that motivates every character including the Terminators because everyone wants to change the future. However, Terminator 2 almost borders paranoia from Sarah’s perspective as she is locked away in a Mental Institution for having delusional thoughts associated to Armageddon and the inevitability of another Terminator being sent back to kill her. Throughout the course of the film, Sarah has a reoccurring dream of Armageddon and has the knowledge from the film’s prequel that there is a war between humans and machines. Both Terminators are sent back because of John’s importance in the future so they want to either kill or save him. These anxieties are both short and long term as Armageddon takes place in 1997 and the pivotal point in the war is 2029. However, in Blade Runner, only the Replicants have relatively long term anxieties about their future existence. This is based on their knowledge of a 4 year lifespan and knowing that their time is coming close to the end. Most of the humans like the police, Tyrell, or Deckard are only concerned with catching the Replicants. They do not care about the future of the Earth as it is rapidly decaying in front of them.
The point of focus in this paper will be on why the films’ messages are different how they have helped further both the subgenre and science fiction as a whole. The setting to Blade Runner allows for Sci-fi themes to cultivate as it is a dystopian futuristic environment. The events take place in Los Angeles in November of 2019, which later becomes ironic since “the city of angels” becomes “the city of demons” (Boşnak 83). The opening shot of the film, shows an aerial view of what has become of Los Angeles; showing huge smokestacks with fire breathing out of them. We are then taken to the Tyrell Corporation’s headquarters which resembles a giant pyramid amid the industrial laden city. Blade Runner contrasts the “Sunny Southern California” setting of Los Angeles with the futuristic “a perpetually dark and rainy …show more content…
Blade Runner orients this anxiety toward the potential destruction Replicants bring to Earth and their imminent death from their short life expectancy which is geared toward the Replancts. Terminator 2 uses anxiety for the future as the main plot device that motivates every character including the Terminators because everyone wants to change the future. However, Terminator 2 almost borders paranoia from Sarah’s perspective as she is locked away in a Mental Institution for having delusional thoughts associated to Armageddon and the inevitability of another Terminator being sent back to kill her. Throughout the course of the film, Sarah has a reoccurring dream of Armageddon and has the knowledge from the film’s prequel that there is a war between humans and machines. Both Terminators are sent back because of John’s importance in the future so they want to either kill or save him. These anxieties are both short and long term as Armageddon takes place in 1997 and the pivotal point in the war is 2029. However, in Blade Runner, only the Replicants have relatively long term anxieties about their future existence. This is based on their knowledge of a 4 year lifespan and knowing that their time is coming close to the end. Most of the humans like the police, Tyrell, or Deckard are only concerned with catching the Replicants. They do not care about the future of the Earth as it is rapidly decaying in front of them.