Fear Of Genetic Modification And Medical Concerns In Blade Runner

The major ideas of a film are changed by its contents. Philp. K. Dick’s neo nior film “Blade Runner” (1982) provides us with an insight into the world of a blade runner narrated by the main character Rick Deckard. Throughout the movie Deckard expresses a profound distaste for replicants based off a deeply rooted fear of Genetic modification and Medical Concerns. Deckard investigates the divide between the rich and poor while searching for the escapee replicants. During the film we are confronted with the idea that there is too much pollution and the Earth is slowly dying.

The film questions our preconceptions of humanity by showing how emotions, rather than someone’s making, is what makes us human. While Roy is stalking Deckard in J.F. Sebastian’s previously abandoned apartment complex, he discovers Pris’ corpse. After the discovery of Pris’ corpse, a close up shot shows Roy locking lips with her dead body indicating the grief he feels for the loss of his companion which is similar to how humans process the emotion of grief. This scene reflects on how replicants have evolved to have human emotions through Roy’s initially confronting action. Additionally, on the rooftops where Roy is in pursuit of Deckard, Roy’s emotions, developed through human-like experiences, further establishes his humanity. As Deckard is hanging from a beam holding on for his life, a birds-eye-view shot is used to show the emphasise the danger of him falling to his death. Further, a close-up shot is used to show the intensity of the grip required for Roy to save Deckard at the last moment before he falls. Through the combination of these film techniques, the audience identifies Roy’s emotional development which shows his evolved human characteristics in saving Deckard’s life, which he now has the power to the end. This film alludes to the idea of replicants not being considered human which debates the ethical issues surrounding IVF during the time period. Thus, the issue of the late twentieth century influencing the core idea of what makes us human, which is questioned through the replicant Roy in the film.

Rick Deckard, the main character of the story, is a Blade Runner who recently got assigned in 2019 to retire four replicants who stole a ship and illegally landed on Earth to find their creator, Dr. Eldon Tyrell. He is passing through the period where he is witnessing the class wealth divide in America during 2019. Philp. K. Dick uses the symbolism in expressing this idea. The disparity between rich and poor, the powerful and the powerless is symbolised by how many storeys above ground level they live. Tyrell lives 700 storeys above ground level. J.F.Sebastian lives on the 15th floor of an empty derelict flat. Many of the masses appear to live on the street. The dispirited masses have been subjected to brutalised torture and sapping deprivation. A close up is used to show Deckard at the noodle bar where he can only order two-not four at the noodle bar. The settings are so grim, gloomy and gruesome, so even the most cheerful ones would become demoralised. Tyrell’s 700 storey mansion is the only place where you can see the Sun. Here it is used as a metaphor to show that Tyrell is above everyone else, as if he is a God. Tyrell’s Mansion in comparison to the crowds of disfigured people makes him seem like a super natural force. Rick Deckard questions people in different social classes and he acts differently with the richer people than the poor people. Deckard grabs the snake maker so that he would get the buyer.

“Deckard: Abdul Hassan? I’m a police officer, I’d like to ask you a few questions. Artificial snake license XB71, that’s you? This is your work, huh? Who did you sell it to?

Abdul: My work? Not too many could afford such quality.

Deckard: How few? Look my friend. (Grabs Abdul by the collar to get answers)

Abdul: Taffy Lewis’s, down in First Sector, Chinatown.

When Deckard is talking to Taffy (a very rich male) he acts in a much gentler way.

Deckard: You ever buy snakes from the Egyptian, Taffy?

Taffy: All the time, pal.

Deckard: Y’ever see this girl, huh?

Taffy: Never seen her, buzz off.

Deckard: Your licenses in order pal?

Throughout the film there is a complete lack of nature of any type. While animals are seen, it is quickly shown that they are all mechanical. Several references to animals in the movie also carry the idea that living animals are completely gone. Although the movie gives no explanation as to why there are no animals, adding this to the fact that there are no plants to be seen, it can be believed that some environmental disaster occurred. During the opening scene, giant pillars of fire shoot from smoke stacks with the city sprawling to the horizon. Together they create an image of a world taken over by industry. Other examples also illustrate that the Earth is hardly livable for humans. In a few scenes a giant billboard appears urging humans to “Emigrate now!” with the promise of a better life in human colonies. At least for those humans deemed worthy of the ability to propagate the human race.

Pris: Thanks. — How old are you?

Sebastian: Twenty-five.

Pris: What’s your problem?

Sebastian: Methuselah’s syndrome.

Pris: What’s that?

Sebastian: My glands. They grow old too fast.

Pris: Is that why you’re still on earth?

Sebastian: Yeah, I couldn’t pass the medical

J.F. Sebastian claimed to have not passed the genetic test, showing that some environmental factor has made the Earth toxic even for humans.

A high level of paranoia is present throughout the film with the visual manifestation of corporate power, omnipresent police, probing lights; and in the power over the individual represented particularly by genetic programming of the replicants. Control over the environment is seen on a large scale but also with how animals are created as mere commodities. This oppressive backdrop clarifies the disparity between the poor and the rich and shows us that the class wealth divide is expanding. Blade Runner depicts the problems our world is facing except it amplified to an extreme scale to show Earths future.