This slight difference in value is carried on in wealth, which is more visible in Blade Runner, such as the high angle shot of the Tyrell corporation, showing how Tyrell’s wealth has allowed him to tower above the pollution. In Frankenstein, wealth allows Victor a happy childhood spent in mansions and an extensive education that similarly allowed him to rise above the ‘commoner’s. A notable value in Blade Runner is feminism, for along with standard military male Roy Batty, Zhora is somewhat of an assassin. In Frankenstein, Elizabeth is simply domesticated and there to be married. Another value carried*through both texts is that of the creature and replicants, for while in Frankenstein, Victor’s achievement is valued, the creature is abhorred. In Blade Runner, Tyrell states, “Commerce is our goal. Rachel is an experiment nothing more.” This suggests that there should be a limit imposed on scientific advancement, for humans are capable of exploiting anything for gain. This reflects the society of when the texts were written, for some of these contended values such as knowledge and that of ‘creations’ were relatively new questions, with no concrete answers.
Along with the rise of science came new ideas. Victor in Frankenstein experiments with making the world a better place. “Life and death…should first break through and pour a torrent of light.” This experimentation with life gave rise to parental responsibility, and in Frankenstein it is neglected and death is reaped for the mistake. Similarly in Blade Runner, Batty states, “I want more life” and when Tyrell does not fulfill this need as his duty as ‘father’, he dies. Both texts seem to say that humans have no right to play ‘god’. This then leads into what constitutes humanity. Tyrell experiments with giving the replicants pasts and emotions, with the aim of, “ We can control them better.” Yet Pris rejoins with, “I think therefore I am.” and Batty, “We’re not computers, we’re physical.” Both texts don’t’ directly answer the questions, but show humanity through scenes such as the creature imitating the cottages in Frankenstein, and in Blade Runner, close up shots and slow motion during Zhora’s death to evoke empathy. These ideas again reflect the context of when they were written, for they have absorbed the topical issues of their time.
Frankenstein uses epistolary to set the scene, as well as the different view points of Victor and the creature. This again betrays the context, as playing with structure was a new idea. Even the medium of a novel links to context, for there weren’t any forms but that of literature available. Blade Runner however is a film, and instead of extensive description of ‘snowy mountains’ it uses a long shot of L.A. 2019 to evoke highlight imagery of towering skyscrapers and flames bursting forth into darkness to show dystopian elements. As Frankenstein used letters to set the scene, Blade Runner uses a prologue and music to create an atmosphere, and overall tone for the movie. Blade Runner also uses ‘special’ effects, and all these elements combine to reach a wide audience, as the context decrees.
Romanticism is throughout Frankenstein, with quotes such as “My spirits were elevated by nature.” As well as romanticism, Frankenstein uses overlapping gothic elements such as “we saw many ruined castles.” This places Frankenstein at the forefront of a new sub-genre, also incorporating fledgling sci-fi. This again places context, especially the parallels to the promethean myth which betray Shelley’s background and education. Her language is formal* to appeal to an educated audience, and she uses as many big words as she can to sound smart.
Blade Runner is not as straightforward as Frankenstein’s simple formal language, but mixes snippets of William Blake poetry, “Fiery the angels fell.” with emotive language , “All these moments will be lost in time…time to die.” as well as unintelligible Cityspeak. The language and 300 Asian cast point toward a multicultural society, and its fears driven by its context. As Frankenstein began combining Gothicism and romanticism and sci-fi, Blade Runner uses a mix of intertextuality, a term coined a mere 20 years before. Even its film noir elements such as the dim lighting and blinds in Deckard’s apartment leave the audience with a feeling of when the text was created, and what elements of the time, influenced it.
There is a strong link between a text and the context it has been written in, which is shown through Frankenstein and Blade Runner as they have absorbed the dominant values and ideas, were bound by the forms available, and features that are most likely to appeal, or be relevant to their audience. The similarities show how some fears transcend time, and the differences between the two texts highlight the changed context, leaving the texts as an influence of their time, various elements excluding them from modern context. When they were written they may have the epitome of the modern text, but when viewed from a different context, the time in which the text was created, even if written futuristically, is obvious.
