Frankenstein and Blade Runner Essays

Frankenstein and Blade Runner Essays Frankenstein and Blade Runner Paper Frankenstein and Blade Runner Paper Essay Topic: Frankenstein Mary Shelley’s iconic novel, Frankenstein, and Ridley Scott’s cinematographic masterpiece, Blade Runner, are, on the surface, remarkably dissimilar, not solely in terms of medium, but in absolute contextual disparity. They are, of course, very much products of their time, affected and inspired by the conundrums and pessimistic predictions of their own cultural and societal contexts; condemnations of each respective composers predictions for humanity. It is interesting to note, therefore, that both texts are alike in their thematic complexity, however differently these timeless themes are expressed, and that the textual techniques of both only serve to heighten the inevitable character, plot and thematic comparisons which have inevitably occurred, as is to be expected of a film whole prophetic quality and social significance are timeless, and a novel which was to become an irrefutable literary classic. It is important to note that the world of Mary Shelley in 1818 bore a striking resemblance to that of Ridley Scott in the early 1980’s, and indeed, this is the underlying catalyst for the contemporary cultural significance of the texts. The 1800’s for example, was a time of Revolution and Industrialism; a time in which scientific advances by the likes of Erasmus Darwin and Andrew Crosse, as well as a general ascent of idealistic romanticism, had colossal influence upon not only society; but upon Shelley’s pathetic fallacy and sensory imagery-laden writing style. : One must recognise the stark analogy amidst such a time of scientific ambition and the 1980’s, a time when, similarly, rampant computerisation threatened to render the labour of man irrelevant, as scientific experimentation in genetic engineering and globalisation shook the very foundations of morality and ethical thought. Within Blade Runner too, irrefutably a condemnation of the future implications of such a time, Scott utilises establishing shots and neon, filtered lighting to intimidate; to illuminate a litany of Asian faces, whilst technology, and of course the replicants themselves, are created without second thought, and ultimately, with disastrous implications for those concerned; â€Å"Commerce is our goal here at Tyrell, more human than human is our motto. Rachel is an experiment, nothing less and nothing more. † Which, of course, brings to the fore the undeniable and universal thematic complexity of both Frankenstein and Blade Runner; the predominant catalyst for their newfound cultural significance. First and foremost is the theme upon which the texts are fundamentally built, that of emulating the divine, as well as its ramifications. Mary Shelley herself, in fact, states in the preface to her novel, â€Å"frightful must it be; for supremely frightful would be the effect of any human endeavor to mock the stupendous Creator of the world†, and indeed, Victor Frankenstein himself essentially serves as an analogy, almost a deterrent, of the unbridled scientific advances of Shelley’s time. Despite Frankenstein’s extreme intelligence, being â€Å"the envy of [his] peers† and the fact that he â€Å"became capable of bestowing animation upon lifeless matter†, his lack of compassion for his creation, â€Å"the miserable monster whom I had created†, in conjunction with his desired abandonment of it, â€Å"I sincerely hope, that all these employments are now at an end, that I am at length free†, has catastrophic consequences. Essentially, Shelley’s characterisation symbolises man as a fallible creature, one who will by no means possess the characteristics of God, despite the insurmountable increases in technological advancement which today are the norm.

Fantastic Mr Fox Quotes

'Fantastic Mr Fox' Quotes Fantastic Mr Fox is a trickster-adventure story by British author Roald Dahl. Mr. Fox is (of course) fantastic, he faces seemingly impossible odds to survive. His shenanigans become legendary as he outwits three devilish rich men in order to steal food. The book was turned into a popular movie of the same name in 2009 with George Clooney voicing the lead character. Both the book and the movie have been popular with children.   Quotes from Fantastic Mr. Fox Down in the valley, there were three farms. The owners of these farms had done well. They were rich men. They were also nasty men. All three of them were about as nasty and mean as any men you could meet.- Roald Dahl, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Ch. 1Boggis and Bunce and BeanOne fat, one short, one lean.These horrible crooksSo different in looksWere nonetheless equally mean.- Roald Dahl, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Ch. 1In the hole lived Mr. Fox and Mrs. Fox and their four small Foxes.- Roald Dahl, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Ch. 2I can smell these goons a mile away. I can smell one from the other. Boggis gives off a filthy stink of rotten chicken-skins. Bunce reeks of goose livers, and as for Bean, the fumes of apple cider hang around him like poisonous gasses.- Roald Dahl, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Ch. 3One of them shone a flashlight on the hole, and there on the ground, in the circle of light, half in and half out of the hole, lay the poor tattered blood stained remains of ... a foxs tale.- Roald Dahl, Fantastic M r. Fox, Ch. 3 It will never grow again, said Mr. Fox. I shall be tail-less for the rest of my life. He looked very glum.- Roald Dahl, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Ch. 3What we need on this job... is machines... mechanical shovels. Well have him out in five minutes with mechanical shovels.- Roald Dahl, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Ch. 5The machines were both black. They were murderous, brutal-looking monsters.- Roald Dahl, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Ch. 5I understand what youre saying, and your comments are valuable, but Im gonna ignore your advice.- Roald Dahl, Fantastic Mr. FoxBadger: The cuss you are.Mr. Fox: The cuss am I? Are you cussing with me?- Roald Dahl, Fantastic Mr. FoxI, therefore, invite you all, Mr. Fox went on, to stay here with me forever.- Roald Dahl, Fantastic Mr. FoxForever! they cried. My goodness! How marvelous! And Rabbit said to Mrs. Rabbit, My dear, just think! Were never going to be shot again in our lives!We will make, said Mr. Fox, a little underground village, with streets and houses on each side - separate houses for Badgers and Moles and Rabbits and Weasels and Foxes. And every day I will go shopping for you all. And every day we will eat like kings.- Roald Dahl, Fantastic Mr. Fox I think I have this thing where everybody has to think Im the greatest. And if they arent completely knocked out and dazzled and slightly intimidated by me, I dont feel good about myself.- Roald Dahl, Fantastic Mr. Fox