Blade Runner Context Notes

Blade Runner worksheet notes- contexts 

Cinematography:

• Dystopian neo-noir fable
• Simultaneously high tech and decaying 
• High frame rate of street scenes 
• Effect of pulsating stilted to feel vivid 
• Dominating neon signs and lights
• Volumetric light and searchlights- reoccurring 
• Fog- enhance depth
• Sense of camera space
• Light and activity beyond darkness of frames
• World where privacy in marginalised and no sense of place
• Completely isolated

Mise En Scene:

• Retro future
• Steam punk 
• Post-modern architectural mash up 
• Continuously rains 
• Low key lighting 
• High contrast images 
• Dark, murky environment- reflects paranoia, anonymity, despair, dominant mood

Sound:

• Vangelis- dark, melancholic sound 
• Mixes traditional composition and futuristic synthesizers
• Characters are disconnected from their environment

Representation:

• Deckard is trapped in a version of masculinity 
• Limits his emotional responses and internalises experience 
• Narrow representation of women 
• Female representation- male fantasy as sexual gratification or objectified for visual pleasure 

Aesthetics:

• Post-modern bricolage aesthesis 
• Repetitive use of browns and blacks
• Crumbling buildings
• Mythical unicorn- Ambiguous and unexplained

Political (Contexts):

• LA under control of right wing dictator 
• Ruthless capital energies
• Big business and mega corporations dominate
• Off world colonies fulfil dream of escape and pleasure whilst simultaneously destroying world.

Technological (Contexts):

• Philosophical viewpoint that poses the question of what it is to be human 
• Corrupt and self-serving manipulating technological advances to enhance profit and power
• Dehumanizing people

Historical Representation: Product of the early 80s society

Post-Vietnam (1954-1975):

• Immigrants from south-east Asia to USA:

In the film, mostly Asian and Hispanic live on crowded ground level. Privileged ruling class live high above the city in penthouses 

• USA failed to defeat communism:

Replicant workers demanded equality. Class divide is unfair and manipulative.

• Soldiers with PTSD:

Deckard is detached from society, violent and cannot manage relationship.

80s:

• Ronald Reagan 1980 election:

Image obsessed. Style over substance.

• Obsession with commodities and shaking off post war concerns:

Future LA- Neon billboards/adverts.

• 2^nd wave of feminism backlash:

Female replicant sexualised through costume- Zhora becomes an exotic dancing and flees from Deckard.

• Hollywood era ‘high concept’ entertainment:

Film offers the audience ‘spectacle’ and a big screen experience.