Analyzing the Theme of Power in The Bladerunner and The Handmaid's Tale
Compare the ways in which the authors of two texts you studied this year explore the use of power.
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood and Blade Runner: Director’s Cut by Ridley Scott both explore the use of power albeit in similar and dissimilar ways. Power in both texts is portrayed as humankind’s power over the natural world, power over those considered inferior in society, and power over women.
In Blade Runner, the human race is seen to have abused an outstanding amount of power over the natural world, as seen by the environmental decrepitude in the 2019 Los Angeles city. There is a large amount of photochemical smog from which the constant acidic rain falls, deteriorating the large buildings. Costuming such as umbrellas and raincoats, dark lighting from unnatural sources, and camera techniques such as the claustrophobic crane shot compile together to create a polluted and dank environment. Apart from the safe fantasy haven of Deckard’s dreams, not once in the film are flowers or trees shown, and the only animal seen is ‘artificial’ or in black and white photographs. Unlike The Handmaid’s Tale in which children are a key feature of society, no children are seen in Blade Runner, which suggests that the state of the world is irreparable. There is a large amount of manmade technology however; for example replicants, ever-present blimps, and flying cars or ‘spinners’. This suggests that the progression of technology was far more important to humankind than the preservation of the natural world. In this text, Scott illustrates a world that has quite literally gone to ruin, due to humankind’s domination over the natural world. The Handmaid’s Tale depicts a world where this dominance is also evident, although it is far less obvious. Contrasting to the somewhat colourless 2019 Los Angeles, the world of Gilead boasts rose beds, sunshine and shady streets. But there are also toxic wastelands and skyrocketing infertility rates. The air is described to have
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood and Blade Runner: Director’s Cut by Ridley Scott both explore the use of power albeit in similar and dissimilar ways. Power in both texts is portrayed as humankind’s power over the natural world, power over those considered inferior in society, and power over women.
In Blade Runner, the human race is seen to have abused an outstanding amount of power over the natural world, as seen by the environmental decrepitude in the 2019 Los Angeles city. There is a large amount of photochemical smog from which the constant acidic rain falls, deteriorating the large buildings. Costuming such as umbrellas and raincoats, dark lighting from unnatural sources, and camera techniques such as the claustrophobic crane shot compile together to create a polluted and dank environment. Apart from the safe fantasy haven of Deckard’s dreams, not once in the film are flowers or trees shown, and the only animal seen is ‘artificial’ or in black and white photographs. Unlike The Handmaid’s Tale in which children are a key feature of society, no children are seen in Blade Runner, which suggests that the state of the world is irreparable. There is a large amount of manmade technology however; for example replicants, ever-present blimps, and flying cars or ‘spinners’. This suggests that the progression of technology was far more important to humankind than the preservation of the natural world. In this text, Scott illustrates a world that has quite literally gone to ruin, due to humankind’s domination over the natural world. The Handmaid’s Tale depicts a world where this dominance is also evident, although it is far less obvious. Contrasting to the somewhat colourless 2019 Los Angeles, the world of Gilead boasts rose beds, sunshine and shady streets. But there are also toxic wastelands and skyrocketing infertility rates. The air is described to have