Differences between Blade Runner and Brave New World

Despite the similarities between Blade Runner - a brief overview and Brave New World, there are also several differences, stemming from the changes in context and the differences in textual medium and the presentation of the issues discussed in each of the texts. The use of soundtrack in Blade Runner underlines the lack of emotion and passion and creates an unnatural image. While this is mimicked to some degree in Brave New World, it is reliant on the imagination of the responder and the description contained in the text. Shot types used to convey emotion in Blade Runner are substitute for descriptive passages and mental imagery, open to interpretation by the responder, while Blade Runner directly communicates the desired focuses of the text.

While Brave New World exists beyond the clinical cities of civilization in the untamed character of nature, the natural world is completely annihilated in Blade Runner. This creates an uncomfortable, disturbing image of the artificial world, encouraging the responder to view the natural world as a more beautiful and superior environment. This is reversed in Brave New World. The civilization of London is considered to be superior to the erratic natural world through the use of Huxley's biased descriptions.

Artificial wildlife is abundant in 2019 Los Angeles, enhancing the fabricated relationship between humanity and nature. Meanwhile in Brave New World, all forms of wildlife are eliminated from the society or strictly controlled, removing the relationship between the population and nature and enhancing the control over the stable civilization. Perpetual rain caused by pollution of the atmosphere in Los Angeles amplifies the bleak and depressing environment of the cities, generating an unattractive lifestyle. Sunshine dominates the weather of London, producing a clichéd, yet romantic and beautiful image of a pleasant civilization and lifestyle.

Romance in Brave New World remains purely sexual and clichéd, whereas romance in Blade Runner, such as that between Deckard and Rachael, remains traditional and highly emotional. The romance in Blade Runner is more acceptable and natural to the responder, allowing them to perceive Los Angeles to be more attractive despite the oppression and grimness of the city itself. Beauty in each of the texts is considered in a similar way to the concepts of romance. Beauty in the sexual, detached world of Brave New World is limited to a superficial opinion. Beauty throughout Blade Runner is contained within the human mind and expression of emotion, a more natural concept than that explored in Brave New World.

The methods of control within each of the societies differs greatly. Control of the replicants in Blade Runner relies on the implantation of fabricated memories and emotions, restricting the Nexus 6 models in their ability to rebel and live autonomously. Population control in Brave New World is constructed on the complete omission of emotion and free thought, virtually eliminating the threat of rebellion or social instability. The resulting prohibition of free thought in Brave New World is not apparent in Blade Runner, as the citizens are able to live normally and freely. Religion is not mandatory or evident in 2019 Los Angeles, while it is an essential controlling agent in London and an expression of values in the Savage Reservation.

Although consumerism is apparent in both societies, it is more significant in Brave New Worlds society than it is in Blade Runner. Consumerism defines the basis for Brave New World's society, including the civilisation's history and the current dating system, based on the mass production of the Ford T-model. Death has also become a major industry in London, as P₂O₅ is extracted from cremated bodies, while the concept of death maintains an essential role in the determination of humanity. The dominance of Japanese culture in Blade Runner underlines the importance of consumerism in futuristic society, but not to the same degree as in Brave New World.

The differences between the texts Blade Runner and Brave New World illustrate how context can affect the presentation of similar issues and that societies with similar ideals can function in significantly dissimilar ways.

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Blade Runner - a brief overview