Narrative

Question 1

What are the fabulas and syuzhets in blade runner?

Answer 1

• Deckard has retired, we dont know why
• we dont see the replicants escaping their colony and killing the 23 people
• dont know what happened to rick and Rachael after running away. do they have a happy ending?
• not a lot of dialogue, more is seen than said
• dream sequence (sjuzhet) - Gaff makes the model of the unicorn deckard dreams about
• dont see how the replicants get to where they were eg Zhora as an exotic dancer

Question 2

How can the classical hollywood narrative (McKee) be applied to blade runner? (remember celtic peccr)

Answer 2

closed ending - Rick and Rachael run away together, but we don’t know what happens. hunt for replicants is over
linear time - yes
causality - everything makes sense and everything leads to another
protagonist - Rick
external conflict - yes, fights and violence
consistent reality - yes, flying cars since it’s set in future

Question 3

How can Propp’s character theory be applied to blade runner?

Answer 3

Hero - Rick Deckard
Princess - Rachael
Helper - Bryant/Rachael
Villain - Roy (or is he?)
Dispatcher - Bryant
Donor - Tyrell

Question 4

Is Roy Batty really a villain?

Answer 4

No.
- Tyrell is the villain because he is the one who created the other villain
- Roy just wanted a normal life span and to not be treated like a slave

Question 5

How could Todorov’s theory be applied to blade runner?

Answer 5

1. equilibrium - Deckard is retired, replicants have accepted their place as slaves in off world colonies (already a disequilibrium)
2. disruption of equilibrium - replicants arrive on earth, kill a blade runner and go on the run
3. recognition of disruption - Deckard is to find the rogue replicants, realises how human they’ve become when doing the VK test on Rachael
4. attempt to repair disruption - Deckard hunts replicants down, showdown with final replicants in JF Sebastian’s apartment
5. return to equilibrium- Deckard helps Rachael escape

Question 6

How can Barthes codes be applied to blade runner?

Answer 6

symbolic codes: Roy has a white dove before he dies, symbolises his soul ascending to heaven
semic codes: Rachael dresses up as 1940s femme fatale. Pris dresses 70s punk.
enigma codes: suspended answers: why are the replicants killing people? jammings: is Deckard a replicant? what happens at the end? why did Deckard retire?

Question 7

What are some clues that Deckard is a replicant?

Answer 7

• Deckard does not answer when asked if he has taken the VK test
• Deckard has many photos, which seem to belong to early years of 20th century, suggesting a Leon like obsession
• his eye reflect light back when he tells rachel someone would pursue her
• Gaff tells Deckard he’s done a ‘man’s job’ after Batty’s death, ironic
• unemotional, v/o in the original tells us his wife called him sushi (cold fish)
• Deckard and Batty repair their damaged hands in parallel during their battle, equates the two
• his memories of being a blade runner could be implanted

Question 8

How is gender presented in blade runner?

Answer 8

• women are portrayed as sex objects, although this does not mean the film is condoning this sexism
• Zhora’s chest exploding in slow motion, allows us to see the bloody splatter
• pris trying to strangle deckard with her thighs and is disembowelled in a welter of blood, meanwhile leon dies suddenly, only evidence of his death is a small gunshot. Batty dies in peace
• Zhora uses her sexuality to distract Deckard, her slow motion death can be seen as offering the voyeur the opportunity to enjoy the destruction of a ‘sexy’ woman