Postmodernism is a general and wide-ranging term which is applied to many disciplines, including literature, art, economics, philosophy, architecture, fiction, and literary criticism. Postmodernism is largely a reaction to scientific or objective efforts to explain reality. It can be described as irregular to society, and abstract.
In terms of film, post modernity can relate to near enough anything and everything. Postmodern films try to take away the mainstream conventions of narrative structure, and characterisation. Also, they tend to use similar portrayals of gender, race, class, genre and time, with a goal to create something different from traditional narratives. Most postmodern films choose their setting to be in the future because it makes the audience question whether this could happen, and their feelings on it. Also, some abnormal aspects are included in postmodern films such as: cloning, aliens, and technologies which have invented new things. Elements that are included in post modern films, but are not in our reality makes the film relate to creativity which an audience always likes.
Blade Runner is a postmodern film due to the fact that it is set in 2019 in Los Angeles, therefore it is in the far future, and it represents how life will be then. That being, constantly dark and no sun or daylight, the ability to create clones and robotic cars which fly rather than are driven on the road. There is no daylight due to the amount of pollution blocking out the sun. This is an aspect that is postmodern because in today’s reality pollution has not gotten incredibly bad, and has not blocked out the sunlight. However, it too relates to current life because pollution is such a huge, negative element which is often spoken about, and the population are trying to decrease it. Whereas the postmodern take on pollution in this film shows that pollution has increased and the world has ended up being surrounded in darkness. Also the narrative of the film, the set design, the dialogue and special effects relate to postmodernism. The dialogue throughout the film is postmodern because the replicants speak posh, and use old language, that is not necessarily used nowadays. The slang and abbreviation of words has disappeared, and the biblical lexis has re-appeared. Blade Runner is a parody which revisits the past and questions God, considering clones are invented. Other elements relating to postmodernism throughout the film would be the buildings. Rick Deckard’s home looks ancient Egyptian due to the walls. Today’s houses are made to look modern, whereas his house in 2019 looks old fashioned, and is concrete, therefore no decoration. This is postmodern because in general, our society assumes that aspects will continue to be even more modern, however in this case it looks to have gotten older. Also, when Deckard begins his chase on Roy Batty and Pris, the building they are in looks like a squat. This would come across as a shock and extremely postmodern to the audience because they would think that with the new technologies in 2019, the buildings would look glamorous and modernised. Instead, this building is damp, grey, and empty except for one room which is full of toys. This is postmodern because of how random it is, and where it is. A lot of toys are rarely found in an abandoned building, especially with a replicant in the middle of them.
Blade Runner made $32,868,943.
Other well known films created by Ridley Scott: Prometheus, Alien, Black Hawk Down. The films Prometheus and Alien are postmodern due to the use of aliens which could be seen as false, an invention, or far in the future (unheard of). Black Hawk Down could be seen as postmodern because it shows war in a different way. The violence included is completely different to other war films which the audience notice.
Blade Runner could be seen as not postmodern because it could be seen as a fiction film and a creative storyline to make a film different to others.
I n my opinion, I think Blade Runner is post modern especially due to Ridley Scott. Ridley Scott is known for creating post modern films, therefore he will carry on with what he does best due to his imagination or what he thinks the future will hold. Blade runner confuses history, and mixes traditions, especially due to its narrative because it is something completely new as elements are being invented, which reinforces that it is not a traditional narrative. It reflects some of the postmodern aspects in reality, (pollution) however they are taken to a whole new level which therefore shocks the audience.
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