Analyzing Blade Runner: What Lies Behind the Movie Screen?

Abstract

The thesis is about the analysis of the two films: Blade Runner made in 1982 and its sequel Blade Runner 2049 from 2017 in the sense of identity and self-narrative. The analysis is strongly based on Cultural Studies, and the concepts are used from Chris Barker's The SAGE Dictionary of Cultural Studies and applied further in the thesis. The priorities were on determining the self-narratives of the two protagonists, Rick Deckard and K/Joe and how their identity changed through the events. In another chapter the replicants' status as an independent and oppressed group was analyzed in the social environment of the movies and what differences are observable between the two representation. In the last chapter Roy Batty, an essential character of the first film were examined in depth and his connection to the eye metaphor which has an emerging importance throughout the entire Blade Runner franchise.