RUR video

RUR video

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After reading Alan Moore's graphic novel, I am still unsure of what exactly literature can be defined as. I have always known it as a novel, play, or poetry, but this brings me to question my definition of what it literature. I feel like it should be considered literature because it brings in many important themes and references including: the 1920s, Nazi Germany, the man on the moon, as well as cultural icons like the TV and Mickey Mouse. However, does that really make it literature?

I feel like this graphic novel is so scattered over the place and doesn't really flow together that it is to spastic to be considered literature. It took several readings for me to figure out the meaning or purpose behind its publication, and I am still unsure of what exactly that is.

Although it alludes to Shelley's Frankenstein, it seems to settle more with the TV version that with the novel version. I feel like although it makes an attempt to have an in-depth analysis of the world surrounding us, it falls short of being considered literature.

Blade Runner

Blade Runner is very similar to both Frankenstein and Rossum’s Universal Robots in that all three have a negative tone about the effects of scientific creation of humans on society. Just as is seen in R.U.R., in Blade Runner, the robots, though not created with souls, are building emotions and realizing they can act just as humans and thus try to live like normal human beings. By the six robots escaping and going out into the real world to live like humans and try to extend their lives, the robots in the movie are showing how they have created their own emotions and thus begun to have a soul. Their actions, however, are destructive as they seek vengeance on their creators. This is similar to how in R.U.R. the robots began a revolt on the people after the people began a revolt against robotic work. The robots, though created without emotion, have been given the chance to feel pain and do all jobs that normal humans would. The movie, however takes it a step farther than both books because the creator of the robots gives them false memories of real human beings, thus the robots become more prone to acting like humans and fighting for the same rights as those that surround them. The creator took it a step past simple science and delved into creationism by giving the memories of real humans. Through scientific means, these humans were given real life events as their memories, thus playing with God’s actions in a different way. However, as much the movie tries to impose the idea that no God is needed to create life, it shows that God is actually of importance. Without the idea of creationism, the human memories that were transcribed into the robots workings would have never existed.

At the end of the movie, Roy, the main conspirator of the robots, is speaking to Decker about how you can not live in fear of life or be a slave to anybody but yourself. Also, memories are only truly memories if you, yourself, make them. By sparing Decker’s life at the end, it is proving how God is really the sole creator and no other means should be used to create life.