The Element of Oppressive Slavery in The Bladde Runner

The Element of Oppressive Slavery in Blade Runner

In Ridley Scott’s 1982 film “Blade Runner,” a strong element of oppressive slavery pervades throughout the film. The people of Earth, set in the year 2019, have developed a human-like species referred to as 'Replicants.' These creations are primarily used for manual labor and are seen as inferior to the earthly human population. In this analysis, I will show the similarities between civil rights era discrimination and the replicants that this futuristic society has created.

Replicants and Historical Context

According to IMDb.com, replicants are, "Primarily used as manual laborers in the ‘off-world’ colonies in space. Because of their advanced nature and violent behavior, replicants have been outlawed on Earth" (IMDb, n.d.). During the 1960s, when this dramatic film was written, the United States was in turmoil regarding the rights of African Americans. There are distinct similarities between this film and the time period in which it was written. As represented in the film, the replicants were primarily used as manual laborers working to build this “off-world” colony. This is precisely the stereotype that African Americans were trying to escape from. They were pushing harder than ever before to gain their rights as Americans and establish an acceptable level of equality for their race. Protesting became a popular way of voicing their opinions, and these protests sometimes turned violent. The replicants were seen to be violent in nature and subsequently were outlawed from Earth. African Americans of the time feared that if they were not granted genuine constitutional equality, they would never be viewed as true Americans. Similar to being outlawed from Earth, the newly freed African Americans were fearful of their past treatment and wanted to establish a new identity as equal and responsible Americans.

Rick Deckard and Law Enforcement Perspectives

Rick Deckard is a police officer who is called upon to eradicate replicants. He says in one of his earlier quotes, "Replicants are like any other machine; they are either a benefit or a hazard. If they're a benefit, it's not my problem" (Scott, 1982). As you can see, Rick Deckard is a disgruntled police officer and does not have respect or appreciation for the replicant race, mainly because of their violent behavior and recent criminal acts. He views them as machines and explains that if they are beneficial, he has no problem with them. In comparison to the events of the era, African Americans were trying to erase the same image from their social identities. They were largely enslaved and were now pushing to reform their place in society. Viewing the replicants as either a benefit or a hazard is a polar way of expressing his opinion towards them. Deckard is an officer of the law, and his civic duty is to uphold law and order. The replicants' recent bout of criminal violence has led him to view this group of creatures as either compliant or on his kill list. Much like the views police officers had towards African Americans of the time, they were either compliant and kept to their place in society, or they were protesters and deserved to be punished. This common view of police officers in the 1960s came primarily because of the rising disorder and the civil disturbances caused by violent protesters. Although much undeserved, this stereotype breaks through into the film, portraying replicants as troublemakers who, unless they were keeping to their labor in the “off-world” colony, were to be killed.

Roy Batty and the Voice of Resistance

Roy Batty says to Deckard in a later quote, "Quite an experience to live in fear, isn't it? That's what it is to be a slave" (Scott, 1982). Roy Batty, the leader of the Nexus-6 replicants, expresses the struggle he faces of always living in fear of being killed for his acts of non-compliance. In this quote, Deckard is fearful for his life, and Roy mouths off a remark trying to force Deckard to see the struggles he endures. African Americans in the civil rights era did much of the same, protesting and openly voicing the daily struggles they endured in their everyday lives, in hopes of change. Roy even compares himself to a slave, expressing the similarities between their treatment. In fearful moments, some people are awakened to their conscious moral code and finally see what the right thing is to do. This is exactly what Roy was hoping for in his remark to Deckard. By taking advantage of the situation and the fearful emotions Deckard was experiencing, Roy chose to voice his feelings to him in hopes of a conscious breakthrough and a positive reaction. Although unsuccessful, the point was driven home to the audience that to be a slave is to always live in fear. This film can be seen as a voice for African Americans of the era, hoping to deliver the message to the American people that they live in fear and deserve equality.

Conclusion

Ridley Scott’s 1982 film “Blade Runner” delivers a powerful message regarding the events that were taking place during the era it was written. The civil rights movement was a historical event that forever changed American culture. This film embodies elements of the African American struggle for equality in comparison to the struggles that the Nexus-6 replicants endure. The quotations from the film and outside sources corroborate my analysis and offer a clear correlation between the two groups of people and the hardships they face.

References:

• IMDb. (n.d.). Blade Runner (1982). https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083658/
• Scott, R. (Director). (1982). Blade Runner. Warner Bros.