"Brave New World" and "Blade Runner" Comparison

Essay by YoakimA-, March 2007

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The concept of 'In The Wild' refers to the natural or "wild" world and its natural rhythms and ultimately mankind's inextricable relationship with it. It also refers to the natural instincts of humanity obtained through certain intrinsic qualities such as freedom and a dependency on the natural environment. This concept can be defined as a natural world, which has been formed without interference by artificial means on its natural state, where humans are able to freely experience both the pleasures and problems of life.

This comparative study of 'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley 932 and 'Blade Runner: Director's Cut' by Ridley Scott (released in 1992, but produced in 1982), will propose that detrimental effects occur as a result of humanity's desire for control.

Both texts explore 'In the Wild' where the composers stress the fact that man's relationship with nature has become distorted and distant in humanity's senseless attempt to possess supremacy and control over nature.

This has been initially conveyed through the pessimistic portrayal of their futuristic worlds as dystopias, which is a reflection of the destructive outcomes caused by humanity's separation from the natural world. Both texts show many contrasts and similarities through techniques, language, settings, and characterization to warn the varied audiences of the dangers of technology, scientific development and materialistic methods of thinking.

An aspect of both texts where the composers are warning about the consequences of the desire for control concerns the detachment of humanity with the natural environment.

In 'Brave New World', the low caste citizens are socially and psychologically conditioned by the "Polsky Process" to negatively manipulate the early infant's impressions of nature so that they may despise it and avoid it for the rest of their lives, "We condition the masses to hate the country...