Replicants, engineered to be "more human than human", blur the distinction between nature and culture by the very success of their humanity. We need to have a clear understanding of what is meant by the terms nature and culture. In the introduction to his book, Schelde believes culture to be "a distinctive human domain" . He believes humans have a need to define, to conquer the unknown, to be in control of their surroundings. The result of this is culture. Culture is "an attempt to carve some kind of order out of the vast chaos that is nature." Nature then, is that which is unknown, uncontrollable, that which exists beyond and separate from human interaction. Throughout history humans have assigned symbols and meanings to everything in their surroundings and have tried to convert the unknown nature into their own, cultural terms.

In the opening crawl of the film it says "The Nexus 6 Replicants were superior in strength and agility, and at least equal in intelligence, to the genetic engineers who created them." The Nexus 6 Replicants are genetically engineered beings composed of organic substances and are nearly indist

The emotional response of Rick Deckard (human) contrasted with that of Roy Batty (android) is a clear example of this. Deckard is a man devoid of emotions. As a result of his job as a blade runner he has learnt to live his life objectively, completely free of emotional influences, as he himself is willing to admit, a "Sushi....Cold fish." Deckard, being a human, is supposed to have feelings and emotions, yet, at the same time, being a blade runner, is supposed to dull those very things. This paradox places Deckard at the centre of this problem of blurred division lines. As Tellote says, Deckard is "both the force of control and a version of the very thing he is supposed to control" . Deckard is at the junction between nature and culture, and is, in a sense, both of these things.

The Voigt-Kampf machine achieves its results by monitoring eye movements as a response to empathy provoking questions. Many times it has been said that the eyes are the windows to the soul, so this test is perhaps, testing for the presence of a soul. It takes Deckard over 100 questions to find that Rachael is a replicant, indicating once again that the distinction between human and replicant, at least on this basis, is not so clear. Though many may say that the glowing eyes are what give a replicant away as not human, I would like to suggest the opposite. Their glowing eyes suggest life, interest etc, the flame of the soul is still burning.

Tellote, J.P. Replications: A Robotic History of the Science Fiction Film. (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1995.)

Buckatman, Scott. Bladerunner (London: British Film Institute, 1997.)

Roy's emotions are clearly set free by this incident. On his return to Sebastian's apartment, he finds his lover, Pris, dead. He paints his face with her blood and goes in search of her murderer, Deckard. There is a showdown on the roof of the building between the two. Deckard's life is literally hanging in the balance here as he holds onto the roof of the building with just two fingers. Certain death awaits him. However, Roy, the supposedly unfeeling replicant saves his life and pulls him to safety. (This is not the first time Deckard's life has been saved by a replicant, in every incident with a Nexus 6 his life has either been spared by the replicant, or rescued by another one.)

Dick's novel provides a great example of the extent to which humans have become devoid of emotions. Emotions are dialed up on 'mood organs' and empathy is experienced via a virtual reality world with a somewhat 'dodgy' virtual leader. Contrast this with the group of Nexus 6 Replicants who are filled with emotional drive. Their return to earth, to ask their creator for more life, is a result of the deep love between Roy and Pris.

Sammom, Paul. Future Noir: the Making of Bladerunner: issues in Ridley Scott's Bladerunner and Philip. K. Dick'

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1922
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)