how is dehumanisation represented in the film Blade Runner: The Final Cut (1982)?
Dehumanisation is a central theme in Blade Runner: The Final Cut, as the film explores the question of what it means to be human in a world where artificial beings known as replicants are nearly indistinguishable from humans.
The replicants in the film are designed to look and act like humans, but they are treated as disposable commodities by society. They are created for the sole purpose of performing dangerous or menial labor, and are not granted the same rights and freedoms as human beings. This dehumanisation is reflected in the way replicants are hunted down and "retired" by the Blade Runners, the specialized police force tasked with eliminating them.
The film also explores the idea of empathy and emotional connection as defining characteristics of humanity. Replicants are portrayed as being capable of feeling emotions and forming relationships, yet they are denied the opportunity to live freely and pursue their own desires. This dehumanisation is further emphasised through the cold and detached attitudes of the human characters towards the replicants, reinforcing the idea that they are seen as nothing more than machines.
Overall, Blade Runner: The Final Cut uses the dehumanisation of replicants as a way to explore deeper philosophical questions about the nature of humanity and the ethics of creating artificial life forms. Through its exploration of these themes, the film challenges viewers to consider what it truly means to be human and how we should treat those who are different from us.