Title Simulation of Reality in the Movie “Blade Runner"
Title (croatian) Simulacija stvarnosti na primjeru Blade Runnera
Author Boris Abramović
Mentor Zlatko Bukač (mentor)
Committee member Monika Šincek Bregović (predsjednik povjerenstva)
Committee member Zlatko Bukač (član povjerenstva)
Committee member Emilia Musap (član povjerenstva)
Granter University of Zadar (Department of English) Zadar
Defense date and country 2022-09-21, Croatia
Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline HUMANISTIC SCIENCES Philology
Abstract This final paper aims to explain the simulacrum of reality shown in the movie Blade Runner, as well as the question of the identity of the main character, Rick Deckard. The dystopian depiction of the city, atypical for the science fiction genre, reinforces the impression of the threat posed by replicants - that is, a situation in which no one's identity is secure anymore. It can only be determined by an empathy test, which also becomes less and less reliable with each technological development in the film. These phenomena are analyzed through the theories of Fredric Jameson's postmodernism, Jean Baudrillard's simulacrum, and Roland Barthes' myth. Also, the paper analyzes modern technological achievements that resemble the replicants from the movie, that is, they function as more or less faithful copies of living beings. This analysis was carried out on the examples of the robot dog called Spot, the artificial intelligence system Vinci and the conversation system LaMDA, that is, by analyzing the human reaction to the mentioned systems. It was concluded that simulacrum and myth theories are applicable to some aspects of Blade Runner such as identity, and the postmodern theory is applicable to the film's atmosphere. Also, from the human reaction to the analyzed technology in the real world, it is evident how electronic and mechanical constructions have come closer to the form of living beings - to the extent that the emotional reaction to a living being is similar to the reaction to its simulacrum in the form of a mechanical construction or artificial intelligence.
Abstract (english) Ovim završnim radom nastoji se objasniti simulakrum stvarnosti prikazan u filmu Blade Runner, kao i pitanje identiteta glavnog lika, Ricka Deckarda. Distopijski prikaz grada, atipičan za žanr znanstvene fantastike, pojačava dojam prijetnje koju predstavljaju replikanti – odnosno, situaciju u kojoj ničiji identitet više nije siguran. On se može odrediti samo testom empatije, koji svakim tehnološkim razvitkom u filmu također postaje sve manje pouzdan. Ovi fenomeni analiziraju se kroz teorije postmodernizma Fredrica Jamesona, simulakruma Jeana Baudrillarda i mita Rolanda Barthesa. Također, u radu se analiziraju moderna tehnološka dostignuća koja u svojoj osnovi podsjećaju na replikante iz filma, odnosno funkcioniraju kao više ili manje vjerne kopije živih bića. Ova analiza provedena je na primjerima robotskog psa naziva Spot, sustava umjetne inteligencije Vinci i sustava za razgovor LaMDA, odnosno, analizom ljudske reakcije na navedene sustave. Zaključeno je kako su na neke aspekte Blade Runnera kao što je identitet primjenjive teorije simulakruma i mita, a na atmosferu filma teorija postmodernizma. Također, iz ljudske reakcije na analiziranu tehnologiju u stvarnom svijetu, vidljivo je kako su se elektroničke i mehaničke konstrukcije približile obliku živih bića - do mjere u kojoj je emocionalna reakcija na živo biće nalik reakciji na njegov simulakrum u vidu mehaničke konstrukcije ili umjetne inteligencije.
Keywords
simulation
simulacrum
artificial intelligence
replicants
dystopia
Keywords (english)
simulacija
simulakrum
umjetna inteligencija
replikanti
distopija
Language english
URN:NBN urn:nbn:hr:162:437595
Study programme Title: English Language and Literature (double major) Study programme type: university Study level: undergraduate Academic / professional title: sveučilišni/a prvostupnik/prvostupnica (baccalaureus/baccalaurea) engleskoga jezika i književnosti (sveučilišni/a prvostupnik/prvostupnica (baccalaureus/baccalaurea) engleskoga jezika i književnosti)
Type of resource Text
File origin Born digital
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Created on 2022-10-11 13:55:09