Blade Runner utilizes the setting of a complex, futuristic
world to pose an age-old question in a fresh way: are ‘we’ different from ‘the
other’? In the end, the audience (hopefully) comes to realize that the
differences between the humans and the Nexus 6’s are in fact, a falsified
construct of man. The humans are often seen as heartless, and in a few select
scenes the humanity of the androids comes to light—predominantly in the scenes
with Rachel, but also Batty’s highly poetic death. However, the issue with the
film, I feel, is in the portrayal of the four rogue Nexus 6’s. We, the
audience, are to believe that these androids deserve to live because they are equal
to humans. Herein lies the source of my one problem with the film—as hard as I
tried, I couldn’t feel a strong sense of empathy for the four main Nexus
6’s—not because they are ‘other’ to humans or because they are artificial
beings, but because none of them were rich with redeemable values. The androids
run an exact parallel to humans in in that they are manipulative, militant, and
have no qualms using others as a means to an end. The exception here is Rachel,
but without the imposition of the Blade Runner task force, she would have gone
on ignorant and unharmed for some time. I feel that the sentiment of Blade
Runner would have been better received if the androids were likeable, or at the
very least not manipulative, murderous cads. Should the unfair treatment of the
Nexus 6’s as a class exonerate these four androids of their crimes—crimes for
which any human would receive like punishment? To what extent should they be sympathized with?
-Annie Nowak
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