Material Culture as a National Identity

How did Japanese culture influence Blade Runner?

Blade Runner is a film by Ridley Scott created in 1982, it is a futuristic epic filled with arresting imagery. I want to look in to this imagery and analyse how Japanese culture has influenced Ridley Scott in the making of the film. There are many very clear examples throughout the film that reflect this in a strong manner. For example, looking at Fig 1 we see the huge television screen that fills the side of a building with a Geisha like female smiling. The sheer size of the screen has a very futuristic feel, and I find this a lot with many Japanese cityscapes, there is a prominent high tech feel with this film that is a big theme running throughout modern Japan.

Fig 1. Shot from Blade Runner (1982) Ridley Scott 

Looking at this photograph (Fig 2) we see many similarities between the cityscapes in Blade Runner and modern Japan. Tokyo is filled with bright neon lights and huge signs piling over each other, it is a very crowded and bright feel to it and I think Ridley Scott captured this very well when creating the set for Blade Runner.

Fig 2. Tokyo Japan City scene (http://theknowledgeplymouth.co.uk/worldwide-tour-tokyo-is-crazy-hectic-and-beautiful/)

And below (Fig 3) we also see more of the neon lights and Japanese writing behind Ford Harrison (Starring role in Blade Runner), the colours are beautiful and attention grabbing with an 80's idea of futurism behind it. In this scene Ridley Scott has shown a futuristic feel through the layering of the neon lights, choosing bright neon colours that contrast and work well with each other.

Fig 3. Blade Runner (1982) Ridley Scott

Throughout the whole film we see huge hints towards Japanese culture, the sheer size and magnitude of the high tech creations piled heavily around the buildings reflects the feel from Tokyo so well and works brilliantly towards a futuristic feel. We can see the heavy inspiration that Ridley Scott has taken from Japanese culture and applied to his film.

Bibliography

SCOTT, R. 1982, Blade Runner (Film)

http://bladerunnerthemovie.warnerbros.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blade_Runner

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083658/