Wednesday, April 4, 2012

D is for Deckard, Do Androids Dream?, and Philip K. Dick

Philip K. Dick is known for many literary contributions to the science fiction field - however, my favorite is his novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?. It would later serve as the inspiration for Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, one of the greatest sci-fi movies of all time.


Perhaps the most interesting thing about both novel and film is the age-old uncertainty they examine: what does it mean to be human? Though Scott and Dick question in different ways, both frame the discussion through protagonist Rick Deckard

In Do Androids Dream?, androids, or "andys", are differentiated from human beings through their inability to empathize. It's an emotional response they simply lack and cannot emulate, thus separating them from humanity. However, humans are now able to manipulative and control their emotions through the use of a Penfield Mood Organ - a technological device which allows them to "dial" a desired emotion. Furthermore, they connect with one another and tap into the collective experience through another mechanism known as the Empathy Box, thereby using machines to feel empathy . . . the exact emotion androids are alienated (and persecuted) for lacking. Later when Deckard comes across a human bounty hunter nearly devoid of empathy, he finds the lines between people and androids awfully blurred. This forces the reader to wonder just how "human" anyone really is.

In the movie, it is Deckard himself that the viewer questions. Is he a human as he believes, or is he really a android (aka. replicant) implanted with false memories? SPOILERS ahead. In several interviews, director Ridley Scott has said that he believes Deckard is, in fact, a replicant. When he went back and edited the film for the Director's Cut, he even added a few scenes strengthening the argument. On the other hand, Harrison Ford - the actor who portrays Deckard - stated that he played the character as a human during filming. It was a major source of tension between director and star, and a debate which remains open ended.  

Though the viewer is forced to wonder whether Deckard is human or replicant, perhaps the more important question is whether there's really a difference between the two. As Deckard says after replicant Roy Batty dies, "All he'd wanted were the same answers the rest of us want. Where do I come from? Where am I going? How long have I got?" These are the questions we all ask, humans and androids alike. In the end, Deckard suggests that the perhaps the two aren't so very different.
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This post is part of the Blogging A through Z Challenge 2012. My theme is (in case you didn’t already guess) science fiction. Stay tuned for the rest of the alphabet, and if you’d like to check in on the rest of the participants, simply click here.


36 comments:

  1. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is on my wish list. I haven't had the pleasure of reading Philip K. Dick yet.

    I saw Blade Runner long ago and loved it. I'd like to watch it again.

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  2. Blade Runner was almost my entry for B.
    I love this film. It amazes me that it is over 30 years old, it really holds up well. I do prefer the director's cut over the theatrical release. I still have no firm opinion on the question of Deckard being replicant or human, which is good, I think it is best left unknown, reinforcing the idea that it doesn't matter what we're made of, just who we are and what we feel.

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  3. You quoted my favorite line from the movie. I haven't read the Philip K Dick original but it's now a priority. (I have the feeling that if I keep reading your sci-fi blog, I will have to quit my day job to keep up with my reading list.)

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  4. My favorite android is Data from Star Trek (but I haven't watched Blade Runner so that might change.) Can't remember for the love of life if they ever talked about whether he could "dream" on the show.

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  5. I've known about him for a long time, but never got around to reading his books. Now I have a bunch of them downloaded onto my Kindle (through Project Gutenberg) and plan of reading them over the summer.

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  6. I went through a Philip K. Dick period in high school. Blade Runner had come out a couple years before, and I was interested enough to see what he'd written. I've always preferred the theatrical release, believing that Deckard was human, and I'm very annoyed that I've only seen the director's cut of the DVD available. I suppose it makes sense that he gets the last word on how the movie is put together, but he'd probably make more money if both were released.
    .
    Erin

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  7. I loved Blade Runner, even the movie. That seldom happens . . . that I'll love a book, and then the movie as well.

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  8. I think there question is if the Monists or the Dualists are right. The Monists insist the whole of what makes us what we are comes from the machinery of the brain. The Dualists are partial to the view that we are more than the sum of our parts and are not duplicatable.

    I admit I think we are reducible to knowable things and therefore it is possible for machines to be conscious and feel emotions. Good heady stuff to think about this morning.

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  9. And my previous comment proves that the phone isn't the best medium for typing. Geez.

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  10. I just watched Blade Runner the other day. Boy was that a good flick. This is an excellent theme for A-Z. :)

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  11. It's a great book - and, unusually, an even better film I think.

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  12. I saw Blade Runner when I was younger, and then again in film class. It's a great film. I've never read the book, but it's on my list.

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  13. I was trying to explain which book Blade Runner was based on to my mum the other day, but I forgot who was dreaming of the electric sheep! Thanks for this post, just for that reason :-)

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  14. Hello! Stopping by for the A to Z Challenge. I've never read the book, but I have seen the movie. Thanks for stopping by to check out my letter C post.

    Susanne
    PUTTING WORDS DOWN ON PAPER

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  15. I read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? for my Open University course in 20th Century Literature. I had no idea beforehand (not already having seen the film - though I have now) that Blade Runner was based on it. They really are quite separate entities but like you said based on the same fundamental idea. I enjoyed both. Look forward to reading the rest of your posts.

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  16. Never read the book but the movie was good from what I can remember. I was younger and not into movies then. I'll have to rewatch.

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  17. I have never read the book or seen the movie. Now, after reading post (I skipped over the spoilers), I'll have to do one or both.

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  18. Wow, I had no idea Scott said he believed Deckard was a replicant. I re-read the book last fall, immediately after viewing the movie. I was shocked - *shocked* by how different I thought their ultimate themes were.

    I felt that the film was trying to smudge Deckard into the same category as replicants; he is no different (whether he's human or not), because he has either lost or never had the moral code that humans claim separate them from replicants. The replicants seem relatively human too in the film, and their behaviour is more about being hunted like animals rather than being immoral.

    The book on the other hand is (in my opinion) a study of the problem of confronting an absolute moral vacuum like a replicant. We need some kind of defense mechanism (like a cop who is willing to hunt them down), and yet that means Deckard must compromise and become in some ways immoral (i.e., killing the replicants which are sentient if not capable of morality).

    Both are good. I strongly prefer Dick's perspective over Scott's, though.

    A-Z @ Elizabeth Twist

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  19. Medeia Sharif, Bish Denham, Janna and Susan Oloier – He really is a terrific writer. His style is a little bit terse, which I think really suits the story.

    Laughing Ferret – I totally agree that it holds up, and that the Director’s cut is infinitely better. I’m glad they cut the narration (even though I quote it for blog purposes here), and prefer the ambiguous ending.

    SBT – it’s a terrific quote. I love what he implies about the nature of “living”, for both humans and androids.

    Kimberlee – Data is another great example. Now I wish I’d used him for D too!

    Erin – I believe there is a special edition version that has BOTH, which is great because I like watching both versions. They give me different things.

    Rusty – What I liked about the movie is the suggesting that androids CAN in fact develop emotions over time, suggesting that the replicants are ALSO more than the sum of their parts. It’s an interesting addition to Dick’s novel.

    Thanks Mina! I’ve loved this theme a lot.

    Kirsty – yeah, the movie is not so much a film of the book, but rather a film adaptation with similar concepts but many radical changes. I really like that about it actually.

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  20. I'm not into books like these, but the one by Mr. Dick (hehe) is quite fascinating. DO androids dream of electric sheep? Darn it I wanna know!

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  21. Where can I buy one of those Empathy Boxes? I know a couple of people who could use one!

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  22. More books and movies for me to check out.

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  23. I remember reading this as a teen and wondering why it was nothing like the movie. First lessons are always the hardest: Hollywood hates books! ;)

    Looking forward to seeing what you do all month!

    Tim
    The Other Side
    The Freedom of Nonbelief

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  24. I'll admit to skipping over sections of your post--not because I didn't think it was an interesting subject, but because I plan on reading the book! :)

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  25. Great theme. I'm a fan of sci fi as well as psychological thriller and all things Hitchcock. I like Outer Limits and the Twilight Zone which usually have interesting stories.

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  26. Excellent stuff! I'm no fan of sci-fi, at least not the mainstream or kitschy kind, but at its best it explores the human experience at a depth it's almost impossible to achieve with "normal" fiction, and then it's goooood :)

    Thanks for sharing, and for the visit to my blog :)

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  27. I've never seen or read the book or film but they always sound so interesting. I have to check them out. Thanks for coming by my blog.

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  28. I tend to shy away from sci-fi, it's never been my favorite. But, after reading your posts I may have to pick up a few of these stories. Thanks for stopping by my blog...much appreciated!

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  29. Elizabeth Twist – I love them both. I think Philip K. Dick had an AMAZING story and insights, and I’m so pleased that so many other people in this blogfest feel the same. I love hearing everyone’s opinions on the differences between the book and movie. They’re all so different.

    Timothy – Yeah, I agree. Hollywood and books don’t always see eye to eye. In this case I think Scott decided not to really try, and merely use the book as inspiration. One of the reasons I read that he didn’t use the same title.

    The Golden Eagle – Wonderful! I tried to be careful about the spoilers because the book and movie are both wonderful and I definitely think everyone should experience them.

    Guili – I agree that there’s a lot of bad sci-fi out there, but I do LOVE the ones that really take a hard look at what it means to be human. It adds a decidedly complex layer to ANY work of fiction.

    Gerri – there’s some really good stuff out there, you just have to know what to look for. I tend to love classics of sci-fi the most.

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  30. I'm not so into sci-fi but you and a few other bloggers in this challenge have made it sound so interesting.

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  31. S.L., this is a well-considered post. Thank you for your visit. I will be be coming back to read more of your thoughts.

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  32. Oh neat! I just read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep a couple weeks ago. Fascinating story. I've never read Blade Runner or seen the movie though -- sounds like I should!

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  33. I've been meaning to read this book, as I love Blade Runner. Boy I can just imagine all sorts of interesting implications with humans being able to "control" their emotions. I love SF!

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  34. Love the book, hated the movie. But! I hated it because the first time I saw it, it was the Director's Cut that had no Deckard narration. It was...not good.

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  35. Love, love, love this film, and the book. You're a girl after my own heart :)

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  36. It's one of my favorite movies - and a heck of a book too. Great post! Cheers!

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