What does it mean to be Human?

Reading Time: < 1 minute

In this blog post, I will be analyzing how “Blade Runner” questions what it means to be human through its depiction of replicants, while Neuromancer explores similar themes through its characters’ interactions with artificial intelligences and cyberspace. The Replicants in Blade Runner question what it means to be human through their anthropocentric mindset. Their bioengineered make combined with all of their human characteristics blur the lines between human and machine. For example, these lab constructed individuals show characteristics such as love, fear, grief, self reflection and awareness, as well as intelligence. Although they are not fully human, all of the traits that they can still produce may make the viewers of this film question whether these traits are fully associated with being human, or could just be constructed. In Neuromancer, true humanity is lost through elements such as cyberspace and artificial intelligence. Their virtual reality distorts people’s perception of self, as people are no longer able to recognize what is natural and what is a result of technology. In addition, surveillance technology in their society takes away people’s sense of autonomy, as well as their privacy, as their every move is made available to those behind these technological advancements. In conclusion, both Blade Runner and Neuromancer have numerous elements that make viewers and readers question what it means to be human, from the creation of replicants to the advanced surveillance technology.