The Technology & Society theme presents a screening and discussion of the director’s cut of Ridley Scott’s iconic Blade Runner on Friday, Oct. 19, from 7-9 p.m. at the Athena Theater.
Blade Runner is an acclaimed cult film regarded as one of the all-time best science fiction movies.
Admission is free, and this event is open to the public.
The 1982 film is set in Los Angeles in the year 2019 in a world saturated with technology. Scott’s film represents a critique of society, including social fragmentation, nuclear war, overcrowded streets darkened by environmental excesses, extinction of animals, and violent police control. Bio-engineered replicants, created by corporate power, are exploited in off-world colonies.
Parallels abound between the technology imagined in the film and today’s technology. Flying cars in the film suggest today’s Tesla self-driving vehicles. Voice-controlled computers suggest Siri or Alexa. Replicants remind us of androids and drones. And the overriding theme of creation without responsibility prompts consideration of the up-for-grabs world of social media.
Technology & Society examines the impact of technology on society’s values, priorities and institutions, as well as the influence of human needs on technological activities. More than 70 United States universities offer majors or certificates in Technology, Science and Society. At Ohio University, classes and the 15-hour Technology and Society certificate are open to all majors. For additional information and advising about class selection, email techsociety@ohio.edu.
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