Longinus and Blade Runner

Ricardo Alvarez
Professor Wexler
English 436


In analyzing the clip of Blade Runner within Longinus’s view of the sublime, there is a direct correlation to the film. If one were to find what the essential aspect of the clip works within the framework there would have to attention placed on the monologue of the second character. Longinus states, “the ability to form grand conceptions, and the stimulus of powerful and inspired emotion” (Longinus 121). Within this four minute clip the main structure of sublime is fully present.
The very first words that are spoken are, “I’ve seen things you people would never believe,” (Blade Runner). This is creates a “grand conception” with the elucidation of human life knowing so little. The line incites a string of thoughts and allows for the viewer to form a perception based on their own life and experiences. Also, as a society that feels it is the most intelligent creature ever to live, there is a direct call of falsehood to that thought. The line itself provokes the concept of “grand” and allows for the clips to capture the audience one way or another. Such a statement has the weight to demand attention of the audience.
Longinus also speaks of “the stimulus of powerful and inspired emotions” (Longinus 121). Within the clip there is a shift from action to these exact emotions. The character begins to explain what he has seen and how it is unrecognizable to the other character, yet the conviction and raw emotion placed in this speech is so powerful Longinus couldn’t have written this better. After giving a list of all the things he’s seen, he continues to explain that they don’t mean anything. The character states, “All those moments will be lost in time like tears in rain, time to die,” (Blade Runner 2:52). This statement alone inspires some many thought and emotions. Comparing moments in time to tears and time to rain gives this clip the depth needed by Longinus to incite all the key elements of the sublime. Longinus writes, “for a piece is truly great only if it can stand up to repeated examination, and if it is difficult, or, rather, impossible to resist its appeal, and it remains firmly and ineffaceably in the memory” (Longinus 120). Each time one tries to break down this clip there are various interpretations possible. The main reason the clip remain relevant and withstands the test of time is that the words are timeless. They concept is profound and not too specific where it will be lost in time. It also utilizes one key idea that is universal to all— death. The concept of death is one that still bewilders people after thousands of years of existence. By placing death side by side with moments in time allows for the concept to trump all things prior to the statement. When he states that all the moments will fade like tears in rain he is expressing that time will erase all moments. Rain is basically the same as tears, yet the magnitude of rain will overpower tears. Tears seem monumental to individuals, yet rain is so much stronger the tears are insignificant in the grand scheme of life. The same concept is transferred to the moments in time he spoke of in the clip. All moments hold a piece of our memory, yet time is so vast that it will eventually erase all moments. Time is the strongest opponent in life. It never halts or falters.
Longinus believes that the writing has to remain imbedded in the reader’s (viewer’s) memory. Longinus writes, “… it remains firmly and ineffaceably in the memory,” (Longinus 120). There are three huge factors that will play to any human life— moments, time, and death. With the use of these forever-relevant topics to humans, this clip has prompted itself to instant classic due to its progressive concepts.
Longinus seems to have been writing the framework to writing, but there is also a sense of life framework. Like the sublime writing Longinus is calling for life itself should be sublime in those terms. This clip is sublime due to its ability to remain relevant in its concepts, yet like the clip time fades all. 28 years later Blade Runner seems to have lost it’s relevance to the youth of America and is fading like the clip expresses. A sense of foreshadowing or prediction of the film’s fate seem to have played out, but if we refer back to the clip and Longinus, the film “…remains firmly and ineffaceably in [my] memory” yet, it’s only a moment which time will eventually erase.

Works Cited:
Murray, Penelope, & Dorsch, T. (2000). Classical literary criticism. Penguin Classics.

Scott, Ridley. (Artist). (1982). Blade runner. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_saUN4j7Gw