“ Environment design in film: hierarchy of space in Metropolis and Blade Runner “

Abstract

This present thesis focuses on the role of environment design, including sets and architecture, in the science fiction film genre. Two science fiction films were chosen to be analyzed, Blade Runner directed by Ridley Scott and Metropolis directed by Fritz Lang. The paper explores the relationship between narrative and space in the science fiction genre through the example of futuristic cites. The theoretical part consists of three chapters. The first chapter explores the relationship between architecture and cinema. Some major questions include: how do we perceive space and architecture in cinema, and what makes us relate to it, how can directors use design of sets, inlcuidng architecture, to support the narrative and establish the mood and atmosphere of the story, do architeture and evironments design in science ficion genre reflect time in which a film was shot? The second chapter examines original ideas from the movies Metropolis and Blade Runner, taking into consideration how they were made, the process of set creation and core ideas behind the set design. Moreover, such topics as main motives, visual style and narration were compared as well as similarities and influences in both films. The last, third chapter is dedicated to a closer examination of the role of an architecture in Metropolis and Blade Runner. The study of environment design and architecture of dystopian cities was carried under several categories. First of all, futuristic cities were analyzed as "icons", an architectural space was shown to the viewers not only through the physical appearance, but also through rather abstract concepts. In order to create the necessary atmosphere for the narration, viewers, through their perception of urban space, are exposed to various architectural elements which constitute a visual manifestation of dreams or nightmares of the human society. Secondly, vertical architectural organization of the dystopian cities also had been taken into consideration. Directors of both films, Lang and Scott, used architectural space as layers of texture to express further alienation of the society by creating a pyramid structure of different social groups. Continuing the topic of alienation, a theme of surveillance (Michel Foucault’s "panopticism") and a process of social decay were also explored via different social issues, which formed "inner nature" of cities in Metropolis and Blade Runner.