54: Deep Thoughts About Blade Runner

October 1, 2024

All he'd wanted were the same answers the rest of us want.

The 1982 science fiction classic, Blade Runner, was a favorite of the Guy girls’ father. Mainstream media critics can’t ruminate about how a loved one’s relationship with a piece of problematic pop culture affects the way we view it. Luckily, we aren’t mainstream media. In this episode, we peel back the layers of misogyny, unhealthy sexual politics, dubious consent, toxic masculinity, and xenophobia that surround this truly breathtaking mash-up of neo-noir, science fiction, and dystopian future-casting. Blade Runner asks important questions about the nature of humanity while simultaneously denying humanity to women (the only female characters who appear are manufactured). The Guy sisters bring some deep thoughts about why that is, what changes could have addressed it, and how their dad could have missed it. 

Throw on your earbuds and have a listen before all of our deep thoughts disappear like tears in the rain!

TW: discussion of violence, sexual assault, and rape

Mentioned in this episode:

The person who suggested Rachael giving “tears in the rain” would have been more powerful:

https://screenmayhem.com/blade-runner-1982-has-an-inexplicable-gender-blindspot/

More feminist analysis of the film:

https://trinitycollegestage3media.wordpress.com/2014/03/26/blade-runner-feminist-reading/

Learn more about Tracie and Emily (including our other projects), join the Guy Girls' family, secure exclusive access to bonus episodes, video version, and early access to Deep Thoughts by visiting us on Patreon.