Collage Notes

Traditional Dove:

Maddie: Our group chose to create a collage in the shape of a dove. The dove is a symbolic image of the spirit or soul, which is something that replicants are not supposed to have. When Roy releases the dove at the end of the film, this signifies that he has a soul. The dove ascends into the sky just as Roy’s soul ascends into heaven. We chose to create a collage on the dove with images that represent purity and life. 

Reilly: We additionally chose to create a collage in the shape of an owl. The owl is a replicant, contrary to the real dove. Audiences know that the owl is a replicant because it has the same artificial eyes as the other replicants throughout the film. The owl is symbolic because it is a classic symbol of wisdom and knowledge. The replicants in Blade Runner were unaware that they were artificially created and different from those around them. 

Shane: The film makes it hard to distinguish between what is real and unreal. For example, during the scene when Pris is hiding amongst the figurines in J.F. In Sebastian's apartment, she appears to look no different than the statues around her. Additionally, during Deckhard’s dream sequence, audiences notice a unicorn. When Deckhard receives an origami unicorn at the end of the film, audiences begin to question whether or not he himself is a replicant.  

Reilly: The famous line  “I think therefore I am,”that Roy utters in Blade Runner, applies directly to these two symbols from the movie. Our group argues that the owl and the dove, although biologically different, are the same. The film Blade Runner argues that anything capable of thought must exist and causes audiences to question what it means to be “real.” Therefore, the replicant owl is the same as the real dove.