Over three decades on, Blade Runner still stands up not only as a genre-defining sci-fi film but as an exploration of future-looking concerns that are as relevant today as they were on its release in 1982.Motherboard is hosting a screening of the film with the Underground Film Club in London on Thursday, January 14, and we'd love for you to join us.Before the screening, we'll be discussing one of the key themes raised in Blade Runner and, indeed, much of science fiction: what is it to be human?The main tension in the film comes from the distinction between humans and their visually-identical artificial counterparts, "replicants." These genetically engineered people are designed to be "more human than human"—but what are the defining characteristics of humanness that set us apart? As technology advances, what distinguishes us from increasingly sophisticated robots or artificial intelligences? Could we even be moving beyond human?We'll be joined in discussion by a panel of individuals with unique perspectives on these issues: Amon Twyman, the leader of the UK Transhumanist Party; Thrishantha Nanayakkara, senior lecturer in robotics at King's College London; and Nicky Ashwell, the first UK user of one of the most advanced bionic hands.We've got 10 pairs of tickets up for grabs, which you can enter to win below (open to UK entrants only).Terms and conditions here.
Advertisement
Correction: This post originally said we had five pairs of tickets to give away. We actually have 10! We've updated the text.