"Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" OTAs by Abhishek Nambiar

Page 2

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:28:43 UTC

I feel disturbed at how emotions seem to be controlled by machines, such as with this “six-hour self-accusatory depression. To me, that seems to effectively remove a core element of who we are as humans: our natural emotions and our ability to form them based on our circumstances.

Pages 8-12

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:29:14 UTC

I notice how in this world, owning animals is effectively a way to brag about one’s power and wealth. There are elements of FOMO here, with it being looked down upon if you don’t care about being part of the competition with owning animals. This seems to be satirization of people’s obsession with material possessions, an idea that we still see in the present-day.

Page 14

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:29:31 UTC

I notice how Phillip K. Dick connects automatic possession of androids to the state of American cars in the 1960s. I think he makes this connection to highlight, in both worlds, the increasing widespreadness of these things and perhaps the sudden popularity of them.

Page 5

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:29:43 UTC

I notice how Rick “hardly needed” to dial for the attitude that he has towards his job. It almost seems like a small glimmer of hope amidst this whole situation of people letting machines control their emotions.

Pages 19-20

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:30:37 UTC

I notice how the empathy box is very similar in concept to the mood organ. Both of them involve the artificial controlling of emotions, and bring people together based on playing with singular human emotions. They both also serve as symbols of the homogenous culture within the world of Blade Runner.

Pages 22-23

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:30:54 UTC

I notice how the explanation and circumstances around what happens to Isodore are pretty ambiguous, with the cut on his arm still being there even after reverting to his normal self. There’s a lot of blurring between perception and reality here, which ties into this whole idea with the machines and humans and how there’s all this manipulation happening.

Pages 28-29

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:32:14 UTC

I notice how a big emphasis is placed on empathy here. This seems to allude towards empathy becoming a major theme and focus of the story.

Page 35-36

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:32:27 UTC

I feel intrigued by the discussion about the Voigt-Kampff test. It seems to tie into this idea that humanity is a very complicated species that you can’t just classify based on one single attribute. This also ties into lots of moral ambiguities that I’ve been seeing so far in this book.

Page 37

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:32:44 UTC

I notice a subtle bit of foreshadowing here with Rachael’s eyelashes. Perhaps it will eventually be revealed that she’s indeed an android??

Pages 48-49

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:32:59 UTC

The controversial results of the Voigt-Kampff test seems to further point towards the ambiguities of the human psyche. The test is a very flawed one that fails to accurately determine whether or not someone is a human or android, and I see some parallels between it and a lie detector test-- another controversial type of test in our own world.

Pages 55-56

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:33:13 UTC

I feel confused about the results of Rick’s second attempt. It still doesn’t seem to be entirely clear whether or not the Voigt-Kampff test is truly accurate. This further adds to the feelings of ambiguity that I’ve been sensing throughout the book.

Page 63

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:33:23 UTC

I notice the emphasis on the girl having a “neutral” expression. Her general lack of emotions when interacting with John alludes towards her possibly not being a human.

Page 64

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:33:37 UTC

I was certainly surprised by the girl saying that her name is Rachael Rosen. This seems to all but confirm that the girl is indeed an android, since we previously found out that Rachael is an android.

Page 67

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:33:56 UTC

This artificial cat intrigues me. The way that it’s able to make sounds that are so similar to the sounds of a real cat help add to the dilemma of drawing the line between what’s real and what’s artificial in this world.

Page 75-77

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:34:09 UTC

I notice how Mrs. Pilsen is an example of the obsession with material possessions that is present in this society. She is extremely worried about the cat and what her husband will do, tying into fears about the perceptions of people based on what they do or don’t have.

Pages 85-86

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:34:34 UTC

I notice how Rick acts in a distrusting manner towards Rachael. He seems to be of the mindset that humans and androids cannot possibly come together towards a common goal or cause.

Pages 87-88

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:34:46 UTC

It interests me how Rick doesn’t really have any considerations about morality when he retires Polokov. This is probably because of the kill-or-be-killed situation that he was in.

Page 95-96

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:36:22 UTC

It stuck out to me how Rick’s beliefs about human nature are being challenged here. This hasn’t happened yet in the book, and it seems to parallel Rick becoming less human-like as he continues to hunt down and retire androids.

Page 98-104

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:36:36 UTC

This whole ordeal with Miss Luft and Officer Crams adds another layer of dilemma to the moral ambiguities of the story. Whether or not an android thinks like a human is now part of the question as to whether or not they are indeed human.

Page 110-111

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:36:48 UTC

I notice how Garland questions Rick on whether or not he’s an android, but Rick doesn’t do the same thing back. This alludes to how power dynamics also play a role in determining who is human.

Page 113

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:37:23 UTC

I certainly feel confused by this chapter. This whole situation with the ambiguity of who is a human and who is an android (including with Rick himself) is probably the biggest factor for it.

Page 115-116

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:37:34 UTC

I was surprised at this revelation of the whole police building just being a lure for androids to bring in human bounty hunters. So this whole building is basically like a simulation of sorts, its own closed-off reality.

Pages 124-125

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:37:46 UTC

I notice how once again, power dynamics play a role in determining how “human” an individual is. It’s effectively a way for one to assert their power over others; Garland did it to Rick, and now Rick and Resch are doing it to Luba Luft.

Page 130

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:37:55 UTC

Another example of assertions being used for the sake of leverage here. Rick takes advantage of his ability to feel empathy to extend a level of sympathy to Resch, even if it’s a very cold-blooded kind of sympathy.

Pages 135-136

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:41:23 UTC

I notice how Rick is, for the first time, starting to question whether or not he even makes for a good bounty hunter. It’s also interesting to me that Resch, who has been hinted at to be an android, is able to make for a better bounty hunter than the human Rick. We’re talking about a position that has previously been established as one that only humans are fit to serve as.

Page 139

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:41:33 UTC

I notice how it’s once again confirmed that Pris is indeed an android. This is indicated by how she mentions friends who have been killed by bounty hunters.

Pages 141-142

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:41:47 UTC

I was surprised by Pris’s actions here. Her display of emotional weakness and her discussion of pre-colonial fiction-- both things that normally only humans would be doing-- strikes me for being unexpected. This further blurs the line between humans and androids, making it less clear as to how each can be defined within the context of the book’s world.

Page 149

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:42:00 UTC

I notice how Irmgard calls out Pris for calling John a “chickenhead.” It shows how the androids have different personalities, just like how humans have different personalities. Irmgard’s comment also highlights the irony of Pris calling John a term used to describe outcasts in this society; after all, Pris herself is an outcast.

Page 158-159

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:42:10 UTC

I find it interesting how, even with his questioning of morality and the ambiguity between humans and androids, on the topic of purchasing animals Rick still follows the mob mentality. He still follows the mindless consumer mindset that has been instilled in him by his society’s obsession with material possessions. The fact that he spends his entire bounty payment on the goat further shows this.

Pages 163-164

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:42:21 UTC

I notice a duality with this society. It needs Mercerism in order to have a method of celebrating common humanity, but at the same time it needs to retire androids because of their ability to conform to humanity. An interesting concept that further adds to the themes of moral ambiguity through how it demonstrates the spaces through which androids are able to sneak through and hide within human society.

Page 168

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:42:34 UTC

I think that this conversation between Rick and “Mercer” is pretty revealing in terms of the ideals of Mercerism. Besides its teachings on empathy, Mercerism also promotes forgiveness for one’s evils. As we’ve seen Mercerism previously tie into celebrating common humanity, I think that this connects to an overarching idea that we, as humans, will naturally have to do some evil things in our life out of necessity; it is our job to forgive each other for those actions.

Page 176

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:42:46 UTC

With Rick observing Rachael’s body features, I notice how this adds onto Rick’s changing opinions toward androids. He previously never used to so carefully observe the body of an android, and was always more focused on retiring the ones he was assigned to. Now, here he is viewing Rachael more as a living, breathing person.

Page 182

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:43:41 UTC

I find Rachael’s discussion about the differences between what androids and humans are able to do, interesting. She brings up some philosophical ideas about what it means to be an android, connecting them to humans and other species. Mention things such as androids being unable to have children also ties into an overarching theme on what it means to be human, which we’ve seen be explored previously.

Page 189

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:43:53 UTC

I notice how Rick has found himself in a dilemma here. He is angry at Rachael for manipulating, but he also can’t get himself to kill her because he empathizes with her. This also further adds to Rick’s increasing empathy towards androids, with him now seeing Rachael as someone who holds moral responsibility for her own actions.

Pages 197-198

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:44:04 UTC

I feel intrigued by Irmgard’s comments here. She effectively reveals here that the purpose of the empathy box is to most importantly distinguish androids from humans; it’s not actually about finding empathy. I also find the connection she makes between Mercerism and consumerism to be interesting, as she highlights how both concepts are able to dupe people into doing the same things.

Pages 200-202

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:44:13 UTC

I notice how this whole scene symbolizes Mercerism. Even if it may not be a real thing (along with Mercer himself), it still holds a major influence over John’s life. The way this scene is written, with its vivid descriptions of disorienting things happening to John, also adds to the whole ambiguity of where John’s mental state is at this moment, after having been exposed to the truth about Mercerism.

Page 210

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:44:23 UTC

I’ve gotta say, I do feel bad for John here. Even if the androids had been manipulating him and primarily using him for their own gains, at the end of the day they were still individuals who John had feelings for. John’s reaction to the deaths of Roy, Irmgard, and Pris also sort of symbolizes a loss of hope amidst the desperation and apathy of the world he lives in.

Pages 215-216

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:44:35 UTC

I notice how throughout the past few pages, Rick’s sense of hope has also been waning. Like in the case of John, I think this ties into symbolism of a loss of hope amidst the desperation and apathy of this world. This is further compounded by how Rick is unable to talk with the one type of person who could understand what he’s going through.

Page 217

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:44:45 UTC

I notice how Rick’s walk up this hill parallels John’s walk up a hill at the beginning of the book. Both of them made some progress before having a major setback, which alludes to this idea within Mercerism of a constant struggle. Distinctions between reality and illusions are also starting to fall apart.

Page 223

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:44:59 UTC

I notice how Rick is having this connection with nature through his finding of the toad. It’s interesting to me how Rick has all these quick, zippy thoughts about the toad, but not before thinking about the reward for finding it. This ties into the overarching consumerism mentality that we’ve already seen throughout the book.

Page 230

abhishnambiar — 2023-12-21 08:45:13 UTC

I feel that the ending of this book is very bittersweet. In one sense, Rick has made achievements he’s happy with: he’s found an animal once thought to be extinct, and he’s also now able to experience “long deserved peace.” However, both of these come with significant caveats; the toad is just an artificial one, and the peace is an artificial one that comes courtesy of the mood organ. Not to mention the fact that John (a fellow human) has been left to, most likely, a worse fate that Rick will possibly never know about.