In this world, Vincent Freeman displays enormous strength and determination to overcome the genetic obstacles put in his path. His experiences show viewers that genetic engineering cannot create the intangibles that we admire and make us human such as hope, ambition and determination. The social structure of Gattaca divides humans into valids and invalids and through technology ensures that imperfections in DNA are eradicated. Vincent is considered an invalid in this world because his parents wanted to leave his birth to chance. Niccol accentuates the importance of genetic code and DNA to this society by the loud crash of a fingernail striking the ground in the opening scene through an extreme close up, followed by highlighting the letters A, C, T and G during the opening credits showing the significance that these four letters make up all the possible DNA combinations.
The dystopia created by Niccol explores the “not-too-distant future” where genetic engineering has become the ‘normal’ approach for conceiving a child, which is unlike what the society today perceives to be normal. Within the film Gattaca, the social discrimination is based on genetics: People born with the aid of genetic engineering are the ‘Valids’, whereas people born in the way known as natural are considered to be the ‘In-valids’. In a sense of this, parents pursue to have their children to be “the best of (them)” which could be already “guaranteed at birth”, rather than taking the risk of entrusting their lives to fate. However, this ends up bringing up a new form of prejudice subject to the idea of having superior or inferior genes, nothing different to which in the past when people were discriminated on their race or sex. In-valids have their
One of these secrets is that although every citizen believes himself to be happy, he has been genetically engineered to think so and is a government ploy to maintain “social stability”. Although the world is now dominated by this system, there are many “savage centres” which still exist and are home to the “old, imperfect” humans. These “savages” are natural, unconditioned people who still give birth. When John, a savage born naturally of a mother from the World State, is brought to the outer world by Bernard, a man who feels out of place in his society, the dystopian nature of
That is the reason why they end up in failure. They did not live up to expectations of a utopian. On the other hand, Vincent achieves success because he has the characteristics of the human spirit and he has the courage and determination to live life. Thus Gattaca shows us that a world based on genes alone is not a world worth living in. Jerome Morrow is a “vitro” birth whose genes are genetically modified but is a failure in life.
That before we know it our appliances will be smarter than us one day and that’s not how man intended life to be; humans are supposed to be on top. Not being able to use today’s technology rings in Barry’s purpose. Technology has gone wild and he makes it very clear with several examples. His ability to discredit these technologic advances brings credit to his point. One can always refute anything they’d like, but to be effective, one needs to have appropriate facts for back-up and a dominating style that brings it all together.
Another difference leading to civilization among communities was the orientation of the continents. “Guns, Germs and Steel” is an informative, delightful, and artful book full of surprises. Diamond’s main concern is to reject any simple racial explanation of the differences that occur in material culture between different regions in the world. He argues that there are no essential differences in intelligence between any races. Only those who are able to survive harsh conditions, as Guinea, can emerge intelligent.
The Alphas are seen as the most capable caste in terms of their size and intelligence. In contrast, the Epilsons are too stupid to read or write (Huxley, 20 -21). To further distinguish between the social classes in society, occupations differ based on the caste to which the citizen belongs in. There are several different methods of control used to seize control over members of different casts. For example, this can be seen in the teachings that books and flowers are immoral.
They are afraid to die, therefore they have a force resulting in procreation, they will in another way continue to survive by their offspring. Nietzche believed that it was not only the will to survive, but to succeed (power) and that everyone has this power, even subconsciously. Everything strives for power. The overman (Ubermensch) is the superior man who justifies the existence of the human race. It is described to be the one who is willing to risk all for the sake of the enhancement of humanity.
Some people may believe that we are a part of nature only because humans and nature ‘can’t be separated’ because we fundamentally affect it in all situations, and that we are an important part of the Planet Earth’s eco-system. This may be believed because we as humans are one of the biggest and most intelligent species on this planet, and anything that we do will affect our nature for both plants and animals. Some people may believe that we are part of nature as we are humans because of our genes. However, others may disagree with this as people believe that we live apart from nature as we can’t be considered as part of nature as we destroy it, for example; Pollution. Some people may believe that we are classified as a product of Nurture because of our experiences and the environment we grow up in.
- Vincent Freeman (Gattaca) In Gattaca, set in the future, society has evolved to such a point that it is seen as out of the ordinary to want to conceive a child naturally. Scientists have found a way to genetically modify children before they are conceived, using the ‘best parts’ of the parents. Those who were born naturally –‘faith births’ – are at the bottom of society, filling jobs like janitors and cleaners while those born genetically superior are the ones who become the successful ones. Whether they have achieved perfection however is debateable. Many of the ‘genetically superior’ grow up to be