Gattaca, a movie released in 1997, is about potential children being selected through preimplantation genetic diagnosis to ensure they carry the best hereditary traits of their parents. A genetic registry database uses biometrics to instantly identify and classify those created as "valids" while those that carry traditional means are known as "in-valids". This movie easily corresponds with the use of science and technology in today’s world. Many probably didn’t think much of this movie, just as they didn’t with the Aldous Huxley’s Novel Brave New World, which is based on a very similar dystopian future. The societies in the novel and movie are considered “perfect” worlds with their genetic engineering, young people and drugs, and human conditioning. This sounds shockingly similar to what America may be becoming.…
Although Gattaca was created many years afterwards, Andrew Niccol’s futuristic film also explores the contextual concerns within his present society; the twenty-first century. Niccol looks at the role of science and technology and the concerns…
Gattaca is a science fiction film written and directed by Andrew Niccol. It is about a man's struggle to follow his dream despite being pre-determined by the society in which he lives to not be able to achieve it. Gattaca shows that people can in fact exceed the potential that society and their genes place on them. This is seen in the characters of Vincent and Director Joseph who both exceed their expected potential.…
Essay #3: Gattaca The human genome project is a great scientific advance but is society ready for it? Gattaca is a futuristic film that portrays the social ramifications of the problems of the project. We have to be very cautious and restrictive on how we use these new advances or we will turn into Gattaca. The genes in the human body have been completely mapped out in Gattaca and they can produce the perfect babies. They have the technology available to remove diseases or enhance looks and abilities. Arthur Caplan in his article "The Brave New World of Babymaking," describes Gattaca's baby assembly line, "[ ] parents can go further, choose hair color, height, and even intelligence, they [are] consciously engineering human beings" (89). The…
Genetic Engineering Debate: Are There Lines We Shouldn’t Cross? written by Jessica Erickson, shows that just because we can genetic engineer, doesn’t mean we should leave it unsupervised. Currently genetic engineering is available for plants, animals, and humans. Genetic engineering for plants and animals is quicker and less complex then doing it on humans. The next subject Erickson wrights about is the uses of genetic engineering. Erickson believes that genetic engineering could be good if it benefits diseases, prevent, and treatments, on the other hand Erickson believes genetic engineering could be bad if it is used for “designer babies”. Erickson believes that there should be a “Do not cross line”, which means that there should be government…
Vincent Freeman was born this way. He chooses, however, not to remain and invalid, but become what is known as a de-generate, someone who uses other people’s blood, urine, hair, etc. to fake a genetic code superior to their own. He dream was to end up in the space and being this particularly loathed thing is the only way he is able to do it. Lending his dream to the real Jerome Morrow, a suicidal cripple. The two band together to get him into the space. Everything is going well, he is set to leave in a week. Then the mission director is murdered.…
In both the movie Gattaca and the book Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, the topics of fate and free will, their competition, and how they affect the characters’ lives. Brave New world is based on science and focuses on making society better by genetically modifying people for the best possible outcome. Creating them with the Bokanovsky process, creating 96 of the exact same human to make one well working oiled machine. Each person is made almost exactly the same with just a few slight changes to create differences that make up social classes. What’s made out to be a Utopia is actually a Dystopia where people are doing what makes them happy. A story told through 2 characters and their lives in this Dystopian society. Gattaca is a story about…
Vincent Freeman is cast into society's redundant section as being an "invalid", however he overcomes this burden of uselessness, and uses his strong will to drive him forward to achieving his dream of flying to Titan. Vincent is an "invalid" who suffers under the burden of being a "utero" as he is unable to make any progress in his life due to his imperfect genetic make-up. From a young age, he is outcast from society, even by his own father and brother as being different. Antonio explains to Vincent, "...the only way you'll see the inside of a spaceship is if you're cleaning it." Vincent agrees as in this society, it didn't matter how many times you lied on your resume because "your real resume was in your cells." He is denied his opportunity of fulfilling his dream of flying to space from a young age and discouraged to pursue his dream. However, this only strengthens Vincent, and as he "resorts to more extreme methods" by "borrowing" the identity of Jerome Morrow, he overcomes the sacrifices and hardships by concentrating on the glory of achieving his dream and in his own mind, proving everyone else wrong. Vincent clearly "exceeds his potential" as he overcomes the imprisonment of his genes, and forges himself a worthy life.…
Gattaca is directed by Andrew Niccol and the film is set out in the "not too distant future." Andrew Niccol's perspective of the future isn't what most people expect but once thought about thoroughly it surely seems quite possible. This movie presents us with a new method in which society strives for perfection and it also makes the audience wonder if genetic engineering is morally correct. The social hierarchy system in Gattaca is based on your genetic makeup and the way you were born. People born the way we know as natural are "in-valids"; on the other hand people born with the assistance of genetic engineering are "valids." An "in-valid" has his future set out to be a cleaner or other insignificant job in society which doesn't require an education. A new form of prejudice has been raised into debate which is the idea of having superior or inferior genes.…
Gattaca is a very interesting film that sheds light on the possible future of humanity, when it comes to genetic manipulation. The entire plot of the film revolves around a society that is primarily centered on the need for superior genes. Every child in the film, apart from the protagonist, Vincent Freeman, is born in the eugenics program. This program is purposely structured to manipulate the genetic composition of children to guarantee that they only inherit a specific set of desirable traits from their parents. The film portrays the struggles that Freeman is forced to endure as he attempts his dreams of exploring space in a highly discriminative society where only the genetically perfect human beings survive. It represents the extremes…
Brave New World author Aldous Huxley was not very far off with his interpretation of our future society with hypotheses like overmedication and genetically engineered humans. I would like to focus on the latter and the benefits of the ability to alter not only people, but also foods like vegetables and fish. In Brave New World, genetic engineering is the heart and soul of the massive government that overlooks the entirety of the country, the World State. Workers alter the chemical make-up of each individual to ensure the most productivity and stability as possible. The World State created four main classes: Epsilons, Gammas, Betas, and Alphas (in order from lowest to highest class). With the technology to alter DNA and genes, the World State has total authority, which is desired because people must look to an authoritative head for leadership. Genetic engineering allows restricted individuality; this way, no one is more special or necessary than anyone else. It…
Genetic engineering often gets a bad rap with changing the natural evolutionary cycle, but it could, with proper guidance, improve almost every aspect of daily life. Advances in the Biotech Revolution have made many things that we had merely considered to be science fiction or a thing of dreams are now possible.The fact of the matter is that genetic engineering is applicable to everyday life while still being ethical and inline with people’s morals.…
Andrew Niccol's Gattaca portrays a discriminatory society in which status and quality of life is determined solely by a DNA profile. However, it is against this oppressive regime that Vincent Freeman shines, as Niccol conveys the importance of maintaining individuality in those qualities which deem his protagonist unique. Throughout the film Niccol criticises those who conform and contribute to this, while simultaneously he praises those valids who do rebel in order to emphasise how pivotal it is that the human race does not succumb to lead the existence portrayed by this "not to distant future" society.…
The 1997 science fiction drama film Gattaca by Andrew Niccol illustrates a dystopian world condemning genetic engineering which plays a primary role in determining whether the human being will be genetically superior or genetically inferior. Niccol utilizes his ‘degenerate’ protagonist, Vincent, to highlight the flaws of a system which encourages predeterminism over ambition and discrimination over acceptance. A society is presented where love has no value and one’s genetic make-up is more important than their intelligence and physicality.…
Niccol used dialogue, camera angles, and symbolism to effectively show the transition from uncaring to devoted friend and supporter. Vincent had shared his dream and made good use of Jerome’s body when he couldn’t. Through the character of Jerome, the negative impact of genetic enhancement was conveyed, showing the dangers of the pressures that society places on seemingly perfect people. In reality no one is perfect and people shouldn’t be pressured to live up to a certain expectation just because their genes say that they…