How Does Gattaca Demonstrate The Use Of Biotechnology

Gattaca Essay

Science fiction films such as Gattaca are able to significantly demonstrate the potential of biotechnology to create unjust implications on the social order of modern society. Niccol, the director of Gattaca, draws upon the advances of biotechnology to highlight the need for certain prohibitions against genetic engineering to prevent societies strongly manipulated by science and individuals divided by classism from genetic discrimination. This idea is paralleled to genetic testing, a modern biotechnology that analyses an individual’s genetics for variations within their chromosomes, genes or proteins, to confirm or dismiss a suspected genetic condition. There are many forms of genetic testing available, though they are only
performed after gaining a patient’s informed consent.

The excessive attentiveness to biotechnology can engineer a conforming society highly fixated on genetic material that it neglects individuality.
Although the development of biotechnology presents an idealistic opportunity to achieve perfection, society’s demise can result from the increasing focus on genetics, seen from the interference of science with humanity. In Gattaca, biotechnology is embedded into the fabrications of society, where genetic interventions are practiced to create valids, in contrast to in-valids who are conceived naturally. These identities determine an individual's success, highlighting the favouring of genetic perfection over personal qualities. The opening montage of extreme close-ups of skin, nails and hair, is shot in a narrow focus to allow the envisioning of a society that is so engrossed by microscopic details, that it ignores other humanistic qualities such as perseverance. Using a shot/reverse shot when Vincent discloses his true identity to Irene, this scene effectively captures Irene’s disbelief at Vincent’s determination to defy societal expectations. His assurance to Irene that “you are the authority on what’s not possible” symbolises that an individual's genetic material does not predetermine all, using himself as an exmple, an in-valid successfully posing as a valid. His reiteration of “it is possible,” reinforces this statement and encourages Irene to look beyond the values
endorsed by society as accurately and emotionally reflected in the immediate dynamic increase of inspirational yet poignant non-diegetic music. This concept is seen in genetic testing where the aspect of prenatal screenings allows a fetus to be examined for potential genetic disorders that, if tested positive, parents would face a difficult choice of morality. Future developments in this area could assist the creation of designer babies, where society regards genetics of higher importance than personality, as seen in Gattaca. Thus, the focus on genetics can create a scientifically bound society that disregards other aspects of humanity, successfully portrayed in Gattaca and prenatal testing, to reflect the prejudiced prospects of biotechnology and the need for restrictions on genetic developments.
As the social mindset becomes set on the idea of perfection, the capabilities of biotechnology can support the development of classism.
The integration of biotechnology into society can encourage social division from the opposing ideals of individuals endorsing scientific developments and those objecting genetic interferences for ethical concerns associated with creating perfection. Gattaca explores the innovations of biotechnology where segregation is created on the basis of one’s genetic identity. This is evident from Vincent’s employment as a janitor, which stresses the occupational discriminations of being identified as an in-valid. The use of cross-cutting and costuming in the opening scenes highlight the stark contrast between the bleak and grey janitorial uniforms against the professional suits of Gattaca employees to further emphasise the societal divide between the genetically superior and inferior. Meanwhile, the long shots of rockets launching express the irony of Vincent “standing right beside” his ambition at Gattaca, though “never more certain” of its difficulty, signifying the prejudice against those lacking perfection. This idea is continued in the close up of Vincent’s dismissed blood sample as this small spot of blood reiterates his society having “discrimination down to a science,” where impurities are rejected in the light of perfection. Furthermore, this notion of purity is depicted through carrier testing, another type of genetic testing, offered to
potential parents exposed to hereditary conditions. As defective genes present in two copies cause genetic disorders, positive testing pose major ethical reproductive dilemmas for parents as their child may or may not be affected. This can form the foundation for genetic discrimination, similar to Gattaca, through the possibility of future restrictions placed on the reproduction of genetically defective individuals. Therefore, the abilities of biotechnology to create social division is effectively represented in Gattaca and carrier testing, to effectively demonstrate the detrimental outcomes of society being greatly regulated by perfection while also drawing attention to the state of rapid development in biotechnology.

The hypothetical applications of advanced technologies portrayed in science fiction films like Gattaca highly express the possibilities of biotechnology to generate unfavourable implications on modern society. These prospects emphasise the necessity for restrictions on genetic advancements to refrain societies from becoming greatly influenced by scientific details and divided by classism, correlating to the biotechnology of genetic testing. Although the development of genetic engineering is inevitable, humanity must caution the way in which it becomes incorporated into society.