(Ecclesiastes 7:13). Such is the opening quote and the thesis of director Andrew Nichol’s film Gattaca (1997). Although the film is based on the lives of genetically engineered human beings and the effects that such have on the "invalids"‚ that is those who are "God-children"‚ it deeply criticises the values of a society of "valids" through its satirical tone and the use of film noir techniques. Gattaca not only supports the belief that nature‚ despite its flaws‚ is preferable to a supposed error-free
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In "the not-too-distant future"‚ liberal eugenics is common and DNA plays the primary role in determining social class. Vincent Freeman is conceived and born without the aid of this technology. He has a high probability of developing mental disorders‚ is myopic‚ has a heart defect‚ and his projected life expectancy is only 30.2 years. His parents initially placed their faith in natural conception and now regret it; Vincent’s younger brother‚ Anton‚ is conceived with the aid of genetic selection.
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dangerous? Communication in the old days was by telefax‚ letters‚ or telephone. It was not as dangerous as today’s technology. Today the communication gets more risky and dangerous for everyone who uses it incorrectly. There are many studies showing that the cell phone is harmful to the students‚ especially when they have it too close to their body. The cell phone manual tells us that it is supposed to be far from our bodies by 2/3’s of an inch. For instance‚ radiation can be transmitted to your
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GATTACA Director: Andrew Niccol Composer: Michael Nyman Actors: Ethan Hawke (Vincent/Jerome)‚ Jude Law (Eugene)‚ Uma Thurman (Irene) Genre: Science fiction Release date: 1997 The voice-over at the start of the film announces: “The most unremarkable of events. Jerome Morrow‚ navigator first class‚ is about to embark on a one-year manned-mission to Titan‚ the fourteenth moon of Saturn. A highly prestigious assignment. Although for Jerome‚ selection was virtually guaranteed at birth. He’s
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Gattaca examines science‚ religion‚ genetic engineering and ethics. By opening the movie Gattaca with quotations from Willard Gaylin and Ecclesiastes‚ director Andrew Niccol invites us to ponder the tension between science and religion with regard to the ethics of genetic engineering. This tension is further sustained through the complex relationship of the main protagonists Vincent and Eugene‚ who must ultimately conquer their own physical limitations in order to find ``God’’. As the titles
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How does Gattaca show that strength of character is more important for determining one’s destiny than biological makeup or genetic potential? Gattaca by Andrew Niccol explores creatively the possibility of a world dominated by genetic engineering. Gattaca is a world that wishes to eliminate genetic imperfections within its elite‚ upper class. Within this world‚ an invalid‚ Vincent Freeman challenges the assumptions of the society and through his actions and attributes‚ proves that you need
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Gattaca is a story about the not-so-distant future‚ a time when genetic engineering is so common place that it is common practice. The world‚ of course‚ has the draw back that anyone who was not genetically engineered is part of new class of society‚ called an invalid. 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
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Gattaca is a movie directed by Andrew Niccol and the film is set in the "not too distant future." Andrew Niccol’s perception of the future isn’t what most people expect‚ but once thought about carefully it seems quite believable. This movie presents us with a new method in which society strives for perfection and it also makes us wonder if genetic engineering is morally correct. Your place in society in Gattaca is based on your genetic makeup and the way you were born. People born the way we know
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character. Lady Macbeth’s uncontrolled ambition takes a turn for the worse on Macbeth‚ as she pressures him to murder the king. However‚ it all started from the witches’ prophecies that put the thought through Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s head that Macbeth could potentially become the next king. This thought expanded Lady Macbeth’s gender giving her freakish manly ambition triggering her to take over her husband. It is through Macbeth’s destiny‚ Lady Macbeth’s uncontrolled ambitions‚ and the influence
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various forms of cancer. This research could potentially lead to these terrible diseases’ near end. In Andrew Niccol’s Gattaca‚ a society is portrayed where there are no diseases due to advanced genetic engineering. This movie‚ based in the future‚ depicts couples that are able to basically hand-pick a perfect child. While modern technology has not evolved near as far as in Gattaca‚ stem-cell research is on the verge of creating a way to counter vicious diseases. One development that seemed
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