Sociology: Gattaca Movie Paper

Both Brave New World and Gattaca emphasize genetic discrimination as a major part of their societies. In Brave New World, a utopian society is created by the use of modernized technology and science to eliminate

In the film, Gattaca, the director Andrew Niccol uses film techniques to show the significance of an event. The society of Gattaca discriminates based on an individual’s genetics. Vincent is the main character of the film who is classified as an invalid due to his genetics, however, his brother Anton is a genetically engineered valid. Vincent and Anton play a game of ‘chicken’ in the sea to see who can swim further and who turns back first. In the first swimming scene Vincent loses, however the second swimming scene is a big turning point for Vincent as he pushes himself to keep up with his brother and ends up saving him from drowning.

The science fiction cinematic piece Gattaca by Andrew Niccol was released in 1997. It addresses the moral and ethical concepts regarding genetic engineering and the social order strives in the pursuit of biological perfection. The idea of perfection and genetic engineering is portrayed with a dystopian world were genetic discrimination is the foundation for society that takes place in “the not so distant future”. To address these ideas Niccol, uses archetypal characters such as Vincent as the underdog and Eugene as the supporting character to convey the psychological challenges and boundaries that have an effect on how the characters live their lives and interact within the world they live in. The films idea of genetic engineering causes the viewer to consider the ethicality of such technology and how its superiority can result in a world were individuals are bound by social restrictions and discrimination due to the presence of a scientifically engineered race of human beings.

The novel, Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro and the film, Gattaca, directed by Andrew Niccols both explore through structural techniques how society’s expectations and fate can either limit or drive a person’s desire to succeed and the unfairness of discrimination. Although the protagonists in both texts face discrimination due to scientific advances in genetic engineering technology, the way that the characters are shown to cope with prejudice are vastly different. Both texts employ the positioning of the reader to evoke sympathy, in addition to using narrative structure and plot development to demonstrate how the influence of society can either impede or stimulate a person’s dream. While Ishiguro proposes that the expectations of society

How do the differences of people in a society affect its conflicts? In “The Scarlet Ibis,” by James Hurst, Doodle is a disabled adolescent boy who is considered “lower” than most of the people in his world. In “Harrison Bergeron,” by Kurt Vonnegut, the government forces everyone to be of equal skill level and mental capacity by wearing handicaps or objects that will impair their positive traits. Doodle is a character with inferior qualities than the rest of his society, whereas Harrison is a character born with superior qualities than the rest of his society, and their differences affect the way that they address the conflicts within their society.

The film Gattaca investigates the potential outcomes of future genetic manipulation, and the route in which these ‘advances’ would influence society. This story takes place in the future, but has a fifties type feel with its wardrobes, sets, and props including the vehicles. This story is about the science of eugenics; and how it divides its futuristic society into two different classes, valid and invalids. This knowledge has allowed science to create the perfect human being without any flaws, especially any genetic diseases, in order to maintain a more productive society.

The Outsiders is a fascinating book about two different social groups, the Socs and the Greasers. They are totally different social groups that are constantly at each others throats. In a way, GATTACA is also like the Outsiders, having two very different groups of people, the genetically altered, and the people left entirely to chance. God created humans in his own divine image and we cannot be perfect. Therefore, by genetically altering DNA we are going against religious beliefs and what is morally correct.

The re-occurring theme of passing as stated in our course introduction, is consistent with stories of changeable identity attributes. These stories represented instances of racism, classism, sexism/gender discrimination, and religious discrimination, that is until the film Gattaca, represented acts of “genoism”, the discrimination against one’s genetic purity. The film Gattaca, is based on a dystopian society that is contingent on genetic modification, or for lack of a better term, genetic perfection. Throughout the film, we see the journey of Vincent Freeman, a white man who struggles to find a purpose for himself after being determined genetically defective and “In-valid” at a young age..

Furthermore, another important theme of “Gattaca” is egotism. How it can disintegrate relationships, just as how Anton’s ego had blinded him and he never seemed to have any brotherly love towards Vincent. Anton saw Vincent as just an inferior invalid who has no chances to compete with him and this was all because he was a valid, genetically superior. This theme of egotism that the relationship between Anton and Vincent is portrayed through camera shots and dialogues. In the “Gattaca” society, the valid are brought up with expectations that they are better than anybody else.

There will always be people who separate themselves from the norm, and a society that further ostracizes those people, whether it is through racism and segregation or through genetic engineering, will crumble. Gattaca attempts to create a perfect individual, but in doing so, those who are imperfect are seen as less than human. Specifically, Vincent inherits his father’s name, but as his middle name. Vincent’s father chooses Anton, his genetically “perfect” child, as his namesake. Another means of persecution in Gattaca occurs in job opportunities. Although the hierarchy of Gattaca claims to be unbiased, the “God Children” never appear to be holding any position of real power or responsibility (excluding Vincent’s clandestine participation in exploration efforts). How could a feeble natural-born compare to a candidate who is, essentially, genetically perfect? Even the term “invalid” is a means of degradation of those who are not genetically

The genetically modified characters of “Gattaca” are shown to be callous and uncaring to others but their own kind. The valids were considered to be higher class and the invalids were grouped together into the lower class. The workers at the Gattaca corps were apathetic towards others and blended in with the background, they had no individuality and would move autonomously and silently , repeating the same routine every day. Characters like Irene and Eugene are shown at the beginning to frown on Invalids as they were raised to be that way. Irene was taught to be like the other workers, staying silent and speaking only when necessary. She is indoctrinated to be perfect and to find the perfect match, living the perfect life with him. Eugene

The whole society that this film shows is painted in a negatively light purely because the main character, Vincent, does not like how society is stopping him from pursuing his dreams. But even though the main character does not like how society is formed does not mean that the movie cannot show other sides to this issue. Gattaca shows only the con side of genetically engineering people, that it’s not unfair, not an accurate representation of people’s abilities, and should not affect how people live their lives and what career they have. But Gattaca does not show any of the positive side to genetically engineering people, like how it could eliminating certain genetic diseases or certain birth defects. And it could lower the child risk of other health factors.

In the movie Gattaca, Andrew Niccol presents the idea that though being at odds with society’s values involves risk, complying with those values can also be also harmful. Niccol explores this idea most significantly through the use of characterisation. Through Vincent's story, he shows both the inherent dangers associated with going against societal views, but also the rewards that can come as a result. The character contrast between Vincent and Anton further builds on this idea, with Vincent’s victory over his brother demonstrating the dangers of compliance with society’s views

In Gattaca, Andrew Niccol confronts us, through Vincent's struggles, with a utopian society of humans whose lives were based solely on their genetic constitution. The Gattaca society was portrayed as a modern, liberal, and industrialized society where the use of genetic engineering was offered as a personal service to couples so they may choose their offspring traits. The use of genetic engineering was voluntary and not a state-directed or mandated

The movie Gattaca is based in the distant future. The people are defined by their genetic information. In this movie, “natural” born children are classed as invalids, whereas people that are genetically created and modified are valid. The invalids are basically just as their name, invalid and must get a regular job, nothing spectacular. One of the main characters, Vincent Freeman, is the last child to be “naturally born”. After his birth, the doctors tell his parents that he has a life span of 30.2 years and there are so many genetic related things that are wrong with him. For all his childhood life, he is treated as if he is ill and sick all the time. Any little thing such as falling, or scraping his knee, is treated as if he is about to die. The couple then has another son, Anton. He is conceived by the new normal, genetic selection. He is now considered superior to Vincent. The father’s name is Anton and the second son takes his name because he is not genetically shortcoming. As a young boy Vincent has dreams of having a career working in space, but because of his invalid status, it will not be possible for him to get into the program. The brothers would often play a game called “chicken”. In this game, they would both swim out into the sea. Whoever turns around and starts to swim back first loses. One day while playing this game, Vincent actually wins. The one that is inferior actually wins. Anton begins to drown and Vincent must save him. After he wins the game, he