Gattaca 3

.docx
Gattaca: A Look into Genetic Manipulation Naomi Peters SBI3U Mr. Leach-Weiers Due: Friday, April 28, 2023
In his film, Gattaca , director Andrew Niccol shows a dystopian future where those who are deemed to be genetically inferior are subjected to unfair treatment. Niccol uses the character's experiences with genetic discrimination, the hierarchy, and impersonation to illustrate how these social laws affect individuals. Genetic discrimination, or the different treatment of people based on their genetic make- up, is the first social law that can be seen in the film Gattaca . In the society shown in Gattaca , where people are categorized as "valids" and "in-valids" based on their genetic profiles, this type of discrimination has become the norm. Those whose genetic make-up is thought to be perfect are called "valids" and are given opportunities, while "in-valids" undergo societal prejudice and assigned to lower-paying positions. The film shows the disastrous effects of this way of life and how discrimination impacts the lives and hopes of the "in-valids". In order to pursue his dream of becoming an astronaut, the main character, Vincent, feels the need to disguise his actual identity since he is continually reminded of his genetic inferiority. However, Vincent's genetically superior brother, Anton, is given every opportunity to succeed in Gattaca . He is well respected in society and is able to follow his ambition of becoming an astronaut because to his genetic make-up. A real-life example of this social law is the discrimination of people with Down Syndrome. Down syndrome is the genetic condition where there is an extra copy of chromosome 21. People with Down Syndrome experience inequality in a number of areas of life, including healthcare, work, and education. They must face harassment and verbal abuse as well. The obvious hierarchy in the dystopian society is a social law seen in the movie Gattaca . Based on the characters' jobs, the movie reflects their social position. As an example, Vincent works as a janitor while his successful brother, who possesses superior genetics, is a police detective. These different job titles point to a definite social hierarchy in which those with superior genes hold higher positions and those with poor genes are demoted to lower ones. The "valids" are demonstrated to be cognitively superior and physically flawless, whereas the in- valids are shown to be physically and mentally flawed, making them second-class citizens in every way. A real-life example of the social hierarchy is the class system in the UK. The upper class included those who were born into royalty and inherited their riches, while the working class included people who did manual labor occupations.
Another social law that is made clear in the film Gattaca is impersonation. This happens when someone claims to be someone else for the purpose to gain particular advantages or opportunities. In the movie Gattaca , Vincent adopts the identity of Jerome Morrow, a genetically superior person who suffers from paralysis due to an accident. As a result, Vincent is given the opportunity to apply to be an astronaut for a business that only recruits people with the correct genetic make-up. The idea of impersonation in Gattaca demonstrates the lengths that people would go to overcome challenges created by the social hierarchy and genetic discrimination. A real-life example of impersonation is identity theft, a severe crime that may have terrible effects on people. Another social law that is made clear in the film Gattaca is impersonation. This happens when someone claims to be someone else for the purpose to gain particular advantages or opportunities. In the movie Gattaca , Vincent adopts the identity of Jerome Morrow, a genetically superior person who suffers from paralysis due to an accident. As a result, Vincent is given the opportunity to apply to be an astronaut for a business that only recruits people with the correct genetic make-up. The idea of impersonation in Gattaca demonstrates the lengths that people would go to overcome challenges created by the social hierarchy and genetic discrimination. A real-life example of impersonation is identity theft, a severe crime that may have terrible effects on people. In today's digital world, identity theft is a problem that is becoming more and more frequent. Advances in technology have made it simpler than ever for hackers to steal personal information and use it for illegal purposes. A major theme in Gattaca is genetic manipulation. It has been demonstrated that genetic alteration may have both beneficial and harmful effects. On one hand, it may result in the development of people without genetic diseases, allowing them to live healthier and longer lives. On the other side, it can support discrimination and cause harm to individuals who are thought to be genetically inferior. Genetic manipulation should be avoided since it can have unforeseen effects while trying to create the "perfect" person. These effects can have major consequences for the organism as a whole and can result in a loss of diversity and sense of self quickly. More studies should be done to determine the potential long-term effects of genetic manipulation.
Uploaded by DoctorSteelSparrow16 on coursehero.com