Themes and DiscussionThemes and Discussion

Themes in GattacaThemes in Gattaca

Genetic Engineering and the moral and ethical Genetic Engineering and the moral and ethical issues surrounding it.issues surrounding it. Human Frailty vs. Inhuman PerfectionHuman Frailty vs. Inhuman Perfection Oppression and DiscriminationOppression and Discrimination Science vs. Religion (or “Ethics”)Science vs. Religion (or “Ethics”)

Most of these themes are inter-related and so Most of these themes are inter-related and so we will discuss them together. In an essay you we will discuss them together. In an essay you will need to select the most relevant information will need to select the most relevant information for the point you are making.for the point you are making.

Names in GattacaNames in Gattaca Jerome = Genome (Genetic material)Jerome = Genome (Genetic material) Morrow = i.e. as in tomMorrow = i.e. as in tommorrow morrow (of the future)(of the future) ““Eugene” = comes from Greek, which means “well born”Eugene” = comes from Greek, which means “well born” Eugenics – Science of improving the hereditary qualities Eugenics – Science of improving the hereditary qualities

of a race or breed.of a race or breed. Gattaca = GTCA, symbols for four main chemicals in Gattaca = GTCA, symbols for four main chemicals in

DNA.DNA. ““Hoovers” or “J. Edgars” = vacuum cleaning brand and Hoovers” or “J. Edgars” = vacuum cleaning brand and

also J. Edgar Hoover, director of FBI.also J. Edgar Hoover, director of FBI. Irene Cassini – the Cassini division is the largest gap in Irene Cassini – the Cassini division is the largest gap in

Saturn’s ringsSaturn’s rings

OppressionOppression

““As night-fall does not come at once, As night-fall does not come at once, neither does oppression… It is in such neither does oppression… It is in such twilight that we all must be aware of twilight that we all must be aware of change in the air – however slight – lest change in the air – however slight – lest we become victims of the darkness.”we become victims of the darkness.”

- Justice William O. Douglas- Justice William O. Douglas

Discrimination and OppressionDiscrimination and Oppression

GattacaGattaca is set in a future where science, is set in a future where science, and not religion, has taken over society.and not religion, has taken over society.

A new form of discrimination has arisen, A new form of discrimination has arisen, called GENOISM, discrimination according called GENOISM, discrimination according to one’s genetic purity.to one’s genetic purity.Write down three examples of how people are Write down three examples of how people are

discriminated by their genes in GATTACA.discriminated by their genes in GATTACA.

Discrimination and OppressionDiscrimination and Oppression

Examples of discrimination:Examples of discrimination:Labels – “Invalid” – in today’s world this Labels – “Invalid” – in today’s world this

means useless.means useless.Use of illegal genetic testing in job interviews.Use of illegal genetic testing in job interviews. ““God-child” and “Faith birth”God-child” and “Faith birth”Other examples?Other examples?

What examples of discrimination and What examples of discrimination and oppression are there in the world?oppression are there in the world?

World Examples of OppressionWorld Examples of Oppression

Nazi FascismNazi FascismUntouchables caste of IndiaUntouchables caste of India????

The World of The World of GattacaGattaca is Dystopic is Dystopic

How is the world of How is the world of GattacaGattaca Dystopic? Dystopic? It could be a utopian world: most people It could be a utopian world: most people

are engineered to be born with little or no are engineered to be born with little or no disabilities.disabilities.

But it is a dystopia. It is a perfect world, But it is a dystopia. It is a perfect world, but only perfect for those who are but only perfect for those who are genetically gifted.genetically gifted.

Lack of individuality.Lack of individuality.

Gattaca is Dystopic and Gattaca is Dystopic and OppressiveOppressive

Numerous identity checks.Numerous identity checks.Police and detectives all uniformed in grey Police and detectives all uniformed in grey

trenchcoats and bring up memories of trenchcoats and bring up memories of dark secret police organisations (e.g. SS dark secret police organisations (e.g. SS in the Nazi regime)in the Nazi regime)

Buildings are large, bare and artificial and Buildings are large, bare and artificial and huge compared to individual.huge compared to individual.

Surfaces of the world are polished clean Surfaces of the world are polished clean and shiny, and almost sterile.and shiny, and almost sterile.

Gattaca is Dystopic and Gattaca is Dystopic and OppressiveOppressive

It is a picture of a world ruled by science.It is a picture of a world ruled by science.Tiny individual vs. monster engine of Tiny individual vs. monster engine of

society.society.Nearly everyone is accepting and passive Nearly everyone is accepting and passive

of their place in society (best example?). of their place in society (best example?). It is a world where an oppressive system It is a world where an oppressive system

has been created, not by intention, but by has been created, not by intention, but by the simple choices of individuals and their the simple choices of individuals and their applications of scientific discovery.applications of scientific discovery.

Visual metaphors which show Visual metaphors which show OppressionOppression

Motifs (repeated symbols) of glass and water, Motifs (repeated symbols) of glass and water, which illustrate the invisible walls Vincent is which illustrate the invisible walls Vincent is rebelling against.rebelling against.

Where do we see glass and water in the film?Where do we see glass and water in the film? E.g. Vincent looking through the glass of E.g. Vincent looking through the glass of

Gattaca as a janitor.Gattaca as a janitor. The swimming scenes and Anton as a symbol of The swimming scenes and Anton as a symbol of

the society who rejects Vincent.the society who rejects Vincent. Bars are a metaphor for the visible barriers (find Bars are a metaphor for the visible barriers (find

three examples in the film)three examples in the film)

Human Frailty vs. Inhuman Human Frailty vs. Inhuman PerfectionPerfection

Who is the best example of human frailty in Who is the best example of human frailty in GattacaGattaca? How is it shown?? How is it shown?

Who is the best example of inhuman perfection? Who is the best example of inhuman perfection? How is it shown?How is it shown?

How is the way this theme is shown ironic?How is the way this theme is shown ironic? Vincent spends his life trying to hide his frailty.Vincent spends his life trying to hide his frailty. Eugene ends his life as a result of not being able Eugene ends his life as a result of not being able

to cope with his imperfection.to cope with his imperfection.

•What is the symbolism of the ladder?

•“Borrowed ladder”

•DNA Double Helix

•Social status

What is the relationship between What is the relationship between Vincent and Jerome?Vincent and Jerome?

Vincent and Jerome form a kind of Vincent and Jerome form a kind of symbiosis (advantageous relationship symbiosis (advantageous relationship between two animals or people e.g. between two animals or people e.g. Elephant bird)Elephant bird)

What does Vincent need from Jerome?What does Vincent need from Jerome?What does Jerome need from Vincent?What does Jerome need from Vincent?What do they receive (think about final What do they receive (think about final

scene between the two)?scene between the two)?

Science vs. Religion (or Ethics)Science vs. Religion (or Ethics)

The The GattacaGattaca is a world in which the pace is a world in which the pace of scientific discovery has been left of scientific discovery has been left unchecked by moralist and ethical debate.unchecked by moralist and ethical debate.

Under the clean society, is a dark world Under the clean society, is a dark world deteriorating under the simple fact of deteriorating under the simple fact of genetic purity and lack of individuality.genetic purity and lack of individuality.

Science vs. Religion (or Ethics)Science vs. Religion (or Ethics)

How does Andrew Niccol introduce this How does Andrew Niccol introduce this theme in Gattaca?theme in Gattaca?

How is science portrayed?How is science portrayed?How is religion portrayed?How is religion portrayed?How do we know science is the dominant How do we know science is the dominant

aspect?aspect?

Science vs. Religion (or Ethics)Science vs. Religion (or Ethics)

What is Andrew Niccol’s opinion?What is Andrew Niccol’s opinion? If morality prevails, and ethics controls the If morality prevails, and ethics controls the

useuse of science and not just science’s of science and not just science’s directiondirection or or speedspeed, then genetic , then genetic engineering can be used for the benefit of engineering can be used for the benefit of mankind.mankind.

Science vs. Religion (or Ethics)Science vs. Religion (or Ethics)

If greed and self-interest gains control of If greed and self-interest gains control of the use of scientific discoveries, then the the use of scientific discoveries, then the science fiction portrayed in science fiction portrayed in GattacaGattaca could could become fact.become fact.

Science in itself is not evil, but it the way it Science in itself is not evil, but it the way it is used can be either beneficial or harmful.is used can be either beneficial or harmful.

Scientific discoveries needs to be guided Scientific discoveries needs to be guided by ethical concerns, rather than just by ethical concerns, rather than just making advances.making advances.

Useful quotes• "We used to think our future was in the stars. Now we know it is in our genes." — James Watson, Nobel Prize Winner and developer of the Human Genome Project

Andrew Niccol… • on Gattaca's theme: "I would hate for anyone to look at my film and think it is advocating that you never tamper with genes, because there have been and will be many positive things to come out of this kind of science in terms of curing diseases. But the problem is that blurred line between health and enhancement. How far do you go? Do you consider short-sightedness a disease? Premature balding? Crooked teeth? Where do you draw the line?"

• on Irene's character: "I think of Irene as somebody who would lie down and die at the alotted minute because she would feel guilty if she lived a minute longer than her profile proscribed. Uma had an excellent take on how to play her. Instead of being pitiful, she plays Irene as a woman who is very definite about her shortcomings, who is very film in her belief in her fatalites."

• • Jude LawJude Law: "I was fascinated not only with : "I was fascinated not only with the world that Andrew created but also the world that Andrew created but also with the characters and their loneliness. with the characters and their loneliness. The primary forces running this world are The primary forces running this world are prejudice, judgment and a very subtle form prejudice, judgment and a very subtle form of dictatorship. It plays on the simple of dictatorship. It plays on the simple paranoias tha humans have- that they are paranoias tha humans have- that they are not as good or successful as the next not as good or successful as the next person or that their child is not the most person or that their child is not the most perfect child of all time. Andrew creates perfect child of all time. Andrew creates this very manicured world in which human this very manicured world in which human feelings are trying to burst out, in which feelings are trying to burst out, in which the quest to make a better society has the quest to make a better society has destroyed individuality." destroyed individuality."

• • Ernest BorgnineErnest Borgnine: "One of the things I like : "One of the things I like most about this story is that it is really most about this story is that it is really about how we treat fellow man. God about how we treat fellow man. God knows we've seen discrimination in our knows we've seen discrimination in our world and unfortunately we seem to have world and unfortunately we seem to have forgotten how to love one another. Will we forgotten how to love one another. Will we learn to treat one another kindly no matter learn to treat one another kindly no matter a person's skin or beliefs or genetics, or a person's skin or beliefs or genetics, or will we find new ways to discriminate?" will we find new ways to discriminate?"