Convincing An Audience Essay
GATTACA:
UTOPIA OR DYSTOPIA
Utopia: Improving Human Conditions
A desirable place, an idea from Plato’s Republic but Thomas More actually coined the term in Greek in his book of the same name.
Models of organizing society in order to improve human conditions and make the world a desirable place for humans. The U.N. is a political utopia to achieve a world with no wars. Political systems (capitalism, socialism) also claim the same goal.
Certain Utopias, mainly the religious ones, are not achievable on earth.
When first discovered, America was a Utopia to the Europeans. It is still seen so by immigrants.
Common Types of Utopia
Political: peace, no exploitation or discrimination based on race, sex, age, sexual orientation, beliefs, etc.
Economical: everyone does fulfilling work which utilizes their skills and allows them to make meaningful contributions to society
Technological: advances in medicine, engineering, aeronautics etc. that allow humans to break confines of their nature
Ecological: use of planet’s resources in ways that do not deprive future generations of such resources
Dystopia: Deteriorating Human Conditions
A term from literature describing an undesirable place, with poverty, oppression, violence, disease, and/or pollution
Dystopias are often based on the concept of excess and express fears, often of technology or of government
Some dystopias are born out of the fear of human nature itself (The Giver). Others are simplistic pop culture constructs (The Hunger Games).
G,A,T,C: GATTACA
A DNA molecule resembles a double helix – ends join to form a continuous loop, like a rubber band.
Eugene’s DNA is Vincent’s “Borrowed Ladder”
Eugene’s DNA is the “Borrowed Ladder” Vincent uses
Themes in Gattaca
Opening quote: “Consider God’s handiwork; who can straighten what He hath made crooked?” Ecclesiastes—The Old Testament.
Genetic Engineering—fear of a society of superior and inferior beings (valids and invalids, in vitro and in utero)
Black characters (doctor, interviewer) are used to serve as reminders of past forms of discrimination.
Themes in Gattaca
Science is not perfect (Irene’s heart, Vincent’s prolonged life, Director Joseph’s violent act, Lamar’s son, Eugene’s character flaws)
The body (urine, blood, hair, cells, fluids) is identity and destiny (Pianist)
Doubles: Vincent and Anton (brothers, swimming), Vincent and Eugene (copies, swimming, suicide), Vincent and Irene (heart)
Names
Jerome (=Genome) Eugene (=Greek, eugenics) Morrow (to morrow)
Irene (=peace) Cassini (saturn’s rings division)
Gattaca society
No disease for valids (no answer why some are born invalids except maybe for the reasons Vincent’s parents did also—religion? Chance?)
Ecological utopia—electric cars, no pollution
Technological utopia—Titan mission
Political utopia—all races in Gattaca organization and mission
Economic utopia—for valids, who do the work for which they have a drive
Symbolism (beyond names)
Green color in scenes of life (embryos, sex, sea, car)
Outside world is yellow, jaundiced, sick
Ladder, borrowed ladder, double helix
Vincent always on the outside (barred door at play yard, family table at meals)
Crucifixion images (Vincent after knee surgery, Eugene in bed drunk)
In-Valid: Endangered Species
Valid: Infinite Potential