Veeshoka Mudwari
English 101- 0768
Dr . Vasilieiou
Essay #1
10/09/12
Perfection
Seeks Equality and Freedom
Gattaca is a society consisting of genetically engineered
humans with higher intellect and better personality who are opportuned to live a
beautiful, disease free, happy life. However, along with these “super species”,
the society also comprises of normally born humans with normal acumen and looks
who are destined to have a default life and do menial jobs. Taking in
consideration, Annas’s view in the essay “Man on The Moon” and few other
examples, Gattaca is bound to be considered dystopia because of its prejudiced
approach to life and ignorance to human spirit and aspirations.
The entire concept of Gattaca society is based on discrimination on the process of birth of a child, which clearly makes it a dystopia. Underdogs like Vincent have a default life for the absurd reason that they were an outcome of their parent’s love and not an outcome of their parent’s best genetic combination. By stating “It is the meaning of humanness (our distinction from other animals) that has given birth to the concept of both human dignity and human rights” (pg. 235- location 3516, Science and Philosophy, Amazon.com), in the essay, Annas reflects the concept of humanity by taking in consideration the need of human rights and human dignity. However, as projected in the movie, Gatacca society denies the right of a normally born child to make a choice for his future. Vincent lost his right to carry on his father’s name. Moreover, he was made to believe that he was weaker than his brother. When Vincent says, “the defect lies in my genes” (before his first job interview), the ruthlessness of the society to normal people and helplessness of the inner heart of the normal people was reflected. Thus, Gattaca society is actually an example of a prejudiced society which ignored the prime ingredients of humanity, which are human rights and equality, ultimately, making it an apt example for dystopia.
The Gattaca society lacked the freedom for normal humans to believe in themselves because scientifically, they were proven weak. Thus the only way to accomplish the aim for those normal people like Vincent, was to fake their identity. For them, dreaming, aspiring and believing were like jokes faith played with them. When Vincent showed his interest on space travel, his own father shook his confidence by saying that the only reason he could ever enter a space craft was to clean it. Similarly, when Vincent cleaned the glass of the office, the old man sarcastically said him not to clean it too clearly otherwise he might have a second thought. By saying all this, they constantly tried to oppress Vincent’s inner confidence. The society lacked the concept of spiritual improvement in human beings, however there have been incidents in past where the boundary set by society to a person’s limitation held untrue. Albert Einstein, the greatest mathematician the world has ever had, was born with learning disabilities. He was regarded as a “below average” student by his teachers. Similarly, Jay Z, the present day rap star was not given fair opportunity in the fashion and music world because of his race. However, these and many other known and unknown figures ignored the barrier society had set for them and rose above all to prove themselves by their inner spirit and enthusiasm towards their goal. Thus, the Gattaca society, despite its great scientific accomplishment, portrays of a dystopian world which ignores the upliftment of human soul to achieve what people aspire to become.
Undoubtedly, Gatacca had an impeccable side, such as eradication of terminal illness, environmentally safe means of transportation and similar scientific breakthroughs, which people might assume as utopian factor. However, can eradication of terminal body illness also eradicate the mental restlessness a heart feels when it is made to believe inferior not for the reason of its act but for the reason of its birth? Can an environmental friendly vehicle drive away hatred for a person’s own identity? Certainly not!! No matter how advanced or modern science become, there is no way a person can become happy merely by getting materialistic satisfaction. In the essay, Annas states, “Novelty is not progress, and technique cannot substitute for life’s meaning and purpose” (234 location 3498, Science and Philosophy, Amazon. Com) by which he explains that genetic engineering, though being an example of modernity, can never be assumed as perfection and mere techniques to achieve the uniqueness must not be supposed as a reciprocation of the vast inexplicable meaning of life.
Despite great scientific inventions, the society of Gattaca limits the freedom of responsibility of human towards their lives and what they can make out of it and distinguishes the normal born for no specific humanitarian reason. Thus, it is to be considered a projection of dystopian world.
The entire concept of Gattaca society is based on discrimination on the process of birth of a child, which clearly makes it a dystopia. Underdogs like Vincent have a default life for the absurd reason that they were an outcome of their parent’s love and not an outcome of their parent’s best genetic combination. By stating “It is the meaning of humanness (our distinction from other animals) that has given birth to the concept of both human dignity and human rights” (pg. 235- location 3516, Science and Philosophy, Amazon.com), in the essay, Annas reflects the concept of humanity by taking in consideration the need of human rights and human dignity. However, as projected in the movie, Gatacca society denies the right of a normally born child to make a choice for his future. Vincent lost his right to carry on his father’s name. Moreover, he was made to believe that he was weaker than his brother. When Vincent says, “the defect lies in my genes” (before his first job interview), the ruthlessness of the society to normal people and helplessness of the inner heart of the normal people was reflected. Thus, Gattaca society is actually an example of a prejudiced society which ignored the prime ingredients of humanity, which are human rights and equality, ultimately, making it an apt example for dystopia.
The Gattaca society lacked the freedom for normal humans to believe in themselves because scientifically, they were proven weak. Thus the only way to accomplish the aim for those normal people like Vincent, was to fake their identity. For them, dreaming, aspiring and believing were like jokes faith played with them. When Vincent showed his interest on space travel, his own father shook his confidence by saying that the only reason he could ever enter a space craft was to clean it. Similarly, when Vincent cleaned the glass of the office, the old man sarcastically said him not to clean it too clearly otherwise he might have a second thought. By saying all this, they constantly tried to oppress Vincent’s inner confidence. The society lacked the concept of spiritual improvement in human beings, however there have been incidents in past where the boundary set by society to a person’s limitation held untrue. Albert Einstein, the greatest mathematician the world has ever had, was born with learning disabilities. He was regarded as a “below average” student by his teachers. Similarly, Jay Z, the present day rap star was not given fair opportunity in the fashion and music world because of his race. However, these and many other known and unknown figures ignored the barrier society had set for them and rose above all to prove themselves by their inner spirit and enthusiasm towards their goal. Thus, the Gattaca society, despite its great scientific accomplishment, portrays of a dystopian world which ignores the upliftment of human soul to achieve what people aspire to become.
Undoubtedly, Gatacca had an impeccable side, such as eradication of terminal illness, environmentally safe means of transportation and similar scientific breakthroughs, which people might assume as utopian factor. However, can eradication of terminal body illness also eradicate the mental restlessness a heart feels when it is made to believe inferior not for the reason of its act but for the reason of its birth? Can an environmental friendly vehicle drive away hatred for a person’s own identity? Certainly not!! No matter how advanced or modern science become, there is no way a person can become happy merely by getting materialistic satisfaction. In the essay, Annas states, “Novelty is not progress, and technique cannot substitute for life’s meaning and purpose” (234 location 3498, Science and Philosophy, Amazon. Com) by which he explains that genetic engineering, though being an example of modernity, can never be assumed as perfection and mere techniques to achieve the uniqueness must not be supposed as a reciprocation of the vast inexplicable meaning of life.
Despite great scientific inventions, the society of Gattaca limits the freedom of responsibility of human towards their lives and what they can make out of it and distinguishes the normal born for no specific humanitarian reason. Thus, it is to be considered a projection of dystopian world.
My name is Maria.
ReplyDeleteWriter’s name - Veeshoka Mudwari
Date – October 11, 2012
Section – 99.0726
Dear Veeshoka,
Hello.
Positive concerns about your essay:
How you organized everything so that I as the reader was able to understand your point.
How you wrote about the dystopia and utopia, how you wrote about the good and the bad effects of the two.
I am impressed with paragraph 4, how you started asking all those questions and then you answered it on your own but gave feedback on why you disagree.
Have a title and author.
Your essay is interesting from the start, captured my eyes and I wanted to read more.
Good reference, sources, and quoting.
Your conclusion is good; you are simply restating the introduction.
Negative concerns about your essay:
You went off topic when you started talking about Jay Z. I understand that Albert Einstein was a great mathematician and he had learning disabilities and was considered below average by his teachers but (1) how do I know that you are not just making that up? You need sources to back you up; (2) what does Jay Z have to do with not believing in himself if he is the present day rapper? I understand that race and fashion was big opportunities in the past unless you were white but what you can do is give out a good reference or source or quotation from a book, etc. so that the reader can have a better understanding.
Next time make the font bigger so anyone who is reading your paper can be able to see.
Sincerely,
Maria