Hello English 101 Students--
Please post your response to the film, Gattaca, here. We have been reading about genetic engineering in Michael J. Sandel's The Case Against Perfection. Gattaca shows you what the future might look like if genetic screening were to become a requirement. Here are some questions for you:
1. The language of the film describes Vincent as a de-gene-erate or "borrowed ladder." Briefly summarize the basic situation of Vincent, also known as Jerome Morrow, in the film, Gattaca.
2. What is your opinion of the actions Vincent takes? Do you agree with what he decides to do? Why or why not?
3. What is the film suggesting about genetic screening? Who gains? Who loses? Would you be in favor of or against the kind of social divisions that genetic selection/screening creates?
Please refer to specific moments in the film to support your answers. You may also refer to anything Sandel mentions in his book on this subject.
Gattica is a movie about a boy, who was dreaming about being an astronaut since childhood. But he was born "in-valid". It shows the whole way of Vincent towards his dream.
ReplyDeleteI found this movie very powerful. I would recommend it to those people who lost faith in themselves due to some mischiefs, fails or difficulties. I personally live with the principle that there is nothing impossible you just have to really wish it, believe in it and go towards your dream. Though it might be a rough way. Same as Vincent's. He had to leave his family, to undergo a very complicated and painful surgery, to recover from it, to learn how to walk from the beginning, to be always concentrated and suspicious in order not to leave his specimens somewhere. And a result of this way is a delicious fulfillment of his dream.
This movie makes me think that whenever I doubt in my skills, I should recall Vincent. At the same time it shows some bad sides of new technologies and how they impact our lives. In this movie there is a division between "God kids" and "designed". While the first ones have to struggle and find some ways out to achieve success, the second ones are meant to be the best since they don't have any disadvantages.
Gattica also made me upset about Jerome. Since he was "designed" he was meant to be always number one. But he failed and suffered a lot from it. He lost his sense of life and never found another one. Jerome did not meet his and others' expectations and therefore there was no reason for him to live longer.
So there is another side of eugenics. When people are "designed" for something specific and when this "specific" does not happen for any reason, they can get disappointed, depressed, which may destroy their lives and make them unhappy.
hi Marina. I hope you had a fun weekend. I really like what you wrote about Gattaca. But then again I really like what you always right because your so smart and outspoken. I like about the part where you said you would recommend this movie to people who feel less self worth because of faliures or disadvantages. shows that you have a very caring personality. :)
DeleteReplyDelete
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteVincent was born in the old-fashioned way, and his genetic tests show he has bad eyesight, heart problems. He is an “In-Valid”. He works as a cleaner in a space center although he has the dream of space travel. Vincent does not accept his fate. He makes a deal with a man named Jerome. Jerome has a perfect genes however, he could not walk again. Vincent lives Jerome’s life by using samples of Jerome's hair, skin, blood and urine, his now-perfect world. It is "borrowed ladder.” I agree with Vincent’s decide. He experienced discrimination since his childhood because his genes. It greatly influenced his life and thinking.
ReplyDeleteGattaca raises issues of identity and genetic discrimination.The bible passage of the beginning of the film, “Consider what God has done: who can straighten what he has made crooked?” insightfully describes the loss of human nature in Gattaca as a reflection of today’s our society, pursuing perfection in our living. As we humans constantly have been seeking for personal needs and interests, the technological development has been made in the competitive society. It is true that by the advancement in biomedical and bioengineering, we could now prolong our lives with the treatment and prevention of incurable diseases or enjoy increased nutritional foods and fruits with improved tastes by the modification of genes.
Let me begin by saying that the movie Gattaca was really awesome in every way. It really got me to begin thinking that maybe this is all happening in the early stages of real life. Vincent as A character did a great job in the movie. He portrayed himself as an underdog really well the whole movie. He started out not having the greatest influence around him, the whole society pulling him back and keeping him down. Everyone was stereotypical and believing that since he was born with no genetic enhancements or with enhanced "artificial gene makeup" he wasn’t worth paying attention to. Vincent was born naturally and their Vincent’s doctor told his parents that he will only live a short period of time, but he fought the negative influences around him, and as he grew older he believed in himself that he could be just as good as his genetically enhanced brother or any other genetically enhanced person (need another name for it). I really have to commend Vincent in what he did and what he went through to do it. He took the tough road in front of him, to follow his dream despite what everyone said to him, what he can do and cannot do. He successfully, thru agonizing transformation, morphed himself into Jerome Marrow. And let me just state that it didn’t seem easy and under the laws in the movie it wasn’t legal. In the end many people in real life have situations similar to him in a “parallel paradox” kind of way, where people choose to take the easier way out, believe there not good enough or perfect enough, or they think they can't do it because of what people say around them. I for one was really motivated by all his actions and the way he carried himself till' the end of the movie. The film was portraying that genetically enhanced human beings were superior to the ones made naturally. That granted longer life, superficially better looking traits and physical strength far more exceeded the limitations of a gods-child. Relating to life, if anyone who starts with a disadvantage or what’s believed to be a disadvantage will always play catch up and lose to the person who has accumulated assets. Vincent and all of gods-childs loses, and because of genetically enhanced children, they win, being accepted as unnaturally gifted. But in the end, it creates groups and segregations, and we all lose. Maybe in the beginning I didn’t agree with the movie conceptual for the godly aspect of nature being naturally formed, thus for the reason of altering the perfect gene of creation. And in the middle of the movie, I really began to think that if you have a desire in the world to do something or be something as long as you believe its morally right and it’s what you want you should do whatever it takes even if it requires changing your gene code or getting surgery to become taller. If I may add lastly, after thinking thoroughly about this I conclude that I would have more faith in gods ultimate design for the world and even though it can prevent sickness, we shouldn’t try to change the genes given to us from our ancestors and their ancestors because ultimately god has a plan.
ReplyDelete1.Vincent was the "in-valid" a genetically natural unmodified child who was discriminated against indifference to the genetic inheritance. His genetic test proved him of being incapable to carry his father's name,It proved him of high probability to hyperactivity,heart disease, poor sight and life expectancy of 30 years. Vincent had a younger brother who was genetically modified and who's more capable to inherit his father's name.
ReplyDeleteGiven the foresee of his future by the genetic test, Vencent was considered a loser and he was not given the opportunities that his brother was given, But Vincent had a strong will and he had a dream to be an astronaut, to travel to the space.Vincent's dream to travel in the space was stopped from getting into the training program because of his status as an "invalid." Vincent and his brother plays a swimming game to see how far they can swim and the one who turns back is the looser. Vincent always lose but finally vincent saves his brother from drowning and then vincent knew that he's not a loser so he runs away from home in search of his dreams.
While working at aerospace company as a cleaning guy, he was given a deal to become Jerome morrow, a first class navigator who is assigned with an highly prestigious assignment to travel to space. A guy who was genetically modified, who's future was already selected at birth, who's never one step down from the podium but also who's unable to lineup the societal expectations of his perfect genetic makeup because of his wheelchair body. Vincent never took a second thought, because for him to reach his dream with his DNA is impossible, and he was ready to sacrifice everything for his dream. So, Vincent lends his body to Jerome, becomes Jerome, and uses Jerome's DNA to reach his dream even though he had to go through surgeries. So Vincent was described as a "borrowed ladder" for Jerome to climb the upper floor of the society.
2.I totally agree with vincent's action. Nobody should decide what he should do and not do.It's his hard work. If he shows afford to gain what he want's to become and if he's capable,then he should be given the opportunity. Vincent put's in his 100% to become an astronaut so he should be rewarded. If he's given a life,he should be provided with a reason to live and shine. Like,if Vincent stays with his parents and never runs then, he would still have been a loser.but vincent was determined and he succeed in the end, he reached the space.
3.The film suggests that genetic screening decides if you are a loser or a successor. Genetic test will give you your future. If the results comes out good then you are a star and if it doesn't then you are a doomed looser. Nobody gains anything but the society loses a person whom nobody know if he's really going to be a loser or not. Like Jerome, he was said to be perfect genetic but he's a wheelchair guy and he cannot fulfil the society's expectations if it's not for vincent. likewise, there might be people who is intelligent but their body might be weak. so I disagree with the genetic selections.
Vincent is born as an natural birth in a time where children's genes are decided for them before they're even born. He is considered less than the people who's genes are chosen for them because he doesn't have all of the great genetic qualities. He is predicted to die at the age of 30 because of a bad heart which could have probably been avoided if he wasn't a natural birth. Vincent's dream is to be an astronaut and go into space but he knows that with his genetic makeup that will never happen. He buys the identity of a paralyzed man with great genes named Jerome.. He becomes Jerome and uses his identity to get into the astronaut training program at Gattaca.
ReplyDeleteI 100% agree with Vincent. I honestly don't think its fair to tell someone they cant pursue their dream because of their genetic makeup. Vincent worked extremely hard to pass that program and he was just as smart and precise as everyone else in the program. He didn't let those people choose his path, he decided he was going to follow his dream and he did it . He went through extreme measures to assume the identity of another person including scrubbing dead skins cells off his body every night, using Jerome's blood, urine , and finger prints just because he wasn't like everyone else.
This films suggest that genetic screening ultimately divides people who are born naturally. In the movie the people who have chosen genes are treated better, get the job they want , and live the life that others who are natural born dream of. Ultimately everyone loses. I say this because the natural born never get to fulfill any of their dreams and live thinking that they are less because that is what society is telling them . The people who genes were selected for them lose out too because their lives were chosen for them . At the end of the movie Jerome a star athlete who was paralyzed committed suicide because his genetic makeup told him he had to be the best and he wasn't able to be that anymore.
I would be against the social divisions. We are all human. Genetic selection would be similar to racism where one side think that they're better when we should all be equal. Vincent even though he was natural born , was one of the best workers in Gattaca not making any mistakes just like everyone else. Genetic selection puts a division between people when they should be learning to live together and given the same opportunities.
Vincent was born into a perfect world. This world was dominated by genetically modified humans. In this world he was considered a degenerate. This was because he was born naturally without genetic modification. Growing up, he became obsessed with the idea of entering space. This was a goal far out of his reach since he was born without perfect health. Vincent had heart problems and was not destined to live past 30. Not only was he unsuited for the world he lived in, but he could never become an astronaut with such health problems. However, he did not let these factors stop him from accomplishing his dream. When he is all grown up, Vincent works at the space station to feel closer to his goal, hoping that one day he will end up in space. In order to do so he needs to land a specific job position at Gattaca that he knows he will not receive since he is an In-Vaild. In- Valid's are forced to do menial tasks and will never move up in the ranks. Finally, Vincent gets the opportunity of his life time. He meets a man who is of Valid status that offers to give him his identity. Vincent then goes through an agonizing process of changing into a new person. He has to constantly look over his shoulder, and be precise with his actions making sure that he wont get caught in the act. There are constant curve balls thrown at him during his conversion process. However, he successfully gets away with changing his identity and ends up being launched into space, finally accomplishing his life long dream. I believe that Vincent did the right thing and that his society was in the wrong. He was born into a perfect world with imperfections and did not let that stop him. He defied the boundaries of what was destined for him in a world of genetically modified people. To my understanding the film is suggesting that genetic screening is wrong. It is trying to show how this scientific discovery could lead to an unsettling way of life with society split between the elite and less fortunate. I would not be in favor of a world with genetic modification. I believe that the trend would quickly carry on and suddenly become the norm. Eventually there would be a race of superhumans and humans, those who could afford enhancement and those that cant. This would cause a shift of power in society and the superhumans would likely deem the humans obsolete, just like in Gattaca.
ReplyDeleteGattica is a meaningful and great movie. In that time, science and technology become well day by day. Human found out some to fix DNA before the babies born. Vincent was born in normal way myopic eyes and heart problem, but his brother, Anton born with fix DNA. Vincent has his dream and also wants to be an elite. Because Jerome had accident and he cant walk and work in gattica, so Vincent pretends Jerome.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, everybody want to be prefect. There is nothing wrong. I understand Vincent’s idea, but I don't agree with what Vincent did. Even though his has some problems, his eyes is not well and his. He also cam be himself. He can find other ways to have a good future. He may not work at gattica, but he may achieve another goal. I strong disagree with Vincent pretend Jerome. That is so tired to be somebody. My idea is that even though I am not the best, even though everybody are better than me, that’s not important, but I am the only one in the world. I don't need to be some one else. I want to be prefect but I know no one can be perfect. The most import thing is I need work hard to change myself day by day.
I think this movie gives us many suggestion. One thing that I understood is fix the genetic doest mean anything. Vincent was born in normal, he also can become “Jerome” and pretend he is elite. However Jerome was born with better genetic but is legs cant not walks. So people won at beginning means nothing. We can control our life, and change our life.
The whole point of technology is that it creates an appetite for immortality and threatens universal extinction. Technology is a lust removed from nature. In the film Gattaca, technology takes place in the lives of people, and everything is about feeting . Vincent, born natural having a dream to travel the space but society discriminate by gender ,race ,and religion hindered him to feet the population of Myopic. Going underground presume Jerome a crapple and handicap in a accident,he assume to use his identification to get in the Gattaca corporation by passing gene text by using a sample of Jerome ,hair ,skin ,blood, urine. To feet the society were he choose his longlife desire.
ReplyDeleteTo choose to feet in the society who you don't belong ,it's a difficult path to take .I agree with Jerome because he was following his dream to explore one day in the space, but with his courage he made by using jerome genes to be a survival in the society. In the movie after the death of Dr Lamar , and the betrayal by the police officer think his the murder,to escape, he try to quit and run from the society.Telling Jerome the situation, who never was a failure in life try to convince Vincent to not quite on him after working hard to get in Gattaca corporation. After several text doing for the Dr Lamar death, they finally saw Vincent was innocent .For me the movie was not about to losing or winning is how to survive in the Gattaca corporation.
Gattaca is a great story about a Vincent who is genetically imperfect human, who dreams of traveling into space. He is not accepted, because he has not been genetically modified. He fights to achieve his dreams really hard. He doesn't look back, and lives his unsupported family who always puts him down. Victor is unstoppable, he buys identity of Jerome Morrow, who has a top genetic background, and who has been crippled after a car accident. Victor goes under crucial operation to match Jerome's identity. He does anything that takes him closer to be on spaceship.
ReplyDeleteI love the fact that Jerome plays the role of a man who literally is able to do anything, his strong will shows how dreams come true and can be achieved by a hard work. Along his way he faces many obstacles, but they don't stop him. I love the part in the end of the movie when he gets the support from the guy who always measures his samples and the reading machine shows "in-valid" but he switches back to "valid". It shows that along the path of our dream some people can recognize our hard work and will support us to get there. On the other hand it shows the reality of our lives where some people fight and others just give up. Jerome lost his passion for life and starts drinking. Very sadly he takes his life away. It shows the weakness and the strength of human nature.
I don't agree with genetically enhanced methods. I believe we are children of God. Every person has a purpose and ways to be the best of them. Some people take many chances to get where they want to be with a hard work under tough circumstances, and some people who have it very easy can just blow their chances away because they know they have a support. Being genetically enchanted doesn't give us a chance to be fully expressed, by the gifts we were given.
In the movie Gattac Vincent is part of the "second class society" which resulted out of the selection of the genetic trades of eggcells. Vincents Genetic trade shows that he does not belong to the "upper class" of the genetic circule. However he tries to pass his fate to work as a cleaner for his whole life.
ReplyDeleteIn my opiniom Vincents takes some exptrems actions to pursue his dream of becoming an astronaut and flying to the Titan. But I think he is doing the right thing that he does anything to achive his goal. Because thats the right of every human being in my opinion.
In my opinion the children who get born naturally have a hugh disadvanteg compared to the children getting born with a genetic screeninhg.
Even thou I am in favor of genetic sreening I am against the division it created as shown in the movie.
I think that I does not make much sence to not give everyone the chance to grow to there full potential because, as seen in the movie nothing is really predictable.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe movie Gattac was a great futuristic story. In the movie Gattac Vincent the natural born, had proven and show the defects in human selection genetic traits. Growing up with a brother who was geneticly selected, deprive the expectations of vincent. Who always dreamed of going to space but unfortunately due to his "born defects" and life span expectation made it all but possible. Never underestimate the human will power. Despite Vincent challenges , not being able to go after his dream job as Vincent but as Jerome a stolen "identity". He did exactly that, overcome every obstacle, every fear, out challenge hisself and capabilities to follow his dream and found love of another natural born on his way there.
ReplyDeleteAs i said earlier i believe you can never underestimate the power of human will. Vincent went under some curiual measures to accomplish is his dreams. Including fraud taking on someone else identity but not just stopping there, he also went under a physical measurements, contacts, body hair, teeth as well as stretch out the bones to enhance growth. i thought his actions was one of human nature.
I believe human genetics is no guarantee of success. i also believe it will open up a whole new field and category of discrimination, who gets it? who doesn't? rich vs. poor natural born vs. human "robots", so many gobal world problems that has yet to be solved and we are just adding on to it with human genetic traits. I believe human genetics will cause more of a controvery and harm to humans then it would be beneficial. I also believe this would be the start to a whole new world for example, human robots, immortality, this along with emotionless people, a colonists world. This can very much become a new improve "hilter" world
Gattaca is a American science fiction film. The movie draws on concerns over reproductive technologies which facilitate eugenics, and the possible consequences of such technological developments for society. I really enjoyed to watch the Gattaca. The movie is about the a boy Vincent, who is less than perfect and badly wants to travel to the stars. Vincent Freeman as less than suitable given his genetic make-up and he has become one of the underclass of humans that are only useful for dull jobs. To move ahead, he assumes the identity of Jerome Morrow, a perfect genetic specimen who is a paraplegic as a result of some kind of accident. With professional advice, Vincent learns to deceive DNA and urine sample testing. Just when he is finally scheduled for a space mission, his program director is killed and the police begin an investigation, jeopardizing his secret. But he tried to hard to kept his secret because going to the star was his big dream.
ReplyDeleteIt’s not surprising to me that genetic enhancement technology is being promoted at a time when childhood diseases like autism, asthma and diabetes are at an all time high. I believe all parents want their children should be able to live a disease free life. However, there should be some regulation on the traits that parents want to pass on. Vincent’s action improved human being can be stronger than some designer children. He didn’t let other people chose his future.
In my opinion in order to achieve our goals we must be optimistic like a Vincent even though we aren’t perfect. We are human because of our weaknesses.
Gattaca is an aerospace firm in the future. Future isn’t what most people expect. While watching the movie it makes people wonder if genetic engineering is morally correct. Vincent was the "in-valid" a genetically natural unmodified child as opposed to his brother Jerome who was genetically engineered. Vincent started out with a hard life. He was genetically discriminated and prejudiced. While Vincent was a child he always wanted to become an outer space travel. During the movie it shows the way how Vincent gets to achieve his dream of becoming an outer space travel. The main moral issue presented in Gattaca was the discrimination of someone in view of their genetic makeup, or the way they were born. For example, discrimination was shown when Vincent is rejected from working at Gattaca because they believe he has inferior genes. While watching this movie it made me realize how technology impacts our lives. I believe there’s a division between god kids and designed in the movie. This movie was an eye opener in the sense that society felt like they had to label social classes based on the genetic make up of a human being.
ReplyDeleteThe actions Vincent took during the movie was understanding. I believe it was understanding because he wanted to achieve his goal which was to become an outer space travel. But I can’t say I agree or disagree with his actions because if I was in his shoes I wouldn’t know what to do. I have a twin sister and I don’t know if I would do what he did. I think I would have second thoughts of making pretend I was my sister. I feel that in life everyone finds out the truth sooner or later about yourself or something else.
After watching the film, I believe I would be against the kind of social divisions that genetic selection/screening creates because in other words if a genetic disease is discovered it could result in higher premiums for health insurance or denial of claims because of pre-existing condition. I believe some employers may not hire people that might have a disease that results negative for example, in poor attendance or becoming disabled. Genetic selection puts a division between people where I think people should be given the same opportunities and treated equal in this society.
Gattaca is about a young man who worker as a cleaner at Gattaca Aerospace Corporation who dreamed about working there as a "valid". A "valid" is person born with genetic enhancements. The young man, known as Vincent Freeman, was an "in-valid". An "in-valid" is better known as someone who is a natural born also possibilities of genetic disorders. To follow his dreams, flying into space, Vincent profiles a "valid" named Jerome Morrow. Vincent goes as far as using hair, skin, blood and urine samples from Jerome. The actions of Vincent, in my opinion, are very bizarre. I do not agree with the actions that Vincent decides to take simply because its illegal to steal another individual's genetics and consequences eventually starts to catch up with him. The film is suggesting that genetic screening help get people better opportunities in life. The "valids" are the ones who gains and the "in-valids" are the ones who loses. I would be against genetic screening which creates social division.
ReplyDeleteEugenic is the science of human population by controlled the heritable characteristics. People have controversy about Eugenics. In the early of 19th century lot of people wanted to have good birth; they wanted their children to be talented. The government authority also sterilized men and women in order to have feeble minded, cripple and bad behaviors children. After watching the movie “Gattica” and reading sandel’s book “The Case against Perfection” I strongly against of Eugenics. I think because of only having good child, many potentialities will lost forever. Again, human will turns into products.
ReplyDeleteGattaca which was a great movie showed a young man named Vincent who was diagnosed with heart disorder when he was born.Because of his imperfect genes,he was rejected by a lot of companies or programs;however,he did not quit and still dreamed of being an astronaunt.It was so lucky of him that he met Jerome who had the perfect gene but had disabilities. They changed their identity. Hence,Vincent achieved his never-give-up sprite which inspires me a lot.
ReplyDelete