Essay On Brave New World And Gattaca

Both the film Gattaca (directed by Andrew Niccole) and the novel Brave New World (written by Aldous Huxley) are of the dystopian genre and explore the notions of mass control and freedom; or lack of freedom. Both societies are controlled by a totalitarian dictatorship that push their suppressive ideologies- genoism in Gattaca, and the complete eradication of viviparous births and the implementation of a caste system in Brave New World. Characters in both dystopian worlds challenge the rules and expectations of their societies. In Brave New World, Bernard Marx and John Savage rebel against the World State, albeit to different extents. In Gattaca, Vincent Freeman and Jerome ‘Eugene’ Morrow oppose their society ruled by genoism.

“All of our technological progress, civilization for that matter, is comparable to an axe in the hand of a pathological criminal” (Albert Einstein). This quote provides the definition that technology in the world is as important as a weapon for a criminal. One simply cannot live without each other. This connects to Brave New World by Aldous Huxley because in this utopia creating new technology is very essential making the world an easier place to live in. Therefore, the theme of Brave New World is that science will eliminate human suffering.

In the 20th century, human beings have been able to enjoy technological advances as well as the disadvantages of technology that seemed unimaginable in previous centuries. Aldous Huxley’s novel, Brave New World, creates a utopian society that achieves happiness at the expense of humanity by contrasting the use of technology. This is a representation of a society trapped inside a world that is consumed and run by technology rather than individual thinking and feeling. The morals expressed throughout The World State society are not those of our society today, instead, The World State itself focuses around the idea of industry, economy, and technologic growth and improvement, this makes the inhabitants more concerned with what is on the outside instead of the inside. The contrasting world of Huxley makes the reader agree with the viewpoint that technology has created a world of individualism and consumption rather than a world that focuses on the sense of fulfillment. While technology can bring growth, it is also a form of destruction that strips away any form of happiness with psychotropic drugs, genetic engineering, and consumption that neglects a true sense of humanity.

The science fiction cinematic piece Gattaca by Andrew Niccol was released in 1997. It addresses the moral and ethical concepts regarding genetic engineering and the social order strives in the pursuit of biological perfection. The idea of perfection and genetic engineering is portrayed with a dystopian world were genetic discrimination is the foundation for society that takes place in “the not so distant future”. To address these ideas Niccol, uses archetypal characters such as Vincent as the underdog and Eugene as the supporting character to convey the psychological challenges and boundaries that have an effect on how the characters live their lives and interact within the world they live in. The films idea of genetic engineering causes the viewer to consider the ethicality of such technology and how its superiority can result in a world were individuals are bound by social restrictions and discrimination due to the presence of a scientifically engineered race of human beings.

GATTACA is well known for its use of eugenics in the film. The film is set in a “not too

The world we live in is advancing more and more every day. We are beginning to exceed boundaries and reach new limits. Science and Technology has come a long way since Copernicus said that the sun was the center of the universe. Science fiction is slowly coming to life. We are building robots that are extremely similar to humans, modifying genes, and creating clones. Authors wrote about these abstract ideas not too long ago, but at the time they seemed far-fetched. Scientific and technological advancement may be for good or for evil. The good side is the advancements in medicine that could limit the risk of a particular disease or even cure one. The potentially bad side is the steps we may take to get there without knowing the long-term effect. In Michael Bess’s article “Blurring the Boundary Between Person and Product,” he discusses the advancement of genetic

Eugenics is defined, in some way or the other, as the process of reshaping the human race by determining the kinds of people who will be born. As such, there is much debate in the field of eugenics, with authors, like Philip Kitcher, who support laissez-faire or a minimalist approach of eugenics in which eugenic decision-making should be limited only to avoid neurological illnesses and in which parental free choice is valued. Gregory Stock’s essay, The Enhanced and Un-Enhanced, presents otherwise by supporting the position of maximalist eugenics, allowing individuals the full extent in the selection of genes. On the other hand, the film, Gattaca, raises major ethical problems by illustrating a dystopian society resulted by extensive

Huxley's work, Brave New World, is a book about a society that is in the future. This book contains many strange things that are generally unheard of today. Yet we see that some of the ideas that are presented in this book were already present in the 20th century. The idea of having one superior race of people can easily be seen as something that Hitler was trying to accomplish during the Holocaust. Huxley presents the society in his book as being a greater civilization. A totalitarian type of leadership is also presented in his book. According to him, this would be the best and most effective type of government. Hitler also thought that a totalitarian government was best. We see several similarities between Hitler's Germany and Huxley's

Andrew Niccol’s movie Gattaca is a film established in 1997, based around the idealistic view of perfection. This film has a variety of underlying themes and concepts based solely around discrimination and DNA. This film incorporates science fiction and crime fiction to introduce the issue of genetic manipulation in attempt to eradicate human nature. For my response I have chosen to do a visual to demonstrate my understanding and knowledge of the films significance in relation to modern society. This piece was influenced by the films techniques and key elements such as symbolism that is used in the most forthright way. I have used colour, quotes and symbols from the text to reflect on the importance of the films aspects whilst doing is a new way. The film Gattaca represents a world submerged in a lack of humanity and individuality due to the obsession with perfection. I have used this visual to demonstrate the society that has been taken over my genetic engineering.

The pace of scientific discovery has been left unchecked in Gattaca by both moralist and ethical debate, particularly focusing on eugenics and its future ramifications. J.P Telotte argues in his recent study science films that the use of artificially created humans in cinema represents the “most effective way” to gauge the range of definitions of humanness. In using the technology of gene therapy to question the genetic-determinist ideology as a way of defining humanness, Gattaca’s treatment of genetically enhanced persons can be considered a study of “human artifice” in Telotte’s terms (Kirby, 2000). The film opens with quotations from Willard Gaylin “I not only think we will tamper with Mother Nature. I think Mother wants us to,” inviting the audience to ponder the tension between science and religion with regard to the ethics of genetic engineering. The relationship between the main protagonists Vincent and Eugene, who must conquer their own physical

“Your scientists were so preoccupied with the whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should” (“Jurassic Park Quotes”). This is the heart of the issue of bioethics, the application of ethical and moral standards to the fields of medicine and biology. As advancements in science and technology make possible that which used to be science fiction, the issue become less a question of capability and more a dilemma of how far humankind should rightfully go. In the film Gattaca, the practice of eugenics is standard. Science has advanced so far that it is possible for parents to selects the genetics and traits that their children will receive. While genetic discrimination is technically illegal, it is practiced throughout

Gattaca is an imaginary movie that was released in 1997 about the not-so-distant future involving a dystopic world with genetically engineered humans and technologically reinforced discrimination. It is about a world that no longer discriminates against one’s gender, class or religion but on one’s genes instead. The movie acts as a cautionary tale about the extremes in technology and genetic engineering through its powerful visuals. A world attempting to create utopia by genetically enhancing reproduction does not leave much to an otherwise natural process, and this can ultimately lead to more destruction than perfection.

Aldous Huxley wisely inserts many instances of distortion to the elements in Brave New World to successfully caution the world about its growing interest in technology.

Although the technology required to modify humans to such an extent that it becomes a problem is still a few years away, writers have spent decades exploring the possible impacts of eugenics and human modification. Brave New World, a novel written by Aldous Huxley in 1932 during the first wave of support for eugenics, is a classic example of such an exploration, focusing on a futuristic society made up almost entirely of genetically engineered “test tube” babies. Todd J. Schmid of DePauw University states that the novel deals with the question of what humanity is defined as and how genetic engineering can impact human nature, making the claim that “while genetics can alter the physical and even mental

The transition from the crazy technological advances of today, to the “technopoly” in Brave New World is one that deems to be growing nearer, frighteningly. When do advances in technology begin to cause chaos and not peace, or harm and not help? It cannot be predicted when friendly intentions can bring about ill-fated ends, yet Huxley provides a thoughtful speculation. How long before the fangs of technology latch around society, and tear away the morals held to be valuable? Should this peril be distressed upon? Or embraced? As Huxley once said, “Progress is lovely, isn’t it?” (Huxley