Themes and DiscussionThemes and Discussion

Themes in GattacaThemes in Gattaca

Destiny vs. free willDestiny vs. free willThe dangers of genetic and The dangers of genetic and

scientific experimentationscientific experimentationSystemic discriminationSystemic discrimination

Names in GattacaNames in Gattaca Jerome = Genome (Genetic material)Jerome = Genome (Genetic material) Morrow = i.e. as in toMorrow = i.e. as in tomorrow 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. 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

Destiny vs. free willDestiny vs. free will

GattacaGattaca shows us that our destiny cannot be shows us that our destiny cannot be mapped out using our genetic code. Our mapped out using our genetic code. Our free will and our determination are what free will and our determination are what ultimately determine the path our life will ultimately determine the path our life will take.take.

Do you agree or disagree?Do you agree or disagree?

Destiny vs. free willDestiny vs. free will

Characters who embody this theme are:Characters who embody this theme are:VincentVincentIreneIreneAntonAntonAny others?Any others?

Destiny vs. free willDestiny vs. free will

Key scenes:Key scenes:Vincent’s ‘destiny’ is mapped out at the Vincent’s ‘destiny’ is mapped out at the moment of his birthmoment of his birthVincent beats Anton in the chicken race Vincent beats Anton in the chicken race (twice)(twice)Vincent tells Irene he is a borrowed ladderVincent tells Irene he is a borrowed ladderAny others? Any others?

Destiny vs. free willDestiny vs. free will

Useful quotes:Useful quotes:‘‘There is no gene for the human spirit.’There is no gene for the human spirit.’‘‘This is how I did it, Anton. I never saved This is how I did it, Anton. I never saved anything for the swim back.’anything for the swim back.’‘‘No one exceeds their potential.’No one exceeds their potential.’

The dangers of genetic and The dangers of genetic and scientific experimentationscientific experimentation

GattacaGattaca shows us a world in which the shows us a world in which the pace of scientific discovery has been left pace of scientific discovery has been left unchecked by moral and ethical debate.unchecked by moral 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.

The dangers of genetic and The dangers of genetic and scientific experimentationscientific experimentation

The The motifsmotifs of the fingernails, urine tests, of the fingernails, urine tests, blood tests and hair samples symbolise a blood tests and hair samples symbolise a world obsessed with genetic purity.world obsessed with genetic purity.

The dangers of genetic and The dangers of genetic and scientific experimentationscientific experimentation

Key scenes:Key scenes:Vincent goes for a job interview but fails Vincent goes for a job interview but fails the urine testthe urine testVincent, with Jerome’s borrowed genes, Vincent, with Jerome’s borrowed genes, goes for another interview and gets the job.goes for another interview and gets the job.Any others?Any others?

The dangers of genetic and The dangers of genetic and scientific experimentationscientific experimentation

Useful quotes:Useful quotes:‘‘I belonged to a new underclass, no longer I belonged to a new underclass, no longer determined by social status or the colour of your determined by social status or the colour of your skin. No, we now have discrimination down to a skin. No, we now have discrimination down to a science.’science.’‘‘Nobody takes the law seriously.’Nobody takes the law seriously.’‘‘They used to say that a child conceived in love They used to say that a child conceived in love has a greater chance of happiness. They don’t say has a greater chance of happiness. They don’t say that anymore.’that anymore.’

What are the dangers of genetic What are the dangers of genetic and scientific experimentation?and scientific experimentation?

What is Andrew Niccol’s opinion?What is Andrew Niccol’s opinion?

How can science be controlled?How can science be controlled?

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 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.

Systemic discriminationSystemic discrimination

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 code.to one’s genetic code.

What are three examples of genoism in What are three examples of genoism in Gattaca?Gattaca?

The World of The World of GattacaGattaca is Dystopic is Dystopic

How is How is GattacaGattaca a dystopia? a dystopia? 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.of their place in society.

Visual metaphors which show Visual metaphors which show discriminationdiscrimination

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)

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 allotted 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 firm in her belief in her fatalities."

• • 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 that humans have- that they are paranoias that 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?"