Human Spirit and Technology in the “Gattaca” Film

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Gattaca: A Story within a Story
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Gattaca is a futuristic movie that reflects how science and technology can drastically change the way people lives. This movie has given new meaning to the concepts of human spirit and technology, not only because it involves people but also interconnects the importance of human spirit and the disadvantages of too much dependency to technology.

Gattaca: A Story within a Story

Gattaca talks about the life of Vincent Morrow, a person who is perceived as an invalid and/or an imperfect human being in a made-to-be perfect society. He is perceived as invalid because of many health reasons he has by being borne naturally. When he was born, he was already assessed to have only a 30-year life expectancy. He is also diagnosed to have asthma, eye-disorder (myopia) and a congenital heart problem.

These illnesses may seem just normal today, but the problem is Vincent was born in the future. He is part of the made-to-be-perfect society where science has taken over. Politics, religion and family do not really matter anymore because it is science that dictates what to do and where to go. In Vincent’s time, the human genetic code has been discovered and is being continuously studied in a way that everyday, there are always breakthroughs in terms of cure for cancer, obesity, manic depression, or whatever diseases that are all incurable as to date.

Because Vincent has a problem with his own genes (he was born by natural birth and his parents did not allow his genes to be altered or to be genetically modified), he is considered as useless. Having this problem, Vincent’s parents decided to have another child and this time, they made sure that their second child will have the perfect genes. And so, when Vincent and his brother (Anton) were growing up, sibling rivalry is a common scene. They would always compete with each other and would try to prove who is better (e.g. who is the fastest runner, the fastest swimmer etc).

Vincent’s brother, Anton, would always win, as expected. But there was one time when Vincent won. They dared each other to swim and stay in the water the longest time possible. As usual Anton expected that he would win, but while in the water, he almost got drowned, thanks to Vincent who did not hesitate to save him.

This scene is actually one of the symbolisms in the story, the water, where they would always swim. This just mean that however altered the society may be, there will always be some aspects which would remain uncontrollable, and only then we can prove the real strength of each one of us.

As Vincent and Anton grow older, they had their separate ways. Anton worked as a policeman. Vincent worked as a janitor in the space corporation – the Gattaca. But he had high hopes and dreams. He does not want to remain that way forever. In fact, this is the very reason why he questioned his mother’s reasoning when she chose the life for him:

“I’ll never understand what possessed my mother to put her faith in God’s hands, rather than her local geneticist”

He wants to be part of the Gattaca’s project in going to the space. He wants to see the sky and reach the stars, literally and figuratively. Because of this dreams, Vincent had to resort to some ‘illegal’ ways. He found out that there was a man, named Jerome Eugene Morrow, who has a perfect gene but he was crippled by an accident. This man becomes alcoholic and he was looking for financial sources so that he can support his drinking habits. Vincent made a deal with Eugene.

Vincent will get Eugene’s identity and he will provide for Eugene’s financial needs. This is the start of a ‘symbiosis’ between Vincent and Eugene. Eugene provides all the bodily fluids and other genetic material that will keep Vincent’s disguise. Vincent got accepted in Gattaca’s project. The plan is almost perfect but several days before he could fly in the space, the director of the project was murdered and Vincent accidentally left his own genetic material (an eye lash) at the scene. Thus, an investigation was conducted, trying to locate Vincent (in his real identity) because he was the prime suspect.

Anton, who happened to be one of the police investigators, found out the agreement between Vincent and Eugene. Anton could not believe that such disguise is possible and at the same time he could not believe that Vincent has really beaten him and the swimming challenge they had before. And so, Anton challenged Vincent again. The history repeats itself, Anton, whose genes are altered to become perfect, lose to Vincent, despite his God given or natural genes.

Because of this, Anton and Vincent made a pact that no one would reveal Vincent and Eugene’s agreement. And so, Vincent was safe from pushing through his dreams of going to the space. On the day that he was to go to the space, Eugene killed himself. He left tons of urine samples and other genetic material for Vincent to get by on his disguise. He killed himself in the incinerator where Vincent would normally throw his own genetic materials like loose skins and hair every morning.

This is yet another symbolism in the story. Eugene committing a suicide in the incinerator which Vincent uses to destroy his own genetic proofs symbolizes that Eugene has given his whole life, his own genetic make up to Vincent. Vincent, on the other hand, will continue to destroy his own genetic materials just to reach his dreams and/or be part of the society where he is considered as invalid.

Conclusion

Indeed, Gattaca is a movie which can be consider as a product of great imagination where the impact of science and technology – one of the greatest form of societal advancement – is highlighted. However, the movie has presented that with too much dependency to science, in a way that it dictates they way people live, breath, think and believe, is not good and will only bring chaos to mankind. However perfect the world seemed to be by altering even the human genetic make up, there will always be imperfections that will come along. These imperfections are the proof of the real human spirit that will always be part of our world, no matter what.

Vincent’s continuously defeating Anton in their swimming challenge is a proof that Vincent’s spirit and determination paved the way to overcoming Anton.

Vincent’s spirit and will to reach his dreams enable him to defeat the society. He was able to fool everyone by disguising himself and he got want he wanted, even with his God-given genetics.

Indeed, Vincent is right when he said “There’s no gene for fate”.

References

Gattaca. 1997. Movie.

Quotable quotes from Gattaca. Web.

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Human Spirit and Technology in the “Gattaca” Film

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