Secondly, thanks girls for your concern while I've been sick. I assume that Miss Glynn was in hysterics, worrying about a 1/3 of her ideal student ;) I am well on my way to recovery now. I'm not going to die, I had a lovely doctor named Sunday, an arm stuffed with gauze and now, a cool scar to show off! :D
Anyway! Back to business
1. Ecclesiastes 7:13 “Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked?” on the DVD cover there is a quote, “There is no gene for the human spirit”. What is Niccol trying to say? What do you think Niccol’s perspective is on genetic testing and modification?
Following the Christian ideology, we are all created equal before God. He died so that we may live. Apart from Jesus, no human is perfect. Each person has a purpose and we are formed accordingly. That is given the gifts and traits required to achieve; be that as a mother or as President. Therefore if God, who is omnipotent, has created us with flaws... "Who can straighten what he has made crooked? Obviously that is god's will and no government overhaul can compete.
I think think the quote "There is no gene for the human spirit" is Niccol's way of rebelling against the ideas of Gattaca Corp. and the dystopian society. It promotes freedom, even if the only freedom you have is inside your mind. It points out a flaw in the system. They believe that they have created the ideal world; manipulating the genetic code to create the perfect person. You can't determine human spirit with a blood or urine test. It is internal. The one thing that society doesn't have control over. The one thing that belongs solely to you and can't be altered. The one possible solution to overcoming society's views?
In my opinion, Niccol, when writing and creating characters for Gattaca, had definitely invested some of his beliefs into the character Vincent/Jerome. They share that same determination. They both question society and are both strong-willed. Both will push barriers. Both will dream big and then aim bigger. Neither will conform. Therefore I feel that Niccol's perspective on genetic testing and modification is neither "for" or "against"; but whether that testing and modification influences our innermost desires.
2. Who are the main characters? What are their relationships?
- Vincent: A "faith birth, initially born into a loving environment until society began pointing out flaws. Since then, he has always been the "inferior" child in his family, as compared to Anton. He defies society by stealing Jerome's identity, forming a relationship with him. All other relationships are fake, based on lies. Apart from Irene, who he falls in love with and eventually reveals the truth too.
- Irene: An inferior person, she has ambition but has succumbed to society's ideal of perfection. And so never believing in herself and the constant comparison. She falls in love with the "perfect Jerome", only to realise that he is in fact invalid Vincent.
- Jerome: A perfect human being, who became paralysed from the waist down, after a car accident. He is anti-social, angry and doesn't have relationships...Until he meets Vincent, who he agrees to help by letting him "take his identity". Letting Vincent take his DNA.
3. How does this film fit into the category of dystopia?
Gattaca fits into the category of dystopia with: The oppression of society, the fear of consequences, Vincent's desire to defy the mores of society.
4. What elements of this film are science fiction? Why does this work well with dystopia?
- Gattaca being a space station
- Set in the future
- DNA testing/ modification
- Futuristic scientific developments
To be continued...
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