What thoughts do you have after our initial unit, which is a foundation for the class? We have discussed prejudice, discrimination, racism, anti-Semitism, genocide... Were there things you wanted to say in class, but didn't? What are your feelings on having watched "GATTACA"? Can you see the dangers of an "equal" society?
Lit Terms 2
6 years ago
6 comments:
So far, I have thoroughly enjoyed the things we have discussed in class. It brings to light issues that are usually cause for awkward or hushed conversations. To be honest, at first I thought Gattica would be a movie I would sleep through, but before I knew it I was personally involved with Vincent's situation. It scares me to think that that could be our not too distant future. I don't believe that there can be an equal society. There are too many people in the world with too many different opinions. Even with science, not all things are possible.
An "equal" society like depicted in Gattica reminds me heavily of the novel 1984 by George Orwell. It's one of my favorite novels- one I believe everyone should read during their lifetime. Gattica and Orwell present two slightly different societies, but both with similar themes. In Gattica, religion and government have little to do with the plot or the movie at all.
In 1984, people are controlled and manipulated by their government, and in effect, the society itself. They only help perpetuate the control the government has over them. In Gattica, we have a similar situation. People have become so accustomed to "perfect" beings that they trash the old and idolize the new. By the end of Orwell's novel, Winston has lost all hope or form of resistance. The government (a group of people) forced him to give up on his hopes of living life the way he wanted, savoring freedom, and struggling to make a difference in his society. Winston is crushed emotionally and lies low for what we assume the rest of his existence on this Earth. In Gattica, we see yet again, a similar theme. The main character (whose name evades me) stood up in opposition to the rules of his society and became a borrowed ladder. He then struggled as hard as he could to change his social status and achieve his dreams. Unlike Winston, he had a happy ending. In Winston’s society if you didn’t work for the government you were essentially left to yourself, wound up poor, lived in filth, and in most cases died young.
The two societies depicted in the movie and Orwell's novel describes societies in which a society has made trouble for itself by accepting an idea presented to them. In Orwell- it was let the government take care of everything or be killed. In Gattica, it was choose to make a perfect baby because it's been socially accepted, if you don't, your child will be unsuccessful.
All these societies have a common thread, society is easily swayed for a higher power’s benefit (let it be the government or the people of science). People follow trends. If that’s to bow down to your government or make a custom baby, those who don’t follow said trend, will be exiled into a their own little dystopia.
We are born with the ability to hate, whether or not we will hate or dislike people, depends only on time. No human being loves everyone, no matter what they claim. I do not believe equality in this country or any will ever be fully possible. You’re approaching a utopian idea that seriously won’t happen.
-Laura
Btw, I definately miss-spelled Gattaca. Sorry. :)
-Laura
I have enjoied everything we have done in the class, and I can see us making progress in our comfort level and learning environment about such emotional topics. I love all of our discussions, and I feel like discussing these awkward or even embarrasing topics are truely going to help us, not only in school but very much in reality and the real world. I am really glad that this unique class was set up the way it is because I know this first foundation unit is going to help each of us as individuals. It has personally opened my eyes very widely about the topics we have discussed so far. At first when we stated watching "Gattaca" I thought I was going to hate it especially since it was Science Fiction. After watching it I thought it was very interesting and it made me really think about our future or our "not so distant" future. It's scary to see that and to think that to some extent something like that could happen to us in a short few years. On the other hand, I do not belive there can be a completely equal society. We are always going to be unique individuals no matter how far science takes it's discoveries.
When i heard that GATTACA was a science fiction movie, my immediate response was, "Great, another boring movie." but i actually ended up enjoying it. It was a great show of what could happen if technology got out of hand.
In class the subject of a DNA data bank was brought up, and i remembered discussing it in my forensic science class. We had to say if we were for or against it and give our reasoning. At first i blew off the worries of insurance companies or employers getting a hold of it, and focused on the fact that it would provide an easy way to find criminals. But after seeing this movie, it made me think that what happened in the movie could happen in real life. The part at the beginning that said "In the not to distant future." made me realize that this could happen in my life time. MY children might live in a world where your genetic make-up is more important than your personality. It's hard enough now, without that. I don't want my children or grandchildren to have to live through that.
I am so excited to be taking this class. It is wonderful that not only are people wanting to learn about it, but someone is willing teach it when some people won't talk about it, and others refuse it's existence. People need to learn about things like this, and not just in the day or so that is spent on it in other history classes. People need to be informed that this wasn't something that could only happen betweeen 1933 and 1944. There is a quote that says "Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it." and i believe it wholeheartedly.
That movie was very scary in the way that it could so easily become true. I really liked our discussion on the movie and in the format we did it. It allowed us to write our feelings without have to say them out loud. I think it is very possible, what happened in the movie to happen in real lift, but in the far future. For a society to convince all of the people that to "select" your child is the way to go would take generations or at least a very long time to do. Science will go as far as it can.
Ashley P.
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