The film Gattaca has a futuristic setting; it involves issues that are happening in the world today. Such a case can be depicted in the form of the new DNA programming where children can be tested to know what they will be in future, their strength and weaknesses. This in the real world involves in-vitro fertilization and embryo selection. This also includes cloning in order to have the very perfect of everything such as crops, certain breeds of animals and also people. As the main character Vincent is seen as more of an outcast because he has been born naturally, in the real world it’s more or less the same for those who are genetically born or “manufactured”. Children born in test tubes or more commonly known as test tube babies or gene therapy where human genes are manipulated are looked at differently in the society. Furthermore, people are no longer being biased on the person’s gender rather than how strong or weak your genes are considering the job being done (Gelbert 107).
In the world of Gattaca, there are general rules and orders. This has a comparison to the world we live in today due to the technology to trace and track people wherever they might be and whatever they might be doing. In today’s world, people are identified by their DNA and this comes in handy where we have to trace criminals whom we cannot put a name and a face to. Having an up-close look at this film show one realizes that it’s not so different with the world we are living in. Like the character Vincent tries to defy his genetic destiny, those living amongst us today take up steroids to help them get those desired bodies and muscles. Others have taken up in using drugs to create that environment where they can forget their problems and face the day before the effects wear out. When the main character tries to steal someone’s identity, it can be related to the real world. In today’s technology it is easy to be someone else, by stealing their identity and begin functioning like them. This can be through card thefts and identification theft.
Conclusion
The point the director, Andrew Noccol is trying to put across is the issues that are there with the current society. He tries to show how people are viewing their present conditions based on their genes. From obesity, alcoholism, homosexuality and many more defects related to the generic genes. He is also trying to depict the changes which the society is undergoing from normality or what has been known as normal to what people want to see as normal. Such cases are in situations such as parents trying to have children with partners of good genes which include good bodies, high intelligence among many other traits (Duiker 79).
For some who cannot afford this kind of generic manufacturing or having children with other people, some are opting for easier way outs such as buying contact lenses to change their eye colors. Others are imitating what their role models are doing, wearing like they do and changing their image to fit in their desired models. All in all, this film is a good depiction of where the society is headed to and the power that science has over us. We can change our surroundings but we truly cannot change who we are and what we are meant to be. The director could also be coming across as one who is showing the negative side of science and how much it can change us from being human into creations of our own perfection that is not in line with nature.
Works cited
Duiker, William J. Contemporary World History. 5th ed. New York: Cengage Learning, 2009.
Gelbert, Doug. Film and television locations. Bieberly Hills: McFarland, 2002.