VCE English- Gattaca noted (for Year 11 VCE students).  By Emma Roache

Genetic Engineering (superior and imperfect)

-          The assumption that in-valid cannot meet corporate demands destines them to remain laborers lacking future prospects or advancement.

-          Ceaser exemplifies this class of ‘inferiors’, as he sees to bring Vincent ‘down to earth’ when he say, ‘don’t clean it (the glass) too well…You might get ideas’. Vincent before becoming Jerome could only be a cleaner at Gattaca, looking up through the windows at genetically enhanced employees ascending escalators or through skylights at the shooting up, leaving him below.

-          Society’s obsession with defining people by their genetic ‘background’ magnifies the importance of genetic material.

-           In the opening scene, the thunderous crash of a fingernail striking the ground, in extreme close up, stresses the weight that is placed in a persons physical make-up.

-          ‘Ten fingers and ten toes, that’s all that matters, Not now.’

-          ‘They used to say that a child conceived in love had a greater chance of happiness. They don’t say that anymore.’

-          Genetic manipulation is described as ‘the natural way’ of conceiving children.

-          ‘I never understood why my mother put her faith in god’s hands rather than those of her local gentists.’

-          ‘We now have discrimination down to a science’.

-          Types of birth- utero v vitro, faith birth…Vincent is a ‘borrowed ladder’, a ‘de-generate’, ‘playing somebody else’s hand’

-          Irene checks Vincent’s genetic profile because she is interested in him, and is disappointed when she finds he is a ’9.3- quite a catch.’

-          “We look for in-valids where in-valids are,’ (Hugo) evidence of segregation at jail.

-          “Your engineered just like the rest of us. (Vincent)’ ‘Not quite the rest…unacceptable likelihood of heart failure….’ (Irene)

-          ‘They’ve got you looking so hard for any flaw- that after a while that is all you see.’  (Irene)

-          Valid are commonly blinkered, selfish, egotistic, arrogant. They see what matters to then as more important than what others want. Except for Eugene who has become unselfish and thoughtful, preparing materials for Vincent in the future.

-          In Gattaca, an ideology of success, linked to genetic engineering dominates society.

-          Self advancement is achieved through meeting corporate standards and joining the elite; ‘perfecting’ one’s children and mating with someone of good genetic potential.

-          Anton fearing ‘contamination’ by inferior blood will not become Vincent’s blood brother.

-          The untamed ‘fluid’ of the ocean in the lovemaking scene contrasts with the containers of Eugene’s’ ‘imprisoned’ body fluids. These images of free verses trapped liquids contrast Vincent’s ‘scientific’ struggle to refashion himself into someone conforming to society’s demands with the passionate, liberating moments where he is himself- swimming against Anton and developing intimacy with Irene.

Vincent and his imperfections (in-valids):

-          ’60% chance of neurological condition, 42% manic depression, 89% ADD, 99% of heart dieses, Life Expectancy 30.2.’

-          He doesn’t get his fathers name

-          Vincent isn’t accepted into pre-school because ‘the insurance wouldn’t cover it,’

-          ‘I came to think of myself as others thought of me… as chronically ill.’

-          Anton won’t share blood.

-          ‘My real resume was in my cells.’

-          The only way you will see the inside of a spaceship is if you’re cleaning it.’

-          Genoism???

-          ‘I have a right to be here.” Do you have any ides of what it tool to get in here?’ ‘Is that the only way you can succeed? To see me fail?’ ” Not even you are going to tell me what I can and can’t do.’

-          ‘…I don’t need rescuing…you did once- how do you explain that?’

-          ‘the best test score in the world wasn’t going to matter, unless I has the blood test to go with it.

The world of Gattacta (scientific and rational) passion????

-          Vincent falls through the cracks in the most carefully and strictly ordered society.

-          Gattaca’s world seems a cold, manufactured, ordered society, ruled by a science with little room for individuality.

-          A society with an arrogant belief in the science of genetics.

-          In the ‘not-too distant future, the world of Gattaca is where genetic engineering has become the normal approach to procreation.

-          Faithful to genetic determinism, companies no longer conduct job interviews, rather relying solely on urine and blood tests to ‘predict’ candidate’s potential.

-          Gattaca’s theory is that the genetically enhanced should always out-perform the genetically un-enhanced.

-          ‘Who do you have to be, to be here?’ (at Gattaca- Anton)

-          They have had to accept some minor imperfection (Irene), but ‘nothing that would prohibit someone working in the field of law enforcement, for example.’ …but now there are ‘enough of the right kind of people

-          The society, as portrayed in the text, appears conformist and collectivist.

-          Gattaca’s employees, lined up and uniform in suits seem objects, part of the geometrical designs.

-          This hierarchical world represses freedom and self-determination.

-          Gattaca’s society is not collectivist but ruthlessly competitive and individualistic.

-          The sterile, cold workplaces of elitist colorations like Gattaca promote competition and isolation

-          Gattaca’s society involve a culture of self-advancement through genetic engineering, a caste system of valid and in-valids and social discrimination based on ‘genoism’.

-          Gattac’s employees work alone, silently, at computers or training machines in a cold, alienating world.

Triumph over genetic destiny

-          ‘Destined’ to be an in-valid but driven to rebel, Vincent’s bravery and determination help in surpass his ‘predetermined’ potential measured at birth.

-          Vincent commitment and struggle seem very individualistic as he refuses to ‘accept the hand that fate dealt’ him.

-          He is utterly devoted to his own cause while eliminating his body materials and adopting Eugene’s.

-          Vincent asserts his individuality while ‘erasing’ his genetic ‘identity’.

-          Vincent crosses a highway despite blurred vision, whereas the police and management investigating the murder seem blind.

-          Proving ‘there’s not gene for fate’, Vincent transforms challenges the wisdom of allowing genetic potential to decide the future of individuals, during his ‘journey’ to the stars.

-          Shots of him scrubbing himself stress his constant struggle to overcome his genetic inheritance, to erase his ‘real’ identity and construct a ‘false’ one- while ironically forging an authentic and string identity and individuality.

-          In this resultant conflict with society to realize his ambition, Vincent asserts his individuality in the community.

-          Shadows criss-cross Vincent’s body like bars when scrubs away his body materials, conveying a sense of imprisonment imposed by his genetic ‘destiny’ and societies expectations of his potential and role.

-          He is an individual who must rebel.

-          He is literally a self-made man

-          Chicken Race

-          Clear water in second swim. ‘The impossible happened.’ ‘It was the one moment in our lives that may brother was not as strong as he believed, and I was not as weak.’

-          ‘It was the moment that made every thing else possible.’

-          Anton still keeps training for swimming

-          His heart was 10,000 beats overdue.’ (Two days)

-          The third chicken race. Triumphant, swelling music. Clear water. ‘How are you doing all this Vincent? How have you done any of this? ‘This is how I did it. I never saved anything for the swim back.’

Help from others:

-          Ceaser sees him inside Gattaca as a top-rung employee; admiring Vincent’s audacity, he keeps his secret and protects him against the police, removing a paper-cup he drinks from.

-          Doctor Lamar reveals that he has long understood and colluded in Vincent’s deception. He helps him cheat the system and enter the rocket at the end.

-          Irene eventually helps to maintain Vincent’s cover and protects him, telling him to leave work when the Investigator is looking for him, and maintaining the deception with Eugene.

-          Anton after being saved again in the swimming race abanded his pursuit perhaps out of a grudging respect for his brothers determinations and audacity.

-          Director Josef, seeming to point at ‘Vincent’s the in-valid’ on Vincent’s screen seems, to know of his deception.  Perhaps he kills the rival director to protect the voyage for Vincent.

-          Eugene drags himself painfully up the stairs before the investigator arrives. He provides years of body materials to maintain Vincent’s disguise long after Eugene is dead.

-          All these characters seem surrogate fathers for Vincent.

Strength of character:

-          Biological make-up proves less important then strength of character.

-          Instead, of the physiological fate, it is the strengths an individual psychological holds that determines the future of an individual, and Vincent proves this.

-          Vincent releases that anything is possible with courage, persistence and sprit. He demonstrates this courage when he risks swimming beyond Anton and his physical ‘potential’ and when he has his legs stretched.

-          The use of genetic engineering is proved in Gattaca to still not uphold to human spirit and courage

-          Although faking genetic test, Vincent passes every real test of strength, courage and character.

-          Vincent’s defects give him spirit Eugene and the other lack.

-          It is reveled that inner strength cannot be engineered as it emerges out of an individual contending with the challenges of a specific environment.

Not reaching predetermined potential:

-          Niccol condemns the belief that humans are nothing more than there genes. He does this by showing how the genetically perfect Anton, Josef and Eugene do not reach their predetermined potential

Josef

-          This false biological determination is demonstrated through Josef, whose profile ‘proves’ that he hasn’t ‘a violent bone is his body’, yet he is a murderer.

Anton

-          In contrast Anton does not live up to his pre-determined ‘promise’, twice losing at swimming and only becoming a detective.

-          Anton was ‘a son my father considered worthy of his name’.

Eugene

-          Eugene, a person engineered to be flawless, lacks the ‘sprit’ and strength of character to succeed

-          “A genetic quotient second to none.’ (German)

-          “He is practically going to live forever, he has got an IQ off the register, he has got better than 20/20 vision in both eyes and a heart of an Ox. He could run through a brick wall, if only he could run.’

-          ‘Jerome Morrow was never meant to be one step down on the podium.’

-          ‘Jerome had been engineered with everything right except for the desire.’

-          Eugene had ‘never been more sober’ then when he walked in front of that car’. He couldn’t even get that right’ but ‘if at first you don’t succeed, then try , try again’.

Relationships:

-          Relationships are second to self advancement.

-          People only seem to form romances if they can profit from the genetic potential gained

-          Vincent dare not form relationships at work for fear of discovery, but neither do the other workers.

-          Genuine human relationships are stiflied. People seem to devoted to ‘getting ahead, to climbing the ladder and furthering their careers to communicate openly or become involved with others.

-          The prevailing ideology damages families. Parents choose socially-favored traits for their children.

-          Romances are similarly poisoned; people check each other’s genetic ‘potential’ before forming attachments.

Irene

-          Irene first seems attracted to Vincent’s because of his ‘brilliant’ genes.  Although her adherence to society’s values makes spontaneous relationships almost possible.

-          Overcoming her anger at being attracted to and deceived by an in-valid, Irene protects and supports Vincent. She admires his refusal to accepts his genetic destiny, which allows her to challenge her own ‘weak heart’.

Eugene

-          Eugene a misanthropic ‘failure’ initially forms a partnership with Vincent for selfish reasons.

-          He learns to love Vincent who lends him, temporality, as reason to live.

-          Eugene creates ‘everything you will need to last you two lifetimes.’  ‘So Jerome will always by here when you need him.’

-          ‘I got the better part of the deal. I only lent you my body. You lent me your dream.’

-          ‘For someone who was never meant to be in this world I must confess I’m suddenly having a hard time leavening it’.

-          The lock of hair Eugene gives Vincent for the voyage to Titan is primarily a souvenir of the love that has grown between them.

Inspiring Others

-          While, Vincent’s struggle and victory over ‘destiny’ seems to endorse an ambitious individualism that inspired others,

-          In proving that genes aren’t the sole determinate of people’s lives, Vincent inspired and changed others.

-          Vincent’s ‘rise’ allows other in-valid to hope for more then genetic ‘inferiority’ or weakness.

-          He wins Irene’s admiration and devotion when she learns how he has battled his way up, proving that she doesn’t need to submit to the ‘fate’ dictated by her faulty heart.

-          Vincent also encourages Doctor Lamar and his son to reject the ‘destiny’ that genetics has supposedly determined for the boy. ‘He’s a big fan of yours…Unfortunately my son is not all that they promised. But then, who knows what he could do?

-          Above all, Vincent inspires Eugene, helping him temporarily overcome his bitterness at not living up to the expectations created by perfect genes.

-          His victory over his fate encourages and gives hope to people with their own genetic problem, like Irene and Doctor Lamar.

Dream:

-          Vincent dreams of being an astronaut but, as an in-valid, he cannot achieve this.

-          ‘If you’re going to pretend like you don’t care, don’t look up.’ (Irene)

-          He doesn’t know if his interest in space reflects a ‘love of the planets or [his] growing dislike of this one.’

-          ‘I was never more certain of how far away I was from my goal than when I was standing right beside it.’

-          ‘You of all people’ going in to space- Eugene says

-          The surface of Titan has ‘cloud around it so thick no one can tell what’s underneath.’

-          The only trop I’ll go around the sun on is the one I’m standing on right now.’ (Irene)

-          ‘They say every atom in our bodies was once part of a star. Maybe I’m not leaving; maybe I’m going home.’

Condemning genetics:

-          Eugene climbs the helix stairways

-          Genes become destiny

-          Genetic discrimination, labeling people forever, is depicted as misguided and unjust.

-          Twice he beats Anton at swimming, proving genes are not the sole determinant.

-          The falsity of predictive genetics is exposed through Vincent’s rise above his destiny

-          His scrupulous scrubbing and falsifying of genetic materials stress the struggle required to defy society’s imposed destiny.

-          Niccol condemns the obsession with genetics as something which blinds people to reality.

-          Discriminations against the un-enhanced is based on the assumption that genetic manipulation improves an individual.

-          The film also condemns the false premises of genetic engineering and eugenics aim of eradicating ‘undesirable’ traits and imperfections.

-          Genetic determinations are shown to stifle potential.

-          Genetic elitism and competitiveness are condemns as damaging relationships.

-          In this ‘manicured’ world, human passions still seek liberation; people quietly sabotage the rules, loyalty and love continue and individuality survives.

-          Vincent represents the triumph of human spirit over a supposedly ‘perfect’, genetically engineered world.

Passion:

-          Passion to forge a new identity- scrubbing his body in a heroic attempt to erase of his old identity, strapping on false urine samples, and enduring the agony to increase his height.

-          He also finds passion to sleep with Irene, although body matter left behind threatens to expose him.

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This content has been provided by Emma Roache who gave approval for this work to be made publicly available on this website. The author has given due credit to the sources of information. Please respect the author’s copyright.

Emma Roache was a VCE student at Hawkesdale P-12 College in 2006. She is currently studying Commerce at Deakin University. She received an enter score of 84.9 (English-42, Further Maths- 38, Accounting- 34, Biology-32, Environmental Science-34)

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