Christian Fry Blog 5

For my research essay I have chosen to look at the dystopian film Gattaca. Gattaca is a film based in a time period in the future. This futuristic society has placed a great deal of importance on genetics. In this future society parents pick and choose what traits and exactly what genes they want to pass on to their children. In this scenario, where genetic perfection is the standard, people slightly less than perfect are seen as virtually worthless. The story’s main character, Vincent Freeman was born without the use of these DNA programming methods, has a heart condition, and is given 30 years to live. His genetic makeup makes him the subject of genetic discrimination, even by his own younger brother. Vincent’s brother Anton was given the genetic makeup of a champion and he never lets Vincent forget. Vincent does show some signs of uniqueness when a swimming endurance contest between the brothers leave Vincent to save his brother and show his worth. Vincent gets a job as a janitor at an organization like NASA but constantly dreams of being an astronaut but knows that only the genetically valid are given these jobs. He decides that if he fakes his identity, he might have a shot at achieving his goal. He finds an identity donor and they proceed to fool society despite others’ suspicions and an actual investigation.

The features of this story that make it a dystopia is the fact that in this society people are given social class based on their genetic codes. People are given the title valid if they have desirable traits and those who don’t are stuck in a social pit of discrimination that is seemingly inescapable. This society also hunts down those who try to beat the system. This society is, on the surface, better because we can ensure that the most capable of our race have the most demanding jobs. This system is shown to be flawed by Vincent because genes don’t make up a person determination and that is what ultimately gives Vincent the edge over the genetically valid, even his own star athlete brother.

I think Marxism might be the lens through which I will be analyzing this film. There are a lot of examples in the text that talk about societal power structures. Also social class is highly discussed within and the jobs available to the different genetic social classes. The text shows that these classes and social structures can be manipulated or bypassed in a sense.  It also shows the doors that are opened to the genetically superior and those that are opened to the genetically inferior.

I have done some research and found some things but not specifically about Marxism and this text, just basic criticism of themes, motifs, ideas and so forth.