Is it wrong to design a Is it wrong to design a baby?baby?

GATTACAGATTACA

In In GattacaGattaca’s dystopian society, “physical perfectibility ’s dystopian society, “physical perfectibility has, ironically, led to an obsession with flaws. Vincent's has, ironically, led to an obsession with flaws. Vincent's [heroic] struggle to realize his dream strikes a blow [heroic] struggle to realize his dream strikes a blow against the status quo on behalf of the human spirit – against the status quo on behalf of the human spirit – for which, as is observed in the film, there is no gene.”for which, as is observed in the film, there is no gene.”

John A. WoodcockJohn A. Woodcock,

NYU School of Medical Humanities DatabaseNYU School of Medical Humanities Database http://endeavor.med.nyu.edu/lit-med/lit-med-db/webdocs/webfilms/gattaca96-film-.html

The most unremarkable of events.The most unremarkable of events.

The most unremarkable of events.The most unremarkable of events.

The most unremarkable of events.The most unremarkable of events.

V O:O: This highly prestigious This highly prestigious assignment assignment was guaranteed was guaranteed Jerome at birth. Jerome at birth. He has all the He has all the gifts required. A gifts required. A genetic genetic quotient second to none. quotient second to none. There’s There’s nothing remarkable about nothing remarkable about the the progress of Jerome Morrow.progress of Jerome Morrow.• What is the irony of this VO introduction? • How does it establish the film’s central

theme of the human spirit’s victory over genetic determinism?

The The most unremarkablemost unremarkable of events. of events.

IntertextualityIntertextuality

• Several of GATTACA’s Sci Fi and film noir elements are borrowed from earlier films.

IntertextualityIntertextuality

• Several of GATTACA’s Sci Fi and film noir elements are borrowed from earlier films: 2001 – A Space Oddyssey

IntertextualityIntertextuality

• Several of GATTACA’s Sci Fi and film noir elements are borrowed from earlier films: Blade Runner

INTRICATE VISUAL INTRICATE VISUAL SYMBOLISMSYMBOLISM

Film NoirFilm Noir• Film noir is a movie genre

marked by cynical characters and a mood of menace and fatalism.

• The term [black film] was applied by French critics to describe American thriller or detective movies in the 1940’s, which used B&W film stock (because it was cheaper than colour) and whose themes reflected a social pessimism, largely as a result of WW2.

• What are its double meanings?

GATTACA NoirGATTACA Noir

• What features does GATTACA borrow from the genre of film noir ?

IntertextualityIntertextuality

• What does Niccol’s reference to Alfred Hitchcock’s 1951 Noir classic Strangers on a Train lend to his film?

IntertextualityIntertextuality

• What does Niccol’s reference to Alfred Hitchcock’s 1951 Noir classic Strangers on a Train lend to his film?

CHAPTER 11CHAPTER 11

• LOVE IN PARALLEL:– WHAT DO EUGENE AND IRENE HAVE IN

COMMON?

CHAPTER 11CHAPTER 11

• LOVE IN PARALLEL:– WHAT DO EUGENE AND IRENE HAVE IN COMMON?– (APART FROM ‘HOMOSOCIAL DESIRE’)

““MIND FORG’D MANACLES”MIND FORG’D MANACLES”

CHAPTER 20CHAPTER 20

DOPPLEGANGERS & SIBLING RIVALRYDOPPLEGANGERS & SIBLING RIVALRY

“I got the better end of the deal. I only lent you my body; you lent me your dream”

DOPPLEGANGERS & SIBLING RIVALRYDOPPLEGANGERS & SIBLING RIVALRY

DOPPLEGANGERS & SIBLING RIVALRYDOPPLEGANGERS & SIBLING RIVALRY

DOPPLEGANGERS & SIBLING RIVALRYDOPPLEGANGERS & SIBLING RIVALRY