Gattaca
Andrew Niccol · 1997 · Film
It explored the dystopian implications of genetic discrimination and eugenics, where natural birth is a disadvantage in a society obsessed with genetic perfection.
What it is
In a future society where genetic engineering determines social status, a 'naturally' conceived man defies his predetermined destiny to achieve his dreams of space travel. It explores themes of genetic discrimination, eugenics, and human determination.
Craft in this work
↑Inherited from(5)
Gattaca directly explores the dystopian implications of genetic engineering and eugenics, where social status is determined by genetic perfection, central themes in Brave New World.
Niccol's 'Gattaca' is a clear cinematic successor to Huxley's 'Brave New World,' depicting a dystopian society where genetic engineering dictates social status and individual destiny, leading to profound genetic discrimination.
The societal discrimination based on genetic traits and the struggle against a predetermined destiny echo the themes of prejudice against genetically distinct groups seen in Slan.
Societal pressure to conform to an 'engineered' ideal and the loss of individual agency and choice in a controlled environment.
The focus on genetic determinism and the ethical implications of creating 'superior' humans or predetermining their lives based on genetics.
The film's exploration of identity and discrimination in a society that values genetically 'perfect' individuals over 'natural' ones resonates with Cherryh's themes of engineered beings ('azi') and their place in society.
↓Passed on to(2)
The critical examination of genetic discrimination and the catastrophic consequences of unchecked biotech ambition in Oryx and Crake directly follows the dystopian implications explored in Gattaca.
Gattaca's depiction of a dystopian society built on genetic discrimination created a strong thematic foundation for Never Let Me Go's exploration of the ethical implications of artificial life (clones) raised for organ donation within a similarly controlled and ethically fraught society.