Topic 8 - Troubling Bodies

MCC248 Screen Texts

Presented by: DAMIAN CHEONG (32441606) IMELDA STEPHANI (32391195)

Outline
i) What are troubling bodies? ii) Gattaca (1997) - The Movie iii) Personal attitude towards success iv) Characterization/Character analysis v) Disability vi) Class systems vii) Conclusion

What are troubling bodies?

People with disabilities negotiate a complex identity that involves both physical difference social stigma. From an individual point of view, disability is something that a person must overcome, usually social restrictions. Disabled people are seen as having a disability and are disempowered not by their bodies but by inflexible social practices and power imbalances that see these bodies as inferior or troubled.

What are troubling bodies?

Cinematic representation of disability creates a powerful social barrier through the perpetuation of prejudicial attitudes. (Eg, perceptions, beliefs, social norms) For an instance, a person who is on a wheelchair is not seen as disabled because of his inability to walk, but seen as disabled due to the absence of ramps.

Gattaca (1997) by Andrew Niccol

In the not-too-distant future, a less-than-perfect man wants to travel to the stars. Society has categorized Vincent Freeman as less than suitable given his genetic make-up and he has become one of the underclass of humans that are only useful for menial jobs.
To move ahead, he assumes the identity of Jerome Morrow, a perfect genetic specimen who is a paraplegic as a result of a car accident. With professional advice, Vincent learns to deceive DNA and urine sample testing. Just when he is finally scheduled for a space mission, his program director is killed and the police begin an investigation, jeopardizing his secret.

Personal attitude in achieving success

Character Analysis of Vincent Anton Freeman:
Seen a an Invalid in Gattaca non-perfect human known as Gods child Inferior genetics Has a heart problem, myopia Physical appearance fits Gattacas expectation. strong willed & determined to succeed Intelligent & persistent A first-class navigator who dreams of space travel

Helps Jerome by fulfilling his potential and using his

identity

Character Analysis of Jerome Eugene morrow:

Valid employee in Gattaca Superior genetics known second to none

Perfectionist
Confident Determined Intelligent & Persistent Helped Vincent achieve validity & lived his dreams through Vincent Commits suicide at the end because he has no

Disability
People with physically abled bodies, intact limbs proper sense are those who are perceived as normal beings, while others with physical defects such as missing limbs or encounters physical difficulties known as the disabled Gattaca gives us a model of society built on eugenics (a scientific program to improve the human breed) challenging our concepts of human and individual identity, and values For those who is born under traditional means without genetic manipulation, faced discrimination and prejudice known as the In-valid in a Valid world

Disability
Disability in society is often seen as an individual with weaker personality The character Vincent in Gattaca challenges discrimination against the inferior by staying strong and keeping his faith in order to fulfil his dreams Vincent is determined to become stronger instead of sinking into despair and accepting his imperfections The constantly reminder of his genetic inferiority made him a more determined person although he now falls into the category of a detested segment of society, one of those who refuses to play the hand that he was dealt. I'm more

commonly known as a 'borrowed ladder',

Vincents struggle for acceptance

Vincents parents attempts to discouraged him from pursuing his dream of travelling into space

He faced one defeat after another by his younger brother Anton in the game of chicken but never gave up hoping for a turn of the tide someday
Entered Gattaca as a cleaner just be to be able to get closer to travelling into space An extreme makeover, making sacrifices by operating on his legs to be 2 inches taller, in order to use Jeromes identity

Assaulted an officer in fear of getting exposed

Jerome Eugene Morrow

Ironically, Jerome who is genetically superior & recognized was portrayed as the weaker individually

Eugene never suffered from the routine discrimination of an 'in-valid. He suffered under the burden of perfection
Its silver. Jerome Morrow was never meant to be one step down on the podium. With all I had going for me, I was still second best Jerome reflected a sense of disappointment and frustration Turned to alcohol after the accident Commits suicide at the end because he

Class systems

Stereotyping forms the basis of prejudice 2 different social class - the genetically modified and the non-genetically modified groups of human being Gattaca is already here and has been for hundreds, if not thousands of years. People are born into a certain class, monetary or intellectual or whatever and thus have expectations thrust upon them Vincent is born as a certain class with certain expectations, and is thus seen as having potential limited use within society from birth. He has to fight to prove himself to be seen as relevant by the ruling elite, to have access to the tools of success. He has to pretend to be something else to be accepted in to the society of 'genetic superiors'.

Movie stills

Questions

Topic 8 - Troubling Bodies

MCC248 Screen Texts

Presented by: DAMIAN CHEONG (32441606) IMELDA STEPHANI (32391195)