Gattaca

Gattaca

"What is genetic engineering, after all, but preemptive plastic surgery? Make the child perfect in the test tube, and save money later." ~ Roger Ebert

"Imagine a society where everyone is more intelligent and healthier than you. Imagine a society where your genetic makeup-engineered or natural-determines the job for which you are eligible, whether or not you can be insured, and who associates with you. "-Dave Rettig

At a time when we read about cloned sheep and the unraveling of the human genome, the science in Gattaca is theoretically possible. In the futuristic world of Gattaca, society has developed the technology to manipulate human procreation and design children with impeccable genetic compositions. When parents can order "perfect" babies, will they? Would you take your chances on a throw of the genetic dice, or order up the make and model you wanted? How many people are prepared to buy a car at random from the universe of all available cars? That is how many, I suspect, would opt to have natural children.

Everyone will live longer and healthier in the Gattacan world. As a result, a new social caste system is created in which the artificially created, genetically superior humans, called "valids", dominate all major aspects of society. In contrast, the naturally born humans, called "invalids", become a mistreated minority. Although all aspects of society are affected by the new genetic technology, the greatest impact is on the job market. As a result, the easiest way to analyze the job market is to compare the occupations of the valids and to the occupations of the invalids.

Valids are instantly granted powerful, high-paying jobs, regardless of their training or background. For example, when applying for a job at the Gattaca Aerospace Corporation, Vincent, under an alternate identity, is only required to provide a blood test before he is hired and prepped for flight missions into space. Valids also tend to have computer-based jobs so that they make full use of their genetic intelligence.

The jobs of valids are not interesting or exciting though. For instance, in the beginning of the film Vincent is seen continuously and unemotionally practicing flight simulations for his mission into space. And even after performing the drill perfectly, he is forced to repeat the program again.

Visually, director Andrew Niccol emphasizes the repetitive nature of valid's jobs by showing